Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies
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Item Sustainable Water Utilisation In Ghanaian Breweries: Current Practices And Prospects(University of Ghana, 2020-05) Atiegah, R.R.Water is extremely essential for all life forms and their very existence. It is a fundamental necessity for livelihoods, economic growth, health and development and environmental sustainability. In the brewery sector, water is the single most important used raw material for production and cleaning purposes, Nonetheless, given the alarming nature of climate change, water pollution, population dynamics and land use evolutions, the brewery industry faces an enormous business risk as the diminishing of freshwater volumes pose a threat to its business continuity. Thus, breweries require a strong commitment to cleaner production processes that hinge on sustainable water management practices for continuous production. This study investigates the patterns and current trends in sustainable water use, opportunities for optimizing water use and organizational commitment to sustainable water management using sur\'e) data from the two main breweries in Ghana for the 2015 to 2018. Using 48 monthly specific water use data from January 2015 to December, 2018. the specific water usage for both ABL and GGBL are statistically significantly different from the international benchmark value of 6.50hL/hL at the I% level although, ABL's average water use has a stronger significance or is more sustainable over the study period than GGBI's average water use. Furthermore, the average specific water usage for both ABL and GGBL are compared with the best technology level of 4.00hL/hL and test results reveal that during the period under consideration, ABL's average specific water usage of 4.45hL/hL is statistically significantly different from the best technology level of 4.00hL/hL whiles GGBL 's average specific water usage is not statistically significantly different. Thus, considering water use at the best technology level of 4.00 hL/hL, GGBL is more sustainable than ABL. The study recommends collaborative partnerships between the brewery industry and government agencies that will lead to the development of sustainable water usage index or a local benchmark that factors local challenges and standards for monitoring water usage in the local economy.Item Exploring The Trends And Impacts Of Climate Change-Induced Coastal Hazards In Keta, Ghana: Existing Adaptation Strategies And Possibilities Of Nature-Based Solutions(University Of Ghana, 2021-07) Lah, G.S.The rise in climate change-induced hazards including floods, erosion, tidal waves, and storms across coastal socio-ecological zones in recent years poses significant threats to the achievement of sustainable development. The Keta Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana is arguably one of the most vulnerable to a range of climate-induced coastal hazards. The main purpose of the study is to explore the trends and impacts of climate change-induced coastal hazards in Keta, Ghana, with existing adaptation strategies and possibilities of nature-based solutions. The study employed household questionnaire surveys (n=90), key institutional stakeholder surveys (n=18), and Landuse/Landcover Change (LULC) assessment of the years 2010 and 2020 for data collection and analysis. Results for the trends and impacts of climate change-induced hazards in the Keta township show that respondents reported (51%) for floods and (28%) for erosion as the most common climate change-induced coastal hazards. 18% of respondents identified high tide in certain parts of the township with fewer reports for stormwater (3%). The impacts of these hazards according to respondents over the years have included the displacement of households (57%) and destruction of properties (77%) in the township. The existing local-level adaptation and mitigation options for these hazards over the years have been; (i) the filling of compounds with sea sand to reduce floods and erosion impacts in Xekpa (26%), Tetekorpe (16%), Gobamodzi (21%), and Keta (21%) communities, (ii) the creation of holes in fence walls to reduce floods and tidal waves impacts by respondents in Xekpa (12%), Tetekorpe (10%), Gobamodzi (9%), Abutiakorpe (11%), Keta (21%), Vui (13%), and Dzelukorpe (20%), and (iii) the planting of trees to reduce erosion and other benefits in the township. Evidence of Nature-based solutions exists in the communities’ approaches to managing climate change-induced hazards in the township. However, the majority of respondents preferred floodwater transfer (37%), planting trees and grass (52%), construction of wetlands (50%), and managing of ponds (53%) to reduce climate change-induced hazards impacts in the township. Challenges to adopting nature-based solutions in the township included the cost of managing hazards (84%), availability of space for nature-based solutions (57%), availability of materials (66%), and severity of the climate-induced hazards (69%). Results from the landuse/landcover change assessment show that an increase in waterbody (0.4%), vegetation (1.4%), and farmlands (4%) occurred. Significant loss of settlements (5.5%) and bareland (3.3%) also occurred. This result has several implications on future climate-induced hazards impacts in the Keta township. Key institutional stakeholders’ study reveals that the lack of expertise, inadequate finance, lack of engagement with the local community, and political influence were major hindrances to the design, implantation, and management of Nature-based solutions in the township. To ensure that the Keta township is adequately prepared to adapt to climate change-induced hazards, the following recommendations should be considered. There should be a holistic involvement of all institutional stakeholders and the local community members at every stage of adaptation and Nature-based solutions planning and implementation. Secondly, adaptation strategies to managing climate-induced hazards should consider the use of sustainable long-term solutions while incorporating traditional ecological knowledge of the use of the natural environment. Furthermore, there should be adequate provision of human and infrastructural resources and planning of budgetary to support the adoption of nature-based solutions in the Keta township. As climate change-induced coastal hazards pose possible future threats in Keta, there should be occasional monitoring of the trends and impacts of hazards within the township. Keywords: Climate change, Adaptation, Nature-based solutions, Coastal, Hazards, Keta, ImpactsItem Assessing How the Print Media Frame Waste Management in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2020-10) Sumkura, A.The media is a very influential institution in a global effort to attain sustainable development, which includes waste management. Evidence suggests that little study has been done in the area of understanding media reportage of waste management issues within the Ghanaian Context. This study sought to unearth how the Ghanaian newspaper outlets namely the Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, Ghanaian Times, and The Chronicles, have presented the issue of waste management in Ghana between the period January 2015 and December 2019. This study examined the degree of prominence given to waste management issues, identified the dominant voices in waste management media discourse, examined how the issue has been presented and the focus of frames in waste management media coverage, and examine the perceptions of media practitioners on media narratives on waste Management. A mixed-method approach of quantitative content analysis and thematic analysis of interviews was employed and applied sequentially for the study. The study retrospectively reviewed newspaper articles on waste management published between the period 2015-2019, supported by the views of media practitioners. A total of 306 news editions were sampled by each paper based on a constructed week and purposive sampling technique. Three hundred and ten (310) stories were collected on waste management using a coding guide. Eight media practitioners were purposively sampled and interviewed using an interview guide. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 21, while the qualitative data was analysed thematically. The study shows that waste management stories were dominated with positively framed stories, indicating that most of the stories were framed highlighting the benefits of proper waste management as well as expressing hope in the success of the measures put in place to manage wastes. More than 50% of the stories were also framed stories focusing on recommending solutions to the waste problem. Government officials serve as the dominant source of information for waste management stories. The study further revealed that little prominence was attached to waste management stories through story placement. However, much prominence was attached to stories through story enhancement. A major challenge media practitioners faced in framing waste management issues is the fear of being criticized and tagged corrupt for trying to be ‘critical’ towards those responsible. This thesis apart from its contribution to the body of literature in Ghana, the thesis has drawn the attention of media practitioners to the lack of flexibility in news reportage leading to the predominance of straight news stories. This study also exposes the challenges that confront waste management framing in media to policymakers, which is, the lack of ‘criticality’ in framing for the fear of being tagged corrupt or criticized for trying to be critical towards institutions responsible for waste management. This study recommends a policy that would advocate for the allocation of funds to support media outlets to do follow-ups on waste-related issues and to cover waste management and environmental related issues more often.