Development Studies
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Item The Contributions of Non-Farm Economic Activites to Poverty Reduction in the Yilo-Krobo District(University of Ghana, 2010-07) Alhassan, O.Non-farm economic activities are emerging as an important player in the rural economy notwithstanding the continuing dominance of farming. This is attributed to a multiplicity of factors. This paper presents findings of a study on the rural non-farm economy in the Yilo-Krobo District of the Eastern Region. The study reveals a strong association between poverty at the household level and participation in the non-farm economic activites. It reveals further that some characteristics play crucial role in facilitating household participation and effectiveness in the nonfarm economy. These include higher education, household size, income directly obtained from participation in the non-farm economy as well as the number of persons from a household involved in the economy. A set of factors of critical importance to the operations of non-farm enterprises are financial capital, labour and credit. Household access to basic social amenities also enhances the reduction and sustenance of poverty reduction efforts. Non-farm households experience varying levels of access to health services, consumption of portable water and waste disposable facilities. Using data obtained from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 5 plus, the study the predicted and compared incomes from farm and nonfarm economic activities and arrived at the conclusion that the latter contributes more to household income.Item An Assessment of the Revenue Collection Performance of Salaried and Commissioned Revenue Collectors in Ga East and La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assemblies in Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2019-12) Haligah, H.Y.Local government revenue generation plays an important role in promoting and sustaining economic growth, providing infrastructure development and improving the social welfare of citizens. However, the failure to fully collect local revenue has become one major administrative problem faced by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana. Low motivation and inadequate capacity of Revenue Collectors have been identified as a challenge in most MMDAs and this contributes to an ineffective and inefficient generation of local revenue. Studies on low revenue collection in Ghana mostly overlook factors affecting the revenue collection performance of personnel engaged in the collection of local revenue. This thesis adopted a quantitative approach by using regression analysis to examine factors that affect the revenue collection performance of Salaried and Commissioned Revenue Collectors in the Ga East and La Nkwatanang-Madina Municipal Assemblies. In addition the study determined the difference between the revenue collection performance of Salaried and Commissioned Revenue Collectors in these Assemblies. Results from the study indicate that earnings and experience positively affect revenue collection performance. Revenue Collectors in La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly on average collect more revenue compared to Revenue Collectors in Ga East Municipal Assembly. The thesis also finds that Commissioned Revenue Collectors on average collect more revenue compared to Salaried Revenue Collectors in both Assemblies. The study recommends an incentivized-based salary structure for Revenue Collectors. In addition, MMDAs should ensure that they retain Revenue Collectors with years of experience in revenue collection. For effective collection of revenue, it is also recommended that MMDAs engage the services of more Commissioned Revenue Collectors as they may help improve future revenue generation.Item Addressing Poor Sanitation in the La Community of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality through Communication(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Anderson, M.T.This study focuses essentially on investigating the extent of institutional cooperation among Zoomlion (waste management agency), the local government and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the sanitation crisis in the La community of LaDMA in Accra Ghana through the use of communication. The study employs the mixed-method research. Secondary data is obtained from journal articles, academic books and newspapers whiles primary data was collected through questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Major findings from the study reveal that Zoomlion cooperates with the LaDMA and other relevant stakeholders in the La community in utilising communication tools such as social media, television, radio, Zoomlion vans with sirens as strategic methods in addressing the sanitation crisis in the area. These strategies have greatly improved on the waste management situation in the La community as they result in increase in awareness creation, lobbying for effective policies and legislation against poor sanitation conditions, as well as, assisting in capacity building for addressing sanitation crisis in the area. However, there are a number of challenges which confront the various institutions and stakeholders in cooperation to address the sanitation challenges in the La community of LaDMA. These include, financial constraints, expertise personnel constraints, negative sanitation practices and behaviour, among others. The study therefore concludes that Zoomlion as a private waste management agency plays a significant role in cooperation with the Government (precisely LaDMA) and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the dire sanitation crisis in the La community through the use of effective communication tools and strategies. It is therefore recommended that LaDMA should continue to collaborate and cooperate effectively with Zoomlion and all major stakeholders in the La community, to be able to effectively tackle or totally eradicate filth from Ghana, with much emphasis on the La community of LaDMAItem Assessing the Prospects of Green Energy Technologies Photovoltaic System As an Alternative Source Of Energy: The Case of Micro and Small Businesses in the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality(University Of Ghana, 2018-07) Samad, I.This study assesses the prospects of green energy technologies (photovoltaic system) as an alternative source of energy in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality. The assessment revolves around analyzing the influence of socioeconomic, institutional and technical factors on the adoption of green energy technologies (photovoltaic system) as an alternative source of energy by micro and small businesses. The data are drawn from the administration of questionnaires and in-depth interviews with the aid of an interview guide in La Nkwantanang-Madina. Data consist of a survey of 197 micro and small businesses and five (5) in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted to ascertain the level of education of respondents, business background of respondents, knowledge of green energy technologies, willingness to pay for solar energy technologies and their adoption decision of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy. The in-depth interviews were done to assess the existence and nature of policies and/or regulations on solar energy technologies and their influence on adoption in La Nkwantanang-Madina, the cost of solar energy technologies, the rate of demand, payment plans for consumers, and the efficiency of solar energy technologies and so on. The data were analyzed in terms of the relationship between social, economic, institutional and technical factors and the adoption of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy by micro and small businesses. The findings show that the adoption of solar energy technologies is influenced by factors such as the level of education of respondents, business type of respondents, respondents’ perception about the efficiency of solar energy technologies and the cost of these technologies. The further assessment indicated that businesses are willing to incur some level of cost in the adoption of solar energy technologies. Taking advantage of the willingness of businesses to pay for solar energy technologies will require the government and other stakeholders to initiate policies (e.g. subsidies) that will facilitate the adoption of these technologies. It was however found that people’s knowledge of these technologies, business value, monthly electricity expenditure of businesses the rate (cost) of electricity from the grid, institutional setup the existence of by-laws and gender of respondents are less likely to exert significant influence on the adoption decision of micro and small businesses in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality. Based on the findings, the study therefore concludes that the prospects of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy is appreciable but for the adoption of these technologies to be significant there is the need for institutions and measures to address the factors that have significant influence on the adoption decisions of respondents in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality.Item The Determinants Of Ownerships Of Toilet Facilities Among Households In Madina-Zongo In The La Nkwantang Municipality, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2018-01) Nambo, D.Quite often sanitation issues have been relegated to the background, nevertheless development economists suggest that achieving high sanitation standards can save the economies of low and middle-income countries of almost 5% of their Gross Domestic Products (GDP) (Hutton, 2015; 2012). Indeed, the selected theme ‘Toilets and Jobs’ for the 2016 UN World Toilet Day (WTD) emphasized the vital role toilets play in creating strong economies, improving health and protecting people’s safety and dignity (UN Water, 2016). This underscores the importance of the present study in Madina-Zongo. The study was conducted to assess the level of access to improved toilet facilities and the factors that influence the ownership of toilets facilities among households in Madina-Zongo. The study used a mixed method strategy. 170 households were interviewed, and the data was summarized in frequencies tables, cross-tabulations and logistic regression. In addition, 5 in-depth and a key informant interviews were conducted to triangulate with the quantitative analysis. The study found that only 30% of the households own improved technologies exclusively reserved for their households. About 24% rely only on public toilets and another 44% depends on shared facilities, which includes 3.53% of facilities considered as unimproved. Compared to poor households, low income and high income households were more likely to own improved toilets, statistically significant at 5% and 1% respectively. Compared to heads of households who had no formal education background, educated households were more likely to own an improved toilet, statistically significant at 5% and 1% for head’s with basic/secondary education and higher education, respectively. The chances are that a household size that increases more than 4 in the study area will less likely owned an improved toilet, statistically significant at 5%.Item Microcredit And Women Empowerment: A Case Study of The “Women In Development” Program in La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly(University Of Ghana, 2017-07) Adaawen, D.A.Microcredit has been identified to be an effective tool for empowering women. Evidence from the literature suggests that access to microcredit has the power to improve their productive capacity. The La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly introduced the “Women in Development” program to provide credit to women groups to expand on their income generating activities. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of microcredit on women empowerment. The study also sought to investigate the type or kind of income generating activities beneficiaries engaged in. Finally, the study sought to assess the challenges beneficiaries encountered in managing and using their credit. The study employed the survey method using structured questionnaires and interview guide. It also used face-to-face interviews and in-depth interviews. All the 100 beneficiaries took part in the face-to-face interviews and 8 beneficiaries were engaged in the in-depth interviews. The results revealed that access to microcredit helps expand the income generating activities of the beneficiaries. It was also established from the study that access to microcredit affected beneficiaries’ decision-making positively in terms of decisions regarding their own health, children’s education and health, making purchases and decisions regarding their mobility. Access to credit has also improved upon the family and social relationships of these women. A major challenge encountered by the women was the size of the credit, which affects the progress of their Income Generating Activities (IGAs). It was therefore recommended that government should increase funding to District Assemblies to enable them increase the amount of loans given to them.Item Micro-Credit and the Socioeconomic Wellbeing of Women. A Case Study of Queen of Peace Co-Operative Credit Union(University Of Ghana, 2017-07) Abayateye, T.O.Women lack economic resources, and have limited access to financial and non-financial resources. Over the years, credit facilities have been made available to women in the hope of improving their wellbeing. However, some school of thought have remained critical about the role micro-credit plays in the wellbeing of women. Given this, this study sought to explore the extent to which micro-credit can improve or contribute to the wellbeing of women, with emphasis on their income levels, asset accumulation and how they dealt with health issues. The study was conducted in the context of La Nkwantanang Madina Assembly. A qualitative approach was used to gain the experiences of women members of Queen of Peace Co-operative Credit Union. Findings from the study show that majority of the women experienced increases in their income levels, bringing about increased contribution to household expenditures and in the education of their wards. Support from spouses of the women also played a role in this regard. The findings from the study also showed that a significant number of the women experienced increases in asset accumulation as well as the credit enabling them to deal with health issues. The study also found out that the purpose for which the loan was put, played a significant role in the socioeconomic wellbeing of the women. Organizations seeking to improve the wellbeing of women through the provision of micro-credit can focus on helping the women invest in income generating activities, as this might trickle down to other areas of their wellbeing such as their health and the education of their wards.Item Factors Influencing Loan Repayment among Microenterprises in the Greater Accra Region: A Case Study of La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality.(University Of Ghana, 2017-07) Abukari, R.Although microenterprises contribute significantly to the growth and development of every country, they are confronted with double-barren issues of access to credit and loan repayment. Existing studies that have attempted to estimate factors associated with loan repayment have also relied heavily on limited micro-finance datasets while others have concentrated on loan repayment among farmers and thus leaving loan repayment among microenterprises at the regional and national level largely unexplored. This study therefore explored socioeconomic factors and loan conditions that associate with loan repayment among microenterprises in the Greater Accra region using a nationwide survey dubbed the Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Data Survey of 2014. The survey had 5009 households and covered several aspects of debt holdings for household members. A total of 144 (26.8%) households with debt holdings for the Greater Accra region were compared to 1420 (33.5%) debt holdings for other regions as well as 678 (36.5%) debt holdings for households with microenterprises. The loan conditions and socioeconomic factors associated with loan repayment for these debt holdings were compared to situations of Greater Accra region, Ghana and households with microenterprises. To ensure triangulation of data, in-depth interviews with some purposively selected micro-entrepreneurs were conducted to further deepen the understanding of the factors that influence loan repayment of households. The study found that in the Greater Accra region, borrowers with some level of formal education were less likely to repay their loans compared with borrowers without any form of education. It was also found that borrowers who obtained loans for the purposes of consumer goods were less likely to repay their loans. The study recommends that creditors of loans to microenterprises in iii the Greater Accra region should consider factors such as age, educational level, purpose of loan and sources of loan in designing credit facilities to determine who is likely to pay back a loan on time.Item Assessing the Progress towards Improved Water Accessibility in Urban Accra: A Case Study at Dome(University Of Ghana, 2017-10) Dadson, J.K.Several reports around the globe point to the fact that access to water has improved in many parts of the world. However, there are still many people who are not able to access improved water. Many people mostly children around the world die from illnesses associated with inadequate and poor water supply. Ghana has the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and a National Water Policy in place to provide potable water. However, the people in Dome in Accra still have challenges with access to improved water. The study used data from the fifth and sixth rounds of the Ghana Living Standards Survey to assess the extent of improvement in improved water accessibility and the factors that influence access to improved water, and a qualitative study at Dome assessing the current situation in accessing improved water. Age, gender, education and welfare index were found to be significant and positive. Even though there has been some improvement in potable water availability in Dome, access to improved drinking water reduced by one percent over the period between the two rounds of survey. The decline resulted from increase in the population culminating in high demand of water supply services and challenges with logistics, power supply, illegal connections, debt owed GWCL by default customers and pressure on the machines due to population growth. The qualitative study revealed that even though unimproved and relatively expensive, those who provide water though the tanker services were more reliable than the GWCL. The major problem of the residents is that although they pay heavily for pipe borne water (GWCL) services they do not receive the required quality of services. The GWCL should use each decade’s population and housing census to help in planning in order to anticipate and meet the demands of the growing population. The GWCL needs to enforce its laws including prosecution on unauthorized tapping of water from its transmission pipes and non-payment of bills to generate the needed resources to acquire and maintain its machine.Item Assessing Factors Affecting Property Rate Compliance Behaviour in Ghana: The Case of Ga East Municipality(University Of Ghana, 2017-07) Samuel, G.Property taxation is the backbone of local government revenue across the globe. Thus, property tax non-compliance behaviour threatens the independence, sustainability and development effort of local governments. This study sought to examine factors affecting property rate compliance behaviour in Ghana: the case of Ga East Municipality. Specifically, the study sought to assess property owners‟ level of knowledge of property rate laws, and the determinant factors of compliance behaviour. The study employed a mixed method. A total of 120 property owners were interviewed using a survey instrument and two key informant interviews were conducted with the Municipal Rating Office and the Municipal Deputy Finance Director. Logistic regression model was used to examine determinants of property rate compliance behaviour while descriptive statistics was used to asses knowledge of property rate law among property owners. Findings of the study indicate that majority of the property owners representing 53 per cent are not aware of property rate laws in Ghana. Logistics regression result also shows that female property owners are more likely to pay property rate then male property owners. Also, property owners perception of the complexity of the tax system was found to significant negatively correlated with rate compliance behaviour. However, knowledge of property rate laws and rate education was found to have no significant relationship with rate compliance. The study therefore recommends that property rate education focus on providing owners with education that helps them to understand the tax system, and the adoption of compliance process that eliminate human interaction and facilitate easy compliance with respect to time and cost.