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Item Gender dynamics in the choice of place of trade among young entrepreneurs in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Bawakyillenuo, S.; Agbelie, I.S.K.Entrepreneurship has been considered a viable strategy by the youth as a means to create jobs and improve upon their livelihoods and economic independence. Despite the upsurge of research in the a rea of gender entrepreneurship worldwide since the late 1970s, little exist concerning the determinants of the choice of place of trade vis-a-vis gender among young entrepreneurs. This study explores how gender interacts with other determinants to influence the decision of choosing a suitable place for trade among young entrepreneurs in Ghana using multinomial logistic regression techniques. The results show that, while controlling for gender roles, young female entrepreneurs relative to their male counterparts have increasing probability of trading from home than trading from an organized market, but are more likely to trade from an organized market other than from a formal business space. Also, young female entrepreneurs who have supervisory roles are more likely to trade from their homes other than trading from an organized market relative to their male counterparts. However, it emerged that young female entrepreneurs are more likely to trade from an organized market compared to trading from a formal business space or from other places. Other findings of the study reveal that, young females from high income households are more likely to trade from an organized market compared to trading on the street, from a formal business space or from other places different from the locations being studied. These findings have policy implications regarding the very key elements needed to foster the growth of entrepreneurship among both young males and females entrepreneurs in Ghana.Item Resource constraints and private sector investment in emerging economies: A review of the literature(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Ababio, J.O-M.; Osei, K.A.; Bokpin, G.This paper is a review and classification of literature on Private Sector Investment in Emerging Economies. Hundred and ten (110) articles published in a broad range of internationally recognized journals covering four major private sector investment (PSI) issues in Emerging Economies (EEs) were explored and analyzed. This paper also reviewed literature on the main segments of private sector investment: domestic investment, foreign direct investment, and international (private) portfolio investment in EEs. A review of the major streams of PSI research examining the determinants, constraints, uncertainties, management and performance as well as relevance and magnitude of PSI activities points out the current gaps and contributions for the growth and survival of private firms and the importance of PSI for economic growth and development in EEs. A unified perspective on these research, identifies and highlights imperative gaps for future research. Consequently, the review will serve as a roadmap indicating the current state, contributions and direction of research topics for the academics and practitioners.Item Labour intensive public works and agricultural off-season employment: A case study of Ghana social opportunity programme(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Osei-Akoto, I.; Bawakyillenuo, S.; Owusu, G.; Offei, E.L.The Labour Intensive Public Works (LlPW) of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) was initiated by the Government of Ghana to provide targeted rural poor households access to local employment and income-earning opportunities during agricultural off-seasons. The key objectives of the programme were to protect households and communities against external shocks and; rehabilitate and improve productive and social infrastructure such as roads, dams and schools. The initiative was to mainly mitigate the effects of extreme poverty, particularly during agriculture off-seasons. This study assessed the impact of the L1PW project on labour force participation and employment generation during the off season in agriculture in Ghana. Panel data from two rounds of survey were used for this analysis and propensity score matching technique was used for the estimation of the average treatment effect. The results show that labour force participation increased by 7% in the lean season among beneficiary households relative to the non-beneficiaries. Paid employment among beneficiary households increased by 9.4% relative to the non-beneficiary households and the number of days spent in a week on paid work by beneficiary households increased by 30.8%. The average income received by L1PW beneficiary households from paid work was GHC 48.57 higher than the amount received by non-beneficiary households. The paper shares interesting results on sustainability of such innovative programmes that seek to lessen the burden of unemployment or under-employment in deprived communities during the lean agricultural season while creating vital infrastructure for eco nomic growthItem The role of social protection interventions in enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation: The case of LIPW component of Ghana social opportunities projects (GSOP)(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Bawakyillenuo, S.; Osei-Akoto, I.; Owusu, G.; Agbelie, I.S.K.The devastating effects of climate change and variability globally are incontestable, hence, the urgency for upscaling adaptation and mitigation strategies. Central to initiating and implementing robust adaptation and mitigation measures is innovative financing. While there are various climate change support projects in Ghana, much is still needed to fund adaptation and mitigation measures. Similarly, social protection intervention programmes abound in the country, many of which are aimed at reducing poverty and spatial development inequalities in targeted areas. Arguably, opportunities are embedded in many of these social protection programmes to bolster climate change adaptation and mitigation issues in the country. Using the Labour Intensive Public Works (LlPW) of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) as a case study, the paper examines how social protection interventions in Ghana could support both climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Analysing the panel data from two rounds of survey on the LIPW, the results show that, paid employment among beneficiary communities increased by 9.4% relative to the non-beneficiary households. Furthermore, it was found that extreme poverty and average poverty reduced by 7% and 21% respectively in the LlPW beneficiary communities. Thus, the adaptive capacity to climate change of LIPW beneficiaries became stronger than non-beneficiaries. The analyses also reveal that the trees plantation activities of LlPW will strengthen the mitigation of climate change in the long-term through an increase in the country's carbon sinks. This interplay between social protection interventions and climate change objectives drums home the need to mainstream climate change objectives into all social protection interventions in GhanaItem Deconstructing the use and disposal of plastic bags in Tema community one township in Ghana: implications for policy discourse on plastic bags waste management(University of Ghana, 2015-04-16) Bawakyillenuo, S.; Gyapoma, A.Population increase coupled with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in developing countries, come with the challenges of waste creation and management. The proper disposal and management of the different types of waste generated are indispensable to ensuring the healthiness of human beings and sound environmental media. This article investigates consumers' attitudes towards the use of plastic bags, their level of awareness of the hazards posed by the indiscriminate disposal of these plastic bags and the roles institutions play in their proper management in Tema Community One Township in Ghana. Using an eclectic approach (quantitative and qualitative instruments) supported by the Innovation Diffusion Theory, with a total sample size of one hundred (100) respondents (ninety-four (94) consumers and six (6) institutions), the paper unravelled a web of inter connectedness between plastic bags reuse and disposal practices vis-a-vis various socio-demographic factors especially, gender, education and occupations. The paper also unearthed the inadequacy of available policy instrument that directs the proper management of plastic bags waste, while technologies on recycling, reuse, reduction and recovery still remain at exploratory stages. These have implications on the environment especially, with the increasing population, urbanisation and slum development. Lessons emerging from this paper include the indispensability of composing a robust plastic bags waste management policy, a revision of the old bye-laws and the utilisation of multiple environmental instruments including, moral suasion and incentivasation in plastic bags waste managementItem The shift from traditional window systems to new window designs in Ghana: sociological and energy efficiency issues in Ga East and Awutu Senya East municipalities(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Bawakyillenuo, S.; Agbelie, I.S.K.The challenge of reducing carbon emissions for the purpose of climate change mitigation requires both supply-side and demand-side energy efficiency measures and conservation. On the demand side, buildings worldwide account for about 30-40% of the total energy demand, thereby forming the largest sectoral consumer of electricity. Hence, the building sector offers a great opportunity for energy conservation and energy efficiency drives if certain behavioural patterns were to change. An important element of the building, which often influences energy consumption, is the window. Window types used in Ghana have evolved over time from traditional wooden to modern louvre blades and glazed (sliding-glass) windows. This paper therefore seeks to investigate the economic and energy efficiency dimensions of the shift from traditional to new window designs in Ghana as well as the sociological underpinnings of this shift. Evidence abounds from the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data gathered for the 2014 Energy Surveys in the Ga East and Awutu Senya East Municipalities in Ghana that most people use new window designs mainly due to comfort and aesthetic reasons. The analyses reveal that, while more wooden and louvre blade windows users depend mostly on natural ventilation systems and to a little extent fans, glazed window users depend mostly on fans and air conditioners. In consequence, glazed windows users spend more on electricity compared to users of other windows types. These findings have implications regarding the current architectural designs in Ghana taking into account the need for efficient energy consumption and climate change mitigationItem Factors influencing the use of birth control methods at Abokobi, Ga east district(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Anaman, K.A.; Okai, J.O.A.The population of Ghana has been doubling every 28 years. The rapid population growth rate and the expanding basic needs and wants of the people of Ghana arising from increasing economic growth have made population control and management of urgent importance. A mechanism that can be used to achieve effective population control and management is birth control through the use of contraceptives. Based on this premise, a study was undertaken to assess the awareness of and factors influencing the use of birth control methods among women aged between 15 and 49 years, in their reproductive lifespan, at Abokobi. The survey-based study was based on scientific sampling method using cluster sampling involving 120 women living in 99 houses. The results of the analysis indicated that all the 120 women respondents were aware of at least one birth control method suggesting a universal awareness of birth control methods. The analysis confirmed that the age and educational attainment of the woman increased the level of awareness of birth control methods. Being in a current sexual relationship, the level of awareness of birth control methods and having children increased the likelihood of women using birth control methods. Women who were currently married and were between the ages of 20 and 40 years were less likely to use birth control methodsItem Ghana's Community Information Centers (CiCs): e-Governance success or mirage?(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2009-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.Following the initial implementation of Information and Communication Technologies for development (ICT4D) projects in rural Africa, many did not yield the anticipated outcomes, and interest has been waning. People then began talking about "sustainable ICT" projects as projects which would become self-sufficient after their initial donor-led investment and set-up period. Beyond WSIS's broad objective for all nations, Ghana Government set its own specific objectives to Community Information Centres (CICs) project, to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural dwellers in the country. They are to serve as training centers where acquisition of ICT skills and knowledge are provided for underprivileged people and also to bring government services online closer to the people at the grassroots. Is it true that rural Ghana does not want to connect with the rest of the world through information centres? This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. Copyright 2009 ACM.Item Lack of equal access to ICTs by women: An e-governance issue(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2008-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.This paper will explore the inadequacy of women's participatory role in governance due to lack of access to ICTs in Ghana using Ghana in West Africa as a Case Study. It will point out the recognition of women's limitations through international declarations; the usual obstacles that face women in the ICT industry; examine the Ghana government's gender policies, and also offer suggestions as to how to empower women, already marginalized in society, to gain from the new age of technology. Copyright 2008 ACM.