Conference Proceedings and Papers
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Conference proceeding is a collection of academic papers published in the context of an academic conference or workshop. Conference proceedings typically contain the contributions made by researchers at the conference. They are the written record of the work that is presented to fellow researchers.
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Item Coastal vulnerability and migration in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Atiglo, D.Y.; Quashigah, J.; Neri, P.; Appeaning, A.K.; Codjoe, S.N.A.Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise and other hazards is expected to push migration due to loss of land, habitat and livelihood security. The migration literature on Ghana rarely links coastal environmental systems with migration. This study aimed (i) to assess the vulnerability of Ghana's coasts to inundation and erosion (ii) to explore the relation between coastal vulnerability and population change through migration. We used data from Ghana's 2000 and 2010 Population and Housing Censuses and remotely sensed data to develop a coastal vulnerability index (CVI) comprising physical and socioeconomic vulnerability. The physical vulnerability index (PVI) was based on coastal elevation, geomorphology, geology, local subsidence,. shoreline change, tidal range and wave height. The socioeconomic vulnerability index (SVI) was based on economic activity, socio-demographic characteristics and housing conditions. Due to unavailability of explicit out-migration data at the district level, we estimated net migration using the Census Survival Ratio method. The results of the PVI revealed that districts in the farthest western and eastern coasts are highly vulnerable. The SVI showed the eastern coastal districts as the most vulnerable. Consequently, three districts in the eastern coast of Ghana with the highest combined CVI also tend to have very high deficit migration. Simple linear regression models show a negative correlation between coastal vulnerability and net migration. The technique employed in this study provides an improved assessment of coastal vulnerability and contributes to evaluating the environment-migration nexusItem 'All that glitters is not gold" An exploratory study of 'trapped migrants' in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Gyasi- Mensah, A.Globalization has led to increased migration, resulting in migrants trapped in places which are not their home countries. These migrants termed 'trapped migrants ' (a category of migrants who have travelled outside their place of origin to their place of destination in hopes of returning home after accomplishing the purpose of travel but have been rendered victims to scams, hence cannot return to their place of origin) have been unexplored in the migration literature as the focus has been on migrants who move either voluntarily or involuntarily. The research paper examines the phenomena of 'trapped migrants' in search of gold in Ghana. It identifies their characteristics, explores ways in which they are trapped by gold scams, the role that Social Networks and Information Communications Technologies (ICT) played and also highlights some Institutional responses and Policy Implications of 'trapped migrants' in Ghana. Qualitative research approach using primary and secondary data were used. Findings reveal that 'trapped migrants' in Ghana were trapped by gold scams, fake documentation and the legal system. Characteristics from the study indicate there were more males than females, majority were middle aged from diverse nationalities, and highly educated. Social networks and I.C.T. played major roles in the lives of' trapped migrants' at multiple levels. This paper concludes by encouraging researchers to undertake studies on 'trapped migrants ' for proper conceptualization and also to bridge the knowledge gap.Item Negotiating transnational identities and belongingness back home: The case of 'posted children' of Ghanaian emigrants(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Adu-Gyarnfi, B.S.The desire for better standard of living has led to the migration of people, since the dawn of human history. Migrant parents, in host countries, are sending their children to their country of origin owing mostly to social and economic factors. Little attention has been paid to the integration challenges faced by these children in the areas of food, language and education. The paper examines the coping strategies of children sent home from abroad ("posted children") in selected schools in the Greater Accra Region. In-depth interviews and case studies were used to assess these challenges and coping strategies faced by the children. The findings show that the children initially had difficulties integrating into the educational system but settled in with time. In addition, they all had difficulties with disciplinary practices in school which they perceived as infringement on their human rights. They had no problem with food as they were used to Ghanaian dishes whilst abroad. Language was an issue initially but most posted children readily overcame this challenge.Item Migration and poverty dynamics: Transferring rural poverty to urban areas(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Musah, Z.Migration is an enduring theme of human history and considered as one of the defining global issues of the twenty-first century. It is also a major component of population distribution and change in both places of origin and destination. Among the major changes caused by migration in places of origin and destination is poverty, which is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. The migration poverty nexus is seen as poverty causing migration, migration causing poverty and poverty alleviated by migration. This poverty is seen as 'cause' and as 'consequence' of migration. The prevalence of poverty is substantially higher in rural areas than in urban centres in almost all developing countries. Poverty has therefore been conceptualised to be a rural phenomenon. This not withstanding, it is now recognised that the rapid growth of urban population has led to a worsening poverty in urban areas. Though urban population growth is largely by natural increase, internal migration still remains an important factor that contributes to urbanisation. Analysis of Poverty Profile in Ghana shows an increasing poverty in the Greater Accra region which has a large number of in-migrants and this has been associated with the high net migration to the region. It has often been hypothesized that migrants from ru ral areas simply transfer poverty from rural to urban areas. This paper thus examines the extent to which migrants transfer rural poverty to urban areas considering the reciprocal relationships of the migration poverty nexus and poverty levels of migrants and indigenes in the Greater Accra RegionItem Forced migration and transformation of refugees(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Coffie, A.There has been much talk about the transformational experience of refugee hosting communities, but relatively little about the impact of these societies on the forced migrants. Using the case of Liberian refugees in Ghana, this paper examines the transformational experience of refugees during the forced migration experience. The paper specifically examines how the structures of forced migration interact with the refugee's agency to transform both the resources of the refugees and the structures of forced migration. The research argues that the resource transformational experience of refugees is a result of the complex interplay between the structures of forced migration and the refugee's agency. Drawing on social constructivism's mutual constitution of structure and agents, the study highlights the various structures that refugees encounter as having different influences on different agents (refugees). It also provides a context within which to understand and examine how refugees as agents operate within structures of constraint and opportunity, which more or less likely leads to resource gains and lossesItem "Taming the beast”: Theorizing the use of mobile phones amongst traders in Accra(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Asante, R.K.B.Over the years, the domestication theory has been used to explore the "taming" of the television within the household space of western nations. However, few studies have employed this theory to examine the "taming" of other technologies outside the private space of people. This paper will attempt to show the process involved in the taming of technology outside the private space of people within the Ghanaian context by examining how traders in Accra domesticate the mobile phone considering data from 374 randomly selected traders. The findings showed that the taming of the mobile phone in the public-private space of the traders is largely conditioned by the culture of their public-private space. Additionally, the taming process for the mobile phone follows a parallel- cyclical process and not the inherent unilineal process described by the domestication process.Item Media and climate change in Ghana: A survey of media practitioners knowledge and attitudes to climate change coverage(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Gadzekpo, A.; Tietaah, G.; Segtub, M.Climate change has been identified as a global concern and a threat to developing countries such as Ghana. Even though several steps have been taken internationally, nationally and locally to improve public awareness, understanding on and response to climate change, there is stilI insufficient public knowledge on climate change and a lack of urgency in responding to what has been described as the biggest challenge facing humanity. Among the key interlocutors expected to help communicate on climate and influence public perceptions is the media. The media are not only influential in the (re)construction and promotion of climate change discussions they are critical influencers of policy and interventions that seek to motivate behavioural change. Studies on how media cover climate change have however mostly concentrated on Western societies. This paper goes beyond this narrow geographical focus by surveying the attitudes, knowledge and coverage of 160 media practitioner sampled from four different ecological zones- Tamale (savannah), Accra (urban), Sunyani (forest) and Keta (coastal). Findings from the research reveal that although there is near consensus among media practitioners in Ghana that climate change is a major problem deserving of urgent attention, their knowledge and understanding on the science of climate change as well as commitment to coverage is still weakItem Relationships with intimate partner violence: Exploring the dynamics and associated personal characteristics in an urban sample in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Akotia, C.S.; Anum, A.Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a universal problem that significantly affects individual's mental and physical well-being. Researchers have identified different risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization. Research on IPV however, have focused largely on either men or women with little attempt to compare the sexes on issues that are associated with IPV and the dynamics involved in relationships in which IPV occurs. Using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) (Strauss, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996), we embarked on a preliminary study exploring the different types of violence perpetrated on partners among Ghanaians living in Accra. We also explored individual and group characteristics such as age, education, and relationship status as predictors of IPV. We administered the CTS2 to 150 people selected from Accra. Our findings showed gender and education associations with victimization and perpetration of IPV. We also found limited but significant associations with types of IPV. We discuss the appropriateness of the CTS2 in Ghana and discuss our findings in the light of the Ghanaian socio-cultural context.Item The integrity of socio-economic rights in a public law rights theory in Africa(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Atudiwe, A.P.On that account, this work argues that the essence of law in young African democracies must cohere with a theory of public law rights which respects and protects the wellbeing of the people by seeing socio-economic rights as an integral part of the rule of law. By this, rights listed in the constitutions of these states are not exhaustive of the rights intended to be enforced in these legal systems, and that theories of legal rights and moral rights should be integrated not only for a complete and comprehensive theory of rights, but also to aid judicial incorporation of rights norms that are necessary for the sustenance of values inherent in a constitutional democracy and human dignity.Item Sexual harassment and sexual harassment policies in organisations in Ghana: Confessions of duty bearers(University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Dzorgbo, D-B.S.; Ashe, A.S.This study investigates the nature and level of implementation of sexual harassment policies in formal organizations in Ghana. That the phenomenon of sexual harassment is widespread albeit under- reported has been repeatedly stressed in the literature as well as in many friendship and intimate interaction contexts. Its incidence is high particularly among young women and therefore constitutes sexual violence against them. The repercussions of sexual harassment do not only undermine occupational well-being, health, and safety of victims but also their marriages, families, workplace productivity and thus society at large. In this paper, we interrogate the interface between sexual harassment cases and the implementation of sexual harassment policies at workplaces. More specifically, we explore the nature of sexual harassment in work organisations, the perceptions, and understandings of those who implement sexual harassment policies in workplaces as well as the level of implementation of these policies. The data come mainly from in-depth interviews with stakeholders or duty bearers. On the basis of the findings, the need to develop and implement a comprehensive sexual harassment policy at organisational levels is identified as a crucial variable in combating sexual harassment at workplaces in Ghana.