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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Subject: search.filters.subject.developing countries

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    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 weak
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    Addressing ethical issues in suicide research in Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2015-04-17) Akotia, C.S.; Osafo, J.
    Suicide is a sensitive issue around the globe and research in the area in Ghana has exuded certain ethical challenges confronting researchers on the topic. These ethical issues bother on the moral dilemmas faced by the researchers while conducting qualitative interviews among suicide attempters and lay persons as well as the beneficial effects of conducting such interviews. We argue that researchers doing suicide studies in developing countries should continue to emphasize to informants their role as 'researchers' and not therapists. However, perhaps in LAMIC countries with limited mental health resources, researchers can reasonably double as a helper and researcher. Such dualistic role should not be viewed as a breach of standard ethical protocol, but rather, perhaps as a dynamic artifact of doing 'culturally sensitive' research.
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    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 management