Change and continuity in the practice and development of geography in Ghana

Abstract

Societal change and the conceptualization of knowledge production are key instruments in defining the trajectory of academic disciplines. This chapter discusses the evolution of the discipline of geography and its contribution to knowledge and public policy and practice in Ghana. It examines the writings and portfolios held by key geographers and the content of academic courses in the country. Geography in Ghana reflects both the modernization of Ghanaian society and the philosophical evolution of global knowledge production. These are reflected in the content, nature, and contributions of the discipline from the colonial era to the contemporary society. The thematic orientation of the subject reflects societal dynamics and thereby needs to be accredited for the proliferation of areas of specialization. These specializations and the redefinition of content and focus of thematic areas are responses to both societal needs and wider epistemological changes. Ghanaian geographers have contributed immensely to the generation of knowledge and the dissemination of geographic research for national development. However, physical geography has lagged behind human geography over the years due primarily to the lack of adequate infrastructure and funding. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights reserved.