ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Willingness and ability to pay for potable water supply and improved sanitation services in rural Ghana: a study of Amanise East District of Ashanti Region

Inadequate safe water supplies and lack of improved sanitation facilities are the main causes of water - and faecal - related diseases in the Third World. Those who suffer the most from these diseases are the poor who often use polluted water and rely on unhygienic and often inadequate sanitation facilities. Because of this they suffer debilitating diseases. Each year more than one billion people suffer from roundworm infections, 500 million from trachoma, and 200 million from schistosomiasis (World Bank, 1994). This state of affairs prompted the international community to set aside 1981 to 1990 as the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade. Even, in spite of this worldwide intervention, one billion people in the developing countries lack access to potable water, particularly the rural poor, and 1.7 billion must contend with inadequate sanitation facilities (World Bank, 1994). This is because in spite of substantial gains made during the decade, access to safe water expanded from 77 percent to 82 percent and from 30 percent to 63 percent of the population in urban and rural areas respectively. Similarly, access to adequate sanitation increased from 69 per cent to 72 per cent and from 37 per cent to 49 per cent of urban and rural residents, respectively (World Bank, 1994) . In Ghana, water and sanitation investment follow the above trend. There has been an acute skewness toward the urban areas. In the Ashanti Region, for instance, the average rural-urban coverage for water in 1992 was 47 percent to 67 percent. A worse situation pertains for sanitation investments. Besides the gap between demand and supply of the services was widening, during the said decade population of the developing world increased 23 per cent (World Bank, 1994) and this coupled with problems of inadequate cost recovery, improper operations and maintenance, among others, have left many with poor and inadequate water supply and sanitation services. The main objective of this study is to ascertain whether or not the rural poor will be willing and able to pay for improved services without subsidy. This is against the background of proven research that the urban poor pay more for improved services (Whittington, various; White, 1991). The study adopts appropriate methodological approaches like the contingent valuation method (CVM) to ascertain the people’s willingness to pay (WTP). Levels of income and mode of payment of set tariffs also play a vital role in determining the people’s ability to pay. Generally, the study finds out that the rural poor are willing to pay less for improved services but may in actual tact be unable to pay for them due to low incomes. Recommendations have therefore been put forward in regard to making improved water and sanitation services accessible to the rural poor without constraining cost recovery efforts.

Source: KNUST
Why “formal” climate adaptation strategies fail in sub-Saharan Africa: Ignoring adapters’ agency in the case of smallholding agriculture farming practices in Bono East Region of Ghana

This paper reviewed a body of literature on climate adaptation options in sub- Saharan Africa’s (SSA) smallholding agriculture and complemented it with a case study involving experts interviews, focus group discussions, large-scale household surveys, and farmer practices observation while drawing insight from the concept of “everyday adaptation and interrupted agency” and agency theory to assess farmer perceived limitations with climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and climate-wise food systems (CWFS) practices for climate adaptation in the SSA. The study noted that the narrow focus on CSA and/or CWFS as a silver bullet for climate change adaptation suitable for smallholding agriculture ignores food producers’ agency to undermine sustainable and inclusive adaptation solutions. Moreover, smallholder farmers’ everyday climate adaptation practices could be grouped into three categories; on-farm adaptation, off-farm adaptation, and Indigenous agroecological adaptation options. The on-farm adaptation options are usually agriculture intensification and extensification. The off-farm adaptation options include livelihood diversification activities, petty trading, seasonal labor jobs, and migration. The Indigenous agroecological adaptation strategy uses observing nature and weather elements to predict the onset of This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the

Source: KNUST
The willingness and ability to pay for waste management services amongst the informal sector operators in Kumasi

The management of waste continues to be a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world particularly in the rapidly growing cities of the developing countries. Hence, key stakeholders including the government, metropolitan assemblies, companies and individuals are expected to be willing to pay for the services rendered by the waste management companies. The main objective of this research was to assess the willingness and ability to pay and the relationship with utilisation of waste management services among the informal sector operators in Kumasi. It also looked at the utilisation of waste management services and the factors that influence it. Using questionnaires, data was collected from 554 respondents from Subin, Suame and Asokwa sub-metros. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were employed to analyse the data collected from the respondents. The study found that people are willing to pay for the services provided by the waste management companies and preferred private waste collectors to Metropolitan Assembly. The study showed that 54.7% of the respondents were willing to pay for waste management services. It was found that the maximum amount the respondents were willing to pay was GH¢ 23. However, it was revealed that the respondents’ willingness to pay for waste management services depends on the reliability, efficiency, cost and quality service delivery of waste management providers. Again, quality of waste management service cost of waste management service, the proximity of the waste management service providers to the people and peer influence were found to be the factors that influence people’s utilization of waste management services. The study recommended to all stakeholders including the government and its agencies, district assemblies, private waste management companies and community residences to help improve the management of waste in the country. Specifically, the study recommended to the government and its departments responsible for waste management to revise the environment and waste management policy to enrich it with the requisite strategies to ensure efficient waste management. Again, district assemblies must levy residences with moderate fees while providing quality and reliable waste management services. The pay as you dump waste management policy must be reinforced and price adjustment must be done in moderation. The study also recommends to private waste management companies to review their charges and make it affordable to majority of the people who are willing to pay for their services.

Source: KNUST
Wind Data Collection and Analysis in Kumasi

This research collected wind resource data on the campus of Kwame Nkrumah university of Science and Technology (KNUST) from March 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 mainly for educational, informational and research purposes. The wind monitoring system which was equipped with an anemometer (an NRG # 40 Maximum cup anemometer), a wind vane (an NRG # 200P wind vane) and a data logging unit (Wind Explorer™) was placed in a building environment (precisely on the rooftop of a 3-storey classroom block belonging to the College of Engineering) to collect wind resource data at 20 m above ground level. The WAsP Climate Analyst Program was used to handle a three- month time-series wind data stored on a DataPlug. The Stata Software was used to generate bar and line graphs which depict variations in wind speeds and wind directions. The WAsP Climate Analyst program was used to generate time-series graphs of wind direction and wind speed, frequency distributions of wind speeds (wind speed histogram) and a wind rose for the three continuous months of July, August and September, 2011. An online version of a Speed Calculator developed by Meteotest of Switzerland (for Suisse Eole, also of Switzerland) was used to generate the wind velocity profile of the site. The average wind speed for the seven month period was calculated as 2.2 m/s. The month of August recorded the highest monthly average wind speed of 2.6 m/s with the wind predominantly blowing from North-West due to the nature of the site. Thus, the prevailing wind direction of the selected site was North-West. The months, March and September recorded the lowest monthly average wind speed of 2.0 m/s. The month that recorded the highest gust was April with 24.9 m/s from 200°. This thesis obtained the probability density distributions of the time-series wind speeds recorded at the site as well as the energy contents of the various wind speeds.

Source: KNUST
Wind energy assessment for selected coastal sites in Ghana

No single energy source can meet the entire demands of a fast developing country like Ghana; hence optimal utilization of a mix of different energy sources has become inevitable. The main objective of this work is to assess wind energy potential of four selected coastal sites in Ghana using data from the Energy Commission of Ghana. The four locations were Aplaku, Mankoadze, Warabeba and Oshiyie located along the coast of Ghana. Characteristics of wind regimes and availability of wind energy resources for the four locations have been studied. Statistical analysis of the wind speeds measured at 12m above the ground level involving fitting of observed cumulative distribution to Weibull function, determination of the Weibull parameters and evaluation of wind power density using JMP statistical package was carried out. The potential of wind power in the coastal sites was further investigated by determining the frequency, wind direction and velocity over one year period using wind data measured at ten minutes interval The velocity duration curves for the four selected sites were drawn and the power outputs and levelised production cost have been estimated for four selected wind turbines namely, Bonus 300/33.4, Nordex 600/43 and Bonus 1000/54. The annual mean wind speed at a height of 12 m above ground level for the four locations, namely, Aplaku, Mankoadze, Warabeba and Oshiyie are 4.75 m/s, 4.51 m/s, 4.0 m/s and 3.88 m/s respectively and the corresponding annual wind power densities are 103.91 W/m2, 97.78 W/m2, 60.78 W/m2 and 77.98 W/m2. The estimated levelised production cost of electricity for the four selected turbines ranges between 6.08-7.32 cents/kWh for Aplaku, 6.6-8.0 cents/kWh for Mankoadze, 8.3- 9.9 cents/kWh for Warabeba and 11.0-12.5 cents/kWh for Oshiyie. Thus, the four sites hold potential for wind energy exploitation.

Source: KNUST
Woman in Ghanaian art: (A Study of Ghanaian Woman as Subject and Practitioner of the arts)

The purpose of this thesis is to study the various ways in which woman line been portrayed in the traditional and contemporary visual arts of Ghana, and to document the activities of some outstanding Ghanaian women artists. The first part deals with woman as a subject in Ghanaian art, which to an extent involve an examination of the modes of thought that influence the art and Life of Ghanaians - given us an ‘ideal women’ projected by the arts. The second part considers woman as an artist, providing a historical perspective in an attempt to understand the changing role of women artists in the context of a changing socio-economic environment. A chapter is devoted to the documentation of some outstanding Ghanaian woman artists. Some sub problems considered in this thesis are the change in attitude of Ghanaians to women’s role outside the home the experiences of women artists in the male-dominated Ghanaian art scene and the impact Ghanaian woman artists have made on the general public in the last decade. The visual arts serve the basic for this study.

Source: KNUST
Women in management in tertiary institutions in Ghana: a case study of Ho Polytechnic.

The main objective of this research is to investigate the issue of women in management in tertiary institutions of which Ho Polytechnic is the case study. In all, one hundred and ten questionnaires were sent out for responses in the Ho Polytechnic community, which is the population of interest. The original data was transferred unto an SPSS spreadsheet for analysis. The study revealed that there are more male master's degree holders than their female counterparts, while there are also more female bachelor degree only holders than the male. However, both sexes have about the same number of PhD holders in the population under study. In addition, the study found out that though some women were part of management it was also seen that managerial staff were mostly men. The respondents were of the view that a managers gender does not matter but were quick to add that women do not show the same manners, expertise and drive as men. This assertion is consistent with the conceptual framework of the research which is glass ceiling- transparent barrier that keep women from advancing to top management positions simply because they are females. Other challenges revealed by the study as confronting women are stereotyping and how to combine work and family balance as well as how to erase the perception that women are their own enemies. In the light of the above, the study made a number of recommendations which when implemented will increase the number of women in management in tertiary institutions in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Women participation in food production: a case study of women tomato growers in Tuobodom, Techiman District in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Food shortage in Ghana like many other African countries is the result of low Productive of small scale farmers, majority of whom are women. Women’s low productivity in food production is caused by inability of the government and development agencies to identify women as the main producers of food. Measures to increase food production have to be addressed to women small sc4e farmers. With this understanding, the field study was carried out to look into factors which hinder women’s productive in tomato cultivation at Tuobodom, Techiman Districts Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana as a case study. The result of the study shows that the women’s income is 1ow which load to low savings for agricultural investment. They have no access to credit, extension services, farm implements, farm in1uts, storage and market facilities. In addition, household activities limit their effective participation in farm work. Some technical and social services are lacking too. Factors which are causing the women’s low productivity are technical and social. A well designed and effectively implemented programme which will enable women to have access to moans of production such as credits extension services, farm input labour, marketing, adaption of improved technology at household and farm levels to reduce labour intensive activities have boon proposed. The aggregate effects of those proposals should increase tomato output, increase women’s incomes as well as their standard of living.

Source: KNUST
Women’s contribution to local economic development: A study of women in cassava production and processing in Central Tongu District.

The study examined women’s contribution to local economic development (LED) via cassava production and processing in Central Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana. Survey research methodology using questionnaires and guided interviews were used in collecting data required for the study. Proportional stratified probability sampling with simple random sampling technique was used to select 171 respondents out of 296 in the sampling frame. The objectives of the study were to examine the effects of women’s socio-economic factors on cassava production and processing, assess activities performed by the women, ascertain their sources of support, assess profitability of cassava production and processing as economic activities and examine problems women faced in cassava production and processing in the study area. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The coefficient of determination (R2) was only 0.063 indicating the model used had low goodness of fit. Out of six socio-economic factors analysed, only educational level and family size had significant effects on cassava production and processing in the district. The analysis revealed also that cassava production and processing were profitable economic activities in the district. In addition, the results showed that 65 percent of the women were married, 79 percent completed formal education and 29 percent performed farm activities such as land preparation and 45 percent the post farm activities such as processing and products marketing. The majority (64%) of the respondents depended on ploughed back profit for their cassava businesses. The results revealed again that only 37 percent of the women received cassava varieties and 75 percent of them did not have access to extension services delivery. Finally, the results showed that 17 percent and 11 percent of the women hired labour services at the farm and post farm levels of their activities respectively.

Source: KNUST
Women and political participation: a case study of bantama constituency, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana .

The participation of women in politics has been thoroughly discussed in line with efforts of achieving democratic governance. As it is in most developing countries in Africa and other parts of the world, women in Ghana are yet to find their bearing in politics of the country. The study sought the interest of women in politics, determined the challenges militating against the participation of women in politics as well as measures put in place by various organizations to tackle these challenges. It is a descriptive and exploratory survey. The study adopted a sample of 300 women using the purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires and focused group discussions. The quantitative data which involved the use of questionnaires, were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies, percentages and the chi-square test of significance. Data obtained from focus group discussion with women involved in politics were analysed with themes . The study found that the participation of women in politics is low. To buttress it, it was revealed that , since 1992 till date, only 35.5 percent of women out of the over 51 percent population of Ghana participate in the district assembly politics. It was also revealed that women who participate in politics are faced with varios challenges such as stigmatization, financial problems, competition etc. These problems exist from time to time. It was concluded that, Women have low interest in political participation especially in local governance in the political processes of Ghana. It is very essential for women to let go off the belief that politics is meant for men and rather realize that they are very important. The study identified the challenges militating against women participation in politics as lack of funding, lack of support from party members and unsupportive media. It was also established that women in politics find it difficult combining their family roles with politics. Recommendations such as adhering to the implementation of the affirmative action, encouraging adult education were also made so as to improve the participation of women in politics through government and women advocacy groups.

Source: KNUST
Women’s productive activities and informal credit: a case study of Atebubu District

The Atebubu district economy like the national is a dualistic economy with a large informal sector and a small formal sector. Women, who constitute the backbone of rural informal manufacturing and commercial sectors, occupy a subordinate status by virtue of their traditionally ascribed gender roles, marginalised in decision-making processes and relatively disadvantaged with regard to resource allocation. Their relative lack of basic literacy and numeracy and marketable skills confines them to the residual portion of the informal sector. Difficulties in capital formation and access to formal institutional credit is adjudged to be the most critical constraint to the productive activities of women in the informal sector, yet these same characteristics combine with operational constraints in the formal financial sector to marginalise their patronage of formal financial institutions and access to institutional credit. Their marginalisation by formal financial institutions thus pushes them into using informal financial institutions. The commonly held notion that informal financial institutions are safe havens was however not substantiated by the facts gathered in the study. Except for hopes offered by some informal institutions for intermediation, the usage patterns of respondents and the performance of the enterprises studied show that they are not viable options for investment capital. Enterprises funded from these sources are typically small, with marginal and sometimes, negative returns, slow rates of expansion and a life span akin to the developmental cycle of the family- specifically to the period in which the procreation and upbringing of children takes place. This state of affairs explains why the manufacturing sector of Atebubu District is losing female labour to the Commercial Sector because of perceived higher returns. The increasing demand for non-farm employment, low returns to rural petty commodity production (with implications for family welfare ) and the threat of future migration to urban areas in search of better sources of livelihood calls for concerted efforts to address constraints to rural production and to ensure the integration of women into the main stream of the economy. The solutions advocated here range from practical to strategic interventions which would complement the efforts of banks and financial intermediaries, to grassroots mobilisation of financial resources informed by credit plus’ policies.

Source: KNUST