ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Local economic development in Ghana: From the ‘lost decades’ to a policy ‘maturing’ stage

Analysis and studies of local economic development (LED) tend to be under the rubric of case studies to the neglect of their historical context and the role of international development agencies. This article attempts to fill this gap by focusing on the experiences of Ghana. Adopting a systematic review of the policy documents and existing literature, it was found that, despite its significance, LED was not the priority of the governments of pre and post immediate independence era. In the fourth republic of Ghana, LED gained prominence in the various policy documents but this appears to be rhetoric and camouflage because they have not seen real implementation. However, international development agencies have played a significant role in initiating, funding and implementing specific LED activities in the various districts in Ghana. Overall, LED in Ghana has crawled from the ‘lost decades’ to a policy ‘maturing stage’.

Source: UG
Local Economic Development Initiatives in Ghana: The Challenges and the Way Forward

This case study presents and analyses Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives and challenges from two districts in Ghana. The study is a qualitative case study that uses individual interviews through purposive selection from officials who are directly involved in the formulation and implementation of district development initiatives. The study found that the district does not have a LED policy in place but have initiated and implemented a number of programmes that are pro-LED. These programmes are in the area of agriculture, human resource development, financing and infrastructure development. However, the implementation of these initiatives has encountered many challenges such as inadequate human resource, finance, absence of LED policy and improper collaboration among local level actors. The paper provides the way forward for the initiation and implementation of LED at the local level.

Source: UG
Local farmers’ experiences and perceptions of climate change in the Northern Savannah Zone of Ghana

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the perceptions and experiences of climate change by local farmers in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana. Although recent scholarship shows that local people’s perceptions of climate change is necessary for devising strategies to deal with the problem, only a few researchers have examined local knowledge of climate change in Africa. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were collected from six rural communities in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana, using a questionnaire survey on a sample of 530 farmers, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse variations in experience and perception of climate change. Findings – A majority of the farmers have noticed rising temperatures and declining rainfall. Their observations largely correspond with the evidence of changes recorded by weather monitoring stations. The perception of climate change is associated with locality of residence, gender and ownership of radio. The impacts of climate and variability include declining crop output, food insecurity and water stress. Respondents attributed changes in climatic parameters to economic activities and spiritual factors. It is recommended that environmental managers should actively involve local farmers in the design and implementation of policies to control climate change and variability. Originality/value – The methodology used demonstrates how multinomial logit models can be used to investigate perceptions of climate change. The research findings also provide very useful information that can be relied upon to design policies to deal with climate change and variability in Ghana.

Source: UG
Local farmers’ experiences and perceptions of climate change in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the perceptions and experiences of climate change by local farmer sin the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana. Although recent scholarship shows that local people’s perceptions of climate change is necessary for devising strategies to deal with the problem, only a few researchers have examined local knowledge of climate change in Africa. Design/methodology/approach - Primary data were collected from six rural communities in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana, using a questionnaire survey on a sample of 530 farmers, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse variations in experience and perception of climate change. Findings - A majority of the farmers have noticed rising temperatures and declining rainfall. Their observations largely correspond with the evidence of changes recorded by weather monitoring stations. The perception of climate change is associated with locality of residence, gender and ownership of radio. The impacts of climate and variability include declining crop output, food insecurity and water stress. Respondents attributed changes in climatic parameters to economic activities and spiritual factors. It is recommended that environmental managers should actively involve local farmers in the design and implementation of policies to control climate change and variability. Originality/value - The methodology used demonstrates how multinomial logit models can be used to investigate perceptions of climate change. The research findings also provide very useful in formation that can be relied upon to design policies to deal with climate change and variability in Ghana. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
The Local Food Environment and Body Mass Index among the Urban Poor in Accra, Ghana.

Obesity in the sub-Saharan Africa region has been portrayed as a problem of affluence, partly because obesity has been found to be more common in urban areas and among the rich. Recent findings, however, reveal rising prevalence among the poor particularly the urban poor. A growing body of literature mostly in Western countries shows that obesity among the poor is partly the result of an obesogenic-built environment. Such studies are lacking in the African context. This study examines the characteristics of the local food environment in an urban poor setting in Accra, Ghana and further investigates the associated risk of obesity for residents. Data on the local food environment was collected using geographic positioning system (GPS) technology. The body mass indices (BMI) of females (15–49 years) and males (15–59 years) were calculated from measured weight and height. Data on the socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors of respondents was also collected through a household survey. Spatial analysis tools were used to examine the characteristics of the local food environment while the influence of the food environment on BMI was examined using a two-level multilevel model. The measures of the food environment constituted the level 2 factors while individual socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors constituted the level 1 factors. The local food environment in the study communities is suggestive of an obesogenic food environment characterized by an abundance of out-of-home cooked foods, convenience stores, and limited fruits and vegetables options. The results of the multilevel analysis reveal a 0.2 kg/m2 increase in BMI for every additional convenience store and a 0.1 kg/m2 reduction in BMI for every out-of-home cooked food place available in the study area after controlling for individual socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and community characteristics. The findings of this study indicate that the local food environment in urban poor Accra is associated with increased risk of obesity through providing access to convenience stores. In order to reduce the risk of obesity in these urban poor communities, there is the need to regulate the availability of and access to convenience stores while also encouraging healthier offerings in convenience stores

Source: UG
Local government finance in Ghana: Disbursement and Utilization of the MPs share of the District Assemblies Common Fund

The establishment of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) in 1993 and concomitant percentage set aside for Members of Parliament (MPs) in 2004 aims to support local governments and legislators in pro-poor development activities in their communities and constituencies. In spite of the importance of the MPs’ share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (MPsCF) in financing local level development in Ghana, very little is known about monitoring systems and procedures on the disbursement and utilization of the funds. The study therefore assessed qualitative data derived from interviews with officials from selected Local Government Authorities (LGAs) as well as other key stakeholders in the disbursement and utilization of the fund. The study findings point to the absence of legislative instrument on the management of the MPsCF. Further, monitoring of the fund was a responsibility shared by the LGAs and other external stakeholders. Finally, the effectiveness of monitoring the disbursement and utilization of the MPsCF was strongly influenced by the relationship between the Chief Executive of the Local Government Authority (LGCE) and MPs in the local government area.

Source: UG
Local Government Financing of Climate Change in Ghana: Politics of Aid and Central Government Dependency Syndrome

Uncertainties about the amount of resources needed to combat climate change, dwindling local resources, limited local autonomy and limited expertise constrain local governments (LGs) in their response to the effects of climate change. As a result, financing climate change remains a major nightmare for LG actors across diverse nested territorial containers. It certainly requires the embracing of a multifaceted approach – the use of system thinking where local governments’ resource husbandry is optimised to support external aid and central government transfer. A multifaceted approach brings onboard blended resources, diverse stakeholders, diverse resource mobilisation skills and schemes, and accountability measures. Also, given projected increases in future climate-induced public expenditure, albeit with uncertainties, reliance on a single resource mobilisation approach will be a recipe for inefficiency. This article argues that developmental aid and central government’s transfer remains inadequate to meet the increasing demand for adaptation cost at the local level in Ghana. In the face of the unequivocal impact of climate change risk, we contend that local resource husbandry must be optimised through different innovations to complement other major sources of financing. Our contention resonates with the school of thought that argues local level resources are more resilient to politicisation, are stable, and are predictable compared to international aid and central government transfer. Through qualitative in-depth interviews, empirical data has been drawn from local governments in Ghana to justify our claims.

Source: UG
Local iatrogenic complications in nasopharyngeal rhinoscleroma

The possible role of surgical manipulation in inducing local spread and cicatricial complications in rhinoscleroma is illustrated by the three cases discussed in this paper. This is especially so where its occasional presentation as polypoid lesions of the lower respiratory tract may mimic other more sinister lesions and lead to unwarranted invasive procedures by the unsuspecting clinician. The infective nature of the lesions must be appreciated and confirmed microbiologically for appropriate drug treatment to be used. The benefits of minimal surgical intervention are illustrated in the third case.

Source: UG
Local institutions and adaptive capacity to climate change/variability in the northern savannah of Ghana

Ghana faces several challenges from climate change/variability. Local institutions provide the framework within which idiosyncratic capacities of local people can be exercised in their adaptation to climate change. This paper examines the importance of formal and informal institutions for building adaptive capacity. Both formal and informal institutions play different but complementary roles in enabling or preventing the ability to cope, benefit and adapt to climate change. Responses to climate change in northern Ghana are dependent on the nature of institutions that grant people access to resources; define their exposure to climate threats; and dictate the rate of recovery from debilitating disasters. The effectiveness of institutions is constrained by their limited spatial and temporal reach, limited financial and human resources, and sometimes the faulty strategy designs and implementation procedures. Traditional institutions may malfunction when modern interpretations of tradition are in the interests of custodians of tradition rather than the ordinary poor. We emphasize the need for synergy between institutions that support adaptive capacities of the poor, and request corrective measures to institutions that lead to maladaptation.

Source: UG
Local institutions and adaptive capacity to climate change/variability in the northern savannah of Ghana

Ghana faces several challenges from climate change/variability. Local institutions provide the framework within which idiosyncratic capacities of local people can be exercised in their adaptation to climate change. This paper examines the importance of formal and informal institutions for building adaptive capacity. Both formal and informal institutions play different but complementary roles in enabling or preventing the ability to cope, benefit and adapt to of tradition rather than the ordinary poor. We emphasize the need for synergy between institutions that climate change. Responses to climate change in northern Ghana are dependent on the nature of institutions that grant people access to resources; define their exposure to climate threats; and dictate the rate of recovery from debilitating disasters. The effectiveness of institutions is constrained by their limited spatial and temporal reach, limited financial and human resources, and sometimes the faulty strategy designs and implementation procedures. Traditional institutions may malfunction when modern interpretations of tradition are in the interests of custodians support adaptive capacities of the poor, and request corrective measures to institutions that lead to maladaptation.

Source: UG
Local knowledge and practices towards malaria in an irrigated farming community in Ghana

Background Although malaria is endemic across Ghana, the risk is generally elevated for residents living in and around stagnant water bodies such as dams and irrigated farming projects. What knowledge do these at-risk populations have about the aetiology and symptoms of malaria? What are their coping strategies? And what interventions are needed to help improve the health outcomes of people living in high-risk malaria communities? Methods This study addressed these research questions with primary data, comprising both qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, collected in Asutsuare—a rural irrigated farming community located in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Results Results from the fieldwork showed that awareness of malaria as a major health concern in the community was universal. Respondents also displayed a high knowledge of some common clinical symptoms of malaria. Yet, only 3% out of the total survey respondents of 337 indicated they immediately visit a health facility for treatment whenever they suspected malaria. The overwhelming majority (about 97%) indicated they only visit a healthcare facility for treatment if they felt the suspected malaria illness was severe and/or other treatment options had failed. Conclusion Malaria testing training for drug dispensing personnel as well as the provision of malaria testing kits in drug dispensing stores are necessary to facilitate early malaria screening and timely diagnosis particularly in rural endemic areas.

Source: UG
Local Market Institutions and Solid Waste Management in Accra’s Open-Air Markets

Solid waste management is a global concern that has been handled in several ways in different parts of the world. In cities of the Global North, measures meant to prevent or minimise solid waste generation and its associated challenges are based on the waste management hierarchy, whereas in cities in the Global South, the active involvement of the public and private sectors is well documented. Existing studies cover practices of solid waste collection, reuse, recycling and landfilling by private formal and private informal actors. The term informal actors has often been used to refer to itinerant waste buyers, waste pickers and recyclers. Local African institutions existing in marketplaces – such as women known as ‘market queens’ or ‘commodity queens’ and market chairmen, whose management roles are not necessarily geared towards livelihood creation – have, however, been neglected. This lack of attention to the roles of local institutions in solid waste management potentially undermines efforts aimed at waste minimisation and the achievement of policy measures such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Sustainable Development Goal 11) that seeks to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Hence, based on the cases of the Kaneshie, Kantamanto and Madina markets in Accra, empirical evidence of the role that local market institutions play in solid waste management is provided. Based on this, an argument is made for removing structural barriers impeding local market institutions’ participation in existing systems for managing urban market environments.

Source: UG
Local Meanings and Perceptions of Women’s Empowerment: Qualitative Evidence from Female and Male Farmers in Rural Ghana

Assessing the relationship between empowerment and nutrition along the agriculture nutrition pathway is limited by dissimilar emic and etic views of the construct, limited understanding of its contextual variation, and measurement difficulties. This study explored local meanings and perceptions of empowerment among women and men farmers in rural Ghana. The qualitative study took place within the LinkINg Up project, a quasi-experimental, nutrition-sensitive agriculture intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03869853) in three sub-districts of the Eastern Region. The intervention was implemented through farmer-based organizations (FBO) that were selected using a set of criteria such as female representation and level of member participation. Within the FBO, all women were recruited to participate along with one male adult family member (spouse/partner, older son, father). Non-FBO members (women and their male family member) from the same communities were also enrolled as a comparison group. This manuscript addresses an independent research question on empowerment, not the LinkINg Up intervention outcomes. For the question, participants (53 females and 45 males) were selected purposefully based on FBO membership of the woman (member, non-member). During the first three months of the project, eight focus group discussions (FGD) with women and seven FGD with men were conducted to probe into local understandings of empowerment and women’s empowerment (WE). The FGD were translated to English from the local language and transcripts were coded using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach (open, axial, selective coding) with MAXQDA 2022. Women and men described empowerment in terms of an individual’s capability to improve circumstances by setting and meeting intentional and measurable goals. The construct of empowerment was made up of internal and external components. Internal components were those that were essential to allow one to be empowered, such as self-confidence, while the external components of empowerment were related to personal and community factors that empowered people, for example, asset ownership and social support. Emic understandings of WE were often related to women’s relationships with others and their roles (reproductive, productive, and community) within the studied context. The local descriptions of an empowered woman were categorized as someone who: i) exhibits qualities that are perceived to help one achieve goals, ii) takes actions to achieve goals, and iii) works with others to achieve own goals or common goals. When assessing WE in the study area, it is important to incorporate measures for women’s goal-setting capacity in relation to farming and business activities, and their ability to implement their goals, while taking into account relational aspects.

Source: UG
Local participation beyond the law: Gendered employment in Ghanaian oil and gas companies

Oil and gas extraction can promote development through inter-sectoral linkages with the broader national economies. Increasingly, there is an emphasis on revenue management and local content laws aimed at fostering extractive sector-led development in African countries due to the neglect of gender dynamics within the sector. This paper examines the factors that influence women employees’ progression into leadership positions in Ghanaian companies in the oil and gas sector using 2 case studies. The findings show gender segregation of work and underrepresentation of women in technical, management, and senior management positions. While underrepresenting women in technical positions is unsurprising, the study shows an equally low representation of women in support roles, often considered a preserve for women. Effectively, there is a stark income inequality between men and women as men dominate the highly paid and strategic positions as compared to women. We argue that while local content laws can promote local participation in the extractive sector, in Ghana, there is a reinforcement of gender asymmetry between men’s and women’s employment and income. Thus, local content laws must move beyond promoting local participation to ensuring gender-responsive policies and programmes in the oil and gas sector.

Source: UG
Local Participation Beyond The Law: Gendered Employment In Ghanaian Oil And Gas Companies.

Oil and gas extraction can promote development through inter-sectoral linkages with the broader national economies. Increasingly, there is an emphasis on revenue management and local content laws aimed at fostering extractive sector-led development in African countries due to the neglect of gender dynamics within the sector. This paper examines the factors that influence women employees’ progression into leadership positions in Ghanaian companies in the oil and gas sector using 2 case studies. The findings show gender segregation of work and underrepresentation of women in technical, management, and senior management positions. While underrepresenting women in technical positions is unsurprising, the study shows an equally low representation of women in support roles, often considered a preserve for women. Effectively, there is a stark income inequality between men and women as men dominate the highly paid and strategic positions as compared to women. We argue that while local content laws can promote local participation in the extractive sector, in Ghana, there is a reinforcement of gender asymmetry between men’s and women’s employment and income. Thus, local content laws must move beyond promoting local participation to ensuring gender-responsive policies and programmes in the oil and gas sector.

Source: UG