The Perspectives of Ghanaian Political Leaders and Citizens Concerning the Development and Implementation of the Ghana Vision 2020 Development Plan

The purpose of this qualitative research case study is to collect, investigate, and assess Ghanaian citizens’ and political leaders’ perspectives and viewpoints regarding the success or failure of Ghana Vision 2020 and the challenges facing developing nations. The study used a descriptive approach to examine Ghana’s Vision 2020 and the country’s development challenges using a descriptive methodology and primary and secondary sources. The 105 participants for the study included 65 males and 40 females living in Ghana. The theoretical framework of this study are modernization, globalization, and dependency theories. To that end, the study set out to investigate the question: What are the perspectives of Ghanaian political leaders and citizens on whether Ghana’s Vision 2020 has been effective? Based on the research question, data were obtained from personnel from Ghana National Development Planning Commission, politicians, chiefs and ordinary citizens above 18-years residing in urban and rural Ghana. To collect data for this study, I met with qualified participants in their locations and public spaces to convey the study’s objective. Tapes and cell phone recordings were used to record interviews to ensure the accuracy of data transcription. All data were manually analyzed utilizing a “data analysis spiral.” It was accomplished by organizing ideas, reading and noting emergent ideas and reflections, and classifying, evaluating, and evaluating interpretations. After repeatedly listening to the audio recordings, an inventory of ideas was compiled. The study’s large number of participants necessitated using Excel sheets to record interview-derived participant thoughts and topics

Do Fewer Resources Mean Less Influence? A Comparative Historical Case Study of Military Influence in a Time of Austerity

View the Executive SummaryAs military conflicts come to an end, it is not uncommon for societies to expect a “peace dividend” and to engage in elite and popular conversations about how much defense spending is still needed. The issues are similar across countries and time periods: How can defense planners preserve capabilities, avoid the reversibility problem, and plan for the long term? How can they guide the development of technologies and doctrines in a climate of austerity? This manuscript draws lessons from previous historic situations and applies them to today.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1471/thumbnail.jp

Inter-Organizational Networks Among Intergovernmental Organizations In Peace Operations

Notwithstanding the growing consensus on benefits associated with collaborations among intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) in peace operations, academic research has thus far neglected pressing questions of why and how IGOs collaborate within a network context in peace operations and how these inter-organizational collaborations among IGOs, IGO networks, might account for the success/failure of these operations. More specifically, this dissertation concentrates on how structural properties of IGO networks, such as the extensiveness of ties between network partners, and the cohesiveness of such networks, may account for peace operations’ performance in accomplishing their core goals: violence abatement, conflict containment and conflict settlement (Diehl and Druckman 2010). Drawing on a multidisciplinary framework bringing together insights from international relations, social network analysis and organizational studies, I argued, consistent with the extant literature, centralized and closed IGO networks—whether formally structured through time or ad hoc in each conflict—will have a moderating effect on network effectiveness. Particularly, I hypothesized that since they will improve and facilitate coordination in peace operations and achieve a more coherent IGO presence, dense and centralized inter-organizational networks formed by IGOs would be more likely to be successful in implementing the core tasks of peace missions. This study uses newly collected relational data of inter-organizational collaborations among IGOs in peace operations deployed in internal armed conflicts and covers the period 1990 to 2013 to examine and assess the role of these collaborations, and their structural characteristics in peace operations outcomes. My hypotheses are tested using inferential network analysis and logit models to capture the effect of inter-organizational networks on peace operations outcomes. Though I found strong evidence that dense IGO networks are more likely to succeed in abating violence and containing conflicts in peace operations, my findings demonstrate that centralization, i.e., whether the network cohesion is centered around focal organization(s), does not matter for the performance of such missions, and the effectiveness of collaborations. I found mixed evidence regarding the role of the host country and the conflict characteristics associated with the success of peace operations

Bible translation in Christian mission : a case study of the spiritual and socio-cultural impact of the Bible translation strategy of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation on the Dega people of Ghana.

Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004After participants had been told of the processes of Bible translation during a prayer partners meeting of Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT), one of them asked, "After the people have been given the Scriptures, what happens?" This study has been an attempt to supply answers to such questions. It attempts to ascertain the impact that the Bible translation strategy (BTS) of GILLBT has had on the Dega people of Ghana, especially their socio-cultural and spiritual lives. The study uses Darrell Whiteman's conceptual framework of Integral Human Development to analyse how the Bible translation strategy has contributed to their human development. The BTS comprises linguistic and anthropological research, Bible translation, literacy and development and Scripture-In-Use. The dissertation traces the historical origins and the rich but distinctive cultural beliefs and practices of the Dega. The results have shown that rete WJ bi ka, tete WJ bi kyere, "the past has a lot to say and teach us". The emergence of the Church and the BTS in the Dega Hare (Degaland) has also been outlined. One fact that runs through all the stories is the conspicuous role that the laity played in bringing the Church to Dega Hare. The Church came as early as in the 1930s, mostly from the south of the country. However, the situation is changing and from the 1990s Dega initiated churches are emerging. The BTS has been in Dega Hare since 1981 and some of the fruits have been the Deg New Testament, an ongoing Old Testament translation, a literacy program that has made over three thousand Dega literate in Deg, a Scripture use promotion program called Scripture-In-Use and an indigenous organisation, Deg Language Project. The dissertation analyses the socio-cultural and spiritual impact that the BTS has had on Dega in chapters four and five. It uses human interest stories and testimonies to depict the impact on the lives of individuals and communities. The dissertation ends with a summary of the findings and some recommendations for the future

This work was supported by The Department of the Interior Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, which is managed by the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

53 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 28 cmThis report is designed as a living document to inform the community, decision makers, and academics and to serve as a learning and teaching tool. The nine key messages summarized on pages 6 and 7 are intended for use as a quick reference. Unique for this type of report, these key messages highlight actions by Juneau's civil society, including local nonprofit organizations.We thank the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) for its support in bringing this vital information on climate change to the Juneau community and to others. Thanks especially to all the co-authors and other contributors. The inclusion of such a diverse array of material, including local knowledge, was made possible by the many elders, scientists, and local experts who contributed their time and expertise. The report is online at acrc.alaska.edu/ juneau-climate-report. It is an honor to be the lead editor and project manager for this critical effort. We have a chance to save our world from the most extreme effects of climate change. Let us take it. Gunalchéesh, sincerely, James E. Powell (Jim), PhD, Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center, UASWelcome / Thomas F. Thornton -- Juneau's climate report: History and background / Bruce Botelho -- Using this report -- Acknowledgements / James E. Powell -- A regional Indigenous perspective on adaptation: The Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska's Climate Change Adaptation Plan / Raymond Paddock -- Nine key messages -- What we're experiencing: Atmospheric, marine, terrestrial, and ecological effects. Climate. Setting and seasons / Tom Ainsworth -- More precipitation / Rick Thoman -- Higher temperatures / Rich Thoman -- Less snowfall / Eran Hood -- Ocean. Surface uplift and sea level rise / Eran Hood -- Extensive effects of a warming ocean / Heidi Pearson -- Increasing ocean acidification / Robert Foy -- Land. More landslides / Sonia Nagorski & Aaron Jacobs -- Mendenhall Glacier continues to retreat / Jason Amundson -- Tongass Forest impacts and carbon / Dave D'Amore -- Animals. Terrestrial vertebrates in A¿¿ak'w & T'aak¿łu Aani¿¿ / Richard Carstensen -- Three animals as indicators of change / Richard Carstensen -- Insects / Bob Armstrong -- What we're doing: Community response. Upgrading ifrastructure and mitigation / Katie Koester -- Upgrading utilities and other energy consumers / Alec Mesdag -- Growing demand for hydropower / Duff Mitchell -- Leading a shift in transportation / Duff Mitchell -- Maintaining mental health through community and recreation / Linda Kruger & Kevin Maier -- Food security / Darren Snyder & Jim Powell -- Large cruise ship air emissions / Jim Powell -- Tourists' views on climate change mitigation / Jim Powell -- Lowering greenhouse gas emissions / Jim Powell & Peggy Wilcox -- Residents taking action / Andy Romanoff & Jim Powell -- Summary and Recommendations -- References -- Graphics and data sources -- Appendix: Juneau nonprofit climate change organization

Striking a balance between the secrecy of online communication and online criminal investigation in South Africa

In the Republic of South Africa (‘RSA’), there are exponentially increasing and indeterminable consequential risks and breaches involved in the spontaneous and indispensable personal, official and general anatomic uses of the quicksilver, complex and delicate conscriptive, interoperable, non-compartmentalised and non-passworded compartmentalised online communication devices, technologies, networks, applications, and services. These risks and breaches result in a disequilibrium in the following antithetical legal vector argument. On the one hand, these risks and breaches are attributed to the non-recognition, and inadequate protection of the independent and unique right in online communication, the concept of which originates from the jurisprudence of the broad gamut of the right to privacy. On the other hand, these risks are exacerbated by the increasing, unrestrictive and perpetual techno-legal abuse of online communication by law enforcement agencies or officers (‘LEAs’ or ‘LEOs’) of the alternative conduct of the covert online criminal investigation (‘OCI’) of serious offences, arising from the dearth of and non-compliance with the regulation for the conduct of an OCI. This dual study clinically examines the irreconcilable conflict between the protection of the right in online communication and the public criminal mandate of the State to conduct an OCI of serious offences. Firstly, this study investigates the existence of the levels of risks involved in the conscriptive, interoperable, non-compartmentalised and non-passworded compartmentalised continua of privacy interests in online communication, requiring a corresponding protective and secure regime in the conduct of an OCI. Secondly, it probes into the various substantive and procedural thresholds required in the limitation of the right in online communication when conducting an OCI. Lastly, it examines the mechanisms for institutional and structural independence, competence, due process, separation of powers and checks and balances in the conduct and oversight of the conduct of an OCI in the RSA. Consequently, the examination of the above issues reveals the absence, inadequacy of, and non-compliance with the substantive and procedural constitutional, legislative and policy framework that caters for the protection of the right in online communication and the conduct of an OCI in the RSA. Accordingly and specifically, this study proposes that the RSA adopts an adequate constitutional and single legislative framework to address the contemporary societal techno-legal tapestry in the conflict between the right in online communication and the conduct of an OCI of serious offences in the RSA as follows. Firstly, it is imperative to unequivocally, in the legal framework in the RSA, including the Constitution, consider the existence of higher levels of risks and the simultaneous or consequential recognition of the higher levels of protection of the invaluability in online communication —including the emerging quantum computing— in contrast with non-online communications. This contrast hierarchically compels the unimpeachable protection of the independent right to the secrecy of online communication (‘SOC’), which is inadequately and incongruously protected as mere online privacy in section 14 of the Constitution of the RSA. Secondly, it is equally crucial to consider the application of or compliance with adequate substantive and procedural scientific threshold requirements to conduct an OCI of serious offences in the RSA. These requirements include the application of: online conscription; section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act; ‘no server, but law’ principle as opposed to the U.S. ‘no server, no law’ principle; robotic and non-robotic OCI; ex-parte and non-ex-parte verbal and written quadripartite techno-legal individual and mass online criminal investigation of privileged and non-privileged online communications by ghost and non-ghost applicants; pre and post OCI data management procedure and admissibility of void and voidable evidence. Furthermore, it is of great importance to apply the all-embracing proportionality principle in section 36 of the Constitution in which this study, from a contrarian belief, classifies serious offences into six categories under four criteria and propounds some definite and functional Popoola mathematical and non-mathematical formulae in the standard of proof required to conduct an OCI, the procedure of which should be incorporated in a legislation. Thirdly and finally, it is of utmost significance to, in the legal framework in the RSA, including the Constitution, consider the application of or compliance with safeguard mechanisms in the conduct of an OCI. These mechanisms are to ensure the inviolability of the principles or requirements of structural and institutional independence, competence, due process, separation of powers and checks and balances in the conduct and oversight of the conduct of an OCI of serious offences by LEAs or LEOs and other stakeholders respectively.Public, Constitutional, and International LawLL. D

The Continuities Within the Ghanaian Festival Scene: The Performance of Nation Building and Identity Formation

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College

Analysing the use of compellence during peace operations

Compellence is a strategy that employs pressure to induce others to take specific actions. Contemporary international peace operations are expected to use force, if necessary, to protect civilians and/or maintain and restore order in the very volatile environment of post-civil war states. This challenging task requires peacekeepers to proactively change the status quo through compelling local warring factions to stop violence, disarm, and join peace processes. This thesis adopts a comparative case study approach, systematically analyses peace operations in East Timor, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, and identifies conditions under which compellence is likely to succeed in peace operations. The overall finding of the thesis is that there are five conditions which favour the success of compellence in peace operations: the use of the gradual-turning-of-the-screw strategy; the actual use of force as the source of credibility; the achievement of counter-coercion negation as a form of denial; the achievement of stronghold neutralisation, which is another form of denial; and the absence of third-party support on the target side. Thus, a clearly one-sided situation in favour of compellers is necessary because target armed groups are evasive, and they have higher interests and stronger motivation than compellers in what is in dispute. This thesis provides the first systematic attempt to specifically analyse conditions for the success of compellence in international peace operations. This study contributes to the literature of compellence by identifying conditions for its success, focusing on the understudied context of compellence against non-state actors. The study also contributes to the field of peace operations by demonstrating how compellence can be a causal mechanism for achieving their objectives and when it is likely to work. The findings have practical implications as well. The conditions indicate what practitioners should achieve to successfully employ the strategy in peace operations

Habitus and Embodied Institutions; A Study of Manufacturing Enterprises in Kabul’s Conflict-Affected Market Economy and Adaptive Strategies for Enterprise Continuation during 2002-2018

This research studies the effects of embodied institutions rooted in social structures on the individual decision to enter manufacturing activities in Kabul during 2002-2018 – a political economy characterized by political conflict and a market-oriented ‘enabling environment approach’ (EEA). The EEA taken as the macro-level policy backdrop, the study draws on the dialectical relationship between the patriarchal family and Quranic injunctions pertaining to socio-economic life to draw the embodied institutions, which are then used as micro-analytic tools for explaining data patterns pertaining to the investment decision and the subsequent strategies for enterprise continuation. Using a ‘convergent parallel mixed method’, the research has adopted the Bourdieusian framework, in particular the concepts of habitus and field. Rooted in the family-religion relationship, the effects of investor habitus are observed in structuring the decision to enter manufacturing sector and the subsequent encounter with this field, including strategies for enterprise continuation. The latter, moreover, is seen as closely patterned along the patriarchal family hierarchy, reproducing in large degree the social structure where habitus is produced in the context. Building on this empirical analysis, the study relies on qualitative indicators to argue that the sector has not grown structurally significant in Kabul’s economy during 2002-2018. Habitus’ effect is also observed as a conduit for transmitting the hierarchy of power in the family to the production sector. Targeted state/bureaucratic intervention is therefore required in such a context to promote this sector’s growth within a modified EEA framework, and to moderate the uninterrupted transfer of the patriarchal family hierarchy into this sector through political and regulatory means