‘Home use cars’ network dynamics in Ghana: a relational ethnographic analysis

AbstractRelational ethnographies presume conceptual emphasis on relations over objects engaged in those interactions. In that sense, social relations are not viewed as external and static among the actors but as unfolding dynamic and interconnecting processes. In this paper, I draw on Desmond’s relational ethnography to argue that micro-level dynamics and particularities of social relations among actors in Ghana’s second cars and auto parts market (re)produce interlocking relations of opportunities, sense of belonging and contestation. It shows how citizenship is used to draw the contours of dealers’ legitimacy and exclusion from the market. The findings indicate that nuanced events and expectations tied to relationships such as family and fictive kinship prescribe the social dynamics of interactions and their patterning in networks. This article complements traditional relational studies by demonstrating how national sentiment offers an additional meaning beyond the discourses known in a transnational trade (i.e. second-cars market). This is critical for understanding the socio-political discourses on nationalist sentiments and challenging realities in the informal economy

Gendered challenges and coping strategies among smallholder farmers: An intersectionality analysis

A key challenge to agricultural improvement in sub-Saharan Africa is that farmers remain vulnerable to shocks. Using focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews in the Wa West District of Ghana, the study discusses the gendered challenges in agriculture and coping strategies employed by smallholder farmers from an intersectional lens. The analysis reveals divergent patterns of coping strategies, highlighting the problems that the absence of intersectionality analysis poses for understanding agricultural challenges and coping strategies. Unpacking differences in difficulties and coping strategies beyond the binary of gender categorisation decreases the risk of reinforcing existing difficulties. The findings indicate that the intersection of gender, marital status, and childbirth status of women is critical in determining access, right to use, and control of customary land. Land is essential to enhancing women’s livelihood and, thus, there is a need to protect women’s land rights. The study recommends that state and non-state interventions should address the underlying socioeconomic structures that perpetuate gendered challenges and diminish the capacity of women to cope during tough times

Modern slavery and social protection in Northern Ghana: A decolonised perspective

Many recent discourses on modern slavery have dedicated attention to gendered dimension of trafficking, labour exploitation and sex work, among others. However, many debates pay little attention to the structural inequalities and limited social protection structures. Using mainly primary data drawn from a multi-sited ethnography in the Wa West District of Ghana, this paper provides evidence that challenges the popular view that women are passive and powerless actors who are vulnerable to exploitation. Its central argument is that people’s experiences of gender division of labour, limited social protection, climate change and historical inequalities are central to the causes of vulnerabilities and adaptive strategies. The paper provides a deeper contextual understanding beyond the sensationalism of many mainstream modern slavery advocates. It departs from the hegemonic rescue and rehabilitation strategies and demonstrates women’s agency through self-help social protection structures. The paper broadly calls for a decolonised approach to rights and humanitarianism. A transformative solution to women's vulnerabilities requires respect for the views of the affected women and strategies against the structural socioenvironmental factors which produce the conditions necessitating women’s entry into exploitative jobs

Gender and public works intervention in rural Ghana: An empowerment framework perspective

Transformative social protection requires an understanding of how interventions affect women and men. Gender inequality remains pervasive in societies. However, mainstream social protection evaluations have seldom been informed by gender analysis beyond sex categorisation. This paper focuses on the Labour Intensive Public Works Programme in Wa West District of Ghana to discuss the gender dynamics in participation outcomes. We analysed data from ten in-depth interviews with district assembly's social welfare and LIPW project staff and eight focus group discussions with programme participants and nonparticipants. In-depth interviews with the key informant clearly show that though the programme implementers acknowledge differential labour demands among participants, it is carried out in a manner that sustains gender inequalities through the endorsement of social stereotypes. The analysis revealed that an increase in women's income did not augment their ability to bargain in household decision-making. The study draws on Longwe's Women Empowerment Framework to discuss the results. This paper explains why and how this new knowledge can be used to inform theoretical and future policy debates on social protection

Green human resource management and environmental sustainability in a developing economy: Examining the mediation and moderation effect of employee personal norms and sex

This study investigated the role of personal norms and the sex of employees on the relationship between green human resource management (GHRM) practices and environmental sustainability in a developing economy. The study is underpinned by positivist and quantitative philosophical approaches. In particular, an explanatory research design was employed, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Partial Least Square-Structured Equation Modelling was then used to analyse the data. The study discovered a significant positive relationship between environmental sustainability and green human resource management practices and employee personal norms. Employee personal norms also significantly mediated the relationship between green human resource management practices and environmental sustainability among workers. In terms of the moderation effect, the study found that sex significantly moderated the relationship between employees' personal norms (EPN) and environmental sustainability (ES); green human resource management (GHRM) and employees' personal norms. Sex also significantly moderated the mediation of employees’ personal norms on green human resource management and environmental sustainability. It is, therefore, recommended that human resource managers incorporate environmental sustainability initiatives into their human resource functions or practices and use communication and collaborations to make the best use of employee personal norms or efforts on environmental sustainability efforts of organisations in a developing economy

Effects of COVID-19 on coastal livelihoods in the central region of Ghana

The COVID-19 outbreak effects and related state responses, especially mobility restriction interventions, contributed to disruption in livelihoods in the coastal communities in Ghana. This paper uses an ethnographic approach to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and coping strategies adopted by small-scale fishers, fish traders and processors. We argued that focusing solely on the livelihoods of formal sector workers is problematic because it fails to consider the dynamics of informal coastal workers. Findings indicate that fishers, fish traders and processors experienced various effects on food, income, police harassment, and coping strategies, including migration, resorting to reusable face masks and food-compromising practices. Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 impact coastal people and their livelihoods. Therefore, implementing social protection measures to mitigate the effects of pandemics on livelihoods should be better coordinated and well-targeted to reach the most vulnerable. Findings from this study offer pointers to position preparedness and response efforts to future outbreaks in a similar context

Culture and pandemic control at cross-roads: navigating the burial guidelines for COVID-19-related deaths in a Ghanaian setting

Abstract Background Despite the large volume of scientific evidence on the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated high morbidity and mortality, little is known about the sociocultural disruptions which ensued. The current study explored the nuanced navigation of the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols and its impact on traditional burial and funeral rites in Ghana. Methods This qualitative study was based on the ‘focused’ ethnographic design. Data were collected using key informant interviews from nineteen COVID-19-related bereaved family members and public health officials involved in enforcing adherence to COVID-19-related death and burial protocols in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Central region of Ghana. Recursive analysis was conducted to generate the themes and sub-themes from the data. Results The overarching theme was “Uncultural” connotations ascribed to the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols. The COVID-19-related death and burial protocols were ubiquitously deemed by participants to be ‘uncultural’ as they inhibited deep-rooted indigenous and eschatological rites of separation between the living and the dead. This was fueled by limited awareness and knowledge about the COVID-19 burial protocols, resulting in fierce resistance by bereaved family members who demanded that public health officials release the bodies of their deceased relatives. Such resistance in the midst of resource limitation led to negotiated compromises of the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols between family members and public health officials. Conclusions Insensitivity to socio-cultural practices compromised the implementation of the COVID-19 pandemic control interventions, particularly, the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols. Some compromises that were not sanctioned by the protocols were reached to allow health officials and families respectfully bury their dead. These findings call for the need to prioritize the incorporation of sociocultural practices in future pandemic prevention and management strategies