On-Street Parking and Pedestrian Safety in the Kumasi Metropolis: Issues of Culture and Attitude

Although many benefits are accrued to on-street parking, it can pose danger to the safety of road users if not managed properly. Behavioural and cultural attitude are among factors that create problems of congestion, danger to pedestrian safety and inconveniences among many other issues. Using the Offinso road as a case study, factors that restrict on-street parking and pedestrians’ safety on the road are investigated in the light of attitude and culture. With systematic and purposive sampling techniques, it came to light that the practices of motorists and some commercial operators impede the flow of vehicles, and safety of pedestrians. It is therefore vital to focus on culture and attitudinal change rather than relying only on visible and factual information in promoting a successful on-street parking and pedestrian safety. Influencing culture and attitudinal change of road users in turn requires education, sensitization and enforcement of on-street parking regulation. Keywords: Parking, on-street parking, pedestrian safety, transportation, Ghanaian culture and attitud

The Nexus between Communication and Development Planning. Exploring the Communication Methods Used by Development Planners in Ghana

The nexus between Planning and communication especially in Africa is barely explored despite suggestions by renowned writers such as Habermas, whose communicative action theory has informed several Planning strategies that focus on providing more practical frameworks for understanding and practicing in the field.  Using the case study methodology, this study explored the case of four agencies engaged in development planning activities in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. It was found out the Planners hardly employ the wide range of communication methods available. This study reveals that the situation results from Planners’ preference for keeping to comfort-zones shaped by their limited levels of awareness, knowledge and competence and recommends that Planner employ the broad range of options to achieve greater efficacy in the communicative process of development planning. Keywords: Communicative planning, communication methods, development planning, participation, Ghan

Triggers of electricity-use efficiency amongst low-income households in Kumasi, Ghana

The Fogg Behaviour Model suggests that for behaviour to occur, motivation, ability and a trigger must interact at the same time. Using this framing, this paper investigates and reflects on the triggers of energy use behaviour amongst low-income urban households in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana within the broader framing of sustainable energy transition. The research adopted the transdisciplinary approach. Selected households voluntarily participated in the research project implemented over a period of 2 years. Households were grouped into full-treatment, partial-treatment, and control groups. A co-designed intervention was introduced to the full treatment group. This paper observes and reflects on the energy behaviour of the full treatment group before, during and after the intervention using the Fogg Behaviour Model. The paper concludes that ‘saving money’ is a key trigger toward electricity use efficiency amongst low-income urban households. Consequently, an energy transition programme amongst low-income households might be effective if designed around this theme