Finding the Woman’s Power in the Patriarchal Society through the Lens of Cultural Practices and Beliefs of the Kasena Nankana Municipality.

The study explores and assesses the impact of cultural practices and beliefs on the empowerment of women within the Kasena Nankana Municipality. The focus was to examine how these cultural practices and beliefs in the patriarchal society discriminate against women and female children. The study also investigates the perceptions of community members towards the empowerment of women.  Under empowerment of women, the study narrowed on the decision making rights of women, how women effect their own desired outcome and women’s accessibility and ownership of productive resources although the study acknowledge other forms of women empowerment.  The study also investigated the perceptions held by the community members towards women empowerment and empowered women. During the conduct of the study, the study made a discovery of an interesting revelation about the belongingness of a woman in the communities of the research area. The study adopted qualitative research strategy and the research tools were developed under cross sectional research design. Employing both convenient and simple random sampling techniques to select participants, data gathered from the fields were analysed thematically. The significance of the study cannot be over emphasized because it has been pointed out by UNDP (2003) that attempting to achieve the MDGs without promoting women empowerment and gender equality will both raise the costs and decrease the likelihood of achieving the other goals. Hence, the study sought to ascertain the cultural obstacles that impeded the realization of Women Empowerment under the MDG 3. In this case, policy makers can put measures in place to tackle these obstacles for community development. According to CARE (2010) improving women with health, knowledge and skills is not enough to empower them, women must also contend with social structures, cultural traditions and personal relationships that affect their success. The study’s main findings were that; women in the study have inadequate sense of empowerment and this is due to cultural ascription of gender roles and the woman has no strong connection to any culture structure. The study further highlighted that, gender socialization perpetuates society’s expectations of what a woman is supposed to do in the societies. Keywords: Gender Equality and Equity, Women’s Human Right, Gender Discrimination, Patriarchy, Cultur

The role of corporate social responsibility in sustainable development in Ghana : a critical perspective on Anglogold Ashanti Ghana

The aim of this research was to identify and assess the extent to which AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Mining Company has been able to apply its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies in its operations, in a participatory manner, in contributing to sustainable development in its area of operation. The mixed method approach was used. Cluster sampling under the random sampling and purposive sampling methods were used to select both the respondentsand communities affected by mining. Six communities were surveyed from the Obuasi Municipality in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Participatory interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and participant observation techniques were used to gather data. The study identified that the CSR initiatives of AGA are evaluated on five main principles, namely commitment to core values, compliance with legal provisions, managerial discretion in taking actions, economic contributions and participatory mechanisms. The study found that, to some extent, the local people have been engaged in the implementation of AGA’s CSR activities. 25.2% were involved in project planning and design, and more than 80% were informed before the start of projects. Also, the results reveal that AGA’s mining activities have had both positive and negative impacts on the economic well-being of residents within the selected communities. The impact of AGA’s mining activities on the environment, especially on water quality, soil quality, sanitation and noise levels, was found to be negative, resulting in major health problems for residents in mining communities. As a contribution to knowledge, the study shows how community members (respondents) perceive AGA’s CSR activities as fulfilling just one aspect of CSR (philanthropic dimension) and not necessarily rectifying the effect of their mining activities on the environment (ethical dimension). The study therefore recommends that comprehensive CSR measures principled through the lens of nonphilanthropic considerations be developed to reverse the general negative outcomes of mining on communities economically, socially and environmentally, especially regarding the growing unemployment and displacement of communities.Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuhlonza nokuhlola ukuthi iNkampani yeMayini iAngloGold Ashanti (AGA) ikwaze kanjani ukusebenzisa izinqubomgomo zayo zegunya lokubambisana kwezenhlalo (GLK) ekusebenzeni kwayo, ngendlela yokubamba iqhaza, ekunikelweni entuthukweni esimeme emkhakheni esebenza kuyo. Kusetshenziswe indlela ehlanganisiwe. Iqoqo lamasampula ngaphansi kwesampula engahleliwe nezindlela zokwenza amasampula ahlosiwe asetshenziselwe ukukhetha bobabili abaphendulayo kanye nemiphakathi ethintekayo ezimayini. Kuhlolwe imiphakathi eyisithupha ivela kuMasipala wase-Obuasi esifundeni i-Ashanti eGhana. Izingxoxo zokubamba iqhaza, iqoqo lemibuzo, izingxoxo zamaqembu okugxilwe kuwo kanye namasu wokubuka ababambiqhaza asetshenziselwe ukuqoqa idatha. Ucwaningo lukhombe ukuthi izinhlelo ze(GLK) le-AGA zihlolwa ngemigomo engqala emihlanu, okungukuthi ukuzibophezela kumanani ayisisekelo, ukuhambisana nezinhlinzeko zomthetho, ukuqonda ekuthatheni izinyathelo ezithile, iminikelo yezomnotho nezindlela zokubamba iqhaza. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi, ukuya ezingeni elithile, abantu bendawo babambe iqhaza ekwenzeni imisebenzi ye-AGA's ne GLK. Ama-25.2% abambe iqhaza ekuhleleni nasekuklanyweni kwamaphrojekthi, kwathi abangaphezu kuma80% aziswa ngaphambi kokuqala kwamaphrojekthi. Futhi, imiphumela iveza ukuthi imisebenzi yezimayini ye-AGA ibe nemithelela emihle nemibi enhlalweni yezomnotho yabahlali emiphakathini ekhethiwe. Umthelela wemisebenzi yezimayini ye-AGA emvelweni, ikakhulukazi kwizinga lamanzi, ikhwalithi yenhlabathi, ukuthuthwa kwendle namazinga omsindo, kutholakale kukubi, okuholele ezinkingeni ezinkulu zezempilo kubahlali emiphakathini yezimayini. Njengokunikela olwazini, ucwaningo lukhombisa ukuthi amalungu omphakathi (abaphendulayo) bayibona kanjani imisebenzi ye-AGA's CSR njengokufeza isici esisodwa seGLK (ubukhulu bokusiza) hhayi ukuthi kulungiswe umthelela wemisebenzi yabo yezimayini emvelweni (ubukhulu bokuziphatha).Ngakho-ke ucwaningo luncoma ukuthi izinyathelo eziphelele ze-GLK eziqondiswa ngokusebenzisa ukuqondwa kwezinto ezingenkulu ezingezona zokusiza zithuthukiswe ukuguqula imiphumela emibi ejwayelekile yezimayini emiphakathini ngokwezomnotho, kwezenhlalo nangokwezemvelo, ikakhulukazi maqondana nokwanda kwemiphakathi engasebenzi kanye nokufundiswa kwayo.Maikemišetšo a dinyakišišo tše ke go tseba le go sekaseka bogolo bjo ka bjona Khamphani ya Moepo ya AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) e kgonnego go phethagatša melawana ya ona ya maikarabelo a khamphani setšhabeng (CSR) ka mešomong ya yona, ka mokgwa wa go kgatha tema ga badudi, ka nepo ya go tsenya letsogo go tlhabollo ya go ya go ile ka lefelong leo e šomelago go lona. Mokgwa wo o hlakantšego mekgwa o šomišitšwe ka mo dinyakišišong tše. Go dira sampole sehlopha ka fase ga mekgwa ya go dira sampole ka sewelo le go dira sampole ka maikemišetšo go šomišitšwe go kgetha bobedi baarabi le ditšhaba tšeo di amilwego ke meepo. Go ile gwa dirwa dinyakišišo go metse ye tshela ka Masepaleng wa Obuasi ka seleteng sa Ashanti sa Ghana. Dipoledišano tšeo baarabi ba kgathago tema ka go tšona, lenaneo la dipotšišo tša dinyakišišo, dipoledišano tša dihlopha tšeo di nepišitšwego le mekgwa ya go lekola bakgathatema e šomišitšwe go kgoboketša tshedimošo. Dinyakišišo di utollotše gore maitekelo a CSR a AGA a sekasekwa go melawana ye mehlano ye megolo, e lego boikgafo go maitshwaro a bohlokwa, go obamela ditlhagišo tša melao, sephetho sa ba taolo sa go tšea dikgato, seabe sa ekonomi le mekgwa ya go kgatha tema. Dinyakišišo di utollotše gore, go fihla mo go itšego, go rerišanwe le batho ba tikologo ka go phethagatšeng ga ditiro tša CSR tša AGA. 25.2% ya bona e kgathile tema ka peakanyong le tlhamo ya protšeke, gomme palo ya go feta 80% e tsebišitšwe pele ga ge diprotšeke di ka thoma. Gape, dipoelo di utolla gore mešomo ya meepo ya AGA e bile le bobedi diabe tše botse le tše mpe go seemo sa ekonomi sa badudi ka metseng ye e kgethilwego. Seabe sa mešomo ya meepo ya AGA go tikologo, kudukudu go boleng bja meetse, go boleng bja mobu, go kelelatšhila le go maemo a lešata, go hweditšwe gore e bile ao a sego a loka, gomme se ile sa feletša ka mathata a magolo a tša maphelo go badudi ba ka metseng yeo meepo e lego gona. Bjalo ka seabe go tsebo, dinyakišišo di bontšha ka fao maloko a setšhaba (baarabi) ba bonago mešomo ya CSR ya AGA e lego yeo e phethagatšago fela selo se tee sa CSR (e lego ditiro tša go abela setšhaba) e sego go phošolla seabe sa mešomo ya bona ya meepo go tikologo (e lego ditiro tša maitshwaro). Dinyakišišo ka fao di šišinya gore magato ka kakaretšo a CSR ao a beilwego go se gwa lebelelwa go abela setšhaba a phethagatšwe ka nepo ya go phošolla dipoelo tša kakaretšo tšeo di sego tša loka tša mešomo ya meepo go ditšhaba mabapi le tša ekonomi, tša leago le tikologo, kudukudu mabapi le go tlhokego ya mešomo ye e golago le go tloša ditšhaba mafelong a tšona.Development StudiesD. Phil. (Developmental Studies

Households’ Coping Dynamics to Climatic Shocks of Flood and Drought in Northern Ghana

The Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones of Ghana experiences much of the recent climate change effects than any other ecological zone in the country. This paper presents the coping strategies adopted by households in response to the climate change effects of floods and droughts in Northern Ghana. The study espoused a case study design. Key informants’ interviews, focus group discussions and household interviews were the methods applied in gathering primary data from 250 household heads randomly selected from six farming communities along the white Volta basin within three disaster prone districts. The descriptive statistic tool of SPSS was employed in analyzing, summarizing and describing the data obtained. Key subjective views of the participants were also presented using quotations. Destruction of food crops and livestock, decline in crop yield and food shortage as well as destruction of building were identified by the study as the most devastating effects of floods and droughts in the study areas. To cope with these effects, households adopted various coping dynamics which included decision not to farm or build in lowlands areas or waterways, migration, reliance on external support and early planning of activities. The study concludes that the effects of both floods and drought in Northern Ghana poses great challenges to livelihoods of households who have adapted by find coping strategies. The findings reveal new dimensions of the empirical accounts on households’ coping dynamics in response the climatic effects of flood and drought. Keywords: Floods; droughts; climate change; coping strategies; rural househol

A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Approach: The hope for lost livelihood in the mining community of Obuasi municipality in Ghana

The virtue of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as the voluntary incorporation of social and environmental concerns into business conduct has established itself as an international norm. Businesses, intellectuals, local and international development agencies like the USAID have embraced this concept with the hope that it could bring about sustainable development to developing countries. Using qualitative data collection tools of semi-structured interviews and field observations, it was found out that although the company mining the Obuasi mine - AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) seems to uphold the concept of social responsibility, their willingness and zeal to ensure the reality of such policies are almost non-existent. CSR is best practiced when done in partnership with the local community, but in the case of AGA, the formulation and implementation of the policies are done by the company with very little consultation with the people. Nonetheless, it expects the community to accept their stretched hand of philanthropy as a favour from them and not complain about the economic, cultural, social and environmental hazards that they have to endure as a result of the operations of the mine. Being a signatory to the Global Compact agreement and the ISO 14001, the company has tried to consistently improve their social commitment but they still have a very long way to go in terms of sustainable development in the Obuasi municipality as defined by the Rio conference