Does NGO aid reach the poor? Field based evidence from Ghana

Mostly relying on cross-country studies and often limited data, research on the allocation of NGO aid remains inconclusive. Whiles some studies (Nunnenkamp et al 2008; Dreher et al 2007; Nancy & Yontcheva 2006) suggest poverty as a significant determinant of NGO aid,   Fruttero and Gauri (2005) notes that NGOs’ association with donors influence the allocation of their aid and it appears they do not locate in areas most in need. Empirically evidence on whether NGO aid reach the poor is hugely lacking. The fact that some evidence shows NGO aid go to poor countries does not automatically mean, it reaches the poor people and communities in these countries. Nunnenkamp et al. (2008) caution against the view that aid would be better targeted to the needy and deserving if only NGOs had more resources at their disposal. If NGOs are seen and believe to be better placed to reach poor people and poor communities, then it is extremely important to interrogate whether the funds they receive actually get to the intended beneficiaries. Using field base evidence from Ghana, it emerged that NGO aid through projects actually locates in areas and communities where poverty is high but there are difference in the reach of the poor by different categories of NGO projects. Livelihood projects reach the poor more whereas microcredit projects reach them less. The assumption and belief that chunk of NGO project aid actually gets to the ultimate beneficiaries is not supported by the field evidence collected and analyzed. It emerged that just about 30.5 percent of total funds are spent directly on activities that benefit the poor. This means that even though NGOs in Ghana locates a greater proportion of their projects in communities where poverty is relatively high but a smaller proportion of the aid allocated to them actually reaches the poor. Keywords: NGO Aid, The Poor, Ghana, Field Based Evidenc

The Puzzling Effects of Foreign Aid (ODA) on FDI: Examining Africa’s Experience

The foreign aid -FDI relationship hypothesis is quite recent in the development literature but sparks interesting controversy. Existing results are inconclusive on whether the two capital flows are complementary or substitutes. The argument of this paper is that previous studies’ implicit treatment of developing countries as a uniform entity could partly be blamed for the inconclusive results. It therefore attempts a unique study for Africa and further disaggregates the continent into two groups based on natural resource endowment to see if some level of clarity can emerge for better aid allocation and policy targeting.  Employing fixed effects estimation model for a balanced panel of 93 countries including 42 African countries on annual data covering 1996-2008, the study finds that total foreign aid to Africa has positive effect on FDI. It also emerged that Production sector aid has no negative effect on FDI in Africa. This type of aid rather has a significant positive effect on resource-seeking FDI in Africa proxy for by FDI in “oil and mineral exporting African countries”. There is no evidence of rent seeking and/or MPK reducing effect of aid to Africa as found for developing countries in some earlier studies. Keywords: Foreign aid, FDI, Effects, Africa, Developing countrie

The Constraint of a Rhetorical Invention: Kwame Nkrumah and the Organization of African Unity

Rhetorical constraints have the potential to inhibit a successful communication transaction. How they do that sometimes practically remains unclear, especially within the study of rhetoric in the African context. This paper examines Kwame Nkrumah’s rhetorical urgency as an argumentative tool for the establishment of an organization which would direct the political, economic and military directions of Africa.  Employing Bitzer’s Situation (1968) and Meyer’s Composite Audience (1999) as analytical framework, the paper takes a critical look at Nkrumah’s rhetorical invention to locate the inherent constraints and how they (constraints) eclipsed the total success of Nkrumah’s invention. This study therefore has implications for the episteme of the different contexts within which rhetorical inventions are created and performed within the pan African liberation sphere

The Impact of Punishment on the Behaviour and Academic Work of Senior High School Students in the Ejisu- Juaben Municipality of Ashanti Region in Ghana

The study sought to assess the impact of punishment on the behavior and academic work of senior high schools in the Ejisu-Juaben municipality of Ashanti region in Ghana. The researcher administered survey questionnaire to 150 teachers and 3666 students to collect data in three selected public senior high schools in the Ejisu-Juaben municipality. The research design adopted for this study was multiple case studies using the descriptive survey approach to examine the impact of punishment on the behaviour and academic work of senior high school students in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti Region in Ghana. Students should be counseled through awareness programmes to be polite and respectful to their teachers and obey school rules and regulations. Students should be intimated regarding the usefulness of punctuality, conduction of homework eschew making of noise in class, confirm health and hygiene, and should not quarrel with their school fellows.The results of the study indicated that incidence of misbehavior were frequently exhibited in schools by students. It was however recommended that teaching of Social Studies which includes life skills should be intensified in schools to equip learners with skills necessary in handling life challenges since human beings in their bit to make life face a lot of challenges in this world. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/11-7-02 Publication date:July 31st 202

Regionalism and Economic Integration in Africa: A Conceptual and Theoretical Perspective

A well-established strand of the literature on regionalism and economic integration has made clear that economic, geopolitical, and socio-cultural relationships across the globe, for which Africa is no exception, have been changing rapidly in the last few decades. African leaders have been embracing these concepts as vital elements of their development agenda and have engaged their countries in a number of integration arrangements. This study has investigated regionalism and economic integration in Africa from a conceptual and theoretical perspective. The study identified that (i) the rationalist’s theory of neorealism and neoliberalism, (ii) the social constructivism theory, and (iii) several theories of economic integration are very relevant in explaining the formation of regional and economic blocs in Africa. Theories of economic integration that focus on trade, economic interdependency, monetary, fiscal, and political policy coordination seem to be the main forces driving regionalism and economic integration on the continent. The study revealed transportation and mobility of factors of production, limited intra-African trade, multi-memberships, macroeconomic divergence, and conflicts as key factors hindering the success of regionalism and economic integration in Africa. Although regionalism and economic integration on the continent is plagued with these challenges, there are opportunities and possibilities in the power and energy sectors, the manufacturing sector, and in private-public partnerships that the continent can explore to accelerate Africa’s speed of regional and economic integration, crucial for economic growth and development

Articulations of feminine voices in Ghana’s parliament: a study of the Hansard from 2010-2011

Women have both a right and an obligation to active participation in political deliberation. Yet, their participation in formal political processes, where decisions regarding the use of societal resources generated by both men and women are made, remains insignificant. Now researchers are looking beyond the number of women in parliament to focus on what they can do in terms of their contributions. This study, therefore investigates female parliamentarians’ contributions during parliamentary proceedings, evaluates how gendered these issues were. To accomplish this task, a textual analysis of the Hansard was done using critical discourse analysis and theory of gender and power. The analysis revealed that although female MPs contribute to a range of issues, they are ardent promoters of pro-women legislations such as issues on women, children and youth, health and education. Again, the study found out that a greater percentage of issues women contribute to are gendered and so reinforces the stereotypical roles given to women by society.Keywords: hansard, Ghana, linguistic, parliament, text, wome

Critical Barriers to Social Sustainability: the Quantity Surveyors’ Perspective

Although the advocacy for Social Sustainability consideration in the construction industry has been on the rise, however, the practice of Social Sustainability (SS) is plagued with many barriers. The barriers that hinder practices of SS in the construction industry has to be carried out. Notwithstanding, not much research works has been undertaken regarding the barriers that hinder SS in the construction industry. The aim of the study is to explore the critical barriers to social sustainability from the perspective of the quantity surveyor. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and nineteen (19) variables (barriers) were identified. Structured questionnaires were designed and were answered by 110 out of the total sample size of 120 Quantity Surveying professionals recognised by the Ghana Institute of Surveyors (GhIS) representing approximately 92% response rate. The data collected were analyse using Factor Analysis. The study found out that Socio-cultural barriers, Political and Technical barriers, knowledge or awareness barriers and financial barriers are the underlying group barriers for the 19 identified barriers. The study further revealed that, among the four underlying groups, Political and Technical barriers was the most dominant. This draws special attentions to the government’s position in ensuring effective consideration in promoting social sustainability practices as well as the technical knowledge needed in the SS practices in Ghana. The study as well raises the awareness and the need to ensure adequate education, training and professional development. Again, this study adds to sustainability literature by analysing the critical barriers to achieving social sustainability from the perspective of the Quantity Surveyor. The findings and recommendations of this study will help practitioners and policy makers in taking appropriate measures to overcome the barriers and thereby promoting the integration of social sustainability into quantity surveying practices

Decolonization of indigenous language media practice in Ghana: Myth or reality?

The marginalization of Ghanaian indigenous languages from the media space ceased in the 1990s when the airwaves were liberalized. This was not only a ground-breaking experience for diversification but also a way of getting the majority of the population informed, especially through radio, which is a comparatively accessible medium. However, indigenous language use for radio news broadcasts has come under intense criticism for the extensive use of embellishments like proverbs, which are believed to digress from foreign and acceptable news standards. Using content analysis of Ghanaian media policy documents, sampled news recordings from selected private FM radio stations, and semi-structured interviews with selected news professionals, this paper argues that Ghanaian indigenous language communication forms include embellishments and their accurate use presupposes an immense understanding of the language. Hence, indigenous languages cannot be adapted and appreciated wholesomely in the media space if aspects of it are downplayed

Coconut Coir and Beans Straw as Substrates for Mushroom Growth

Coconut coir and beans straw could blend well for mushroom production. This would increase the biomass use and also serve as a way of recycling the agricultural wastes. The project was carried out to evaluate the mycelial growth rate, yield and cost benefit analysis of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation on sole coconut coir (CC), sole bean straw (BS), and a 2:3 ratio mixture of BS and CC (BS:CC Mix) as substrates. Each substrate type was subjected to 3 different composting periods of a day (no compost), 7days, and 14 days. Randomized complete block design with three replications was used for the experimental design. The best mushroom performance was obtained in the BS:CC Mix substrates, recording highest yields in the range of 43.2 - 47.4 g/kg substrate; the greatest biological efficiencies of 11.0 - 22.9% as well as the highest returns of 200.9 - 229.8%.  The results indicated that beans straw could be an effective supplement to coconut coir and other highly lignified substrates for mushroom production. Keywords: coconut coir; beans straw; mycelia; cost benefit analysis; mixed substrate