Youth Unemployment Challenges in Mining Areas of Ghana

Ghana, like the rest of West Africa is experiencing tremendous human migration both internally and across international boundaries. Rural-urban migration has assumed uncontrollable dimensions in the sub-region and the social consequences have become major development challenge. In Ghana the mining communities have been at the receiving end for some time now. This study on the Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) in the Ashanti region of Ghana explores the tremendous socioeconomic changes, especially demographic patterns as a result of the inflows of migrants into the Obuasi Township and its catchment area in search of non existing jobs especially in mining. A major outcome is the serious unemployment problem in the township with all the attendant social vices. A three-month socio-economic study of the municipality was carried out to determine the scope of unemployment. The study showed that there is acute unemployment situation in the municipality which is due to the fact that AngloGold Ashanti, a mining giant in Ghana, the major employer, has limited job openings especially for menial workers who flock to the company. Other income generating opportunities are few. Agriculture which has the capacity to employ majority of the unemployed youth does not appeal to them because it is considered not lucrative. The acute unemployment situation has contributed significantly to the high crime rate, prostitution and widespread illegal mining activities with their attendant problems. The study explores options that are feasible for a typical mining setting especially for the youth who are very vulnerable and susceptible to crime and other social vices. Job creation, through the development and implementation of sustainable programmes aimed at training the youth to acquire the necessary employable skills is one of the options considered by the municipal managers and their partners. The study also looks at broader policy implications for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).Illegal Mining, Unemployment, AngloGold Ashanti, Social Vices, Agriculture, Mining Communities, Migration

Funding issues associated with schooling in Alaska and Ghana

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2007This thesis provides a comparative analysis of the educational funding systems in Ghana and Alaska. The issues discussed in this thesis include the equitable and adequate distribution of funding for the educational needs of the various school districts in both countries. This study will focus on three areas : (1) Review of the history and foundation of education in the Alaska, and Ghana ; (2) Study of education funding for K-12 education in Alaska and Ghana; (3) Making a determination on whether educational funding in Alaska and Ghana is sufficient to meet the funding needs of K-12 schools. In this study I will be attentive to two major areas : (1) Adequacy - Is the money being spent sufficient? (2) Equity- Is there equal funding for all K-12 schools in Alaska and Ghana? The goal of this research is to learn through this research more about adequacy and equity.1. Introduction -- 2. History of Education in Alaska -- 2.1. The Russian period -- 2.2. The early American period -- 2.3. Alaska as a Territory of the United States : 1912-1959 -- 2.4. From statehood to present -- 3. History of education in Ghana -- 3.1. The colonial period -- 3.2. 1951 -- 3.3. 1952-1959 -- 3.4. 1960-1966 -- 3.5. 1980-Present -- 4. Educational funding in Alaska -- 4.1. Example (Nome School District) -- 5. Educational funding in Ghana -- 6. Equity and adequacy issues -- 6.1. Equity -- 6.2. Adequacy -- 7. Conclusion -- References -- Appendix

Women, Globalization, Migration, and Work

Professor Martha Donkor, History and Women’s and Gender Studies - Women, Globalization, Migration, and Wor

Assessing the dynamics, causes and socio-economic impact of ethnic conflicts in the Northern Region of Ghana.

The intractable nature of inter-ethnic conflicts around the world has generally impacted critical developmental issues. The constant intervention by governments, international organizations, and local people over the decades has had minimum impact on the management of ethnic conflicts. This study examined the ethnic conflicts in the Northern Region of Ghana by focusing on the Bawku East Municipality ethnic conflict between the Kusasi and the Mamprusi and its impact on socio-economic development. It further examined the mediating methods used by the government over the past 20 years and the perception of local indigenes about the success of the methods. The study employed a sample size of 100 respondents to acquire primary data through the distribution of questionnaires in 6 communities Sagabo, Natinga, Sabongari, Possum, Azanga, and Gingande. The mixed research method was used to collect and analyze the data. Key findings were that Politics, Land ownership, and Chieftaincy were the key contributing factors to the Bawku East Municipality ethnic conflict in the Northern Region. To complete this, socio-economic development could be realized in Bawku East Municipality if the mediating methods recommended by the local indigenes are well executed. This approach will lessen the mistrust between the Kusasi and the Mamprusi and consequently lead to a peaceful environment that will accelerate the socio-economic development of Bawku East Municipality (BEM).A natureza intratável dos conflitos interétnicos em todo o mundo tem geralmente impactado questões críticas de desenvolvimento. A intervenção constante de governos, organizações internacionais e populações locais ao longo das décadas teve um impacto mínimo na gestão de conflitos étnicos. Este estudo examinou os conflitos étnicos na região norte de Gana, concentrando-se no conflito étnico do município leste de Bawku entre os Kusasi e os Mamprusi e seu impacto no desenvolvimento socioeconômico. Examinou ainda os métodos de mediação usados pelo governo nos últimos 20 anos e a percepção dos indígenas locais sobre o sucesso dos métodos. O estudo empregou uma amostra de 100 respondentes para adquirir dados primários através da distribuição de questionários em 6 comunidades Sagabo, Natinga, Sabongari, Possum, Azanga e Gingande. O método de pesquisa mista foi usado para coletar e analisar os dados. As principais descobertas foram que a política, a propriedade da terra e a chefia foram os principais fatores que contribuíram para o conflito étnico do município leste de Bawku na região norte. Para completar, o desenvolvimento socioeconômico pode ser realizado no município de Bawku East se os métodos de mediação recomendados pelos indígenas locais forem bem executados. Essa abordagem diminuirá a desconfiança entre os Kusasi e os Mamprusi e, consequentemente, levará a um ambiente pacífico que acelerará o desenvolvimento socioeconômico do município de Bawku East (BEM)

Empirical evidence on the potential of rainwater harvesting for residential water supply in Accra

We evaluate the potential of rainwater harvesting for residential water supply by estimating, analysing and comparing the per capita water consumption accessible from rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and that acquired from water tanker services (WTS) for single-family households in Accra, Ghana. Although the values from WTS stochastically dominates those from RWH over a wide range, the difference in their mean values does not appear to be statistically significant, and the probabilities that the per capita water consumption, of a household selected at random, exceeds the WHO service levels of {5, 20, 50, 100} lpcd are {1.000, .937, .239, .0474} for RWH, compared to {1.000, .994, .555, .0467} for WTS. We conclude that for single-family dwellings in Accra, the WHO service levels for water consumption and hygiene obtainable from RWH is appreciable and comparable to those from WTS providers. Therefore, households can satisfy their current water consumption levels with RWH alone

Ghanaian primary school pupils’ conceptual framework of energy

This study investigated the conceptual framework of pupils on the topic ‘energy’ which is one of the popular topics taught in the Basic Schools in Ghana.  A teaching model comprising teaching and learning activities depicting concepts of energy was tested on some primary school pupils.  The study was based on a structured questionnaire and a test designed and served on some Ghanaian primary school pupils (N=186) in the age range of 11 and 12 years.  The results of the tests were correlated for pupils’ performances on conceptual –type and algorithmic-type questions by a Chi square test.  The results showed that there exists statistically significant difference between conceptually oriented and algorithmic pupils at the p= 0.10 confidence level.  It came to light that majority of pupils depended on rote learning than on learning for conceptual understanding.  Recommendations are, therefore, made for improving the teaching and learning of science in the primary schools.   Keywords: Basic Schools, Basic education Certificate Examination, misconceptions, perception of energy, conceptual change, high order cognitive skills, algorithmic and conceptual-type test, rote memory skills.