Assessment of a Smallscale Irrigation Scheme on Household Food Security and Leisure in Kokoligu; Ghana

The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of a small scale irrigation scheme on household food security and leisure time of the people in Kokoligu - a subsistence-based farming community in the Nandom District of Ghana. A total of fifty household heads adequately represented Kokoligu as homogenous community via simple random sampling technique.  In-depth interview (IDI) schedules and observation guides were used to source information on food security situations before and after introducing the irrigation scheme and the effects of the scheme on residents’ leisure during the off farming season. The study revealed that the irrigation scheme enhanced household food security and wellbeing during the off farming (dry) season but significantly reduced leisure; communal intimacy in addition to degrading the cultural heritage in the study area. Majority of the farmers (83%) irrigated vegetables, for household consumption and sale to complement the significant proportion of staple food crops (maize, millet and rice) cultivated during farming season to salvage their nutritional needs. With regard to the fading cultural heritage and communal intimacy, the paper recommended that cultural reawakening should be pursued through both formal education in schools and informal education by initiatives of the community elders and the traditional council. Key words: food security, leisure, small scale irrigation, seasons, Ghan

Securing the urban space: on whose terms? Insights from poverty and crime baseline survey in Tamale, Ghana

Typically, the interaction of official security policies, the urban tissue, and individual characteristics largely underpin the liveabiliy of cities as centres of social interaction which invoke residents’ sense of place attachment, social cohesion, and quality of life. Studies in advanced countries have contributed significantly to understanding these synergies, but there remains a large gap in knowledge in rapidly urbanizing countries. Ghana presents an interesting case study, as the security landscape appears motivated more by ideology than rationality, with what ‘works’ increasingly becoming populism rather than responsibility. Moreover, the limited researched criminology literature has focused mainly on the larger cities, neglecting medium-sized cities such as Tamale. Based on extensive fieldwork involving 450 household heads, ten key informant interviews (KIIs), and three focus group discussions (FGDs) from three socio-economic communities in Tamale, this paper examines how security arrangements in the city’s various neighbourhoods reflect and connect the urban fabric with residents. We advocate for a more geographically sensitive and nuanced understanding of each neighbourhood’s concerns and a re-consideration of security interventions, in order to reflect not only the broad spectrum of safety demands of the affluent but also those of the socially excluded and more economically disadvantaged groups in society.Keywords: neighbourhood; socio-economic status; police–population ratio; informal crime control; Ghan

2012 Home gardening: The surviving food security strategy in the Nandom traditional area – upper West Region Ghana. Journal 9 | Solossa et al

ABSTRACT The shorter rainy seasons and increasing dry spells reflect the effects of climate change in the Nandom Traditional Area with attendance up surge of food insecurity. Indigenes use traditional farming methods to cater this and the philosophy underpinning the siting, ownership and control of home gardens; the sustainability and contributions of home garden to food security is not ascertained. Five electoral areas were randomly sampled. Data was collected using interviews, observation and focus group discussion guides. Home garden site is determined by at least 12 months of traditional soil assessment. Home gardening is an organic farming practice in the incidence of high technology. It enhances: food security, viable seeds for cultivation and intercropping. The existence of home gardening is influence by the mode of housing. Agricultural extension officers need to support farmers on the production of compost; food storage, seed selection and crop compatibility in intercropping

Determinants of safety and liveability in Kumasi and Tamale Metropolitan Areas in urban Ghana

This article examines the determinants of residents’ perception of local level safety of life and property in an environment of rapid urbanisation and limited governments’ efforts to adequately secure urban Ghana. In a survey of 1,335 respondents, 54 key informants and 12 focus group discussions, the results, from binary logistic regression and thematic analyses, indicate a generally safe urban space but varied individual and neighbourhood level determinants of safety of life and property. However, there is no statistically significant difference in the determinants and construction of safety across the three socio-economic neighbourhoods in the metropolises partly because of blur territoriality between settlements in the cities. The paper recommends collaboration between home/land owners and urban planners as one of the surest way of improving neighbourhood boundaries and perception of safety.Keywords: Urbanisation, Neighbourhood, Safety, Life and Property, Built Environment, Urban Ghan

Assessment of Visitor Satisfaction in Mole National Park, Ghana

Arrivals to Mole National Park (MNP), the largest in Ghana were projected by management to reach 100,000 guests by the close of2010. As at the end of December 2008, the park recorded only 16, 807 guest arrivals, the highest so far in its existence. By the close of year 2010, only 14,336 tourist arrivals were recorded registering a drop, hence an illusion in attaining the2010 set target and even subsequent years to come. This therefore gave a clue that revenue generated is not always enough to support park administration and community development. This paper explores the underlying reasons accounting for this trend by finding out tourists’ preferences in the park, the category of people who patronized the park most and sourcing guest views on what can be done to make the park more attractive. A five month period was used to elicit information from498 tourists who visited the Park employing questionnaire administration and interview schedules. The results analyzed revealed that student groups in second cycle and tertiary institutions patronized the park most on the domestic front, whilst on the foreign front, all guests contacted were educated above high school level and many of them (57%) were on holiday in Ghana. The driving force (motivation) behind these visits was to see animals in the wild. The most preferred wildlife species visitors came to view were elephants, monkeys, lions, buffalo and birds respectively. The recommendation is made that the road linking major cities and towns to the Park which is “rough and rugged” be rehabilitated if government needs to improve tourists’ inflow to the park

Profile of Victims of Neighbourhood Crimes in Ghanaian Cities

Generally, urban crime research in Ghana is non-ambiguous on the socio-cultural, political economy and environmental ramifications of neighbourhood crimes in emerging cities, but the personal and neighbourhood level characteristics of the most likely victims of neighbourhood crime in Ghanaian cities remain meagre. This paper fills the gap in knowledge by answering the question ‘who/where is the most likely victim of crime in urban Ghana?’ This study employed a sequential mixed methods approach to collect data through the administration of a household survey, as well as focus group discussion (FDG) sessions. The survey data were analysed using binary logistic regression while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that socio-demographic characteristics, which are associated with a higher likelihood of victimisation, include young unemployed persons, residents of a detached or ‘self-contained’ apartment, household of increasing household size, residents of neighbourhoods with less police visibility and residents of unsafe neighbourhoods. Cognisance of the limited capacity of the Ghana Police Service, this study recommends the need for the Ghana Police Service to consider neighbourhood demographic characteristics in their efforts to enhance distributive justice in the provision of internal security

MANAGING NEGATIVE ALCOHOL-RELATED CONCERNS: A QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH CONCERNING CONSUMERS FROM BOTH ABRAHAMIC AND ENDOGENOUS RELIGIOUS FAITH

The relationship between alcohol consumption and conflicts is explored in several contexts. Little research has been conducted on the subject in Wa. This research explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and conflicts where alcohol consumption is on the increase. This exploratory research is focused on the post-positivist posture. A quantitative research design is used to collect data from both primary and secondary sources for analysis using sphinx IQ software. Some self-administered questionnaires are used for data collection.  Results show that alcohol consumption is strongly associated to household conflicts. In addition, the results also show that alcohol consumption is associated to street conflicts. It is found that alcohol consumption is associated to religious conflicts. The findings imply that there should be a rigorous segmentation and hyperpersonalisation of the alcohol beverage market in order to meet the local consumers’core needs and real expectations.  To the best of authors knowledge, this is an exploratory research in the Ghanaian Upper West context that shows the relationship between excessive alcohol consumption and conflicts with some particular psychosocial and cultural factors. Keywords: Alcohol Consumption, Household Conflicts, Street Conflicts, Religious Conflicts, Wa

Travel Philanthropy in the LarabangaMognori Tourist Enclave in Northern Ghana

Travel philanthropy is a growing phenomenon within the Larabanga-Mognori enclave in northern Ghana. This article seeks to assess the impacts of such visitor largess on community needs and development. Purposive sampling techniques were employed in selecting some respondents namely tour guides (in Larabanga) and cultural dancers (in Mognori) using focus group discussions (FGD) as a tool in eliciting data. A number of household heads were reached in both communities for their responses through in-depth interview (IDI) schedules. Data sourced which were mainly qualitatively was analysed in thematic frames. The study revealed that through visitor largess, amenities like boreholes and schools had been provided both communities. Other basic needs such as clothes, shoes, stationery and backpacks for school going children were also donated by tourists in both communities whilst instances of cash donations to some individuals were also reported. Both communities benefited from a donation of school blocks from visitors. The study concludes that adherence to personal hygiene and sanitation practices implied an improvement in living standards afforded through their encounter with tourists. Community members and elders are encouraged to put documented measures in place so that visitor philanthropy can be accounted for and be rmly rooted in the communities.Keywords: Travel Philanthropy, Largess, Donations, Tourism, Knowledge Transfe