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

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

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