University of Cape Coast Journals
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Community participation and sustainable forest management in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District: Community participation and sustainable forest management in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District
No full textCommunity participation is central to the sustainable management of forest reserves. However, forest reserves in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District are disturbed by rural people even under collaborative forest management, which threatens forest sustainability. The study analysed the socio-economic importance of the reserves to the forest fringe communities, participation levels of the communities in reserve protection, and challenges stakeholders face in ensuring sustainable forest management (SFM). The study adopted a descriptive study design to assess community participation in SFM. Both simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample for the study. Questionnaire, interview schedule and focus group discussion guide were employed for the primary data collection. The main findings of the study were that forest fringe communities enjoyed some benefits from the forest but this was not enough. Their participation in SFM was only by upholding the forest by-laws. However, a major challenge was the farm raiding by elephants from the forest reserve. Community participation in SFM was at the \u27lowest levels. Some of the challenges encountered by stakeholders in SFM were non-cooperation of community members and access restriction to forest resources. The study recommends that government should not only legally recognise forest ownership rights but also build the capacity of communities to allow higher community participation levels in SFM
The Early Poetry of Kwesi Brew: An Evaluation
Get PDFKwesi Brew (1928-2007) had an illustrious career as a poet, diplomat, and businessman that spanned key periods of Ghana’s history, from its colonial era as the Gold Coast to its maturity as a successful West African democracy. And yet when he died, none of his four published volumes of poetry were in print, and he existed mainly in a few anthologized poems. Though some of those are well-known, the breadth of his work has almost disappeared from sight. This essay examines Brew’s early development and growth as a poet, including the specifically African influences on his themes and metaphors, and situates him in the politics and culture of his time. This essay is drawn from a larger project that is in process, namely, the creation of an edition of the Selected Poems of Kwesi Brew, to bring more of his work before the public
Landowners’ Perceptions and Involvement in the Management of Kyabobo National Park, Ghana
Get PDFThis study examines the perceptions of landowners of fringe communities of the Kyabobo National Park (KNP) about their involvement in the creation and management of the KNP. Four KNP-fringe communities namely: Shiare, Odomi, Gekorong, and Keri which are less than a kilometre from the boundary of the park were selected for the study. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to establish the relationship between landowners’ perceptions and their involvement in the management of the park. A systematic sampling method was used to select 212 landowners for interviews using a structured interview schedule. The study found that some landowners in the KNP-fringe communities were employed at various levels in the management of the park but were not managing partners of the park. Landowners also benefited from selling handicrafts to park visitors. The physical infrastructures in the communities have remained poor. It is recommended that landowners in park-fringe communities are given the opportunity to become managing partners of the park to guarantee the successful operation of the park. Government should also provide modern physical infrastructure in the KNP-fringe communities as was promised prior to the establishment of the park
Effects of rural tourism development on poverty alleviation: a grounded theory
Get PDFTourism has been accredited as a significant sector by the Namibian government because it is one of the highest income earners and ranks third after mining and agriculture. This research paper explores the key determinants of poverty in the Northern region of Namibia (Kunene and Zambezi) and the effects of rural tourism development on poverty alleviation. The research adopted grounded theory and phenomenological approaches and data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with various tourism stakeholders in the two regions. The research findings reveal the importance of all stakeholders in identifying the causes of poverty in each region/constituency before implementing poverty alleviation strategies. This study, therefore, concludes that providing the same tourism strategies to different geographical locations does not work, because some communities are extremely deprived. This research, therefore, recommends a flexible framework which takes a pragmatic approach to move away from the “one size fits all” approach
Criminality in the microfinance sector: a symptom of “broken window”
Get PDFThe phenomenal rate of deviant acts in the microfinance sector of Ghana’s economy has generated a great deal of debate about its ramifications for the future of the sector and financial inclusion efforts. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 16:4 acknowledges the dangers syndicated crimes pose to the attainment of the goals and proposes a reduction in all forms of illicit financial flows and organized crime by 2030. In this paper, it is argued that one of the major effects of criminality in the microfinance sector is the deepening of financial exclusion of people who are already on the fringes of the financial inclusion bracket. Semi-structured and in-depth interview guides were used to collect data for the study. The Broken Window theory of criminology was adopted as the theoretical framework to guide the study. The study found that criminal and fraudulent activities in the microfinance sector are real issues that need attention. The study concludes that the laxity and delays on the part of state institutions mandated to regulate the sector and their inability to crack the whip on criminal elements in the sector have contributed to the festering of crimes in the sector and its resultant financial exclusion. The study recommends that regulatory agencies should develop and deploy stringent monitoring and surveillance regime in order to forestall the occurrence of criminal activities which have plagued the sector
Mediation as an option under alternative dispute resolution: The case of Ghana
Get PDFThe paper carries out a detailed discussion on mediation as one of the options under the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism in Ghana. It looks at the historical basis and its connection with the culture and tradition of the people as well as the legal framework for the practice of Mediation. It also looks at issues of jurisdiction, capacity, and role of the court system. On the whole, the paper indicates that mediation in Ghana is regulated by law, founded on the basis of consensus by parties; agreements or awards out of mediations are binding, final, and enforceable. The paper indicates that mediation is deeply rooted in the customary laws and usages of the people as their foremost mode of conflict resolution mechanism before the introduction of the formal court system and litigation. Notwithstanding, mediation is ever-present as a tool for conflict resolution in every Ghanaian home and community of people
Effect Of Job-Related Stress on Employee Performance at Selected Banks in Ghana
Get PDFThis study investigated the effect of job-related stress on employee performance in the banking sector. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design. The population of the study was 320 employees from 7 selected banks with a sample size of 160 respondents. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the respondents for the study. The data was solicited using closed-ended questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to find out the level of stress and work-related stressors of participants. An inferential statistic of regression was used to analyse the effect of job stress on performance. The study found a high level of job-related stress among employees in the banking sector. Job stress was found to have a significant effect on employee performance at the selected banks. The study also established that stress management on the part of the management of the selected banks was low, which contributed to the high level of the negative effect of job-related stress on employee performance at the banks. It was recommended that the management of the banks should conduct a stress audit to identify the level of stress of its staff and put measures to alleviate or curtail them
THE BEARING OF SCIENTIFIC DATA ON LEGAL REASONING
Get PDFLegal reasoning and its associated dialectical features generally provide the dimensions and contours for the jurisprudence that govern international, municipal as well as verdicts reached by the courts. Policy makers, international organisations together with the legal systems of various countries take a number of decisions on both the drafting and the conclusion of agreements based on multiple factors. One of these important factors to be taken into consideration is the impact of these agreements, conventions and decisions on humanity in general. Will it affect the security of mankind, will it have effect on the ecosystem-both flora and fauna, biodiversity, climate change and a host of others. With modern advancements in science and technology, scientific assessments have also become one of the biggest considerations on agreements as well as verdicts reached by courts. Studies abounds that reinforce the evidence that “scientific data has a huge bearing on legal reasoning.” The first section of the paper looks at the parameters between the law and science. The next examines the theoretical conceptions of the scientific process followed by the explanation of key concepts. Philosophical analysis of the concept of reasoning together with its foundational principles are also discussed. Finally, the paper highlights the synergy between scientific data and legal reasoning. The socio-legal methodology is used to undertake a contextual analysis of some international agreements and their implications, as well as the jurisprudence reached by some courts with the aid of scientific knowledge. Conclusion is then drawn based on the discussion
LEGAL IMPLICATION OF DISSOLUTION OF STATUTORY MARRIAGE IN A DUAL MARRIAGE: A CULTURAL RELATIVIST EXAMINATION
Get PDFMarriage is a universally recognised institution. It is the bedrock of the family and smallest unit of society. The procedure and manner of its celebration differ from one society to another. In some societies, a valid marriage is one contracted only between persons of the opposite sex. However, in some other societies, persons of the same sex can contract a legitimate marriage. In Nigeria, only persons of the opposite sex can enter into a marital relationship. This paper explores two types of marriage - customary marriage and statutory marriage. Quite a number of the marriages in Nigeria between the same couples are contracted both under customary law and the Marriage Act. In a situation where there are irreconcilable differences leading to a divorce, would the dissolution of one type of marriage have any effect on the other? This is the crux of this paper. An analysis of the two marriages and divorce proceedings were made, divergent opinions of different learned authors were explored, laws and decisions of courts were considered in order to examine the effect of dissolution of one type of marriage on the other type of marriage