Traditional authorities and co-production in community development in northern Ghana: Insights from the Nandom Traditional Area

AbstractThe paper set out a platform to investigate the impact of FM radio broadcast in local dialects on rural community development in the Tamale Metropolis of Northern Ghana. The study adopts survey design and also employs probability proportional techniques to select communities for the study. The main thrust of this paper is on the impact of local dialect on rural community development, preferences of development programmes and the community’s participation in the production of radio programmes. Out of 400 questionnaires distributed, 392 was retrieved and analysed. From the results, it is established that local dialect broadcast on radio have an impact on development of rural communities. Also, it improves awareness and knowledge of solutions to community’s development problems in education, agriculture, environment, culture, politics and religion. The paper compare target audience’s preference for local dialect radio programmes to other similar content programmes that were not broadcast in local dialect. It concludes that radio broadcast in local dialect plays a pivotal role in bridging the communication gap between government and rural communities. It proved to be one of the effective mode of communication at the grass-root level. The study shows a positive role played by the indigenous dialect’s radio programmes and recommends that rural development programmes on radio should be packaged in local language. Thus, enhances listenership, interest and positive desired behavioural change.Key Words: Impact, FM Radio Broadcast, Local Dialect, Rural Development, Ghana.

Download Full-text

Absence of Effects of Herbicides Use on Yam Rots: A Case Study in Wulensi, Ghana

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture9050095 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abukari Wumbei ◽

Judith Kania Asibi Bawa ◽

Mamudu Abunga Akudugu ◽

Pieter Spanoghe

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

The Public ◽

Field Level ◽

Set Up ◽

Traditional Area

Yam farmers in Ghana have, over the years, used herbicides for weed control, particularly glyphosate. Although this has been helpful to them, there are complaints and concerns, among the yam farmers and a section of the public, that the yam tuber rots easily under the use of herbicides. This study, therefore, was set up at the field level to investigate the possibility of herbicides use causing yam rot. Two yam varieties, “laribako” and “olodo”, were grown under the conditions of chemical weed control (use of glyphosate) and manual weed control in three replicate sites in Wulensi in the Nanumba traditional area of northern Ghana. The study revealed that there was no difference in rots between herbicide treated yams and manually weeded yams, but that there was a difference in rots between “laribako” and “olodo” yam varieties. The results also showed that there was no difference in yield between herbicide treated yams and manually weeded yams. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that, there was no difference in yam rot and yield between herbicides treated and manually weeded yams, but “laribako” was more susceptible to rot than “olodo”.

Download Full-text

Consultative processes in community development in Northern Ghana

Community Development Journal ◽

10.1093/cdj/33.4.301 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 301-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

E. B.-D. Aryeetey

Keyword(s):

Community Development ◽

Northern Ghana

Download Full-text

LAND CONFLICTS AND FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA: AN EVIDENCE FROM DORIMON IN GHANA

International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research ◽

10.51594/ijmer.v2i2.126 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 74-96

Author(s):

Adams Sabogu ◽

Théophile Bindeouè Nassè ◽

Issaka Kanton Osumanu

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Conflict Resolution ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Land Ownership ◽

Population Pressure ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Land Conflicts ◽

Boundary Conflict ◽

Traditional Institutions ◽

Traditional Area

This study examined the implication of land conflicts on food security in the Dorimon Traditional Area of the Wa West District of Northern Ghana. The study used a phenomenological research design approach, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis. Primary data were sought from interviews with household heads, key informants and focus group discussions. Various methods were combined to sample a total of 221 respondents from eight communities and four institutions for the study. The study revealed the existence of numerous land conflicts in the area, prominent among them are the land boundary conflict between the Guse and Dontanga Clans, land ownership conflict between Guo-Nayiri and Guo-Katung Clans and that of land ownership conflict between Charile and Nyimbale communities. Other forms of land conflicts were user conflicts between neighbouring land users and some form of limited access due to discrimination against women and settlers. The main drivers of these land conflicts were greed and selfish interest by individuals, the lack of clear land boundaries between clans, rising population pressure and the weakening of traditional institutions. Meanwhile, the study revealed that 62 per cent of household in the Dorimon Traditional Area were food insecure. It was established that land conflicts affect food security negatively as it leads to low food production, loss of income, destruction of food systems, disruption of herbal health delivery and also depletion of food stalk as a result of sale of food staff in pursuit of conflicts. Customary system of conflict resolution is the most popular system of conflict resolution in the area. In order to improve on the efforts at managing land conflicts and also mitigating their effects on food security, it is recommended that; alternative source of livelihoods should be provided to the people, traditional institutions should be strengthened, land boundaries between clans or communities should clearly be defined, demarcated and documented and, also, there should be strong stakeholder collaboration in land administration.

Download Full-text

Farmer-herder conflicts, tenure insecurity and farmer’s investment decisions in Agogo, Ghana

Agricultural and Food Economics ◽

10.1186/s40100-021-00186-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Selorm Kobla Kugbega ◽

Prince Young Aboagye

Keyword(s):

Land Tenure ◽

Investment Decisions ◽

Primary Data ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Agricultural Investment ◽

Land Owners ◽

Traditional Authorities ◽

Customary Land ◽

Traditional Area ◽

Land Administration Systems

AbstractOwing to climate change, population growth and tenurial changes, the past decade has witnessed high interest among migrant and settler pastoralist groups in the vegetal-rich customary lands of the Agogo Traditional Area. This has resulted in lease grants of large land areas to pastoralists by traditional authorities and usufruct families, for reasons of ensuring optimum use and gaining the highest returns from lands. This paper examines the implications of consequent competing interests over land resources between farmers and herders on indigenous farmer’s agricultural investment decisions. The study uses qualitative methods and empirical evidence is given by primary data from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions in the case study area. Results indicated that land owners exploit lapses in customary land administration systems to allocate lands in exchange for money, to pastoralists while neglecting indigenous farmers’ land use rights. Thus, indigenous farmers report land tenure insecurity and a sense of deprivation from their customary lands. Despite tenure insecurity concerns, farmer’s agricultural investment decisions remain unchanged because such changes in investment decisions may reduce incomes and compromise their livelihoods. The findings herein contradict theoretical expectations and provide new perspectives for understanding the relationship between tenure (in)security and investment decisions.

Download Full-text

Exploring the Role of Culture in Shaping the Dagbon Ethnopolitical Peace Negotiation Processes

International Negotiation ◽

10.1163/15718069-23031164 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 515-536

Author(s):

Mathias Awonnatey Ateng ◽

Joseph Abazaami ◽

A. Agoswin Musah

Keyword(s):

Northern Ghana ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Peace Negotiations ◽

Cultural Negotiation ◽

Ethnopolitical Conflict ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Negotiation Processes ◽

Peace Negotiation ◽

Traditional Area

Abstract Culture is a significant factor in peace negotiation processes. It frames the parties’ perspectives and strategies to managing the conflict. This study explores the role of culture in the peace negotiation processes of the Dagbon ethnopolitical conflict of Northern Ghana. Twelve elders from the Dagbon Traditional Area with an in-depth understanding of the traditions and culture of Dagbon were interviewed using an unstructured interview guide. Similar to most findings on cross-cultural negotiation processes in high-context cultures, all the negotiators were men. The issues negotiated were largely based on the culture and traditions of Dagbon, and the interest and priorities of the negotiators were culturally defined. As with many other ethnopolitical conflicts, the culture of Dagbon was key in shaping the process and outcome of the peace negotiations. It is imperative for cultural issues to be properly understood and addressed satisfactorily in order not to undermine peace negotiation processes.

Download Full-text