GAP FILLERS OR PIONEERS: INFORMAL WATER SUPPLIERS IN PERI-URBAN AREAS OF THE TECHIMAN MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA

There is continuous expansion and growth of urban and peri urban areas in Sub-Saharan Africa with projections indicating that this will double. Some peri-urban areas such as those in the Techiman municipality of Ghana are experiencing this trend. Nonetheless, the spate of growth of these areas outstrips the supply of utilities by municipal water distribution networks. As a result, some areas have little or no public provision. In order to address the water supply challenge, places with favourable hydrological settings are witnessing the emergence of informal water suppliers as “gap fillers” or “pioneers”, providing water services. Noteworthy, however, existing studies about informal water suppliers in peri-urban areas in Ghana lump them together, without considering the water source. This study differs in that it specifically examines the evolution and the features of informal water suppliers who privately and independently abstract and supply groundwater. Additionally, it attempts to understand the nature of informality of the suppliers and the possibility of formalisation. The paper is an exploratory study using the case of private mechanised borehole operators who supply water in their respective areas. The findings showed that in some peri-urban areas in the Techiman municipality, some dwellers constructed and operated mechanised boreholes, which provide in-situ water and utilities to others. They are mostly pioneer water suppliers in some of the areas. Their services are informal by nature because they are largely independent of the formal sector and apply informal arrangements in rendering their services. Seen also as business enterprises, they are not licenced. However, the boreholes are registered with the Municipal Assembly, which indicated some level of formalisation. The study recommended that efforts to formalise them further should focus on improving water quality monitoring for consumption and promoting sustainable abstraction.

FACTORS INFLUENCING TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION BY TRADITIONAL AFRICAN VEGETABLE FARMERS IN NORTHERN GHANA

The production of traditional African vegetables is an age-old tradition among the people of the northern region of Ghana. However, the knowledge base of traditional African vegetable production remains local due to a lack of research and policy support. Therefore, the adoption of improved technology among traditional vegetable farmers is generally low and impedes efforts to promote widespread cultivation, consumption and even commercialisation. This study aims at clarifying potential factors that determine the adoption of technologies by traditional African vegetable farmers in the northern region of Ghana. One hundred and five (105) respondents in five communities and across two administrative districts in the northern region were selected for an in-depth survey using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. In addition, a logit regression was used to determine the effect of various factors on technology adoption by farmers. Among the factors, the educational level of a farmer, access to credit, farm size, experience in farming and access to extension support were found to be important factors affecting the decision of traditional African vegetable farmers to adopt improved technology. The results of this study can help enhance the effectiveness of policy re-orientation towards a more effective commercialisation of traditional African vegetables in Ghana and elsewhere.

ASSESSING THE MODERATING ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION IN JOB SATISFACTION AND TURNOVER INTENTION RELATIONSHIP OF BASIC SCHOOL TEACHERS: EVIDENCE FROM NORTHERN GHANA

The emphasis on the Educational Qualifications (EQ) of employees, the demand for skilled labour and the professionalization of the occupational structure of teachers in general, have created a dilemma for employers and school authorities in retaining their competent and experienced staff and meeting their job needs on one hand, and increasing pressure to release them for higher edu-cational experience on the other. This paper examines the moderating role of teachers’ EQ in their Job Satisfaction (JS) and Turnover Intention (ToI) relationship in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana. The proposed model was evaluated based on valid data from 116 teachers obtained from a cross-sectional survey. To confirm whether EQ will moderate the JS and ToI relationship, a process macro (Hayes, 2018 v. 3.4) was run with mean cantering and 5000 bootstrapping. Regression Analysis was employed to determine the relationships proposed in the study. The results show a significant but inverse relationship between JS and ToI of teachers in the Metropolis. However, the EQ moderator function in JS and the ToI relationship was not support-ed. It was also found that the Teachers’ EQ had no significant effect on their ToI in the Metropolis. Empirically, the study extends our understanding of the constructs discussed. The paper also dis-cusses some managerial implications, and because there were some contextual limitations, direc-tions are also provided for future studies.

Editorial

The first issue of volume 8 of the UDS International Journal of Development (UDSIJD) has been published. A total of eight papers are included in Volume 8, Issue 1 of the UDSIJD. Seven papers cover Humanities whilst one in the Agricultural Sciences. The UDSIJD has fully migrated its operations to an online journal management system and therefore, all authors, contributors, reviewers, and editors are to interact via the journal system. By this, it is imperative that one visits his/her dashboard regularly, to track updates to manuscripts and review. The UDSIJD urges all authors and contributors to pay particular attention to the journal’s guidelines and adhere strictly to them. Also, comments from peer review are meant to improve the quality of the manuscripts and hence should not be personalized. We encourage young academics, researchers, development practitioners, and entrepreneurs to submit original research across disciplines for consideration to be published in our journal. The UDSIJD strives to enhance scholarly communications with a development focus, on a regular and sustained basis. The Editorial Team wishes to sincerely thank the University Management, authors, reviewers, and staff of the Journal and all those who in diverse ways have supported in making this issue of the journal a reality. The Editor-in-Chief Prof. G. A. Teye

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES FOR CHIEFS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF THE ROYAL ACADAMY

Chiefs and local government authorities are instrumental in community development. However, the branding of chieftaincy by the post-colonial government as anachronistic and undemocratic and the removal of chieffs from local government structures to curtail their powers affected their chances to be abreast with the dynamics of modern development concepts and approaches. Though currently the chieftaincy institution boasts of educated elites, some are not conversant with laws and policies on local government. Language barrier is a challenge in some cases for collaboration between the two actors as some Assembly officials speak languages that are different from the local languages of communities in which they work. Additionally, local government authorities have been criticised for their low capacity level and their contributions to development is questioned. The study adopted qualitative approaches to examine capacity development approaches within chieftaincy and local government systems. Nineteen participants including chiefs, members of District Assemblies, key informants and local government officials were sampled through purposive and convienent sampling techniques. The study unearthed that majority of the participants were unaware about the Royal Acadamy, a capacity development facility for chiefs. Challenges affecting capacity development included lack of funds, change in government, traditional practices and customs, and elitism in chieftaincy. The paper concludes that capacity development can facilitate community development, and minimise conflict between chiefs and local government authorities. The paper recommends that the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs take steps to operationalise the commencement of activities of the Royal Acadamy.

LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT AGAINST POVERTY IN THE UPPER WEST REGION, GHANA: THE DEFIES AND GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM

Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) is a social assistance initiative that aims to help people living in poverty and the needy change their condition. However, few studies have focused exclusively on defies and the grievance redress mechanism (GRM) associated with LEAP’s activity. GRM and LEAP defies are essential because they have the potential to reduce LEAP programme impacts. To this end, concurrent mixed methods was applied to study defies and GRM of LEAP. A total of 302 LEAP beneficiaries took part in the study. Data were gathered using a questionnaire and an interview guide. Chi-square, descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. The major defies of LEAP were discovered to be related to beneficiary and administrative problems. Although GRM existed, it proved to be ineffective. Appropriate support and supportive programmes must be assured to ensure full benefits for beneficiaries, while defies under recourse must be dealt with quickly.

APPRENTICESHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE INFORMAL SECTOR OF THE GHANAIAN ECONOMY: THE CASE OF SUNYANI MAGAZINE

Apprenticeship training is one of the several means of developing the skills and competencies of the workforce in every economy. The small and micro-scale engineering enterprises since their inception, have been contributing towards the development of the country. This is particularly so in the manufacturing and engineering sectors where local tools, equipment and machinery are produced and serviced. The Sunyani magazine has become an emerging informal industrial zone where technical skills development is offered to individuals across different areas of engineering. This paper examined the nature of apprenticeship skills development and the associated challenges in an informal industrial zone through a cross-sectional survey. The findings suggest that on-the-job training model without pre- or post-training exams or test characterised the training of apprentices. During the skills development process of the apprentices, the master craftsmen examine the progress of the apprentices to ensure they are progressing and to determine when apprentices have acquired the needed skills to be considered certified. Despite the benefits offered to the local economy, lack of funding for new ventures, lack of government support, tools and equipment constrain the capacity of the informal industrial zone to scale-up its training capacity with the potential of being of greater benefits to the socioeconomic development of the country.

FACTORS INFLUENCING DOCUMENTATION IN NURSING CARE BY NURSES AT THE TAMALE TEACHING HOSPITAL, GHANA

In Ghana, nursing documentation practice by nurses is sub-optimal. This analytical cross-sectional study assessed socio-demographic determinants of nursing documentation practice among 278 nurses at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Data was gathered using a questionnaire and both descriptive and inferential analyses were done to determine factors influencing nursing documentation practice. A large majority of the respondents (84.6%) had adequate knowledge on nursing documentation. Most of them (84.2%) had positive attitudes towards it and a large majority of them (77.1%) asserted to practice it always but only 74.0% adequately practiced nursing documentation. Knowledge of nursing documentation was statistically associated with age (AOR 0.12, 95% C1: 0.029-1.507; p=0.004) and work experience (AOR 15.29, 95% C1: 3.083-75.872; p=0.001), males were significantly more likely to have positive attitudes towards it (AOR, 2.81 CI, 1.434-5.501, p=0.003) whilst respondents aged 21-30 years (AOR, 5.85 (2.64-12.97), p

THE SUPPORT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE BUILSA NORTH DISTRICT OF GHANA

This study explored the role NGOs’ play in educating children with disabilities in the Builsa North District of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey approach was applied in the study. The sample size was 150 respondents (75 male and 75 female) for the questionnaire. A mixed method approach involving questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were the main instruments used for data collection. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The questionnaire was answered by 150 respondents, 72 respondents answered the focus group questions while eight (8) respondents answered the key informant interview questions. The schools, parents/guardians of children with disabilities, foster homes and NGOs that support the education of children with disabilities were visited for the questionnaire administration. The study realized children with disabilities face discrimination and marginalization in accessing education in the district. Thus, some NGOs support the education of children with disabilities by recruiting and sending them to school as well as providing teaching and learning materials, feeding the disabled children, capacity building as well as caring and showing love for the disabled children. The challenges militating against children with disabilities in their bid to access education were: lack of special educational infrastructure; stigmatization by school mates, teachers and parents; and their inability to move from home to school and back. The study concludes that children with disabilities have the desire to be educated. The study recommends the provision of a disabled children school in the district. Government should formulate legislations against stigmatization and discrimination of disabled children.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN GHANAIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF GHANA TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

This study was conducted to ascertain records management practices at the Ghana Communications Technology University (formerly Ghana Technology University College) a mid-sized Ghanaian public university located in Accra. All the staff at the Admissions and Records departments participated in the study. This comprised two (2) heads of department and seven (7) senior staff from both departments. The face-to-face interviews were employed as a data collection instrument for this study. The findings indicated that the University has neither a policy to regulate the management of students' records nor a professional archivist to manage records. However, the head of the Records office was given a three-day training on the assumption of office. It was revealed that the head of admissions, as well as all the staff of the two departments, had never been given any training. There were some challenges impeding records management in the Admissions and Records offices– among them are; lack of adequate staff, inadequate storage equipment, lack of periodic training, lack of policy to guide records management and inability of students to furnish the Admission office with the needed information. It was recommended that the University should employ a professional archivist to manage student records, provide adequate storage facilities, organise periodic training for staff as well promulgate a policy to guide records management in the Admissions and Records offices. Keywords: Accra Campus, Records, Management, Practices, Ghana Communication Technology University