UDS International Journal of Development

Editorial

Prof. G. A. Teye — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The second issue of Volume 11 of the UDS International Journal of Development (UDSIJD) has been published. This issue has a total of 6 papers with majority (5) of the papers covering the Humanities and one, covering the Agricultural Sciences. As an international journal, the team desires to continue to work hard to publish original and credible articles to maintain standards. As such, authors are urged to always use the author’s guidelines when writing and structuring their manuscripts to avoid delays. We urge members of the university community, researchers and academics to submit manuscripts to the journal for consideration. The editorial team wishes to thank the Management of the University, contributors, reviewers and all who have supported in diverse ways to make this a success. The Editor-in-Chief Prof. G. A. Teye

FISHERY RESOURCES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AQUACULTURE: INSIGHTS FOR AGRICULTURE HIGHER EDUCATION

B. E. Uchola, O. F. Ati — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

An investigation was conducted on the capture fisheries and aquaculture subsectors so as to understand their production outputs and characteristics. Estimates of notable fish resources, total number of species (TNS), effective number of species (ENS), global fish production (GFP), capture fisheries production (CFP) and aquaculture production (AP) for 4-decades were retrieved and analyzed. Capture fisheries and aquaculture were characterized using these criteria: mode of production, place of production, management approaches, motivation/goals, and property regimes. Fishery resources remained fairly constant (1000), TNS increased progressively (157 to 438), ENS fluctuated almost regularly and GFP increased in million metric tonnes (MT) steadily (90.6 to 172.8MT). Contributions to annual GFP by CFP steadily decreased (87.1 to 54.0%) while those of AP increased steadily (12.9 to 46.0%). Capture fisheries and Aquaculture are similar in terms of their contributions to food security through the provision of fish. Contribution of fishery resources to global fish production declines as a result of the steady increases from aquaculture. Aquaculture has developed as a culture-based activity. On the basis of culture-based characteristics, aquaculture can exist as either an independent academic discipline in Agriculture universities or an integral unit of existing livestock-based department.

Keywords: Farming, Fishing, Fish Production, Education Reforms, Universities

TOURIST MOTIVATION AND INFORMATION SEARCH: SOME OBSERVATIONS FROM SOGNAAYILLI ECOVILLAGE PROJECT IN TAMALE, GHANA

M. Biney, J. Jaiswal, E. O Asante, E. Sarfo — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study delves into the motivations prompting tourists to visit the Sognaayilli Ecovillage and investigate their information search behaviour. Its primary objective is to comprehend the factors that attract tourists to ecovillages and their information-gathering processes preceding travel decisions. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered through surveys and interviews with Sognaayilli Ecovillage visitors, and hypothesis testing employed a non-parametric Friedman's test. The investigation probed whether visitors of differing ages, nationalities, and group compositions exhibited distinct motives for visiting the ecovillage. The findings indicated that the ecovillage’s potential for learning, encompassing cultural immersion and the pursuit of unique experiences, served as the primary motivators for tourists. Moreover, the study demonstrated that individuals of various nationalities harboured distinct motives, and varying age groups and genders could be swayed by diverse factors when visiting Ghana. These insights hold meaningful implications for ecotourism marketing strategies and the advancement of sustainable tourism practices.

Keywords: Ecovillage, motivation, information search, indigenous knowledge, Ghana

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS, BENEFITS, AND CHALLENGES OF THE LAND USE AND SPATIAL PLANNING ACT (ACT 925) IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

R. Anoyege, B. P. Kuu-Ire, B. A. A. Akanbang — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A significant issue affecting land use planning in sub-Saharan Africa is inconsistent and conflicting planning legislation. As a result, Ghana passed the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, Act 925 of 2016, to address the nation's land use and spatial planning issues. Using the case study methodology, the study assesses the Act 925 implementation status, benefits, and challenges in the Upper West Region of Ghana between October 2016 and April 2018. Nine key informants were interviewed between April and June 2018 in the land use planning sector. The primary and secondary data analysis employed content analysis and thematic analysis, respectively. It emerged that besides the official change in the Act and the name of the department responsible for land use planning, there has not been any significant change in the pace, approach, logistics, attitude, and skills of land use planning. The Spatial Planning Committee (SPC) at the Metropolitan, Municipality, and District Assemblies (MMDA) level was yet to be inaugurated. Flouting of building regulations persists. Availability and access to resources; and location of departments and agencies involved in land use planning in different ministries were a challenge to the implementation of the Act. The Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority should assert itself and be adequately capacitated in terms of logistics and requisite personnel to implement the Act effectively. The implementation of physical planning standards and practices should be included as part of the District Assembly Performance Assessment Tool (DPACT) of MMDAs.

Keywords: Land Use Planning, Physical Planning, Planning Legislation, Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, Act 925

EXPLORING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AT ECOTOURISM SITES IN THE UPPER EAST REGION, GHANA

C. S. Boatbil, W. A. Yorose, A. B. Yiran — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper explores the extent of community participation at four selected ecotourism sites focusing on local control, personal benefits, community-based benefits, and personal involvement. A mixed method approach was adopted. Results revealed locals participated with little personal benefits(i.e personal incomes, employment, consultations, meeting attendance, policy formulation and decision-making). Tourism development was locally controlled yet a few tourism committee members and tour guides carried out its activities except at Gunwoku in Sirigu. The study recommends information sharing with all community members and tourism authorities. Government must improve existing infrastructure as well as the skills and financial capabilities of local residents.

Keywords: Community, Ecotourism, Participation, Tourism, Sustainability

MUSIC, DANCE AND MESSAGING IN THE GHANAIAN POLITICAL ARENA

T. S. Jebuni, G. A. Bukari — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines how music and dance shape electoral accountability in Ghanaian politics. With political party proliferation and the electoral contestation in Africa in the 1990s, scholars began to explore factors that influence electoral outcomes. Numerous academic studies have found a number of characteristics that impact electoral outcomes in the new democracies, including clientelism, ethnicity, retrospective voting, ideological stances, and rational voting. Beyond these factors, music and dance play an important role in the multiparty electoral systems in Ghana. Despite this purpose, there is comparatively little research on how dance and music contribute to electoral responsibility. Our paper contributes to filling this knowledge gap by analyzing music and dance in the Ghanaian electoral politics by analyzing the impact of ‘Yen tie Obiaa,’campaign song for the 2016 and 2020 general elections by a Ghanaian Highlife icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu (a.k.a Daddy Lumba). Drawing from twenty (20) participants, the findings revealed that lyrics of the song in addition to other electoral undercurrents have also adversely affected the candidature of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and influenced voters who hitherto had no intention of voting for the New Patriotic Party candidate in the 2016 and 2020 presidential election.

Keywords: Popular Music and Dance, Messaging, Ghanaian political arena, Democracy, Elections, Multi-party

UNDERSTANDING NORTHERN GHANA’S CONTEMPORARY CHIEFTAINCY CONFLICTS: ORIGINS, ACTORS AND DYNAMICS

M. G. Ibrahim, M. A. Ateng, F. A. Akanyani — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the countless efforts to address chieftaincy conflicts in Northern Ghana, these conflicts remain protracted, relapsed, and internecine. This paper, examined these kinds of conflicts by illustrating a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary conflicts in Northern Ghana. The research strategy for this study is qualitative research, while the study design is the multiple case study. Interviews and focus groups were used to gather data from 39 respondents who were chosen purposively. The findings from the thematic and cross-site analysis indicated that conflicts were predominantly characterized by a structural condition where both sides not only used history to support their perspectives, but also manipulated history in specific ways. The various iterations of historical accounts often offer a consistent justification for the refusal to accept practical compromises. Furthermore, although the skins were associated with chieftaincy, the underlying motivations and interests were primarily connected to obtaining and managing the land resource. The presence of contextual concerns leads to a syndrome of conflict that has a substantial impact on the conflict management strategies used to address various conflict situations. These qualities are crucial for establishing a tranquil environment as they provide a foundation for managing activities effectively.

Keywords: Conflicts, Protracted, Relapsed, Contemporary, Mechanisms, Ghana