Patrick Brandful Cobbinah

MANAGING PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN PERI-URBAN AREAS OF KUMASI, GHANA: A CASE OF ABUAKWA

Mathematical modeling of water quality in rivers is an important tool for the planning and management of water resources. Nevertheless, the available models frequently show structural and functional limitations. With the objective of reducing these drawbacks, a new model has been developed to simulate water quality in rivers under unsteady conditions; this model runs on the Vensim PLE ® software and can also be operated for steady-state conditions. The following eighteen water quality variables can be simulated: DO, BODc, organic nitrogen (No), ammonia nitrogen (Na), nitrite (Ni), nitrate (Nn), organic and inorganic phosphorus (Fo and Fi, respectively), inorganic solids (Si), phytoplankton (F), zooplankton (Z), bottom algae (A), detritus (D), total coliforms (TC), alkalinity (Al.), total inorganic carbon (TIC), pH, and temperature (T). Methane as well as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that are present in the aerobic and anaerobic layers of the sediment can also be simulated. Several scenarios were generated for computational simulations produced using the new model by using the QUAL2K program, and, when possible, analytical solutions. The results obtained using the new model strongly supported the results from the QUAL family and analytical solutions.

Religion gnaws urban planning: the geography of places of worship in Kumasi, Ghana

This paper investigates spatial distribution of places of worship (PoW) and its implications on sustainable land use planning in a rapidly urbanising city of Kumasi, Ghana. Using semi-structured interviews, document reviews and agency consultations, this paper focused on three issues: (a) the location and distribution of PoW, (b) factors considered in the location of these PoW by faith groups and (c) planning implications of PoW. Findings indicate that location decisions vary according to different faith groups. However, none of the faith groups interviewed considered land use planning regulations as key decision-making factor, as proximity to members, affordability and availability of land remained dominant factors. This situation has created avoidable land use conflicts and has become an additional burden on urban planning authorities who are already faced with pervasive land use challenges such as slum development and urban sprawl.

Local attitudes towards natural resources management in rural Ghana

Purpose – Local support is fundamental in natural resources management (NRM). However, recent studies indicate that NRM in protected areas in developing countries is often faced with local resistance due to its impacts on livelihoods. The purpose of this paper is to examine local attitudes – positive and negative responses – towards NRM in protected areas and implications of NRM benefits on local support for conservation of protected areas. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research method was used for this study. Structured questionnaire survey was administered to 310 respondents across four case study communities – Abrafo, Mesomagor, Adadientem and Nuamakrom – around the Kakum Conservation Area (KCA), Ghana. χ2 test and logistic regression were used to analyse the data with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Findings – Findings showed positive attitudes towards NRM in protected areas (85.9 per cent) and high support for conservation of KCA (86.5 per cent). Res...

Urban Infrastructure Design and Pedestrian Safety in the Kumasi Central Business District, Ghana

Central Business Districts (CBDs) are areas of intense economic and social interactions and zones for pedestrian activities. However, infrastructure for pedestrian safety has not been considered in the design of CBDs in many developing countries. Infrastructural facilities for pedestrians are normally introduced as add-ons to the main design of the CBDs and sometimes create more problems than they were intended to solve. The situation is more complicated for vulnerable groups such as children, people with disabilities, and pregnant women. This article investigates the level of pedestrian protection in the CBD of Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. It presents an inventory of infrastructure within the CBD for pedestrian comfort, safety, and collision avoidance. Using an empirical inventory, observations, and pedestrian interviews, the study reveals inadequate, poor location and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure within the Kumasi CBD. It further identifies careless use of these facilities by motorists and pedestrians that has contributed to increasing pedestrian crashes. The article proposes the redesign of the Kumasi CBD to improve pedestrian protection and avoid chaos.

Ecotourism implementation in the Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana: administrative framework and local community experiences

In principle ecotourism should support environmental conservation and local development; however, achieving success in delivering on frequently competing objectives of conservation and development has often proven difficult in many ecotourism destinations in Africa. This paper focuses on the implementation of ecotourism in the Kakum Conservation Area (KCA), the most popular ecotourism destination in Ghana. It examines the current administrative framework for implementing ecotourism, and the involvement and experiences of ecotourism by communities around the KCA. A case study research method was adopted using in-depth interviews with local residents and relevant park and non-governmental organisation agency staff. Findings indicate that the implementation of ecotourism is not recognised by the park officials as a process requiring negotiation between stakeholders with different agendas. Thus, the current ecotourism administrative framework does not acknowledge community involvement and participation as relevant to the implementation of ecotourism in the KCA which has generated mixed experiences among the local residents.

Toward a more desirable form of sustainable urban development in Africa

Although there is an abundance of literature on sustainable development and urban planning in Africa, it remains to be demonstrated whether urban planning in Africa is founded on the ideology of sustainable urban development or has positive or negative effects on sustainable urban development of Africa. This paper reviews a variety of definitions of sustainable urban development and relates them against urban planning processes and practices in Africa. Drawing from published literature, policy documents and international reports, this paper advocates for inclusiveness and spatial integration toward a more desirable form of sustainable urban development in Africa.

Climate change adaptation in rural Ghana: indigenous perceptions and strategies

In Ghana, the agricultural sector is climate-dependent and susceptible to threatening impacts of climate change, yet, little is known about climate change adaptation in rural farming communities. This article examines the effects of, and local adaptation response to, climate change in rural farming communities in the Jaman North District of Ghana. Using meteorological data, changes in rainfall and temperature over the past 30 years were analyzed. In addition, social research methods were used to analyse interviews and household survey data on climate change impacts on, and adaption responses of rural communities. Results showed that the changing weather patterns, in the form of erratic rainfall and increasing temperatures, have become an additional burden to rural farming communities who are already faced with limited level of mechanization.

Local attitudes towards tourism and conservation in rural Botswana and Rwanda

The establishment of protected areas is an accepted means of achieving biodiversity conservation and associated tourism development; yet, there is limited evidence of the relationship between the two and how this influences local communities’ attitudes to conservation and tourism. Joint venture models are one way to achieve these two outcomes. The African Wildlife Foundation conservation enterprise model aims to improve the quality of life of local communities and encourage positive local attitudes to conservation; yet, this has not been tested. This research adopted one-on-one structured questionnaire interviews to examine community and tourism lodge staff’s attitudes towards conservation of, and tourism in, protected areas in two case-study sites in rural Botswana and Rwanda. Findings indicate that at both case-study sites lodge staff and the local community were generally supportive of conservation, and had positive attitudes towards conservation and tourism.

Spatial Planning in Ghana: Exploring the Contradictions

Abstract The purpose of this research is twofold: to explore the complexity of spatial plan preparation and implementation in Ghana using Kumasi as a case study; and second, to examine the contradictions of spatial plans and ‘actual development’ occurring in Kumasi. Using social science research methods (semi-structured interviews) and physical survey (land use plans), findings indicate that spatial planning in Kumasi is a bureaucratic process hijacked by urban planning agencies with limited involvement of urban residents. As a result, urban development is considerably influenced by spontaneous informal development patterns (i.e. self-organization). This phenomenon of self-organization is expressed in a context of uncertainty created by weak spatial planning system which encourages haphazard development. Regrettably, in Kumasi, self-organization is often overlooked by spatial planning agencies as they focused on rigid and exclusionary spatial plans. This paper advocates consideration and integration of self-organization processes in spatial planning efforts to respond adequately to the urban development challenges confronting Kumasi.

Reflections on tourism policies in Ghana

Abstract While the evolving nature of the tourism industry has tended to be a major focus of much recent debate, there is a growing body of literature reporting on policy implementation limitations hindering tourism’s role in environmental conservation and local development in Africa. This paper traces the historical evolution of tourism policies in Ghana, summarizes the dominant themes and appraises their effectiveness in promoting local development and environmental conservation. It concludes that while the tourism industry in Ghana operates within a policy framework, many questions remain about the extent of policy actualization, as less than 50% of the objectives of all tourism policies since the 1970s are implemented.