Kumasi Metropolitan Research Articles

Narrowing down the drivers of flood risk in medium-sized sub-Saharan African cities: insights from the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana

ABSTRACT Literature on the drivers of flooding in sub-Saharan Africa is mostly focused on large and megacities, despite the majority of cities in the region being medium- and small-sized. We conducted a systematic review using 27 peer-reviewed scientific papers selected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols using the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA), Ghana, as a case study, and validated the results in a workshop attended by 51 stakeholders. We found that the reported drivers of flood risk in GKMA are land cover changes (61.5%) (e.g. wetlands degradation); governance challenges (16.2%); challenges with drainage (13%); extreme rainfall (6.5%); and apathy towards nature (3.2%). We conclude that floods in GKMA are overwhelmingly human induced through unsustainable urbanization processes that are so rapid that city authorities are unable to properly control them. Also, a holistic understanding of flood risk is missing since majority of the included papers rather used qualitative methodologies.

Growing a Healthy Church: A Theological Reflection on Disability Inclusivity in Ghana

The interplay of medical, social, cultural and religious factors has led to stigma and marginalization of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the Ghanaian context. Observable church beliefs and practices render the relations between so-called abled-bodied people and people with disabilities (PWDs) as an ‘us and them’ relationship. Ironically, the church is supposed to be a place of welcome, restoration and integration. However, with its emphasis on ‘healing before integration,’ the church space has become a place of exclusion for many PWDs. The study argues that the various ways of modelling disability, and the contemporary Ghanaian Christian response to disability are inadequate and lead to the exclusion of PWDs. The study being a qualitative one used both primary and secondary sources. Observations were made at traditional healing centres and healing and revival church services of some churches in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area (KMA) where PWDs were present. Also, journal articles, books, unpublished dissertations, and church documents on the subject matter were consulted. The study points to the fact that a disability-friendly theology must be constructed in order to guide the church to be disability inclusive and hence engender full participation of PWDs in the various ministries of the church in Ghana. The study recommends ways of constructing a disability-inclusive theology in view of the intersection between Akan traditional religion and contemporary Christian response to disability. This article seeks to contribute to the debate on disability inclusivity in the contemporary Ghanaian church, focusing on its importance in promoting comprehensive healing and inclusion for PWDs. Keywords: PWDs (Persons With Disability), Pentecostalism/neo-Pentecostalism, Exclusivity, Inclusivity, Theology of Disabilty.

‘These KMA People are also our Customers’: Coconut Sellers Making Space in Downtown Kumasi

Street vendors are some of the most put-upon actors in urban Africa and elsewhere, vulnerable to harassment by government, commercial businesses, and residents. We look at a group of vendors occupying a sidewalk next to the offices of the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) in Ghana’s second city. We demonstrate how the sidewalk functions as a family-like space for the coconut sellers. They not only work there, but also use the sidewalk as a space to sleep and bathe. The coconut sellers are migrants from the central region of Ghana and spoke of their relationship to one another, as they lived and worked on the sidewalk, as that of a ‘family’. We build on recent scholarship that focuses on sidewalks as places where economic activities are shaped by social relationships. We also show how the location of the sidewalk – near local government offices, next to an urban park – made the coconut sellers less vulnerable to harassment and being moved along.

Innovative Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Hotels: Perspectives of Managers of Star-Rated Hotels in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area

Even though information and communication technology provide an important role in hotel service and aid service efficacy in customer satisfaction, little literature exists on it in the study area. The study assessed managers’ perception of innovative utilization of ICT in star-rated hotels in the Kumasi metropolitan area. Emphasis was laid on the relevance and reasons for the innovative use of ICT in hotels. A qualitative approach was adopted for the study and 50 hotel managers were sampled. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data solicited. Results of the study established that managers were of the view that the innovative use of ICT in hotel service was relevant and reasons for which the hotels have innovatively used ICT in their service delivery were achieved. However, the innovative use of ICT in hotels may create problems such as high cost of initial investment, cost of training employees and poor employer-employee relations. The study discovered that the hotels have made good use of ICT innovatively to sustain their business. The study unearthed that hotels must be abreast with ICT use as it has become a tool for attracting guests to hotels.

Effect of Taxpayer Knowledge and Taxation Socialization on Taxpayer Compliance: The Mediating Role of Taxpayer Awareness

This study dives into the complex dynamics of taxpayer compliance, investigating the interactions between knowledge, taxation socialization, and awareness in the context of fiscal control. To recognize the critical significance of taxpayer compliance to ensure economic stability, the study emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between legal requirements, societal influences, and individual comprehension. The study plays a critical influence on social norms and the moderating role of taxpayer awareness. The study prioritizes an enhancement to compliance modalities by giving theoretical underpinning and raising significant recommendations for government, tax officers, and researchers to ensure economic growth and development. The study used a structured questionnaire through purposive sampling to choose two and eleven (211) taxpayers within the Kumasi Metropolitan. The study revealed a positive correlation between tax knowledge and compliance. This study shows that socialization on taxpayer compliance has a positive significant impact. The effect of tax knowledge and tax socialization on taxpayer awareness is crucial, resulting in improved compliance. The study recommends efforts to improve tax socialization, counseling on the relevance of paying taxes; and intensifying educational agendas to raise residents’ understanding of taxation. Finally, the findings show the proactiveness and the potential to significantly enhance tax compliance and knowledge among Ghanaian taxpayers.

Spatial location of fuel retail outlets and their level of compliance with regulations: lessons from the Kumasi Metropolitan area

Spatial location of fuel retail outlets and their level of compliance with regulations: lessons from the Kumasi Metropolitan area

An Overview of the Obstacles to Gender Equality Processes in Rural and Urban Ghana: A Comparative Analysis

The differential impact of development efforts on women and men has critically brought out the need to take a gender-transformative approach to development processes. Despite the tremendous efforts made, there persist some seemingly impossible obstacles to gender equality. The main objective of this study was to analyze the main obstacles to gender equality in Ghana in rural and urban contexts to inform policy decisions. The study employed a mixed-method approach involving the administration of 400 questionnaires to targeted households together with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted in the Ejisu Juabeng Municipality and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. A key finding of the study is that while the impact of religion on gender equality was similarly felt in rural and urban areas, the impact of culture, illiteracy, family ties, and residential orientation were more pronounced in rural areas. Gender equality efforts and interventions must therefore not only be gender-transformative, but location-sensitive.

Geographically induced and the spatially differentiated dimension of flood vulnerability in Greater Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

ABSTRACT Over the past several years, the constant flooding events and their lethal consequences have reignited the debate on the need for vulnerability assessment of flood-prone communities in urban areas as a flood risk mitigation and adaptation measure. This article focuses on Ghana and uses remotely sensed high-resolution data, and community mapping to assess the flood vulnerability of 442 urban communities of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA). The Compound Topographic Index and the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission were used systematically. The results showed that 43% of communities were found in low-risk areas, 30% were in medium-risk areas, and 27% were in high-risk areas. Flood intensity and frequencies were found to be dependent on location relative to slopes and undulating terrain. We argue that the identified flood hazard communities should guide policymakers in proffering specific and targeted interventions toward flood risk reduction and community resilience strategies

Unit Committees and Participation in Community Development: Does Spatial Location Matter?

The unit committee in Ghana’s local government is believed to facilitate participatory development. After decades of practice, there is little research on the unit committee’s role in participatory development. This paper contributes to this research gap by drawing on the experiences of participants sampled from the Kumasi Metropolitan and Ahafo Ano South-west districts. The paper argues that the unit committee–participatory development interface is spatially differentiated. While unit committees promoted instrumental participation in urban localities, their counterparts promoted transformative participation in rural communities. The findings suggest a rethink of the role of sub-district structures to reflect spatial characteristics of their localities.

Local multilevel governance arrangements for climate change planning and management in Kumasi, Ghana

Institutions play crucial roles in addressing and building resilence to climate risks. Whereas planning for and addressing climate change issues through multilevel goverence (MLG) has become inevitable, there has been a disparity in the attention given to different levels of MLG. The focus of MLG research has predominantly centered around supranational and national levels, with limited empirical studies on subnational MLG governance; hence, this research. This study thus focuses on the city of Kumasi (specifically, Kumasi Metropolitan Area) in Ghana as a case study to examine the role of MLG at the subnational level in climate change planning and management. Seven relevant climate change and local/city planning agencies were sampled purposively for appropriate data. It was clearly revealed that these actors who operate at various levels and jurisdiction, address climate challenges in accordance with their respective primary responsibilities. While such MLG arrangement exists for addressing climate change in the city of Kumasi, there are many challenges that derail effective collaboration and any meaningful outcome within such governance framework. The collaboration among the authorities involved in planning and managing climate change action in Kumasi remains weak coupled with overlaps in their formal roles and responsibilities. Additionally, there is no evidence of any meaningful action being undertaken within such governance arrangement to address climate change contrary to the expectation that MLG should have enhanced interactions in terms of planning for climate change. The study recommends that the MLG framework should encourage learning across different levels and facilitate interactions among various organizations, promoting innovation in climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

The impact of social capital on business development in Ghana: Experiences of local-level businesses in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area

Social capital may play a critical role in assisting individuals in leveraging their social networks and group relationships to attain their desired outcomes. We evaluated the influence of social capital on the success of startup enterprises in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area (KMA), utilizing 13 Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) clients as participants in this study. The study used interview data and institutional documents, which were conducted using a qualitative technique. Thematic analysis was used in conjunction with content analysis, and the study revealed three distinct forms of social capital—structural, relational, and cognitive that contributed significantly to the business growth of the agency's clients who used its services and supported their businesses through social networks. The study also found that “groups and networks,” “shared norms, beliefs, and duties,” “trust,” and “connectivity” are important elements influencing the KMA's business sustainability. According to the study, the structural, relational, and cognitive elements of social capital are vital in forming group cohesiveness and social relationships, which are critical in supporting the growth of new enterprises in Ghana, particularly in the KMA. The study recommends that efforts to build the resilience of social capital in start-up businesses and create an enabling social network system would support local-level business sustainability. The conclusion drawn from the findings implies that social capital has the potential to foster group cohesion and beneficial social ties to enhance business growth.

Planning for cooler cities in Ghana: Contribution of green infrastructure to urban heat mitigation in Kumasi Metropolis

This study investigates the spatial variability of some remote sensing indices representing built-up areas, vegetation, bareness, and urban heat island (UHI), based on time-series Landsat TM/ETM+ and OLI/TIRS datasets archived for 1980–2020 period from the US Geological Survey’s website for Kumasi Metropolitan Area in Ghana. Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE) and Cellular Automata Artificial Neural Network (CA-ANN) algorithms and simulations in QGIS were used to predict future changes (2020–2050) for land-use systems in Kumasi. Findings revealed urbanization/built-up areas (+108.02%) contributed massively to the decline of forest areas (−93.34%) and farmlands/shrubs (−31.53%), thereby making Kumasi lose its once critical green position as the “Garden City of West Africa.” UHI moderately and strongly correlated positively against built-up (R2=0.78, p < 0.0001) and bareness (R2=0.96, p < 0.0001) indices, respectively. By contrast, UHI showed a statistically significant inverse relationship with the vegetative index (R2=0.97, p < 0.0001). Future land-use scenarios revealed more forests, waterbodies, and farmlands/shrubs will be lost, influencing urban temperature and water supply. The multipurpose advantages of urban green space are ingrained in the grand urban model. Contextually, the Metropolis’s resilience has been hampered by inconsistency in the performance of institutional roles, competition for land ownership rights over green areas, and little investments or prioritization of green spaces. An integrated collaborative governance framework is proposed to unify actions, address power crisis and factors that influence governance of green infrastructure, UHI and land cover change.

Health needs of migrant female head porters in Ghana: evidence from the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas

BackgroundIn low-and middle-income countries, migrants are confronted with health needs which affect the promotion of their well-being and healthy lives. However, not much is known about the health needs of migrant female head porters (Kayayei) in Ghana. This study assesses the health needs of migrant female head porters in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) and Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).MethodsThe study adopted a convergent mixed methods design where both qualitative and quantitative data were used. A representative sample size of 470 migrant female head porters was used for the study.ResultsThe study revealed that ante-natal care, post-natal care, treatment of malaria, treatment of diarrhoea diseases, mental health, sexual health, and cervical cancer were health needs of migrant female head porters. The findings showed that participants from the GAMA significantly have greater cervical cancer needs (71.6% vrs 67.1%, p = 0.001) compared to those from the GKMA. Kayeyei from the GKMA significantly have greater mental health needs than those from the GAMA (84.6% vrs 79.2%, p = 0.031). Also, Kayeyei from the GKMA significantly have higher attendance of post-natal care compared to those from the GAMA (99.4% vrs 96.2%, p = 0.013).ConclusionThe findings underscore differential health needs across geographical localities. Based on the findings of the study, specific health needs such as ante-natal care and post-natal care should be included in any health programmes and policies that aim at addressing health needs of migrant female head porters in the two metropolitan areas of Ghana.

Assessing the Customer Behaviour in Relation to Electronic Payment Systems (EPS) in Some Ghanaian Banks in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly- Kumasi, Ghana

Although other payment methods are available, like card, cheque, mobile, and online payments, most Ghanaians still use the cash payment system. The study examined how Ghanaian customers felt about using electronic payments. These included determining thesector andctors that influence consumer adoption and use of electronic payment services in Ghanaian banks, examining customer satisfaction with e-payment in the banking sector, and preventing fraud. A sample size of 100 participants was chosen for the study using purposive sampling to select participants from the banks and systematic sampling to select participants from the customers. According to the research’s findings, factors such as usability, security, privacy, the caliber of the after-sales support, marketing mix, and reputation affect consumers’ opinions of electronic payment systems. According to the study, customers are satisfied with the value offered for their banking requirements and the opportunity to experiment with e-payments in the banking sector. The study also found that while customers’ top concerns are trust and security, barriers to e-commerce include a low internet penetration rate, fewer users, expensive and challenging e-commerce technology, and a lack of progress in other supporting industries. Trust and security are significant deterrents against using electronic payment systems. The ability of consumers and banks to reach a larger market and participate in the world payment system is another way that technology can help the economy. Stakeholders should offer the unbanked sufficient assurances of security for utilizing electronic payment systems on their privacy without requiring them to maintain accounts with them. Keywords: Electronic Payment Systems (EPS), Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA)Payment Portal Services (PPS), Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), and Central Business District (CBD).

Reducing the Risk of Fire Outbreak in Compliance with Fire Safety Regulations in Ghana

Fire outbreak is a disturbing phenomenon that has over the years destroyed market centers. There is growing knowledge that the persistence of these fire disasters is as a result of people’s noncompliance with fire safety regulations. This study therefore contributes to the search for solutions by assessing stakeholders’ capacity to manage fires, While creating the individual trader’s awareness and knowledge on what they need to do against fire risk and disasters. The study is cross-sectional and involved 140 traders and three institutions: National Disaster Management Organization, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and Ghana National Fire Service. A systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 140 respondents from a total of 386 with the help of the Sloving technique. The study revealed that traders in the Kumasi Central Market were unaware of what they need to do in case of fire outbreak. It was also shown that, both traders and firefighting institutions do not comply with the safety measures to preventing fire outbreaks. Again it was revealed that haphazard development within the city center serves as a major hindrance for effective fire prevention and control. Based on findings, the study recommends intensive education of traders on how to prevent fire and how to use firefighting tools in case of fire disasters. The study further recommends the review and enforcement of fire prevention codes and regulations to ensure compliance by traders. Keywords: Fire, Safety, Safety measures Risk, Firefighting, Fire training DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-13-07 Publication date: May 31 st 2023

Land use and land cover changes implications on biodiversity in the Owabi catchment of Atwima Nwabiagya North District, Ghana

This paper examined land use and land cover (LULC) change and implications to biodiversity in the Owabi catchment of Atwima Nwabiagya North District in Ghana from 1991 to 2021 using remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS), with participatory methods such as interviews and questionnaires with a sample size of 200 participants. The use of supervised classification with maximum likelihood algorithm in QGIS was employed to generate LULC maps of 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021. Molusce Plugin in QGIS was applied to predict probabilities of LULC changes in 10 years (2021–2031). The results showed that high-density forest has disappeared from 1991 to 2021 while built-up has increased and remained the most dominant LULC from 2011 to 2021. There is a continual decline in the number of plant and animal species in and around the Owabi catchment. This can be attributed to the decline of high-density forests and increased built-up in the study area through human actions. The study identified the influence of human activities as the key forces of LULC change to biodiversity loss. This problem stemmed from the taste for housing and trading activities in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area which has resulted in an increasing demand for settlement because of its closeness to Kumasi and its environs. The study recommends that stringent preventive measures should be developed and enforced by various stakeholders including the Forestry Commission, Ghana Water Company Limited, Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the District/Municipal Assemblies to safeguard the forest from human activities. This recommendation will help these agencies to keep abreast with changes in LULC in the various communities and factors such as changes during the planning of the communities.

The Effectiveness of Visual Arts Teachers and Students’ Practice of Portfolio Assessment at the Senior High School

Visual arts’, teachers and learners’ engagement with portfolio assessment was investigated in order to ascertain the effectiveness of their practice at the Senior High School (SHS) in Ghana. The qualitative research design which consists phenomenological study was engaged to answer the study question. The population of the study was 124 respondents from two selected Senior High School in Kumasi Metropolitan were sampled based on purposive and convenient sampling technique. Data was gathered using the questionnaire, interview guide and observational guide. Data from the study was analysed through frequencies, percentages and content analysis. The study revealed that teachers and students aligned portfolio assessment with the objectives of the teaching syllabus; teachers evaluate students’ scores; teachers provide feedback to students on portfolio assessment; visual arts, teachers had limited knowledge in portfolio assessment, and as a result teachers in this study have been designing portfolio elements such as marking the rubric with difficulty; and professional support in the form of seminars/workshops and in-service training on portfolio assessment will be well come by teachers and students.

“The Health Caregivers Did Not Care about Me after the Loss”: Maternal Experiences of Perinatal Loss in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana

One of the common undesirable outcomes of pregnancy is perinatal loss. Healthcare systems strive to reduce the incidence of perinatal loss but typically little attention is on the experiences of bereaved mothers following perinatal loss, particularly in low and middle-income countries where such deaths are common. This research explored the lived experiences of mothers with perinatal loss in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. A qualitative design was used to explore the experiences of nine (9) bereaved mothers from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s postnatal ward and the Mother and Baby Unit. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide, audio-recorded, and thematically analyzed. One major finding was that mothers restricted mourning their dead babies based on fear of recurrent perinatal loss and traditional beliefs on delayed return to fertility. Mothers blamed healthcare providers for their loss due to their concerns about care received. Gaps in communication flow from healthcare professionals to bereaved mothers were commonly identified as mothers struggled to make meaning of their loss and coped with cultural restrictions and beliefs. Healthcare professionals must explore mothers’ concerns and “gut-feelings,” and pay attention to their communication needs following perinatal loss.

Insouciant, powerless or helpless: An assessment of the factors that contribute to the non-compliance with the regulations that protect ecologically sensitive areas in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis

The complexities involved in the urbanization process and its effect on environmental sustainability and city aesthetics has been extensively researched in the conventional literature. The rapid urban growth in countries in the global south coupled with weak development control has led to the encroachment of environmentally sensitive areas. Yet, little is known among scholars on whether regulatory agencies have given up on the encroachment of ecologically sensitive areas to continue or they are powerless. This paper through a qualitative research approach explores the factors that influence non-compliance with land use and ecosystem regulations from the perspective of relevant stakeholders. Through face-to-face interviews, 19 participants from eleven (11) regulatory institutions in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area were interviewed. The findings of the study showed that several factors ranging from political, social, and economic adversely affect the ability of the regulatory agencies to effectively enforce the regulations that protect environmentally sensitive areas such as freshwater and wetlands. For example, in terms of political factors, the study showed that, the powerful nature of political actors in Ghana's democratic dispensation coupled with their continuous interference in the enforcement of regulations and the lack of sustained political will continue to threaten the sustainable management of environmentally sensitive areas. Socially and culturally, there is a shift from communal management of ecological resources to a formal public institutional management approach. Inadequate financial support, logistical constraints, and unavailability of technical experts and technology were economic factors that influence institutional non-compliance with land use and ecosystem regulations in Ghana The researchers conclude that the inability of the policymakers and the relevant authorities to address these political, social, and economic barriers confronting the regulatory agencies will continue to make them powerless when it comes to the enforcement of the regulations that protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Socio-Economic Factors Contributing to Crashes Involving Motor Tricycles in Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Commercial passenger motor tricycles are a recent addition to the vehicle mix in urban areas of Ghana having been introduced in about 2015. While they serve a good purpose and fill a niche in the transport market in Ghanaian cities, this mode of transport is characterized by several road crashes that sometimes result in fatalities. Consequently, the objective of this study was to understand social and economic factors as well as motor tricycles’ operational characteristics and related crashes. A detailed study of this mode of transport in the study area revealed that the socio-economic factors that contribute to crashes involving commercial motor tricycles include the revenue per day, amount spent on fuel per day, and operating days, but with a negative relationship between daily revenue and amount spent on fuel and crash severity. Operational characteristics studied revealed a general improvement in operators’ level of education, a situation where owner-operators are more careful with their vehicles, patrons’ preference for new tricycles, and relatively good returns from operations of these vehicles. Operators also work for long hours and on all days of the week. Further analysis of the data revealed that there are major safety concerns. While the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) reports a fatality share of 28% with an annual increase of 3.9% for motorcycle-related crashes in Ghana, the National Road Safety Authority, in the year 2010, indicated a crash rate of more than 50% which is yet to be updated. Recent data for 2019 published by the BRRI estimate a rate of 8.15 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles with a total of 829 total crashes in 2019 for motorcycles, tricycles, and rickshaws and 2.7 motorcycle fatalities per 10,000 vehicles. Similar data are yet to be estimated for motorcycles and commercial tricycles in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. However, our study revealed a crash rate of 67% for motor tricycle operators in the study area on account of an increase in population, low initial capital cost, and the ability to maneuver in inaccessible areas. It is recommended that, in view of the preponderance of passenger tricycles in the study area, massive educational campaigns involving all stakeholders be pursued.