Municipal Assembly Research Articles

Factors influencing management of dry cell battery waste: a case of Greater Accra Region in Ghana

Indiscriminate disposal of dry cell battery (DCB) waste contributes to environmental and public health issues in developing countries such as Ghana, due to the toxic nature of this specific waste. Accordingly, a study was conducted in Accra, Ghana, to determine the socio-economic and demographic factors influencing handling DCB waste, aiming a sustainable environment. Using a random sampling technique, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted, encompassing 367 respondents from the Accra-Tema Metropolitan areas and Tema West Municipal Assembly in Greater Accra, Ghana. Using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods, the survey data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The results of this study show that female gender and residential area are likely to positively influence the use of DCB at home. Education significantly affects the use of DCB and its proper disposal. The results also suggest that 78% of the respondents disposed of DCB waste in waste bins. The mean monthly income of the respondents stands at USD 270, which is average and likely partially to positively influence the disposal of the DCB. The data collected revealed that female gender, age group, family size, and education level influence the indiscriminate disposal of DCB waste and DCB waste recycling. The results highlight that educated females above the age of 55, with a monthly income, are likely to properly segregate DCB waste. This study contributes to the knowledge gap in relation to dry cell battery waste management (DCBWM) in developing countries, aiming to advance global sustainability. This study is expected to contribute to educate and create awareness in managing DCB waste to reduce its indiscriminate disposal which leads to environmental pollution and negatively affects human health and environmental sustainability in Ghana.

The Impact of Microfinance on Women Empowerment in the Kpone Katamanso Municpal Assembly

Microfinance is a financial service that provides small loams, savings and other financial products to individuals or groups who lack access to traditional banking services. The Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly which was carved out from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly with the promulgation of the Legislative instrument (L.I) 2031 was selected for the study on the impact of Microfinance Institution (MFI) on women empowerment. A descriptive approach was adopted for the study. Primary and secondary data were used. Two sets of questionnaires were administered in the study; one each for clients of the MFI and the officials of the Eddieyn Microfinance Ltd. Combinations of purposive and convenient sampling methods were used to select the MFI and the clients for the study. The main findings of the study revealed that the presence of MFI has contributed to a large extent, an increase in access to credit and savings mobilization. This contributed in women’s ability to improve their petty trading, hence increase their income, and subsequently leading to good health and education for their families, acquisition of assets and taking part in household decision making. Based on the findings it is recommended that financial education be intensified by financial institutions to educate women on financial services available and how to access them through meetings and seminars. Also, the Municipal Assembly should encourage MFIs to establish their branches in rural areas.

A new normal? Streaming municipal assemblies on social media before, during and after the pandemic

This study aims at understanding the effects that the Covid-19 lockdowns had on the streaming of municipal assemblies via social media, whether those effects persisted after the pandemic, and what were the main determinants, motivations, and consequences of adopting that practice. To accomplish these goals, an exploratory mixed methods approach is used. Quantitative methods are used to assess the evolution of the number of municipalities streaming their assemblies and to identify determinants of adoption. Qualitative methods are used to capture the perception of relevant actors. Portugal is used as the case of study (308 municipalities). It was found that streaming of municipal assemblies was clearly triggered by the pandemic and the subsequent local elections, while being moderated by some of the factors that are known to be important for digital government development at the local level: demography, socioeconomic dynamism, citizen participation, and political environment. It was also found that streaming assemblies contributes to improve transparency, accountability, trust, proximity, and the public image of the bodies, albeit having no effect on the forms available for citizen participation. It also contributes to assembly members' interventions becoming more frequent, longer, targeted, and moderated. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to address the streaming of municipal assemblies via social media.

An Assessment of Poverty Reduction Strategies Implemented by District Assemblies in Ghana: The Experience of Beneficiaries in Savelugu-Nanton

Poverty reduction remains a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where district assemblies are tasked with implementing local interventions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of poverty reduction interventions by the Savelugu- Nanton Municipal Assembly (SNMA), focusing on infrastructure and non-infrastructure programmes. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered from 353 households and supplemented with insights from 32 opinion leaders and 4 key informants. Infrastructure interventions, including roads, dams, and electricity, were reported to have significantly improved livelihoods, with 60.1% of respondents citing enhanced economic opportunities. These findings align with literature emphasizing infrastructure’s critical role in poverty alleviation by facilitating access to markets and services (Adjei & Osei, 2021). Conversely, non- infrastructure interventions, particularly the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, were less effective. While LEAP improved social inclusion, 80.2% of respondents indicated dissatisfaction with its impact on economic independence. This supports critiques of cash transfer programmes that advocate integrating them with vocational training and credit access for sustainable outcomes (Owusu, 2020). The study further underscores the importance of participatory governance. Limited beneficiary involvement in planning contributed to a misalignment between interventions and community needs. As Freire (1970) posits, active community participation enhances programme relevance and sustainability. Additionally, the financial sustainability of these programmes remains at risk due to SNMA’s reliance on external funding. Strengthening local resource mobilisation through taxes and levies is critical for long-term success (Ndlovu- Gatsheni, 2020). Overall, this study highlights the need for sustainable infrastructure investment, restructuring non-infrastructure interventions for long-term economic empowerment, and fostering participatory governance to ensure effective poverty reduction.

Green human resource management and organizational efficiency among local assemblies: role of process innovation and knowledge sharing

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the mediating role of process innovation in the relationship between green human resource management (GHRM) and organizational efficiency among local governments. Further, the study assessed the moderating role of knowledge sharing in the relationship between process innovation and organizational efficiency.Design/methodology/approachThe study focused on metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) within the Ashanti region of Ghana. The sample size was 227 employees within the selected MMDAs. Structural equation modeling in Amos (v.23) was run to test the stated hypotheses.FindingsIt was concluded that GHRM had no direct effect on organizational efficiency within the MMDAs. The relationship was rather fully mediated by process innovation. Knowledge sharing further moderated the relationship between process innovation and organizational efficiency among the MMDAs.Practical implicationsLocal governments and other public institutions should adopt GHRM, as it could enhance process innovation, leading to organizational efficiency.Social implicationsThis paper contributes to the understanding of GHRM in the public sector, particularly in the context of local government organizations, and provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance their organizational performance and sustainability.Originality/valueAlthough there is substantial evidence of GHRM within the private sector, less attention has been paid to the public sector, more specifically the local government. Furthermore, the interplay of process innovation and knowledge sharing adds to the knowledge of the relationship between GHRM and organizational efficiency.

Public-Private Partnership for Local Economic Development in the Kintampo Municipality of Ghana

Local governments are regarded as the primary stakeholders in Local Economic Development (LED) yet, they do not have adequate resources to execute their mandate (Ghana National Policy on PPP, 2011). Public-Private Partnership (PPP) presents a viable option for the delivery of local infrastructure and services for LED. The general objective of the study was to assess the contributions and opportunities of PPPs for LED in the Kintampo Municipal Assembly. A descriptive and exploratory study design was used for the study. According to the findings, the only documented PPP projects identified were public toilets and an enterprise development initiative with REP-BAC. There was another ‘loose’ arrangement of PPP between the KMA and the garages at the ‘magazine’. The PPP initiatives contributed to employment creation and income for the local people and internally generated funds for the KMA. Some identified projects were worth the consideration for investment under PPP e.g. Construction of a Lorry station under B.O.T/ Concession and the Upgrading of Kintampo Waterfalls under Concession. However, the low capacity of local partners to raise funds for investment, bad previous experiences of the KMA, poor service delivery by partners, and weak formalization processes by partners were challenging to PPPs in the Municipality. Despite the challenges, PPPs hold great potential for LED in the KMA. As such it is recommended that the KMA should increase awareness of the local people on PPP as an alternative strategy for funding projects for LED, create the enabling environment, and engage the necessary contractual instruments that commit both partners in all PPPs while maintaining proper documentation.

Employability skills, employee engagement, and job performance in Ghana

The study examined the relationship between employability skills and job performance of staff at the Suame Municipal Assembly, and the mediating effect of employee engagement. This research employed a quantitative research methodology. Again, descriptive and explanatory research designs were used. The study used human capital theory and two-factor theory. 144 staff members were sampled using a simple random sampling technique, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The research findings showed that the relationship between employability skills and job performance is statistically insignificant; hence, employees’ skills did not affect their performance at the Suame Municipal Assembly. Again, it was found that employability skills have a statistical relationship with employee engagement. Therefore, the study recommends that the management of the Suame Municipal Assembly explore alternative factors such as job satisfaction and leadership quality that could potentially impact job performance. Again, this study recommends that the management of the Suame Municipal Assembly make a radical shift and transformation to intensify the level of engagement they offer to employees. Keywords: Employability Skills, Employee Engagement, Job Performance.

Analyzing the impact of teamwork on organizational performance: A case study of Yilo Krobo municipal assembly

Analyzing the impact of teamwork on organizational performance: A case study of Yilo Krobo municipal assembly

Compliance of private ventilated improved pit latrines to odour and fly control guidelines: A technical audit in selected regions of Ghana

The ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine offers a promising route to safely managed sanitation to many households in developing countries. However, some technical guidelines must be followed in order to realise the technology's advantage of odour and fly nuisance control. This study sought to audit private VIP latrines in selected regions of Ghana to assess their compliance to conventional technical guidelines and to understand the major factors that influence the latrine designs. An inspection checklist was developed to assess 296 private VIP latrines in the Central, Ashanti and Northern Regions of Ghana while semi-structured interviews were conducted among the latrine owners to enquire the factors that influenced the designs of their latrines. The results show that provision of a window in the superstructure (86 %), and the avoidance of an insect screen in the window(s) (77 %) were the most complied guidelines. The use of 150 mm diameter vent pipe was the least satisfied guideline (5 %). On the average, a latrine satisfied about half (3.6) of the technical guidelines that were assessed. The decision or advice of local artisans is the most influential factor in the design of the latrines. Cost was the least mentioned factor cited by the latrine owners. There is the need to establish information desks at the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to guide prospective owners on the proper design and construction of the VIP latrine. In addition, toilet construction should be incorporated in the curriculum for the basic training of building and construction students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Ghana. Further research is required to ascertain the basis of the decisions of local artisans and the potential impact of the use of accessories that are ‘borrowed’ from the WC toilet on odour and fly control in the latrine.

Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) implementation in West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly in Ghana. What do communities think eleven years on?

ObjectiveAccess to improved sanitation is a fundamental human right and an important aspect of Public Health. However, an estimated thousands of people in Ghana especially, the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly (WMMA) still have no access to adequate toilet facilities. This has brought untold health repercussions to the inhabitants, the community, and the environment at large. To address this menace, the community-led total sanitation (CLTS) was implemented. This study aimed to assess communities’ perspectives on the implementation of CLTS and to understand the factors influencing its success and failures. MethodsA mixed-method approach involving sequential qualitative and quantitative methods was employed in this study. Participants for the quantitative study were randomly selected and surveyed using questionnaires. The qualitative study employed focus group discussion involving purposively sampled participants including assembly members, opinion leaders, and assembly staff. ResultsThe CLTS program in WMMA realized an apparent use of construction and proper use of household latrines leading to a reduction of open defecation free (ODF) and two communities achieving sanitized status in the history of the study area, enabling the training of latrine artisans and natural leaders to facilitate the CLTS expansion and sustainability, improved sanitation and hygiene, strengthened the enforcement of community rules and regulations and many others. ConclusionThe CLTS program has received more widespread acceptance in the study area than the previous government policy of constructing public toilets, which was greeted with massive failures due to poor implementation. To ensure that gains achieved through CLTS implementation are sustained longer, it is recommended that chiefs and opinion leaders should be involved in the CLTS programs to ensure checks and enforcement. The entrenchment of bylaws and more education to address enduring myths and misconceptions will sustain the program. Subsidies in the form of sanitation loans for latrine construction materials by the government and supporting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be paramount in sustaining ODF.

Public transport reliability in growing cities: the case of Asokore Mampong, Ghana

ABSTRACT The reliability of public transport systems is often reported in transportation literature as an essential factor in assessing the quality of urban transport services. Studies have largely examined the effects of transport reliability from the perspective of both customers and operators. Policies and interventions have been largely based on the experiences in developed countries, with a dearth of studies within the global south, particularly Africa, with rapidly urbanizing cities and where the transport sector is largely informal with several reliability challenges. This paper thus examines the reliability of public transport services in Ghanaian cities, using Asokore Mampong Municipality as a case study. Using a sample of 250 passengers interviewed at various bus terminals in the Municipality, the paper establishes five factors – the number of stops to pick up and drop off passengers, overaged and rickety vehicles, congestion on the roads, frequent breakdown of vehicles, and the number of vehicles available as affecting the reliability of public transportation in the study area. The paper establishes that public transportation in the study area is unreliable regarding waiting and boarding times of operating vehicles and recommends an effective regulation of public transport operators by the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly to improve reliability.

Prevalence of Diabetes Among Obese Adults in Madina, La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly and its Immediate Environs

Prevalence of Diabetes Among Obese Adults in Madina, La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly and its Immediate Environs

Assessing the Relationship between Technological Factors and the Implementation of Human Resource Information System: A survey in the Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Assemblies in the Upper West Region of Ghana

Over the years, public sector organization such as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana have been challenged by a significant number of factors that affect the implementation of Human Resource Management Information Systems (HRISs). The study focuses on assessing the technological factors affecting the implementation of the HRIS in the MMDAs in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The philosophical foundation of the study was positivism. A cross-sectional survey was employed in the study as part of a quantitative research design. The target population comprised of 187 Line managers. The study used a non-probability sampling technique known as purposive sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect primary data. The study also embraced descriptive and inferential statistics. Bivariate regression analysis and correlation coefficient were used to establish causal relationships between variables. Stepwise regression was also used to determine the most influential variables in implementing of HRIS. It was concluded that IT Infrastructure and Compatibility had a moderate level of acceptance as factors that affect the implementation of the HRIS. In contrast, Quality Information, System Quality, and Complexity had a low level of acceptance. The study also concluded that Complexity, Quality Information, Compatibility and System Quality had correlated with the acceptance of the HRIS, whereas IT infrastructure did not correlate with the acceptance of the HRIS. Lastly, it was concluded that IT Infrastructure, Complexity, Quality Information, Compatibility, and System Quality did correlate with the Effectiveness of the HRIS. The study recommends that, HRIS Software adopted and implemented at the LGS and its Agencies must be user-friendly. The LGS and its Agencies do not have a guide that support new technology implementation such as the HRIS. Hence the need to adopt the guide offered in this study.

Emergent neo-customary land tenure and non-indigene smallholders’ access to farmlands in peri-urban Ghana

Land dispossession within the emerging neo-customary land tenure system is not a novel phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the landholding systems across SSA are as diverse as the societies themselves. In Ghana, research on peri-urban land dispossession primarily focuses on centralized areas and indigene landholders, neglecting acephalous and non-indigene smallholders. This gap in knowledge hinders our understanding of how neo-customary land tenure affects land access for non-indigenous smallholder farmers. This paper examines how non-indigene smallholders navigate neo-customary land tenure in peri-urban Wa, Ghana. The study employed a qualitative research design, conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 56 participants. The findings reveal that large-scale appropriation, covert land sales, and speculation are the primary drivers of land dispossession. The previously unconditional access to land for non-indigene smallholders, based on perpetual usufructuary interest, has also become temporary and conditional on their acceptance of roles as caretaker farmers or sharecroppers. The resulting dispossession and its consequences, such as inadequate subsistence food production, have led to socially undesirable outcomes. The study recommends that the Municipal Assembly and civil society organizations utilize Ghana's Land Act (Act 1036) to advocate for and safeguard the usufructuary interest of non-indigene individuals in land tenure.

EXPLORING LINE MANAGERS’ PERSPECTIVE ON THE EFFECTS OF ORGANISATIONAL FACTORS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HRIS: A SURVEY IN THE MMDAS IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

This study explored the line managers’ perspective on the organizational factors affecting the implementation of the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’S) in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study, five organizational factors were explored from literature namely: Top Management Support, Financial Resources, Training, Relative Advantage and Change Management. Data was collected through a questionnaire. 187-line managers were purposively selected from the eleven MMDA’s in the UWR of Ghana. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Software (SPSS). The study concluded that, Top Management Support, Financial Resources, Training, had a moderate level of acceptance as factors that affect the implementation of the HRIS whereas Relative Advantage and Change Management had a low level of acceptance. The study also concluded that Top Management Support, Relative Advantage had correlation with Effectiveness whereas Financial Resources, Training, Change Management had no correlation with the Effectiveness. The study recommended that top management must support and provide enough financial resources in the implementation of the HRIS.
 Keywords: Human Resource Information System, Organisational Factors, Implementation.

Temporal analysis of the state of the Gbele Resource Reserve in the Upper West Region, Ghana

IntroductionThis paper assessed the changes in the forest cover of the Gbele Resource Reserve from 1990 to 2020. This provides a basis for strengthening management decisions to protect the resources in the Gbele Resource Reserve effectively.MethodsLandsat images for 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020 were obtained from the United States Geological Service site. They were processed and classified in the System for Earth Observation Data Access, Processing, & Analysis for Land Monitoring (SEPAL), a web-based cloud computing platform. The accuracy of the images was assessed using 50 ground-truth points obtained from the 3-5 meter spatial and near-daily temporal resolution planet satellite images from Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). Post classification change detection was used to analyse the changes in land cover from 1990 to 2000, 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020.ResultsThe analysis revealed that the total forest area was 55273.2 ha. In 1990, 74.9 % of the reserve was open forest and 24.6 % was shrubs/grass. The open forest declined to 65.8 % in 2000 and further to 62.4 % in 2010 while the shrubs/grass cover increased to 35.7 in 2010. As of 2020, the forest increased to 73.6 % while the shrub/grass cover declined to 25.8 %.DiscussionThese changes could be attributed partly to widespread charcoal production in the fringe districts and rose wood harvesting in the early 2000s. charcoal production and rosewood logging have been livelihood sources for fringe communities. The ban on the harvest and exportation of rosewood after 2010 could partly explain the sharp increase in the open forest cover from 2010 to 2020. The changes in the extent of the reserve from 1990 to 2020 revealed that the reserve can vulnerable to excessive exploitation and can also be resilient if deliberate efforts are made to protect it. It is recommended that the fringe district and municipal Assemblies should strengthen the enforcement of the ban on the logging of the rosewood and trees in the reserve for the production of charcoal.

Fueling success: unleashing the power of employee motivation for peak productivity and organizational excellence at Kwabre East Municipality

The question of whether or not motivation influences the outcome of employees in an organization is one of the polemics among scholars of political science around the globe. Motivating public sector employees, like those in the Local Government Service of Ghana, is a major challenge. Strikes and demonstrations in the Ghanaian civil service are often driven by demands for better pay and working conditions, negatively impacting productivity. This study intentions to address and assess the effect of motivation on the employees and their level of performance in the case of Kwabre East Municipal. The research adopted a positivist research philosophy to uncover measurable relationships between Motivation of employees and the performance of the organization. The research used a quantitative research approach, and stratified random sampling was used in a cross-sectional design to select 157 employees to ensure representation from different organizational levels and departments. The study discovered that financial and non-financial incentives, leadership styles, and recognition stimulate the employees of Kwabre East Municipal Assembly to work efficiently. It is recommended that the Government and management of Local Government Institutions should enhance motivational strategies and diversify incentive packages, in other to motivate employees working in various sectors to influence productivity.

School accessibility assessment for walking and cycling; the role of street connectivity and land use variables

ABSTRACT Walking and cycling are not just physical activities; they are essential transport modes for students in most rural parts of Africa. Therefore, calling for their promotion without critically examining accessibility in a context where the effect of distance-related land use variables and streets -a major active transport infrastructure - are assessed, leads to a futile agenda in the continent. This study seeks to address this by applying the three-step catchment floating method to assess education/school accessibility through walking and cycling in the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly (AEMA) and Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) in Ghana. Additionally, the differences in accessibility, along with the association of street connectivity and land use variables such as the number and density of schools and catchment areas with education/school accessibility are determined by correlation and Mann–Whitney’s U-tests. The findings revealed a poorly connected dendritic road network system at both locations and shortcomings in school and street network planning that have left some communities vulnerable to low education opportunities. Without policy and planning interventions to address school siting and improve street connectivity, walking and cycling will not only be hindered, but education for some communities, particularly in TaMA may be compromised.

The role of community engagement toward ensuring healthy lives: a case study of COVID-19 management in two Ghanaian municipalities.

Community engagement is one of the important requirements for strengthening health delivery in communities in a bid to achieve sustainable development goal 3, target 3.3 (SDG 3.3). The World Health Organization has strongly encouraged the use the five levels of community engagement, which are informing, consulting, planning, collaborating, and empowering communities in order to build resilience and to enable them contribute to the fight against diseases and for the uptake of health interventions. This study sought to explore and describe from the view of government institutions in Ghana how they engaged communities in COVID- 19 management and vaccine acceptance and how the communities within two municipalities also perceived the engagement process as well as the lessons that can be learned in engaging communities to deal with other health challenges and interventions toward the attainment of SDG 3 target 3.3. This case study qualitative research project employed in-depth interviews among 36 respondents composed of government officials (the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Information Services Department (ISD), the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and two Municipal Assemblies), and community leaders and 10 focus group discussions among 87 men and women most of whom were natives and some migrants in two administrative municipalities in Ghana. Data were collected from June to September 2021. Audio interviews were transcribed and uploaded to Nvivo 12 to support triangulation, coding, and thematic analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Health and Allied Sciences' Research Ethics Committee and all COVID-19 restrictions were observed. The findings revealed that all the four government institutions educated and informed the communities within their municipalities on COVID-19 management and vaccine acceptance. However, the Ghana Health Service was the most effective in the engagement spectrum of the other four; consulting, involving, collaborating, and empowering communities in the process of COVID-19 management and vaccine acceptance. The GHS achieved that through its CHPS program, which ensured a decentralized health service provision system with multiple programs and leveraging on its multiple programs to reach out to the communities. Government institutions such as the NCCE and the ISD faced challenges such as limited funding and support from the government to be able to carry out their tasks. Additionally, they were not involved with the communities prior to the pandemic and for that matter, they did not have access to community systems such as committees, and existing groups to facilitate the engagement process. Using communities to support Ghana's attainment of the SDG 3 target 3.3 is possible; however, the government needs to provide funds and resources to the institutions responsible to enable them to carry out community engagement effectively. Also, promoting decentralization among institutions can strengthen community engagement processes. It is important that state institutions continue to strategize to empower communities in order to promote their participation in healthcare interventions and in the fight against infectious diseases in Ghana.

Investigation of Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris on Ghanaian Urban Coastal Beaches

Marine debris has been identified as a form of pollution for more than half a century, and it is a major concern for the general public due to its detrimental effects on the environment and human health. The accumulation of marine debris not only affects the aesthetic appeal of our oceans but also poses a significant threat to safety. The impact of marine debris on the tourism industry, especially the eco-tourism sector, is a growing concern both locally and globally. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of marine debris on three beaches of Ghana along the Gulf of Guinea. It sought to survey the spatiotemporal changes in the concentration of marine debris, quantify the perceptions of locals and beach users of marine debris, examine the citizen science perspectives on marine debris and finally analyse the effects of marine debris on coastal resources. The study employed a shoreline debris survey and citizen science approach to achieve this objective. Content analysis in NVivo was deployed to analyze transcriptions from the interviews. A standing stock beach survey was used to survey debris in 100 m2 quadrants for 30 occasions each for the three studied beaches at 12-day intervals, which spanned one year. Debris was classified and quantified according to the NOAA classification scheme for marine debris. The quantitative data generated were analyzed in SPSS 23.0 to establish debris abundance and spatiotemporal differences. Results revealed that plastics are the dominant debris type, accounting for 52% of the total debris surveyed, which was confirmed by the citizen science approach. Biriwa Beach had a minor debris abundance, statistically different from Abandze and Anomabo. The paper found significant seasonal differences in the concentration and spatial distribution of all debris types except for plastics and processed lumber. Respondents acknowledged the effects of marine debris on humans and the environment. The study recommends making adequate waste management infrastructure available in the area. NGOs and the Municipal Assembly should educate residents on effective mass participation in waste management practices to curb debris accumulation.