Stakeholders In Ghana Research Articles

How effective are task forces in tackling illegal logging? Empirical evidence from Ghana

SUMMARY This paper analyses the experiences and effectiveness of timber task forces to combat illegal logging. The paper is based on an analysis of 30 semi-structured interviews with members of timber task forces and other relevant stakeholders in Ghana. The paper finds that task forces have generally not proven effective in Ghana. The task forces are influenced by corruption; interference by powerful actors; fear of violence; and logistical and resource-related challenges. The paper suggests that effectively addressing illegal logging in Ghana will require a more normative approach that involves policy reforms addressing fundamental issues such as rights to trees and benefits from them. Without such reforms, timber task forces as well as other types of “hard” law enforcement become illusive.

From Producers to Export Markets: The Case of the Cocoa Value Chain in Ghana

Abstract For many smallholders, agriculture is the main source of income, understanding how value chains work can derive many benefits to increase productivity and therefore farmers' income. Many different stakeholders around the world are involved in the cocoa value chain, which is part of a billion-dollar chocolate industry. Cocoa farming in many developing countries is the main source of income for households. West Africa is the most important cocoa-producing area worldwide, accounting for 70 percent of the total production. In Ghana, small-scale farmers, with plantations of no more than 4 hectares, are responsible for most of the national production. This investigation sought to determine if the interactions of these farmers with different local and international stakeholders were improving their situation. The study took place in two main cocoa producer regions in Ghana, Brong Ahafo and Western. Three hundred small scale farmers in 20 different villages were interviewed. Interviews of different key stakeholders in Ghana, such as COCOBOD and in Switzerland, Felchlin AG, Chocolats Halba and Chocosuisse were conducted. This study focused on identifying the relationships, support, benefits and/or problems between stakeholders (national and international) and small scale farmers. On the other hand, the issue of contract farming and its impact on cocoa farmers in Ghana was analyzed. The results indicate that small scale farmers have little or no contact with stakeholders especially with chocolate manufacturers, the lack of farming contracts is high in both regions and if farmers work under contract there is little or no information about contracting terms and conditions. Awareness of sustainable production or certifications to motivate better producer price among farmers is also missing. Finally, a participatory value chain analysis is proposed in order to improve relationships between farmers and stakeholders.

Increasing the priority of mental health in Africa: findings from qualitative research in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia

Despite the high prevalence of mental illness, mental health remains a low priority in Africa. There has been no investigation of the views of stakeholders in Africa on why this is and what can be done. This paper reports a comparison of the views of stakeholders in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, focusing on the priority given to mental health by the government at the national and regional/province levels. We conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and used a two-stage approach to analysis: firstly framework analysis in each study country, followed by comparative analysis of the country data. Mental health was largely considered a low priority at national and regional/provincial levels in all four countries. We identified nine factors affecting the priority of mental health, which were grouped into three categories: legitimacy of the problem, feasibility of response and support for response. Respondents put forward a range of experiences and suggestions for increasing the priority given to mental health. We conclude with broad suggestions to raise the priority of mental health. These suggestions are particularly relevant as mental health increases in priority on the international agenda, in order to inform advocacy for increased priority for mental health in Africa.

Decentralization of educational decision-making in Ghana

Much of the current literature on decentralization of decision-making suggests that significant benefits accrue to educational organizations which adopt that model. Although most of the research reported in this literature has been conducted in developed countries, several developing countries, including Ghana, have chosen to decentralize educational decision-making in the hope of obtaining the benefits reported to be linked to decentralization. A key thesis for proponents of decentralization is that, when those closest to where decisions are implemented are empowered to make decisions and given ownership of the results, better decisions will be made. The quality of education is thus improved. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which this thesis has been enacted in Ghana. A study of the perceptions of key stakeholders in Ghanaian education with respect to the extent to which they were involved in various aspects of educational decision-making provides the ‘lens’ through which this examination is conducted. The study suggests that, currently, key educational stakeholders in Ghana may not feel the levels of empowerment and ownership which the literature links with the potential benefits of decentralization. However, it may be too early to expect that they would feel such levels of empowerment and ownership. With careful attention to feedback, such as that obtained in the study reported herein, educational policy makers may well be able to respond so as to ensure that decentralization enhances the quality of education in Ghana.