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Papers by Nicholas Fielmua

Ecology and the Environment, Jul 15, 2015

Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governmen... more Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governments and civil society organisations. Various strategies have been employed by these stakeholders to reduce poverty especially in rural areas of the developing world. Historically, although water provision has received much attention, integrating multiple-use water systems in the design and implementation was less emphasised. This paper presents findings on a case study that was conducted in three communities in northwestern Ghana where multiple water use systems have been provided with the aim of alleviating poverty, especially among women. The main methods used in gathering data include focus group discussion, household survey and interviews. The study established that the provision of water facilities has had several social benefits. In terms of economic activities, the women have been empowered to actively engage in multiple income streams. Despite the benefits from the water facilities, marginalisation of women as regard the facility in one of the communities poses a threat to the sustainability and poverty reduction efforts. This can be overcome with the intervention of the District Assembly who has oversight responsibility over development interventions in the area.

Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, Feb 21, 2023

Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health ... more Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health and a fundamental determinant of human well-being. As a result, constant monitoring, tracking and bridging of the gaps in access to WaSH is a global public health requirement. Developing countries are currently disadvantaged in this era of the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in the area of school-based WaSH. This study assesses the present condition and challenges hindering access to school-based WaSH in the Wa Municipality. Primary data involving 145 health teachers were sourced using survey questionnaires and supported with ocular assessment. Results show that basic schools in the Wa Municipality currently have in place some sort of WaSH facilities, thereby meeting the availability criteria to a large extent. However, these schools do not meet the remaining standardsfunctionality, accessibility, maintenance and quality of services, education and practices. The major factors affecting the sustainable operationalisation of the school-based WaSH are poor maintenance and inadequate funding of WaSH infrastructure. The school-based WaSH in Ghana requires rapt policy attention if the quest to attain Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030 is to be achieved.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies

The shea industry is a self-contained industry, and it is argued that with critical investment in... more The shea industry is a self-contained industry, and it is argued that with critical investment in processing machinery and skill training of the primary actors, it can sustainably enhance the livelihoods of poor rural households. Following an investment in semi-mechanised shea butter processing projects in two communities in North-Western Ghana, this study examined the contribution of the projects to rural women’s income in the communities. Data were collected from 156 shea butter producers, using questionnaires, two key informant interviews and two focus group discussions with the executives of the producer associations. The study found that although farming is the main occupation of the majority of women, shea butter processing is the leading sector because it contributes relatively higher to women’s income. Intriguingly, the income from shea-based livelihood is higher than the minimum annual wage in Ghana. This implies that the shea sector has the potential of contributing ...

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development

Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health ... more Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health and a fundamental determinant of human well-being. As a result, constant monitoring, tracking and bridging of the gaps in access to WaSH is a global public health requirement. Developing countries are currently disadvantaged in this era of the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in the area of school-based WaSH. This study assesses the present condition and challenges hindering access to school-based WaSH in the Wa Municipality. Primary data involving 145 health teachers were sourced using survey questionnaires and supported with ocular assessment. Results show that basic schools in the Wa Municipality currently have in place some sort of WaSH facilities, thereby meeting the availability criteria to a large extent. However, these schools do not meet the remaining standards – functionality, accessibility, maintenance and quality of services, education and practices. The major factors affectin...

Waterlines

Water supply is a basic human right and governments have sought to fulfil this right through free... more Water supply is a basic human right and governments have sought to fulfil this right through free supply of water. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed governments, including the Government of Ghana, to return to supply of free water as a measure of enhancing personal hygiene in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to analyse the reliability of water supply before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of households' water consumption during the pandemic. The paper is based on an online survey of 4,257 urban households across the 16 administrative regions of Ghana. The study found that flow reliability has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic free water delivery. We also established that correlation between consumption before and during the pandemic was r = 0.659, p < 0.01. Therefore, use of the 'stay home campaign' as a strategy to contain the disease in addition to social connection and sharing free water, have increased domestic water consumption. Although the pandemic necessitated the return to water being delivered as a basic necessity to fight against the pandemic, the emphasis on 'back to basics' was not fully implemented. This is because some urban households that could not pay water bills prior to the free water supply were denied the COVID-19 pandemic free water package and rural households who relied on point sources also did not benefit from the package.

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2020

Water collection time is a key indicator in tracking access to drinking water. Over the years, wa... more Water collection time is a key indicator in tracking access to drinking water. Over the years, water surveillance agencies have relied on water collectors for information on water collection time to measure progress of water supply. However, emerging evidence shows that water collection times reported by water collectors in developing countries are often imprecise. To contribute to knowledge about the validity or otherwise of self-reported water collection times, this study explored the association between self-reported water collection times and observed water collection times in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Data on water collection times were gathered from 412 water collectors in Daffiama-Issa-Bussie District and Lawra Municipality, first through interviews, and second by observation. From the results, self-reported water collection times were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than observed water collection times. The average round-trip water collection time reported by water c...

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2018

Poverty reduction has been a challenge in developing countries, pushing many development partners... more Poverty reduction has been a challenge in developing countries, pushing many development partners to devise strategies to tackle it. One of such strategies is the provision of water services. Although there has been much focus on water provision, the practice and benefits of integrating multiple-use water services in the design and implementation have been underexplored. This paper argues for the role of multiple-use water services in reducing rural poverty, especially among women. This is based on a case study that was conducted in two communities in the Upper West Region where multipleuse water services have been provided. Data was collected using focus groups discussion mainly with water user associations who are made up of women only, survey of 26 households, and physical observations of the water infrastructure and activities around the infrastructure. We found that access to water services saved time in water collection and contributed to increase household productive hours. Consequently, this resulted in increased output in their economic activities with positive ripple effects on other sectors of the rural economy, leading to poverty reduction as indicated by the participants. It is argued that investing in multiple-use water services is a major way of empowering women to actively engage in multiple streams of income and thus a great potential for achieving the sustainable development goals.

Waterlines, 2018

In a quest to ensure sustainability of water services delivery, the provision and management of p... more In a quest to ensure sustainability of water services delivery, the provision and management of potable water in small towns has gone through reforms, resulting in the current practice of community-based water management. It is assumed that community level actors are closest to the water resources and are in a better position to devise strategies to manage them. This paper assesses the financial self-sufficiency of community-managed water systems in Ghana. The study was based on content analysis of the water systems finances and separate focus group discussions with water management bodies. The main source of revenue for operation and maintenance is through water user-charges. While the expenditure pattern remains relatively stable, there is a highly undulating revenue pattern. The presence of unregulated alternative sources of water, especially in the rainy season, and weak oversight responsibility on water management are detrimental to the financial self-sufficiency of the water systems.

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 2015

Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governmen... more Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governments and civil society organisations. Various strategies have been employed by these stakeholders to reduce poverty especially in rural areas of the developing world. Historically, although water provision has received much attention, integrating multiple-use water systems in the design and implementation was less emphasised. This paper presents findings on a case study that was conducted in three communities in northwestern Ghana where multiple water use systems have been provided with the aim of alleviating poverty, especially among women. The main methods used in gathering data include focus group discussion, household survey and interviews. The study established that the provision of water facilities has had several social benefits. In terms of economic activities, the women have been empowered to actively engage in multiple income streams. Despite the benefits from the water facilities, marginalisation of women as regard the facility in one of the communities poses a threat to the sustainability and poverty reduction efforts. This can be overcome with the intervention of the District Assembly who has oversight responsibility over development interventions in the area.

Child education is fundamental in sustaining democracies, improving health, increasing per capita... more Child education is fundamental in sustaining democracies, improving health, increasing per capita income, and conserving environmental resources of nations. Hence education is not viewed as an end in itself but a productive investment. This justifies the investment of both public and private (NGOs) investment in the sector. This paper assesses the contribution of local Non-Government Organisations (NGO) in promoting basic education in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region, Ghana. The Sustainable Integrated Development Services Centre (SIDSEC), a local NGO operating in the District is used as a case study. Data collection tools include focus group discussion, semi-structured questionnaire, field observation and review of secondary data. This study revealed that SIDSEC has contributed in increasing enrolment and retention as well as performance through its education programmes. Communities (through Parents Teacher Association, School Management Committees and Circle of Women E...

The state-led provision and management of potable water in rural and small towns has been decentr... more The state-led provision and management of potable water in rural and small towns has been decentralised with the ultimate aim of ensuring reliable and continuous access to water because previous institutional arrangements have failed to do so. Community-based water management (CBWM) has been a product of these policy reforms. CBWM has received support from international and donor communities, pushing many developing countries, including Ghana, to adopt the approach. It is assumed that community level actors, as compared to state-led and other non-state-led actors, are closest to the water resources and are in a better position to devise strategies to manage these resources. In fact, since its inception, studies have highlighted the challenges and successes of this approach. However, while CBWM in the rural areas has been widely researched, little is known about it in small towns, thus creating a skewed understanding of the approach. Moreover, studies on CBWM tend to focus on selecte...

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2021

This study observed hand hygiene and safety behaviours of shoppers and shop keepers with respect ... more This study observed hand hygiene and safety behaviours of shoppers and shop keepers with respect to COVID-19 safety protocols in shopping centres in Wa, a business centre in North-western Ghana. Based on the theory of planned behaviour, the behaviours of 751 customers of 50 shops with handwashing facilities were observed from April to June 2020. It was observed that adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols at shopping centres was very poor. Although the shops observed provided handwashing facilities, 91.3% of the customers did not practise handwashing before entering the shops. Also, 84.2% of them did not wear mouth-and-nose masks during shopping. Similarly, for 78% of the shops observed, no shop attendant wore a mask. Despite the provision of handwashing facilities and widespread advocacy to minimise COVID-19 infections, the citizenry, especially the youth, demonstrated a poor attitude towards safety measures. Non-adherence to COVID-19 protocols was higher in shops where there was no...

Journal of Sustainable Development, 2017

Climate change has attracted the attention of all stakeholders, ranging from individuals in the h... more Climate change has attracted the attention of all stakeholders, ranging from individuals in the household through to global organisations in the international community. As an inevitable phenomenon at the moment, adaptation is the key response to minimising the unfavourable effects of climate change. While there are several adaptation strategies, rural areas mostly use migration as an ultimate and most reliable option. Rural migration in Ghana is mostly from the north to the south. This paper examines the factors that influence individuals and households’ decision to use migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change effects in North-western Ghana. Data was collected using household questionnaire in four communities and analysed using statistical package for social science, version 20.0. The study established that although there are other reasons for migration, it is used essentially as an adaptation strategy to the effects of climate change on livelihood. The study concludes...

Heliyon, 2020

This paper explored water pricing of small town water systems in Ghana and how households adapt t... more This paper explored water pricing of small town water systems in Ghana and how households adapt to changes in pricing. Data were collected from four small towns in the Upper West Region through household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The results of the study showed that small town water systems are semi-autonomous in determining water tariffs. As a result, water tariffs vary among systems although the processes involved in setting tariffs were the same. Tariffs for domestic water use were generally low compared to commercial use. Despite high poverty levels in small towns compared to urban centres, water tariffs in the former were lower than in the latter. It also emerged that most households did not have knowledge on how tariffs were computed. Households without on-premises connections spend 166% higher on water than households with onpremises connections. The empirical analysis shows that unregulated water vending makes households without connection to pay higher tariffs for water. The paper among others recommends that tariffs at which vendors should sell water to customers should be set and closely monitored in order to ensure that households without connections have access to water at reasonable tariffs.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2019

Improving access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are on the frontline of ef... more Improving access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are on the frontline of efforts to combat related diseases and their accompanying effects. Using a household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews, the authors explored how rural livelihoods could be improved through water and sanitation interventions. The study revealed a complex web of configuration between water and sanitation interventions and rural livelihoods. The study found that the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure does not guarantee reductions in related diseases and improvements in livelihoods. Although rural dwellers are aware of the consequences of poor sanitary and hygiene conditions, related diseases and the implications on livelihoods, their persistent demonstration of poor sanitary and hygiene behaviours attributable to intertwined historical and socioeconomic factors, adversely affect interventions. Thus, the organisation and management of water and sanitation interventions, require an integrated attention to behaviour change mechanisms.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2017

Academic institutions have come under criticism for not living up to their research expectations.... more Academic institutions have come under criticism for not living up to their research expectations. In response, the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Ghana runs a student-community engagement programme termed the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), where students stay in and research with rural communities on development issues as part of their academic work. This paper analyses communities and students' assessment of the TTFPP in relation to its core objectives. Data were obtained from 35 communities and 315 students during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 TTFPP sessions in the Upper West Region, using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. The study established that the TTFPP is beneficial to communities and students and has the potential of being an effective vehicle for academia-community linkage. However, the preliminary field preparation prior to the student-community engagement was unsatisfactory and a weakness on the engagement. Nonetheless, communities are willing to host and work with students. Therefore, this paper argues that while this student-community engagement is justified, more needs to be done to ensure effective and efficient academia-community linkage. There is more to academiacommunity engagement than sending students out to field. This paper calls for a re-examination of the structure and content of the TTFPP.

Ecology and the Environment, Jul 15, 2015

Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governmen... more Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governments and civil society organisations. Various strategies have been employed by these stakeholders to reduce poverty especially in rural areas of the developing world. Historically, although water provision has received much attention, integrating multiple-use water systems in the design and implementation was less emphasised. This paper presents findings on a case study that was conducted in three communities in northwestern Ghana where multiple water use systems have been provided with the aim of alleviating poverty, especially among women. The main methods used in gathering data include focus group discussion, household survey and interviews. The study established that the provision of water facilities has had several social benefits. In terms of economic activities, the women have been empowered to actively engage in multiple income streams. Despite the benefits from the water facilities, marginalisation of women as regard the facility in one of the communities poses a threat to the sustainability and poverty reduction efforts. This can be overcome with the intervention of the District Assembly who has oversight responsibility over development interventions in the area.

Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, Feb 21, 2023

Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health ... more Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health and a fundamental determinant of human well-being. As a result, constant monitoring, tracking and bridging of the gaps in access to WaSH is a global public health requirement. Developing countries are currently disadvantaged in this era of the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in the area of school-based WaSH. This study assesses the present condition and challenges hindering access to school-based WaSH in the Wa Municipality. Primary data involving 145 health teachers were sourced using survey questionnaires and supported with ocular assessment. Results show that basic schools in the Wa Municipality currently have in place some sort of WaSH facilities, thereby meeting the availability criteria to a large extent. However, these schools do not meet the remaining standardsfunctionality, accessibility, maintenance and quality of services, education and practices. The major factors affecting the sustainable operationalisation of the school-based WaSH are poor maintenance and inadequate funding of WaSH infrastructure. The school-based WaSH in Ghana requires rapt policy attention if the quest to attain Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030 is to be achieved.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies

The shea industry is a self-contained industry, and it is argued that with critical investment in... more The shea industry is a self-contained industry, and it is argued that with critical investment in processing machinery and skill training of the primary actors, it can sustainably enhance the livelihoods of poor rural households. Following an investment in semi-mechanised shea butter processing projects in two communities in North-Western Ghana, this study examined the contribution of the projects to rural women’s income in the communities. Data were collected from 156 shea butter producers, using questionnaires, two key informant interviews and two focus group discussions with the executives of the producer associations. The study found that although farming is the main occupation of the majority of women, shea butter processing is the leading sector because it contributes relatively higher to women’s income. Intriguingly, the income from shea-based livelihood is higher than the minimum annual wage in Ghana. This implies that the shea sector has the potential of contributing ...

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development

Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health ... more Access to functional water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) systems is a necessity for safe health and a fundamental determinant of human well-being. As a result, constant monitoring, tracking and bridging of the gaps in access to WaSH is a global public health requirement. Developing countries are currently disadvantaged in this era of the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in the area of school-based WaSH. This study assesses the present condition and challenges hindering access to school-based WaSH in the Wa Municipality. Primary data involving 145 health teachers were sourced using survey questionnaires and supported with ocular assessment. Results show that basic schools in the Wa Municipality currently have in place some sort of WaSH facilities, thereby meeting the availability criteria to a large extent. However, these schools do not meet the remaining standards – functionality, accessibility, maintenance and quality of services, education and practices. The major factors affectin...

Waterlines

Water supply is a basic human right and governments have sought to fulfil this right through free... more Water supply is a basic human right and governments have sought to fulfil this right through free supply of water. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed governments, including the Government of Ghana, to return to supply of free water as a measure of enhancing personal hygiene in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to analyse the reliability of water supply before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of households&#39; water consumption during the pandemic. The paper is based on an online survey of 4,257 urban households across the 16 administrative regions of Ghana. The study found that flow reliability has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic free water delivery. We also established that correlation between consumption before and during the pandemic was r = 0.659, p &lt; 0.01. Therefore, use of the &#39;stay home campaign&#39; as a strategy to contain the disease in addition to social connection and sharing free water, have increased domestic water consumption. Although the pandemic necessitated the return to water being delivered as a basic necessity to fight against the pandemic, the emphasis on &#39;back to basics&#39; was not fully implemented. This is because some urban households that could not pay water bills prior to the free water supply were denied the COVID-19 pandemic free water package and rural households who relied on point sources also did not benefit from the package.

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2020

Water collection time is a key indicator in tracking access to drinking water. Over the years, wa... more Water collection time is a key indicator in tracking access to drinking water. Over the years, water surveillance agencies have relied on water collectors for information on water collection time to measure progress of water supply. However, emerging evidence shows that water collection times reported by water collectors in developing countries are often imprecise. To contribute to knowledge about the validity or otherwise of self-reported water collection times, this study explored the association between self-reported water collection times and observed water collection times in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Data on water collection times were gathered from 412 water collectors in Daffiama-Issa-Bussie District and Lawra Municipality, first through interviews, and second by observation. From the results, self-reported water collection times were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than observed water collection times. The average round-trip water collection time reported by water c...

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2018

Poverty reduction has been a challenge in developing countries, pushing many development partners... more Poverty reduction has been a challenge in developing countries, pushing many development partners to devise strategies to tackle it. One of such strategies is the provision of water services. Although there has been much focus on water provision, the practice and benefits of integrating multiple-use water services in the design and implementation have been underexplored. This paper argues for the role of multiple-use water services in reducing rural poverty, especially among women. This is based on a case study that was conducted in two communities in the Upper West Region where multipleuse water services have been provided. Data was collected using focus groups discussion mainly with water user associations who are made up of women only, survey of 26 households, and physical observations of the water infrastructure and activities around the infrastructure. We found that access to water services saved time in water collection and contributed to increase household productive hours. Consequently, this resulted in increased output in their economic activities with positive ripple effects on other sectors of the rural economy, leading to poverty reduction as indicated by the participants. It is argued that investing in multiple-use water services is a major way of empowering women to actively engage in multiple streams of income and thus a great potential for achieving the sustainable development goals.

Waterlines, 2018

In a quest to ensure sustainability of water services delivery, the provision and management of p... more In a quest to ensure sustainability of water services delivery, the provision and management of potable water in small towns has gone through reforms, resulting in the current practice of community-based water management. It is assumed that community level actors are closest to the water resources and are in a better position to devise strategies to manage them. This paper assesses the financial self-sufficiency of community-managed water systems in Ghana. The study was based on content analysis of the water systems finances and separate focus group discussions with water management bodies. The main source of revenue for operation and maintenance is through water user-charges. While the expenditure pattern remains relatively stable, there is a highly undulating revenue pattern. The presence of unregulated alternative sources of water, especially in the rainy season, and weak oversight responsibility on water management are detrimental to the financial self-sufficiency of the water systems.

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 2015

Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governmen... more Globally, poverty reduction has remained prominent in the development agenda of donors, governments and civil society organisations. Various strategies have been employed by these stakeholders to reduce poverty especially in rural areas of the developing world. Historically, although water provision has received much attention, integrating multiple-use water systems in the design and implementation was less emphasised. This paper presents findings on a case study that was conducted in three communities in northwestern Ghana where multiple water use systems have been provided with the aim of alleviating poverty, especially among women. The main methods used in gathering data include focus group discussion, household survey and interviews. The study established that the provision of water facilities has had several social benefits. In terms of economic activities, the women have been empowered to actively engage in multiple income streams. Despite the benefits from the water facilities, marginalisation of women as regard the facility in one of the communities poses a threat to the sustainability and poverty reduction efforts. This can be overcome with the intervention of the District Assembly who has oversight responsibility over development interventions in the area.

Child education is fundamental in sustaining democracies, improving health, increasing per capita... more Child education is fundamental in sustaining democracies, improving health, increasing per capita income, and conserving environmental resources of nations. Hence education is not viewed as an end in itself but a productive investment. This justifies the investment of both public and private (NGOs) investment in the sector. This paper assesses the contribution of local Non-Government Organisations (NGO) in promoting basic education in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region, Ghana. The Sustainable Integrated Development Services Centre (SIDSEC), a local NGO operating in the District is used as a case study. Data collection tools include focus group discussion, semi-structured questionnaire, field observation and review of secondary data. This study revealed that SIDSEC has contributed in increasing enrolment and retention as well as performance through its education programmes. Communities (through Parents Teacher Association, School Management Committees and Circle of Women E...

The state-led provision and management of potable water in rural and small towns has been decentr... more The state-led provision and management of potable water in rural and small towns has been decentralised with the ultimate aim of ensuring reliable and continuous access to water because previous institutional arrangements have failed to do so. Community-based water management (CBWM) has been a product of these policy reforms. CBWM has received support from international and donor communities, pushing many developing countries, including Ghana, to adopt the approach. It is assumed that community level actors, as compared to state-led and other non-state-led actors, are closest to the water resources and are in a better position to devise strategies to manage these resources. In fact, since its inception, studies have highlighted the challenges and successes of this approach. However, while CBWM in the rural areas has been widely researched, little is known about it in small towns, thus creating a skewed understanding of the approach. Moreover, studies on CBWM tend to focus on selecte...

Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2021

This study observed hand hygiene and safety behaviours of shoppers and shop keepers with respect ... more This study observed hand hygiene and safety behaviours of shoppers and shop keepers with respect to COVID-19 safety protocols in shopping centres in Wa, a business centre in North-western Ghana. Based on the theory of planned behaviour, the behaviours of 751 customers of 50 shops with handwashing facilities were observed from April to June 2020. It was observed that adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols at shopping centres was very poor. Although the shops observed provided handwashing facilities, 91.3% of the customers did not practise handwashing before entering the shops. Also, 84.2% of them did not wear mouth-and-nose masks during shopping. Similarly, for 78% of the shops observed, no shop attendant wore a mask. Despite the provision of handwashing facilities and widespread advocacy to minimise COVID-19 infections, the citizenry, especially the youth, demonstrated a poor attitude towards safety measures. Non-adherence to COVID-19 protocols was higher in shops where there was no...

Journal of Sustainable Development, 2017

Climate change has attracted the attention of all stakeholders, ranging from individuals in the h... more Climate change has attracted the attention of all stakeholders, ranging from individuals in the household through to global organisations in the international community. As an inevitable phenomenon at the moment, adaptation is the key response to minimising the unfavourable effects of climate change. While there are several adaptation strategies, rural areas mostly use migration as an ultimate and most reliable option. Rural migration in Ghana is mostly from the north to the south. This paper examines the factors that influence individuals and households’ decision to use migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change effects in North-western Ghana. Data was collected using household questionnaire in four communities and analysed using statistical package for social science, version 20.0. The study established that although there are other reasons for migration, it is used essentially as an adaptation strategy to the effects of climate change on livelihood. The study concludes...

Heliyon, 2020

This paper explored water pricing of small town water systems in Ghana and how households adapt t... more This paper explored water pricing of small town water systems in Ghana and how households adapt to changes in pricing. Data were collected from four small towns in the Upper West Region through household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The results of the study showed that small town water systems are semi-autonomous in determining water tariffs. As a result, water tariffs vary among systems although the processes involved in setting tariffs were the same. Tariffs for domestic water use were generally low compared to commercial use. Despite high poverty levels in small towns compared to urban centres, water tariffs in the former were lower than in the latter. It also emerged that most households did not have knowledge on how tariffs were computed. Households without on-premises connections spend 166% higher on water than households with onpremises connections. The empirical analysis shows that unregulated water vending makes households without connection to pay higher tariffs for water. The paper among others recommends that tariffs at which vendors should sell water to customers should be set and closely monitored in order to ensure that households without connections have access to water at reasonable tariffs.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2019

Improving access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are on the frontline of ef... more Improving access to safe water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are on the frontline of efforts to combat related diseases and their accompanying effects. Using a household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews, the authors explored how rural livelihoods could be improved through water and sanitation interventions. The study revealed a complex web of configuration between water and sanitation interventions and rural livelihoods. The study found that the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure does not guarantee reductions in related diseases and improvements in livelihoods. Although rural dwellers are aware of the consequences of poor sanitary and hygiene conditions, related diseases and the implications on livelihoods, their persistent demonstration of poor sanitary and hygiene behaviours attributable to intertwined historical and socioeconomic factors, adversely affect interventions. Thus, the organisation and management of water and sanitation interventions, require an integrated attention to behaviour change mechanisms.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2017

Academic institutions have come under criticism for not living up to their research expectations.... more Academic institutions have come under criticism for not living up to their research expectations. In response, the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Ghana runs a student-community engagement programme termed the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), where students stay in and research with rural communities on development issues as part of their academic work. This paper analyses communities and students' assessment of the TTFPP in relation to its core objectives. Data were obtained from 35 communities and 315 students during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 TTFPP sessions in the Upper West Region, using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. The study established that the TTFPP is beneficial to communities and students and has the potential of being an effective vehicle for academia-community linkage. However, the preliminary field preparation prior to the student-community engagement was unsatisfactory and a weakness on the engagement. Nonetheless, communities are willing to host and work with students. Therefore, this paper argues that while this student-community engagement is justified, more needs to be done to ensure effective and efficient academia-community linkage. There is more to academiacommunity engagement than sending students out to field. This paper calls for a re-examination of the structure and content of the TTFPP.