Raymond Aitibasa Atanga - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Raymond Aitibasa Atanga

World development sustainability, Jun 1, 2024

Cogent Social Sciences, Nov 19, 2023

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, May 16, 2023

It is argued that climate change is the greatest contemporary global threat to sustainable develo... more It is argued that climate change is the greatest contemporary global threat to sustainable development, and that the risks associated with climate change will become more severe over time. In Ghana, climate change has threatened the lives and livelihoods of people particularly in the three regions of the north. Despite this, adaptation to climate change which is fundamental for sustainable development has long been viewed to be far away from the immediate concerns of development and therefore not incorporated into poverty reduction programmes across the country.
In order to address the daunting challenges posed by climate change, central and local authorities need to undertake planned adaptation and integrate climate change in development planning in order to reduce the vulnerability of the poor. In this regard, the study sought to examine the extent to which climate change adaptation has been mainstreamed into development planning in the Kassena-Nankana West District. The study adopted the qualitative approach involving the use of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observation.
The study found that, whereas the level of vulnerability to climate change in the District was high, adaptive capacity was low. Initiatives in the District were in response to environmental challenges rather than climate change hazards or impacts. As a result, the District‘s approach to fighting climate change was reactive. Mainstreaming was ineffective both at the district and sub-district level. The District had no strategy for addressing climate change and the understanding and capacity of decentralized departments/agencies about climate change was low. A number of challenges accounted for the poor mainstreaming of climate change in Kassena-Nankana West District. These include limited knowledge on climate change risks and disaster preparedness, the neglect of indigenous knowledge and weak institutional capacity among others. Some of the prospects for mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the District include the wealth of unexploited indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation and the non-institutionalization of climate change in the District. Therefore, the study recommends that, climate change adaptation should be institutionalized within the structures of the Assembly and indigenous knowledge on adaptation should be given priority attention.

American Journal of Arts and Human Science

Surface waters are the main drinking water source for many rural communities in Ghana including W... more Surface waters are the main drinking water source for many rural communities in Ghana including Wa West District and Togmaa in particular. The water crisis in Togmaa is a threat to quality sanitation and health in the community. This necessitated the study. A case study approach enabled the researchers to delve much into the phenomenon under study. The methodology included the use of a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative). The sampling technique used was simple random and purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data from 39 households as sampled for the study. Key informant interviews were also used to gather data from chiefs, assemblymen, Magazia (women leader) and the Wa West District Assembly. The study also used observation to observe the water sources in the community. Data gathered from Semi-structured interviews were coded and entered into the SPSS to generate results and presented in Microsoft word using pie charts, bar charts...

SN Social Sciences, Dec 23, 2022

Local Environment

ABSTRACT Although the Brundtland Commission’s definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is widel... more ABSTRACT Although the Brundtland Commission’s definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is widely accepted and central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it presents some limitations for application in the traditional African context. Drawing on a qualitative research design, this study interrogated indigenous knowledge systems of land governance among the Grune people in northern Ghana and the implications for SD. The emergent perspectives on land and land ownership are compelling and underpin the need for re-conceptualisation SD. To adapt SD to Grune worldview, it is imperative to redefine the frontiers of SD, by embracing a three-generational framework for addressing needs and achieving total wellbeing. In the context of decentralisation in Africa, an Endogenous Development (ED) approach to development planning is imperative for engineering social innovations and learnings that ensure socially and culturally acceptable development and the well-being of indigenous people and communities.

A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technol... more A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi – Ghana, in Partial Fulfilment for the award of Degree of Master of Science in Development Planning and Management, 2014

The Journal of development communication, 2020

Communication and development are perceived as closely intertwined phenomena in which one is beli... more Communication and development are perceived as closely intertwined phenomena in which one is believed to guarantee the other. This paper argues that, sustainable development initiatives are those that guarantee the participation of those who have some interest in the intended change. The paper further argues that, communication facilitates community participation in development projects. However, development interventions at the community level seem to ignore the important role communication play in sustaining development projects. This paper highlights the importance of communication in sustaining development projects in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality in Ghana. The research adopted the exploratory case study approach using four communities and three purposively selected projects. The data for the study were obtained from a survey of institutional and household heads and focus group discussions. The results show that development communication facilitated the participation of co...

Handbook of Climate Change Management, 2021

European Journal of Midwifery, 2020

INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, the government of Ghana has implemented several interventions ... more INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, the government of Ghana has implemented several interventions aimed at increasing access to skilled birth-care services from trained professionals. Despite these efforts, there is a wide gap between antenatal care attendance and skilled delivery attendance, particularly in rural areas. Evidence shows that many women in rural and deprived communities in Ghana rely on traditional birth attendant (TBA) delivery services. This has created a gap where antenatal attendance is high while skilled delivery is relatively low. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the sociodemographic characteristics of women who use the services of TBAs in Bongo District, Ghana. METHODS Using a descriptive study design, a survey was conducted involving 330 mothers randomly selected from 1685 mothers who delivered at home by 2014 in Bongo District. The questionnaire for mothers who delivered at home by a TBA comprised 28 questions. RESULTS The results show that women who used TBA were older, without formal education, married, predominantly farmers, married to spouses who were farmers without formal education. Most of the sampled women were co-currently covered by the national health insurance. CONCLUSIONS This study describes the demographic characteristics of women who use a TBA. Therefore, ongoing efforts aimed at increasing access to and use of professional antenatal services should incorporate sociodemographic factors in the rural context.

WIREs Climate Change, 2013

The close linkages between climate change adaptation and development have led to calls for addres... more The close linkages between climate change adaptation and development have led to calls for addressing the two issues in an integrated way. ‘Mainstreaming’ climate information, policies and measures into ongoing development planning and decision‐making has been proposed as one solution, seen as making more sustainable, effective and efficient use of resources than designing and managing climate policies separately from ongoing development activities. But what does mainstreaming look like in practice? This article explores the process of mainstreaming, drawing on the country case study of Bangladesh, one of the countries that have made significant progress on adaptation planning and mainstreaming. The article begins by making the case for mainstreaming, by exploring the linkages and trade‐offs between adaptation and development and describing the various approaches to mainstreaming from the literature. Second, it considers how to implement mainstreaming in practice, reviewing an exist...

Springer, 2021

In the wake of global environmental change, especially, climate change, vulnerability assessments... more In the wake of global environmental change, especially, climate change, vulnerability assessments have become central to climate change response. This notwithstanding, vulnerability assessments to climate change in Africa, especially in the area of livestock production among minority groups is limited. This chapter explores firstly, the vulnerability of Fulani herders and their herds to climate change and secondly, the extent to which Climate Change Adaptation Planning (CCAP) addressed these vulnerabilities at the local level in northwestern Ghana. A case study design was employed for studying the Fulani of Kpongu community in the Wa Municipality. The results reveal three key herder vulnerabilities to climate change. These included scarcity of feed and fodder, scarcity of water and high temperatures. The results further show a weak link between the Fulani herders and the Municipal Assembly in local development planning, both in the process and in content. Ultimately, Fulani participation in the Municipal Development Planning Process (MDPP), policies, and programmes that address their climate change adaption needs is largely limited and or absent in Medium-Term Municipal Development Plans. To address this gap, an integrated framework for Climate Change Adaptation Planning (CCAP)-anchored on Endogenous Development and Transdisciplinary (TD) research approaches is imperative.

Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 2017

This paper argues that sustainable development outcomes under climate change are the products of ... more This paper argues that sustainable development outcomes under climate change are the products of planned adaptation processes involving mainstreaming. The paper examines the extent to which climate change adaptation has been mainstreamed into development planning at the local level in Ghana. Ubiquitous drought and flood disasters in many areas in Ghana are manifestations that climate change can undermine or even reverse the success and sustainability of development interventions. Projections show that the frequency and severity of climate change induced disasters in Ghana will increase overtime. Apparently, the need to mainstream climate change adaptation into development planning at the national and sub-national levels cannot be ignored. In this vein, using the qualitative research approach involving the use of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and content analysis of district development plans and annual reports, the study found that the mainstreaming of climate change at the district level in Ghana was at the elementary stage, which constitutes awareness creation. As a result, district development plans failed to address climate change adaptation adequately. The paper concludes that there is the need to raise awareness and build

Local Environment The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 2022

Although the Brundtland Commission's definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is widely accepte... more Although the Brundtland Commission's definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is widely accepted and central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it presents some limitations for application in the traditional African context. Drawing on a qualitative research design, this study interrogated indigenous knowledge systems of land governance among the Grune people in northern Ghana and the implications for SD. The emergent perspectives on land and land ownership are compelling and underpin the need for reconceptualisation SD. To adapt SD to Grune worldview, it is imperative to redefine the frontiers of SD, by embracing a three-generational framework for addressing needs and achieving total wellbeing. In the context of decentralisation in Africa, an Endogenous Development (ED) approach to development planning is imperative for engineering social innovations and learnings that ensure socially and culturally acceptable development and the well-being of indigenous people and communities.