Studies on peri-urban development have not paid enough attention to the strategies and dynamics of diversifying livelihoods among indigenous women in the Global South. This paper explores the dynamics of livelihood diversification strategies among indigenous women in response to peri-urban development in Wa, Ghana. The mixed-methods design guided the study, while the sample consisted 399 respondents selected from a sample frame of 1494 women. Data analyses involved descriptive statistics, non-parametric and thematic analyses. The study found that peri-urban development had led to the loss of access to farmland among indigenous women. In response, women have resorted to switching from farm-based to non-farm-based livelihoods amidst multiple production challenges.There is, therefore, the need to support the sustainability of women’s livelihoods through the Municipal Assembly and, in particular, through policy interventions such as support for skills training and financial support to enable indigenous people to make a sustainable living. Keywords: Diversification, Ghana, Livelihoods, Peri-Urbanization, Women
<p>The banking industry in the Wa Municipality has experienced some growth over the past decade. This results in increased competition among banks in the industry as each bank tries to capture a greater market share. Banks achieve competitive advantage through innovations of products that reflect customers’ expectations. Despite this competition, customer satisfaction in GCB Bank Limited is perceived to be low. However, there is no empirical evidence to establish whether the products and services delivered by the bank meet customers’ expectation. This study was set out to assess the quality of products and services of GCB bank; and to assess the level of customer satisfaction with products and services of GCB bank. The study employed the cross-sectional research design and the mixed research approach so that the research findings could be generalized. Primary data were collected from 155 customers of GCB bank using questionnaires. The customers were selected through accidental sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that current account, savings account and ATM services were at least of high quality to majority of the respondents. However, over 40% of the respondents were not satisfied with the quality of the bank’s products and services. Management of GCB bank should organize a regular in-service training programme on customer service for the entire staff of the Wa branch in order to improve their customer service skills which would ultimately impact positively on the performance of the bank.</p>
In a developing country like Ghana, Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) play an important role in the socioeconomic development of the economy. Payment of income tax by MSMEs remains one of the key sources of government revenue for development activities in Ghana. However, not much is known regarding the compliance of MSMEs with income tax administration in Ghana. Understanding income tax administration compliance and associated challenges among MSMEs could assist relevant policy actors in designing strategies to improve income tax administration in Ghana. Against this background, a mixed-method study involving 210 (200 MSMEs and 10 key informants) sample was conducted to examine the compliance of MSMEs with income tax administration in the Nkwanta South District of Ghana. The study revealed a lack of tax education, high tax rate, low level of income, and high household consumption levels as the dominant and influential factors to tax compliance among the MSMEs. The study further showed that challenges associated with tax administration include low institutional capacity, inadequate resources, negative public attitude towards tax payment, lack of collaboration between the tax agencies, and political interference. Based on these findings, it is important for policymakers and tax collection institutions to strengthen and streamline existing measures to ensure effective income tax administration in Ghana.
The rate of agricultural land conversion in peri-urban communities due to peri-urbanisation and inefficient use of agricultural lands has raised concerns at both local and global levels. This paper surveys the literature and synthesises the key arguments for and against peri-urbanisation. A review of the literature demonstrates that the focal arguments focus on employment, diversification and intensification of agriculture, cash-income activities, livestock rearing, access to goods and services, unsanitary conditions, social vices, weakening social relations, deforestation, high cost of living, and out-migration. We conclude that peri-urbanisation brings about the betterment of living conditions and at the same time displaces local livelihoods, while breeding poverty for local residents. Hence, we recommend the design and implementation of policies that will secure agriculture lands, while promoting urban activities to enable farmer households to cultivate their land and at the same time engage with the new urban opportunities.
Health insurance coverage provides the spring board for pregnant women to access and utilise maternal healthcare services. Yet, studies on health insurance coverage, access and utilisation of maternal healthcare are a handful. Consequently, this study examines women's access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services under the free maternal health policy in two districts in northern Ghana. The study adopted the mixed research approach with the aid of the cross-sectional design involving 212 respondents. An interview schedule was utilised in the collection of data. Percentages, Chi-square test for independence and Mann-Whitney U test as well as thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that 93.9% of the respondents had enrolled unto the national health insurance scheme and 98.6% of them went for antennal care. Majority (66.5%) of them had facilitybased delivery. However, 79.7% of them incur cost in seeking delivery care. In brief, health insurance coverage appears to contribute to improved access and utilisation of maternal healthcare services in the two districts. Nonetheless, the government should provide the basic items that are needed for delivery to lessen the cost burden associated with facility-based delivery.
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