Differentiated agrarian vulnerabilities and generalized national responses to COVID‐19 in the Upper West Region of Ghana

Abstract

The experiences of COVID-19 differ at both micro and macro levels. This emphasizes the need for differentiated responses that account for the varying vulnerabilities of diverse groups regarding the pandemic. In Ghana, much of the attention on COVID-19 has been on urban centres, particularly the country's two largest metropolises in southern Ghana. This has created a gap between national level policy and the experiences of COVID-19 among rural dwellers in Ghana. This is despite evidence that the world's poorest populations will bear the brunt of COVID-19 effects, and that globally, four out of five people living below the poverty line reside in rural areas. Using the Upper West Region as a case study, we discuss the differentiated vulnerabilities that agrarian communities in Ghana face regarding the pandemic. We situate our discussions within the theories of vulnerability and feminist political economy to highlight how interlocking vulnerabilities regarding historical, environmental, geopolitical, socio-economic, health, and gendered inequalities affect the disposition of agrarian communities to cope with and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We call for more nuanced COVID-19 responses that account for the needs and experiences of agrarian communities in Ghana.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agri-Food Systems in West Africa

“…Andrieu et al [87]; Arouna et al [128]; Baada et al [90]; Coulibaly [93]; Dasgupta and Robinson [94]; Liverpool-Tasie et al [111]; Nkrumah et al [116]; Omotayo et al [70] Coping and mitigation strategies Policy measures * Several articles address different sustainability dimensions.…”

“…For instance, Aberese-Ako et al [51] analyse the socio-economic and health impacts of the pandemic on rural and urban slum dwellers in Ghana. Meanwhile, Baada et al [90], referring to the Upper West Region in Ghana, highlight "how interlocking vulnerabilities regarding historical, environmental, geopolitical, socio-economic, health, and gendered inequalities affect the disposition of agrarian communities to cope with and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic".…”

Peasant Livelihoods in Times of Covid-19: A Classical Agrarian and Political Economy Perspective

“…It is therefore the aim of this article to address the lacuna in understanding and having insight on the impact of Covid-19 on rural households. This is in a context where studies in other countries show that Covid-19 has impacted rural populations in different ways with agrarian populations particularly being susceptible and struggling to cope (see Baada et al, 2021). Studies in different countries show that peasant farmers have suffered as their productive activities have been curtailed.…”

Spatial targeting and prediction of factors responsible for optimum Covid-19 based social distancing – the case of Upper west region, Ghana

“…A. Asante & Mills, 2020;Durizzo et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020); as such there is policy bias in managing the virus in the country. Even though, relatively, Upper West region has few recorded cases (895) as of 16 th February 2022 (worldometers.info/coronavirus/; https://www.ghs.gov.gh/covid19/dashboardm.php ), it is one of the socioeconomically unique region characterised by severe poverty (arguably the poorest region in Ghana) and lack of access to sanitation, water and healthcare facilities (Baada et al, 2021); at the same time, UWR is one of the hotpot regions of meningitis outbreaks in the country, further crippling their healthcare systems (Akyereko et al, 2020;Nuoh et al, 2016). GSS (2013;2015) cited in Baada et al (2021) estimated that 70.7% of people in UWR were poor, which is higher than the national average of 30.9%.…”

“…According to GSS (2013; 2015) cited in Baada et al (2021) estimated that 70.7% of people in UWR were poor, which is higher than the national average of 30.9%. It is therefore one of the socioeconomically unique region characterised by severe poverty (arguably the poorest region in Ghana) and lack of access to sanitation, water and healthcare facilities(Baada et al, 2021); at the same time, UWR is one of the hotpot regions of meningitis outbreaks in the country, further crippling their healthcare systems(Akyereko et al, 2020;Nuoh et al, 2016). Even though, relatively, Upper West region has few recorded cases (895) as of 16 th February 2022, due to its socio-economically vulnerable nature, the brunt of covid-19 will arguably have the greatest impact on the people, also practicing the SD measures will be practically difficult.…”