Employment Structure and the Environment in Cape Coast, Ghana

Abstract

The relationships between poverty, population growth and government policy in the creation of poor sanitary environments in low income residential areas are discussed. In recent years, the implementation of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) in Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries has had the effect of shrinking the formal/modern sectors and expanding the informal sector. While small scale informal sector activities have dominated Cape Coast’s economic base for a long time, the contraction of the formal sector resulting from structural adjustment conditionalities has engendered a disproportionate growth of the informal sector. This paper examines the environmental implications on an urban economy (Cape Coast) dominated by informal sector activities. It shows how the low pay associated with available employment reduces the ability of the municipal authority to promote urban development especially environmental health on the basis of taxes alone.

Characterization and Source Assessment of Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediments of the Fosu Lagoon, Ghana

“…They are also not inclusive of various classes of chemicals; being limited to only some physicochemical parameters (e.g. pH, BOD, Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , PO 4 2− -P, NH 4 + -N, Cl − , F − and NO 3 − -N, SO 4 2− and HCO 3 − ). [3 , 9,10] Current activities in the surrounding areas of the lagoon suggest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals as two other classes of chemicals that are likely to pollute the lagoon.…”

“…[4] Cape Coast is one of such coastal cities in the country where small-scale informal sector activities are denominating its economic base. These informal ventures are, however, poorly regulated and usually are involved in careless disposal of waste.…”

Some Polluting Effects of Small‐Scale Industrial Production in theCentral Region of Ghana

“…These include a general overview by Hamza (1991), four case studies covering Bombay in India (Tikoo, 1992); Lima in Peru (Villaran et al, 1991cited in Werna, 1997; Leon in Mexico (Mendoza, 1992); and Harare in Zimbabwe, (Mubvami, 1992). More recent studies include Werna (1997) on Sao Paolo in Brazil and Cape Coast in Ghana (Kendie, 1998). Research on the polluting effects of small-scale industry in rural areas, however, is still lacking despite their growing numbers.…”

“…A large proportion of the SSEs in the region in 1990 were in food processing (30 per cent), textiles (13.4 per cent), wood processing (10 per cent), and vehicle repair (nine per cent). However, the polluting effects of these other enterprises have been researched (see Adjei, 1991 andKendie, 1998 on automobile repair work, Barnes et al, 1993 on food waste; and Pinkrah, 1993 on wood waste). This is not so with the distillers although they are known to be heavy polluters of adjacent water bodies.…”

Neoliberalism and the Urban Economy in Ghana: Urban Employment, Inequality, and Poverty

“…Among them are the research of Hart (1973) on urban employment, especially the informal sector and its relationship with the formal sector, related research by Frank (1968) on urban unemployment in Africa (including Ghana), and another study on urban factory workers by Peil (1972). The more recent urban studies have looked at the urban informal economy (e.g., Barwa 1995), slums, the hostile relationship between city authorities and hawkers, and the relationship between slums and the informal economy (see, for example, Asiedu and Agyei‐Mensah 2008; Kendie 1998; Owusu, Agyei‐Mensah, and Lund 2008).…”