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The aim of this paper is to investigate the social significance of children's work in cashew supply chain activities in Ghana. Using survey and semi-structured interviews, we gathered data from 218 children working in cashew supply chain activities in Ghana. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis approach. The results show that children's involvement in various stages of cashew supply chain activities is highly gendered. Working in cashew supply chain allowed children to gain farming and life skills, earn income to meet some school expenses, and support household livelihood building efforts. Work allowed children to meet their peers outside of the home economy to engage in conversational activities that are not easily supplied by leisure activities. While there are perceived negative implications of children's work on schooling, we conclude by reiterating the need for policy to recognise the significant learning opportunities and social interaction for children working on family cashew farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of non-economic loss and damage (NELD) of climate change has emerged strongly in the international policy arena in the past few years. Nonetheless, while research on climate-induced loss has focused on the economic dimension, the non-economic aspects have often been side-lined in academic research and policy debate. This paper draws on in-depth interviews and a focus group with farmers to develop a comprehensive understanding of climate-induced non-economic loss and damage in southern Ghana. A key finding of the research is that climate change has a non-economic loss aspect, leading to a loss of social cohesion and indigenous knowledge of farming. We further demonstrate that the loss of social cohesion and indigenous knowledge of agriculture drives individualism among farmers. Our findings have implications for climate change adaptation strategies and policies across the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impacts of COVID-19 on MFI operations and the response measures taken by MFIs in Ghana. Data from interviews shows that MFIs are faced with operational difficulties as a result of the crisis: inability to disburse new loans and collect loan repayments which is leading to increase in portfolios at risk, increased operational costs, and bottlenecks with non-financial service delivery. Reduction in lending and rescheduling of outstanding loan repayments, adoption of flexible working arrangements, and use of digital technologies are key response measures taken by the MFIs although the scale of implementation differed considerably by contextual factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While studies have drawn attention to the operationalization, and implementation challenges associated with the ECOWAS free movement protocol, our understanding of how different categories of migrants experience the protocol is far more limited. Drawing on data from interviews conducted with 23 ECOWAS migrants living or travelling to Ghana, immigration officials and a trade union representative, this paper examines the diversity of experiences of ECOWAS migrants in relation to the free movement protocol. The findings suggest that the experiences of ECOWAS nationals in areas such as awareness and knowledge of provisions in the protocol, border crossing, processes of acquiring residence and work permits and renewing permits, and rights of establishment differ remarkably by dimensions of social difference. The gender, social class and nationality of migrants are fundamental and shape the experiences of ECOWAS migrants in divergent ways. These findings have important implication for policies seeking to promote free movement in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The futures that young people imagine for themselves should serve as a guidepost to youth employment programmes. Drawing on data from interviews conducted with 30 young migrants in Accra, this article examines the futures young migrants imagine for themselves and the ways they are working to realise their aspirations. Findings suggest that while the young migrants were engaged in some economic activities in the urban informal economy, they regarded these as a means to transit towards their imagined futures. They had divergent plans for the future, whether to further their education and gain professional salaried jobs, or establish their own small-scale businesses. Nonetheless, their limited financial resources and social networks may affect transition to these imaginary futures. Engagement in paid work, saving groups and leisure-based activities are key activities young migrants engage in efforts to reach their plans. These findings have important implications for policy seeking to promote youth employment in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research literature has underscored the growing engagement of youth in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). However, no published study has explicitly investigated the symbiotic exchanges on how youth in ASM transfer acquired knowledge and practical skills to educational settings and how they in turn transfer their acquired knowledge in higher education institutions to the ASM sector. Based on our inquiry in Ghana, involvement of educated youth in ASM had resulted in a) diffusion of innovations to the ASM sector, b) skills/knowledge transfer on mineral processing, c) knowledge transfer on health and safety in mining, d) provision of equipment repair and maintenance services, and e) transfer of legal knowledge and processes to the sector. With the transfer of mining-related experiences to educational settings, three sub-themes emerged: f) sharing of ASM experience and knowledge with peers and tutors, g) experiential learning and practical understanding of theoretical concepts, and h) enhanced higher education-ASM industry synergies. In relation to these findings, we argue that the future of the ASM sector in Ghana and broadly sub-Saharan Africa concerning cleaner production and environmentally safe mining practices, to a greater degree, relies on educated youth who hold enormous promise to champion innovation and knowledge transfer to the sector. • We examined (educated) youth in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and their impacts on higher educational and ASM sectors. • Youth in higher education and the ASM impact framework explains the interrelationships of youth involvement in ASM and higher education and its (potential) impacts on the ASM industry. • Educated youth involvement in ASM results in diffusion of innovation to the ASM sector. • Knowledge transfers from higher educational settings into ASM can promote safer and cleaner production. • Industrial placement and internship programmes are important for students to enhance their knowledge about ASM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dominant artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) narratives highlight the invisibility of women's livelihoods and gendered struggles in the sector. Indeed, livelihood practices in ASM, how daily mobilities facilitate these practices and the specific vulnerabilities women face are still understudied and undertheorised. Drawing on qualitative research in Prestea-Bondaye mining area (PBMA), Ghana, we explore the livelihood dimensions, forms of mobility and vulnerabilities of women in ASM from an open rural economy perspective where ASM serves as a centrifugal force that pulls or drives the emergence and sustenance of both farm and other off-farm livelihood activities. Our findings highlight two forms of mobility (i.e. outside the mining communities to ASM spaces , and to/within the mining communities) that are tied to different livelihood practices and vulnerabilities. From our inquiry, women build livelihoods in an ASM-induced local economy in three different forms: permanent, temporary, and indirect. The indirect livelihoods women build in an ASM-induced local economy include: 1) 'san ban ho' (side-work livelihood based on credit conditions), 2) petty-trading in ASM spaces, 3) home-based trading, 4) market-day trading, 5) commuting trading, and 6) underground pit 'ghetto' sponsorship. The findings show that while daily mobility shape the viability of livelihood-building efforts in an ASM-induced local economy, in most cases women experience different social and economic vulnerabilities that impact their health and livelihood benefits. Implications of our findings for policy and practice are further discussed. • There are different dimensions of women's livelihoods in an artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – induced economy. • Women's livelihoods fall under three forms: temporary, permanent, and indirect. • Livelihood building in ASM is aided by two forms of mobility: To ASM spaces , and to/within the mining communities. • Women building livelihoods in ASM have different vulnerabilities. • Conceptualise two stylised local rural economies to explain women's livelihood building; semi-closed and open rural economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to evaluate the nature and scale of the Ghana Premier League Board's records management practices, and propose recommendations based on findings. The study was qualitative. Data used for analysis were drawn from twelve (12) respondents with the use of face-to-face interviews and personal observations. The major finding of the study was that there was lack of appreciation of the function of reliable and authentic records in institutional development. This finding obviates serious gaps and weaknesses in the records management programme of the Ghana Premier League Board. In particular, this study has established the essence of an effective records management system for the administration of football in Ghana. Recommendations based on findings include the need for a corporate records management policy, training of records staff , staff motivations, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the ways and factors that facilitate or constrain community participation in the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) programme in Nsanfo, a village in Central Region of Ghana. We found that the community made an important step through mobilising the necessary resources in establishing the CHPS compound, which has resulted in improved access to health care. Yet maintaining the facility did not matter most to community members, owing chiefly to unmet demands for financial accountability pertaining to the running of the programme. Failure to clearly identify various actors and their roles potentially explains this state of affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of extending healthcare to marginalized underserved rural population remains a cardinal rhetoric policy of the Ghana Government. Meanwhile we note a growing inequity in terms of access and utilization of quality and affordable healthcare between urban and rural areas of the country. The Government of Ghana through its various policy initiatives in 2002 collaborated with civil societies with the aim of bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of rural folks in the country. Using a mixed method approach through a semi structured interviews and questionnaire administration, and focusing on the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) programme in Nsanfo community in the Mfanstiman municipal area, this study assesses the effectiveness and challenges confronting state-civil society partnership in co-producing a public good (healthcare). We found that synergy between the state (Mfanstiman Municipal Health Directorate) and the civil society (community health volunteers) has yielded positive results in bringing healthcare to the door steps as well as improving the health conditions of the local people in the study area. Nonetheless, certain challenges such as lack of volunteer motivation, deplorable state of the CHPS compound and logistics threaten the very existence of this collaboration. Our study has far reaching implications for healthcare planning in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of neoliberal economic reforms with its resultant effects on rural agricultural economies has facilitated the migration of young girls from northern to southern Ghana to seek for alternative livelihoods in the urban informal economy as head porters (Kayayei). Using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with 45 Kayayei in Makola and Agbogbloshie Markets, Accra, this study examines how migration as a livelihood strategy contributes to an improvement in the living conditions of young girls and their families. The paper also looks more closely into the pathways through which the livelihoods of these young female migrants may contribute to local economic development. The study highlights that Kayayei contribute to local economic development through market exchange and revenue generation, also there is significant perceived positive impact of head portering on standard of living of these young girls through improved access to income, health care and asset accumulation while their families benefit from remittances. The study concludes by advocating for the need to provide access to credit and skills training in enhancing the livelihood of Kayayei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three decades or so, complex factors including the implementation of neoliberal economic reforms has led to a decline in formal sector employment in the Ghanaian economy. This together with increasing feminization of poverty has driven many, especially young women, to seek livelihoods in the informal sector mainly as hawkers and head porters. Drawing on qualitative interviews with approximately 40 urban poor women (aged 6-25 years), this paper reports the gendered aspects of poverty and the surviving strategies of young women on urban streets. The cameos presented herein highlight the experiences of poverty among street workers and how their livelihood portfolios contribute to overcoming the poor socio-economic conditions facing them. The paper shows that hawking and head portering significantly provides income for upkeep of young women and their families through meeting consumption and other needs. However, vulnerabilities manifested in unfavourable weather conditions, vehicular dangers, exploitation from employers and customers often due to lack of written work contracts are the major risks sturdily connected with these surviving strategies. The paper concludes by arguing for policy interventions such as subsidized credit schemes and organization of formal and informal forms of capacity building for the urban street workers to enhance their livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]