African Journal of Sustainable Development

The Nexus between Good Governance and Citizens' Participation in Local Governance: Insights from Afrobarometer Round 7

Adams Sulemana Achanso — 2023-08-07

Good governance has been advocated as the ideal which governments should embrace. The concept relates to a governance system that is transparent, accountable, effective and participatory. This study investigated the relationship between these tenets of good governance and citizens’ participation in local governance in Ghana. The study utilized data from the Afro-barometer survey for Ghana. The study modestly attempted to provide an empirical and theoretical assessment of the socio-economic and attitudinal characteristics of individuals, as well as the institutional environment that determine citizens’ participation in local governance. The results revealed that, individual demographic factors, such as age, gender, and education, were the significant determinants of citizens’ engagement in local governance in Ghana. The results also suggested that, attitudinal factors, such as interest in political activities, membership of associations; and institutional factors, such as local government transparency and improved service delivery, greatly impacted and influenced citizens’ participation in local governance. The findings presented vital practical implications for Ghana’s public sector to implement standards that could increase citizens’ participation in local governance. They also offered impetus to create an environment in Ghana that advocates for the principles of good governance.

Effects of Lack of Parental Involvement in Children’s Education: A case study of Pagnatik Junior High School, Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District, North East Region, Ghana

Adams Sulemana Achanso — 2023-08-07

This study explored the effects of lack of parental involvement in children’s education in Pagnatik Junior High School in the Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District of the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed the qualitative research strategy and case study designs for data collection and analysis. The purposive sampling technique was used to select thirty (30) students, ten (10) teachers and ten (10) parents for face-to-face interviews. The content analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The study found that the main causes of lack of parental involvement in children’s education included lack of time and appreciation of the value of education, illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. The study also found that parental involvement in children’s education resulted in improvement in children’s academic performance, elimination of vices like premarital sex and truancy. The study therefore recommends the involvement of parents in children’s education by allowing them more time to learn, providing them with learning materials and participating actively in Parent Teacher Associations’ activities

Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge Practices Among Crop Farmers in Ila Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Oyefunke O. Adebayo — 2023-08-07

The study examined the use of indigenous knowledge practices (IKPs) among crop farmers in Ila Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents. Interview schedule was employed to elicit information on crop farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, IKPs mostly used, extent of IKP usage, benefits derived and the constraints faced in the use of IKPs. Data was subjected to percentage, weighted mean score, chi-square and Pearson product moment correlation at p=0.05. Findings revealed that most of the respondents were married (64.5%), female (54.8%), with a mean age of 40.5 years. The respondents’ primary occupation was farming (48.4%) and most of them personally sourced credit (56.7%). Also, many belonged to farmers’ clubs (48.4%) with farm sizes of ≤2 hectares (76.7%). The most used IKP was for household health care (92.5%) while the most used IKPs on domain basis were: food storage – sack (WMS 2.25); weeding – hoe (WMS 2.22); food processing – sun drying (WMS 2.15); land cultivation – land clearing (WMS 2.28); soil conservation – mulching (WMS 2.06); household health care – bitter leaf and palm oil for measles’ treatment (WMS 2.61); and pest control – indigenous trap (WMS 1.93). The percentage of those who used IKP was high (89.48%). The most benefit derived from IKP usage was the ease of use (95.0%), while the major constraint faced was labour intensiveness (91.7%). A significant relationship existed between farmers’ age (r=0.392, p=0.006), marital status (χ²=247.25, p=0.000), farm size (r=0.266, p=0.003), primary occupation (χ²=13.69, p=0.002), main source of credit (χ²=43.32, p=0.000) and the extent of IKP usage. Prevailing farmers’ characteristics that positively influence and support the use of IKPs should be documented. Hence, it is recommended that farmers should pool their resources to acquire farm machinery to ease the stress that comes with the use of IKPs and to ensure sustainability.

Contributions of Ikogosi Warm Springs to Poverty Alleviation in Ikogosi Community, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Olumuyiwa A. Akande — 2023-08-07

This paper reports the social impact and contributions of Ikogosi Warm Springs to poverty alleviation in Ikogosi Community, Ekiti State, Nigeria. A survey of opinions of the residents and spring workers in the community was taken using a questionnaire. Three hundred questionnaires were retrieved, validated after data cleaning, and analysed using ordinal logistic regression. Social impact was found to have significant, nonsignificant, positive and negative influences on the residents’ standard of living. The result for the parameter estimate for social impact was weak. The presence of Ikogosi Warm Springs has provided access to quality and affordable healthcare services and also affected the academic achievement of students within the community. The springs’ presence also created more awareness on gender equality, assisted in the preservation of historical sites, influenced the dressing culture of the residents, increased their sources of income, led to infrastructural development, and contributed to the need for a good road network. It is therefore recommended that government at all levels should focus efforts on creating an enabling business climate that attracts tourism investors, and through which the local communities can benefit from infrastructural development as part of the corporate social responsibility of the investors, in the overall interest of tourism development in the state.

Natural Resources as Instruments for Social Cohesion and Peace Building

Oluseyi Adeyemi Afolabi — 2023-08-07

Environmental challenges are amongst the most urgent topics on the international development agenda. The issue of natural resource- induced conflicts is not unique to Africa but rather a global challenge. Natural resources by themselves are inherently neutral and apolitical. However, the management systems and associated competing interests amongst core stakeholders determine the role of natural resources as triggers of conflict or instruments of peace building. It is thus imperative that stakeholders can access adequate technical information and training to enable them take informed decisions on the sustainable usage of natural resources. This study employed the review of literature to investigate the role of natural resources as instruments of peace building and social cohesion. The study findings indicate the sidelining of core actors in the development of natural resources, causing them to resort to violence. One viable approach is to mix indigenous knowledge and customs with workable exogenous frameworks to facilitate effective management of natural resources conflict. Natural resource-based conflicts can also be mitigated by promoting and adhering to the principles of good governance, especially regarding participation, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, legitimacy and legality. By embracing approaches towards equitable and efficient natural resource management, conflict-stricken communities can attain long-term peace and economic stability. In a majority of cases, conflicts regarding natural resources begin at the local level and need to be addressed at this level by engaging relevant actors in the conflict management process. In this regard, traditional community-based processes are seen as ideal to local contexts and are hence more readily embraced by communities.

Resource War and Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A critical analysis

Joseph Okwesili Nkwede — 2023-08-07

This study examined the resource war and amnesty programme in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The study is a qualitative research. Explanatory and historical research designs were adopted with data generated from secondary sources and descriptively analysed. Our findings, which were based on the idea of the post-colonial state, demonstrated that state decision-making has remained heavily centralized, concentrating political and economic power in the hands of state governors, whose huge patronage powers are derived from oil profits. The study recommends amongst others that: government should live up to its responsibility and promise towards addressing the environmental challenges caused by oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta region as this will go a long way in enhancing peace in the region.

The Igbo Question and Political Configuration in Nigeria: Establishing the marginalization nexus

Joseph O. Nkwede — 2023-08-07

This study examined what has seemingly become a deliberate strategy of denial against Igbo people in the Nigerian state. The marginalization debate has attracted serious tension in Nigeria to the extent that it has dominated national and international discourse in the political and scholarly domain. Both content analysis and descriptive statistical techniques were utilized for the analysis, while data presentation and interpretation were done using simple percentages and tables. The study identified salient issues for a better understanding of how the Igbo in Nigeria’s political space are relegated to the background deliberately. To address these challenges, this study outlined policy alternatives concerning how the Igbo could be accommodated and reintegrated into the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics, where the safety, happiness and joy of the Igbo would be complete while living with other ethnic nationalities. It then suggested a different approach that would guarantee equality in the allocation of power and resources among the geopolitical zones. These would eliminate the existing marginalization of the Igbo race in Nigeria

African Food Security Status and Challenges of Climate Change

A.A. Oluoko-Odingo — 2023-08-07

Food security is assured when all people at all times have
both physical and economic access to sufficient food to
meet their dietary needs for a more productive and healthy
life. Food insecurity in Africa has been increasing over the
years despite the existing measures to ensure sustainable
agriculture and food security in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Climate change, disease, and
pest infestation, conflict and wars as well as poverty are
noted to be responsible for the prevailing food insecurity.
Some of the gaps in the literature include modalities for
successful transformation of African agriculture, research
on agricultural development, and various ways of
rejuvenating African agriculture to deal with climate
change. This study is an attempt to respond to the
following questions: How effective are the indices used in
measuring food security? What is the status of agricultural
development in Africa? What should be done to
successfully transform and invigorate small-scale farming
in the continent? This is a review article using secondary
data from various literature sources (journals, books, book
chapters, and reports, among others). The humanecological system theory, the sustainable livelihoods
approach and the pulley of agricultural innovation were to
develop small-scale farm food security approach, where
the small-scale farmer becomes the centre of food security innovations and development for sustainable food and
nutrition security. The discussions underscore the
importance of paying more attention to the environment
and climate change within small-scale farms, giving more
support to women farmers and identifying centres of
agronomic practices for better innovation and
transformation. There is also inadequate literature on
sources of undernutrition, negligence of indigenous crops,
inadequate investment in agriculture and less
prioritization of small-scale farmers. The study concluded
that special effort needs to be made towards food security
in Africa through policy reforms and a review of
agronomic practices to enable the continent adapt to the
adverse impacts of weather and climate extremes.