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1 – 10 of 11Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Robertson Neequaye Kotey, Hannah E.A. Acquah, Joshua Ofori Essiam, Gifty Enyonam Ketemepi, Akorfa Wuttor and Kofi Hilla Avusuglo
This study aims to examine the motivations and supports of stakeholders in the slum communities, Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the motivations and supports of stakeholders in the slum communities, Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Two-stage methodologies were used for data collection. Published Google News articles about the phenomenon as well as exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 participants.
Findings
The evidence shows that structured and unstructured are the two main categories of stakeholders operating in the space of slums in Ghana. It shows that stakeholders are motivated by their objectives and ethical or moral obligations to provide support in the form of consumables, housing and finance to the slums.
Research limitations/implications
Because of the data collection regime used in this project, findings are specific to the Ghanaian context and not generalisable. However, the results could be beneficial in other contexts with similar slum phenomena.
Practical implications
The conclusions drawn serve as a springboard for urban managers responsible for slum administration and management to develop policy packages to incentivise and enlist more non-slum stakeholders in the existing stakeholders.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few that expands the frontiers of the stakeholder model within context to discover specific slum stakeholders, their motivations and support for the slums in a consolidated manner.
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Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Alexander Preko, Kofi Hilla Avusuglo, Anthony Sumnaya Kumasey, Akwasi Sarfo Kantanka and Mawuli Feglo
This study investigate urban migrant dwellers’ gender and age differences in response to the specific phobia of COVID-19 and hesitancy toward vaccines in the slum settlements.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigate urban migrant dwellers’ gender and age differences in response to the specific phobia of COVID-19 and hesitancy toward vaccines in the slum settlements.
Design/methodology/approach
The study anchored on the two-factor model proposed by Mowrer (1939) and used a quantitative design approach with a convenience sampling method for data gathering among 362 urban migrants residing and working in the cities of Ghana. The study used the Mann–Whitney U test and the regression analysis for the analysis.
Findings
The result showed that there is a significant difference between males and females in their understanding of economic phobia, thoughts on social phobia and perception level of vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, there is a significant difference between age groups in their level of thoughts of psychological phobia, economic phobia and thoughts of vaccine hesitancy. Finally, the specific of phobias of COVID-19 are significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy.
Research limitations/implications
This research is slum-specific, which implies that the outcome cannot be generalized to other geographical settings.
Practical implications
The study demonstrates how a pandemic manifests itself to dwellers in slums. The outcome of the study sheds light on how policymakers appreciate the dynamics of the pandemic in a developing country, which may guide future responses to pandemics.
Originality/value
The outcome of the study sheds light on how policymakers appreciate the dynamics of the pandemic in a developing country, which may guide future responses to pandemics.
Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Justice Nyigmah Bawole, Albert Ahenkan, James Kwame Mensah and Alexander Preko
In the space of slums are many stakeholders; the extent to which their assistance contributes to slum administration is sparsely studied. The study aims to examine how external…
Abstract
Purpose
In the space of slums are many stakeholders; the extent to which their assistance contributes to slum administration is sparsely studied. The study aims to examine how external stakeholders contribute to slum administration within the Ghanaian context.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the stakeholder theory, the study used an exploratory qualitative design based on face-to-face, in-depth interviews among 21 respondents. Participants were purposively selected from stakeholder organisations and slum residents based on the stake in slums governance in Ghana.
Findings
The results indicate that stakeholders have contributed towards slums livelihoods in the general areas of housing, trading, skill development and capacity building. It shows that stakeholders’ contributions tend to enhance slums’ living conditions and affect local assemblies positively. The study finds that slum dwellers categorise stakeholders’ contributions as short-term relief and long-term solutions. Additionally, it emerged that in the areas of policy design, implementation and policy feedback, external stakeholders have supported the government in that regard.
Research limitations/implications
The conclusion drawn from the study is limited to the four communities and the stakeholder organisations. However, communities with similar characteristics globally might benefit from the findings.
Practical implications
The study uncovers a context-specific role and assistance of external stakeholders in the domain of slums. This provides a guide to the government regarding key areas of stakeholder collaboration towards slum governance in the Ghanaian context. Theoretically, this study has contributed to new knowledge about stakeholders’ contribution to the overall governance of slums.
Originality/value
The study expands the frontiers of knowledge in the field of slum administration by focusing on external stakeholders. This study departs from previous studies, which have examined, in broader perspectives, stakeholders’ roles within the space of slums.
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Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng and Alexander Preko
Slum upgrading has received intense attention in the Global South, particularly among stakeholders. This study aims to examine government policy priorities towards slum management…
Abstract
Purpose
Slum upgrading has received intense attention in the Global South, particularly among stakeholders. This study aims to examine government policy priorities towards slum management with the view of establishing its level of commitment in terms of measures undertaken and identify specific policies to structure the sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The study systematically reviewed national policies, guided by the frequency statistics method in identifying key issues relating to slums management. Content analysis was used to identify findings into themes and discussed in line with the study’s objectives.
Findings
The results revealed the government’s determination to upgrade the existing slums, with the establishment of a Ministry for Inner City and Zongo Development to facilitate collaboration between stakeholders in the value chain of slum management. Furthermore, the study established government’s resolve to strengthen the Local Government Act, 1993, and the National Development Planning Act, 1994 within context to pave way for slums upgrading.
Research limitations/implications
The study used a national policy framework to inform the conclusion reached. Further studies are needed in similar contexts to understand the inputs of government and stakeholders and their contributions towards slum management. This would further expand the frontiers of knowledge in the domain.
Practical implications
The findings revealed policy-driven that can be used by policymakers, practitioners, housing managers and other relevant stakeholders to create workable policies for slum management.
Originality/value
This study provides first insight into government commitment to slums management using national policy documents in context.
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Eric Delle, Anthony Sumnaya Kumasey, Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Atia Alpha Alfa and Farhad Hossain
Drawing on the self-extended and regulatory focus theories, the present study examined the mechanism as well as the boundary condition under which psychological ownership might…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the self-extended and regulatory focus theories, the present study examined the mechanism as well as the boundary condition under which psychological ownership might relate positively to the work engagement of employees working in public sector organizations in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from employees (n = 313) working in public sector organizations in Ghana at a single point in time with a survey questionnaire.
Findings
The results indicated that psychological ownership and self-regulatory focus behaviors (i.e. prevention and promotion focus behaviors) were beneficial for work engagement; and that while prevention focus mediated psychological ownership-work engagement relationship, that relationship was positive and stronger for employees who performed less promotion focus behaviors.
Practical implications
Managers in public sector organizations should understand that employees with strong psychological ownership would feel more engaged if they perform less promotion focus behaviors.
Originality/value
The authors’ study contributes uniquely to the nascent work engagement literature in the Ghanaian context, and by testing boundary conditions and underlying mechanisms increased the authors’ understanding of work engagement among public sector employees in Ghana.
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Alexander Preko, Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng and James Kwame Mensah
The literature has acknowledged that good health is a crucial component of well-being. This study explores the country-specific understanding of slum dwellers' occupational…
Abstract
Purpose
The literature has acknowledged that good health is a crucial component of well-being. This study explores the country-specific understanding of slum dwellers' occupational activities and their environmental behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the environmentally responsible behavior model, the study utilized exploratory qualitative approach to purposely sample 35 respondents, who responded to health-related behaviors through in-depth interviews.
Findings
Findings show that respondents are engaged in diverse socio-economic occupational activities such as selling of cooked and uncooked food in polythene bags, selling of sachet water and burning the waste generated from these activities in the slum environment. In addition, the study found specific occupational activities of masons, carpenters, tilers, salon beauticians, scrap dealers and unhygienic waste disposal in the slums. Finally, this study uncovered divided opinions in terms of respondents' environmental responsibility and awareness of environmental ramifications. Therefore, issues such as health hazards, unhealthy environment and soil deterioration are common at the slum dwellings.
Research limitations/implications
The study findings and the conclusion drawn cannot be generalized to represent the entire population of slum dwellers in Ghana due to the qualitative methodology employed.
Practical implications
This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the environmentally responsible behavior of slum dwellers based on their occupational activities, which can inform health policies.
Originality/value
The outcome of this study advanced contextual culturally specific understanding, concerning health-related behavior of slum dwellers, which is important to policymakers and practitioners in contexts.
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Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Justice Nyigmah Bawole, Albert Ahenkan, James Kwame Mensah and Alexander Preko
The study examined the influence of slums on policies affecting the slums' lives in Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The study examined the influence of slums on policies affecting the slums' lives in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory qualitative approach based on in-depth interviews (IDIs) was used to select 24 respondents using purposive and snowball sampling techniques.
Findings
The findings show that slum dwellers have an adequate understanding of policies that affect the dwellers' lives. Furthermore, slum dwellers use statutory, technological, media and right-to-vote-based strategies to influence government policies. This also indicates that implemented policies do not align with realities in the slums
Research limitations/implications
The outcome of this study cannot be generalised to represent the whole population of slums due to the inherent limitations associated with a qualitative design
Social implications
This study uncovers context-specific strategies through which slum residents influence policies. The study concedes that policy actors involve the slums in policies that affect their livelihoods
Originality/value
The results are unique not only to developing countries, but are also useful to other economies with similar characteristics.
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Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Justice Nyigmah Bawole, Albert Ahenkan, James Kwame Mensah and Alexander Preko
Slum discourse has attracted significant research interest among scholars. The study examined the policy framework for slum governance in Ghana with the goal of offering…
Abstract
Purpose
Slum discourse has attracted significant research interest among scholars. The study examined the policy framework for slum governance in Ghana with the goal of offering recommendations to structure slum management.
Design/methodology/approach
Anchored on exploratory qualitative methodology, the study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select 18 respondents from the major ministries for in-depth interviews.
Findings
The results showed an absence of a central national policy for slum governance because slums development has received less national priority. It also revealed a lack of coordination among the sector ministries in policy formulation, which tends to create a blame game among them. Further, it was found that slum programs are driven by media-political and non-governmental actors.
Research limitations/implications
The conclusion and the outcome of this study cannot be generalized as to represent the whole ministries in Ghana in the space of slums management due to the qualitative approach. A recommendation is offered for the creation of a separate authority to take charge of the slums in Ghana.
Practical implications
This study elucidates a context-specific understanding of the policy framework for slum governance, which tends to shape public knowledge and policy landscape.
Originality/value
As a novelty, the findings of the study advanced the sparse literature in the domain and, at the same time, helped politicians and policymakers understand the need for a dedicated policy for slums.
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The study aimed at examining the regional reorganization and its implications on socio-economic development on the people of Oti region, Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aimed at examining the regional reorganization and its implications on socio-economic development on the people of Oti region, Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilized both textual data and in-depth interviews in context. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select 35 participants from the Oti Region.
Findings
The study found some critical services, and public goods have been provided and established in Oti Region since its establishment. Furthermore, it was established that residents have mixed reactions in terms of their expectations of the establishment of the new region on their livelihoods.
Research limitations/implications
The conclusion and the outcome of this study cannot be generalized as a representation of the whole population of Oti Region due to a qualitative approach.
Practical implications
This study discovered country- and community-specific understanding, expectations and elucidations of socio-economic development.
Originality/value
The outcome of the study has expanded and further advanced the sparse literature in the domain, which could help politician and policymakers in future, policy direction and further help to ignite scholars' interest in the field in future
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Anthony Nkrumah Agyabeng, Patience Obeng Ahwireng, Justice Nyigmah Bawole, Michael Kwame Mickson and Albert Ahenkan
The purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilized purposive sampling techniques supported by the convenience sampling method within the context of qualitative research to select 30 interviewees of varying demographics for in-depth interviews.
Findings
The findings revealed that slums faced various forms of challenges that are attributable to lack of government support, stringent procedures and financial hardship, among others. The study also found that a lack of health education in the slums has resulted in health problems, such as skin diseases, stomach aches, cholera, typhoid and childbirth complications.
Research limitations/implications
The outcome of this study cannot be generalized to represent the whole population of slums within context due to the qualitative approach.
Practical implications
The study advanced the frontiers of slum literature to understand contextual issues that are important to policymakers and practitioners.
Originality/value
This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the challenges confronting slum dwellers in accessing electricity through the perspective of the two-factor theory of motivation.
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