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- ItemKNUST Sets Four World Records At A Pace(2009) Department of Painting and SculptureCould you believe that the Kwame Nkrumah university of Science and technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Ghana, set four records at a pace in 2009, and has not as yet received any detailed publicity? Though a report was made by posting the pacesetting programme and thesis on the internet, the four pacesetting records were not mentioned. Well, better late than never, as goes the axiom. It is better to attend late or to start late than never attempting at all. Jesus admonished humanity to let their light shine (Matthew 5:16). No matter how small the light is, it ought to be lit to shine, to brighten the corner where it is. The said four paces, though could not be said of as so enormous, but since it is a conglomerate pacesetter at the height of academic endeavour, it requires the attention of at least the global academia. Because the pace was set in the field of academia, it would be better to briefly dilate on academic research as prelude. In all fields of academic endeavour, a conducted research should include reasonable review of Related Literature and Fieldwork Research before data is analysed and interpreted, expounding the underpinning concepts or philosophies. In some programmes, practical research ought to be conducted, for example, at the Laboratory. The processes and analyses as well as interpretations ought to be involved in the practical aspect to support the Fieldwork, as philosophic presence is to be felt in the various sections, especially the Analyses and the Interpretations.
- ItemExamining the emerging career trajectories in quantity surveying in Ghana(November, 2015.) Nortey, EmmanuelThe Quantity surveying career has been revitalized during the last few years since developing demands for building and variations in the business and the building procedure bid both trials and chances. In Ghana, the profession has reacted to the increasing demands of clients and the public with the emergence of new career trajectories to enable the profession be more valuable in offering extended services. This study therefore purports to examine the emerging career trajectories in the Ghanaian Quantity Surveying Profession with the view to establishing the different aspects of these career trajectories within the Ghanaian profession, also to determine the level of adaptation within the construction industry and its effects on the professional and lastly the challenges associated with its emergence. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in tandem. Using a triangulation of survey, interviews and observations and a simple random sampling technique, data was collected from 75 professionals who have had considerable experience in the field of quantity surveying. The study revealed among others that there are emerging career trajectories such as investment appraisal, procurement services, whole life costing, risk management, value management, facility management, project management, environmental services and costing, technical auditing, sustainability advisors and sub contract administration. Although these emerging career trajectories have been adapted within the construction industry there are however shortages of competencies in some areas such as investment appraisal, environmental services and costing and sustainability advisors. The effect of these services has had positive impressions on the profession as professionals have become more valuable and competent in the rendering of services. However, there are challenges associated with such career paths such as the role of leadership and the competency level of the professional within these emerging trajectories. Informed recommendations such as strategy partnership with countries that has developed these emerging trends, training and iii i development in areas of low competencies level i.e sustainability advisors, environmental services and cost and investment appraisal are encouraged. The profession should also be customer focus since the client satisfaction is the ultimate aim in our service.
- ItemDistrict Development through Spatial Integration: Case Study of the Dangme West District(1991) McIntosh, Cheryl AnnThe development in many third world countries has not proceeded in a manner whereby the distribution of functions is equitable. As a result, there is a concentration of functions in one area, usually the largest metropolitan city, to the detriment of rural settlements. Consequently, there is the marginalization of rural economies and the creation of settlements whose functional characteristics are not sufficiently varied to stimulate economic growth. Much has been debated about the underdevelopment of small towns and cities. The evidence that small towns and cities can perform a wide variety of functions has been accompanied by indications that few of them that are able to promote growth and integration in rural areas actually do so. The explanation put forward is that the settlement system in rural regions is inadequately articulated. The reasons given are: an insufficient number of lo order central places, an inadequate distribution of functions and weak linkages among settlements in rural regions. The argument for developing small towns and cities is based upon the Central Place Theory. The theory states that widespread economic growth requires that an articulated and integrated system of settlements, comprising of towns and cities of different sizes and varied functions are created. An investigation based on the premise that a well-integrated system of rural towns provides central functions to their population and to the hinterland population was undertaken. The study examines the level of integration and its effect on the socio-economic development in a district. It determines whether the disintegration of the district economy is in fact due to an inadequately articulated settlement system. The place used as a case study for this investigation, is the Dangme West district, Ghana, formerly an economically active district that is now economically depressed. The data – gathering procedures that have been in this study included an individual as well as group effort. Relevant information was also derived from the Spring Programme (Workshop) 1990/1991 which performed a study of the Dangme West district for purposes of formulating a development plan. The individual effort required the administration of questionnaires and the review of literature provided by the District Assembly of the Dangme West district. The analytical procedures that were used determined the number of low-order central places, the distribution of functions, and the degree of linkages among settlements. The findings of the analyses justify the statement that the settlement system is not adequately integrated. A strategy of district development through spatial integration has been proposed to revitalize the economy of the Dangme West district.
- ItemCommunity participation in project preparation and management in the Upper West Region.(2010-07-12) Aalangdong, Edmund NibeneeOver the last two decades Ghana and many other Sub-Saharan countries have undergone several economic restructuring through the assistance of the International Monitory Fund, World Bank and other international bodies. Most of these assistance have come in the form of aids, projects and financial assistance, all aimed at reducing the poverty among its people. The Upper West Region of Ghana, which is currently the poorest Region with 9 out of every 10 of its people being poor, is no doubt one of the major beneficiaries of donor assistance and government supported projects and the two study areas, Sissala East and Wa municipality, have experienced their fare share of such projects. The six selected communities: Kassanpouri, Sentie, Tumu, Bugubelle, Bamahu and Nakori are active areas of development interventions in the Region as a result of endemic poverty found in these areas. The study therefore tried to do an analysis of community participation in project preparation and management among these projects in these communities to ascertain the impact of these projects and to determine the level of community involvement in the implementation of the projects under study (EU micro project- donor project, Village Loans and Savings Association- NGO project and Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty- Government project). The categorization of these projects into Government projects, donor projects and NGO projects is to help ascertain among these projects, the one that involves much more community participation in its operations. Data collected from both secondary and primary source from six purposively selected rural communities in the Upper West Region were analysed and some of the major findings include: Government Supported Projects, LEAP in Sentie and Kassanpouri • The study revealed that the government supported projects (LEAP) was totally an initiative government brought down to the beneficiary communities. The communities were only in support of it since they felt it was free money that would bring them some relief. Donor Supported Project, EU micro project in Tumu and Bugubelle Relatively the donor supported projects offered more beneficiary involvement in the projects’ activities. • The study revealed that the EU project was conceived and initiated by the government in collaboration with the donors. The projects (a three unit classroom block and a CHPs compound) at the community level were however initiated by the community members themselves through community animations conducted by the Project District Coordinator. It is worth noting that even though the communities did not initiate the projects at the national level, the facilitating agencies (Sissala East District Assembly and project coordinator), through participatory methods were able to facilitate the communities into accepting and owning the projects. NGO Supported Projects, Village Loans and Savings Association (VLSA) in Bamahu and Sentie • The study revealed that the project was an initiative of Plan Ghana and Care International with support from Barclays UK with the aim of inculcating in people the habit of savings culture. The communities were in support of it since they knew it was for their own benefit. Re-Orientation of the Governmental Implementing Agencies, the need for a policy dialogue between donors and recipient governments on the need for beneficiary participation at all stages of the project cycle and the involvement of beneficiary communities in procurement processes to ensure transparency are among some of the recommendations proposed in the study. It is anticipated that the implementation of the proposed recommendations in this study would help ensure adequate community participation in project preparation and management.