I am a trained Medical Anthropologist based in the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana, West Africa. My areas of expertise include African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Health, borders and borderland studies, Ethno-medical histories of local communities, Chieftaincy and development, politics and governance etc.
Adequate and secure livelihoods have become a major concern for both rural and urban dwellers. In... more Adequate and secure livelihoods have become a major concern for both rural and urban dwellers. In these areas, economic hardship and poor agricultural yield, following the adverse effects of climate change have compelled many people to search for alternative livelihood strategies. In the Ho Municipality, stone quarrying has become one of the alternative livelihood strategies. Stone quarrying is a form of land use method concerned with the extraction of non-fuel and non-metal minerals from rocks. Using the qualitative model, the paper interrogates the impact of stone quarrying on the livelihoods of the workers and provides critical insights into the effects of stone quarrying on the environment. It finds economic hardship, unemployment, rural-urban migration as some reasons the inhabitants engage in stone quarrying in Daglama. It further finds stone quarrying as a source of livelihood in Daglama. However, the practice has negatively affected the environment. It has led to the destruction of arable land, forest reserves and others. The paper also highlights the negative health implications stone quarrying has on the workers in the industry.
African Journal of Culture, History, Religion and Traditions, 2022
The central government has been mandated by the citizens to promote development in all the sector... more The central government has been mandated by the citizens to promote development in all the sectors of the country. In spite of the government's responsibility of promoting development in the country, the private sector also has a role to play. Thus, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), international development partners, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations have all played diverse roles in promoting development in Ghana. However, a key stakeholder of development at both local and national levels is the Ghanaian chieftaincy system. In contemporary times, some chiefs have redefined their roles as agents of development. Using the qualitative approach and through the lens of modernization theory, this paper investigates the contributions of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and AgbogbomefiaTogbeAfede XIV to development at both local and national levels. The paper argues that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and TogbeAfede XIV are modern chiefs who have used their positions and experience to promote development in areas of education, health, business and industry, settlement of disputes, information and communication technology, and sports among others. The paper concludes that both chiefs are agents of development who complement the role of the central government in promoting development in Ghana.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
Adequate and secure livelihoods have become a major concern for both rural and urban dwellers. In... more Adequate and secure livelihoods have become a major concern for both rural and urban dwellers. In these areas, economic hardship and poor agricultural yield, following the adverse effects of climate change have compelled many people to search for alternative livelihood strategies. In the Ho Municipality, stone quarrying has become one of the alternative livelihood strategies. Stone quarrying is a form of land use method concerned with the extraction of non-fuel and non-metal minerals from rocks. Using the qualitative model, the paper interrogates the impact of stone quarrying on the livelihoods of the workers and provides critical insights into the effects of stone quarrying on the environment. It finds economic hardship, unemployment, rural-urban migration as some reasons the inhabitants engage in stone quarrying in Daglama. It further finds stone quarrying as a source of livelihood in Daglama. However, the practice has negatively affected the environment. It has led to the destruction of arable land, forest reserves and others. The paper also highlights the negative health implications stone quarrying has on the workers in the industry.
African Journal of Culture, History, Religion and Traditions, 2022
The central government has been mandated by the citizens to promote development in all the sector... more The central government has been mandated by the citizens to promote development in all the sectors of the country. In spite of the government's responsibility of promoting development in the country, the private sector also has a role to play. Thus, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), international development partners, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations have all played diverse roles in promoting development in Ghana. However, a key stakeholder of development at both local and national levels is the Ghanaian chieftaincy system. In contemporary times, some chiefs have redefined their roles as agents of development. Using the qualitative approach and through the lens of modernization theory, this paper investigates the contributions of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and AgbogbomefiaTogbeAfede XIV to development at both local and national levels. The paper argues that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and TogbeAfede XIV are modern chiefs who have used their positions and experience to promote development in areas of education, health, business and industry, settlement of disputes, information and communication technology, and sports among others. The paper concludes that both chiefs are agents of development who complement the role of the central government in promoting development in Ghana.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and d... more The Aflao-Lomé border provides varieties of economic activities to both the local residents and distant traders. However, these economic activities are gender defined. Using the qualitative approach, the study investigates gender-based economic activities within the borderland. The study found that men engaged in arduous activities as compared to women. Secondly, some women engaged in trade and smuggling of goods from Lomé to Aflao through the main border while some men assisted small scale traders to smuggle goods through unapproved routes called ‘beats’ and ‘pillars’. It is also found that trading of currency and the movement of women to market centers is a sole preserve for men in the borderland. The study concludes that there are gender-specific roles in economic activities undertaken in the borderland and this is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the people.
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Papers by SAMUEL BEWIADZI