Changing Perspectives on the Social Sciences in Ghana PDF
Preview Changing Perspectives on the Social Sciences in Ghana
Changing Perspectives on the Social Sciences in Ghana Samuel Agyei-Mensah • Joseph Atsu Ayee Abena D. Oduro Editors Changing Perspectives on the Social Sciences in Ghana 1 3 Editors Samuel Agyei-Mensah Abena D. Oduro Department of Geography and Resource Department of Economics Development University of Ghana University of Ghana Legon Legon Ghana Ghana Joseph Atsu Ayee MountCrest University College Accra Ghana ISBN 978-94-017-8714-7 ISBN 978-94-017-8715-4 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8715-4 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London Library of Congress Control Number: 2014937328 © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 This work is subject to copyright. 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Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Foreword Even though Africa remains the poorest region of the world, there is every indica- tion that the last three decades have seen tremendous change in societal develop- ment. The change is reflected in how African societies are governed and how eco- nomic activities are organised. It is now a lot more difficult to talk about ‘traditional African societies’even if large parts of behaviour and lifestyle cannot always be described as modern. A number of key attributes of traditional societies, includ- ing chieftaincy, extended family relationships, land tenure arrangements and the organisation of markets, are generally seen differently. It was always inevitable that there would be tensions between the traditional and the modern. Ghana has a unique history. Most of the changes that have occurred in Africa, such as the attainment of independence in the region, the pursuit of comprehensive socio-economic reforms in the 1980s and finally, the trailblazer role in democratic reforms and political transitions in the last two decades, can be observed in Ghana more than anywhere else. It is therefore appropriate that Ghanaian social scientists should be interested in how the changes have been studied and document these. The changes in the behaviour of society in Ghana and in Africa have been fu- elled by both internal dynamics, including population growth and education, and also by external influences, including globalisation. While there have been many studies of these dynamics and how they have shaped African societies in the last three decades, there has been relatively little documentation of how the studies were motivated, and also how ideas for those studies were shaped and influenced by the internal and external dynamics. This book is intended to fill that gap. There is a lot more information today about African societies, as a result of the fact that it is a lot easier to conduct large household and community studies. It is also more common for different social scientists to use the same research instru- ments in the same community for different purposes. For instance, surveys are con- ducted by university-based researchers, students, non-governmental organisations and several other institutions on a regular basis, thus generating data that could be used for a variety of research purposes. This leads to many more solid analytical works that could lead to generalizable conclusions for policy and other purposes. That is what makes a number of the disciplines represented in this book suggest that their relevance to policy is growing. v vi Foreword One of the most remarkable revolutions in the social sciences around the world has been in the development of analytical tools, largely aided by new technologies that allow researchers to do a lot more with data and other information. The use of quantitative methods in different social sciences has grown astronomically, even if this has not always been properly done. The search for ways in which researchers can combine qualitative and quantitative methods proceeds unabated. In the search for improved analytical methods one obvious observation is that many social sci- ence disciplines are borrowing from one another. The more dynamic disciplines have been those willing to borrow and adapt tools from other disciplines in order to advance their own discipline. The result is greater inter-disciplinarity and transdisci- plinarity in social science research.This is a growing phenomenon around the world and often the outcome of clear thought within the disciplines as presented at confer- ences. However, inter- and trans- disciplinary borrowing has been less coordinated and organised in Africa. There is therefore room for more effective coordination of research tool development and research analyses to take place among African social science researchers, especially at universities. This book is clear evidence of Ghanaian social scientists wanting to share ideas on how they have done their work over the years. The next stage is to document how they work together. This book is a bold initiative to show advances in the social sciences in Ghana, especially at the University of Ghana. It represents a new spirit of trying to change the discourse on social science teaching and research in the country by documenting themes that dominate discussions, teaching and research. Questions about the rele- vance of particular disciplines and how they impact Ghanaian society are discussed. The historical development of the disciplines clearly dominates the presentations. This is a significant first step in having a solid discussion on the approaches and processes that would enable the social sciences in Ghana to become a significant part of the global discourse on the evolution of the social sciences. Ernest Aryeetey Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana Board Chair, Partnership for African Social and Governance Research Acknowledgement We began this book a couple of years ago motivated by our shared commitment to assemble a volume that would provide a chronological narrative of the scholarship on the Social Sciences in Ghana. The actual write up of the chapters began in 2010. Like all edited volumes, there were some challenges. However, they did not affect our determination and commitment to come out with the book. We would like to thank the authors for the wonderful support and cooperation in making the book a reality. We also would like to acknowledge the helpful comments from the anony- mous reviewers at both the proposal and manuscript writing stages. We appreciate the wonderful work by everyone at Springer involved with the project, especially, Evelien Bakker and Bernadette Deelen. Finally, we thank Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana for providing the foreword. Samuel Agyei-Mensah Joseph Atsu Ayee Abena D. Oduro vii Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Joseph R. A. Ayee, Samuel Agyei-Mensah and Abena D. Oduro 2 T rends in the Development of Archaeology and Heritage Studies in Ghana ........................................................................................ 11 James Anquandah 3 Bridging the Ivory Tower Professional History, Scholarship, and Public Engagement in Ghana ............................................................ 33 Daniel E.K. Baku, Nana Yaw B. Sapong and Cyrelene Amoah-Boampong 4 Change and Continuity in the Practice and Development of Geography in Ghana ............................................................................. 51 Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Joseph A. Yaro and Joseph Mensah 5 Psychology in Ghana: A Review of Research and Practice .................... 75 Ama de-Graft Aikins, Angela L. Ofori-Atta, Adote Anum and Vivian A. Dzokoto 6 The Development of Sociology and Anthropology in Ghana and Future Trends ...................................................................................... 95 Akosua Darkwah, Steve Tonah and Max Assimeng 7 Social Work Practice in Ghana: Changing Dynamics, Challenges and Opportunities ................................................................ 113 Michael Baffoe and Mavis Dako-Gyeke 8 The Study and Practice of Economics in Ghana ................................... 135 L. Boakye-Yiadom, William Baah-Boateng and Abena D. Oduro 9 The Vicissitudes of Political Science in Ghana ...................................... 159 Joseph R. A. Ayee and Maame A. A. Gyekye-Jandoh ix x Contents 10 Changing Perspectives in the Didactics of International Affairs in Ghana ....................................................................................... 193 Linda Darkwa and Philip Attuquayefio 11 From Library and Archival Studies to Information Studies: A Convergence .......................................................................................... 209 H. Akussah and A. A. Alemna 12 Critically “Trending” Approaches to Communication Theory and Methods of Inquiry in Ghana ............................................ 221 Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh 13 African Studies: Evolution, Challenges, And Prospects ....................... 239 Brigid M. Sackey 14 Evolution and Development of Development Studies in Ghana .......... 263 Philip Duku Osei 15 Women’s and Gender Studies in Ghana ................................................ 285 Abena Animwaa Yeboah, Akosua Adomako Ampofo and Maame Kyerewaa Brobbey 16 Changing Trends in Adult and Continuing Education: The Ghanaian Experience............................................................................... 313 Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, Olivia Adwoa Tiwaah Frimpong Kwapong, Samuel Kofi Badu-Nyarko and Michael Ayittey Tagoe 17 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 335 Joseph R. A. Ayee, Samuel Agyei-Mensah and Abena D. Oduro Index ................................................................................................................ 337 Contributors Akosua Adomako Ampofo Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Samuel Agyei-Mensah Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Ama de-Graft Aikins Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana H. Akussah Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana A. A. Alemna Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Cyrelene Amoah-Boampong Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Abena Animwaa Yeboah Department of Communications Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana James Anquandah Department of Archaeology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Adote Anum Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Max Assimeng Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Philip Attuquayefio Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana Joseph R. A. Ayee MountCrest University College, Accra, Ghana William Baah-Boateng Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana xi
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