Forms and Causes of Violence Women Perpetrate Against Themselves in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality of Ghana (Published)
This study sought to examine violence against women in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality, Ghana, with the focus on females being victims as well as perpetrators of violence. The study ascertained the forms and causative factors of violence against women. The ecological model and the social learning theory were adopted for the study. Qualitative research approach was employed with a focus on phenomenological research design for the study. A total of seventeen (17) participants constituted the sample size. The participants were selected using purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. Semi-structured interview guide was used to obtain the data. The study revealed that unequal power relations, suspicion of adultery, being a victim of violence during childhood, are the reasons why women employ various forms of violence against women in Winneba while poverty and single parenting made other women sufferers of such violence. Based on these findings, the study recommended that stakeholders such as Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) should formulate policies and organise programmes that can address risk factors associated with violence at domestic, community and societal levels. Religious groups and non-governmental organisations in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality should organise women empowerment programmes with the intention of reducing women’s dependency on other people which will at the long run reduce violence against women.
Citation: Roberta Mbiri and Lucy Effeh Attom (2021) Forms and Causes of Violence Women Perpetrate Against Themselves in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality of Ghana, Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol.9, No.10, pp.35-62
Keywords: Causes, Effutu municipality, Forms, Ghana, Violence, Women, perpetrators
Incentives and Decisions: Voters’ Knowledge of the Laws on Vote Buying and its Implications for Ghana’s Democracy (Published)
This paper sought to investigate whether the incentives given to voters affect voters’ decisions at the polls. It also looks at whether Ghanaians are conversant with the laws and legislations on elections and for that matter vote buying. The mixed method approach with explanatory sequential design was employed for the study. The population for the study comprised the entire group of potential voters in the Shama District in the Western Region who are 18 years and above. Probability and non-probability sampling methods were employed to select the sample of district, communities and respondents for the study. Data from questionnaire was triangulated with interviews. The Pearson Chi-Square was used in finding significant differences. The p-value is the probability for showing differences and a critical value of alpha=.05 was adopted for sig differences in the statistical analysis. It was concluded that the economic status or the income level of electorates has no effects on decisions about the person to vote for. There is a relationship between vote buying incentives and voters’ decisions. This makes incentives effective in winning votes.it was therefore recommended that the governments should make it a point to reduce poverty by enhancing wealth redistribution by creating or providing jobs especially for the rural folks.
Keywords: Democracy, Ghana, Vote Buying, Voting Incentives, electoral laws, voters
Perceptions, Challenges and Coping Strategies of Women in Political Leadership Positions (Published)
This study examined the experiences of females in political leadership positions in the Sunyani West District. Qualitative approach was adopted with a case study design to explore the experiences of the women leaders. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 14 participants comprising eight (8) political party executives, four (4) Assembly women and two (2) women who were parliamentary candidates. The data were collected using interview and analysed through thematic procedure. The findings indicated that females in political leadership positions perceive leadership in three different ways as task-oriented, goal-oriented and people-oriented. Whatever way they perceived political leadership; they faced several challenges related to their personal lives, family and community. However, the main challenge facing females in political leadership positions in Sunyani West District is misconceptions about their capabilities as females. Females in political leadership positions cope with their challenges through self-motivation, creation of cordial relationship with male chauvinists and concentration on their potentials. The study recommended that female political leaders should focus on their output and achievements to show their capabilities in contributing meaningfully to society. There is an urgent need for opinion leaders such as chiefs, queen mothers, district chief executives and the public in general to discourage the unfair, unjust and unequal treatment sometimes meted out to women who occupy political leadership positions.
Keywords: Challenges, Coping Strategies, Ghana, Leadership, Political Leadership, Politics, Women
Understanding Rural-Urban Migration from the Perspectives of Migrants in Agbogbloshie, Ghana (Published)
About half of the urban growth in Africa is accounted for by migrants from rural areas yet we fail to understand migration from the perspectives of the migrants. This paper seeks to understand rural urban migration from the perspective of migrants and how this can inform rural development planning. A mixed research design was adopted to explore the decision making process around migration. In-depth interviews were held with migrants in Agbogbloshie and their families in Yendi where they have come from. The paper found that while rural-urban migration will persist for a long time because of the deprivation in rural areas, migrants have plans to return home. Planning would need to shift from the conventional approaches of general rural development towards a good understanding of rural development problems unique to certain areas.
Keywords: Africa, Development, Ghana, Migration, Planning, Urbanisation
Areas of Male Dominance: Experiences of Married Women in the Mozano Community in Ghana (Published)
The purpose of this study was to assess the experiences of married women on male dominance in Mozano Community in the Central Region of Ghana. The study therefore sought to ascertain the ways married men dominate their wives. Qualitatively, phenomenological design with one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions were employed for collection of data. The population for the study was the married couples in Mozano community. Since Mozano attracts pilgrims and visitors on daily basis, only couples who attend Mozama Disco Christo Church (MDCC) and are permanent residents in Mozano were purposively sampled for the study. In terms of the study, the researchers ensured that the participants meet the following inclusion criteria: (1) availability and willingness to participate in the study; (2) couples who have married for five years and above; and (3) permanent residents in Mozano who attend the MDCC. The study involved 20 participants. This comprised fifteen married women and five married men who were heads of their households. The study revealed that most men dominate their wives in the area of reproduction because most women are ignorant of their reproductive rights. Most men decide on the number of times they will have sex, the number of children they will have and when to have a child without the consent of their wives. Most men see no need to involve their wives in decision making because they think women on their own cannot take or contribute to any meaningful or responsible decision. Religious factors and the doctrines of the MDCC have contributed to male dominance on married women in the community and lack of descent and profitable jobs for women in the community have made them to be dominated by their husbands. It was therefore recommended that married women in the Mozano community should make a personal choice to develop their capabilities to the maximum degree without regard for culturally and religious obstacles. There is also the need for gender education by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to organise seminars and symposia for men in the Mozano community on the need to involve their wives in decision making at all levels.
Keywords: Ghana, Male Dominance, Married Women, Mozano Community, Women Empowerment
Gaps between Literature Portraying Child Rearing Practices and Young Offenders’ Views of Their Growing Up Experiences (Published)
This paper discusses growing up experiences of juvenile and young offenders and advances the argument that literature characterized by essentialist views seeks to predominantly establish that child rearing practices are homogenous. In contrast, the narratives of youngsters collected do not only depict varied growing up encounters outside the family, but also show that youngsters construct diverse meanings from their differentiated experiences. Whereas this is a small-scale study and cannot lend itself to generalisations or constitute a basis for refuting such literature accounts, the empirical data of the study nevertheless establishes that there is seldom familial contact for the children who engage the attention of this study. This paper also highlights aspects of youngsters’ friendships feature prominently in the narratives of youngsters, yet remain underrepresented in Ghanaian scholarly work on children. Discussions draw on a sociological research conducted from 2009 to 2011 with children in correctional institutions.
Keywords: Gaps, Ghana, Juveniles
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIGENOUS MUSICAL STYLE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH-GHANA (1835-PRESENT) (Published)
The paper defines the primary influences on the body of music used in the Methodist Church-Ghana currently. This definition traces the historical and musical developments of a number of musical styles that have become indigenous to the church. These styles include the vernacular translations of the Western hymns used by missionaries as early as 1835, the Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred lyrics), the body of music that allowed hand clapping and the use of traditional music instruments, as well as the highlife-influenced praise and worship songs. Other styles are the choir and singing band music, which have emerged from many sources. The writer draws his conclusions based on visits to various cathedrals and his own experience as a born and bred Methodist chorister. Inferences are drawn from the major influences on the music of the church and the developments that have culminated in the different musical styles that currently constitute the musical picture of the Ghanaian Methodist Church.
Keywords: Development, Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred Lyrics), Ghana, Indigenous, Methodist Church, Musical Style
The Development of an Indigenous Musical Style in the Methodist Church-Ghana (1835-Present) (Review Completed - Accepted)
The paper defines the primary influences on the body of music used in the Methodist Church-Ghana currently. This definition traces the historical and musical developments of a number of musical styles that have become indigenous to the church. These styles include the vernacular translations of the Western hymns used by missionaries as early as 1835, the Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred lyrics), the body of music that allowed hand clapping and the use of traditional music instruments, as well as the highlife-influenced praise and worship songs. Other styles are the choir and singing band music, which have emerged from many sources. The writer draws his conclusions based on visits to various cathedrals and his own experience as a born and bred Methodist chorister. Inferences are drawn from the major influences on the music of the church and the developments that have culminated in the different musical styles that currently constitute the musical picture of the Ghanaian Methodist Church.
Keywords: Development, Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred Lyrics), Ghana, Indigenous, Methodist Church, Musical Style