Table Of ContentChanging 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
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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
