This thesis explores the patterns of electoral manipulation in Ghana. Inspired by Andreas Schedler's essay, The Menu of Manipulation, in which he provides a "list of electoral sins" (Schedler 2002, 45), the thesis asks the following research question: how do African politicians choose from the menu of manipulation? To answer this question, the thesis develops a theory about the costs and benefits of electoral manipulation. The theory is based on three arguments: first, that in addition to the direct benefits of electoral manipulation, meaning the increased chance of winning, there are important indirect benefits that drive some politicians to rig, even when victory is guaranteed or entirely beyond reach; second, that electoral manipulation is expensive and that the direct costs, meaning what politicians spend, discourage them as much as the indirect costs, i.e. the risk of getting caught; and, third, that different types of electoral manipulation have different cost-benefit profiles, allowing politicians to tailor their rigging strategies. The thesis tests this theory against original data from Ghana. First, drawing on a dataset, containing information about every, regular, constituency-level parliamentary election over the 2008 and 2012 electoral cycles, it shows that different types of electoral manipulation have different patterns, caused by their different cost-benefit profiles; that not all types are driven by electoral uncertainty; and that there are trade-offs between the direct and indirect costs of rigging. Second, drawing on participant observations from two parliamentary constituencies in eastern Ghana, the thesis shows that consider both their electoral prospects and clientelistic networks, when they choose between different types of electoral manipulation, and that they revert to riskier types only as a last resort: when there are no other options available on the menu of manipulation. The thesis contributes to the academic literature in two ways. First, it adds to the growing body of work pointing to the direct costs and the indirect benefits of electoral manipulation. Second, it proposes a framework for approximating the properties of different types of electoral manipulation and making predictions about their patterns.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University / The contact of Ashanti with Western Civilization properly dates as far back as the 15th century when the Portuguese explorers went to Africa in search of spices and grain. But the influence which these early transients may have exerted on the Ashanti culture was insignificant when compared with the contact with the British four centuries later. This later contact marked the introduction of various social institutions, including new religious, educational, political and economic institutions. In many instances the new norms produced by them out across traditional kinship obligations and consequently produced new attitudes and values which led to change in the social structure. The primary purpose of this thesis is to formulate certain hypotheses which will explain social interaction. It shall attempt to show the functional relationship between a given economic institution and kinship organization. As an index of Western Civilization. therefore, it shall use only two general characteristics of western economic institutions, competition and individualism. And as an index of culture change it shall use the changing kinship system of the Ashanti society.

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This thesis draws upon poststructuralist theory, case study methodology, and multiple research methods to explore children’s representations of distant places, particularly African places such as Ghana. It investigates the ways in which a particular group of children’s representations of Ghana can be understood as exemplifying an ‘exoticist’ way of thinking explored by Edward Said in his seminal studies Orientalism (1978) and Culture and Imperialism (1993), and it explores how and to what extent these representations shifted over the course of a unit of geography teaching on Ghana. The research agenda presented here thus focuses (as Said puts it) on the ‘ideas, ... forms, ... images and imaginings’ of contemporary geographies of otherness, and considers geography education furthermore as a form of ‘struggle over geography’ in which different approaches to distant places come into contact, with some approaches becoming more dominant than others. The findings from this thesis therefore help to illuminate contemporary challenges in geographical education regarding distant places, and African distant places in particular.

This study is concerned with migration of children/young people from northern to southern cities in Ghana. It focuses attention on the following specific research questions: What are young peoples’ motivations for migration, and negotiations surrounding the decision-making process? What are the precarious employment and living situation associated with young migrants? In what ways do social networks support young migrants in the migration process? What role does migration for work play in the lives of young migrants and their left behind families? What are young migrants’ aspirations for the future? To answer these questions, the study draws on the analytical insights gained from the concept of social navigation and social capital/network literatures, and primary research conducted in Ghana. A key finding from this study demonstrate that young peoples’ migration is closely linked to the unequal spatial development manifested in relative poverty conditions in rural northern Ghana, and the desires of children/young people to work and earn income in the south, where better economic prospect exists. Migration is also propelled by young migrants’ decisions to be free from strained and abusive relationships. It is evident that young migrants’ transitions into the labour market demonstrates their own agency and the important role that their networks can play in providing the finance necessary for travel and to secure work. The experiences of migration vary greatly involving both negative and positive aspects. Their precarious employment situation involves considerable uncertainty and risk, and exploitation by employers and clients. Incomes are low and irregular, which brings additional difficulties in fulfilling daily subsistence needs. Some of these difficulties are mitigated through social networks. These networks are fundamental in the life trajectories of young migrants, right from the time the decision to migrate is taken. However, they are also associated with discrimination and exploitative practices. Findings also reveal that migration offer opportunities for youngsters to see new places, undertake paid work, earn income, save and engage in popular global culture of consumerism and materialism, and sending of remittances to left-behind families. Access to mobile phones facilitates communication with families up north and this helps in maintaining intergenerational relations that are spread across spatial boundaries. Future aspirations of the youngsters centred on desires for better job prospects and greater stability although lack of financial and linking social capital serve as constraints. Overall this study makes an important contribution to the literature by providing new insight on the pathways that migration may be beneficial to young people and their left behind families. The findings suggest that addressing the internal geographical imbalance in development between the north and south is key to tackling the interlinked problems associated with child migration in Ghana. Findings also call for interventions to better strengthen the agency of young migrants in navigating hardships while improving their wellbeing.

Abstract Stankovič,T. Cost benefit analysis of energy development aid: case study of Ghana. Diploma Thesis. Brno, 2015 1. Target of thesis is to analyze economic and social potential of investments into energy sector particularly renewable energy source such as photovoltaics. Is estimated that increasing consumption and its constantly increasing price will result into even more blackout and electricity shortages. Energy security and its access are vital assets in development and key source for economic and human development. Without access to this asset the development is less likely to occur in Ghana. 2. Willingness of foreign investors to invest in middle and long term horizons in territory of Africa is low due to economic crises and political instability. To increase potential to invest in energy sector in Africa and particularly Ghana it is necessary to start with development aid into sector to convince potential investors in capability and rational retail ability of such investment. Development of such projects can have positive effects on both Ghana and EU in social and economic aspects. 3. By processing this thesis by doing cost benefit analysis of aid into photovoltaic power plant as form of development aid provided by EU and contributed by Ghana. Analyze influences of incurred expenditures on economic development in economic accountable equations. 4. In analytical part of thesis use cost benefit analysis and SWOT analysis based on historical-comparative method. Sum up the results of cost benefit analysis in SWOT analysis to interpret results of this diploma thesis Key words Development aid, cost benefit analysis, inflation, net present value, cash flow profitability index, rate of return, EU, EDF, Ghana, discount rate, photovoltaic, renewable energy

This master thesis is an attempt to help find solution to the problem of unemployment in Ghana. Unemployment is a major problem in Ghana. A solution to such a major problem will be a step in the right direction to place Ghana on the right footing to economic development and progress. The thesis deals with computer entrepreneurship as a source of employment in Ghana. The concept of entrepreneurship is relatively new to the Ghanaian economy. Employment in Ghana is largely skewed towards government sector employment and a few multinational companies. There is a growing unemployment population. This study examines computer entrepreneurship as a source of employment in the Ghanaian economy and a part solution to the problem of unemployment in Ghana. The benefits of computer entrepreneurship to the Ghanaian economy as well as the barriers to computer entrepreneurship are also examined. Through the results and discussions, recommendations are made to help improve computer entrepreneurship as a major source of employment in Ghana. The recommendations further suggest ways of benefitting from computer entrepreneurship and removing or reducing the barriers to computer entrepreneurship in Ghana.

Women farmers in Accra, Ghana function in spaces that are delineated by gendered social, political and economic structures. It is essential for planners and policymakers to understand the gender dynamics involved, so as not to increase burdens on women's productive and reproductive roles on urban farms. This thesis problematizes the solitary subject of urban women in development, situating them into the context of Accra's urban and peri-urban spaces. My research draws on feminist theory to highlight the intersectionalities of women in Accra and the way that their individual experiences are impacted by homogenous development frameworks. The case study examines the role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in addressing the needs of women farmers in Accra. The findings of this study acknowledge various forms of empowerment and autonomy that women experience as urban farmers in Accra, and they highlight how the hybridity of urban agriculture is challenging mainstream urban development.

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This thesis presents an ethnographic study of the downstream petroleum industry in Ghana focusing on trade, infrastructure, flow, politics and social relationships. In 2010, the West African Republic of Ghana started pumping crude oil from the offshore Jubilee-field. The rapid development from discovery to extraction, along with economic expectations generated by the development of the new upstream industry, led to exponential growth in the downstream industry. A liberalisation reform of the downstream industry was initiated in 2005 and the state started to redefine its role in the petroleum industry, allowing a range of private entrepreneurs to participate in the downstream sector. On the back of these key transformations of the industry, this thesis demonstrates the continuous politicisation of petroleum products on a national level and the significance of this politicisation on infrastructure, networks and social relationships throughout the industry. This thesis argues that the trade, distribution and price of petroleum products in Ghana facilitates and shapes political and economic reciprocity between the government, the publics and profitable economic networks. Even though there was adequate infrastructure such as refinery, pipelines and petroleum storage depots, petroleum products in Ghana were distributed in a way that allowed the most number of people to come into contact with petroleum, by having access to the actual product, but also through enabling job creation and profitable economic activities. The petroleum infrastructure would obstruct profitable networks and informal markets. I propose the term ‘Politics of Petrol’ to emphasise how the industry and the commodities were part and parcel of the political and social fabric in Ghana. Reflecting the negotiable nature of politics and reform alongside the changeable practices and networks in the industry - Politics of Petrol - demonstrates the productive purpose of petroleum in Ghana’s democracy.