Thesis (Ph. D. (International Politics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The United States of America’s (US) foreign policy towards Africa has been the subject for debate. This is partly because the country’s relationship with African countries is not consistent. By and large, such relations are shaped by a number of factors which include political orientation and material resources. Within this context, the present study uses case studies from two different parts of Africa to tease out US foreign policy towards Africa. This explorative study uses Ghana and the United Republic of Tanzania (hereafter referred to as Tanzania) as test cases to compare and critique the post-Cold War foreign policy of the US towards Africa. It does this by first analysing and constructing the theoretical material on the three pillars of the US Africa policy (oil, democracy and security) and subsequently, contemporaneously locating the US relationship with Ghana and Tanzania. Largely, the study carries a historical sensibility as it traces the US relationship with Ghana and Tanzania from as far as the colonial era. History is crucial in this regard because the past provides a sound basis for understanding the present and future. To add, in International Politics theory holds sway and history is used as a laboratory. In this thesis, the researcher proposes Afrocentricity as an alternative theoretical paradigm crucial in understanding US foreign policy towards Africa. As it shall be seen, such a paradigm (theoretical lens) remains critical in highlighting the peculiarity of the US relationship with Ghana and Tanzania. It is envisaged that a deeper understanding of the US foreign policy towards Ghana and Tanzania is achievable when its analysis and interpretation is located within a broader continental context of Africa. To realise the purpose of this study, the researcher relies methodologically on interdisciplinary critical discourse and conversations in their widest forms. With reference to the test cases for this study, the agenda for democratic consolidation features prominently on both of them while oil is only applicable to Ghana in this regard. In contrast, Tanzania distinguishes itself both as a victim of terrorism and equally so as a strategic partner on the US anti-terrorism efforts in East Africa. Yet, oil in West Africa’s Ghana is important for the US both as an economic resource and a strategic energy source during wartime periods. Overall the ‘differential’ foreign policy towards individual African states is also a significant observation which dispels the myth of a universal US foreign policy framework. Keywords: Africa, Afrocentricity, democracy, East Africa, foreign policy, Ghana, oil, security, Tanzania, United States of America, West Africa.

In recent years, the initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) witnessed some level of undersubscriptions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which valuation, pricing, and performance of prior IPOs listed on the GSE contributed to this state of undersubscriptions. The research was informed by the valuation and pricing framework of Roosenboom. The research questions addressed whether IPOs on the GSE were under/overpriced and whether the projected and pre-issue financials were free from forecasting errors and earnings management. A cross-sectional, explanatory research design was employed to examine a dataset of 30 sampled IPOs. The dataset, obtained from IPO prospectuses, trading data, and financial statements, was analyzed using both logistic and multiple regressions. IPO valuation methods, first-day returns (R(1st day)), absolute forecast errors (AFE), and discretionary current accruals (DCA) served as dependent variables and firm characteristics of size, age, profitability, dividends, price-to-value (P/V) ratios, owner-manager, and auditors' reputation served as independent variables. Results revealed that firm characteristics were not significant predictors of the choice of IPO valuation methods, IPOs were underpriced and their R(1st day) were significantly predicted by P/V ratios, the financial projections were over forecasted and their AFE were not predicted by the independent variables, and the pre-IPO financials experienced earnings management and their DCA were significantly explained by the owner-manager variable. This research contributes to positive social change by assisting regulators, investment bankers, corporations, and institutional investors in improving their respective roles in the valuation and pricing of IPOs on the GSE, thus reducing the observed IPO undersubscriptions in the stock market.

Cette thèse vise à comprendre les processus thermiques et les régimes d'écoulement de fluides menant à <br />la genèse de gisements d'or mésothermaux. <br />Deux approches de modélisation numérique sont utilisées, une régionale, caractérisant le régime thermique conductif pré-minéralisation et l'autre locale ajoutant la convection hydrothermale syn-minéralisation. Les modèles sont appliqués à un cas représentatif, les gisements mésothermaux Paléoprotérozoïques géants de la ceinture d'Ashanti au Ghana. D'après les résultats, la valeur du flux de chaleur mantellique déduite, 30mW.m-2, est compatible avec la présence d'un panache dans la région à ~2 Ga. La prise en compte de la dépendance de conductivité thermique en température apparaît nécessaire pour ne pas surestimer la valeur déduite. Des régions potentiellement favorables au dépôt de l'or sont identifiées et les zones faillées où les écoulements sont 3D mènent à une périodicité spatiale du dépôt cohérente avec les données de terrain.

L'analyse d'un réseau dense de profils de sismique réflection permet d'établir une stratigraphie acoustique détaillée de la marge continentale profonde de ,Côte d'Ivoire-Ghana, et de mettre en évidence les principales caractéristiques structurales de cette marge transformante: zone étroite extrêmement déformée au sommet de la pente continentale, faisceaux décrochants dextres à l'intérieur et à la lim ite Nord de la ride marginale, bassins asymétriques localement repris en compression (plissement) dans le bassin ivoirien profond. Parallèlement, les structures associées à une marge transformante sont étud iées grâce à une modélisation expérimentale: dans un modèle analogue à une croûte continentale d'épaisseur. constante, le mouvement transformant est accommodé par une "zone principale de déplacement", zone de cisaillement dont la déformation est analysée en détail, y compris pour des déplacements importants. Par contre, à l'intersection de segments de marges transformant et en extension apparait une "terminaison en queue de cheval", formée de décrochements courbes qui structurent par transliition et rotation de blocs un relief analogue aux rides marginales des marges transformantes; ce relief est ultérieurement recoupée par une "zone principale de déplacement". De plus, et dans certaines conditions géométriques, des structures distensives antérieures peuvent être remobilisées en cisaillement à proximité du secteur transformant. La comparaison des résultats expérimentaux et des données marines permet l'interprétation de ces dernières dans le cadre d'une reconstitution de la formation de la marge transformante de Côte d'Ivoire-Ghana: lors du rifting dans le bassin ivoirien profond, des décrochements courbes apparaissent successivement à l'avant de la zone transformante: ils forment à la limite du bassin en extension une ''terminaison en queue de cheval" qui construit la ride de Côte d'Ivoire-Ghana, ainsi que les rides mineures qui la prolongent à l'Ouest Certaines structures distensives antérieures sont également remobilisées en cisaillement à proximité de cette terminaison. Ultérieurement, le mouvement coulissant est entièrement accommodé par une "zone principale de déplacement" déformant le sommet de la pente continentale et de la ride marginale.

La ceinture Paléoprotérozoïque d'Ashanti, au sud-ouest du Ghana, est l'hôte de nombreux gisements d'or, de classe mondiale, tels les gisements d'Obuasi (60 million d'onces) et de Tarkwa (40 millions d'onces). La caractérisation de l'évolution structurale et magmatique régionale permet d'éclaircir le contexte géotectonique de formation de ces gisements et ainsi fournir des pistes pour de futures explorations. Ainsi, au cours de ces travaux de thèse, ont été réalisés : (1) une nouvelle carte géologique et structurale de la région, en accord avec les observations de terrains et les données de géophysique aéroportée, (2) une étude détaillée du gisement d'or précoce de la mine de Wassa, (3) une étude de l'évolution du magmatisme au cours de l'Orogénèse Éburnéenne et (4) un modèle tridimensionnel de la ceinture d'Ashanti mettant en évidence un possible contrôle litho-structural sur la localisation des minéralisations.

Ghana faces a macroeconomic problem of inflation for a long period of time. The problem in somehow slows the economic growth in this country. As we all know, inflation is one of the major economic challenges facing most countries in the world especially those in African including Ghana. Therefore, forecasting inflation rates in Ghana becomes very important for its government to design economic strategies or effective monetary policies to combat any unexpected high inflation in this country. This paper studies seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model to forecast inflation rates in Ghana. Using monthly inflation data from July 1991 to December 2009, we find that ARIMA (1,1,1)(0,0,1)12 can represent the data behavior of inflation rate in Ghana well. Based on the selected model, we forecast seven (7) months inflation rates of Ghana outside the sample period (i.e. from January 2010 to July 2010). The observed inflation rate from January to April which was published by Ghana Statistical Service Department fall within the 95% confidence interval obtained from the designed model. The forecasted results show a decreasing pattern and a turning point of Ghana inflation in the month of July.

The study aimed at getting a grass root opinion on poverty and why Ghana is still poor after 50 years of independence in spite of her richness in natural resources, second largest producer of cocoa in the word and appreciable stable political environment. The opinions of the ordinary people in the Bia district and their observed living conditions was analysed in line with theoretical basis of the study and previous studies to justify the stance that poverty should be considered as an abuse of human rights. It was concluded based on position of informants and previous data available that though many factors have been raised by previous scholars as the cause of poverty, the actions and inactions of both internal and external power-holders is the main source of poverty in Ghana. It was proposed that for poverty to be reduced in a sustainable way there should be strong civil society groups and active citizens through civic education to hold power-holders accountable. Until the actions and inactions of power-holders which have subjected many Ghanaians into intergenerational poverty are seen as human rights abuse, the rights of many Ghanaians would be constantly abused. This will eventually defeat the promotion of human rights culture in Ghana.

This research work explored the environmental and socio-economic benefits derived, if some proportion of daily passenger trips made using private cars in Ghana could be shifted to the use of public transport. The research applied the computer software COPERT III in estimating road transport Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel consumption in Ghana for the base year 2005 and forecast years 2010 and 2020. The research reveals that if no major change occur in policies or economic determinants in meeting road transport and energy in Ghana, then the 2005 total emissions value is expected to rise by 36% in 2010 and over double in 2020 i.e. from 4.6 to 6.25 in 2010 and to 9.77 Mt CO2e in 2020. However, if just 10% of daily passenger trips using private cars can be shifted towards the use of public transport, then the end results in reduction in emissions could earn Ghana about $USD 6.6million/year under the Kyoto Protocol CDM initiative. The research also demonstrated that with a further 10% daily passenger trip shift, the outcome could be more promising, increasing to $USD 13million/year.

DANS UN PREMIER TEMPS, IL S'AGIT DE CERNER LE ROLE DES PETITES VILLES DANS LES RESEAUX URBAINS AINSI QUE LA NATURE DES RELATIONS QU'ELLES ENTRETIENNENT AVEC LEUR ARRIERE-PAYS. LA PREMIERE PARTIE EST AINSI CONSACREE SUCCESSIVEMENT : A L'ETUDE DU SEMIS DES PETITES AGGLOMERATIONS EN AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST ET AUX MODALITES DE LEUR MULTIPLICATION ; A LA PLACE DES PETITES VILLES DANS L'EVOLUTION DES RESEAUX URBAINS NIGERIEN, GHANEEN ET TOGOLAIS ; ET ENFIN, AUX FONCTIONS REGIONALES ET LOCALES DES SEPT LOCALITES ETUDIEES. DANS UN SECOND TEMPS, IL S'AGIT D'IDENTIFIER UN MODELE DE FONCTIONNEMENT DU SYSTEME SOCIOSPATIAL DE LA PETITE VILLE OUEST-AFRICAINE. UNE ETUDE DES PROCESSUS SPATIAUX, DEMOGRAPHIQUES, POLITIQUES ET ECONOMIQUES A L'OEUVRE DANS LES PETITES VILLES ETUDIEES PERMET D'ELABORER CE MODELE ET DE DEPASSER LES PARTICULARITES LOCALES.

The early 1800s witnessed the exodus of former slaves from Brazil to Africa. A number of slaves migrated after gaining manumission. Others were deported after they were accused of committing various “crimes” and after slave rebellions. These returnees established various communities and identities along the coastline of West Africa, but Historians often limit the scope to communities that developed in Benin, Togo and Nigeria. My dissertation fills in this gap by highlighting the obscured history of the Tabom people—the descendants of Afro-Brazilian returnees in Ghana. The study examines the history of the Tabom people to show the various ways they are constructing their identities and how their leaders are forging ties with the Brazilian government, the Ghanaian government, and institutions such as UNESCO. The main goal of the Tabom people is to preserve their history, to underscore the significance of sites of memories, and to restore various historical monuments within their communities for tourism. The economic consciousness contributed to the restoration of the “Brazil House” in Accra which was opened for tourism on November 15, 2007, after a year of repairs through the support of the Brazilian Embassy and various institutions in Ghana. This watershed moment not only marked an important historical event and the birth of tourism within the Tabom community, but epitomized decades of attempts to showcase the history of the Afro-Brazilian community which has been obscured in Ghanaian school curriculum and African diaspora history. My central thesis is that the initiatives by the Tabom people are not only influenced by economic interests, but also by the need to express the “dual” identities that underlie what it means to the “Ghanaian-Brazilian.” The efforts by the Tabom leaders to project their dual heritage, led to the visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inácios Lula da Silva “Lula” in April 2005, who also graciously supported the restoration of the “Brazil House.” Through these interactions Lula extended an invitation to the Tabom chief and members of the community to visit Brazil for the first time. This dissertation posits that Lula’s invitation highlight notions that the African Diaspora is an unending journey. / text