Ghana Journal of Development Studies

Towards a comprehensive model of human resource development research and practice: A systematic literature review

Felix Kwame Opoku — 2023-11-28

Although several models have been proposed to guide practitioners and academics in human resource development (HRD), there is sufficient manifestation that a new HRD model is required to address emerging HRD problems such as cultural variation and value systems across the globe, the need to strengthen the theoretical foundation of HRD research and practice, and the incompleteness of HRD research methods. The purpose of this study was to propose a comprehensive HRD model that will address these problems in order to make HRD more responsive to the current needs in HRD research and practice. Bozer and Jones’s (2018) seven-phase systematic literature review approach was adopted to gather data for this study. The available data were analyzed using thematic analysis. It was found that the proposed HRD model was capable of helping HRD practitioners to choose appropriate HRD practices that will match their culture and value systems, and guide them on the methods and theories to apply in their respective locations. On the basis of these findings, it was concluded that the proposed HRD model can address the problems currently facing HRD research and practice.

Accessibility of pedestrian infrastructure along arterial roads to persons with disabilities in Kumasi

Anthony K. Danso — 2023-11-28

The rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to accessible built environments include the convenient and safe use of roads and pedestrian infrastructure. This is founded on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other related international and local legislation. These notwithstanding, this paper sought to ascertain whether the accessibility needs of PWDs were amply factored into decisions on pedestrian infrastructure. The study adopted a descriptive research design. It involved the use of a checklist developed from the Accessible Side-walks and Street Crossing information guide and the Ghana Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment to assess pedestrian infrastructure along five arterial roads leading to Kumasi, the second most populous city in Ghana. Interviews were also used to ascertain the opinions of 122 PWDs on the inclusiveness of the pedestrian infrastructure. The study found that the pedestrian infrastructure was not as inclusive as required. Maintenance was not given due attention and most PWDs had challenges with the pedestrian infrastructure. The study concludes that irrespective of the prevalence of both international and local standards in Ghana, the accessibility needs of PWDs are not amply factored into decisions on pedestrian infrastructure. Accordingly, policy should dwell on holistic enforcement of the accessibility standards in design, construction and maintenance. These will support the quest to enhance accessible transport systems and consequently efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Exploring the extent of refuse use on urban cropping in Zongo of the Wa Municipality, Ghana

Alfred Beyuo Naamwintome — 2023-11-28

Refuse heaps are common scenes in cities in developing countries amidst the springing up of urban cropping but with low yields. However, the linkages between refuse generation and use in urban cropping appear to be little addressed in the existing literature. This paper sought to explore the separation of refuse into biodegradable and non-degradable and the use of the biodegradable portion as compost in urban cropping to improve crop production often linked to urban food availability. Hence, refuse generation at the household levels and refuse at the dumping sites were determined and sorted out using Wa Zongo as a study area. By combining convenience and simple random sampling, fifteen respondents from fifteen houses within a 150-metre radius of a dumping site were interviewed. Descriptive statistics, connecting and classifying, were employed in the data analysis. Findings revealed that more refuse is generated; a greater portion is decomposable; 93.3% of the respondents do not know the use of refuse for cropping; and, 53.3% prefer inorganic fertilizers for farming. To reduce refuse and eliminate the heaps, this study recommends refuse segregation at home and dump sites, biodegradable refuse for the production of compost and the use of public education to achieve this feat.

Assessing service quality and farmers’ satisfaction with service provided by agricultural marketing cooperative societies in Mvomero and Kilombero Districts, Tanzania

Anderson G. Rwela — 2023-12-07

Providing quality service has become an important aspect in the business and public service sectors. Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), as public enterprises, are supposed to offer quality services to their members. This study sought to assess service quality and farmer satisfaction with the service provided by AMCOS in Kilombero and Mvomero districts, Tanzania. The study specifically determined the quality of services offered by AMCOS in relation to member satisfaction. Lastly, the study determined the level of members’ satisfaction with the services offered by AMCOS. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design whereby 189 members of AMCOS were interviewed. Data processing and analysis were guided by the servqual Model. Through the model, five dimensions (tangible, reliability, responsiveness assurance, and empathy) were tested to find the gap that exists between perception and expectation of the service offered by AMCOS. The findings showed that Tangible was the most deficient dimension of service quality offered by AMCOS, and the overall service quality or customer satisfaction index was 54%, indicating that more needs to be done to improve the quality of services. On the level of satisfaction, the majority of the members were less satisfied with the services offered. Conclusively; AMCOS in the study area offered a range of services, but social services were inadequate. The difference between expectation and perception is negative, implying that members of AMCOS expected more than what was offered by their organisation. The study recommends that AMCOS leaders work on the deficiencies to improve service qualities for their members so as to raise the customer satisfaction index.

Authors — 2023-11-28

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