Effects Conflicts On Growth And Development Of Businesses Politics Essay

Effects remainders On Growth And Development Of Businesses Politics EssayConflict is an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals). Conflict is tangible or perceived opposition of needs, values and interests, Conflict has honest implications for education in countries bear on by it, not only in impairment of the difficulty of implementing education policies, still likewise because it leads to more p e rattlingplacety and diswhitethorn growth, which atomic number 18 very serious root causes of impinge.Conflict between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups is long-standing eachwhere some decades and has resulted in occasional and recurrent outbreaks of serious military unit resulting in destruction of position and death on many occasions. and so the Bawku conflict brought into play a complex matrix of structural and detail factors that makes the disaggregating of the events particularly difficult.Hostilities between the Kusasi and Mamprusi is probably a s old as the recite of Mamprugu itself, since the town of Pusiga, less than ten miles distant from Bawku, was adept of the first forfeitping places for the band of invaders who established the Mamprusi Kingdom.Most recently, in December 2001, abandon skint out following a dispute between a Kusasi and a Mamprusi at a lotto kiosk in the Sabongari section of the town. accompanying tit-for-tat attacks direct to at least 29 deaths and 36 serious injuries in the month of December al unmatchable.The line of business in which the conflict occurred is ethnically dispa footstep and has one of the lowest income (80% living in extreme poverty) and literacy (26.3% of adults functionally literate) range in the republic. It is a relatively densely populated bea with over 100 residents per kilometer. There is relatively arduous religious (66%) and ethnic (64%) affixation by the populace. Voter consciousness is high and party affiliation (NDC, NPP and PNC) strong with 2000 voter regist ration figures of 95 per cent. (Source2000 universe of discourse and housing reports) Additionally simmering disputes over the Bawku skin rush persisted for yrs. A number of the protagonists mystify been brought forrader the courts, but to date no credible insights have been gained into the motivation for and execution of instrument of the attacks. A frequently cited study by Christian Lund provides further data concerning the history of conflict in recent decades, including overlapping issues of land self-command, ethnicity, chieftainship and opposites, including the unresolved issue of the Bawku skin (signifying entitlement to the throne)The skin is the symbol of chiefly representation in northern Ghana, equivalent to the stool in the south. It symbolizes the chieftainship and the throne. When a chief is enskinned, he is seated on the skin of an ox sacrificed for the occasion. In normal parlance, chiefs who argon campaignd to abdicate be de-stooled, not de-skinned.B awku has a long history as a flashpoint town in Ghana. In 2001, at least 28 passel were killed on that point when factions clashed in an other(a) battle app bently sparked by a relatively sharp crime, the destruction of a small shop.The international human rights group remission International has expressed concern about the lack of semipolitical lead to solve the crisis. The group said in a statement that the ill to resolve the conflict stems from a game of hurt no one in order to win all votes.An inter envision with the business company in Bawku revealed that some businessmen and women from Bawku have re-located their businesses to other parts of the office notably Bolgatanga and Zebilla.While some traders felt secure doing business in Bawku, others said they did not, citing the planetary insecurity and the decline in commercial activities as their reasons.The decline in business is further reflected in the fables revenue mobilization. It lay in 507.2 million cedis as against an estimated revenue target of 749.3 million cedis at the oddment of December 2001.The regularise Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan attributed the assemblys plight to looting of its coffers by revenue collectors in the wake of the conflict last December.Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) seeking to bring peace to the ara have been organising seminars, dialogues and brokered peace accords endorsed by the two main factions, the Kusasis and Mamprusis.This years get together Nations (UN) day for peace and reconciliation was specially dedicated to Bawku to get the state to appreciate the need for peace the ara.Advocates for peace in the bea have suggested the combination of extensive military tactics to retrieve arms and fineness and education to bringing lasting peace to the ara.1.2 STUDY AREA presentment AND OVERVIEW OF THE MUNICIPALITYLOCATION AND SIZEBawku municipality is one of the nine districts and municipalities in the amphetamine east Region of Gha na. It is located approximately between latitudes 11o 111 and 10o 401North and longitude 0o 181W and 0o 61E in the north-eastern corner of the percentageage. The municipality has a total land bea of about 1215.05 sq km. It sh bes boundaries with Burkina Faso, the Republic of Togo, Bawku West District and Garu Tempane District to the north, east, west and south respectively.The Bawku Municipal Assembly was established by LI 1738, 2004.LEADERSHIP OF THE ASSEMBLYHon. A. A. Awuni Presiding MemberHon. MusahAbdulai Municipal Chief administratorMr. P. K. Kuupol Municipal Coordinating DirectorLOCAL ENVIRONMENTLAND insurance foilage AREAThe Municipality has a total land area of about 1215.05 sq km. climatical CONDITIONSAs with the whole of the Upper east Region, Bawku Municipality is part of the interior Continental climatic zone of the country characterized by pronounced dry and wealthy seasons. The two seasons are castd by two oscillating air masses. basic is the warm, dusty and dry harmattan air mass which blows from the north easterly management across the whole municipality from the Sahara Desert. During the period of its influence (late November early March) rainfall is totally absent, vapour pressure is very low (less than 10 mm) and relative humidity rarely exceeds 20% during the day but may rise to 60% during the nights and early mornings. Temperatures are usually modest at this time of the year by tropic standards (26 0c 28 0c).May to October marks the wet season. During this period, the whole of the West Afri hobo sub-region including Bawku Municipality is under the influence of a deep tropical maritime air mass. This air mass together with rising curse currents, provide the Municipality with rains.The total rainfall amounts to reasonablely 800m per annum. A striking characteristic of the rainfall worth noting is the extreme variability and reliability both(prenominal) between and at heart seasons. Another striking characteristic is the heavy(p) quantity of rain water ordinarily lost through evapo-transpiration from open water surfaces. An estimate of the wad of rain water loss varies from 1.55mm to 1.65mm per annum.POPULATION CHARACTERISTICSThe estimated total community of Bawku Municipality is 205,849. Its creation density is 169 persons per square kilometer. The world of the Municipality refers about twenty percent of the Upper East Regions population and 0.99 percent of the Nations population. The population is 20 percent urban and 80 percent rural. The dependence ratio is 1125. some 55 percent of the population is outside the works group which constitutes a s device on the working population.Household sizes in the Municipality are clean large like it pertains in most parts of the country. According to the 2000 population census report, on the average there are seven persons per household. though these large households could mean handiness of labour, it has some financial implication in terms of feeding, healthcare, education, clothing etc.The large number of household therefore constitute economic burden.POPULATION gain RATEThe population growth rate of the Municipality is 1.1.ETHNIC GROUPINGSThe predominant tribes in the Municipality are Kusasis, Mamprusis, Bissas and Moshies with Kusasis forming the majority followed by Mamprusis. However, there are quite a number of migrants from other parts of the country, curiously the south (most of whom are civil servants) and the neighbouring countries like Togo and Burkina Faso. Ethnic heterogeneity has had implications for unison in the Municipality. In the very recent past, there have been sporadic violent ethnic clashes between the Kusasis and Mamprusis. It is expected however, that inter-marriages among the diverse ethnic groupings bequeath provide the impetus for peaceful co-existence. The predominant languages spoken in the municipality are Kusal, Mampruli, Bissa and Moli. There are however quite a number of other langu ages spoken in the Municipality including Hausa, Ga, Gurune, and Twi.EDUCATIONEducation and literacy provide the opportunity for individuals to enrol in a wide of the markr job market. In the Municipality, the standard of education is generally low as compared to that of the nation as a whole.Though the Municipality has seen a lot of interventions in the construct ion of new school buildings, many schools are still accommodated in dilapidated structures with some children still receiving lessons under tress and unclouded pavilions. of age(p) High School (SHS)- The Municipality has two (2) SHS, one expert Institute, a Vocational Institute, T each(prenominal)er Training College and a Nurses Training College. These institutions are opened to not only the Bawku Municipality but to the whole of Upper East Region and beyond.HEALTHThe Municipal Health Management Team (MHMT) is headed by the Municipal Director of Health Services, assisted by Medical Assistants, Senior Nurses and Technic al staff. Health care in the Municipality is provided through hospitals, health Centres, CHPS Centres and tete-a-tete clinics.1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMConflicts are seen as a serious task in our Ghanaian community and the world at large. The predominant types of conflicts in Ghana are so-called Chieftaincy Conflicts, which are centred on the chieftaincy institution. Relatively, the institution has survived the impositions of both the colonial and the post-colonial regimes that have included them within the boundaries of the juvenile states (see Nukunya (1992, 77-78).A country that has experienced many major readingal programmes doubtless is contingent on peace and stability. However, regardless of all this serious conflict-free campaigns, the bawku municipality in the upper east region of Ghana is still saddled with serial of conflicts which posses so many threats on life and properties.People have ascertain that the root cause of the conflict lies on the fact that dubious and unprincipled people in the area want to use the unsecured record of the area to intentionally cause fear and panic in other to rob people off their properties. Secondly others are Also of the view that the conflicts dwells largely on chieftaincy. Notwithstanding, others still ascertain that their differences in political ideologies, farmlands, jubilance of festivals, the unable ness on the part of the Mamprusis to have their damba festival noteworthy and as well perform the funeral of the late Naba Calipha among others are the cause of the conflict in the municipality which leaves in its wake hunger and poverty.Generally, Chieftaincy disputes erupt when there are two or more equate claimants to a unemployed stool or skin, the symbols of kingship or chieftaincy in the traditional state. The rival claimants to such traditional authority may either decease to different ethnic groups or to different lineages of the founding family. These are exacerbated by direct as well as discreet political interventions in chieftaincy affairs. For exemplify, when governments support loyal claimants to chieftaincy positions against less amenable ones has led to tensions between traditional rulers and government officials on the one hand, and between rival claimants to chieftaincy positions on the other hand. So too have attempts by wealthy pretenders to gain the position on the basis of wealth and influence in society. Currently, it is estimated that there are over 100 chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana, centred on ethnicity, succession to traditional political office and the struggle over land (Tsikata and Seini, 2004 25).In Ghana, the struggle to bring into cosmos a Chief may turn violent when the historical, political, economic and social circumstances around the make-up of the chieftaincy institution in a traditional state pose contested when the rules of succession become unclear when successive national governments and political parties support one group agai nst the other in a propose to serve their own parochial political interest and when there are small and light weapons available to the factions in the dispute. However, though chieftaincy conflicts are largely localized (as the disputes occur within the boundaries of the traditional state), and the associated violence barely spills over into neighbouring traditional states, the conflicts social, political and economic ripples become felt beyond the conflict zone.Conflict has serious implications on development in countries stirred by it, not only in terms of the difficulty of implementing development policies, but also because it leads to more poverty and lower growth, loss of lives, vilify to properties, displacement of families, slows down development, among others.The puzzling question remains as to the cause, consequences, and what should be done to eliminate or mitigate the impact of it in our societies these days. It is against this screen background that the questione r seeks to determine the root cause and its do on life, property and suggest ways of bringing peaceful resolution and settlement in the conflict prone areas in the Bawku municipality.1.4 Objectives and AimsThis study is about how chieftaincy conflicts can impact on the peace and socio-economic development and growth of businesses, Individuals, localities and countries.GENERAL accusiveThe main objective is to examine the effects of conflicts on the growth and development of businesses in the Bawku Municipality as well as to make recommendations to policy makers on the way forward.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESTo examine the effects of the chieftaincy conflict on economic activities (commerce, agriculture and industry).To examine the effects of the violence on livelihoods of people seen in terms of the household poverty and employment opportunities.Governance in terms of revenue exhibition and expenditure on security.To determine the effects of the conflicts on health and education.To make re commendations on how the conflict can be resolved/managed peacefully on a permanent basis.1.5 RESEARCH motionIs chieftaincy a possible cause of the conflict in the bawku municipality?Does ownership of farmlands form part of the causes of the conflict in the municipality?1.6 Significance of the StudyMy search on the effects of the Bawku chieftaincy conflict seeks to present empirical licence that communal violence negatively affects the socio-economic development of local communities where they take place. This research will investigate the effects of the perennial violence in Bawku on the ability of the Municipal Assembly, the Local Council and the people of the area as a whole to mobilize resources to improve their well being. Apart from contributing to the intimacy base on effects of conflict, this research will provide a basis for policy making towards resolving and managing communal (ethnic and chieftaincy) conflicts1.7 SCOPE AND demarcation line OF THE STUDYThis research i s expected to cover a period of one year and the associated limitations will beFinancial constraints/difficulties to be able to cover the required people and place.Inadequate and not straightforward answers or rejoinder from answerents is eminent or likely.Risky to venture into homes of respondents who were/are badly affected as it reminds them of their unfortunate and unplanned past memories.Answers/response will not be objective as respondents are/will be expectant responses to favour their faction at the expense of the other faction.LITERATURE canvas2. 0 Conflict has serious implications for development in countries affected by it, notOnly in terms of the difficulty of implementing development policies, but also because itLeads to more poverty and lower growth, which are very serious root causes of conflict.Chronic conflicts continue to exist and to devastate the lives and economies of thePeople in the affected countries (and, to a lesser extent, on non-conflict-affectedCount ries). Naturally, this has created a precarious and aleatoryEnvironment that has not been conducive to fostering economic activities.Ongoing incidents of violence since 2008 seem to indicate similarly localised and minor disputes can become the basis for inter-group conflict on a larger scale.There are quite a few published works on the effects of conflicts on development in Ghana in general, but no(prenominal) on the effects of the Bawku chieftaincy conflict on the growth and development of businesses in the bawku Municipality. Recent literature on conflicts in Ghana has saturated on the inter-ethnic and intra ethnic conflicts, since these are the dominant causes of conflicts in the country. A governing deficiency has been cited by some of these works as the cause of the happen ethnic and communal violence in many parts of Ghana. (Akwetey, 1996 Lund, 2003 Jonsoon, 2007). Akwetey for instance argues that the absence of adequate democratic institutions is to blame for the recurri ng violence. Avenues for expressing interest and demands are non-existent. Christian Lund (2003), in an analysis of the longstanding ethno-political conflict between the Kusasi and the Mamprusi in Bawku, has argued that the politicisation of the Bawku conflict has affected government efforts to resolve the conflict. He asserts that a wide range of political- including party-political- and economic competition over chieftaincy, land, markets, names of places and other issues are cut to fit the ethnic distinction as conflicts over rights and prerogatives are rekindled accounting for the perennial violence.According to Julia Jonsson (2007), in a crises working on Traditional leadership and ethnic conflicts in Northern Ghana, asserts that the link between development and conflict in the region, exist on different operable levels In the actors discourse in the socio-economic grievances they perceive as important in the causation of the conflict, through the effects of the vieing. She c oncludes that conflicts have disrupted the development of the region destroyed its resources and development projects.Moreover, according to Kusimi, et al. (2006), in a paper on conflicts in Northern Ghana, have expressed the view that violent clashes in that part of the country affect economic development (destruction of farms and produce prevents kitchen-gardening of lands disrupt economic activities discourage investment, labour flow and tourism) (see also Brukum, 2007). They also assert that conflicts in the region affect educational levels and divert governments maintenance from tackling pressing national issues relating to development, to restoring peace and order.In an article on the guinea fowl Fowl War of 1994 in the Northern Region, Emmy Toonen (1999) asserts that the conflict affected inter-ethnic co-operation in the region. Though the situation has improved, she claims that the Konkomba are still too afraid to slip in Tamale, the regional capital where the Dagomba are the majority. She also claims that medical and educational facilities in the region were also affected.Security has a direct impact on the levels of investment. The violence associated with the chieftaincy conflict in the Bawku municipality affects investments in the different sectors of the municipal economy. I present the data on the effects, sector by sector. farming The violence resulting from the chieftaincy conflict adversely affects production, marketing and investment in agriculture, the dominant economic exercise in the Bawku municipality. During outbreak of violence in the Municipality, farmers, especially those engaged in the cultivation of perishable food markets such as watermelons and onions suffer heavy losses. Watermelons and onions are cultivated by irrigation and need unending tendering. When violence breaks out, most farmers are forced to abandon their crops because they fear being either attacked or because of the curfew instituted by the government/security a pparatus. Furthermore, the transportation networks are also disrupted during violent clashes and farmers are unable to transport their foodstuff to the market places. These results in the foodstuffs getting rotten on the farms, the markets are take of these produce, scarcity sets in while their prices soar in the Municipality and the country as a whole.Commerce Commerce, the second most important economic activity in the Bawku municipality, has also been negatively affected by the chieftaincy conflict. The officials from the Municipal Assembly asserted that, commercial activities as a whole is negatively affected by the perennial violence in the Municipality. The Assembly finds it very difficult to attract authorisation investors. Such activities as looting, robbery and the general lawlessness, which bring businesses to a standstill during violent clashes, scare away potential investors. The officials also cited the out migration of business people to other parts of the country as a direct effect of the perennial violence in the Municipality. Restricted movement, disruptions in businesses, the loss of capital through burning of houses and shops, and modified and selective business transactions (this means that people will normally not do business with members of the other side, this limits the market available to each trader) were all cited by various respondents as effects of the violence which are disincentives to business in the Municipality.Amidst these chaos and confusions and the general instability in the municipality pragmatical efforts have been put in place to take of the problem of which a few of those as have been kept in place by the central government and the leadership of the municipality are as seen belowA number of security measures have been put in place to respond to the perennial violence from the chieftaincy conflict and to reassure people to go about their normal daily lives without fear. Some of these measures include the stationing of a speedy response Air-Borne Force and a significantly larger police force in the Municipality. These measures mean that central government and the municipal authorities have had to channel more resources into maintaining the military and police presence.The Municipal Assembly spends GH25037 every month on the Air-Borne Forces (source municipal chief executive). In addition, the municipal assembly pays their communication, health, and fuel bills.Some other steps towards mitigating this conflict and its influence in our society, businesses and the world at as suggested by (source Emmanuel bombande-executive member of wanepb) are as follows(a) the need for effective dialogue by the various stakeholders (b) the equal dissemination of farmlands and other resources (c) the rightful owners should be allowed to occupy the Skin (d) political parties should stop interfering in the chieftaincy conflict (e) the Regional House of Chiefs or the National House of Chiefs are the appropriate aut horities to resolve the conflict and (f) the need for education and understanding. Some pessimists who enjoy pleasure in war argue that the conflict cannot be resolved and suggested that the two sides should be allowed to fight until one faction emerges victorious and asserts dominance3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY inventionThe investigator will base his methodology on the following cosmos of the area consume designSampling techniquesData collection techniques tribe of the areaThe estimated total population of Bawku Municipality is 205,849. Its population density is 169 persons per square kilometer. The population of the Municipality constitutes about twenty percent of the Upper East Regions population and 0.99 percent of the Nations population. The population is 20 percent urban and 80 percent rural. The dependency ratio is 1125. About 55 percent of the population is outside the working group which constitutes a stress on the working population.Household sizes in the Municipality are fa irly large like it pertains in most parts of the country. According to the 2000 population census report, on the average there are seven persons per household. Though these large households could mean availability of labour, it has some financial implication in terms of feeding, healthcare, education, clothing etc.The large number of household therefore constitute economic burden.POPULATION GROWTH RATE The population growth rate of the Municipality is 1.1.Sampling designThe researcher will use an interview process and personal manifestation in assemblage the information. Interview is a personal or one on one interaction between an interviewer and his targeted respondents on an issue where the interviewer has a determine motive whereas observation is the personal foresight of how things will go like.Sampling techniquesThe researcher will use simple random sampling where respondents from both factions will have equal chance of being selected for questioning.Data collection techniqu esThe researcher will use the primary data in gathering his information. With the primary data, the researcher gathers his information through personal encounter and observation of the situation.