Transnationalism among African immigrants in North America: The case of Ghanaians in Canada

This paper explores the types and strength of transnational ties between Ghanaian immigrants in Canada and their country of origin. The study finds that Ghanaians maintain various types of ties to Ghana including communication by telephone, repeat migration, cultural activities, and investments, especially in home ownership. The desire for home ownership in Ghana is related to the immigrants' intentions to return there permanently in the future. The immigrants also maintain collective ties to the homeland through a network of ethnic associations in Canada. These associations provide financial support for local economic development in Ghana. They also provide an organizational structure through which the immigrants seek to address their political needs in Ghana.     

The Making of a Sexual Being in Ghana: The State,Religion and the Influence of Society as Agents of Sexual Socialization

With the aim of generating in-depth information on society’s expectations and views on sexual expression in Ghana, we present findings on what was expected of the state, religion, and the influence of society on sexual socialization in Ghana. As a society, our need to break the culture of silence about sex cannot be overemphasized. Our study is important against a background that in Sub-Saharan African, HIV and AIDS is mostly spread through sexual intercourse, and that the region bears a disproportionate large percentage of the world’s HIV and AIDS burden. Although Ghana has a 2009 adult (15+ years) prevalence rate of 1.6% and a prevalence rate of 1.9% for persons 15–49 years old, some regions and sentinel sites show rather high rates, making HIV and AIDS issues of high concern nationally. Respondents from the general public, key informants and special groups across all three ecological zones of Ghana were purposively selected. All the interviewees agreed that in Ghana fidelity in all sexual relationships is highly valued and expected. However, there is gender discrimination in the application of such social norms of fidelity, in favor of males. Amongst the three agents of socialization studied, religion seemed to exert the most influence. Modernity interwoven with Christianity seem to have taken a great toll on such norms of sexual socialization.     

Causal Factors of Corruption in Construction Project Management: An Overview

Science and Engineering Ethics - The development of efficient and strategic anti-corruption measures can be better achieved if a deeper understanding and identification of the causes of corruption...     

Coerced First Sexual Intercourse Among Women in Ghana: Evidence from the Demographic and Health Survey

Using the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey, and applying logit and log-normal hazard models, this study examined the determinants and timing of coerced first sexual intercourse among women aged 15–49 years in Ghana. Results indicate statistically significant relationships between demographic and sociocultural variables on the likelihood and timing of coerced first sexual intercourse among Ghanaian women. Married women were significantly less likely to report coercion at first sex, but had a faster timing to coerced first sex compared to the never married. Older women were significantly less likely to report coerced first sex, compared to younger women. Similarly, women who had their sexual debut at younger ages were more likely to say they were forced, compared to those who experiencing theirs at older ages. While Ewe and Ga Adangbe women were more likely to report coerced first sex, compared to Akans, traditionalists were less likely to do so, compared to Christians. This study highlights the need for critical appraisal of the cultural interpretation of violence and for future studies to explore the causes of this phenomenon.