| dc.description.abstract | The thesis or assignment involved a study of waste management as the main issue of environmental protection to be investigated vis-à-vis economic growth and development in a third world context where the situation in Tema, Ghana is examined for the period 1990-1998. The focus and point of departure for the analysis was based on municipal and industrial solid waste management in the Tema Municipal Area of Ghana. A study of the relevant governmental authorities (involved in environmental management), local residents (household) activities, and industrial activities was used to assess the extent of coordination between the differing goals of environmental quality and economic growth, (health verses welfare) at the heart of our reseach question. As part of our question, we also took a look at a study between a low-income slum area, a middle-income residential area and a high class developing area, to illustrate the link between socio-economic structures (or social classes) and the ability to solve environmental problems, i.e solid waste disposal.
To organise the analysis, we relied mostly on theories of public policy administration, with focus on environmental policy and administration. In deducing our analytical model on coordination of environmental goals with economic goals in Ghana, we utilised the works of J. Dryzek (1987), for the coordination process. Our discussion and work, in this line, indicate how case study could be explained by the application of theory components. The application of the theory s components in the area of social choice mechanisms and their predominant mode of coordination was very relevant as it provided the basis for our research analysis.
The analytical model developed was very much applicable to our empirical analysis of coordination between environmental quality and economic growth as well as coordination among various governmental and environmental authorities involved in the study, as it did catch and took the core of various aspects of the problem.
In addressing the problem, the discussion was organised into the following chapters: chapter one, the general introductory chapter to our work, took a brief look at the environment as a policy issue area, and also considered briefly economic activities (municipal and industrial) in cities and their related problems. It also looked at the scope as well as aims and objectives of the study.
Chapter two presented the theoretical framework which formed the basis for the analysis of our initial research question. A discussion of the literature review continued in chapter three, in relation to the existing situation in Ghana. Here we also studied Ghana s Environmental Policy, Ghana s administrative machinery, and a closer look at the study area.
Chapter four gives an empirical account of municipal waste management in the study area in relation to our analytical variables, and expounds on the activities of the Waste Management Unit (WMU) of the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA). The empirical analysis is continued in chapter five, and discusses industrial waste management in Tema, taking into account some selected industries. The entire work is concluded in chapter six by way of discussions, findinds, summary, strengths, limitations and suggestions. | nor |