Local views on Development by Linda Aku Nyamordey

I am a young woman from the southern part of Ghana - precisely the Volta Region - which is one of ten regions in a country of varying natural resources. With the understanding of the potential found in precious metals such as gold, diamond, silver, bauxite, etc, cocoa, timber, huge water bodies and recently the discovery of oil, my views on development are relevant.

The wise use of revenues from natural and human resources should be an essential indicator when measuring development. People may argue that provision of quality life for all, which comes in the form of a good sanitation system, low crime levels, access to education and healthcare, employment opportunities, availability of clean air and safe drinking water and more, should be paramount to development. Where does the fund come from? This is where I emphasize on revenues from natural resources, which generate staggering wealth, which when properly managed can be invested into improving living conditions which contributes to development, but when these revenues are not used, funding come in the form of taxation, which put constraints on the poorer sectors of society. Furthermore, foreign investment, which is not guaranteed because of issues like conflict and natural disasters which are unpredictable.

To now delve into the views of a selected few from the northern part of Ghana, with little or no education, development is something new added to what you already have or something that gives a better living. This was further explained as the provisions of electricity, safe drinking water and schools which are all developmental projects. The coming of NGOs to enlighten them, especially on the modern ways of farming is a form of development. In terms of being developed, it is farfetched for them because of issues like a lack of health facilities, poor roads and inadequate drainage/sanitation system.

An intellectual’s (a university lecturer) view on development: he believes development must come from oneself in the form of using ones own resources such as farming. He however thinks climate change will be a barrier to such a development method, hence the need for resilient local communities, in the form of proper environmental practice and management, good sanitation practice and reduction in carbon dioxide emission.

These being the varying views of locals, what then is development?