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Donani, Yao-Martin (2014) Developing a framework for sustainable manufacturing of technologies in Africa focusing on Ghana. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

This thesis is concerned with developing a framework for the sustainable manufacturing of technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on Ghana, for local industry. The interest here is on manufacturing and production technologies.

Drawing on the work of Clemens and Dalrymple (2005), a three step approach emerged as an overarching methodology leading to the construction of the Ghana manufacturing of technology model (GMTM). The work of Sagasti (1992) provided the framework for its construction.

The aim here is to investigate to understand what factors account for the state of technology drawback in Ghana, so as to be able to explain them. A multidisciplinary approach was therefore required and employed. Owing to the human and cultural understanding required here, a mixed-research approach involving ethnography, grounded theory and case-study was found to be most suitable. This involved data from two rural communities, expanding to the urban areas where government officials, policy makers and heads of institutions were interviewed. The corpus of data was analysed using grounded theory and a case study of the shea butter industry provided further insights.

The findings, among other things, suggest that Ghana has no focused framework for technology manufacturing for local industry. The study noted that the cultural and ethnic division in traditional Ghana, inhibits knowledge and cultural exchange, hence, affecting the deployment and advancement of traditional technologies in the "closed" societies. This division is reflected in the formal Ghanaian sector, which side-lines the traditional sector from development and industrialisation decision making. Government Officials and policy makers were found to be vague on technology development for local industry, but were focused on developing high-techs, like nano-technologies and science parks. The study sees this as misplaced priority.

The technology drive will require a business model, which falls outside the scope here, hence left for future work. A new concept of development engineering emerges from the study.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Clifford, M.J. Raman, S.
Keywords:	Sustainable development, Technological innovations, Social aspects, Shea butter industry, Ghana
Subjects:	H Social sciences > HC Economic history and conditions
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering
Item ID:	37127
Depositing User:	Airey, Ms Valerie
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2016 07:37
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2017 12:01
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/37127

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