http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/730 2026-07-13T16:33:45Z 2026-07-13T16:33:45Z Danso, G. http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/5324 2026-06-24T12:03:26Z 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z

Ghana’s visual culture in the era of smartphone photography Danso, G. This study investigates the influence of smartphone photography on Ghana’s visual culture. The research specifically examines the prevalence and patterns of smartphone photography; the role of social media in shaping visual practices; the ways smartphone photography contributes to the representation of Ghanaian identity and heritage; and the challenges and opportunities it presents for professional photographers. A qualitative research design was adopted, employing interviews, observation, and photographic documentation. The study, using qualitative approach purposively sampled twenty-five participants drawn from Takoradi and Accra, including smartphone users, professional photographers, cultural custodians, photography lecturers and trainers, experts from the Centre for National Culture, and photography students. Data were analysed thematically to identify key patterns, meanings, and interpretations across participants’ narratives and visual evidence. Findings indicate that smartphone photography has become pervasive and deeply integrated into everyday life across both urban and rural spaces. Its widespread use, accelerated since the mid-2000s and supported by social media platforms, has democratized visual storytelling and expanded public participation in image-making. Smartphone photography enables individuals to document personal experiences, assert cultural identity, and contribute to evolving representations of Ghanaian life. At the same time, professional photographers acknowledge that smartphones offer new creative possibilities and avenues for collaboration; however, concerns remain regarding declining professional standards, oversimplification of photographic processes, and challenges to cultural authenticity. The study concludes that smartphone photography has become central to Ghana’s contemporary visual culture. It promotes inclusivity, creativity, and instant sharing of narratives, yet also requires balanced engagement to sustain professional practices and preserve cultural values. It is recommended that photography educators collaborate with cultural institutions to promote culturally sensitive and ethical visual storytelling. Smartphone users are encouraged to adopt basic photographic techniques and responsible sharing practices. Professional photographers are urged to embrace smartphones as complementary tools, leveraging mobile technologies for innovation while maintaining professional integrity. Future research may compare professional and amateur photographic narratives or explore the impact of smartphone photography on archival and cultural memory systems A thesis in the Department of Music Education, School of Creative Arts, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Arts and Culture) in the University of Education, Winneba JULY, 2024

2024-07-01T00:00:00Z Lartey, R.L. http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/5282 2026-06-17T11:07:06Z 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z

Building the capacity of indigenous textile companies for competitiveness in a liberalized Ghanaian market Lartey, R.L. This study examines the competitiveness and performance of indigenous textile companies in Ghana, focusing on the challenges they face in a liberalized trade environment. Despite the textile industry's vital role in economic development, particularly in job creation and poverty reduction, Ghana’s indigenous textile sector has experienced a sharp decline. Trade liberalization has exposed local firms to intense competition from low-cost imports, particularly from China, resulting in the closure of many local businesses and a loss of market share. The study examines the capacity-building needs of these firms, highlighting issues including outdated technology, limited access to raw materials, inadequate infrastructure, and workforce skill gaps. It also assesses how these challenges affect employee well-being. Using multiple case studies and descriptive observational methods, the research gathers data to draw conclusions and recommend strategies for industry recovery. The approach is based on a phenomenological perspective within qualitative research. The case study design is ideal because it enables an in-depth understanding of Ghana’s indigenous textile industry, given the numerous historical, economic, and socio-political challenges it faces. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews, document reviews, and observations, providing comprehensive triangulation and verification of findings. This design supports multiple perspectives and explanations, highlighting how factors like human capital development, organizational culture, absorptive capacity, and external market forces influence competitiveness. A combination of purposive and stratified sampling techniques was used. Data were analysed descriptively and organized into themes, which helped identify, interpret, and understand patterns of meaning within the data. The thematic analysis offered rich insights into the performance, challenges, and capacity needs of Ghana’s indigenous textile companies. The study examines trade liberalization, its impact on performance and competitiveness in Ghana’s textile industry, its effects on employee well-being, and trade policies in developing countries. By reviewing the industry’s strengths, weaknesses, and capacity gaps, the study proposes a capacity-building framework to enhance competitiveness and sustainability. Key recommendations include technological upgrades, workforce development, improved supply chain management, and policy reforms to provide targeted support. Lastly, the study highlights the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders, policymakers, and international partners to revitalize Ghana’s indigenous textile sector and ensure its long-term growth and contribution to the national economy. A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Art and Culture) Department of Music Education School of Creative Arts UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA JUNE, 2025

2025-06-01T00:00:00Z Donkoh, S. http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/5148 2026-03-25T13:25:13Z 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z

Historical analysis of the Cultural significance and dress identity Politics of Ghana’s Parliamentary dress between 1951 to 2023 Donkoh, S. Despite Ghana's sixty-seven years of political independence, the historical trajectory and cultural significance of its parliamentary sartorial practices remain a significant scholarly lacuna. This study directly addresses this gap by undertaking a critical historical analysis of parliamentary dress culture evolution in Ghana from 1951 to 2023. Focusing specifically on the attire of Speakers of Parliament and members of the legislative bodies under their leadership, the study employs a qualitative historical design. Utilizing purposive and stratified sampling, a sample size of forty-four participants were engaged. Primary data was derived from meticulous analysis of historical records, archival photographs, stakeholder opinions, and targeted interviews. The investigation dissects the design structure, embedded symbolisms, and national identity constructs manifested in the parliamentary robes of Ghana's Speakers. It critically highlights the enduring influence of Western-sartorial overtones and documents the deliberate, post-independence incorporation of Indigenous Ghanaian elements under President Nkrumah’s National Personality concept. This shift signified a resurgence of local dress as an emblem of sovereignty and cultural reclamation. Furthermore, the study engages contemporary discourse, notably analyzing Speaker Bagbin’s recent advocacy for decolonizing parliamentary attire. It reveals the perspectives of parliamentarians and cultural custodians on formalizing Indigenous Ghanaian dress styles for parliamentary proceedings. The research also uncovers the tangible impact of parliamentary dress codes on Ghana's local fashion industry, illustrating how political attire influences broader sartorial trends nationally. Key findings illuminate the crucial, yet underexplored, role of clothing in legislative representation and identity formation within a post-colonial African state, Ghana. Theoretically, this study significantly advances understanding of the complex intersection between fashion, cultural identity, and political governance in postcolonial contexts, positioning Ghana within broader African and global discourses. It reveals parliamentary attire as a critical site for negotiating national identity, demonstrating the dynamic tension and synthesis between enduring colonial legacies and deliberate post-indigenous reclamation. Furthermore, the research documents the socio-economic impact of political dress codes on Ghana's local creative industries, informing vital policy debates concerning the formalization and potential legislation of culturally resonant parliamentary attire. Crucially, the findings underscore the urgent imperative for systematic preservation of this evolving facet of Ghana's cultural heritage. The study recommends: further historical research into pre-1951 colonial-era parliamentary dress to uncover obscured cultural expressions; Legislative consideration to formalize Ghanaian parliamentary dress culture; Establishing a dedicated parliamentary museum to preserve robes and artifacts, safeguarding this vital heritage for future scholarship and public engagement. A thesis in the Department of Music Education, School of Creative Arts, submitted to the school of Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Arts and Culture) in the University of Education, Winneba DECEMBER, 2024

2024-12-01T00:00:00Z Arhin Jnr., B. O. http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/5144 2026-03-25T10:51:07Z 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z

Folklore business in the creative economy of Ghana Arhin Jnr., B. O. Folklore, a vital component of Ghana’s cultural heritage, has been largely overlooked in the country’s creative economy. It has been observed that folklore business is declining with inadequate contribution to the creative economy of Ghana. The study sought to assess the folklore in the creative economy of Ghana. Using a mixed method, nine (9) participants were selected for the qualitative data through purposive sampling and four hundred and thirty-two (432) respondents were used in a questionnaire to collect the quantitative data. The stakeholder, cultural industry, diffusion innovation, and creative economy theories underpinned the study. Using the exploratory sequential design, the study gathered both qualitative and quantitative data through interview, observation, and questionnaire to collect the data for the study. The study recorded a significant contribution of folklore impact in the creative economy of Ghana, including branding, commercialisation and tourism potentials on a national scale. These were found to be avenues to reduce unemployment, increase tax revenue net and increase the Gross Domestic Product of Ghana. However, factors such as copyright, branding, and perception remain a major challenge on the commercialisation drive of the subject matter. Therefore, it is recommended that obtaining authorisation and fee paying for folklore commercialisation, should exclude the domestic folklore industry stakeholders in Ghana. Thus, the state should as soon as possible amend its copyright act to reflect the new dynamics of the populace views. Again, a national perception and branding drive of folklore tourism should be instituted through the National Commission on Culture and the National Folklore Board to create awareness and grant incentives to folklore commercialisation groups in Ghana. A dissertation in the Department of Music Education, School of Creative Arts, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Arts and Culture) in the University of Education, Winneba OCTOBER, 2023

2023-10-01T00:00:00Z