Perceived Post-project Sustainability of the Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (Step) Project in Busua

Abstract

The literature has proven that most implemented projects by governments, non-governmental organisations, international agencies and project developers in Africa underperform and are unsustainable after the exit of external supports. The study assesses the sustainability of a Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (STEP) project implemented in Busua. A descriptive research design based on pragmatism was adopted with mixed method data collection approach. Interview schedule was used for the household heads (176 respondents) and interview guide were used to collect data from the focus group discussion and key informants. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 and content analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings from the study showed that the project was generally not sustainable, yet it was effective by implementing the planned activities of the project: capacity building, socio-economic interventions, direct tourism interventions and the environmental activities. Residents benefitted from the project in economic, social and environmental terms, but the activities that generated the benefits are presently not functioning. Furthermore, the contingency approach of governance was adopted by the local management with limited structures, which generated managerial, structural, financial and social barriers that affected the governance and the sustainability of the project. It is therefore recommended that GTA, Ahanta West District Assembly, NGOs and project developers institute governance and institutional structures in the planning of projects, and also ensure that documentation is well established and deposited at the requisite institutions for reference for academia and tourism practitioners.