Effects of wetland management on social, cultural and economic development in the Assin North Municipality

Abstract

The study was a case study framed in a descriptive research design intended to examine the effects of wetland management on the social, economic and cultural development of five communities in the Assin North Municipality in the Central Region. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques, namely simple random, purposive and quota, were used. Interview schedule was used on the respondents in the communities, while questionnaire was used to collect data from the Municipal Assembly, Forestry Commission and Wildlife Department. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (Version16.0) and Microsoft Word softwares were used to facilitate data analysis. The results were presented in tables and charts The Abunu, Abusa, periodic rent and long lease systems were the main forms of land tenure. The land tenure practised in the area was not structured, but widespread, with a lot of destructive tendencies. This had adversely affected the services the wetlands provided the people.The effect was such that sources for income generation, recreation and entertainment and performance of cultural rituals had reduced drastically and, in some cases, had been wiped out. The communities continued to derive economic, social and cultural benefits from the remaining wetlands. The constraints, inhibiting the wise and efficient use of the wetlands had allowed room for indiscriminate use of the wetlands without any punishment to offenders. It is recommended that the government, Municipal Assembly, Wildlife Department, Forestry Commission and the community should work together to ensure that the challenges, which threaten wetlands, are removed to ensure sustainable wetland services.