The Centre started out as a Research Centre and the scope of its research activity is reflected in the Research Report Series which was phased out in 1993 and replaced by Discussion Papers and the New Series Discussion Paper: However, there are plans to revive the Report Series and to include reports by research students at the master of philosophy and doctoral levels. Two types of research are undertaken at the Centre: applied research and basic research. Applied research is often contracted by external agencies such as NGO’s, Ministries and Government Departments and Civil Society Groups. Recent examples include local governance performance for Action Aid-Ghana International, and the mapping of indigenous traditional institutions in collaboration with the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development.

Basic research is inherent in the functions of senior members of the Centre and these are often documented in journals of international repute ( See staff publication )

The Centre has at its disposal a core of experienced field research assistants, well-versed in the art and science of data collection and data management techniques and these front-line staff have proved invaluable in producing the hard data that informs the empirical findings in Centre reports. Presently CDS research activities revolve around the following developmental concerns:

The Centre’s research facilities are available to its research students especially Doctoral and MPhil students. Samples of such theses are given below:

RECENT PHD THESES

2005  Ocansey, Frederick.  Relevance of public secondary school students career aspirations to the manpower needs of Ghana.  Dr. N.N. Pecku and Dr. N.K.T. Ghartey.

Kamara, Sulley Sisco (2003) Local Partnership for sustainable rural livelihood: A case study of three West African Villages . (Supervisors: Dr. J.A. Micah, Prof. Karl-Eric Eriksson)

This work examines the role of local partnerships in the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods. Study shows that households in village communities are generally deprived of the basic livelihood building blocks which are essential for the achievement of the desired goal of sustainable livelihoods.

Bandie, Robinson Dakubu Boye. (2003) Financing Local Level Development through the District Assemblies Common Fund in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. (Supervisors: Prof. C.K. Brown, Prof. S.B. Kendie)

This study focuses on the utilization of financial resources by district assemblies, (decentralized governance mechanism in Ghana). It critically examined the prospects and problems of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) with respect to utilization at the district levels and concluded that the DACF had a dominating effect on the expenditure and revenue patterns of the districts and contributes substantially to local level development.

Essegbey, George Owusu. (2002) Technological Capacity Building in Developing Countries: A case of Crop biotechnology in Ghana . (Supervisors: Dr. J.A. Micah, Dr. K.N. Afful)

This Thesis assesses the state of biotechnology in Ghana to generate some policy options for the advancement of biotechnological capacity development in the country. Its concludes that capacity for innovation is generally thwarted.

RECENT MPHIL THESES

Koomson, Frederick. (2004) Accessibility to Non-Bank Credit and the Growth of Micro and Small scale enterprises: A case study of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. (Supervisors: Drs. N.K.T. Ghartey/Dr. F. Enu-Kwesi)

This study set out to examine the accessibility of medium and small-scale enterprises to non-bank credit and found that credit was inadequate and often mistimed.

Osei-Kuffuor, Patrick. (2003) Community participation in the National Poverty Reduction Programme (NPRP): A case of the Dangme West District. (Supervisors: Dr. J.V. Mensah/Dr. F. Enu-Kwesi).

This study aimed at assessing the extent to which project beneficiaries were empowered through training and capacity building activities to participate effectively in the NPRP.

Sam, Adelaide Baaba. (2003)Promotional institutions and firm level performance of small-scale enterprises in the Cape Coast Municipality of the Central Region. (Supervisors: Prof. C.K. Brown. Dr. J.V. Mensah).

The study tested the hypotheses that there is no significant difference in firm-level growth of small-scale industries that received assistance from promotional institutions and those that did not. Concluded that there were statistically significant differences with implications for government intervention.

Wiafe, Alex. (2003) Bridging the gap between employers Labour needs and the supply of university graduates: The case of social science graduate of university of Ghana. (Supervisors: Dr. S. B. Kendie/ Mr. K .S. Aikins).

This work studied the Volta River Authority, the Agricultural Development Bank, Unilever and the Faculty of Social Studies of the university of Ghana and observed that the gap between labour need and supply of graduates manifested itself in the different ways the university and industries placed relative importance on generic skills.

Aggey, Mawuena. (2002) Innovation dissemination rates, linkages and perceptions: the case of Technoserve projects under the Techiman zonal office. (Supervisors: Dr. N. k. T. Ghartey/Prof. C.K. Brown).

This work investigates how adopter-perceptions of innovations attributes, resource/service linkages and promotion-agents efforts relate with dissemination rates.

Brew-Ward, Margaret, (2002) Parental attitude toward girls' education and its implications for community action: the case of selected communities in the Central Region. (Supervisors: Dr. S.B. Kendie/ Dr. E.K. Ekumah).

Study examines the perception of people towards girls’ education and the basis on which parents decide the sex of a child to send to school as well as parental aspiration for their children especially girls.

Kaba, Peter A. (2002) The role of communication in project planning and implementation within decentralized structure: The case of the Cape Coast municipal Assembly. (Supervisors: Prof. C.K. Brown/ Dr. S.B. Kendie).

The study examined the role of communication in enhancing the participation or involvement of opinion leaders, community residents, assembly members and heads of decentralized departments in designing and implementing projects in local communities.

Morrison, Dorothy A. (2002) Local non-governmental organizations [NGOs] and street children in the Accra metropolis. (Supervisors: Dr. E.K. Ekumah/ Dr. J.V. Mensah).

Thousands of children live street children and do not acquire any formal education or skill training that will enable them be productive. This study assesses the effectiveness of local NGO interventional programmes for street children in the Accra Metropolis.

Sangmuah, Ewuradjoa, (2002) The socio-economic circumstances of women oil palm processors in Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Districts. (Supervisors: Dr. N.K.T. Ghartey/ Mrs. Akua .O. Britwum).

The study nvestigates the socio-economic circumstances of three categories of women oil processors with differing support structures in order to comprehend intra-gender situations.

Tenkorang, Emmanuel, (2002) Sanitation, hygiene and stored drinking water quality of households in the Sissala and Bolgatanga Districts of Ghana. (Supervisors: Dr. S.B. Kendie/Dr. F. Enu-Kwesi).

The study examined domestic stored water and found linkages between microbiological contamination as well as in the hygiene and health behaviour in the sample communities.

This study describes and evaluates the administration of the patent system in Ghana and concludes that the patent system as practiced in Ghana needs to be modified in several material areas to make it a vehicle for national development.

Akoto, Patrick. (2001) Women, maize production and the environment thecase of Akwapim North District. (Supervisors: Dr .S.B Kendie/Dr .J.V. Mensah).

This study investigates the impact of the environmental degradation problem on women’s ability to produce food in the Akwapim North District.

Akrono, Francis N. (2001) Linkage patterns in the growth of small -scale enterprises: a case study of the Cape Coast municipality. (Supervisors: Prof. .C.K. Brown/ Dr. Francis Enu-Kwesi).

This study focused on the role of small-scale entrepreneurs, promotion agencies and business incubators in ensuring adequate linkages among the small-scale enterprises on the Cape Coast Municipality.

Anoff, Justice Sakyi, (2001) Structural adjustment and crop production in Ghana: A case study of Assin District. (Supervisors: Dr. J .A Micah/ Dr. I. K. Acheampong).

This study examined the instruments of the structural Adjustment Programme, the relationship between the instruments and crops and the nature of the instruments with direct bearing on crop production.

Eshun, John A. (2001) Community perceptions of the development value of education and their socio-economic correlates: The case of some selected villages in the Assin District. (Supervisors: Dr. N.K.T. Ghartey/ Mrs. A.O. Britwum).

Illiteracy, landlessness and absolute poverty pose a challenge for education and development. This is a study of perceptions that exist in Assin District rural communities, about formal education and development.

Essaw, David W. (2001) Managing the maintenance of rural water supply in the Central Region of Ghana. (Supervisors: Prof. C.K. Brown/ Dr .S.B Kendie).

This study investigates the structures necessary to manage the maintenance of water facilities, the funding system used and the institutions involved in managing such water facilities.

Atongi, A.Anthony, (2000) Population, poverty and environmental degradation in the Bawku East District. (Supervisors: Dr. S.B. Kendie/ Dr. N.K.T Ghartey).

This thesis examines the relationship among population pressure, poverty and environmental degradation in the Bawku East District.

Mensah, Philip J. (2000) Industrial property and economic development: the case of the patent system in Ghana [1992-1999] (Supervisors: Dr P.E. Bondzi –Simpson/ Dr Micah).

Aikins, Kenneth S. (1999) An evaluation of safety training programmes in three Ghanaian industries. (Supervisors: Dr J.A.Micah/ Dr E.K. Ekumah).

This study examined problems and issues related to safety training in some Ghanaian Industries and developed a model programme as a standard for safety training.

Ampomah, Ben (1999) Traditional knowledge, local initiatives and water resources management: the Weija Dam catchment’s area. (Supervisors: Dr. S.B. Kendie/ Drs. N.K.T. Ghartey).

This study investigates the existence and importance of local level initiatives and knowledge systems in the management of water resources in The Weija dam area

10. Anuwah-Amarh, Ebenezer T. (1999) The development of capabilities in Ghanaian manufacturing:case studies of Aluworks and Wamco. (Supervisors: Dr. J .A. Micah/ Mrs. Nana Ama Anokye).

This thesis theses examined the development of technological capabilities in Ghanaian manufacturing, using data from two firms – Alluworks and WAMCO.

Sey-Haizel, George (1999) Funding waste management in the Cape Coast municipality. (Supervisors: Dr.S.B. Kendie/ Patrick Agbesinyale).

This thesis examined the funding of waste management within the Cape Coast Municipality and the extent to which it facilitated the achievements of the decentralization Act 462. Concluded that inadequate funding has contributed immensely to poor environmental practices.

Boateng, Andrews Kwasi. (1998) Trade fairs and the development of industry in Ghana: the case of wood and furniture making industries in Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions. (Supervisors: Dr. J.A.Micah/ Mrs. N.A.Anokye).

This work investigates the effectiveness of trade fairs in the development of industries, specifically wood and furniture-making industry.

de-Graft-Jonhson, Joseph W.K (1997) Environmental concerns of small -scale industries: a case study of alcohol distillation in Central Region. (Supervisors: Dr.S.B.Kendie/Mr.Victor Mensah).

The study identifies the environmental impacts of small-scale alcohol distillation in the Central Region.

Adamu-Issah, (1996) Madeez Early childhood care and development practices in Ghana: implications for community based programmes. (Supervisors: Dr. Joseph Kwasi Ayim Boakye/Dr. N.K.T. Ghartey)

This thesis explores the issue of peoples’ acceptance and participation in community-based early childhood care and development (ECCD) programmes.

Awortwe-Abban, Jerome Rudolf (1996) Training for rural community mannagement of water:the case of Burgeap Central Region Project, Ghana. (Supervisors: Dr. Joseph Kwasi Ayim Boakye/Dr. N.K.T. Ghartey)

This study assess the effectiveness of the Central Region Rural Water Supply (CRRWSP) training programme for developing proper use and maintenance of water pumps.

Boateng, William (1996) Community participation in sustainable land management: a case study of the East Akim District of Ghana. (Supervisors: Prof. C. K. Brown/ Dr. Nana kwami Tekyi Ghartey).

This study engages with the role of local peoples in strategies designed for sustainable land management in East-Akim District of Ghana.

Boateng, Samuel A (1996) Small scale maize farmers and the application for improved agricultural technologies:a case study of Ejura-Sekyedomasi District of Ghana. (Supervisors: Dr. John .A. Micah/ Mrs. Nana Ama Anokye).

The study investigates farmers response to price changes by testing the postulates that non-price factors in particular application of improved technologies are major determinants of agricultural supply.

Essel, Thomas T. (1996) The impact of rural banks' lending operations on rural development:a case study of the Kakum Rural bank. (Supervisors: Prof. C.K .Brown/ Dr. E. K. Ekumah).

The study investigates the credit lending operations of rural banks (Kakum Rural Bank) and its impact on the people in the catchment areas.

RECENT M.A. DISSERTATIONS

Quayson, Delanyo Ayee. (2006) Performing management in Ghanaian industries: a case study of British America tobacco Ghana Ltd. (Supervisor: Prof. J. Micah.)

Sam, Albert (2006) Assessing the quality of journalism at the daily graphic of the graphic communications group. (Supervisor: Dr F. Enu-Kwesi)

Justice Solomon Koranteng (2005) Recruitment and retention of academic staff in Ghanaian polytechnic; a case study of sunyani polytechnic.
The main purpose of the study was to identify factors influencing the recruitment and retention of staff in Ghanaian polytechnic with special reference to sunyani polytechnic.

Bonbanya, Nicholas, N. (2005) Conditions of Service and turnover for information technology personnel: a case of SG-SSB Ltd.(Supervisor: Prof. A.M. Abane)

Kolson, Raymond K. (2005) Perception of trainees about the middle level training programme of GIMPA.(Supervisor: Dr I.K. Acheampong.)

Acquah, Hannah Esi Akyere. (2005) The challenge of staff development: The case of cape coast polytechnic. (Supervisor: prof. J.A. Micah.)

Nyanor, Seth Akuoko (2005) The effects of redevelopment on socio-economic development: a case study of new juaben municipal assembly.(Supervisor: Dr. F. Enu-Kwesi)

Nyarko, Francis Aboagye. (2004) Evaluation of training programmes of the criminal investigation department of the Ghana police service. (Supervisor: Mr. K.S. Aikins)

Opoku, Mustapha Osman. (2004) Training and development of staff through information and communication technology: a case study of sunyani polytechnic.(Supervisor: Dr. F. Enu-Kwesi)

Eshun, Thomas Bright (2004) Waste management practices in Ghana: a case study of wassa west district (Supervisor: Mr. Joseph Agyenim Boateng.)

Eshun, Grace Mansa Challenges facing first year students in Selected Senior Secondary School in the Cape Coast Municipality, Ghana.  CDS. Prof. Quist:  (2006).