UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

NYANKPALA CAMPUS

YEAR ONE REPORT ON THE THIRD TRIMESTER FIELD PRACTICAL

PROGRAMME (TTFPP)

A PROFILE OF LANTINKPA COMMUNITY FOUND IN THE NORTH EAST GONJA

DISTRICT IN THE SAVANNAH REGION OF GHANA.

PRESENTED BY

GROUP SIXTY-SIX (66) OF NYANKPALA CAMPUS

SEPTEMBER/NOVEMBER, 2023
 PREPARED BY

GROUP 66

COORDINATOR: DR. ALHASSAN BABA ZAKARIA

NAMES OF RESEACHERS OF GROUP 66

2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

NAMES OF RESEACHERS ID NUMBER CAMPUS

ABDULAI ABDUL-MALIK DNR/0003/22 NYANKPALA
PREH MICHAEL EMS/0054/22 NYANKPALA
ISSAHAKU ALHASSAN BMB/0070/22 NYANKPALA
GYIMAH ATTA HENEBENG MIB/0016/22 NYANKPALA
GABRIEL
BITORIBA BIGURI EDWIN AGE/0034/22 NYANKPALA
MUMUNI ABDUL FATAWU DAT/0059/22 NYANKPALA
ABUKARI MALTITI AMISHETU EHM/0006/22 NYANKPALA
SAAD ILHAM BMB/0104/22 NYANKPALA
ISSAHAKU NEINA NASHIRATU FCS/0044/22 NYANKPALA
ABDULAI SAMATA DFC/0004/22 NYANKPALA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We express our gratitude to the Almighty God for the success of this report.

I
The group also wishes to express our profound gratitude to the Deans of faculties, all facilitators

of the TTFPP and our field coordinator Dr. Alhassan Baba Zakaria for their contribution and

guidance towards the writing of this report. We are also grateful to the chief, (Dawulemba

Fuseini) and also the elders of this community for receiving us warmly, the former assemblyman

Mr. Mahamudu Mahama and the unit committee chairman Mr. Saaka N. Sulemana for their

priceless contribution and cooperation towards our successful stay in Lantinkpa community.

We are once again like express our gratitude and appreciation to the East Gonja District

Assembly and all other group governmental department who offered assistance to the group

during our secondary data collection and the head teachers of the school, Mr. Mohammed Ali.

Primary and Junior high school respectively and the entire community especially Mr. Alhaj

Manza and Mr. Adams for their fatherly and brotherly care.

Finally, to all members of group sixty-six (66) for their participation throughout the research and

compilation of this report.

II
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..............................................................................................................
II

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..............................................................................................................

III

LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................

XI

LIST OF FIGURES .....................................................................................................................

XII

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED ..................................................................................................

XIII

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................

XIV

INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................
1

GENERAL OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................

1

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ...........................................................................................................

1

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................... Error! Bookmark not

defined. PERSONAL INTERVIEWS .................................................. Error! Bookmark

not defined.

INDIVIDUAL OBSERVATIONS ...........................................................................................

2

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION .............................................................................................

2

III
 TRANSECT WALK ................................................................................................................
2

RANDOM SAMPLING ..........................................................................................................

2

SECONDARY DATA ..............................................................................................................

2

COMMUNITY FORUM .........................................................................................................

3

INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEW ...................................................................................................

3

KEY FINDINGS .........................................................................................................................

3

KEY INFORMANTS INTERVIEW ...........................................................................................

3

TOOLS FOR ANALYSIS ...........................................................................................................

3 LIMITATIONS AND
CHALLENGES ....................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................................

5

1.0 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT ................................................................

5

1.1 PHYSICAL RESOURCE BASE ..........................................................................................

5

1.1.1 LOCATION AND SIZE .................................................................................................

5

1.1.2 GEOLOGY .....................................................................................................................

6

1.1.3 RELIEF ...........................................................................................................................

6

1.1.4 DRIANAGE ...................................................................................................................

6

1.1.5 CLIMATE .......................................................................................................................

7

IV
 1.1.6 VEGETATION ...............................................................................................................
8

1.1.7 GEOLOGY AND SOIL TYPES .....................................................................................

8

1.1.8 MAJOR FINDINGS .......................................................................................................

9

1.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE BASE .....................................................................................

9

1.2.1 ECONOMICAL PLANTS AND WILD TREES ............................................................

9

1.2.2 ANIMALS (AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL) ..........................................................

10

1.2.3 FOREST-TYPES ..........................................................................................................

10

1.2.4 MAJOR FINDINGS .....................................................................................................

10

1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ............................................................................................

10

1.3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................................

10

1.3.2 BUILT
ENVIRONMENT ..............................................................................................11

1.3.3 LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL

DEGRADATION ....................................................11

1.3.4 MAJOR
FINDINGS ......................................................................................................11

CHAPTER TWO ..........................................................................................................................

13

2.0 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS ..................................................................................

13

V
 2.1 POPULATION SIZE ...........................................................................................................
13
2.1.1: LABOUR FORCE .......................................................................................................
15

2.1.2: AGE DEPENDENCY RATIO .....................................................................................

16

2.1.3: ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY RATIO .......................................................................

17

2.1.4: POPULATION DENSITY ..........................................................................................

17

2.1.5: HOUSEHOLD SIZE ...................................................................................................

17

2.1.6: FERTILITY AND MORTALITY RATE .....................................................................

18

2.1.7 MIGRATION ................................................................................................................

19

2.1.8: MAJOR FINDINGS ....................................................................................................

19 CHAPTER

THREE ...................................................................................................................... 20

3.0 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................

20

3.1 RELIGION .......................................................................................................................... 20

3.2 ETHINICITY, KINSHIP, VALUES, NORMS, TABOOS, MARRIAGE SYSTEMS ETC.

................................................................................................................................................... 20

3.2.1 ETHINICITY................................................................................................................ 20

3.2.3 KINSHIP ......................................................................................................................

21

3.2.4 VALUES .......................................................................................................................

21

3.2.5 TABOOS AND NORMS ..............................................................................................

21

VI
 3.2.5 MARRIAGE SYSTEM ................................................................................................
22

3.2.6 GENDER ISSUES ........................................................................................................

22

3.3 EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................... 22

3.3.1 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATE (2022/2023)...........................................................

24

3.3.2 SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE........................................................................................

25

3.3.3 NON-FORMAL............................................................................................................
25

3.3.4 LITERACY RATE ........................................................................................................

25

3.3.5 TEACHER-PUPIL RATIO ...........................................................................................

25
3.3.5 EDUCATIONAL STATUS ...........................................................................................
26

3.3.6 CONDITIONS OF THE SCHOOL ..............................................................................

26

3.3.7 TREND OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE ..............................................................

27

3.3.8 POTENTIALS ..............................................................................................................

28

3.3.9 CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................

28

3.4 HEALTH .............................................................................................................................

28

3.4.1 NUMBER AND TYPE OF HEALTH INSTITUTION ................................................

28

VII
 3.4.2 MEDICINAL PLANTS ...................................................................................................
29

3.4.3 NURSE-PATIENTS RATIO .........................................................................................

29

3.4.4 STATE AND CONDITION OF THE HEALTH FACILITY........................................ 30

3.4.5 NUMBER AND TYPES OF TRADITIONAL HEALTH FACILITIES ......................

31

3.4.6 POTENTIALS ..............................................................................................................

31

3.4.7 CHALEENGES ............................................................................................................

31

3.5 HOUSING ...........................................................................................................................

32

3.5.1 TYPES OF FACILITIES ..............................................................................................

32

3.5.2 PROPERTY OWNERSHIP ..........................................................................................

33

3.5.3 STATE OF HOUSES IN THE COMMUNITY ............................................................

33

3.5.4 HOUSING PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY ......................................................

33

3.6 WATER AND SANITATION ..............................................................................................

33

3.6.1 SANITATION ...............................................................................................................

34

3.6.2 MAJOR FINDINGS UNDER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ........................................

34

CHAPTER FOUR .........................................................................................................................

35

4. 0 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................ 35

4.1 EMPLOYMENT STATUS .................................................................................................. 35

VIII
 4.2 POTENTIAL LABOUR FORCE ........................................................................................ 36
4.4 OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION .................................................................................. 36

4.5 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION .................................................................................... 37

4.5. 1 CROP FARMING ........................................................................................................

38

4.5.2 LAND TENURE SYSTEM AND MODE OF LAND ACQUISITION ....................... 38

4.5.3 FARMING SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 38

4.5.4 FARM PRACTICE ....................................................................................................... 38

4.5.5 FARM SIZE .................................................................................................................. 38

4.5.6 TYPES OF LABOR ..................................................................................................... 39

4.5.7 FARMING TECHNOLOGY AND INPUTS ............................................................... 39

4.5.8 SOURCE OF FINANCE .............................................................................................. 39

4.5.9 ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES ....................................... 39

4.5.10MAJOR CROP GROWN IN OUTPUT LEVEL .........................................................

39

4.5.11 DISTANCE FROM HOMESTEAD TO FARM ......................................................... 40

4.5.12 STORAGE OF FARM PRODUCTS .......................................................................... 40

4.5.13 MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCE ...................................................................... 40

4.6 ANIMAL PRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 40

4.6.1 TYPES OF LIVRSTOCK AND POULTRY ................................................................ 40

4.6.2 OUTPUT LEVEL ......................................................................................................... 42

4.6.3 COMMON ANIMAL DISEASES ............................................................................... 42

4.6.4 VETERINARY SERVICE OFFICERS ........................................................................ 42

4.6.5 MARKETING .............................................................................................................. 43

IX
 4.7 AGRICULTURAL SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS ......................................................... 43

4.7.1 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ....................................................................................... 43

4.7.2 FARMING ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................... 43

4.7.3 POTENTIALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ................................................ 43

4.7.4 CHALLENGES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR .............................................. 43

4.8 INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................. 44

4.8.1 TYPES OF INDUSTRIES AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED ................... 44

4.8.2 SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE INDUSTRIAL PROCES ....................... 44

4.8.4 TYPES OF OWNERSHIP ............................................................................................ 48

4.8.5 AGE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUD OF INDUSTRALISTS ....................... 48

4.8.6 SOURCES OF STARTING CAPITAL ........................................................................ 48

4.8.7 TYPE OF LABOUR AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUD .................................... 48

4.8.8 METHODS OF PRODUCTION (LABOUR/CAPITAL INTENSIVE) ...................... 48

4.8.9 MARKETING OF PRODUCTS .................................................................................. 48

4.8.10 WASTE DISPOSAL ................................................................................................... 48

4.8.11 PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR ........................................................ 49

4.8.12 POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES. ...................................................................... 49

4.9 COMMERCE AND SERVICES ......................................................................................... 49

4.9.1 MAJOR SERVICE ACTIVITY .................................................................................... 50

4.9.2 FINANCING AND BANKING SERVICE .................................................................. 51

4.9.3 TOURISM .................................................................................................................... 51

4.9.4 POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES. ........................................................................ 51

4.9.5 HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND EXPENDITURE HOUSEHOLD INCOME ............. 52

4.10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION ....................................................................... 55

4.10.1 TRANSPORT ............................................................................................................. 55

X
4.10.2 COMMUNICATION .................................................................................................. 55

4.11 ENERGY ........................................................................................................................... 56

4.11.1 SOURCES OF ENERGY USED ................................................................................ 56

4.11.2 PROBLEMS OF ENERGY USED IN THE COMMUNITY ..................................... 56

4.11.3 MAJOR FINDINGS ................................................................................................... 57

CHAPTER FIVE ..........................................................................................................................

58

5.0 HISTORICAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE ..................................................................... 58

5.1 TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEM OF LANTINKPA COMMUNITY .................... 58

5.2 FUNCTIONS OF THE TRADITONAL POLITICAL SYSTEM ....................................... 59

5.3 DECISION-MAKING PROCES ........................................................................................ 59

5.4 MODERN POLITICAL STRUCTURE .............................................................................. 60

5.5 FUNCTIONS OF THE MODERN POLITICAL HIERARCHY ....................................... 60

5.6 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MODERN AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS 61

5.7 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION ................................................................... 61

5.7.1 INTER INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP/LINKAGE .......

61

5.8 COMMUNITY INITIATED PROJECTS ...........................................................................

62

5.8.1 ON-GOING PROJECTS ..............................................................................................

62

CHAPTER SIX .............................................................................................................................

63

6.0 COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALS EMANATING

FROM THE
COMMUNITY PROFILE ............................................................................................................
63

XI
 6.1 NATURAL RESOUCES AND ENVIROMENT ................................................................
63

6.1.1 PROBLEMS ................................................................................................................. 63

6.1.2 POTENTIAL ................................................................................................................ 63

6.2 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS ...............................................................................

63

6.2.1 PROBLEMS ................................................................................................................. 63

6.2.2 POTENTIAL ................................................................................................................ 63

6.3 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................

64

6.3.1 PROBLEMS ................................................................................................................. 64

6.3.2 POTENTIAL ................................................................................................................ 64

6.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .........................................................................................
64

6.4.1 PROBLEMS ................................................................................................................. 64

6.4.2 POTENTIAL ................................................................................................................ 65

6.5 HISTORICAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE .................................................................

65

6.5.1 PROBLEMS ................................................................................................................. 65

6.5.2 POTENTIAL ................................................................................................................ 65

CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................
66

RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................................................................
67

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................
68

APPENDICES ..............................................................................................................................
69

APPENDIX 1: LANTINKPA COMMUNITY MAP ................................................................

69

XII
 APPENDIX 2: QUESTIONAIRES ADMINISTERED BY GROUP 66 ..................................
71

APPENDIX 3: EXPLANATION OF HOW THE TOOLS FOR THE ANALYSIS WERE

USED
...................................................................................................................................................
73

APPENDIX 4: THE PROBLEM TREE ANALYSIS ...............................................................

75

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1: below shows the economic and medicinal values of the various plants. .......................
9
Table 2.1: Shows the sex distribution of Lantinkpa community. ..................................................
13
Table 2.2: Shows the total population distribution of Lantinkpa community. ..............................
14
Table 3.1: shows the religion distribution of Lantinkpa communities. .........................................
20
Table 3.2: Shows the educational status in the community...........................................................
23

XIII
Table 3.3: shows the enrollment pattern for the 2022/2023 academic year. .................................
24
Table 3.4: shows the number of trained teachers admitted 2022/20223 academic year ...............
25
Table 3.5: Shows medicinal plants, parts used and diseases cured. ..............................................
29
Table 3.6: Shows the total number of houses and the materials used ...........................................
32
Table 3.7: Shows the types of facilities in the houses in the community. .....................................
32
Table 4.1: Shows the occupational distribution of Lantinkpa community ...................................
36
Table 4.2: shows the type of livestock and their percentages .......................................................
40
Table 4.3: Shows animals diseases ...............................................................................................
42
Table 4.4: Shows the industrial activities in Lantinkpa communities. .........................................
44
Table 4.5: Shows the number of people in the commerce and service activities of the community.
.......................................................................................................................................................
50
Table 4.6: Shows a sample of the income distribution in the community. ...................................
52
Table 4.7: Shows the number of households and the type of energy they use. .............................
56
Table 6.1: A pairwise ranking of the problems of the community. ...............................................
73
Table 6.2: Shows swot analysis ....................................................................................................
74
Table 6.3: Shows the community problems and potentials using the SWOT analysis. ................
74
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1: District Map .................................................................................................................
5
Figure 1.2: Lantinkpa Stream .........................................................................................................
7
XIV
Figure 1.3: Lantinkpa Vegetation ....................................................................................................
8
Figure 2.1: Shows the sex distribution of the Lantinkpa community. ..........................................
14
Figure 2.2: Shows the population pyramid of the population distribution of the community. .....
15
Figure 3.1: lantinkpa Presbyterian school .....................................................................................
23
Figure 3.2: Shows the educational status of the people of Lantinkpa community .......................
24
Figure 3.3: lantinkpa Presbyterian school borehole ......................................................................
27
Figure 3.4: Lantinkpa Chips Compound .......................................................................................
30
Figure 4.1: Shows a pie chart of the occupational distribution of the communities .....................
37
Figure 4. 2: Types of livestock’s ...................................................................................................
41
Figure 4.3: Pie chart showing percentages of livestock’s ............................................................
41
Figure 4.5: Lantinkpa Community Market ...................................................................................
50
Figure 4.6: Lorenz Curve graph ....................................................................................................
53
Figure 4.7: Teleecommunication facilities ....................................................................................
55

XV
 LIST OF ACRONYMS USED
UDS - UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

TTFPP - THIRD TRIMISTER FIELD PRACTICAL PROGRAM

NGO - NON-GOVERONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

SWOT - STRENGH, WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITY AND THREAT

MOH - MINISTRY OF HEALTH

D/A - DISTRICT ASSEMBLY

JHS - JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

KG - KINGDERGARTEN

MOFA - MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHPS - COMMUNITY BASE HEALTH PLANNING SERVICES

SHS - SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

PNDC - PROVISIONAL NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL

XVI
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report unveils the research findings from Lantinkpa community in the North East Gonja
District by group 66 of the University for Development Studies on our Third Trimester Field
Practical Program (TTFPP).
The profile of Lantinkpa community which is located in the North East Gonja district of the
Savannah Region of Ghana. The groups aimed at compilation of comprehensive reports on the
problems and potentials of the community. The research and the report were conducted using the
following methods, transect walk, questionnaire observation, personal interviews, focus group
discussions, SWOT analysis, pairwise ranking and many more. The groups were able to come up
with data/information concerning; population size, health status, educational background,
occupational distribution and demographical characteristics. We also came up with the labor
force, working class, level of production and income distribution in the two communities. The
physical resources, natural resources, traditional, political system were also attended to.
Finally, we concluded that, the research resulted that the people of LANTINKPA community are
far behind developments and therefore needs help from the government, non-governmental
organizations and other stakeholders.

XVII
XVIII
 INTRODUCTION

The University for Development Studies is well noted for its extraordinary trimester system. The
Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP) in particular is different from the first and
second trimester where pure intensive theoretical, library research and laboratory works are
carried out on campus.

Students are attached to selected rural communities in Ghana for a period of seven (7) weeks for
purely practical programmed. The curriculum of the university draws its jurisdiction from the
PNDC law 279 section 3 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana which mandates the institution to
combine academic work with communities/rural knowledge in order to ensure a better
interaction between the two (2), for the total developments of the Northern parts of Ghana in
particular and the country as a whole.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

➢ Exposing UDS students to the nature of problems in the country especially (Northern, Upper East,
Upper West, Oti and Brong Ahafo regions) parts of the country.
➢ Helping students to develop favorable attitude towards working in the rural and deprived
communities.
➢ Providing useful service to Ghanaian Rural communities through the exchange of knowledge and its
application to address the felt needs and aspirations of these communities.
➢ Obtaining data/information for further research into problems solving development issues and other
purposes.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
➢ Students should be able blend traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge in their various
communities.

➢ Equip students with basic tools, techniques and skills required for the studies in the community.
➢ To help students through living and working in the community

1
➢ Assist students to apply the methods and the experience acquired to collect relevant data and, on the
bases, write a comprehensive community profile, problems, potentials and suggested interventions.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Based on the nature of the data required for this purpose, and for the effectiveness of the research,
methods and techniques below were used.

PERSONAL INTERVIEWS
This method was used in collecting primary data from the individuals in the community

INDIVIDUAL OBSERVATIONS
This method was employed to gather data on the social issues and sanitation of the people living in
the community.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

This was used to identify the problems of the people in the community.

TRANSECT WALK
A transect walk was taken to ascertain settlement pattern and identify important geographical features of
the community. We drew the map of the community through the transect walk.

RANDOM SAMPLING
We engaged this method when collecting data from some selected houses for the drawing of Lorenz
curve.

SECONDARY DATA
We went to the district assembly office at Salaga, the district capital to collect our secondary data
which was given to us in a soft copy form, after submitting our introductory letter of year one
2022/2023 academic year.

COMMUNITY FORUM
This was used to meet the community members in the collection of the primary data and the relevant
information concerning our research work in the community.

2
 INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEW
This is the method used to collect data (primary data) from the people in their individual
houses. These was because most of them go to farm during the day time, hence we visit
them in their houses in the morning and later in the evening when they are back from the
farm. We gathered information such as; household size, age distribution, the population
census etc.

KEY FINDINGS
➢ Cashew plantation (located on the land)

KEY INFORMANTS INTERVIEW

The key informants were interviewed for information on the history, taboos and norms of the
people in the community.

TOOLS FOR ANALYSIS

➢ Pairwise ranking
➢ Lorenz curve
➢ SWOT
➢ Tables
➢ Problem tree
➢ Charts
➢ Pyramids

LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES

➢ One of the major problems we encountered in the community during our research work was
language barrier.
➢ Another challenge was based on the low level of literacy in the community, which also hindered
our work in many ways and made the work difficult as the people misunderstood the questions,
we asked them.

3
➢ Because the community is a farming community, we find it very difficult to access them in the
day time, which slowed our work. We visit them in the evening and due to the tiredness of the
people, we find some sleeping by the time we get there.
➢ We also found it very difficult to get means of transport even though the community lies between
highways. We only get motorcycle from some of the community members to where we want to
go to.
➢ There were inadequate resources to finance the research work since it is a kind of selffinancing,
photocopying, typing and printing of other materials are very expensive.
➢ Many members of the community had the conception that the team was to solve their pressing
problems as well as helping them financially and this made them misunderstood our mission.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

1.1 PHYSICAL RESOURCE BASE

4
1.1.1 LOCATION AND SIZE

Lantinkpa community is located in the East Gonja District of Savannah Region in Ghana. It is
about 33.8km from salaga, which is the district capital. The community is located in the Northern
part of the district. It lies within kendenge on the north, kpalan on East, Kanakulei on the south
and ginaturu on the West.

The East Gonja district was created by a legislative instrument, Li 1938 in 2007. It is located at
south –eastern section of Savannah Region of Ghana. The district lies within latitude 8N and
9.29N longitude 0.29E and 1.26W. It shares the boundaries with Mion district to West, Nanumba-
North, Nanumba –south and kpandai district to the East and Brong Ahafo Region to the south.
The total land area of the district is 8,340.10 square kilometers, occupying about
11.97% of the land mass of the Savannah Region making it the largest district in the country.

Figure 1.1: District Map

1.1.2 GEOLOGY

5
The community is endowed with fertile land which is rich in nutrients for crop productions.
Different kinds of crops are planted. Examples are okra, maize, rice, beans, yam, cashew etc.
Yam on this part of the district is a cash crop which yields a lot of income for the people in the
community.

1.1.3 RELIEF

From the survey, we observed the land is undulating from Bunjai to Bimbilla. The community is on
a hill that slopes at both sides.

1.1.4 DRIANAGE
Lantinkpa is well drained and bounded by streams such as Alansoo, Mpruchu, Labarekanta , Itikpa,
and Luruto which are all part of Daka River.

Figure 1.2: Lantinkpa Stream

6
1.1.5 CLIMATE
Lantinkpa community lies in the tropical continental zone. Temperatures are fairly high ranging
between 29 degree celcious and 40-degree celcious, maximum temperature is recorded usually
in April, towards the end of the dry season with minimum temperatures recorded from December
to January, during the hamattan period. The area experiences a single rainy season (May to
October) and a long dry season (November to March /April). The average annual rainfall varies
between 1112.7mm and 1374.6mm.

1.1.6 VEGETATION

The natural vegetation in Lantinkpa community is the guinea savannah wood land. There are few
grooves which have been preserved over the years. The tree cover is relatively dense, compare to
the rest of the Northern Region.

Figure 1.3: Lantinkpa Vegetation

SOURCE: North East Gonja community profile

7
 1.1.7 GEOLOGY AND SOIL TYPES
The soil in the community can be grouped into two major classes. These include; Alluvial soils,
generally classified under glysols which are found around the Volta Lake, particularly in the
drawn –down zone of the volta lake during the dry season. The soils along the Volta Lake are
textured and moderately well drained in parts. The soils are potentially fertile and has potentials
for variety of crops especially vegetables and rice.

1.1.8 MAJOR FINDINGS

➢ The soil is very suitable for commercial farming
➢ The soil is also arable for the cultivation of wide range of crops such as cashew, yam and many more.
➢ The climate and vegetation of the community support the growth of crops such as yam, cassava, maize
and the rearing of animals such as sheep, goats, cattle and guinea fowls.
➢ The community has no irrigation system, they only depend on rain fall for the cultivation of their crops
which is also once yearly (May to October).
➢ Wind erosion is high.

1.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE BASE

1.2.1 ECONOMICAL PLANTS AND WILD TREES
Lantinkpa is gifted with plants such as mango trees, neem trees, teak trees, Sanya trees, cotton
trees, shea trees, cashew trees, and dawadawa trees. The community members used these plants
for economic and medicinal purposes.

Table 1.1: below shows the economic and medicinal values of the various plants.
PLANT TYPE ECONOMIC VALUE PARTS USED LOCAL NAMES

8
 Shea tree Pomade, Oil, Seed, Bark Kakulu dibi
Medicine
Cotton tree Cotton Wool, Pillow Fruit Kakili dibi
Teak tree Furniture, medicine Leaves, stem Alura dibi
Dawadawa tree Medicine, food Bark, seed Kachuna dibi
Cashew tree Food, medicine Fruits, bark Anterinya
Mango tree food, medicine Leaves, bark, fruits Mongu dibi
Sanya tree Furniture Stem Sanya dibi

1.2.2 ANIMALS (AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL)

The community breeds various kind of animals and they are gifted with some aquatic and
terrestrial animals and they include;
AQUATIC ANIMALS
Mudfish, tilapia and crab.
TERRESTRIAL
Dogs, sheep, goat, guinea fowls, cattle, cat.

1.2.3 FOREST-TYPES
The lantinkpa community has a guinea savannah wood. The tree cover is relatively dense
compared to the rest of Northern Region.

1.2.4 MAJOR FINDINGS

➢ The availability of medicinal cash trees and crops and others helps to meet the financial and medicinal
needs of the community
➢ The availability of suitable lands for crop production to enhance bumper harvest

9
 1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

1.3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Lantinkpa lies with the tropical continental climate zone with fairly high temperature
experience in April towards the end of the dry season ranging between 27.0degree
Celsius and 40.0degree Celsius and minimum temperature experienced around December
to January during the hamattan period.
The environment also experiences a single rainy season from May-October and very long dry
season from November to March and also has a vegetation cover of guinea savannah wood
land with relatively dense forest and grass land which helps in the rearing of farm animals.
In addition, the community is surrounded by a large water body called river Dakar and
the soil cover support the growing of crops such as yam, cereals, cassava and vegetables.
However, the environmental pollution is high due to the undulating nature of the land and
the activities of animals and human such as uncontrolled grazing, cutting down of trees,
digging earth for building and open defecation.

1.3.2 BUILT ENVIRONMENT

We observed that, the houses in lantinkpa are mostly built with clay. They are not strong
compared to those built with blocks and most of them collapse during heavy down pour
owing to their old nature. The building is scattered and have no specific pattern or
arrangement. This makes it difficult for certain vehicles to freely move through the
community.

1.3.3 LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

The level of environmental degradation is high due to practices such as deforestation, charcoal burning,
bad farming practice and washing in water bodies.

1.3.4 MAJOR FINDINGS

➢ Air pollution is minimal since the people do not use sophisticated equipment’s /machines in the local
industries
10
➢ The community waste disposal is done indiscriminately with the factor that they do not have refuse
dumps.
➢ Economic trees are well reserved and protected in the community because of the purposes they serve
in the community.
➢ Due to the use of fire wood and charcoal and the activities of chain saw operators’ deforestation is
high.
➢ Overgrazing of the farm animals destroys the vegetation which leads to soil erosion.
➢ The absence of meteorological service department in the municipality makes it impossible to obtain
climatic data on the community making it difficult for researches to get accurate figures thereby
resorting to only estimation.

11
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

2.1 POPULATION SIZE
Population is defined as the total number of people living in a specific geographical area for a period of
time.

The research conducted by group 66 on the third trimester field practical programme (TTFPP) in
2023 showed that, Lantinkpa community of the North East Gonja district of the Savannah part of
the Ghana has a total population of 2,968 which comprises 1160 males and 1808 females

𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 39%

𝐹𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 61%

The percentage of the male population represent 39% and the percentage of the female population
represent 61% in Lantinkpa community in the year 2023.

Table 2.1: Shows the sex distribution of Lantinkpa community.

NUMBER OF
Age-group PERCENTAGE (%) DEGREE
PEOPLE

12
 MALE 1160 39 176.36
FEMALE 1808 61 183.64
TOTAL 2,968 100 360
SOURCE: Groups Field Survey.

Males Females

Males
Females 39%
61%

Figure 2.1: Shows the sex distribution of the Lantinkpa community.

Table 2.2: Shows the total population distribution of Lantinkpa community.

AGES MALES FEMALES TOTAL PERCENTAGE
(%)
0-14 349 699 1,048 35.31
15-64 731 1003 1,734 58.4
65+ 80 106 186 6.3
TOTAL 1,160 1,808 2,968 100

13
SOURCE: Group Field Survey.

The figure shown below classifies both females and males in the aged, working class, and youth of
which the youth is more dominant than both the working class and the aged.

AGED

WORKING CLASS

YOUT H

Figure 2.2: Shows the populations pyramid of the population distribution of the

community.

SOURCE: Group survey.

2.1.1: LABOUR FORCE

This can be defined as the person that falls under the working class of a country. From the
research conducted of the group, there were Five Hundred (500) labor force out of One thousand
Seven Hundred and Thirty-Four (1734) working class.

Working class = 1,734

14
 Dependents = 1,234
So therefore, labor force = working class minus dependents

1,734 -1,234

= 500

𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

�𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = × 100
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
�

𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = × 100 = 16.84%

2.1.2: AGE DEPENDENCY RATIO

This refers to the sum of the number of people whose ages are arranged from (0-14) and (60+) all divided
by the labor force.

𝐴𝑔𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =

0.7

Hence the Age Dependency Ratio is 0.7 which is approximated to be 1. Therefore, the Age Dependency
Ration is 1:1.

15
2.1.3: ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY RATIO
The people within the age range of (0-14), (65+) and some people within the labor force who are
also dependent divided by the active labor force. The active labor force simply means the total
population minus the age group (0-14 and 65+) and some of the labor force that is not
employed/working.

Mathematically,
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛−(0−14)+(65+)+(𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒)

Economic Dependency ratio = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑟

𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

E.D.R =

= 3.5

Therefore, the economic dependency ratio is 3:1, which implies that, one (1) worker is aimed to care
for one (3) unemployed personnel.

2.1.4: POPULATION DENSITY

2.1.5: HOUSEHOLD SIZE

16
 The research conducted by the group shown there were 206 houses with 234 household
in the community. The calculation below shows how the household size was estimated.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 =

= 12.7

Which is approximately 13. This implies that, each household is made up of 13 people.

2.1.6: FERTILITY AND MORTALITY RATE

The main determinant of a country population growth rest on three major factors. These are
migration, fertility and mortality.

2.1.6.1: FERTILITY RATES

Fertility is the natural capability of a woman to offspring. There are several ways of
measuring of fertility in a given population. One of such method is the general facility
rate which can be derived by dividing the number of births in a year by the number of
women aged 15 to 48 multiplied by 10,000.
Number of births in 2022/2023 = 30
Number of potential women = 1003
Therefore, fertility rate = 30/1003*10,000
= 299.1
It implies that in a ten thousand (10,000) population (women), the brawled of which you
would find a woman to be fertile is 229.

17
 2.1.6.2: MORTALITY RATES
Mortality is another determinant of country population growth which is defined as
susceptibility to death. One method of calculating mortality rates is total number of
deaths over total number population multiplied by ten thousand (10,000).

Number of deaths in 2022/2023 = 9

Total population = 2968
Therefore, mortality rate = 9/2968*10,000
= 30.3

2.1.7 MIGRATION
This is a change in once usual place of residents, which involved the crossing of
adamant An administrative boundary. From the research conducted, it was shown that
some residents of Lantinkpa community due moved Tamale, Salaga and the southern
part of Ghana for education, marriage, jobs and security. It was equally realized that,
some residents of nearby community due migrate to Lantinkpa during the rainy
seasons for farming activities.

2.1.8: MAJOR FINDINGS

➢ It was observed that ages of 65+ do not migrate to urban centers because there are well catered for by
their children who are working in urban centers. As such their number is high.
➢ Poverty is the main purpose of migration.
➢ Female is the majority in the community.
➢ The community has a youthful population.

18
 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

3.1 RELIGION

There are three main religions in Lantinkpa community, which comprises of Islam,
African Traditional Religion and Christianity. However, it was revealed that everyone
belongs to one of the three religions. Table 3.1 below shows the religious distribution
in Lantinkpa community.

Table 3.1: shows the religion distribution of Lantinkpa communities.

RELIGION NUMBER OF PEOPLE PERCENTAGE %
Islam 2950 99.4
African Traditional Religion 8 0.3
Christianity 10 0.3
Total 2968 100

From the analysis above, it was noticed that the lantinkpa community is a Muslim dominated community.
Figure 3.1 above shows the religious distribution in lantinkpa community.

3.2 ETHINICITY, KINSHIP, VALUES, NORMS, TABOOS, MARRIAGE

SYSTEMS ETC.
3.2.1 ETHINICITY
From the research we conducted, it was known that there are four (4) ethnic groups in lantinkpa
community and they are: Gonjas, Dagombas, Fulanis, and Konkombas.

It was also revealed that, the Gonjas constitutes the largest portion of the population of (2834)
two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, eighty-six for the Dagombas (86), Fourty-two (42)
representing Fulanis, whiles the lowest were the Konkomba’s consisting of Six (6) people.
19
 3.2.3 KINSHIP
The research revealed that, Lantinkpa community is led by konyin who succeeded the chieftancy
title through the Gonjas way of inheritance (Partrilined). It was also realized that, in this type of
system the men are the head of the family and decision are democratically taking.

3.2.4 VALUES
The following are values accepted in the community;

➢ Greetings
➢ Respect for streams and rivers
➢ Hospitality
➢ Honesty
➢ Tolerance
➢ Truthfulness ➢ Obedience

3.2.5 TABOOS AND NORMS

Lantinkpa community also has it taboos and norms just like any other community in Ghana, to
serve as guidance on the behavior and activities of members. These norms and taboos are not
however documented but are well known to each and everyone in the community. Some of each
includes

➢ Not allowed to respond to greetings whiles cooking or eating.

➢ Not allowed for menstruating women to cook for.
➢ Not to mention bad things when the sun is setting.

20
➢ It is not allowed to whistle at night.
➢ Not allowed to kill a black tortoise.

3.2.5 MARRIAGE SYSTEM

Exogamy, endogamy, polygamy, and monogamy are the types of marriage system practiced in
Lantinkpa community. However most dominant among this of marriage is monogamy

3.2.6 GENDER ISSUES

The research revealed that men are the head of the family Lantinkpa whiles the women take the
role of caretakers. Decision taken is always democratic with the reason that the men are the
heads of the family. The men are responsible for provision of the physical, mentally and health
needs of the family where women are always there to support in kind or financially.

3.3 EDUCATION
NUMBERS AND LEVELS OF SCHOOLS

The school has a named lantinkpa Presbyterian school which ranges from kindergarten to junior
high level. The primary block was built around 1960’s by the community with the support of the
Presbyterian church which was made of three class rooms which has been named after the
primary school. In 2004, the community was fortunate to have the intervention of the
government, who came and built additional three classrooms blocks for the primary and three
classroom blocks for junior high school in 2006. The old three classroom block built by the
Presbyterians in the 1960’s has been collapsed.

21
 Figure 3.1: lantinkpa Presbyterian school

Table 3.2: Shows the educational status in the community.

LEVEL MALES FEMALES TOTAL
KG 13 24 37
PRIMARY 40 39 79
JHS 18 9 27
SHS 194 108 302
TERTIARY 6 3 9
UNEDUCATED 838 1676 2514
TOTAL 1109 1859 2968

22
 Educational Status
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
KG Primary JHS SHS Tertiary Uneducated Total

Male Female Total

Figure 3.2: Shows the educational status of the people of Lantinkpa community

SOURCE: Field Survey.

3.3.1 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATE (2022/2023)

The enrollment rate from 2022 till this year 2023 is diluted in the diagram below.

Table 3.3: shows the enrollment pattern for the 2022/2023 academic year.
YEAR MALES FEMALES TOTAL
ENROLLMENT
2022 40 39 79

2023 20 30 50

SOURCE: The Head-teacher.

3.3.2 SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE

According to the headmaster, there has not been any school dropout recorded in the school. The
pupil, absent themselves for long but will still come to school. It has always been a week of
absenting or less.

3.3.3 NON-FORMAL
There is no non-formal educational facility in the community.
23
3.3.4 LITERACY RATE
According to our survey, the literacy rate can be calculated as;

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠
= × 100
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

= × 100

=84.70%

3.3.5 TEACHER-PUPIL RATIO

Table 3.4: shows the number of trained teachers admitted 2022/20223 academic year

TRAINED
YEAR MALES FEMALES
2022 3 4
2023 0 0

UNTRAINED
YEAR MALES FEMALES
2022 0 0
2023 0 0

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑢𝑝𝑖𝑙
𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠

24
 =20.4

Which is approximately 20.

Therefore, the trained teacher-pupil ratio is 1:20, which implies that, each teach handles 20 students in the
school.

3.3.5 EDUCATIONAL STATUS

The group survey shows that, most of the people living in this deprived community are illiterates
and hence finds it difficult to communicate with people who do not understand their language.
Only few of them completed the Senior High School and the tertiary institution. Most of the
families are self-employed thus, farmers. Due to this, most of the parents expect their wards to
help them after school.

3.3.6 CONDITIONS OF THE SCHOOL

3.3.6.1 Buildings
The school has three (3) classroom blocks which is divided into lower primary, upper primary and
junior high school are not in good condition. More building facilities are needed by the school.

3.3.6.2 Furniture
The school is lacking tables and chairs for both teachers and pupils. There is not enough furniture
for the pupil. Students sit 4 per a chair in a class. And most of their chairs are broken and students
find it difficult to study comfortably.

3.3.6.3 Text books

The school possesses few text books and lacks few learning and teaching materials.

3.3.6.4 Water and sanitation

The school has a borehole just at the entrance of the school, and another one in the school which
is commissioned. They also have toilet facilities with washroom. The school has a small dug out
beside the school where all refuse is dump.

25
 Figure 3.3: lantinkpa Presbyterian school borehole

3.3.7 TREND OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

According to our survey from the headmaster, the school’s performance is average due to the hard
work of the teachers towards the progress of the pupil.

3.3.8 POTENTIALS
➢ The school will do better in academics if more learning and teaching materials are provided,
according to the headmaster. Also, good classroom blocks and well equipped with furniture and they
also have toilet facilities in the school and mechanized borehole.
➢ The school has a vast land for the construction of other buildings.

3.3.9 CHALLENGES
➢ Lack of text books, learning and teaching materials.

26
➢ Lack of infrastructure (KG classroom, staff room and a well-furnished headmaster’s office) ➢
Interference from parent (to help them in the farm during school hours.
➢ Inadequate teachers.
➢ Lack of communication between the teachers and the community members.
➢ The school has low enrollment.
➢ Parents do not provide their wards with basic school needs such as books, pens, pencils and school bags.

3.4 HEALTH

3.4.1 NUMBER AND TYPE OF HEALTH INSTITUTION

The community has a health center (CHPS) community base health planning and services for
health assistance when necessary. The center has inadequate pharmaceuticals, tools and
equipment. The most prevalence diseases in the community are as follows;

➢ Malaria
➢ Diarrhea diseases
➢ (UTI) urinary tract infections
➢ Skin infections
➢ Cholera
➢ Ear and Eye infections
➢ Scorpion bites
➢ Snake bites

In spite of the health center the community relies heavily on traditional medical practitioners
(TMP).

3.4.2 MEDICINAL PLANTS

Table 3.5: Shows medicinal plants, parts used and diseases cured.
PLANTS PART USED DISEASES CURED
27
 Kakulu dibi (shea tree) Seed, Leaves Skin diseases
Nyemisa dibi (neem tree) Leaves Fever
Alura dibi (teak tree) Leaves Fever
Chakpa Roots and Leaves Sexual weakness
Bungu Roots Diabetes and blood pressure

3.4.3 NURSE-PATIENTS RATIO

There are 7 nurses in the facility with no midwife. The ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of
nurses by the total population.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑁𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑠

=424

This implies that, each nurse is assigned to 424 people in the community.

3.4.4 STATE AND CONDITION OF THE HEALTH FACILITY

The facility is well built and painted, furnished with working materials for the class they belong.
The facility was established recently; therefore most of the things and working materials are still
now and working effectively. The only problem is the beds. Their beds are not enough to support
patients when they are ill. The chps compound has

➢ 7 trained enrolled nurses

➢ 0 midwife

28
 Figure 3.4: Lantinkpa Chips Compound

3.4.5 NUMBER AND TYPES OF TRADITIONAL HEALTH FACILITIES

3.4.5.1 TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANCE (TBA)

The community does not have any traditional birth attendant since a midwife was introduce to them in
the community.

3.4.5.2 TRADITIONAL HEALERS

Our survey shows that, there are more than one traditional healers in the community by the names
Bugli Anjani, Memina, Alhassan Baba. They use different kinds of herbs to cure sickness such as;

➢ Malaria
➢ Fever
➢ Stroke
➢ Bone fracture
➢ Swollen legs

29
➢ Difficulty in giving birth

According to the healers, they inherited it from their fathers. They use medicinal plants such as
dawadawa, thick, neem, cleome viscose and many more to cure.

3.4.6 POTENTIALS
Vast land for the establishment of health centers and pharmaceutical facility

3.4.7 CHALEENGES
➢ Insufficient beds for detention.
➢ Water problem.
➢ Inadequate accommodation for health workers.
➢ Lack of toilet facility.
➢ Language barrier.
➢ Late reporting to the health facility.
➢ Inadequate finance.
➢ Illiteracy rate in the community.
➢ Self-medication.
➢ Insufficient medicines in the facility.

3.5 HOUSING
Upon the research conducted revealed that, the dominant material used for their buildings are
mostly mud roofed with aluminum/ zinc and with few roofed with thatch. It is well noted that,
the school, mosque and few houses and the chps are the only buildings built with blocks.

30
Table 3.6: Shows the total number of houses and the materials used
TYPES OF HOUSES TOTAL NUMBER PERCENTAGE (%)
Block 4 1.9
Mud with thatch 50 24.3
Mud with aluminum/zinc 152 73.8
Total 206 100

3.5.1 TYPES OF FACILITIES

Table 3.7: Shows the types of facilities in the houses in the community.
FACILITIES NUMBER OF FACILITIES HOUSES WITHOUT
FACILITIES
Water 0 206

Kitchen 115 91

Bathroom 181 25

Toilet 0 206

Electricity 206 206

From the survey, we realize that, all the people in the community depend on the rivers, streams, dams’
water in the community and the borehole in the front of the entrance of the school.

3.5.2 PROPERTY OWNERSHIP

According to our survey, most of the properties in the community are owned by the family heads
but not restricted to any sex or position. There is insignificant number of tenants within the
community. The land can be owned by any individual who wants to farm after seeing the acting
chief for approval. Properties in the community are owned by individuals, such properties are
lands, houses, motorbike, goats, fowls etc.

31
 3.5.3 STATE OF HOUSES IN THE COMMUNITY
The foundation of mud houses are about 2 inches in-depth and three feet for the block houses.
Most of the mud houses are left unflustered unpainted.

3.5.4 HOUSING PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY

The research conducted revealed that, due to the old nature of the mud houses, they are easily
raised down anytime there is heavy rains and strong winds. Also due to the lack of finance, the
members of the community are unable to afford modern houses.

3.6 WATER AND SANITATION

The community has a river named Dakar which flows across the community and serves as a
source of water supply for the community during the dry season, there is also a borehole and a
tap but these ceases to flow during the dry season also. The nearest part of known as Lantinkpa
to the community is 20 minutes’ walk from the community. The water from the river contains
impurities which renders the water unsafe for drinking and also causes some water-borne
diseases.

3.6.1 SANITATION
The group research showed that, the community lacks waste bins and suitable refused dump for
disposal of refused (both liquid and solid). Due to lack of toilet facilities in the community lacks
well defined gutters and the bushes serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and outbreak of
diseases such as cholera.

3.6.2 MAJOR FINDINGS UNDER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

➢ They depend greatly on local medicines but seek health assistance when the condition becomes critical.
➢ High illiteracy rate
➢ There is peaceful co-existence in the community irrespective of their religious difference.

32
➢ They community lack toilet facilities and waste bins.
➢ There is no enough teachers in the school.
➢ Vast lands for establishment of financial institutions and other social amenities.
➢ Presence of primary and junior high school.
➢ The houses are mostly built with mud and roofed with zinc and there is overcrowding.

CHAPTER FOUR

4. 0 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

33
4.1 EMPLOYMENT STATUS
From the research conducted, the potential labor force available for the lantinkpa
community was five hundred (500). It was realized that, out of the potential labor force
of five hundred (500), four hundred and fifty-eight (458) were gainfully employed
mainly in the agriculture sector. Also, the inactive labor force which comprises students
and handicaps were 28 representing 5.6% of the working class. Therefore, unemployment
rate can be calculated using the formula, number of unemployed over total population
multiplied by hundred (100). Total population =2968
Number of unemployed = 14
Therefore, unemployed rate = 14/2968*100
=0.47%
Approximately = 5%

4.2 POTENTIAL LABOUR FORCE

The potential labor force ranges between the ages of (15-64), thus, representing 500 out
of the total population of 2968. This forms about 16.85% of the total population of the
community. This percentage of the active labor force are all employed and non are
inactive.

4.4 OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

From the research conducted, (458) were gainfully employed in the agricultural industrial
and the service. Table 4.1 below shows the major occupational distribution of the
lantinkpa community.

34
Table 4.1: Shows the occupational distribution of Lantinkpa community
Occupation Number of people Percentage Degree
FARMING 411 82.2 295.92
TRADING 20 4 14.4
GARI
69 13.8 49.68
PROCESSING
TOTAL 500 100 360

Occupational distribution of Lantinkpa community

13.8

82.2

Farming Trading Gari processing

Figure 4.1: Shows a pie chart of the occupational distribution of the communities
35
4.5 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

0ur research revealed that, five hundred peoples of Lantinkpa community are mostly
engaged in agriculture activities which represent Eighty-two point two percent (82.2)
of the working population. Yam, Maize, Cassava, Groundnut, Millet is some of the crops

been cultivated in the community. However, most of the farmers do complement their crops
with the rearing of animals such as cattle, sheep, poultry and goats.

4.5. 1 CROP FARMING

4.5.2 LAND TENURE SYSTEM AND MODE OF LAND ACQUISITION

Our survey showed that, land is acquired in the hands of the chief if any stranger or a
community member is looking for land in the community, he or she goes to the chief for
it. After a land has been handed over to an individual through the chief, then it becomes
the [property of that individual. Lantinkpa is one of the Traditional African Ghanaian
communities where land ownership rest solely in the hands of their men.

4.5.3 FARMING SYSTEM

The type of farming systems observed in the community according to our survey are;
mono-cropping, shifting cultivation, mixed-cropping and crop-rotation their animals are
also reared under both intensive and extensive system.

4.5.4 FARM PRACTICE

From the research conducted it was known that, people in lantinkpa practice land ploughing
by tractor, land clearing, application of weedicide, fertilizer application and weeding.

36
4.5.5 FARM SIZE
In our research, it was shown that Lantinkpa community is endowed with wide land therefore, the
land area used for farming activities is large.

4.5.6 TYPES OF LABOR

The labor available for economic activity are unskilled due to the lack of training and education
with a very few skilled labors.

4.5.7 FARMING TECHNOLOGY AND INPUTS

Majority of the farmers still depends on the Traditional methods and inputs like cutlass,
hoe and manure application. It is only few that adopted the modern method of farming
such as the use of fertilizers, weedicides, tractors and pesticides.

4.5.8 SOURCE OF FINANCE

The group surveyed that there is no financial support from the government or the
nongovernmental institutions in terms of subsidies and provision of farming chemicals.
They tend to manage their farms through the personal savings they do after selling their
farm produce.

4.5.9 ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES

Lantinkpa has no extension officer to educate them on the methods and types of farming.
Due to this, the farmers depend on personal intuition to carry out their farming activities.

37
4.5.10MAJOR CROP GROWN IN OUTPUT LEVEL

From our research conducted, the major crop in Lantinkpa is yam and each farmer can produce
two thousand to three thousand tubers of yam a year.

4.5.11 DISTANCE FROM HOMESTEAD TO FARM

The distance from the homestead to the various farms are far apart which is about 3.5km.
Due to the farmers nature from the homestead to the far apart, most of them used bicycles
and few with motor bikes.

4.5.12 STORAGE OF FARM PRODUCTS

Since there is no public storage facility in the community, most of the farmers stored their
farms products in the farm and in the house. Some of the farmers also do not reserved
rooms for their farm products hence compelling them to always to dispose them
immediately after the harvest.

4.5.13 MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCE

In the North East Gonja district Lantinkpa has been notified as one of the community that
produce foodstuffs but there is no ready markets for their products. The farmers will have
to transport their farm products to Salaga, Tamale, or southern part of Ghana which
according to them to reduces their income due to high transportation cost.

4.6 ANIMAL PRODUCTION

4.6.1 TYPES OF LIVRSTOCK AND POULTRY
There are only three types of livestock reared in the Lantinkpa community and they are
goats, sheep and cattle and the type of poultry reared are two namely, fowls and guinea
fowls with no fish reared.

38
Table 4.2: shows the type of livestock and their percentages
TYPE OF LIVESTOCK NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE (%)
LIVESTOCK
Sheep/ Goats 809 39.4

Fowls 549 26.7

Guinea fowls 294 19.6

Cattle 403 14.3
TOTAL 2,055 100

Figure 4. 2: Types of livestock’s

39
 Number of livestock

20%

39% Sheep/goats
Fowls
14% Guinea fowls
Cattle

27%

Figure 4.3: Pie chart showing percentages of livestock’s

SOURCE: Groups Survey.

4.6.2 OUTPUT LEVEL

From the research conducted, it was realized that in addition with their farming activities
they also have eight hundred and nine (809)sheep/goats, three hundred and thirty-seven
(337) sheep, four hundred and three (403) cattle, five hundred and forty-nine (549) fowls
and two hundred and ninety-four (294) guinea fowls. The table below shows the number
of livestock and poultry rear in lantinkpa community.

4.6.3 COMMON ANIMAL DISEASES

It was revealed from our research that, their animals suffer various kinds of diseases since
they lack veterinary officers, the condition has not been brought under control. These
includes; New castle, coccidiosis, foot and mouth diseases and anthrax. The table below
shows the diseases that affect both their livestock and poultry.

40
Table 4.3: Shows animals diseases
ANIMALS DISEASES
Sheep Anthrax, liver fluke
Goat Foot and mouth disease
Cattle Anthrax, foot and mouth disease
Poultry Coccidiosis, new castle

4.6.4 VETERINARY SERVICE OFFICERS

According to the group survey, the community has no veterinary officer so owners of the animals
rely on buying medicine to treat their animals without any prescription.

4.6.5 MARKETING

The farmers of these animals do not have ready market for the animals reared since each
and every house rear animal and even if they will sell unless it falls sick or they are in
need financially.

4.7 AGRICULTURAL SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS

4.7.1 FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

There is no financial institution which support farmers in the community so individuals support
themselves from the personal savings made at the end of the farming season.

4.7.2 FARMING ORGANIZATIONS

41
 From our group research, it was realized that there were no farming organizations in the
community that could support them and secure loans from the banks either Salaga or
Tamale.

4.7.3 POTENTIALS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

➢ Easy acquisition of land for agricultural activities.
➢ Availability of labor.
➢ Vast land for establishment of market activities.
➢ Vast land for establishment of storage facilities.

4.7.4 CHALLENGES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

➢ Lack of veterinary and extension services.
➢ Inadequate storage facilities.
➢ Inadequate capital to expand their farming activities.
➢ Majority of labor force are unskilled.
➢ Lack of credit facilities.

4.8 INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

4.8.1 TYPES OF INDUSTRIES AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED

Table 4.4: Shows the industrial activities in Lantinkpa communities.

TYPE INDUSTRIAL NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE (%)
COMPOSITION PEOPLE
Wood Industry Charcoal burning, 11 42.3
Carpentry.

42
 Service Related Hairdressing 6 23.1

Agro-based industry Pito-brewing, 9 34.6

dawadawa,
Shea
processing.

TOTAL 26 100

SOURCE: Field survey by group 66

4.8.2 SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE INDUSTRIAL PROCES

4.8.2.1 PITO BREWING

RAW MATERIALS
Millet.
Scientific Principle; Filtration, boiling and fermentation.

PROCESS

➢ Soak the millet.

➢ Filter to separate millet from water.
➢ Wash and filter millet and dry for three days.
➢ Grind it.
➢ Soak the millet flour, skim it to obtain the settled one.
➢ Boil the settled one and leave it to ferment.
➢ Boil the fermented one again.
➢ Sieve to extract pito.
➢ Pito is ready to use.

4.8.2.2 GARI PROCESSING Raw

Materials; cassava.

Scientific Principle; dehydration, drying, frying.

PROCESS

43
➢ Peel the cassava.
➢ Grind it.
➢ Put in sacks and place heavy materials on it to dehydrate the water.
➢ Leave it for some days.
➢ Dry it.
➢ Sieve to get fine grains.
➢ Dry frying, gari is ready.

4.8.2.3 SHEA PROCESSING

Raw material; Shea nut.
Scientific Principle; frying, boiling, drying and grinding.
PROCESS
1. Boiling of the nut.
2. Drying of the boiled nut.
3. Beating to remove the husks.
4. Breaking of seeds into smaller particles.
5. Frying.
6. Grinding.
7. Boiling of the paste for some time for the oil to settle.
8. Heat up the oil for the water to evaporate, the oil is ready to use.
CHARCOAL BURNING
Raw materials; logs
Source of raw materials; tree
Scientific principle; burning
PROCESS
1. Cutting down of tree and splitting into logs.
2. Dig a hole and pack the logs into it
3. Cover the logs with leaves and sand leaving a small opening for air to penetrate.
4. Set fire on the logs through the small hole.
5. Monitor the process by closing any large hole created by the fire to limit the amount of air entering.
44
6. After two to three days of burning, put out the fire to obtain the charcoal. Charcoal is packed and ready
for market use.

Figure 4.4: Charcoal burning Setup

4.8.3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY ON THE

COMMUNITY
The industrial activities have both negative and positive impacts on the environment.

4.7.3.1 POSITIVE
➢ The charcoal burning, pito brewing and gari processing serve as source of employment to the community
members.
➢ The food processing (gari) provides food for the community.
➢ The charcoal burning serves as source of energy.
➢ Shea oil processing provides oil for cooking and also used in making pomades.

4.8.3.2 NEGATIVE

➢ The cutting down of trees for charcoal burning causes deforestation.

➢ The pito brewing, shea oil processing and food processing (gari) causes environmental pollution.

45
 4.8.4 TYPES OF OWNERSHIP
The research conducted revealed that, the industries in the community are owned by individuals (private
ownership).

4.8.5 AGE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUD OF INDUSTRALISTS

The ages of the industrialists of the community lies between 17 and 60 years and are mostly informally
educated.

4.8.6 SOURCES OF STARTING CAPITAL

➢ Personal savings.
➢ Inheritance.
➢ Contribution from family members.

4.8.7 TYPE OF LABOUR AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUD

The labor available for the industries are unskilled with little training or no training in their field.
They are informally educated; hence low educational background.

4.8.8 METHODS OF PRODUCTION (LABOUR/CAPITAL INTENSIVE)

The method of production adopted by the industrialist is labour intensive. The inputs used in
production includes; cutlass, hoe, cooking pot, sieve, grinding mills, frying pans, calabash and
firewood.

4.8.9 MARKETING OF PRODUCTS

Industrialist of Lantinkpa community transport their products to Tamale, Salaga and the southern part
of Ghana.

4.8.10 WASTE DISPOSAL

The industries dispose of their waste materials at any available space. Thus, they have no defined area
for waste disposal.

4.8.11 PROBLEMS IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

➢ Lack of storage facilities.

46
➢ Low level of production due to labor intensive method of production.
➢ Financial challenges.
➢ Low market for products.
➢ Poor road network linking the community to the market centers.
➢ Low level of technology in the sector.

4.8.12 POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES.

POTENTIALS

➢ Availability of raw materials

➢ Availability of space for the establishment of waste disposal
➢ Larger labour force to attract investment
➢ Availability of vast land for the establishment of industries

CHALLENGES

➢ Lack of storage facilities for production

➢ Low level of technology
➢ Lack of credit facilities for expansion
➢ Low markets for products
➢ Difficulties in mobilizing start-up capital
➢ Poor road network

4.9 COMMERCE AND SERVICES

From the group survey, we realize that, natives of the community are mainly into farming
and a few do other activities like trading, charcoal burning, gari processing, shea processing in
community, selling of provisions, etc. to back-up their major occupation, which is farming. The
services in this community are mainly teaching, carpentry, hairdressing, charcoal burning, shea
oil processing and the services of the clinic.
47
 4.9.1 MAJOR SERVICE ACTIVITY
➢ Teaching
➢ Transportation
➢ Health

Table 4.5: Shows the number of people in the commerce and service activities of the community.
ACTIVITIES NUMBER OF PEOPLE
Farming 575
Shea oil processing 332
Charcoal burning 90
Trading 45
Teaching 4

Transportation 10
Health 3
TOTAL 1,062

PERIODIC MARKETS AND DAYS FOR THE MARKETING ACTIVITY

The research we undertook discovered the market period of lantinkpa community to be once every
week. The market day falls on the seventh day in the week starting from the last market

Figure 4.5: Lantinkpa Community Market

4.9.2 FINANCING AND BANKING SERVICE

It was realized that, the community has no banking and financial institutions.

Members who save at the bank send their money to Salaga or Tamale for savings.

48
 However, they are unable to access credit facilities from these banks due to lack of collateral securities.

4.9.3 TOURISM

The community has no tourist site. However, they have some interesting culture and interesting places
such as yam festival, fire festival, funeral rite and River Dakar respectively.

4.9.4 POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES.

POTENTIALS

➢ Some of their cultures such as yam festival, fire festival, funeral rite and River Dakar can be well
developed to attract foreigners to the community.
➢ Vast land for the establishment of financial institutions.
➢ Availability of labor to form co-operative societies.

CHALLENGES

➢ Lack of large market

➢ Unstructured market
➢ Lack of financial institution to offer financial support
➢ Unable to brand their culture and some site of the community such as River Dakar to attract foreigners

4.9.5 HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND EXPENDITURE HOUSEHOLD INCOME

The research shows that, the main source of income for Lantinkpa community comes from the
agricultural sector. Other members who are also engaged in small scale industrial work such as
shea oil processing, pito brewing, charcoal burning and food processing (gari) earn income for it.
Table 4.6 shows the household income of fifteen houses selected at randomly.

4.9.3.1 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDTURE

49
4.9.3.2 INCOME DISTRIBUTION

Out of the 13 houses, the highest spends 21,000 and the lowest spends 1,000. Wages of labour is the
major expenditure observed in the community.

This is the earning of the people annually in the community as sampled by the group’s survey.

Table 4.6: Shows a sample of the income distribution in the community.

Household Occupation Annual Population Income Cumulative
income income (%)
(%) (%)
0 0 0 0 0 0
1 Farming 1,000 7.69 0.68 0.68
2 Farming 3,300 15.38 2.25 2.93
3 Farming 9,000 23.08 6.14 9.07
4 Farming 20,000 30.77 13.63 22.70
5 Farming 18,000 38.46 12.27 34.97
6 Farming 13,000 46.15 8.86 43.83
7 Farming 2,400 53.85 1.64 45.47
8 Farming 6,900 61.54 4.70 50.17
9 Farming 20,900 69.23 14.25 64.42
10 Farming 18,000 76.92 12.27 76.69
11 Farming 3,200 84.62 2.18 78.87
12 Farming 10,000 92.31 6.82 85.69
13 Farming 21,000 100 14.31 100
Total 146,700

50
 120

100

80

60 Equality
Lorenz

40

20

0
20 40 60 80 100 120

Figure 4.6: Lorenz Curve graph

4.9.3.3 INCOME DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS

The average income per annum of the people can be calculated by determining the poverty
line seen below;

𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒

Average income per annum =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑒𝑑

=Ghc11,285

This implies that, the average income annually for the 13 houses is Ghc11,285,

𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒
Average monthly income =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

51
 =

=Ghc940.42

This means that, each household receives at least Ghc940.42 every passing month.

TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME: This is calculated from the sample household and the total household.
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑
Total annual income in the comm. = × 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑

= × 146,700

= Ghc2,640,600.0

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒

Per capita income =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

= Ghc889.70
This implies that, there is inequality gap between the rich and the poor. The inequality ratio is very
low in the community.

4.10 TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

4.10.1 TRANSPORT
The transport services available to the community are motor kings, trucks motor bicycle and benz
bus.

4.10.1.1 TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM IN THE COMMUNITY

➢ Poor road network
52
➢ Inadequate facilities
➢ Periodic movement of vehicles
➢ Bad state of the vehicles which is a threat to human life
➢ Exorbitant fares been charged by the motor king drivers

4.10.2 COMMUNICATION
From the research, the communication facilities accessible to the community are;

➢ Mobile phone
➢ Radio set
➢ Town crier

Figure 4.7: Telecommunication facilities

4.10.2.1 PROBLEMS
➢ Poor network problems

4.11 ENERGY

53
 4.11.1 SOURCES OF ENERGY USED
From our field survey, we recorded that, the people in the community make very good use of charcoal
and firewood with very few with gas cylinder as their source of energy.

SOURCES OF ENERGY USED BY EACH HOUSEHOLD

Table 4.7: Shows the number of households and the type of energy they use.
ENERGY NUMBER OF HOUSES PERCENTAGE (%)
Firewood 140 68
Charcoal 66 32
Gas cylinder 0 0
Total 206 100
SOURCE: Field Survey by group.

4.11.2 PROBLEMS OF ENERGY USED IN THE COMMUNITY

➢ Environmental pollution caused by the use of generators, firewood and improper disposal of
damaged dry cell is high.
➢ Smoke from firewood, charcoal and generators increase the carbon content in the atmosphere
which causes global warming ➢ The rays from the sun causes skin cancer.

4.11.3 MAJOR FINDINGS

➢ There is no extension and veterinary officers in the community.
➢ Low level of education of industrialist in the community.
➢ Vast land to embark on any economic activity.
➢ Difficult in accessing mobile network.
➢ Lack of social amenities.
➢ Farming is the major source of income to the community.
➢ Poor road network linking the community to the nearby community.
➢ There are no financial institutions in the community.
➢ The method of production is mostly labor intensive.

54
➢ Large labor force.
➢ The main crops cultivated are yam, cassava, maize, groundnut and millet.
➢ Deforestation is high due to the activities of charcoal burning and illegal chain-saw operators.

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 HISTORICAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Lantinkpa community was founded by a man called Najah. Najah comes from Tamale, he first
moved to a place called Kpaliba. He visited his uncle called ‘’Dakpema’’ who lived in a town
called Chanayeli. Najah who was a hunter, hunted and discovered the land Kalimbolbito. Due to
water problem, he moved from this town and settled here in Lantinkpa. Najah came with a stool
called Lantinkpa, from which the community is having its name. Lantinkpa means ‘‘if you touch
one you touched all’’ which means unity.

5.1 TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEM OF LANTINKPA COMMUNITY

The diagram below shows the hierarchy of the traditional political system of the: Lantinkpa community.

55
 THE CHIEF

LINGUIST

TINDANA

FAMILY’S HEAD

5.2 FUNCTIONS OF THE TRADITONAL POLITICAL SYSTEM

THE CHIEF
➢ He settles disputes among the people
➢ He is the final decision marker in the community

LINGUIST
➢ He is the king maker of the royal family.

TINDANA
➢ He is the spoke person for the chief.

FAMILY’S HEAD
➢ They help in decision making

56
 GENDER PESPECTIVE

There is a cordial relationship between both male and females in the community. Both genders
are into farming and labor work and they all take part in decision making for the improvements of
the community.

5.3 DECISION-MAKING PROCES

No gender is left out in decision making in Lantinkpa community. Decision making is important
for socio-economic and cultural development in the community. Normally, final decisions are
made by the chief.

5.4 MODERN POLITICAL STRUCTURE

The diagram below shows the hierarchy of modern political structure

DISTRICT ASSEMBLY

ASSEMBLY MEMBER

UNIT COMMITTEE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

57
 5.5 FUNCTIONS OF THE MODERN POLITICAL HIERARCHY
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY

➢ It is responsible for the collection of all personal data of the various communities in the district.
➢ They are responsible for the development of the communities as assigned by the government.
➢ It introduce/initiates programs into the communities for developments.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER

➢ He takes part in the district assembly’s discussions.

➢ He conducts regular meetings with his community members to ensure they have no worries UNIT
COMMITTEE

➢ They maintain law and order in the community

➢ They help people in the community to under the motive of the higher authority.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

➢ They take part in communal labor.

➢ They protect the properties of the community.

5.6 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MODERN AND TRADITIONAL

INSTITUTIONS
There is separation of power between the modern and traditional political institution is in charge
of the administration of the land without the interference of the modern political institution. The
assembly man who is the head of the modern political institution at the community level only
represents the community level.

They work based on the following;

➢ They both work towards promoting peace and harmony in the community.

58
➢ Development by the district assembly passes through the traditional political system to the community
member and vice versa.
➢ Customary activities are left to the traditional political leaders.

5.7 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

The research showed there is no recognized non-governmental organization in the community.

5.7.1 INTER INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP/LINKAGE

➢ The existing institutions within and outside the community work cordially, to promote the development
of each other;
➢ Religious institutions like the Christian council
➢ Educational institutions like the school
➢ Marriage institution like the family
➢ Political institutions like the political parties
➢ Chieftaincy institution like the chief and council of elders

5.8 COMMUNITY INITIATED PROJECTS

There is no current community project in lantinkpa community.

5.8.1 ON-GOING PROJECTS

There is no project on-going in the communities currently.

59
 CHAPTER SIX

6.0 COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALS

EMANATING FROM THE COMMUNITY PROFILE
The development problems and potentials of the Lantinkpa community is stated below using refined
tools and techniques such as problem tree, pairwise-ranking and SWOT analysis.

6.1 NATURAL RESOUCES AND ENVIROMENT

6.1.1 PROBLEMS
➢ Unstructured habitation.
➢ High erosion due to the slope nature of the land.
➢ Single maximum rainfall which makes farming in the dry season very difficult.
➢ High environmental pollution.
➢ The nature of the soil does not support major cash crops such as cocoa.

6.1.2 POTENTIAL
➢ Availability of economic trees.
➢ Availability of medicinal plants.
➢ The construction of irrigational systems is possible due to the river Dakar.
➢ Fertile soil that supports variety of crops.
➢ The community has a large forest.

60
➢ Vast land size.

6.2 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

6.2.1 PROBLEMS
➢ High rate of Emigration.
➢ Pressure on facilities.

6.2.2 POTENTIAL
➢ The community has a large population.
➢ The community has a youthful population.
➢ Low dependency rate.
➢ The community has a large labor force which can attract investment.

6.3 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

6.3.1 PROBLEMS
➢ High illiteracy rate.
➢ Lack of credit facilities.
➢ Lack of social amenities. ➢ Low level of technology.
➢ Lack of irrigational system which makes farming difficult in the dry season.
➢ Lack of infrastructure for the school and the chips compound.
➢ There is no license pharmaceutical facility in the community.
➢ Poor transportation system due to lack of appropriate road network and vehicles.

6.3.2 POTENTIAL
➢ The school will perform well if more learning and teaching materials are provided.
➢ The youth of the communities are ready for any labor work, if the government, NGOs can offer helping
hand to the community.
➢ The presence of boreholes in the communities provides water for the peoples.
➢ The presence of the basic school help reduces illiteracy rate in the community.

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 6.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
6.4.1 PROBLEMS
➢ Poor means of transporting farm products.
➢ Problem of large market.
➢ Lack of storage facilities.
➢ Lack of financial institutions in the community.

6.4.2 POTENTIAL
➢ Construction of market in the community will help farmers sell their farm produce.
➢ If government provide the farmers with more fertilizers, they can produce more farm product.
➢ Storage facilities, when provided, will help them store their farm produce and to avoid spoilage.

6.5 HISTORICAL AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE

6.5.1 PROBLEMS
➢ Ineffective modern political system.
➢ High dependency on modern political systems.
➢ No written down rules to affect the transfer of power.

6.5.2 POTENTIAL
➢ There is mutual co-operation among the traditional leaders.
➢ There is co-existence between the modern and traditional political system.
➢ Both males and females are included in the traditional political system.

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 CONCLUSION
The university’s initiative is to help us develop favorable attitudes towards working in rural and
deprived communities, exposing us practically to development problems of northern part of
Ghana and the country as a whole. Our seven (7) weeks stay in the community was not in vain. It
was full of experiences and exposures to interesting and challenging issues. The interaction with
the community members exposed us practically to some of their development problems which
includes;

➢ Lack of extension and veterinary services.

➢ Inadequate teachers.
➢ High level of illiteracy.
➢ Poor road network which serves as a hindrance to regular attendance of teachers.
➢ Lack of structured market.
➢ Lack of portable water.
However, the community has equally got opportunities which can be tapped and
improved the standard of living. Some of these opportunities includes; ➢ Availability of large
labor.
➢ Vast land to undertake economic activities.
➢ Availability of water bodies to be mechanized into irrigational systems.
➢ Availability of medicinal plants.
➢ Availability of raw materials (cassava for gari).

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 RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on our research conducted on the challenges and potentials developments of the community,
we wish to recommend to the community, government, NGOs, and other beneficiary.

The district assembly should help the community with a well-established portable water sources to
avoid all kinds of diseases and to improve upon healthy living of the people.

The government should put orders in place to help the deprived community such as Lantinkpa
community.

Ministry Of Health (MOH) should help connect the chps compound to the national center to know
their needs. This will reduce crisis from the community.

The farmers should be supplied with enough and quality fertilizers at cheap price to produce more
product and to help maintain food security in the region and the country as a whole.

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 REFERENCES

➢ District assembly (2023). District profile and map ➢ Lantinkpa presby. School. Log
book.
➢ Field survey. (September- November). Lantinkpa community.
➢ Lantinkpa CHIPS Compound
➢ Student Field Guide, 2023

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: LANTINKPA COMMUNITY MAP

NOT DRAWN TO SCALE
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Lantinkpa Community Map

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 APPENDIX 2: QUESTIONAIRES ADMINISTERED BY GROUP 66

QUESTIONNAIRES

1. a) Name of respondent……………………….?

b) Age…………………c) Occupation
Do you engage in any other occupation or commercial activity. YES/NO If yes
specify………
2. Are you the household head? YES/NO
a) If YES/NO, name of the household head
b) Age……………………...
c) Occupation……………………….
d) Number of households……………
3. Gender distribution
AGE STRUCTURE MALE FEMALE
0-14 ………….
15-64 ………….
65+
4. Mortality
a) Number of household dead case within one-year 2022/2023
b) Number of household birth case within one-year 2022/2023
5. How many people migrated within the year
a) Male………. b) Female………..
6. Social Development
RELIGION NUMBER
ISLAM
CHRISTIANITY
TRADITIONAL

7. ETHNICITY
a) Gonja…. b) Dagomba…. c) Konkomba…... d) Fulani……

8. EDUCATION
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 NUR& KG PRIMARY J.H. S S.H. S TERTIARY
M F M F M F M F M F

9. HOUSING FACILITY
TYPE OF HOUSING TOTAL NUMBER
Mud with zinc
Mud with thatch
Mud block with zinc
a) Available Facility
i. Toilet
ii. Kitchen
iii. Bathroom
b) Source of energy
c) Type of ownership of house
i. Self-owned
ii. Rented
iii. Inherited
10. WATER & SANITATION
a) What is your source of water supply
i. River
ii. Dam
iii. Borehole
11. OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
a) Farmer…b) Teacher…c) Nurses…d) Traders…e) Fishers…
f) Hair dresser…g) Seamstress…h) Carpenter…
b) Major Occupation
c) Minor Occupation
12. AGRICULTURE
a) Do you farm YES/NO
b) Number of people engaged in farming
c) Total number of livestock….1. Poultry
d) Types of crops you produced
e) What challenges do you face during farming.
13. TRANSPORTATION
a) What is your means of transportation.
14. ENERGY; what source of energy do you use?

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a) Firewood…b) Charcoal
15. What are some of the problems facing in your community
16. HEALTH
a) What disease are common here.

APPENDIX 3: EXPLANATION OF HOW THE TOOLS FOR THE ANALYSIS

WERE USED

PAIRWISE RANKING
Pairwise ranking is the comparison of some entities in pairs to know the most pressing needs. It is
a structured method of making list of items in a rightful manner in order to make decision.

We conducted an interview with the unit committee members and some of the chief elders to gather
and determine their most pressing needs. They made mention of their needs to be;

1. Water problem.
2. Network problem.
3. Farm inputs.
4. Education problem.
5. Toilet facility.
6. Poor road network.

Table 6.1: A pairwise ranking of the problems of the community.

PROBLEMS Water Network Farm Education Toilet Poor Score
problem problem problem facility road
inputs
network

Water - 1 1 1 1 1 10
problem

Network 1 - 2 4 2 2 7
problem

Farm inputs 1 2 - 4 3 3 3

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 Education 1 2 3 - 4 4 5
problem

Toilet facility 1 2 5 4 - 6 1
Poor road 1 2 6 6 6 - 4
network

Table 6.2: Shows swot analysis

NEEDS RANK
Portable water 1st
Network problem 2nd
Education problem 3rd

Poor road network 4th

Farm inputs 5th
Toilet facility 6th

Haven studied Lantinkpa community thoroughly, the groups came out with the people’s strength,
weakness, opportunities and threats of the communities.

The strength and weaknesses of the people are internal factors whiles opportunities and threats
are external factors.

Table 6.3: Shows the community problems and potentials using the SWOT analysis.
DEVELOPMENTA STRENGH WEAKNESS OPPORTUNIT THREATS
L SECTORS T Y
Health Availability of Shortage of Access to Infectious
common drugs healthcare National Health disease
from the chip professionals Insurance outbreak.
compound. Scheme (NHIS) Substance abuse
Availability of Sanitization of and addiction.
medicinal diseases control.
plants for
treatment.
Education Presence of Inadequate Support from Inadequate
basic school teaching World Vision funding.
Availability of materials. company (NGO) Poverty and

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 free feeding Inadequate Support from socioeconomi c
program. accommodatio n district assembly. challenges.
for teachers.
Inadequate
furniture.
Agriculture Vast fertile Limited storage Support Pest and
land for facilities. from MOFA disease.
farming. Limited access and NGOs. Climate
Availability to resources. change.
of livestock.
Transport Availability Limited public Help from the Insufficient
of motorbikes transportation district assembly active
and bicycles options. transportation
Availability infrastructure
of well s.
leveled road
Market Availability Limited Help from the Competition
of vast land market size. district and donor from large
for projects agencies markets.
Water and Availability Lack of refuse Communal labor. Contaminatio
sanitation of boreholes. dump. n and water
Lack of toilet borne
facility. diseases.

APPENDIX 4: THE PROBLEM TREE ANALYSIS

Through the pairwise ranking, the groups realized that, toilet facility is the major problem in the
community. With this problem, the groups have been able to generate a problem tree. The figure
below shows the hierarchy of the problem with the causes and effects in the community.

THE PROBLEM TREE

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 EFFECTS

DEATH

REDUCES LABOUR LEADS TO

EFFICIENCY EMIGRATION

DISEASE AND
SICKNESSES

REDUCES
PRODUCTION

OUTBREAK OF
WATER BORNE
DISEASES

WATER PROBLEM MAIN PROBLEM

INSUFFICIENT OF FINANCIAL
BOREHOLES PROBLEM

CAUSES

72