Contemporary approaches to sustainable development: Exploring critical innovations in traditional leadership in Ghana

Abstract

The paper examines the complexities between traditional and political leadership, science and technology and
sustainable development in the context of developing countries. Particular resource information was drawn
from Ghana’s experience. Available literature was also reviewed. The participatory methodology was used for
data collection. This included Literature review or review of existing research data, Community forum, Focus
group discussions, Interview of key informants and Community cafes. Key informants including chiefs,
researchers, and community opinion leaders were interviewed on their perception on how science, technology
and tradition can co-exist to demystify the issues of sustainable development in the rich cultural Ghanaian
societies. Descriptive sampling design was used and covered various communities of Ghana. A sample size of
500, making up 100 households of about 5 people, were sampled for their views, comments and perceptions on
indigenous knowledge, traditional leadership, environmental best practices. The sampling procedures employed
included incidental, purposive, snowballing and cluster to identify floating respondents, groups and key
informants through identification by friends, colleagues and neighbours. It was identified that both traditional
and national politics have critical roles to play in ensuring sustainable development, as they stand a greater
chance to demystify the misconceptions about science within the rich cultural environments of the Ghanaian
society. Chiefs, Queen mothers and elders of Ghana’s traditional societies are actively contributing to
sustainable development through best practices, education and advocacy and drives towards a safer and
productive environment and its resources. Adopting a closer bottom-to-up approach to development was
identified as a pragmatic step to ensuring an environmentally safe and productive development that applies
science and technology to provide the needs of the present and future generations.