Abstract
The traditional culture of Ghana stressed a strong relationship with the environment, and a culturally acceptable environmental management resulted from strictures and taboos related to the land. Following its independence in 1957, Ghana has enacted laws that reflect an enlightened environmental policy. These are especially important because of the difficulties Ghana has had in its economic development using Western technology that has damaged the fragile tropical ecosystem. A key aspect of Ghana's policy is the attempt to marry scientific knowledge and traditional beliefs for environmentally sound management of Ghana's resources.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Adjei, B. 1974. A study of the long-term effects of insecticides on insects associated with cocoa. Pages 119–123in Proceedings of the 4th conference of West African Cocoa Entomologists. Legon, Ghana.
Awolalu, J. O. 1972. The African traditional view of man.Orita (Ibadan Journal of Religious Studies) 1/2:101–118.
Ayensu, E. S. 1978. The role of science and technology in the economic development of Ghana.In W. Beranek, Jr., and G. Ranis (eds), Science, technology, and economic development: a historical and comparative study. Praeger, New York.
Boateng, O. 1977. Environmental law: Ghana water laws:Review of Ghana Law 9:11–37.
Busia, K. A. 1954. The Ashanti of the Gold Coast. Pages 190–209in D. Forde (ed.), African worlds, studies in the cosmological ideas and social values of African peoples. Oxford University Press, London.
Dickson, K. B., and G. Benneh. 1970. A new geography of Ghana. Longman, London.
Dickson, K. A. 1968. Introduction to the second edition.In J. B. Danquah, The Akan concept of God: a fragment of Gold Coast ethics and religion. Frank Cass, London.
Harvey, W. B. 1966.Law and social change in Ghana. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Jefferson, M. and E. P. Skinner. 1974. Roots of time: a portrait of African life and culture. Doubleday and Company, Garden City, NJ.
Karr, J. R. n.d. Man and wildlife in the tropics: past, present, and future.In Wildlife and people. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University.
Klausner, S. Z. 1971. On man in his environment. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Lystad, R. A. 1958. The Ashanti: a proud people. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.
Owen, D. F. 1973. Man in tropical Africa: the environmental predicament. Oxford University Press, New York.
Phillips, J. 1959. Agriculture and ecology in Africa: a study of actual and potential development south of the Sahara. Faber and Faber, London.
Rattray, R. S. 1923. Ashanti. Oxford University Press, London.
Tufuo, J. W., and C. E. Donkor. 1969. Ashantis of Ghana: people with a soul. Anuwuo Educational Publications, Accra.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dyasi, H.M. Culture and the environment in Ghana. Environmental Management 9, 97–103 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867109
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867109