Skip to main content
Log in

Culture and the environment in Ghana

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

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.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boateng, O. 1977. Environmental law: Ghana water laws:Review of Ghana Law 9:11–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, K. B., and G. Benneh. 1970. A new geography of Ghana. Longman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, W. B. 1966.Law and social change in Ghana. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson, M. and E. P. Skinner. 1974. Roots of time: a portrait of African life and culture. Doubleday and Company, Garden City, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lystad, R. A. 1958. The Ashanti: a proud people. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, D. F. 1973. Man in tropical Africa: the environmental predicament. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, J. 1959. Agriculture and ecology in Africa: a study of actual and potential development south of the Sahara. Faber and Faber, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattray, R. S. 1923. Ashanti. Oxford University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tufuo, J. W., and C. E. Donkor. 1969. Ashantis of Ghana: people with a soul. Anuwuo Educational Publications, Accra.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867109

Key words

Navigation