Revenue Mobilisation by Local Governments in Ghana: The Potentials of Investment in Metal Souvenirs for Tourists

Ronald Adamtey; Clifford Amoako; Benjamin  Doe; Dorothy   Adamtey

doi:10.4314/just.v41i2.1337

Dr. Ronald Adamtey Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Clifford Amoako Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dr. Benjamin Doe Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Mrs. Dorothy Adamtey Chief Teacher at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v41i2.1337

Keywords: District Assembly, Fiscal decentralisation, Ghana, Local revenue, Tourism, Metal Souvenir

Abstract

The study looks at how local government authorities struggling to mobilise sufficient local
revenues can turn to tourism given its potential to offer more stable local revenues. Previous
studies have supported tourism as an important revenue source but do not provide the form
in which local governments can leverage on tourism to enhance their local revenues. This
study employs both quantitative and qualitative approaches to look at popular tourist sites
in the Ashanti Region of Ghana -the Manhyia Palace museum, Okomfo Anokye sword, Bobiri
butterfly sanctuary and Lake Bosomtwe. The study interviewed 400 tourists, 20 manufacturers
of metal souvenirs, 3 local government officials, 2 officials of the Ghana Tourist Authority and 4
tour guides. The study revealed that investing in the production of metal souvenirs for specific
tourist attractions can help local governments raise revenue due to increased tourist arrivals
and high demand for metal souvenirs by tourists yet this avenue is under explored. The study
proffers that local governments invest in the production of souvenirs by supporting the local
artisans through partnership arrangements for them to produce for the District Assemblies to
supply to tourists at the various tourist sites.

Author Biographies

Dr. Ronald Adamtey, Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ronald Adamtey is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a PhD in Governance and
Public Policy from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. His research interests are
decentralization and local governance, rural health planning, political economy of small-scale
mining and the environment, how the politics of neo-patrimonial ties explain governance
processes and effects on development, and community initiatives and democratization of
planning practice in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Clifford Amoako, Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Clifford Amoako (PhD) is an Associate Professor at the Department of Planning, KNUST –
Kumasi, Ghana. He is a development planner and an interdisciplinary scholar who deploys
multiple theoretical and methodological lenses to interrogate issues related to urban and regional
development in the Global south. His current research interests are in urban vulnerability and
responses to natural hazards; transportation planning and artisanal small-scale mining in
developing countries.

Dr. Benjamin Doe, Department of Planning of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Benjamin Doe is a Lecturer at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He has a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning. He
is an experienced planner, researcher and lecturer with vast experience in dealing with regional
and local governments, community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations.

Mrs. Dorothy Adamtey, Chief Teacher at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Dorothy Adamtey (Mrs.) is a Chief Teacher at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology. She holds an MPhil in Integrated Art from the KNUST. Her research interests are
industrial art, tourism and souvenir development and processes of generating income from
tourism by Local Governments.
Email: dorothyadamtey@gmail.com

Revenue Mobilisation by Local Governments in Ghana: The Potentials of Investment in Metal Souvenirs for Tourists

Abstract

Author Biographies

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