The paper discusses an investigation into a fast emerging niche in ecotourism, bird watching or avitourism, as a pastime. The Xavi Sanctuary is a community-based resource, the largest and most popular of its kind in Ghana. A sample size of 168 respondents was obtained using the Fisher and associates (1998) formulae for calculating sample size. The analyses of results revealed that the residents of Xavi were content with the direct employment offered by the project to some members of the community within sections of the industry. However, most of them also benefited indirectly through the sale of handicrafts while others benefited from tourists' donations to the local community and basic schools. These accruing benefits have inspired the local community to institute measures to safeguard the sanctuary in order to 82

Travel philanthropy is a growing phenomenon within the Larabanga-Mognori enclave in northern Ghana. This article seeks to assess the impacts of such visitor largess on community needs and development. Purposive sampling techniques were employed in

Effective, equitable, and student-centered Social Studies instruction occurs in an environment which is prepared and well designed for that purpose. The 21st Century Social Studies curriculum should be planned to allow teachers to adopt constructivist student-centered pedagogies to improve the learning outcomes of students. However, it appears most teachers in Ghana still apply the traditional rote methods of instruction that deprives students of the ability to acquire 21st century learning due to weaknesses in the existing curriculum. This study was, therefore, conducted to explore from teachers how the Social Studies curriculum can be reformed to create a room for active and student centered learning. A cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. Senior High School (SHS) Social Studies teachers in Northern Region were the target population for the study (N = 175 teachers). Using Yamane's (1967) formula for sample size determination, 151 teachers were randomly sampled for the study with a confidence level of 97% and a margin error of ±3. Closed-ended item questionnaires were used to mine data from the respondents. The reliability of the items in the questionnaires was tested using the Cronbach alpha formula which yielded a = 0.78, which was acceptable for the study. Using SPSS, data were analyzed employing descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviations and the results were presented in tables. The study discovered a high endorsement by teachers on the need for a new Social Studies curriculum that provides an opportunity for meaningful learning; a call for Social Studies curriculum reform to create a room for student-centered learning to improve learning outcomes of students in line with SDG 4. The study recommends curriculum reforms, capacity-building programmes for teachers based on training needs; supply of relevant instructional resources; expansion of SHSs infrastructure and rethinking a ban on SHSs students' use of phones and personal laptops on campuses.

Rural tourism development in contemporary times is viewed with a participatory approach lens thus allowing local residents to benefit. This study assessed tourism development in Karimenga, a community in the West Mamprusi District with a facility dubbed the “Greenhouse Tourism Project”. It also assessed the perception of residents on their participation in tourism and equally explored the impact of tourism development in the community. Employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, data were sourced from a sample of 112 residents through questionnaire administration and In-depth Interview (IDI) schedules. The study revealed that the majority of the residents (67%) were involved in tourism decision making. It is recommended that benefits from tourism be made to ‘spiral' the community to reach most households through loans granted by the assembly for handicraft work to enhance souvenir trade.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate first year students' lived experiences of the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme at selected communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Convenience sampling method was used to select and put students into focus groups. Focus group interview was then used to collect data from the students. Data obtained were analysed thematically. Findings on the students' lived experiences of the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme include: members in the communities lack financial supports to venture into farming and businesses, poor roads network slowed down most economic activities in the communities, there were inadequate social amenities, there were lack of toilet facilities, poor telecommunication network system was prevalent, improper waste disposal was prevalent, there were issues of misunderstanding among students due to individual differences, students had financial troubles, there was an acute shortage of decent rooms for students, there were shortage of first aid drugs in most Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and there was a lack of portable drinking water. Potentials possess by the communities include: vast land for economic activities, active labour force, sheanut trees for shea butter processing and the availability of CHPS compounds in some communities. The benefits of the Field Practical Programme include: students learning all the socialization techniques, students been able to adjust into rural and deprived community life, students been exposed to places, culture and beliefs of other communities, students acquiring the team work spirit and students been able to into practice in the communities the knowledge learnt in the classroom. Recommendations were made concerning the developmental challenges in the communities and how the communities' potentials can be turned into viable developmental projects and businesses.