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This study sought to assess the adequacy levels of some purpose-built hostels around the Wa campus of the UDS to meet the growing students' population in the Wa township. It sought to find out the qualitative adequacy levels of the accommodation provided by these private hostels and how the accommodation provided by the private sector adequately supports the educational needs and requirements of students. It also sought to identify the key housing attributes and services (facilities) whose improvement will enhance the level of satisfaction derived from these hostels. It was a post-occupancy evaluation based on survey questionnaires of 31 housing attributes. A five-point Likert scale was used in measuring the qualitative adequacy levels of five purpose-built hostels. The data was analysed with descriptive statistical techniques. Respondents found the hostels fairly adequate for academic purposes. No hostel was either very inadequate or very adequate. The building component attributes rated were mainly found to be adequate whiles the ancillary services needed by students were mostly found fairly adequate. Fire safety and internet services were found to be inadequate and contributed least to the overall adequacy of the hostels. The results suggest the need for regulation in the planning, design and construction of hostels in Wa since about one-half of the attributes used were generally rated fair and none found very adequate. Fire safety is critical in students housing due to the multitenant nature of hostels. This was however found inadequate; necessitating urgent attention to avert any future disaster.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which the process of becoming a surveyor in Ghana mirrors a broad conception of professionalism. Design/methodology/approach -The work is grounded in field research in the form of interviews/survey conducted by the authors in Ghana. The sample is drawn in such a way that the work benefits from the experiences of people at different levels of surveying training. Findings -The study reveals that professional surveying training in Ghana is effective but narrow: senior surveyors do provide mentoring to probationers, but they engage in poor labour practices; probationers do obtain professional training, but many of their expectations are not met. While there are both costs and benefits to the mentors and mentees, the study finds that, on balance, the process of professionalisation is designed to favour a few owners of surveying firms. Practical implications -It is the intention of the authors that this work would contribute to a process of "conscientisation". The paper provides part of the basis for young surveyors to reject being passive recipients of instruction to becoming active workers and professionals who have a deep awareness of the social reality which shapes their professional lives and understand how they can reshape that reality. Originality/value -This research work is the first study of the state of professionalism and work conditions of surveyors in Ghana. The study sheds light on the conditions under which surveyors work and shows how professional they are. On the one hand, this study provides the opportunity for prospective surveyors in Ghana to reflect on their aspiration before embarking on that "journey". On the other hand, it gives practising surveyors a basis for reflecting on how the profession can be improved.

This paper focuses on the characteristics of sustainable development as manifested in localized contexts and situations. It examines the KASHA project in Botswana, and suggests an important conceptual link between the community and sustainable development. To convey the message that there is hope and that "SustainableDevelopment" is possible, the paper suggests the need to document, share, describe and talk about successful programmes like KASHA.