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Development Economics


Who Opens the Door? Rethinking Youth Employment in Africa.
Creating youth employment is not a single intervention, it is a coordinated system. Doors open not because one actor turns a key, but because all actors align and pull in the same direction

Dr. Obaa Akua Konadu
5 days ago6 min read


Academic Research Can Be Personal: A Note to Scholars Studying Their Own Countries.
Too often, scholars from the Global South are questioned on their "research scope" when they study their own countries. Should this matter?
My reflection draws on thinkers such as Donna Haraway, Bent Flyvbjerg, Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Pierre Bourdieu and Loic Wacquant to argue that proximity is not bias, but rather insight, and that personal connection can deepen the quality and relevance of academic research when approached with honesty and reflexivity.

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Nov 5, 20253 min read


Making Decentralization Work in Africa
It is obvious that local governments cannot do without central government transfer; however, coupling with internal competition can fix decentralization for Africa’s development. Our recent study in Benin shows that when one local government received funding, its neighbors, were inspired to invest more too. With fair funding and a touch of healthy competition, decentralization can move from promise to power, driving growth, reducing inequality, and facilitating development.

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Oct 29, 20253 min read


What Night Light Tells Us About Decentralization and Development
The impact of decentralization is not a yes-or-no question. It is about how reforms are designed and when they are rolled out. Decentralization does not benefit all communes equally, its success depends on the ability to raise more internally generated revenues........

Dr. Rose Vincent Camille
Sep 29, 20253 min read


The EU–ACP Economic Partnership Agreements: Fostering Trade or Eroding Africa’s Sovereignty?
The EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements promise greater market access and development support for African countries, yet their implementation risks undermining state sovereignty, regional integration, and local industries, raising questions about who truly benefits from these trade deals.

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Sep 2, 20258 min read


Africa Is the Future, But Who Holds the Pen?
What does “partnership” really mean when power is so unevenly distributed? And when Africa is constantly referred to as “the future”, who gets to own, shape, and benefit from that future?

Dr Davina Osei
Jul 24, 20258 min read


Ghana’s never-ending cycle of street vending?
In the Global South, informality (street vending informal housing etc) is often celebrated as a sign of resilience and agency, a creative response to structural exclusion. In contrast, similar forms of informality in the Global North are frequently labeled as disorder or policy failure. Is the Global South inherently disorderly with spation-economic interations? or should it pride in its micro-level resilience and agency?

Dr. Obaa Akua Konadu
Jul 23, 20255 min read


Ghana needs more efficient spending to fix gaps in education
Ghana spends more on education than many better-performing countries, yet still lags behind on key outcomes. Our study shows that the problem is not lack of resources, but inefficiency in spending. To meet SDG 4 targets, Ghana must address low completion rates, gender gaps, and poor teacher-pupil ratios, especially at the primary level.

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Jul 23, 20254 min read


Ghana’s free high school policy is getting more girls to complete secondary education – study
What happens when cost barriers to secondary education are removed? Ghana’s FreeSHS policy, launched in 2017, led to a sharp rise in school completion, especially for girls. Our research shows that while access improved, challenges remain, including declining quality, uneven uptake, and persistent social norms. FreeSHS is not a silver bullet, but it marks a bold move toward inclusive education and offers lessons for designing sustainable public policies.

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Jul 23, 20254 min read


Why male corporate leaders and billionaires may need financial therapy more than anyone
Male corporate leaders and billionaires may seem financially secure, but many face deep emotional stress linked to money, power, and identity. Research shows that financial distress among elites can manifest as overconfidence, aggression, or risky decisions, often driven by threatened masculinity. Financial therapy, though often overlooked for this group, could help prevent emotionally driven choices that destabilize companies and economies.

Prof. Prince Sarpong
Jul 22, 20251 min read


Social Networks as Exit Options and Entry Points into Corruption
In many African countries, social networks shape access to public services. A study by Osei, Konte, and Avenyo shows that connections can help the wealthy avoid bribes and the poor navigate weak systems. But when do relationships become corruption? The line between networking and nepotism blurs in unequal systems. Rather than a moral verdict, the study calls for reforms that balance fairness with the realities of relationship-based access.

Dr Davina Osei
Feb 13, 20253 min read


Political Empowerment of Women in Africa: Influence or Number?
Political empowerment of women in Africa. Influence or just a numbers game?

Dr. Victor osei kwadwo
Dec 11, 20195 min read

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