Underdevelopment by development : technology transfer and rural development in the Volta River Basin of Ghana

Abstract

The construction of dams has increased within the past two decades resulting in consequences which threaten people's lives in many different ways. Despite these consequences, however, dams continue to be viewed as vehicles of economic growth and development in many developed as well as developing countries. It is usually expected that the transfer of technology and skills which will make possible the use of improved agricultural methods, fertilizers, machines and seeds will benefit the poor either directly or indirectly thereby raising overall living standards.

This study seeks to investigate the transforming effect of technology transfer in the Volta River Basin, Ghana on the rural communities who live in the basin to this day. It has demonstrated that the people are confronted by more problems of underdevelopment, than development. Our study has shown that the 'modernization' strategy which was adopted with the intention of developing the river basin in 1962 by the then Government of Ghana has done more harm than good to the rural people who live in the area. It is this that leads us to conclude that the transfer of technology and strategies of development must be preceded by careful research to determine their applicability before they are adopted.

Until developing countries are able to determine which technology and skills will help provide solutions to their enormous problems, are able to give increased attention to the prevailing socio-economic and cultural conditions in the local area and make efforts to involve would-be beneficiaries of change in the process, programmes designed to eliminate poverty will fall short of expectations and development will fail.