A Case Study of the Origins, Objectives and Consequences of Ghana's Volta River Project
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE ORIGINS, OBJECTIVES AND CONSEQUENCES OF GHANA'S VOLTA RIVER PROJECT Kofi Adlai Boateng B.A., University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, 1969 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS (COMMUNICATION) in the Department of Communication @ Kofi Adlai Boateng 1980 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY October 1980 All rights reserved. This thesis may not be t reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Kofi Adlai Boateng Degree: Master of Arts (communication) Title of Thesis: International Development and Communication: A Case Study of the Origins, Objectives and Consequences of Ghana's Volta River Project. Examining Committee: Chairperson: ~obert)~. Anderson Senior Supervisor Gail M. Martin Geoffrey Hainsworth External Examiner Professor Department of Economics Universi'ty of British Columbia Date Approved: October 1, 1980 PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser University the right to lend my thesis, project or extended essay (the title of which is shown below) to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. T itl e of Thes i s/Project/Extended Essay International Development and Communication: A Case Study of the Origins, Objectives and Consequences of Ghana's Volta River Project. Author: (signature) Kofi Adlai Boateng ( name October 1, 1980 ABSTRACT The greater emphasis laid on economic and political analysis of international development aid has consequently obscured its study as a form of communication. The purpose of this thesis is to show the communication role of development aid in the international system and its impact on Ghanaian society through a case study of the huge multi-purpose Volta River Project (VRP). Two groups of methods were used: (a) comparison of opin- ions, editorial comment, government publication, public speeches, and evaluative reports about the VRP, and (b) analysis of these ideas in relation to the origins, implementation and consequences of the project in the context of assumptions about communication and the "modernization" of traditional societies. The author is very familiar with this region of Ghana and with the histor- ical process since the VW's completion. Development projects like the VW constitute an important communication of knowledge and experience on the part of one nation with another, but the success of a particular project depends on the extent to which the project can be converted to widespread benefits in the great mass of Ghanaian society. This thesis examines the range of intended and unintended consequences which can be attributed to the VW. Because of the profound differences in culture and economy, nations and peoples differ iii widely in their perception and judgement of the "benefits" of development projects. National governments and international development agencies articulate and communicate their interests through these projects (for example, industrial expansion, resource extraction, regional stability and influence). Evalua- tion of the VRP shows that unless accompanied by effective communication and structural adjustments, projects do not naturally lead to the desirable progress which was envisioned by planners committed to the idea of "modernization" in the 1950's. The ideal of sharing the West's knowledge, technology and experience expressed in the VRP plans contrast sharply with the historical evidence that the project primarily benefitted the already developed regions of Ghana, and reinforced the advantages of the educated urbanized elites who capitalized on this opportunity. Though the VRP created a major public utility (electric power) critical to Ghana's industrial and social development, the project did not confer upon Ghana the economic and political stability intended by its planners as witnessed by history of coups since the overthrow of Nkrumah in 1966. But if such projects are to benefit the poor and underprivileged for whom they are ultimately intended, their interests must be incor- porated and regularly expressed in project planning and implemen- tation. This incorporation and expression is one of the communi- cation responsibilities of specific projects. To my wife and helper, Dora ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to extend my appreciation to (i) the members of my committee, especially my senior supervisor, Professor R.S. Anderson, whose understanding and valuable criticisms have stimulated my thoughts and sustained my effort and hence enabled me to produce this work; (ii) Mr. Colombus Boakye-Ansah, who made it possible for me to obtain the information I required from Ghana for the writing of this thesis; (iii) Aluminium Limited of Canada (Alcan), which, in addition to answering my questionnaire regarding their involvement in the Volta River Project in the 19501s, fur- nished me with useful material on the Project; and finally (iv) Mr. Eric Osei Yaw, who partly supported financially my studies in Canada. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page APPROVAL .................................................. ii ASSTRACT .................................................. iii DEDICATION.............. .................................. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ............................................ xiv LIST OF FIGURES........................................... xv CHRONOLOGY................................................ xvi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION...... ................................ 1 The Purpose of this Study .................... 1 The Importance of this Study ................. 1 The Background of the VRP.................... 4 The Assumptions of Economic Development Theory and the Role of Communication in Development ............................. 7 The central Features of the Old Economic Development Paradigm ....................... 14 The Central Features of Communication Approach to Economic Development Under the Old Paradigm ........................... 15 Evaluation of the Old Paradigm ........ 16 Definition of Terms Used in This Analysis .... 17 The Review of Literature on the VRP.......... 18 Background to the Study ...................... 26 Notes.................................... 32 vii Chapter Page XI . ORIGINS OF THE VRP ............................... International Origins of the VRP ............ Conception ........................... Private and Public Interest .......... Joint Mission ........................ Economic Interest .................... Political Factors .................... The Action of the British and Gold Coast Governments ............. Exploratory Talks .................... Negotiations ......................... The World Bank ....................... United States Government ............. Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO)...... National Origins of the VRP ................. Summary of the International and National Origins of the VRP ........................ Notes ....................................... I11 . OBJECTIVES OF THE VRP ............................ International Objectives .................... United Kingdom (U.K.) ................ Aluminium Companies (Alcan and BACO) . The World Bank ....................... Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO)...... The U.S. Government .................. viii Chapter Page National Objectives ......................... 68 Public Works ......................... 69 VRP's National Importance ............ 69 The VRP as an International Invest- ment Opportunity ................... 71 At the International Level ........... 75 At the National Level ................ 76 Domestic Objectives .................. 77 Notes ....................................... 80 IV . IMPLEMENTATION AND- COST OF THE VRP ............... 82 Implementation of the VRP ................... 82 Feasibility Studies .................. 83 Negotiations and Reappraisal Studies . 84 Reappraisal Studies .............. Actions Taken .................... Stresses and Strains of Inter- national Politics and Financial Interests ............ Disagreement Over the Pricing of the Power ...................... Administration and Construction of the VRP ............................ The Creation of Volta River Authority ...................... The Role of the VRA .............. The Construction of the Power Project ........................ Resettlement and Agriculture Scheme ......................... Chapter Summary ..................................... 100 Economic ............................. 100 Political ............................ 102 Administrative ....................... 105 Costs of the VRP ............................ 106 Factors that Influenced Cost ......... 110 Power Project .................... 110 Aluminium Smelter and Mines ...... 111 Public Works ..................... 111 Resettlement Scheme .............. 111 Period of Construction ........... 112 Other Factors .................... 112 Notes ....................................... 115 V . INTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE VRP ................. 119 Electricity Supply .......................... 120 Distribution