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SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Information Communication Technology
Introduction
Information Communication Technology (ICT) can be defined to include a group of electronic technologies and techniques used to manage information and knowledge. Due to its importance in recent development arena, the 2010 Population and Housing Census for the first time sought information on the ownership of mobile phones, usage of desk top or laptop computers and internet facilities by individuals and households. ICT is recognized as an important knowledge-based tool necessary for socioeconomic developments.
The role of ICT in the economy of Ghana has been widely recognized though it has not been fully experienced in all parts of the country. The recognition is reflected in the development of a national ICT infrastructure, institutional and regulatory framework for managing the sector, promoting the use of ICT in all sectors of the economy, implementing E-governance in all government institutions and the construction of a National Data Centre as well as regional and district information centers. This chapter presents the data on the use of ICT in the Upper Denkyira West District.
Mobile Phone Ownership
Table 5.1 presents information on the population 12 years and older and those amongst them who own mobile phones and those who use internet. The data reveals that 35.3 percent of persons 12 years and older in the Upper Denkyira West own mobile phones compared to a regional average of 44.9 percent. Whiles nearly 44 percent of the male population 12 years and older own mobile phones, almost twenty seven percent of their female counterparts own mobile phones.
Use of Internet
The use of internet facilities has increased enormously throughout Ghana in the last two decades. Since its inception communication by using postal services has reduced substantially in favour of electronic mails. Businesses have adopted its use in place of postal services. Individuals use the internet to communicate instead of posting letters. The numerous software programmes which are being developed on daily basis for social networking further entice 41
Housing Stock
Table 8.1 presents information on the housing situation in the Upper Denkyira West District. The total number of houses in the District is 10,099 and with a District population of 60,054, the number of persons per house is six. On the average, there are 4.4 (approximately four) persons in each household in the District and an average of 1.3 (approximately 1 household) households per house in the District.
Type of dwelling, Holding and Tenancy Arrangement
Ownership status of dwelling
Table 8.2 presents the ownership status of the dwelling unit households live in. The data show that more than 64 percent (8,652) of the households in the District own their dwelling, with the same proportion of male headed household (65%) and female headed households (64%). Moreover, 20.5 percent of female headed households and 16 percent of male headed households live in a dwelling owned by a relative not a household member. Only one percent of dwelling are public or government housing unit. Those being purchased through mortgage schemes constitute 1.7 percent, private employer ownership and other private agency (1.7%.). The least proportion of the dwelling units are those owned through other means (0.3%.).
Type of dwelling
As shown on Table 8.3, compound house is the predominant dwelling unit occupied by households in the district. Whiles slightly more than one in two (50.3%) households occupy compound house, 37.4 percent live in Separate houses, Semi-detached house (6.5%), huts/buildings same compound (2.6%) and flat/apartment (1.9%). Table 8.3 also indicates that there is a higher proportion of female headed households (56.1) living in compound houses than their male (47.7%) counterparts. However more male headed households live in separate house (39.4) than female headed household (32.9%).
Construction Materials
Materials for outer wall
Table 8.4 shows that the main construction material used for the outer wall of dwelling units in the District is mud brick/earth (66.5%) with cement blocks or concrete (26.2%) being the next main material. The rest of the construction materials are sparely used by households; wood (2.1%), landcrete (2.0%), burnt bricks (1.7%) stone (0.2%) and bamboo (0.2%).
Materials for the floor of dwelling units
Table 8.5 shows that in the Upper Denkyira West District 78.7 percent of the floor of dwelling units is made of cement or concrete. The next important material for floors is earth/mud (19.4%) areas. Although ceramic or porcelain or marble tiling has gained some popularity in the country in recent times, not much of it has been used in the District. The materials least used for the floor of dwelling units were wood, Vinyl tiles and terrazzo tiles each with 0.1 percent.
Materials for roofing
The major roofing material is metal sheet which accounts for 83.2 percent of the 14,463 dwelling units in the District. This is indicated on Table 8.6.