Dynamics in the carrying capacity of Ghana’s population

https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v5i2.2365
Published: Feb 17, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study assesses the limitations of Thomas Malthus' population theory and explores how Cornucopian perspectives offer solutions to the sustainability of Ghana's population within the framework of the vicious cycle model.

Research methodology: The study used existing literature to analyse historical and contemporary sources on Malthusian and Cornucopian perspectives; and applied it to the analysis of demographic data and socio-economic indicators to assess the applicability of these theories in a modern Ghanaian context.

Results: The study finds that Malthus' theory is limited by its failure to anticipate technological advancements and improved agricultural practices, which have mitigated the risks of a Malthusian crisis. Cornucopian theorists provide a more optimistic view, arguing that innovation and socio-economic development can counteract the negative effects of rapid population growth. In Ghana, strategic investments in education, health, and technology have the potential to break the vicious cycle of poverty and population growth, aligning with Cornucopian ideas.

Limitations: The study does not account for all local factors influencing population dynamics in Ghana.

Contribution: This study contributes to the field of population studies by providing a comparative analysis of Malthusian and Cornucopian theories, with a specific focus on their relevance to contemporary issues in developing countries like Ghana.

Novelty: The novelty lies in its application of classical population theories to the modern context of Ghana.

Keywords:
1. population
2. carrying capacity
3. sustainable development
4. vicious cycle model
5. poverty
Authors:
Anita Bans-Akutey
BlueCrest University College, Ghana
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0305-9377
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How to Cite
Bans-Akutey, A. (2025). Dynamics in the carrying capacity of Ghana’s population. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 5(2), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.35912/jshe.v5i2.2365
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Issue & Section
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): February
Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

References

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    Bans-Akutey, A. (2023). Effect of Technological Development on Organisational Excellence for Selected Telecommunication Companies in Ghana: The Mediating Role of E-Leadership.

    Bans-Akutey, A., & Ebem, D. (2022). E-leadership and adaptation to the technological development of telecommunication businesses in Ghana. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 3(4), 259-269.

    Bans-Akutey, A., & Tiimub, B. (2021). The effect of leadership styles on the dynamics of a group. Academia Letters, 2.

    Baron, J. V. (2024). Climate change awareness and adaptation by rice farmers in Surallah, South Cotabato. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(3), 193-204.

    Benneh, G., Js, N., & Gyepi-Garbrah, B. (1989). Twenty years of population policy in Ghana.

    Bohr, C., Mestieri, M., & Yavuz, E. E. (2021). Engel’s treadmill: the perpetual pursuit of cornucopia. Northwestern University.

    Cheng, J. (2024). Study on the Ecological Carrying Capacity and Driving Factors of the Source Region of the Yellow River in China in the Past 30 Years.

    Del Monte?Luna, P., Brook, B. W., Zetina?Rejón, M. J., & Cruz?Escalona, V. H. (2004). The carrying capacity of ecosystems. Global ecology and biogeography, 13(6), 485-495.

    Femmer, R. (n.d.). What every citizen should know abou our planet: 100 key understanding for the half-century that lies ahead. Retrieved from https://www.calameo.com/read/000676519204e52a911f7

    Gu, D., Andreev, K., & Dupre, M. E. (2021). Major trends in population growth around the world. China CDC weekly, 3(28), 604.

    Jonsson, F. A. (2014). The origins of Cornucopianism: A preliminary genealogy. Critical Historical Studies, 1(1), 151-168.

    Kelly, M. T. (2021). Populate the Internationalist Movement: An Anti-imperialist Critique of Malthus and Neo-Malthusianism. Ecology.

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    Malthus, T. R. (1888). An essay on the principle of population: or, A view of its past and present effects on human happiness: Reeves & Turner.

    Marquette, C. M., Koranteng, K. A., Overå, R., & Aryeetey, E. B.-D. (2002). Small-scale fisheries, population dynamics, and resource use in Africa: the case of Moree, Ghana. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 31(4), 324-336.

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    Sayre, N. F. (2008). The genesis, history, and limits of carrying capacity. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 98(1), 120-134.

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    Sharma, R. K. (2004). Demography and population problems: Atlantic Publishers & Dist.

    Suhuyini, A. W. S., Akwotajie, M., & Yahaya, M. M.-u. (2024). Assessing household willingness to pay for waste management services in Tamale Metropolis. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(4), 277-294.

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    Wagner, K. C. (2017). Towards a Green Global Golden Age?: ICT enabled cornucopian sustainability and a suggestion for its reform. Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science.

    Wang, X. (2022). Managing land carrying capacity: Key to achieving sustainable production systems for food security. Land, 11(4), 484.

    Worldbank. (2022). Life expectancy at birth, total (years). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN

  1. Achiro, D. E., & Mwesigwa, D. (2023). Analysis of the contribution of the Youth Livelihood Program towards enhancing Self Reliance among the Youths in Lira City, Uganda.
  2. Bans-Akutey, A. (2023). Effect of Technological Development on Organisational Excellence for Selected Telecommunication Companies in Ghana: The Mediating Role of E-Leadership.
  3. Bans-Akutey, A., & Ebem, D. (2022). E-leadership and adaptation to the technological development of telecommunication businesses in Ghana. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 3(4), 259-269.
  4. Bans-Akutey, A., & Tiimub, B. (2021). The effect of leadership styles on the dynamics of a group. Academia Letters, 2.
  5. Baron, J. V. (2024). Climate change awareness and adaptation by rice farmers in Surallah, South Cotabato. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(3), 193-204.
  6. Benneh, G., Js, N., & Gyepi-Garbrah, B. (1989). Twenty years of population policy in Ghana.
  7. Bohr, C., Mestieri, M., & Yavuz, E. E. (2021). Engel’s treadmill: the perpetual pursuit of cornucopia. Northwestern University.
  8. Cheng, J. (2024). Study on the Ecological Carrying Capacity and Driving Factors of the Source Region of the Yellow River in China in the Past 30 Years.
  9. Del Monte?Luna, P., Brook, B. W., Zetina?Rejón, M. J., & Cruz?Escalona, V. H. (2004). The carrying capacity of ecosystems. Global ecology and biogeography, 13(6), 485-495.
  10. Femmer, R. (n.d.). What every citizen should know abou our planet: 100 key understanding for the half-century that lies ahead. Retrieved from https://www.calameo.com/read/000676519204e52a911f7
  11. Gu, D., Andreev, K., & Dupre, M. E. (2021). Major trends in population growth around the world. China CDC weekly, 3(28), 604.
  12. Jonsson, F. A. (2014). The origins of Cornucopianism: A preliminary genealogy. Critical Historical Studies, 1(1), 151-168.
  13. Kelly, M. T. (2021). Populate the Internationalist Movement: An Anti-imperialist Critique of Malthus and Neo-Malthusianism. Ecology.
  14. Kwankye, S. O., & Cofie, E. (2015). Ghana’s population policy implementation: Past, present and future. African Population Studies, 29(2).
  15. Lerch, B. A., & Abbott, K. C. (2024). A flexible theory for the dynamics of social populations: Within?group density dependence and between?group processes. Ecological Monographs, 94(2), e1604.
  16. Malthus, T. R. (1888). An essay on the principle of population: or, A view of its past and present effects on human happiness: Reeves & Turner.
  17. Marquette, C. M., Koranteng, K. A., Overå, R., & Aryeetey, E. B.-D. (2002). Small-scale fisheries, population dynamics, and resource use in Africa: the case of Moree, Ghana. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 31(4), 324-336.
  18. Matthew, U. J., & Onwuzor, O. A. (2023). Perception of violence and food security in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(1), 35-47.
  19. Molini, V., & Paci, P. (2015). Poverty reduction in Ghana: Progress and challenges.
  20. Price, D. (1999). Carrying capacity reconsidered. Population and Environment, 21(1), 5-26.
  21. Quartey, V. (2023). Population in Ghana: An Analysis of Growth Trends and Implications for Development Planning.
  22. Sayre, N. F. (2008). The genesis, history, and limits of carrying capacity. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 98(1), 120-134.
  23. Seidl, I., & Tisdell, C. A. (1999). Carrying capacity reconsidered: from Malthus’ population theory to cultural carrying capacity. Ecological economics, 31(3), 395-408.
  24. Sharma, R. K. (2004). Demography and population problems: Atlantic Publishers & Dist.
  25. Suhuyini, A. W. S., Akwotajie, M., & Yahaya, M. M.-u. (2024). Assessing household willingness to pay for waste management services in Tamale Metropolis. Journal of Social, Humanity, and Education, 4(4), 277-294.
  26. Unat, E. (2020). A review of Malthusian theory of population under the scope of human capital. FORCE: Focus on Research in Contemporary Economics, 1(2), 132-147.
  27. UNFPA. (n.d.). International Conference on Population and Development. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/icpd
  28. Wagner, K. C. (2017). Towards a Green Global Golden Age?: ICT enabled cornucopian sustainability and a suggestion for its reform. Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science.
  29. Wang, X. (2022). Managing land carrying capacity: Key to achieving sustainable production systems for food security. Land, 11(4), 484.
  30. Worldbank. (2022). Life expectancy at birth, total (years). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN