Abstract:
The development of micro-enterprises in rural off grid areas in Ghana is
linked with the increase in access and use of solar PV electricity services,
leading to changes in micro-enterprises, and changes in livelihood
characteristics of entrepreneurs, employees and community members in areas
where these enterprises located. The thesis was to evaluate the impact public
of solar PV in micro-enterprises in off grid rural areas. Convinience sampling
techniques was used for this study, 60 solar PV powered shop owners were
sampled in Twifo Heman Community. The study was to examine the
economic benefits and identify challenges; financial, technical and
maintenance of solar PV systems in rural electrification on micro-enterprises
and also to evaluate job performance after and before micro-enterprises where
connected to solar PV installations. The main aim of this research was to
explore linkages between increased access to solar PV electricity services and
micro-enterprise development in off grid rural areas in Ghana. This project
investigated changes in both micro-enterprises and livelihood of people
involved in enterprises after uptake of solar electricity services for operation.
Livelihood context was used to contribute to understanding of the changes
happening in micro-enterprises both within and between each other after up
taking of solar electricity services. The findings of the study shows that the
growth rate of micro-enterprises were noticeably higher in areas with
electricity services, but the proportion was low compared to micro-enterprises
growth rate and time of solar electricity introduction.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University
of Education, Winneba Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement
for award of the Master of Technology (Electrical/Electronic) degree
AUGUST, 2015
