Examining the influence of Ghanaian coastal communities’ cultural practices on the cultural rights of small-scale fishers: a focus on livelihood impacts

This study investigates the impact of cultural practices within Ghanaian coastal communities on the cultural rights of small-scale fishers, with a focus on livelihood dynamics. Employing a qualitative approach, data was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, in four coastal communities: Apam, Elmina, Takoradi, and Axim. The sample comprised 56 participants, including men, women, and youth purposively sampled for their involvement in fishing businesses and coastal management. Thematic analysis revealed five major themes, including the influence of cultural beliefs on livelihood strategies and gender dynamics. Findings demonstrate how cultural practices simultaneously support and constrain the cultural rights of small-scale fishers, emphasising the need for culturally sensitive interventions to promote human rights and sustainable development in coastal areas. While the study provides a thick description of the socio-cultural dynamics, limitations regarding financial impacts, geographical scope, and policy analysis are acknowledged. Future research could adopt quantitative methodologies and explore a broader geographical and policy context to complement these findings. The study contributes to the scholarly discourse on the intersection of culture, livelihoods, and human rights, offering actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners in coastal communities.本研究探讨加纳沿海社区的文化实践对小型渔业从业者文化权利的影响，核心聚焦生计动态维度。研究采用质性研究方法，在阿帕姆(Apam)、埃尔米纳(Elmina)、塔科拉迪(Takoradi)与阿西姆(Axim)四个沿海社区，通过焦点小组讨论与深度访谈收集研究数据。研究样本共计56名参与者，经目的性抽样选取，涵盖男性、女性及青年群体，均深度参与渔业经营与沿海治理工作。通过主题分析法，本研究识别出五大核心研究主题，其中包括文化信仰对生计策略与性别关系的影响。研究结果显示，文化实践在为小型渔业从业者提供支持的同时，也对其文化权利构成一定制约，这凸显了在沿海地区推行兼顾文化敏感性的干预措施，以促进人权保护与可持续发展的必要性。尽管本研究对沿海社区的社会文化动态进行了详实的深度描述，但仍存在若干研究局限，包括未充分覆盖财务影响维度、地理范围有限以及政策分析不足等。后续研究可采用量化研究方法，并拓展研究的地理范围与政策场景，以进一步补充本研究的发现。本研究丰富了文化、生计与人权交叉领域的学术话语，可为沿海社区的政策制定者与实务工作者提供具有实操价值的见解。