As I edge ever closer to the submission date of my PhD thesis, I can now relax a bit. I can afford to look back on a bizarre incidence that happened to me on Thursday 29 September, 2016. I had a scheduled meeting with my supervisor in the late afternoon but I decided to go … Continue reading What is the summary of your PhD thesis?
PhD
Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come
It has already been a week since I arrived in the Mother City but I still feel like 'Johnny Just Come' (JJC)! But this is not the usual JJC syndrome of being in awe and not knowing how things work. My JJC is more psychological and I realise that it goes back to the cold … Continue reading Cape Chronicles II: Johnny Just Come
Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing
For the next 5 weeks I have the privilege of calling Cape Town my home. I am embarking on a research visit to the University of Cape Town and will be hosted by the African Centre for Cities. The aim of my research visit is to explore the planning issues associated with the use of tourism for … Continue reading Cape Chronicles I – Sarafina! and predeparture briefing
Ciao Napoli – I hope to see you again!
My first outside social encounter in Napoli on the second night of my stay in the city took place at the entrance of a restaurant and unfolded like this: Me: "Are you already serving food?" Italian Waiter:"Food?" Me:"Yes!" Italian Waiter:"Do you want to eat?" Me:"Yes!" Italian Waiter:"Do you have money?" Me:"What?!?" Italian Waiter:"Do you have … Continue reading Ciao Napoli – I hope to see you again!
Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
How time flies! (that is a metaphor right there but I will get to that later). With a mixture of sadness and gladness, today is my last day in Guildford where I have been on a research visit to the University of Surrey for the past two weeks. It has been a very good and productive … Continue reading Metaphors we fly by: 2 weeks at the University of Surrey
Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
As a Ghanaian keenly interested in the development of my country I feel very frustrated most times when I think of the considerable abuse of power coupled with the systemic and structural constraints to innovative thinking among planners and policy makers. Within this context of yearning for development in Ghana, the conduct of my fieldwork … Continue reading Researcher Reflexivity in Planning Research: My view from Elmina, Ghana*
On the making of academic country experts in international development
Just last week Thursday 12th March, 2015, I attended the 6th Annual Sheffield Institute for International Development (SIID) Postgraduate Conference here at the University of Sheffield. This year's theme was “Reflecting on development: Global narratives, local realities” with a number of interesting PhD student presentations. A thought-provoking keynote address by Prof. Diana Mitlin raised a number of … Continue reading On the making of academic country experts in international development
The boredom and joys of fieldwork in Ghana
This blog post was first written for and published on 6th November, 2014 by the Sheffield Institute for International Development (SIID) under the 'Students Insights' feature of their website. I am republishing it here without edit but with only the addition of pictures. I have so far enjoyed my PhD journey which started in September, … Continue reading The boredom and joys of fieldwork in Ghana
What a topsy-turvy week!
What a topsy-turvy week it was last week. Last week was my first working week in Sheffield after I got back from my fieldwork research in Ghana (more about that in a post soon). I had great expectations for the week which I had already made plans for while still in Ghana. My plan was … Continue reading What a topsy-turvy week!
Why I am an unplanned PhD planner
“Oh, so you are a planner” “Will you go and work as a planning officer when you complete?” “Hurry up and come help plan our country” These are some of the most common comments I tend to get when I inform people that am doing a PhD at the Department of Town and Regional Planning, … Continue reading Why I am an unplanned PhD planner
Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong 