Institute of African Studies Research Review New Series Vol. 14, No. 2,1998 UNIVERSITY OF GHANA LEGON FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK THE Editorial Committee (EC) welcomes the submission of papers for publication in the Research Review. These may be academic and scholarly articles that set forth the findings of new research in any branch of African Studies, discuss and re-evalu- ate earlier research by the author and others, or combine these approaches. The arti- cles should not have been previously published. The EC also welcomes short reports on research in progress, brief research notes and reviews of books in the area of African Studies. All contributions must be submitted in English, in duplicate, typed, double spaced with adequate margins, on one side of the paper, which should ha of standard size (not foolscap). Authors should ensure to keep an additional copy for their own future reference. Articles should not exceed 30 quarto pages. Notes and References need not be given in full in the notes, but must be listed in full after the notes, with full information in this order: name of author or editor, date of publication, title, place of publication, publisher. Figures and diagrams should be drawn in black ink on white paper, that require little or no reduction hi size. Tables can be reduced, but authors should bear in mind that this will make the numbers very much smaller. Photographs should be black and white on glossy paper. Preferred placement of diagrams, tables and figures in the text should be indicated by numbers. Words and short passages in Ghanaian language orthographies, or orthographies of other African language that is IP A symbols, may be included, but diacritics must be kept to an absolute minimum. Material hi languages other than English should be underlined. Submissions should be sent to the Editor of the Research Review, Institute of Afri- can Studies, University of Ghana, P.O. Box 73, Legon, Ghana. They should be ac- companied by a brief biographical note, giving the author's name in the form it should appear hi print, current academic or professional position, field or research interest, and titles of one or two previous publications. The EC also welcomes books from authors and publishers for review hi the Re- search Review. INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES RESEARCH REVIEW New Series VoL 14, No. 2 1998 Editorial Committee Professor G.P. Hagan (Chairman) Nana Dr. Abayie Boaten (Editor) Dr. Irene Odotei Dr. A.K. Awedoba Mr. Kwame Amoah Labi Advisory Editors Professor Mary E. Kropp Dakubu Professor Kofi Anyidoho Professor J.R. Anquandah Professor Max Assimeng Professor John Nabila Professor R. Addo-Fening Dr. S.A. Asiama Mr. Kofi Drah The RESEARCH REVIEW is a journal of current research in African Studies published by the institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon. Authors are solely responsible for opinions expressed in their articles. Enquiries about subscriptions and purchase of back issue should be addressed to the Adminis- trative Secretary. Institute of African Studies. University of Ghana. Post Office Box 73, Legon, Ghana. ISfcN 9964-76-128-7 Printed by the School of Communication Studies Press, University of Ghana, Legon. TABLE OF CONTENTS Women And Verbal Arts in the Oguaa-Edina Area by Esi Sutheriand-Addy Perceptions of Family Life: A Study of Ghanaian High School Students by Doreen B. Hilton; Ella T. Keller Kwaku Twumasi Ankrah The Historic Mission of die African Independent Churches (AIC) by Abraham Akrong Female-Headed Households in Southern Africa: Issues, Problems and Prospects by Bertha Z. Osei-Hwedie The Individual's Freedom of Expression in the Dagara Society: Myth or Reality by Poda N. Evariste Municipal Administration at Accra by Samuel S. Quarcoopome Notes on Contributors Page ... 1 ... 40 ... ... ... 58 69 84 — ^ - l 07