ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Management of sand and stone mining and their environmental impact in Kumasi Metropolis using geographic information system (GIS) technology

Sand and stone mining have for long been an important vocation for many of our rural folks and especially for communities that are closer to urban or metropolitan centres. This has been the result of the high demand for shelter, an important component of life for the ever-increasing population. This demand driven vocation has seen very rapid growth in recent times due to increased activities especially in the fields of engineering -- estate development, roads, bridge construction and other infrastructure development. However, the increasing significant negative environmental and socio-economic concerns confronting the country and the communities involved have attracted the sense of urgency of communities, urban councils, district assemblies, the Environmental Protection Agency (E P A), the Minerals Commission and the government to find viable and sustainable solutions to the environmental repercussions. This calls for a data base on the environment vis-à-vis - the socioeconomic issues involved for purposes of planning, analysis, monitoring, evaluation and an overall assessment of policies required to address the issues pertaining to the management of sand and stone mining as well as the crucial consequential environmental degradation. In this project, the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology was utilized in the capture, process, management, query and analysis of data geographically in a bid to solving the problems confronting sand and stone mining industry. The GIS was also used as a monitoring tool in optimizing the operations of miners and to give a better and a scientific way of evaluating revenue that accrues from the exploitation of sand and stone. Nine (9) mining sites were selected in the Kumasi pen-urban area. On all sites, the impact of the mining activities on the land use patterns, the infrastructure such as roads, the income levels of the locals as well as the mode of operations of the mining were examined. One of the main outcomes of the study is the creation of a comprehensive database on the sand and stone mining industry. The study has established an effective procedure for the management of the environmental impact of the operations. Recommendations have been made regarding how a cost effective survey can be carried out for purposes of monitoring and tax assessment. It also recommended strongly the application of GIS in environmental resource management such as sand and stone mining. An alternate source of material to sand was also recommended.

Source: KNUST
Management of street vended food in the Ablekuma Sub-District-a case study

Street Vending Food in developing countries and Ghana is no exception, has become a major source of concern as a result of the dramatic growth of urban populations. The Street Food Vending provides opportunities for resource-poor groups in urban and pen- urban environments. A feature of the urbanization process has been the development of informal food supply systems. Resource-poor groups have developed livelihood strategies with limited capital assets to meet opportunities in urban areas. This is typified by the increase in ready-to-eat food prepared and sold by Street Vendors in urban areas. Important as these foods are in the food supply industry, Street Vended Foods are recognised as a potential hazard. This may be possible because of chemical and microbiological contamination, which could occur during preparation, packaging and sale. This may lead to food borne diseases. This has stimulated interest in researching into the management of street vended foods in the Ablekuma Sub-metro, Accra as a means of ensuring the safety of street foods. The study was cross-sectional descriptive in nature with respect to Primary and Secondary Data. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for analysis. Purposive (Convenience) Sampling was used to select five communities in which to collect the data. The Street food vendors were then selected based on some criteria. Structured questionnaires were administered to a sample of 140 respondents (both vendors and consumers). The response rate was 71 %. The condition of the street food environment was also observed. There were also some Key Informant interviews. Secondary data was also collected from various research papers and books from various sources. The study revealed that, there were policies put in place in ensuring the safety of street foods. Nevertheless, the policies were not implemented to the letter due to the burning constraints faced by the institutions that matter in the street food business. The study also showed that, majority 48 (96%) of the respondents were females with either low or minimal level of education. The findings indicated that majority, (over two thirds) of the respondents, involved in the study were knowledgeable about food safety. However, they were unable to put the knowledge into practice because of many factors. Key among them was the lack of basic infrastructure support. This research had also brought to light the unhygienic practices in the street food business by the street food vendors. This may lead to the spread of food borne diseases. It was also observed that, the disposal of garbage and wastewater was generally unsatisfactory. All these imply that more has to be done in the area of street food business in order to ensure public protection and consumer safety.

Source: KNUST
The management of the internally generated funds (IGF): the case of Kintampo Hospital

The main source of financing health service in Ghana is public funding. Public funding is becoming scarcer and scarcer as a source of funding non-wage recurrent expenditure. There is the search by all stakeholders for an alternative source of funding. The Internally Generated Fund (I G F) resulting from the introduction of cost recovery practices (L 113 13) in health institutions, could be a source of funding, if rationalized. The study therefore assessed the management of the I G F at the Kintampo hospital (1997—1 999). A cross- sectional study using structured interview guide was administered to a randomly selected sample (N = 47) of the community and staff (N=33) of the hospital. Primary and secondary data were also collected from the hospital .There was also direct observation of the hospital staff activities in the performance of their duties. The study indicated that 81% of the community’s respondents were not happy with the current revenue collection procedure and recommended a central revenue collection point Likewise, there hasn’t been any review of fixed charges of non drug consumables used at the hospital since 1997. There was also a deficiency in the internal control mechanism, as no randomized “on the spot “checks have been instituted as recommended by the I G F policies. The study also indicated that material resource management was poor due to the top- bottom planning approach used in the hospital. Financial management was excellent and the contribution to the I G F to the non-wage recurrent expenditure was 63.15%, 72% of which was used to service the running cost of the official vehicle, management information system (M I S) related logistics, while 19% was used for local employment of additional staff The I G F was assessed to be 59.6% efficient using a point rating system. The system could further be improved by the hospital management adopting a bottom-up planning approach, improve on the internal control mechanism and seriously take cognisance of the community’s recommendation to improve the revenue collection procedure to rationalize the I G F generation as an alternative source of funding nonwage recurrent expenditure.

Source: KNUST
Management of the disability common fund: challenges and impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

This study aimed to assess the impact of the DCF on the socio-economic lives of PWDs and recommend ways to improve the programme. Cross-sectional study with qualitative methods was conducted with PWDs enrolled in the DCF in Kumasi Metropolis. Data were obtained from 125 respondents (120 PWD beneficiaries and fund management committee) using non probability purposive sampling technique. Open- and close-ended questionnaire were data collection instruments and analysed using Statistical Package Service Solution version 20. Results were generated through descriptive and analytical statistics. The findings show that education; employment and income levels were too low among PWDs to impact positively on their socio-economic status. Although the mean monthly income of respondents was GHC 171.62, 56.7% earned between GHC50.00 to GHC100.00, below the national minimum wage whereas at May, 2014 was GHC180.00 per month. Mean monthly income was higher among respondents with tertiary qualification than those with no formal education (GHC369.00/GHC90.94; p=0.03). About 59.3% of PWDs had received the fund for only one year. The mean amount of money received from the fund was GHC 171.62. Although the funds were insufficient for PWDs yet PWDs agreed that it helped in their business and farming activities, payment of children school fees and assist in purchasing assistive devices. Monthly expenditure on food indicated that 85.7% of respondents paid between GHC180 and GHC600, healthcare was between GHC5 and GHC28. Education cost them between GHC100 and GHC300. Challenges associated with managing the DCF ranged from the demographics, socio-economic status of the respondents to the irregular payment of fund by the Common Fund Administrator into the District Assemblies Common Fund. The study suggests efforts to institute measures to promote education and employment among PWDs, increase the DCF from 2% to 5% to meet the excess application. Future research should also focus much on the financial risk protection offered by other social protection strategies like Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty for PWDs.

Source: KNUST
Management of the African grasshopper, zonocerus variegatus (l.) (orthoptera: pyrgomorphidae) in ghana: the role of chromolaena odorata

The pestilence of the variegated grasshopper. Zonocerus variegatus, was investigated whether it was attributed to the introduction and spread of the weed. Chromolaena odorata in Ghana. and the consumption of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from the flowers of the plant by the insect. The study was aimed at developing an effective control measure against the pest. Questionnaire and ecological surveys were conducted to determine the distribution patterns and densities of’ the insect and plant in different ecological zones in the country. traversing natural vegetations. Studies were conducted on the biology of Z. variegatus with respect to diet with and without source of PAs. The attraction of Z. variegatus to the PAs in the dry roots of C. odorata. Heliotropiurn indicum and Crotalaria refusa were compared while Carbofuran® 3G. Perfekthion® 40 EC and Karate® 2.5 EC were screened for their efficacy as killing agents for the grasshopper. The survey results established a correlation between the distribution of C. odorata and the pestilence of’ Z. variegatus. While Z. variegatus is distributed nationwide. C. odorata has spread as far north as Lat. 8º 30’ N from the Coast, an increase of 15’ within a decade. In areas with no C. odorata, Z. variegatus was univoltine and not a serious pest. However, below Lat. 8º 30’ N where C. odorata occurs, Z. variegatus exists in two distinct wet and dry season populations with the dry season population being a major pest on food crops and forestry products. This observation was traced to the pharmacophagous utilization of PAs horn the flowers of C. odorata during the dry season by the insect. The diet studies showed that Z. variegatus utilises PAs which are secondary plant metabolites. Diet with a PA-source as a component positively enhanced growth. egg production and life-span of the grasshopper. All stages of the insect were attracted to the PA-sources and 300 g weight of the dry chopped roots of C. odorata showed promise for use as the PA-lure component for the development of PA-based attracticide to manage Z. variegatus. Incorporating 1.0% Carbofuran® 3G (w/v) into the dry chopped roots of C. odorata yields a potent cost effective PA-based attracticide for the management of Z. variegatus in open fields and on cabbage. Thus, farmers at the community level can adopt this management option as a contribution to the management of’ Z variegatus. Notwithstanding the present achievement on the use of PA sources as attractants for the integrated management of’ Z variegatus, it. is conceded that further investigations on the biology and the development of PA-based attracticide baits with both chemical and biological insecticides for the management of Z. variegatus are required.

Source: KNUST
The Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Compliance, Barriers and Effect on Glycaemic Control of Adult Outpatients in Sunyani Municipality, Brong Ahafo Region - Ghana

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent high levels of blood glucose with serious micro- and macro-vascular complications. Effective management of T2DM including lifestyle changes can minimize the levels of diabetes related diseases and deaths. A person affected by T2DM should learn to accept the new lifestyle modifications because poor glycaemic control puts type 2 diabetics at higher risks of developing life threatening complications. This makes adherence to management therapies paramount in achieving good glycaemic control. The study aimed to assess compliance, barriers to diabetes self-care management practices and effect on glycaemic levels of adult type 2 diabetes outpatients receiving care at four selected hospitals in Sunyani, Ghana. A cross - sectional study design was used and 300 known type 2 diabetics aged 30 years and above attending diabetes clinic in four selected health facilities in Sunyani were recruited using simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaires comprising both open and close ended questions were used to collect demographic data and data on compliance and barriers. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured with a glucose metre. The study results revealed that 11.7%, 24.3% and 20.7% of the study participants had fasting blood glucose levels ranging between 4.0 - 6.0mmol/L, 6.1 - 7.9mmol/L and 8.0 - 9.9mmol/L respectively while the majority (43.3%) of the participants had fasting blood glucose levels of 10mmo/L or above. Greater proportions (78%) of the participants have had diabetes self-care management education with only 22% reporting no education. The study showed self-reported compliance of 79%, 18.3% and 6% for medication, diet and exercise respectively. Factors such as forgetfulness, financial constraints, bitterness of drugs, pains from injections; restrictive diets, small portion sizes and lack of support; fatigue, pains in limbs and laziness were identified to be barriers to medication, diet and exercise regimen adherence respectively. Although compliance to iv medication was found to be higher than diet and physical activity recommendations, there were no significant associations between medication (p = 0.789), dietary regimen (p = 0.341), physical activity (p = 0.547) and fasting blood glucose levels.

Source: KNUST
The management of urban land in Ghana: the case of Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan Areas

Population trends currently indicate that more than half of Ghana’s population currently lives in urban areas. The pressures of urbanization and fast growing population of the cities have therefore impacted on land management. This study analyzed land management practices in Accra and Kumasi in view of rapid urbanization. The study analyzed issues such as the operation of the land markets in the cities – trend of land use, ownership and land values, sources and process of land acquisition. Customary land ownership in the two cities constitutes about 90%. The value of land in Accra is relatively higher than in Kumasi. Accra has only one recognized customary land secretariat (CLS) whose power is limited to only Gbawe. It was also found that many individuals, families and stools own land in Accra as compared to Kumasi where all the lands belong to Asantehene under the caretaker chiefs. This makes resolution of conflicts on land in Kumasi easier as compared to Accra. Problems associated with land management include inadequate logistics, poor documentation of transactions, fragmented institutions, inadequate cooperation and coordination among the Land Sector Agencies (LSAs), perceived corruption of some officers of the LSAs and general indiscipline in the land market. This research was conducted between 2000 and 2011. It was conducted in the LSAs as well as some selected communities in the two cities – Achimota and Gbawe in Accra and Bremang UGC and Atafoa Aboahia in Kumasi. Questionnaires were distributed to 600 land acquirers / users. The land users included house/plot owners, shop owners and institutions (schools). Stratified random sampling method was employed in the selection of land users. Simple random sampling method was then applied to select from each category of the land users. Key informants of the LSAs including the Lands Commission (LC), Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD), Office of Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) and the CLSs in the cities were also interviewed. Efficient land administration in urban areas could promote development of communities and enhance socioeconomic growth. Information on land documents should be computerized and accessible to all the LSAs including the CLSs. Lastly, human resource and logistics should be adequate to make land service delivery efficient and make clients comfortable in their transactions with the LSAs.

Source: KNUST
Management of VRA Resettlement Towns: Case Study, West Kpong Resettlement Town

‘‘Property in land is capital; property in fund is income without capital; property in mortgage is both capital and income’’ – Lord Manfield. Governments through the use of power of eminent control and compelled by state policy are able to move people involuntarily from their original home and relocated to another location. Governments in their quest to carry out developmental projects affect community’s and individual’s properties. People are displaced and therefore put pressure on their socio - economic, environmental and health issues. The Acquisition of Kpong Lands for the dam project and the creation of the resettlement town generated problems for the resettlement sites – West Kpong. These include, illegal sale of acquired lands, indeterminate boundary demarcation, poor amenities, non-payment of compensation to host communities and clashes/conflict between settler and host communities. The main objectives for the study are to evaluate the socio – economic and environmental significance of land acquisition for large dams, to identify the extent to which public participation is achieved during the planning stage of the dam construction and to assess issues that confront affected persons in respect of compensating and resettling communities by the VRA.For reasons of time and financial constraints, the case study strategy was adopted as the research method. Questionnaire was designed to encompass sustainable dam development and its management. There are three main parts to the questionnaire namely; measures of sample demography, measures of sustainable development, measures of public participation and lastly, measures of resettlement /compensation and management of the resettlement township. In this study data were collected in two stages thus: the pilot study and during the main study. In the main study, fifty questionnaires were sent out. Out of this, thirty – three useable questionnaires were obtained. Unstructured interviews were also conducted. The main data analysis technique utilized is descriptive statistics. The study calculated parentages, means and standard deviations to analyze the data. The study revealed the following findings: The socio- economic status of the inhabitants was low. The majority of the people interviewed were petty traders, farmers, artisans and the unemployed. The policy of compulsory acquisition of land renders landowners landless. The VRA has a large portfolio of landed assets and because of that has become very difficult to continue managing resettlement towns. Residual resettlement management is a major challenge facing the VRA. The following recommendations were made: Acquiring Agencies should ensure proper parcellation and demarcation of plots for settlers. Secondly, there should be the need for security of tenure of holdings. The people uprooted from their original homes must enjoy crystallized interest and permanent rights of occupation. In as much way, settlers in host communities should have a title affording a maximum possible security of tenure

Source: KNUST
Management problems of small scale businesses: a case study of selected firms in the Bantama Sub-Metropolitan District

It is an acceptable fact that the private sector is the engine of growth of the economy of every country. In the Ghanaian economy, the private sector is dominated by small scale businesses which undertake various business activities including manufacturing, services, construction, agriculture, retail and wholesale businesses. The study focused on the management problems facing the small scale businesses particularly in the manufacturing, service and retail sectors in the Bantama sub- metropolitan district within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The findings of the study revealed a number of important issues. In the first place, it showed that a large number of the small scale businesses have still not registered and therefore, the National Board for small scale Industries (NBSSI) which is the main consulting institution established by the Government to provide support services for the businesses has still not obtained a full list of small scale businesses for the needed attention. it also revealed that the performance of the small scale businesses in terms of levels of employment, building of working capital and improvement in profit levels have not been encouraging. The study revealed various management problems, predominantly in the area of planning and control, and organising and directing to some extent. These problems have had serious impact on the businesses as they have affected the performance of the businesses and have limited their ability to expand. The study revealed that even though there are various support schemes in the country in the form of institutions such as NBSSI, EMPRETEC, PEF, MDPI among others to provide the necessary support for the development of Small Scale Businesses, a lot of the businesses have still not had any access to these schemes due to either ignorance on the part of the businesses concerned or inability of the institutions to reach out to most of the businesses. The study offered a number of recommendations with regard to the appropriate management practices that may be adopted to improve the operations of the Small Scale Businesses. It also suggested the need to streamline the roles of the various support schemes in promoting the development and growth of the Small Scale Businesses.

Source: KNUST