ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Spatial Inequality in Waste Management in a Millennium City: The Nexus Between Governance Poverty

Even though Accra was declared a millennium city in 2010, proper management of solid waste continues to be an unrelenting challenge for the authorities. Residents in low-income communities, (about 70% of residents) appear virtually cut-off from such municipal service. Using both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, this paper examines how certain governance practices reinforce spatial inequalities in the provision of such a service in Metropolitan Accra. The findings show that the forces behind the current condition range from weak municipal organizational capacity and internally generated revenues, over-simplified expectations on public-private partnerships to achieve “overnight” sustainability, and lack of community participation in strategic plans and projects. This paper argues that the inability of the city authorities to engage all the stakeholders in the provision of public services is a symptom of bad governance and a recipe for differentiated service provision skewed in favour of the rich and affluent in the society. To abate the situation, the paper urges the authorities to acquire the requisite skills to design and supervise programmes that enable all the stakeholders to participate as active partners in all stages of the municipal solid waste management

Source: UG
A SPATIAL INFORMATIO N MEASURE METHOD FOR HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGE VISUALIZATION

This paper presents a new band selection method for the visualization of hyperspectral images. The method selects three relevant spectral bands to build the red-green-blue composite. The proposed method uses not only mutual information, but also spatial information to select the bands. Results from the proposed method are presented and compared to other state-of-the-art methods in terms of informative content, gradient magnitude and variance. The results show that the proposed method compares favourably with alternative approaches.

Source: UG
Spatial modelling and inequalities of environmental noise in Accra, Ghana

A B S T R A C T Noise pollution is a growing environmental health concern in rapidly urbanizing sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities. However, limited city-wide data constitutes a major barrier to investigating health impacts as well as implementing environmental policy in this growing population. As such, in this first of its kind study in West Africa, we measured, modelled and predicted environmental noise across the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in Ghana, and evaluated inequalities in exposures by socioeconomic factors. Specifically, we measured environmental noise at 146 locations with weekly (n = 136 locations) and yearlong monitoring (n = 10 locations). We combined these data with geospatial and meteorological predictor variables to develop highresolution land use regression (LUR) models to predict annual average noise levels (LAeq24hr, Lden, Lday, Lnight). The final LUR models were selected with a forward stepwise procedure and performance was evaluated with cross-validation. We spatially joined model predictions with national census data to estimate population levels of, and potential socioeconomic inequalities in, noise levels at the census enumeration-area level. Variables representing road-traffic and vegetation explained the most variation in noise levels at each site. Predicted dayevening- night (Lden) noise levels were highest in the city-center (Accra Metropolis) (median: 64.0 dBA) and near major roads (median: 68.5 dBA). In the Accra Metropolis, almost the entire population lived in areas where predicted Lden and night-time noise (Lnight) surpassed World Health Organization guidelines for road-traffic noise (Lden <53; and Lnight <45). The poorest areas in Accra also had significantly higher median Lden and Lnight compared with the wealthiest ones, with a difference of ~5 dBA. The models can support environmental epidemiological studies, burden of disease assessments, and policies and interventions that address underlying causes of noise exposure inequalities within Accra.

Source: UG
Spatial Mutual Information Based Hyperspectral Band Selection for Classification

The amount of information involved in hyperspectral imaging is large. Hyperspectral band selection is a popular method for reducing dimensionality. Several information based measures such as mutual information have been proposed to reduce information redundancy among spectral bands. Unfortunately, mutual information does not take into account the spatial dependency between adjacent pixels in images thus reducing its robustness as a similarity measure. In this paper, we propose a new band selection method based on spatial mutual information. As validation criteria, a supervised classification method using support vector machine (SVM) is used. Experimental results of the classification of hyperspectral datasets show that the proposed method can achieve more accurate results.

Source: UG
‘The spatial politics of inclusive development: towards a new research agenda’,

This paper offers a political explanation to the problem of spatial inequality in developing countries, paying particular attention to the implications of patronage politics and inter-elite power relations for the spatial distribution of public goods. After showing that existing explanations of spatial inequality are at best partial, the paper argues that prospects for overcoming spatial inequalities in the clientelist-driven political environments of developing countries depend substantially on the ways in which elites from lagging regions are incorporated into ruling coalitions, and how such forms of incorporation shape their influence over resource allocation decisions and policy agenda more broadly. The paper also departs from much of the existing literature on spatial inequality by emphasising the need to understand ‘powerlessness’ on the part of lagging regions as stemming not necessarily from their political exclusion from political decision making structures, but also from their incorporation into such structures on terms that potentially underpin their poverty. Based on this argument, the paper proposes a new framework for exploring the deeper and more structural underpinnings of spatial inequality in developing countries.

Source: UG
Spatial Price Transmission and Market Integration Analysis: The Case of Maize Market in Ghana

This study presents an analysis of spatial price transmission and market integration of major maize markets in Ghana over the period 1995-2013. Monthly wholesale maize prices for the various markets were used for the analysis. The Augmented-Dickey Fuller test was used to test for the stationarity of individual price series and was confirmed by the KPSS test. All the price series data that were used tested for Unit Root. They were found to be non-stationary at levels but stationary after first difference at 1%, 5% and 10% significant levels. Johansen Maximum likelihood cointegration test was used to test the cointegration between the market pairs. It was found that all five market pairs were cointegrated. The proof of cointegration is also evidence for a common domestic maize market in Ghana, where inter-market prices adjust to achieve long-run, market equilibrium. The speed of adjustment and half lives from the vector error correction model shows that averagely, 8.2% of any disequilibrium was corrected within a month by the producer markets, while 12.4% of such shocks were corrected within a month by consumer markets. The net producer markets will return to equilibrium in 10 months while net consumer markets will return to equilibrium by 5 months after a shock. This means that shocks are quickly corrected by consumer market than by producer markets. Also adjustment to shock was characterized by asymmetry in that adjustments to price increases are corrected faster than price decreases. Two out of five market pairs exhibited asymmetry in price transmission while the remaining three were statistically not significant. The inventory and stock holding behavior of traders was the cause of asymmetry in price transmission. The evidence of price causation and leadership by Granger causality test shows Techiman as price leaders. In all, the findings indicate that major maize markets in Ghana are well integrated. It is therefore recommended that policy initiatives be directed towards ensuring efficient transportation of agricultural commodities across markets. These include investment in new transporting vehicles, rail/road construction and maintenance. These may contribute to reducing transaction costs and subsequently improving market integration and the imperfection observed in the maize market in Ghana. Also it is recommended that inventory and stock behaviour of traders be improved through investment in storage facilities by the government given the seasonal nature of the commodity. This can ensure even flow of maize throughout the season and enhance traders’ response to both positive and negative shocks.

Source: UG
Spatial proximity and firm performance: evidence from non-farm rural enterprises in Ethiopia and Nigeria

Spatial proximity and firm performance: evidence from non-farm rural enterprises in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Regional Studies. The productivity of non-farm enterprises in rural Africa can be associated with the productivity of other spatially proximate non-farm enterprises. To test for the presence and significance of such spatial autocorrelation, the article uses data from the georeferenced 2011 Ethiopian Rural Socioeconomic Survey (ERSS) and the 2010/2011 Nigeria General Household Survey (NGHS), and employs exploratory spatial data analyses. There is evidence of significant spatial clustering of firm performance in both countries. This spatial dependence is empirically modelled using average distance measures between firms. It is found that in addition to other household, firm and community characteristics, spatial proximity between firms plays an important role in explaining firm productivity in Nigeria and Ethiopia. © 2016 Regional Studies Association.

Source: UG
Spatial variability of herbage yield, grazing capacity and plant diversity in a tropical savannah rangeland ecosystem

To improve ruminant livestock production, evaluation of rangelands must be a routine. Rangeland evaluation gives information about the vegetation structure, biomass yield and quality. The Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana lack research that characterises the spatial variability of herbage yield and quality. It was hypothesised that there is spatial heterogeneity in herbage yield, grazing capacity and plant diversity in the Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana. The objective was to evaluate the spatial structure of herbage production and grazing capacity in the Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana for sustainable livestock production. Data were collected from 105 sampling sites and integrated into geo-statistics, using ordinary kriging interpolation to generate herbage yield and grazing capacity estimates. Herbage yield and grazing capacity ranged from 0.63 t ha⁻¹ to 13.43 t ha⁻¹ and 0.18 LU ha⁻¹ to 3.79 LU ha⁻¹ respectively. The root mean square error and the average standard error values were close (2.38 and 2.51 respectively for herbage yield and 0.67 and 0.71 respectively for grazing capacity). Species diversity using the Shannon’s index ranged from 1.13 to 2.40. There was spatial heterogeneity in herbage yield, grazing capacity and species diversity in Ghana’s Guinea savannah rangelands with some parts needing effective site-specific improvement strategies for sustainable livestock production.

Source: UG
Spatial variability of herbage yield, grazing capacity and plant diversity in a tropical savannah rangeland ecosystem

To improve ruminant livestock production, evaluation of rangelands must be a routine. Rangeland evaluation gives information about the vegetation structure, biomass yield and quality. The Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana lack research that characterises the spatial variability of herbage yield and quality. It was hypothesised that there is spatial heterogeneity in herbage yield, grazing capacity and plant diversity in the Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana. The objective was to evaluate the spatial structure of herbage production and grazing capacity in the Guinea savannah rangelands of Ghana for sustainable livestock production. Data were collected from 105 sampling sites and integrated into geo-statistics, using ordinary kriging interpolation to generate herbage yield and grazing capacity estimates. Herbage yield and grazing capacity ranged from 0.63 t ha−1 to 13.43 t ha−1 and 0.18 LU ha−1 to 3.79 LU ha−1 respectively. The root mean square error and the average standard error values were close (2.38 and 2.51 respectively for herbage yield and 0.67 and 0.71 respectively for grazing capacity). Species diversity using the Shannon’s index ranged from 1.13 to 2.40. There was spatial heterogeneity in herbage yield, grazing capacity and species diversity in Ghana’s Guinea savannah rangelands with some parts needing effective site-specific improvement strategies for sustainable livestock production.

Source: UG
Spatial variation in the use of reproductive health services over time: a decomposition analysis

Background The paper argues that several Sub-Saharan African countries have recorded marked improvements in the use of reproductive health services. However, the literature has hardly highlighted such progress and the factors responsible for them. The current study uses Ghana as a case to examine progress in the consumption of reproductive health services over the last two decades and the factors responsible for such progress. Methods The study uses two rounds (1998 and 2014) of Demographic and Health Survey data from Ghana. Standard frequencies, a logit model and decomposition of the coefficients of the logit model (i.e. Oaxaca-type decomposition) was employed to examine changes in the use of reproductive health services (4+ antenatal visits and skilled attendance at birth) at national and sub-national levels (i.e the four ecological zones of Ghana) between 1998 and 2014 as well as factors explaining observed spatial changes between the two periods. Results Descriptive results suggest that the highest level of improvement occurred in resource-poor zones (i.e. northern belt followed by the southern belt) compared to the middle belt and Greater Accra, where access to resources and infrastructure is relatively better. Results from Oaxaca-type decomposition also suggest that women and partner’s education, household wealth and availability and accessibility to health facilities are the key factors explaining spatial variation in reproductive health service consumption over the two periods. Most importantly, the marginal efficiency of investment in women and partner’s education and access to health services were highest in the two resource poor zones. Conclusion There is the need to target resource poor settings with existing or new pro-poor reproductive health interventions. Specifically, the northern and southern zones where the key drivers of education and availability of health facilities are the lowest, will be key to further improvements in the consumption of reproductive health services in Ghana.

Source: UG
Spatial-temporal patterns of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) pollution in Accra

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is rapidly urbanizing, and ambient air pollution has emerged as a major environmental health concern in growing cities. Yet, effective air quality management is hindered by limited data. We deployed robust, low-cost and low-power devices in a large-scale measurement campaign and characterized within-city variations in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) pollution in Accra, Ghana. Between April 2019 and June 2020, we measured weekly gravimetric (filter-based) and minute-by-minute PM2.5 concentrations at 146 unique locations, comprising of 10 fixed (∼1 year) and 136 rotating (7 day) sites covering a range of land-use and source influences. Filters were weighed for mass, and light absorbance (10−5m−1 ) of the filters was used as proxy for BC concentration. Year-long data at four fixed sites that were monitored in a previous study (2006–2007) were compared to assess changes in PM2.5 concentrations. The mean annual PM2.5 across the fixed sites ranged from 26 µg m−3 at a peri-urban site to 43 µg m−3 at a commercial, business, and industrial (CBI) site. CBI areas had the highest PM2.5 levels (mean: 37 µg m−3 ), followed by high-density residential neighborhoods (mean: 36 µg m−3 ), while peri-urban areas recorded the lowest (mean: 26 µg m−3 ). Both PM2.5 and BC levels were highest during the dry dusty Harmattan period (mean PM2.5: 89 µg m−3 ) compared to non-Harmattan season (mean PM2.5: 23 µg m−3 ). PM2.5 at all sites peaked at dawn and dusk, coinciding with morning and evening heavy traffic. We found about a 50% reduction (71 vs 37 µg m−3 ) in mean annual PM2.5 concentrations when compared to measurements in 2006–2007 in Accra. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations in Accra may have plateaued at levels lower than those seen in large Asian megacities. However, levels are still 2- to 4-fold higher than the WHO guideline. Effective and equitable policies are needed to reduce pollution levels and protect public health.

Source: UG
Spatiality in Health: The Distribution of Health Conditions Associated with Electronic Waste Processing Activities at Agbogbloshie, Accra

Background: A walk through the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site shows a marked heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of the different e-waste processing activities, which are likely to drive clustering of health conditions associated with the different activity type in each space. Objective of study: To conduct a spatial assessment and analysis of health conditions associated with different e-waste activities at different activity spaces at Agbogbloshie. Methods: A choropleth showing the various activity spaces at the Agbogbloshie e-waste site was produced by mapping boundaries of these spaces using Etrex GPS device and individuals working in each activity spaces were recruited and studied. Upon obtaining consent and agreeing to participate in the study, each subject was physically examined and assessed various health outcomes of interest via direct physical examination while characterizing and enumerating the scars, lacerations, abrasions, skin condition and cuts after which both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were recorded alongside the administration of open and close ended questionnaires. All individuals working within each activity space and consented to participate were recruited; giving a total of one hundred and twelve (112) subjects in all. Results: A study of the choropleth showed that health conditions associated e-waste processing activities were clustered in a fashion similar to the corresponding distribution of each activity. While a total of 96.2% of all the study subjects had cuts, the dismantlers had higher mix of scars, lacerations and abrasions. Abrasions were observed in 16.3% of the dismantlers. Scars were the most common skin condition and were observed on the skins of 93.6% of the subjects. Prevalence of burns among the study subjects was 23.1%. Developing hypertension was not associated with activity type and while a total of 90.2% of subjects had normal blood pressure and 9.8% of them were hypertensives. Finally, 98.2% of respondents felt the need to have a first aid clinic at the site with 96.4% and 97.3% willing to visit the clinic and pay for services respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that while the observed injuries were random and were due purely to accidents without any role of spatial determinants such as the configuration, slope, topography and other subterranean features of the activity spaces, a strong association between the injuries and activity type was observed.

Source: UG
Spatio-temporal analyses of impacts of multiple climatic hazards in a savannah ecosystem of Ghana

Ghana’s savannah ecosystem has been subjected to a number of climatic hazards of varying severity. This paper presents a spatial, time-series analysis of the impacts of multiple hazards on the ecosystem and human livelihoods over the period 1983–2012, using the Upper East Region of Ghana as a case study. Our aim is to understand the nature of hazards (their frequency, magnitude and duration) and how they cumulatively affect humans. Primary data were collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and personal observations. Secondary data were collected from documents and reports. Calculations of the standard precipitation index (SPI) and crop failure index used rainfall data from 4 weather stations (Manga, Binduri, Vea and Navrongo) and crop yield data of 5 major crops (maize, sorghum, millet, rice and groundnuts) respectively. Temperature and windstorms were analysed from the observed weather data. We found that temperatures were consistently high and increasing. From the SPI, drought frequency varied spatially from 9 at Binduri to 13 occurrences at Vea; dry spells occurred at least twice every year and floods occurred about 6 times on average, with slight spatial variations, during 1988–2012, a period with consistent data from all stations. Impacts from each hazard varied spatio-temporally. Within the study period, more 70% of years recorded severe crop losses with greater impacts when droughts and floods occur in the same year, especially in low lying areas. The effects of crop losses were higher in districts with no/little irrigation (Talensi, Nabdam, Garu-Tempane, Kassena-Nankana East). Frequency and severity of diseases and sicknesses such as cerebrospinal meningitis, heat rashes, headaches and malaria related to both dry and wet conditions have increased steadily over time. Other impacts recorded with spatio-temporal variations included destruction to housing, displacement, injury and death of people. These impacts also interacted. For example, sicknesses affected labour output; crop losses were blamed for high malnutrition; and reconstruction of properties demanded financial resources largely from sale of agricultural produce. These frequent impacts and their interactions greatly explain the persistent poverty in the area.

Source: UG