ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effects of selective logging on advanced regeneration of timber species in the Asenanyo river forest reserve, Ghana

Selective logging is the most commonly adopted method for the extraction of timber resources from natural forests in most tropical countries including Ghana. This low intensity logging system results in less damage to the residual forest and soil, and ensures sufficient regeneration but is often associated with adverse impacts on advanced regeneration and soil due to the use of heavy logging machines. However, such effects have received little scientific scrutiny. In this study, the composition and structure of advanced regeneration of timber species, and soil physico-chemical properties at varied levels of disturbance were investigated in the Asenanyo River Forest Reserve to provide insights into the effects of logging, and to help inform sustainable management of production reserves. Floristic and soil samples were collected from forty 25 m × 25 m plots randomly laid in five habitats representing three disturbance levels (i.e., undisturbed, slightly and heavily disturbed sites) and two post-logging times (i.e., 5 and 15 years). Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were somewhat higher in the slightly disturbed habitat compared to the other habitats. Means of basal area and density were significantly higher in the undisturbed and slightly disturbed sites, respectively (P < 0.05). Soil properties analyzed did not differ significantly among studied habitats with the exception of water holding capacity. Post-logging time had the highest explanatory power for the diversity indices whilst the level of disturbance best explained the evenness and density of advanced regeneration in the reserve. The basal area of advanced regeneration best explained by interaction of site and post-logging time. A non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination showed considerable similarities in species composition among the studied habitats except between the undisturbed and the heavily disturbed (15 year post-logging). Results generally suggest minimal effects of selective logging on advanced regeneration of timber species and soil physico-chemical properties. However, a slight improvement in the composition and structure of advanced regeneration in the slightly disturbed habitats reflects a positive impact of moderate disturbances in line with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Reducing logging disturbances that result from movements of machinery such as skidders and timber trucks, and training staff to ensure minimal adverse effect on soil and advanced regeneration, and promote sustainable timber production.

Source: KNUST
The effects of short- term foreign debt flows and debt servicing on economic growth in Ghana

The impact of external debt on economic growth is a contentious issue between economists and academicians- alike since the onset of the debt crisis in the 1980’s. This thesis examineswhethershort- term debt flows and debt servicing affects the economic growth of Ghana. This is carried out by using annual time series data from the period 1990 – 2012. Gross domestic product (GDP) was used as the dependent variable, while the independent variables used in the study were; Short Term External Debt Flow; Gross Fixed Capital Formation; and Labour Force Participation Rate. Two models were stated to examine the two objectives; Model 1 investigated the debt-flows-economic-growth relationship while Model 2 investigated the debt-servicing-economic-growth relationship. The ARDL bounds test technique was adopted to investigate cointegration in both models. The ARDL results showed cointegration among variables in Model 1 but no such evidence was obtained for variables in Model 2.The results indicate that GDP growth is influenced positively by short term flows and negatively by debt servicing.

Source: KNUST
Effects of service quality on customer loyalty. The mediating role of customer trust. A case study of goil filling stations

Using goil filling stations as a case study, the study evaluated the impacts of service quality on customer loyalty and demonstrated the mediating function of consumer trust. Since the level of iii service quality that oil marketing companies provide determines whether they will survive, service quality is of the utmost importance when analyzing their performance. The kumasi metropolis's goil filling stations were selected for this study because they are the centre of economic and industrial activity and necessitate active business interactions. The kumasi metropolis's low-income urban districts were also chosen for this study because they more accurately represent ghana's oil sector. The lack of empirical evidence suggests that consumer trust in goil may positively correlate with service quality and customer retention. The study looked at how customer trust in goil filling stations played a mediating role in the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty. 215 employees of goil filling stations in the kumasi metropolitan area provided the data. The respondents were chosen using the convenience sampling approach. Data was quantitatively examined. The findings showed a very high positive association between customer loyalty and service excellence. The findings also showed a very high positive association between consumer trust and service quality. It was shown that customer loyalty and consumer trust had a very high positive association. It was advised that goil should prioritize service quality in order to boost customer happiness, build consumer trust, and win their loyalty. Additionally, in order to keep and strengthen customer loyalty, goil should offer incentives to patrons who consistently and intensely support the company.

Source: KNUST
Effects of small scale gold mining on water quality: a case study of new Abirem mining area in Ghana.

ABSTRACT This study looked at the effects of small scale mining on the quality of water within the New Abirim mining area in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Surface water and ground water samples were collected monthly from October 2013 to March 2014 at five different sampling sites within the study area. Levels of selected metals namely Mercury (Hg), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Concentrations of sulphates chlorides and phosphates in addition to other physico-chemical properties were determined using World Health Organization (WHO) standard methods. Results obtained showed variations in the parameters investigated in the surface and groundwater samples. Surface water samples recorded high concentrations of parameters investigated than the ground water samples. Moreover, Iron (Fe) concentrations were noted to be high hence above WHO permissible limit for drinking water in both surface and ground water samples. Mercury levels in surface water exceeded the WHO permissible limit for drinking water quality guidelines. Lead (Pb) with a value of 0.005 mg/l and Arsenic (As) 0.02 μg/l were within the WHO permissible limit of 0.01 mg/l and 10 μg/l for drinking water quality guidelines. The results of the research indicated that, small scale gold mining activities negatively affected water quality and its resources especially on surface waters.

Source: KNUST
Effects of Small Scale Mining Activities on the Ankobra River: A Case Study in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region

Small scale mining activities are undertaken in many parts of the world where mineral deposits are found. The process is carried out in or close to water bodies as water is needed in the washing of waste and the subsequent extraction of the mineral. In developing nations such as Ghana, the activity is done both legally and illegally, often with very little or no supervision. Hence much damage is done to these water bodies where the activities are carried out. In the present study, the impact of small scale mining activities on the Ankobra River was carried out in four communities within the Amenfi East District of the Western Region, an area where the activity is highly prevalent. Samplings were carried out at six different points in four communities within the District, and analyses were done to determine the physico chemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations present in the water using the atomic absorption spectrometer. The study showed that most of the physico-chemical parameters recorded at sections of the river where small scale activities were carried out were above standard limits. Similar observations were made for the concentrations of heavy metals analysed from the river; there were relatively higher concentrations of the heavy metals, especially mercury, at the small scale mining regions of the river as compared to analysed samples from the source. Effects of small scale mining activities on water course (direction), water level and the rate of flow (water current) were found to be negatively affected. The vegetation at the bank was also negatively affected. The study revealed that, despite the economic boost provided by small scale mining activities, the processes involved have enormous negative effect on the Ankobra River and the environment at large. It is, therefore, recommended that there be instituted by regulations, law enforcement agencies to strictly monitor such activities.

Source: KNUST
Effects of Small Scale Gold Mining on Water Resources: A Case Study of Bogoso/Prestea Mining Area.

Small scale gold mining in Ghana is largely an informal industry employing thousands of people. The industry is largely undeveloped, unmonitored and unrestrained, and coupled with their intense reliance on water resources for the processing of gold have resulted in uncontrolled release of substances which impact negatively on the quality of these water resources. This study assessed the effects of small scale gold mining on the quality of water resources within the Bogoso / Prestea mining area in the Western Region of Ghana. Surface and ground water samples were collected monthly from the months of October, 2010 to March, 2011 at ten different sampling sites within the study area. Levels of selected metals, namely, Fe, As, Hg and Mn were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Concentrations of phosphates, sulphates and chlorides, as well as some physicochemical parameters were determined using standard methods. The results obtained showed variations in the investigated parameters in surface and ground water samples. Surface water samples recorded high concentrations in most of the investigated parameters than the groundwater samples. However, Mn concentrations were high in the groundwater samples and were above the WHO permissible limit for drinking water. Iron and manganese levels in the surface and ground water samples exceeded the World Health Organization drinking water quality guidelines. In general, the results of the study indicated that, small scale gold mining operations negatively impacted on water resources, most especially on surface waters.

Source: KNUST
Effects of Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Employees’ Investment Decision in Health

A healthy and productive workforce is important for both industrial and economic growth and the importance of health capital increases as production becomes increasingly health intensive.Some studies focused on occupational diseases and their effects on workers‟ health, income, and productivity with little studies done on the effects of factors influencing health investment decisions of workers in developing countries and Ghana for that matter. This study sought to find the effects of socio-economic factors influencing employees‟ investment decision in health. Primary data was used for the study: Questionnaires were administered and interviews conducted for the collection of data. The convenient sampling method was employed to solicit information from 400 respondents sampled from the private-formal and informal sectors. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out using stata 11 statistical software package. Multivariate analysis using multinomial logistic regression model was employed to estimate the effects of socio-economic factors that influence the decision of employees in Ghana to seek preventive care. The results of the study showed that income, free, and convenient access to medical care were statistically significant and impacted positively on the demand for preventive care at 5% error level. The study recommends that individuals in their search for jobs, with regard to health investment, should consider working in firms with health policies or facilities that provide the employees convenient access to preventive medical care. Medical bill payment coverage policies by firms should as well cover the blue-collar workers who are most likely to be exposed to high health risks. Also, stakeholders should ensure that pro poor health programmes such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) be smoothly run for intermittent discontinuation of such programmes discourages individuals enrolled on those programmes from accessing preventive medical care as and when they are supposed to.

Source: KNUST
Effects of some extraneous factors on the bactericidal efficiency of ultraviolet radiation”

Some extraneous factors affecting the bactericidal efficiency of UV light 254nm have been studied. The sensi¬tivities of various micro-organisms to UV radiation were found to vary considerably. Though non-lethal by Itself, UV light 350nm markedly Improved the antagonistic effect of an aqueous environment. containing various hydrogen ion concentrations - the higher the pH the greater the effect. On the other hand, the rather power¬ful Intrinsic antimicrobial effect of UV light 254nm completely masked any possible mutual enhancement of antimicrobial activity. An appreciable proportion of cells Injured from UV radiation could be revitalized when exposed Immediately to UV light 350nm but not to the dark; the effect was found to be more pronounced In more acidic Isotonic medium (pH 5.0) than In either neutral or alkaline environments. This observation could probably have Immense practical Importance In reversing cell damage due to UV radiation. Hypotonic and hypertonic solutions significantly enhanced the activities of both UV light 254nm and 350nm, but the extent of influence appeared to be for greater less self torelant E. coli than the more salt-tolerant staph. Aureus. Phenol and chlorocresol antagonized micro-organisms and better still in the presence of UV light 350nm; but phenol and to a lesser extent chlorocreso! significantly diminished the biocidal activities of UV radiation 254nm; the phenomenon was found to reflect the strong absorption of UV Iight 254nm by the phenolic compounds. Both compounds, In addition, abolished photoreactivatlon at 350nm of cells previously Injured by UV radiation. The non-Ionic surface active agent, polysorbate 80, Irrespective of whether the concentration was below or above that for micelle formation, reduced persistently the anti¬microbial efficiency of UV light 254nm. Thus the enhanced activity normally found with chemical antimicrobial agents In the presence of a surfactant below the CMC, that occurs as a result of reduced surface tension and Improved penetration of cells by chemical agents, could not be detected. Inactive at pH 5, chloroquine phosphate exhibited gradually Increasing antimicrobial activity, with Increasing relative alkalinity, that was further aggravated by UV light 350nm. At any specified pH, Increasing concentrations of the drug produced persistent reduction In the bactericidal efficiency of UV light 254nm, Though the drug did not completely abolish photoreactivation, It did nevertheless considerably reduce Its extent. Thus, although the physical sterilizing agent of UV radiation behaves, In the presence of some extraneous substances, as do chemical antimicrobial agents, they nevertheless vary considerably In most aspects; the overall response of one cannot therefore be superimposed on the other.

Source: KNUST
Effects of soil amendments on agronomic characteristics and functional properties of false horn plantain (Apantu Pa)

There is growing public perception that fruits from fertilized plantain plants have their organoleptic qualities reduced during food preparations. Such perception has the potential consequence of lowering production levels of the commodity in Ghana. To ascertain the veracity of this perception, a study was conducted between July 2012 and March 2015 to determine the effects of different rates of poultry manure, cocoa pod husk and NPK as soil amendments on nutritional composition, physical characteristics and functional properties of plantain pulp flour. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. Selected agronomic data as well as the organoleptic qualities data were collected. Soils amended with NPK+PM and NPK+CPH recorded the highest bunch yields (17.78 mt ha-1 and 17.22 mt ha-1, respectively) whiles soil amended with NPK recorded the highest finger weight (427.33 g) and pulp thickness (3.98 cm). Flours from plantain with amended soils recorded moisture contents (8.41 % to 12.08%) which were within the acceptable levels for flours. The flour with the lowest moisture content was produced from plantain with CPH amendment (8.41%). The protein content of false horn plantain flour was however low (3.39 % to 5.27%). The plantain flour starch was not influenced by any of the soil amendments. On the other hand, flour produced from plantain with NPK+PM amendment had low bulk density and low water absorption capacity. Similarly, the false horn plantain flour had lower swelling power values compared to other flours. Flours from plantain with CPH amendment had lower oil absorption capacity. Flour from plantain with PM amendment was more likely to cook faster than the flour from the plantain with the other amendments. Flours from plantain with NPK+CPH amendment would form a more stable paste because of its lower breakdown value. In conclusion, the plantain flours were comparable to known food flours and therefore could be applicable as thickening agents and also find usefulness in fufu powder preparation and baking.

Source: KNUST
Effects of storage material on the seed quality characteristics of four rice varieties in Ghana

A field survey and seed storage experiment on farmer-saved seeds was carried out to determine the type of storage materials commonly used by farmers and their effect on the rate of deterioration. Rice varieties were collected from three rice growing districts in the Northern region of Ghana in December, 2014 season. The seed storage experiment was set up in a 4x4 factorial experiment (varieties x storage materials) arranged in a completely randomised design with four replications under ambient conditions in a laboratory. Rice seeds were evaluated before storage and after storage for physical purity, moisture content, germination percent, germination speed and electrical conductivity. The result showed that (36.7%) of farmers harvested rice 8-14 days after physiological maturity and 88% of them threshed their seeds by beating with sticks either on bare ground or on tarpaulin. Majority of the farmers stored seeds in woven nylon (47%) and jute (29%) sacks. Jasmine-85 packaged in woven unlined nylon sack had the higher moisture content (12.5% and Gomba the least (10.4%). Seeds stored in unlined nylon sack had higher moisture content (12.5%) than seeds stored in lined nylon sack (11.4%). Seeds stored in unlined jute and unlined nylon sacks had higher germination percentage (64.9% and 64.8%) respectively whiles lined nylon sacks had lower germination percentage (60.8%). Seeds stored in unlined nylon sacks recorded the highest germination speed (51.38 seedlings day-1) and conductivity values (21.82 μS cm-1g-1). The study also showed that the type of storage material did not affect the seed vigour of the varieties after the 3 months of storage. GR18 recorded a higher number of Prostephanus truncates and Tribolium casteneum insects while Digang had the least infestation by both insects. The study concluded that unlined nylon sack was a better storage material with regard to seed quality attributes of the rice varieties

Source: KNUST
Effects of strategic brand management on organisational performance and competitive advantage: case of fanmilk plc

Brand management is crucial for businesses hoping to flourish in business-to-business industries. Branding is more than just giving goods and services a name; it also involves creating, maintaining, and managing brand equity. The study highlights the need for marketing initiatives and programs to be implemented, as well as for a thorough grasp of the brand, its target market, and the company's goals. The report contends that brand management has expanded beyond the marketing iii sector to include top executives and every division of the business. Businesses like fanmilk plc, which provide clients with extra value beyond their products, serve as an example of the value of brand management. To ascertain the effect of strategic brand management on organizational performance and competitive advantage, this study used fanmilk plc as a case study. The four goals of the research were to identify brand management methods, evaluate their efficacy, identify implementation obstacles, and provide options for improvement. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and pearson's correlation analysis were among the quantitative data analysis methods used in the study, which solely relied on primary data obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Several technologies, including spss and microsoft excel, were used to evaluate the data. There were two main statistical methods: mean score analysis and relative importance index (rii). The cronbach's alpha test and a one sample t-test were used to compare means and assess the scales' reliability. The results demonstrated that fanmilk plc's brand management strategies were effective, as seen by the company's products' affordable prices and superior flavor when compared to those of rival ice cream brands in Ghana. Yet, there were a number of difficulties in implementing brand management policies, including a lack of communication and clear objectives. Over the years, brand management practices have changed and a strategic plan is necessary for increasing brand value or upholding brand equity. According to the study's findings, strategic brand management is essential for organizational performance and competitive advantage. Therefore, in order to improve brand management methods, the study suggested setting clear objectives, precisely managing budgets, effective communication, introducing new technology, assuring accountability, and developing procedures. Iv dedication i dedicate this literary work to my parents, engr. Samuel kwabena berko and mrs. Jemima arab

Source: KNUST