Brong-Ahafo Region Of Ghana Research Articles

Language Choice Among Children of Couples of Different Languages: A Case Study of Techiman Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Ghana is a multilingual country with an average Ghanaian being exposed to at least more than one language. This linguistic situation often impacts language choices among bi/multi-lingual families where parents from different linguistic backgrounds face the reality of deciding which language(s) to expose their children to. This study investigates possible opportunities and challenges that the children of Ghanaian couples of different languages face in choosing the language(s) to speak with either parents or both parents at home using families in Techiman in the Bono East Region of Ghana as a case study. The study, therefore, sought to answer the key question, “What language(s) do children of couples of different languages speak at home with their parents?” Using the purposive sampling technique, the study collected data using questionnaires which were analysed using the bivariate data analysis procedure of Content Analysis (CA). The analyses of the data show that the children of couples of different languages spoke English and Twi/Bono as the major unmarked codes used at home. Some other languages such as Dagomba/Mampruli, Gonja, Sissala, and Hausa were also used at home by a minority of the respondents. The study further found that speaking multiple languages helped the children to make friends seamlessly and to participate in school, church, and mosque activities, and the languages play certain roles in those domains. The study also shows that the main domains where the children of Ghanaian couples of different languages choose a particular code or language are schools, churches, and markets. The outcome of the study contributes to studies on family language use and has implications for language maintenance.

Does participation in innovation platform improve welfare? Insights from smallholder maize farmers in Ghana

This paper investigates the impact of participation in innovation platforms (IPs) on smallholder maize farmers’ welfare in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana using data collected from 477 rural farm households. We employed the doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustment method (IPWRA) and propensity score matching (PSM) approach to examine the impact of IP participation on yield, income, and per capita consumption expenditure. The empirical results show that age, farming experience, farm size, land ownership, and credit access are the main determinants of participation in IPs in Ghana. In addition, the results show that participation in IPs increases yields and household income and reduces per capita expenditure of smallholder maize farmers in Ghana. Furthermore, the advantages of engaging in the IPs go beyond the traditional extension service delivery approach. This highlights the importance of policymakers and agricultural development agencies in developing nations to establish policies that encourage the establishment of IPs and promote their involvement among small-scale farmers, resulting in better living standards.

Ineffective responses to unlikely outbreaks: Hypothesis building in newly-emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

Over the last 30 years, there has been significant investment in research and infrastructure aimed at mitigating the threat of newly emerging infectious diseases (NEID). Core epidemiological processes, such as outbreak investigations, however, have received little attention and have proceeded largely unchecked and unimproved. Using ethnographic material from an investigation into a cryptic encephalitis outbreak in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana in 2010-2013, in this paper we trace processes of hypothesis building and their relationship to the organizational structures of the response. We demonstrate how commonly recurring features of NEID investigations produce selective pressures in hypothesis building that favor iterations of pre-existing "exciting" hypotheses and inhibit the pursuit of alternative hypotheses, regardless of relative likelihood. These findings contribute to the growing anthropological and science and technology studies (STS) literature on the epistemic communities that coalesce around suspected NEID outbreaks and highlight an urgent need for greater scrutiny of core epidemiological processes.

Supply-Side Interventions in Cocoa Production in Ghana: A Regional Decomposition of Technical Efficiency and Technological Gaps

Although Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) promotes technical change in cocoa farming with innovative technologies and input support, crop productivity is better advanced by improving on the efficiency of input use by farmers. This study thereby investigates the technical efficiency of cocoa farmers in Ghana. The study uses cross sectional field data covering Western North, Ashanti, Eastern, Volta and Brong-Ahafo regions of Ghana on a sample of 899 cocoa farmers and adopts Meta frontier stochastic frontier analysis to derive production efficiencies for each region. The findings are that supply-side interventions such as hand pollination, hybrid seedlings, farm pruning and extension services can improve on technical efficiency of cocoa farmers, more especially in Ashanti, Eastern and Western region. Notably, the CODAPEC input support programme which encapsulates insecticides and fungicides spraying has failed to improve on production efficiency as compared to the Hi-Tech (fertilizer application) programme. Eastern region cocoa farmers stand out as the most efficient producers, producing about 87% of their potential output given technology, whereas Western North produces 76% of its output potential, the lowest of the five regions. The three other regions, namely, Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Volta can produce on average 83%, 80% and 78% of their output potential in cocoa respectively. Averagely, cocoa growing regions are underutilizing 21.5% of available technology in the industry while losing 36.5% of output potential due to technical inefficiencies.

Propagating Visions of a Forest Reservoir: A Supposed Zoonotic Outbreak in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT When examined closely, the backgrounds of some of the most widely cited origin stories for zoonotic disease outbreaks have been found to be irreconcilable with empirical data. Stated simply, these explanatory landscapes do not appear to have existed. Here, I present a detailed case study of one such fictional landscape, that of a monkey-filled forest which was identified as the source of a suspected zoonotic outbreak in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana in 2010. Taking my approach from cultural epidemiology, I elucidate the mechanisms by which this fictional landscape was constructed and transmitted among the professionals involved in the response.

Disenfranchising young people from customary land access; a case of commercialised cashew production in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Disenfranchising young people from customary land access; a case of commercialised cashew production in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

Predictors of Nonadherence to Medications among Hypertensive Patients in Ghana: An Application of the Health Belief Model.

Introduction Hypertension (HPT) is recognized as a significant public health problem worldwide from a health and economic perspective. This study determined predictors of nonadherence to HPT medications in Ghana using the health belief model. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey employing a quantitative approach was conducted among HPT patients who routinely attend clinics at selected hospitals in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Respondents (n = 399) were recruited using a multistage sampling technique. Results The prevalence of nonadherence was 63.7% (n = 254). Nonadherence to hypertension medication was associated with lower education status (p=0.009). In logistic regression analysis, patients with high “perceived susceptibility” and “perceived severity” were more likely to forfeit their HPT medication schedules, while patients with high “perceived barriers” and “cues to action” were less likely to skip their medication. Conclusion The present study suggests a plausible path to improving medication adherence in this population. Given the high prevalence of nonadherence, policymakers need to urgently design tailor-made health promotion interventions to ensure optimal health outcomes.

Maximizing community participation and engagement: lessons learned over 2 decades of field trials in rural Ghana

BackgroundSuccessful implementation of community-based research is dominantly influenced by participation and engagement from the local community without which community members will not want to participate in research and important knowledge and potential health benefits will be missed. Therefore, maximising community participation and engagement is key for the effective conduct of community-based research. In this paper, we present lessons learnt over two decades of conducting research in 7 rural districts in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana with an estimated population of around 600,000. The trials which were mainly in the area of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health were conducted by the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).MethodsThe four core strategies which were used were formative research methods, the formation of the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) team to serve as the main link between the research team and the community, recruitment of field workers from the communities within which they lived, and close collaboration with national and regional stakeholders.ResultsThese measures allowed trust to be built between the community members and the research team and ensured that potential misconceptions which came up in the communities were promptly dealt with through the IEC team. The decision to place field workers in the communities from which they came and their knowledge of the local language created trust between the research team and the community. The close working relationship between the District health authorities and the Kintampo Health Research Centre supported the acceptance of the research in the communities as the District Health Authorities were respected and trusted.ConclusionThe successes achieved during the past 2 decades of collaboration between LSHTM and KHRC in conducting community-based field trials were based on involving the community in research projects. Community participation and engagement helped not only to identify the pertinent issues, but also enabled the communities and research team to contribute towards efforts to address challenges.

Screening Tomato Genotypes for Bacterial Wilt Disease (Ralstonia solanacearum) Resistance in Ghana

Thirteen-tomato genotypes were assembled from the USA, Taiwan and Ghana for screening for bacterial wilt resistance in two environments: in a screen house at Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana and in the field at a bacterial wilt hot spot at Bechem in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. The bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum was isolated using the serial dilution method on Nutrient Agar (NA) and aseptically cultured for inoculation. The bacterium was implicated as the causal organism of the bacterial wilt disease of tomato. A local check, Petofake and H7996 were used as susceptible and resistant checks respectively. Three genotypes, H7996, LA0442 and LA0443 demonstrated significant resistance stability in both experimental environments by recording significantly low wilt incidence and severity. H7996 was obtained from the World Vegetable Centre (WVC), Taiwan while the other two genotypes were collected from the University of California, Davis, USA. Apart from the highest yielding genotype LA 0442 that recorded 50.67 t/h, the rest recorded very low yields. The lowest yielding genotype AVTO 1713, recorded (12.67 t/h). Thus, the highest yielding genotype, LA 0442 over-yielded the lowest AVTO1713 by approximately 300%. It is instructive to note that LA0442, which was identified as a stable resistant genotype also recorded the highest yield. This result supports the potential of developing a resistant, high yielding variety using LA0442 as a parent. The future of the tomato industry in Ghana therefore looks promising.

Current Status and Factors Affecting Succession Planning of Small-Medium Scale Enterprises in Bono Ahafo Region of Ghana

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an essential role in the national economic development of any country. However, SMEs face one major challenge, which is the lack or inefficiency/ineffectiveness of succession planning. Therefore, this quantitative correlational study sought to investigate the Current status and factors affecting succession planning of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the BrongAhafo Regions. The study used a quantitative correlational research design to achieve the research purpose. Data were collected from 140 respondents involved in SMEs from nine Municipal and District Assemblies from the BrongAhafo Region of Ghana. The result revealed that most SMEs in the BrongAhafo region (70%) had experienced succession planning, and they have a policy that guides them on succession planning practices. The study’s findings further established that 60% of the management of SMEs in the region has shown commitment to succession planning, and 50% of them involved their staff in succession planning decisions. It was also identified that 60% of SMEs in the BrongAhafo region identified and groomed potential employees for future leadership positions, and 58.7% of the successors were selected based on merits, almost 50% (49.3%) of the owners of the SMEs prefer their family members as business successors. The results also indicated that five (5) component factors were obtained from the twenty variables presented to the respondents.Further analysis reduced the components into three (3), namely, internal, external, and successor’s factors. A reliability test was run on these latent variables. The result showed reliability factors of 0.854, 0.798, and 0.862, respectively, implying that the three variables satisfy the essential requirement of a Cronbach alpha measure more than 0.7 with high internal consistency in the variables.The study recommends that much emphasis should be put on internal organizational improvement through coaching, mentoring, and empowering of employees by the current leadership to improve on the relationship among organizational members. If the internal factors are well managed by management as recommended, it will reduce the adverse effects of external factors that may affect succession planning.

Availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in Ghana: practitioners' perspectives.

Provision and uptake of low vision services are essential. To assess the availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana from the perspective of eye care practitioners. A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study design using semi-structured questionnaires was used to collect information from eye care practitioners selected from 58 eye care facilities in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. Forty-four eye care practitioners from Ashanti region and 10 from Brong Ahafo region responded to the questionnaire. Seventeen (34%) of the 50 eye care facilities who reported having patients seeking low vision services in their facilities provided such services. Lack of low vision devices (94.4%) and equipment (87%) were reported to be the main barriers to the provision of low vision services. Major barriers to low vision services uptake were lack of awareness (88.7%), high cost (70.4%) and social unacceptability of low vision assistive devices (59.3%). Lack of adequate low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake impact negatively on efforts to prevent visual impairment and blindness in Ghana.

Social Support Structures; A catalyst to Sustainable Adolescents’ Reproductive Health Programming in Ghana

The issue of adolescents’ reproductive ill-health has been widely recognized as a multi-scalar social problem that affects various sectors in the world today. In this regard, this empirical study was conducted to establish the extent to which social support structures, contribute to sustainable implementation of adolescents’ reproductive health programme in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional survey and correlational designs, underpinned by the pragmatic paradigm or mixed-method research as the appropriate research technique, was adopted study to investigate its purpose and objectives. Through a multistage sampling technique, a sample size of 189 respondents was generated from a target population of 332 stakeholders, with data obtained through key informant interview schedules, focus group discussions and direct observation, and structured and unstructured questionnaires administered in Ghana. It was found that social support structures and sustainable implementation of adolescent’s reproductive health programme are positively and significantly linked, since the model results shows that r = 0.831. R2 =0.691, F (1.180) = 401.713. p<0.001<0.05. We concluded that for sustainable implementation of adolescent’s reproductive health programmes, social support structures play a significant role in the process. Hence programme implementers and duty bearers of adolescent’s reproductive health interventions should take note of this fact and act accordingly.

The Rhetoric and Farmers’ Lived Realities of the Green Revolution in Africa: Case Study of the Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana

This paper presents a political ecological analysis of the drivers and impacts of Green Revolution technologies – including improved seeds, chemical fertiliser and other agrochemicals – in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. We identify national government, foreign investment and philanthro-capital as key drivers in shaping both narratives and uptake of Green Revolution technologies at the local level. Drawing from interviews and focus groups, our findings demonstrate that Green Revolution technologies deliver a range of negative local-level socio-ecological impacts, including increasing the overall costs of production, as well as exacerbating poverty and inequality amongst farmers. Our findings demonstrate the disconnection between claims that Green Revolution technologies increase food security and income, and lived experiences of farmers.

Performance evaluation of mechanical feed mixers using machine parameters, operational parameters and feed characteristics in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions, Ghana

Mechanical feed mixers are preferred for their higher efficiencies. A wide range of these feed mixers are available and used in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana due to a higher concentration of poultry farms in these regions. The performances of both local and foreign poultry feed mixers in the two regions were evaluated. This was carried out as a procedure to identify the types, measure machine parameters, operational parameters and feed characteristics relevant to the performance of poultry feed mixers. Data collected were analysed using statistical tools at 95% C.I. From the results, moisture content of the feed samples ranged from 9.21 to 11.08% (% wb), the geometric mean diameter of all samples ranged from 762.74 to 947.27 µm with the geometric standard deviation range of 2.35–2.50. The two dominating feed mixer types were the horizontal and vertical. The horizontal feed mixers indicated mixing time of 1.5–10 min, mixing speed of 40–80 rpm, energy consumption per mix of 0.9–3.8 kWh and blending uniformity with a coefficient of variation (CV = 7.19%), but relatively high maintenance cost per month. CV less than 10% is the percent commonly recognized by the feed industry as the cut-off for uniformity of mix analysis. The vertical feed mixers indicated low maintenance cost, mixing time of 15–30 min, mixing speed of 250–500 rpm, energy consumption per mix of 0.8–5.5 kWh and CV = 10.30–18.05%. Given that the horizontal feed mixers were found to have better performance metrics, there is the need to adapt the design for local process planning and manufacture, while substituting imported machine parts and components with locally available materials to optimize performance and minimise maintenance cost for the poultry and feed industries.

Association of Adherence to Diabetics Feeding Recommendation with Glycaemic Control and with Malnutrition Risk Among Normal Weight Persons with Type 2 Diabetes in Ghana.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is public health problem. Feeding-recommendations help persons with diabetes control glycaemia. The aim was to access the association between adherence to diabetics’ feeding recommendation with glycaemic control and with malnutrition risk.MethodsCross-sectional study was conducted among 530 baseline normal weight (body mass index [BMI] 18.5 kg/m2–24.9 kg/m2) persons with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, from August 2018 to September 2019. Adherence to feeding recommendation was evaluated with perceived dietary adherence questionnaire (PDAQ). Malnutrition-risk was assessed using malnutrition universal screening tool. Multinomial logistics regression models were used to assess the association between adherence to diabetics’ feeding recommendation with glycaemic control and with malnutrition risk.ResultsParticipants were generally healthy. Weight (P = 0.011), total cholesterol (P = 0.003) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)% (P < 0.001) were significant with adherence to diabetics feeding recommendation. Low adherence to diabetics’ feeding recommendation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.56; 95% CI: 1.44, 4.56; P < 0.001), low adherence to fruit and vegetables (AOR 2.71; 95% CI: 1.48, 4.99; P < 0.001), low adherence to whole grain, beans, starchy-fruits and plantain (AOR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.81, 6.02; P < 0.001), and low adherence to foods prepared with walnut, canola, sunflower, cotton seed and fish oils (AOR 2.62; 95% CI: 1.49, 4.58; P < 0.001) were significant with poor glycaemic control. Furthermore, low adherence to food prepared with walnut, canola, sunflower, cotton seed, fish or soy oils (AOR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.95; P = 0.034) and low adherence to fish and lean meat (AOR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.86; P = 0.017) were significant with moderate malnutrition risk.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that poor adherence feeding recommendation could be related to glycaemic control and malnutrition risk.

Mothers in a 'Strange Land': Migrant Women Farmers' Reproductive Health in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana.

As a coping strategy towards climate variability, smallholders from the Upper West Region (UWR) migrate to rural farming areas in the Brong-Ahafo Region (BAR) of Ghana in search of better livelihoods. Although previous migrations were seasonal and maledominated, recent migrations have become permanent and involve more women migrating. Despite these changing dynamics, little is known about the effects of internal migration on women's reproductive health in rural migration destinations. Using qualitative methods, we explored migrant women farmers' reproductive health experiences in BAR. Findings from our study reveal that migrant women face limited autonomy in family planning decisions, lack access to maternal and general health care services, and have limited social support in the migration destination. Our findings contribute to the migration literature and highlight the unique reproductive health challenges of agrarian migrant women in rural receiving societies of Ghana.

Evaluating the Influence of Succession Planning on the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ahafo, Bono and Bono East Regions of Ghana

Small and medium businesses (SMEs) are critical to any country’s national economic development. On the other hand, SMEs confront a considerable difficulty in succession planning: the lack of or inefficiency/ineffectiveness of succession planning. As a result, this quantitative correlational study aimed to evaluate the influence of succession planning on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. To reach the research goal, the study used a quantitative correlational research design. Data were collected from 140 respondents involved in SMEs from nine districts and municipal assemblies from the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East Regions of Ghana. The results revealed that most of the respondents, 113 (80.64%), agreed that employees or possible successors might leave the organisation for a better offer and 106 (75.71%) respondents indicated that owners of SMEs do not think about succession plan until there is a crisis. The results also showed that succession plan explains nearly (50%); thus, half the chances of survival of an SME in the Bono, Ahafo and Bono East regions are dependent on succession planning. There was a significant difference in succession plan practices among the different year groups of SMEs. The result also demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the service and manufacturing industries’ succession planning practices among the SMEs surveyed. It is recommended that business owners, policymakers and the state should support SMEs in succession planning development. If possible, succession planning should be part of the school curriculum and entrepreneurship training programmes in schools and business institutes. This will build the capacity of prospective business owners and create awareness about the effects of succession planning on the growth of organisations.

Factors Driving Farm Gate Price of Tomatoes in Ghana: An Application of Hedonic Model

The study examined the relationship between product characteristics and price of tomatoes in Ghana. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 300 sampled tomato farmers. The data collected included the price and quality characteristics of tomatoes traded in spot transactions in Akumadan and Tanoso districts in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. In respect of inferential statistics, hedonic price model was used to determine factors influencing farm grate price of tomatoes in the study area. The results of the study revealed that the age group involved in tomato production in the study area is youthful and dominated by men. Illiteracy is high and the majority of farmers are of Akan origin with a family-size above five (5). About half of the respondents sell their produce at the farm gate. According to the result of the hedonic model, five factors are statistically significant in the determination of the price of tomatoes, namely: distance to the farm, road quality, market information, graded product and quantity of tomatoes available for sale. The study therefore concluded that improved road networks, access to market information by the farmers, access to credit facilities from financial institution, and quality control with respect to product sorting or grading would improve the price received by the farmers. Thus there is the need for the government to improve the road network in the study area, particularly feeder roads to improve price received by the farmers. This would encourage existing farmers to continue with tomato production. Also, farmers need to be trained in sorting and grading of their produce to attract a good price.

Awareness of Market Potentials and Utilization of Cashew Fruit: Perspectives of Cashew Farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

In spite of its nutritional and economic values, Cashew apple has received low patronage in terms of commercialization and utilization and policy focus. This has led to underutilization and wastage of fresh fruits, which could contribute to farmer’s income. This study explored the state of awareness of the market potential and consumption of cashew apple among farm households in selected areas of Brong Ahafo in Ghana. A total 200 respondents were randomly interviewed in addition to a Focus group discussion. The results indicate there is a large number of farmers with long years of farming and trading in cashew yet trading has mainly been focused on the nuts and not fresh fruits which is nutritive. Contrary to literature in the study area apples has some level of patronage in home consumption, but attempts at exploiting cashew apple market potentials among farmers is low or nonexistent.

Pattern and Presentation of Prostate Cancer at a Referral Centre in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana; A 10-Year Retrospective Study

Introduction: Prostate cancer is gradually reaching a very high incidence in Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. Understanding the dynamics in occurrence of the disorder is one approach to developing effective public health programmes and interventions that will help curb the rising incidence. Objective: This study was aimed at providing comprehensive and credible data on prostate cancer by assessing the incidence, trend and presentation in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. We sought to provide region-specific hardcore data that will help to assess the issue and provide remedies. Methodology: All prostate disease cases recorded from the year 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects from 40 years and above were eligible for screening. Diagnostic and screening tools for prostate cancer at the study site include family history, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, digital rectal examination, urological ultrasound scan and histopathology (biopsy). Age, PSA values and year of screening/diagnosis were also retrieved from patient folders for the study. Histological findings and parameters considered in the study included diagnosis, carcinoma grading, perineural invasion (PNI) and percentage of affected tissues (%TA). Results: Prostate cancer cases were 369, representing 36.4% of the 1,014 prostate diseases studied. The highest annual incidence was recorded in 2014 with 51 cases (13.8%). The ages of patients ranged from 46 to 101 years with a modal age range of 70 - 79 years and a mean ± SD of 72.2 ± 9.8. The mean PSA value recorded was 37.1ng/ml (±107.3) with predominance in the 11 - 20.9 ng/ml range. Majority of Group Grade 2-5 (79%) constituted progressive prostate cancer. There was no significant correlation (p = 0.091) between grade of prostate cancer and perineural invasion. Conclusion: There is a high incidence of prostate cancer in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana (32 per 100,000), predominantly advanced prostatic carcinoma. Reported cases also show high %TA (38.7%) and PNI (38.0%). Early screening for prostate diseases should be encouraged to avoid progression to advanced stage and public health interventions are needed to address some of these issues.