Brong-Ahafo Region Of Ghana Research Articles

Agricultural credit rationing in Ghana: what do formal lenders look for?

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of agricultural credit rationing by formal lenders in Ghana.Design/methodology/approach– This study employed descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Heckman's two-stage regression model to identify types of rationing faced by farmers and investigate factors that influence agricultural credit rationing by formal financial institutions. Data used in this study are gathered through a survey of 595 farmers in seven districts within Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.Findings– The result reveals that farmers face three types of rationing. Evidence from the Heckman two-stage models shows that engagement in off farm income generating activities, increase in farm size, positive balances on accounts and commercial orientation of the farmers has the potential to reduce rationing of credit applicants by formal lenders.Practical implications– The results provide information on the factors that need to be considered as important in an attempt to reduce agricultural credit rationing by formal lenders.Originality/value– The value of this study is that farmers would use the results of this study to improve access to required amount of agricultural credit from formal financial institutions. The information would also benefit stakeholders in the agricultural sector, particularly youth in agriculture program organized by Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana as how to improve access to credit and reduce rationing of program participants by formal financial institutions.

Management of febrile children under five years in hospitals and health centres of rural Ghana.

BackgroundThe case management of febrile children in hospitals’ and health centres’ pre-roll out of the new WHO policy on parasitological diagnosis was assessed. The delivery of artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) at these two levels of the health system was compared.MethodsStructured observations and exit interviews of 1,222 febrile children attending five hospitals and 861 attending ten health centres were conducted in six districts of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Effectiveness of delivery of case management of malaria was assessed. Proportions of children receiving ACT, anti-malarial monotherapy and antibiotics were described. Predictors of: a febrile child being given an ACT, a febrile child being given an antibiotic and of carers knowing how to correctly administer the ACT were assessed using logistic regression models stratified by hospitals and health centres.ResultsThe system’s effectiveness of delivering an ACT to febrile children diagnosed with malaria (parasitologically or clinically) was 31.4 and 42.4% in hospitals and health centres, respectively. The most ineffective process was that of ensuring that carers knew how to correctly administer the ACT. Overall 278 children who were not given an ACT were treated with anti-malarial monotherapy other than quinine. The majority of these children, 232/278 were given amodiaquine, 139 of these were children attending hospitals and 93 attending health centres. The cadre of health staff conducting consultation was a common predictor of the outcomes of interest. Presenting symptoms and examinations conducted were predictive of being given an ACT in hospitals and antibiotic in hospitals and health centres but not of being given an ACT in health centres. Treatment-seeking factors were predictive of being given an ACT if it was more than seven days since the fever began and an antibiotic in hospitals but not in health centres.ConclusionInterventions to improve adherence to negative parasitological tests are needed, together with guidance on dispensing of antibiotics, but improving the education of carers on how to administer ACT will lead to the greatest immediate increase in the effectiveness of case management. Guidance is needed on implementation of the new test-based treatment for malaria policy in health facilities.

Can international health programmes be sustained after the end of international funding: the case of eye care interventions in Ghana

BackgroundThere is general agreement amongst major international policy makers that sustainability is a key component of health interventions in developing countries. However, there is little evidence on the factors enabling or constraining sustainability. Diffusion of innovation theory can help explain how the continuation of activities is related to the attributes of innovations. Innovations are characterised by five attributes: (i) relative advantage; (ii) compatibility; (iii) complexity; (iv) triability; and (v) observability. An eye care programme was selected as a case study. The programme was implemented in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana and had been funded over a ten-year period by an international organisation.MethodsSustainability in the study was defined as the level of continuation of activities after the end of international funding. Measuring the continuation of activities involved checking whether each eye care activity continued (i.e. out-patient consultation, cataract surgery, outreach, school health, and statistics) or was interrupted after the end of Swiss Red Cross funding the 11 district hospitals where the programme was implemented.ResultsThe results showed a relationship between the level of sustainability and the attributes of every activity. The activities with the lowest score for the attributes were less sustained. School health screening was the least sustained activity after the end of international funding. This activity also held the smallest score in terms of attributes: they were the most incompatible and most complex activities, as well as the least triable and observable activities, amongst the four district activities. In contrast, compared to the three other district activities, facility-based consultations were more likely to be routinised because they were perceived by the hospital managers as very compatible, and not complex.ConclusionsUsing diffusion of innovations theories can help predict the sustainability of specific activities within a health programme. The study also highlighted the need for disentangling the various components of a health programme in order to identify which activities are more likely to be continued within a health system. The same methodology could be used in a different setting and could help predict which innovations are more likely to be adopted and maintained over time.

English

This paper econometrically analyzed the factors affecting competitive advantage of broiler agribusinesses in Ghana, using multiple regression analysis. Through a multi-stage random sampling technique, structured questionnaire was used to collect farm level data from 441 small-scale commercial broiler agribusinesses in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. The average variable cost of producing a broiler at an average market age of 57 days was GH¢8.48 (US$5.93). Of this cost, feed and one day-old chick costs together constitute about 72%. Results of the econometric regression analysis show that feed and day-old chick costs, broiler market age and capacity utilization are the main factors that significantly affect competitive advantage of broiler agribusinesses in the study area. Feed cost, one day-old chick cost and market age of broilers positively and significantly affect cost of broiler agribusinesses while production capacity utilization negatively and significantly affect cost. This suggests that reducing feed and day-old chick costs, market age of broilers and increasing capacity utilization will reduce production cost to promote competitive advantage of broiler agribusinesses. Broiler agribusinesses should be encouraged to adopt better feed management practices and also feed broilers with nutritious feed for the right market weight to be gained by week eight to reduce expenditure on feed. Policies that will encourage broiler producers to increase production capacity should also be encouraged. Key words: Competitive advantage, broiler, agribusiness, econometric, Ghana.

Determinants of Customer Loyalty among Mobile Telecom Subscribers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of brand equity among mobile telecom users in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Mobile telecommunication providers have a great role in strengthening the economy and encouraging the efficiency among a large number of subscribers across the country. The success of any business depends on the strength of their brands, which attracts new and existing customers for continuous growth. In Ghana, there are six mobile telecom providers operating in the market (Vodafone, Airtel, MTN, Tigo, Glo, & Expresso). Primary data was obtained through a questionnaire and residents of Sunyani Municipality were targeted for the study. 200 questionnaires were self-administered by the researchers to the subscribers of all the mobile telecom providers and 194 questionnaires were returned. The questionnaires were analysed using SPSS 16 and pearson correlation was used to establish the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The results identified call rate/quality, network coverage and sales promotion as having significant positive relationship to customer loyalty. In addition, brand image and prompt customer service were seen to have a less effect on customer loyalty.

Impact of Formal Financial Market Participation on Farm Size and Expenditure on Variable Farm Inputs: The Case of Maize Farmers in Ghana

The study examined maize farmers’ participation in the formal financial market and its impact on farm size and expenditure on variable farm inputs. A multistage sampling method was used in selecting 595 maize farmers from the seven districts in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. A structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to elicit information from the respondents. The impact of formal financial market participation on farm size and expenditure on variable inputs was estimated using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. The results of the study showed that formal financial market participation has the potential to significantly increase expenditure on variable inputs by farmers and consequently use of improved technology. Therefore, formal financial market participation should be encouraged through education and promotional activities.

Credit constraints and smallholder maize production in Ghana

The study examined constraints influencing farmers’ access to credit and the effect that credit has on maize productivity, using the endogenous switching regression approach with survey data collected from 595 maize farmers in the Ashanti and BrongAhafo Regions of Ghana. The study revealed that credit constraint has a dampening effect on input use and farm productivity. The results showed that engagement in off-farm income generating activities, farm size and farmers’ perception on operational modalities are factors that influence credit constraint conditions for farmers. In addition, the marginal productivity of credit differs between credit-constrained and credit-unconstrained farmers: thus, access to credit would enable credit constrained farmers to take advantage of the available productive opportunities and increase maize productivity. Therefore, farmers in need of additional credit should be served to increase farm productivity.

In vitro Screening of Compounds against Laboratory and Field Isolates of Human Hookworm Reveals Quantitative Differences in Anthelmintic Susceptibility

A panel of 80 compounds was screened for anthelmintic activity against a laboratory strain of Ancylostoma ceylanicum and field isolates of hookworm obtained from school children in the Kintampo North District of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Although the laboratory strain of A. ceylanicum was more susceptible to the compounds tested than the field isolates of hookworm, a twofold increase in compound concentration resulted in comparable egg hatch percent inhibition for select compounds. These data provide evidence that the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds may be species-dependent and that field and laboratory strains of hookworm differ in their sensitivities to the anthelmintics tested. These data also suggest that both compound concentration and hookworm species must be considered when screening to identify novel anthelmintic compounds.

The effects of forest destruction on the abundance, species richness and diversity of butterflies in the Bosomkese Forest Reserve, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

Objectives: Despite the substantial loss of natural forest in the Bosomkese Forest Reserve, little is known on the effects of the massive habitat loss and degradation on forest biota. The study therefore assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on butterfly species composition and abundance in the Bosomkese Forest reserve in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Methodology and Results: The effects of anthropogenic activities on butterflies were studied in three forest types identified in the forest reserve namely, disturbed canopy (DC) slightly disturbed canopy (SDC) and undisturbed canopy (UC), which was the control. The data on the butterflies were collected using fruit – baiting traps on a 1 kilometer line transect selected in each of the study areas. Species richness and diversity were analyzed using Simpson’s Diversity Index. Five butterfly families were identified during the study. These were: Numphalidae, Hesperiidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Papilionidae. Nymphalidae recorded the largest number of species whilst Papilionidae was the least abundant. The undisturbed canopy recorded the largest number of butterflies whilst the disturbed canopy recorded the least number of butterflies. In terms of diversity, the undisturbed canopy showed the greatest diversity whilst the disturbed canopy showed the least diversity. Conclusion and application of findings: Strict enforcement of forest laws by the law enforcement agencies and creating alternative source of livelihood for the people living in and around the forest reserve will help reduce the dependence on the forest as a source of livelihood.

Production Constraints and Measures to Enhance the Competitiveness of the Tomato Industry in Wenchi Municipal District of Ghana

Aims: To find ways of making the tomato industry in Wenchi competitive in the face of myriad constraints confronting production. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Wenchi Municipal District of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana in the 2010 cropping season. Methodology: Fifty (50) randomly selected tomato farmers took part in the study and were interviewed using a semi-structural questionnaire. Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance was used to rank the constraints to tomato production. The Porter’s Diamond of National Advantage was used to assess the competitive position of the tomato industry in the area as well as the strategies needed to improve competitiveness. Results: The study found that small scale tomato producers in the district face a myriad of production constraints which limit their ability to increase production. The constraints include lack of capital, high cost of inputs and low produce price. The tomato industry in the area can however, become competitive and enhance economic growth.

Application of Area to Point Kriging to Buruli Ulcer Incidence in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana

Application of Area to Point Kriging to Buruli Ulcer Incidence in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana Buruli ulcer (BU) is the third most common mycobacterium disease after tuberculosis and leprosy. The disease eats through the skin, muscle and bone, leaving victims with disfiguring and debilitating craters. Ghana is the second most endemic country globally, after Cote d’Ivoire with over 1,048 cases with the most endemic regions being the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Central and the Brong Ahafo. The goal of the paper is to use Area to Point Kriging (ATP) method to model the spatial distribution of Buruli ulcer incidence in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana.

Environmental Challenges Facing a Growing City: Sunyani Case Study

This photo essay illustrates the environmental challenges facing a rapidly growing urban settlement in Ghana. Sunyani is one of the fastest growing cities in Ghana. The population of the city increased from 38,634 in March 1984 to 61,992 in March 2000 (Ghana Statistical Service, 2002). This trend presents serious development challenges to the city as high rates of population growth are not matched with increased provision of social services and infrastructure. The city authorities will have to adopt appropriate urban planning strategies if the city is to develop sustainably. Author’s Note Edward Twum Anane is a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Catholic University of Ghana. Anane is also the Founder and Research Coordinator of the Innovation Lab, a sustainability research initiative at the Catholic University. He attained his Master of Science in Management from the University of Italian Switzerland, Lugano. He is currently documenting urban settlements of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Anane’s research interests lie in sustainable energy, climate change, and sustainable urbanization.

Public Procurement in Ghana: The implementation challenges to the Public Procurement Law 2003 (Act 663)

The purpose of this study was to identify various implementation bottlenecks to the Ghana Public Procurement Law 2003 (Act 663). The study adopted multiple research approaches, including; review of relevant literature, interviews and questionnaire survey of 49 District Assemblies and Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. The study identified low capacity of procurement professionals, low interaction between procurement entities and Public Procurement Authority (PPA), deliberate controlling of competition, non-compliance with provisions of the law, splitting of contracts into smaller lots, lack of funds and non-cooperativeness of suppliers, as the major challenges militating against the implementation of the Public Procurement Law.

Public procurement in Ghana: The implementation challenges to the Public Procurement Law 2003 (Act 663)

The purpose of this study was to identify various implementation bottlenecks to the Ghana Public Procurement Law 2003 (Act 663). The study adopted multiple research approaches, including; review of relevant literature, interviews and questionnaire survey of 49 District Assemblies and Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. The study identified low capacity of procurement professionals, low interaction between procurement entities and Public Procurement Authority (PPA), deliberate controlling of competition, non-compliance with provisions of the law, splitting of contracts into smaller lots, lack of funds and non-cooperativeness of suppliers, as the major challenges militating against the implementation of the Public Procurement Law.

Substitutes or Complements?: Formal and Informal Credit Demand by Maize Farmers in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana

This study examines credit demand by maize farmers and analyses factors influencing their use of informal and formal credits. The analysis is based on data collected from a survey of 590 maize farmers in seven districts of Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana during May-July 2010. Descriptive statistics, probit and bivariate probit models were used to analyse the data. The study revealed informal credit sources for maize farmers as relatives and friends, traders and private money lenders. Maize traders are major players in the informal credit market followed by agricultural input sellers. Among the formal sources rural banks are the most prominent. Regional location, Gender, engagement in other economic activities and the level of agricultural commercialisation were observed to be factors that influence farmers’ demand for informal credit. In addition to these factors, farmer years of education and proximity to financial institution influence demand for formal credit. The result of the bivariate probit suggests that formal and informal credits are not necessarily perfect substitutes but they complement each other to provide credit needs of farmers in maize production.

Cashflow forecasting in the construction industry: The case of Ghana

Research has shown that only one out of eight projects in the USA is successful (David and Trevor, 2011). Park, Seung and Rusells (2005) quoted Russell (1991) who found that more than 60% of construction contractor's failure is due to economic factors. Thus, when planning funding requirements of a business, it is more important to manage the likely cash requirements than to merely project profitability. Whilst profit is a vital indicator of the performance of a project, the generation of profit does not necessarily guarantee its realization development, or even survival. It is imperative to note that more businesses fail for lack of cashflow than for want of profit. This paper discusses and highlights the results of a study conducted to determine, rate, and rank the significant factors that affect the cash flow of contractors in Ghana. The District Assembly Common Funded (DACF) project was used as a cose study. The paper adopted the qualitative and quantitative research methods. In terms of quantitative methods, primary data was gathered through structured questionnaires distributed to contractors, consultants, district assemblies (clients) in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. The sample size was drawn using the Kish (1965) method. In total, 123 out of 152 questionnaires were retrieved indicating 81 % response rate. Statistical analysis, using relative importance indices, significance testing and concordance testing revealed that 15 factors significantly affect the cash flow status of a contractor during the currency of construction projects. These factors were further categorised into either endogenous or exogenous groupings, based on the source of the factor and its effect on the construction firm. It was further revealed that cash flow factors could be considered to have contractor inclination or contractual influence depending on the extent of skewness of these factors to the former. The paper recommends that, to enhance effective productivity through cash flow systems, there must be a balance between the exogenous and endogenous factors, with the diligently undertaking risk analysis for the prospects of the project and the client making conscious effort not to violate the contractual factors.

The role of social networks in the governance of health systems: the case of eye care systems in Ghana

Efforts have been increasingly invested to improve local health systems' capacities in developing countries. We describe the application of innovative methods based on a social network analysis approach. The findings presented refer to a study carried out between July 2008 and January 2010 in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Social network analysis methods were applied in five different districts using the software package Ucinet to calculate the various properties of the social network of eye care providers. The study focused on the managerial decisions made by Ghanaian district hospital managers about the governance of the health system. The study showed that the health system in the Brong Ahafo region experienced significant changes specifically after a key shock, the departure of an international organization. Several other actors at different levels of the network disappeared, the positions of nurses and hospital managers changed, creating new relationships and power balances that resulted in a change in the general structure of the network. The system shifted from a centralized and dense hierarchical network towards an enclaved network composed of five sub-networks. The new structure was less able to respond to shocks, circulate information and knowledge across scales and implement multi-scale solutions than that which it replaced. Although the network became less resilient, it responded better to the management needs of the hospital managers who now had better access to information, even if this information was partial. The change of the network over time also showed the influence of the international organization on generating links and creating connections between actors from different levels. The findings of the study reveal the importance of creating international health connections between actors working in different spatial scales of the health system.

Rural perspectives on the HIV/AIDS dinosaur: A case of four communities in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) constitute one of the most worrisome public health problems in the world today. The impact of HIV has been devastating in many developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa; the area hardest hit. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global estimates of HIV infections as of 2006 were 39.5 million, with 64% of those infected living in sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2006). Despite the interventions put in place by successive governments, Ghana still experiences some rates of HIV transmission. The goal of this study was to examine the rural perspectives of HIV/AIDS among four communities in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Specifically we looked at the level of HIV knowledge, HIV-related attitudes and behaviour, HIV testing, among four communities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Some of the responses were encouraging (e.g. awareness of HIV) but others also left a lot to be desired (HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites, witchcraft and spiritual means, stigmatization and the misconception that all HIV patients end up with AIDS). A number of recommendations were proposed; predominant among them is the need to intensify education on HIV in the four communities. Key words: HIV/AIDS, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, testing, Brong Ahafo, Ghana.

Case control study to determine the factors associated with leprosy in the sene district, brong ahafo region of ghana.

There are currently an estimated 10-12 million cases of leprosy in the world. In Sene District of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana the prevalence of leprosy is 2.4/10,000 of the population. Most of these cases are children, indicating that new infections are still occurring in the communities. To identify factors associated with leprosy in the Sene District in order to implement an effective strategy to eliminate leprosy from the district. Case-control study. The cases were selected from a register of active leprosy cases. Controls were matched for age, and sex. For every one case identified two controls were selected. Of the twenty four cases identified, eighteen (75%) were paucibacillary and six (25%) were multibacillary leprosy. Most of the leprosy lesions were found on the trunk (25%) and upper limbs (37.5%). 13(54.2%) of the cases were under twenty years old. From the study, contact with someone with leprosy in the same house is associated with having leprosy. (OR -3.4 95%CI 1.09-10.8 p=0.017). Not having BCG vaccination is associated with having leprosy (OR 11 95%CI 2.12-76.17)p=0.0005). The findings confirm that close contact with a patient with leprosy facilitates transmission of M. leprae. To reduce leprosy in the Sene District there is the need to increase BCG vaccination coverage in children and ensure that all contacts of cases are thoroughly screened for the disease and treated. Health workers in the district need to be trained to identify leprosy lesions.

Malaria epidemiology in the Ahafo area of Ghana

BackgroundPlasmodium falciparum malaria remains endemic in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. The epidemiology of malaria in special areas, such as mining areas needs to be monitored and controlled. Newmont Ghana Gold Limited is conducting mining activities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana that may have an impact on the diseases such as malaria in the mining area.MethodsPrior to the start of mining activities, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2006/2007 to determine malaria epidemiology, including malaria parasitaemia and anaemia among children < 5 years and monthly malaria transmission in a mining area of Ghana.ResultsA total of 1,671 households with a child less than five years were selected. About 50% of the household heads were males. The prevalence of any malaria parasitaemia was 22.8% (95% CI 20.8 - 24.9). Plasmodium falciparum represented 98.1% (95% CI 96.2 - 99.2) of parasitaemia. The geometric mean P. falciparum asexual parasite count was 1,602 (95% CI 1,140 - 2,252) and 1,195 (95% CI 985 - 1,449) among children < 24 months and ≥ 24 months respectively. Health insurance membership (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.45 - 0.80, p = 0.001) and the least poor (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37 - 0.90, p = 0.001) were protected against malaria parasitaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was high among children < 24 months compared to children ≥ 24 months (44.1% (95% CI 40.0 - 48.3) and 23.8% (95% CI 21.2 - 26.5) respectively. About 69% (95% CI 66.3 - 70.9) of households own at least one ITN. The highest EIRs were record in May 2007 (669 ib/p/m) and June 2007 (826 ib/p/m). The EIR of Anopheles gambiae were generally higher than Anopheles funestus.ConclusionThe baseline malaria epidemiology suggests a high malaria transmission in the mining area prior to the start of mining activities. Efforts at controlling malaria in this mining area have been intensified but could be enhanced with increased resources and partnerships between the government and the private sector.