Southern Ghana Research Articles

The use of Beauveria bassiana for the control of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus, in stored maize: Semi-field trials in Ghana

Laboratory research in Ghana demonstrated the effectiveness of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana (IMI 389521) from the United Kingdom against the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), a major pest of stored maize. The minimum effective concentration, following artificial infestation trials on maize, was between 109 and 1010 cfu/kg maize. Before moving out to village-level control, a major requirement was to determine if the product could effect control in artificially infested maize held under real environmental conditions in several locations in Ghana. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of formulated conidia of B. bassiana, IMI 389521, at two concentrations (1 × 109 and 3.16 × 109 cfu/kg maize) to control P. truncatus on stored maize kernels under semi-field conditions in Ghana. Maize (‘Obatanpa’ cultivar) kernels were treated with the formulated B. bassiana product and stored in polypropylene woven bags in cribs in Southern Ghana. After 24 h, one hundred adults of P. truncatus were placed into each bag containing the treated maize. Mortality and the percent of weight loss of kernels were assessed every two weeks for three months. The semi-field trials revealed the possibility of successfully controlling adult P. truncatus on maize kernels treated with B. bassiana at 3.16 × 109 cfu/kg maize. However, due to the minimal protection of kernels after four weeks, re-treating maize kernels after this period is recommended to ensure maximum protection during prolonged storage.

Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in the Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley areas of southern Ghana using GIS-based and multivariate statistical techniques

Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in the Wassa Amenfi East and Prestea-Huni Valley areas of southern Ghana using GIS-based and multivariate statistical techniques

The indigenization of Ghanaian Pidgin English

AbstractIn the world Englishes literature, ‘indigenization’ is shorthand for the localization of Outer Circle Englishes in former exploitation colonies like Ghana. However, the localization of Ghanaian English has been continually reversed by ‘corrective’ realignment with world standard English through institutional regimes. By contrast, the localization of Ghanaian Pidgin English has proceeded unhampered by standardization. This article provides a first analysis of the copula system of Ghanaian Pidgin English, showing that it owes much to patterns found in Akan and other languages of southern Ghana. In this domain, Ghanaian Pidgin English has indigenized and differentiated itself from its sister languages. I propose a consistent and expansive definition of indigenization as ‘the areal alignment of a latecomer with a linguistic ecology, causing its divergence from related varieties elsewhere.’ This study of indigenization shifts the focus from standardized Englishes to contact Englishes. The latter remain unfettered by institutional intervention and are therefore better suited to illustrating the natural dynamics of indigenization than standardized Englishes.

Theology and Women’s Agency in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa that limits women’s agency. Various studies have found that cultural norms and religion sustain women’s experiences of IPV, inspiring various theories among feminist scholars and within religion on women’s agency. This study determines whether and how theology contributes to the agency of IPV survivors. I draw upon constructivist grounded theory to inductively analyze the stories of thirteen abused Christian women in a mainline church in southern Ghana. My findings indicate that multiple systems, including informal social support networks, constrain survivors while simultaneously serving as conditions for their personal faith and individually constructed theologies. Indeed, these serve as catalysts to their self-enactments and emerging agency. These findings provide nuance to existing (and contested) conceptions of agency.

Land tenure and investment in productive inputs in Ghanaian cocoa farming: A generalised structural equation modelling approach

Food insecurity and poverty are major barriers to economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Ghana. Pursuing sustainable agricultural development through the promotion of agricultural innovations and investment in productive inputs is one of the surest approaches to addressing these barriers. However, land tenure issues are threat to a widespread of agricultural innovations and land-related investments. Using cross-sectional data from 400 cocoa farmers in southern Ghana, we analyse the relationship between land tenure systems and investment decision in farm inputs and evaluate factors influencing the land tenure decision of cocoa farmers simultaneously using a generalised structural equation model. We find that socioeconomic characteristics such as residence status, ethnicity and location differences explain farmers’ land tenure choices. Compared to farmers who owned land title, we find that farmers operating on family lands or sharecropping invest less in hybrid cocoa seedlings, fertiliser, land, and labour. The findings suggest the need to strengthen the customary land tenure system to improve land tenure security to enable land users to invest in long-term land productivity measures.

To disclose or not to disclose: an ethnographic exploration of factors contributing to the (non) disclosure of Ghanaian women’s breast cancer diagnosis to social networks

BackgroundAlthough there may be theoretical support linking positive health outcomes with cancer disclosure to social networks, women from contexts such as Ghana where cancer is not openly talked about may have concerns around breast cancer disclosure. Women may not be able to share their experiences about their diagnosis, which may prevent them from receiving support. This study aimed to obtain the views of Ghanaian women diagnosed with breast cancer about factors contributing to (non) disclosure.MethodsThis study is based on secondary findings from an ethnographic study that employed participant observation and semi-structured face to face interviews. The study was conducted at a breast clinic in a Teaching Hospital in southern Ghana. 16 women diagnosed with breast cancer (up to stage 3); five relatives nominated by these women and ten healthcare professionals (HCPs) participated in the study. Factors contributing to breast cancer (non) disclosure were explored. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.ResultsThe analysis indicated that most of the women and family members were very reticent about breast cancer disclosure and were secretive with distant relatives and wider social networks. Whilst remaining silent about their cancer diagnosis helped women protect their identities, prevented spiritual attack, and bad advice, the need for emotional and financial support for cancer treatment triggered disclosure to close family, friends, and pastors. Some women were discouraged from persevering with conventional treatment following disclosure to their close relatives.ConclusionsBreast cancer stigma and fears around disclosure hindered women from disclosing to individuals in their social networks. Women disclosed to their close relatives for support, but this was not always safe. Health care professionals are well placed to explore women’s concerns and facilitate disclosure within safe spaces to enhance engagement with breast cancer care services.

Representations of Mental Illness in a Ga Community in Southern Ghana

This study explored lay concepts about and attributions of mental illness in a Ga community in southern Ghana. The study’s sample consisted of 11 Ga men and 12 Ga women, ranging in age from 30-81. Participants completed one-on-one interviews. Participants ascribed to polyphasic attributions of mental illness including biomedical and spiritual explanations. Attributions informed understandings of help-seeking behavior. Stigma was recognized as an important factor in the lived experience of people with mental illness. The recognition of individual distress as a marker of mental illness seemed less prominent than social indicators. Our interviewees’ narratives highlighted the importance of the social context in identifying and making meaning of mental illness in the community of study.

Impact analysis of innovation and gendered constraints in the fisheries sector of southern Ghana

This paper adopts the multinomial endogenous treatment effect approach to analyze the impact of innovation choices on the income of 230 fish workers in the Greater Accra and Central regions of Ghana, while the Kendall’s ranking technique is applied to analyze the constraints to innovation. Findings show that technological and non-technological innovations available to fish workers have positive impacts on their income. Specifically, savings, credit access, and support service are identified to have positive impacts on income while gender and membership of a fish workers’ association have negative impacts on income. The most pressing constraints to innovation faced by female fish workers are cultural/ethnic restrictions, social exclusion, and time constraints. On the other hand, a high dependency ratio and discrimination in access to resources are the most pressing constraints faced by male fish workers. The paper recommends that stakeholders should continue to offer support services to fish workers. In addition, lending institutions should make credit accessible at lower interest rates. Interventions by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and development agencies that aim to solve constraints of fish workers should be approached from a gender dimension.

Living with Schizophrenia: the role of interpersonal relationships

People with a chronic condition such as schizophrenia encounter significant challenges interacting with their immediate environment. However, there is little data exploring interpersonal relationships between people living with schizophrenia and their families and healthcare providers, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated the interpersonal relationship experiences of persons with schizophrenia in Southern Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach using the purposive sampling technique to recruit nine (9) persons living with schizophrenia. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth, face-to-face interviews and analysed using a descriptive phenomenological data analysis framework. Five themes emerged; three described positive interpersonal relationships, and two negative interpersonal relationships existed in participants with schizophrenia. The study revealed a poor interpersonal relationship between study participants and the public. Stigma was implicated as a factor responsible for the negative interpersonal relationships between study participants and people outside their immediate families.

Do factors of farm size sustenance determine food consumption status of rural farm households? Evidence from southern Ghana

We examined factors that influence farm size sustenance and food consumption status of rural farm households. We used survey data comprising a sample size of 390 households. The study employed quantile and ordered logistic models to estimate the impacts of farm sustenance indicators on farm size cultivated and food consumption, respectively. We found that farm size is influenced positively by input expenditures, household sizes, types of crops, farm credits and subsidies. Besides, lack of farm labour adversely affected farm sizes of some categories of farmers. Besides, increasing farm input expenditures, lack of labour, farm credits and subsidies reduce the food consumption status of the households. We recommend that policymakers consider an integrated approach to farm sustenance and specific segregated attention to the individual categories of food consumption status of farm households. These could be achieved through the provision of farm credits and subsidies among other factors that sustain farm sizes and food consumption of the households.

Evidence of Rift Valley Fever Virus Circulation in Livestock and Herders in Southern Ghana.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a re-emerging zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants and humans. While neighbouring countries have reported outbreaks of RVF, Ghana has not yet identified any cases. The aim of this study was to determine whether RVF virus (RVFV) was circulating in livestock and herders in the southern part of Ghana, to estimate its seroprevalence, and to identify associated risk factors. The study surveyed 165 livestock farms randomly selected from two districts in southern Ghana. Serum samples of 253 goats, 246 sheep, 220 cattle, and 157 herdsmen were tested to detect IgG and IgM antibodies against RVFV. The overall seroprevalence of anti-RVF antibodies in livestock was 13.1% and 30.9% of farms had RVFV seropositive animals. The species-specific prevalence was 24.1% in cattle, 8.5% in sheep, and 7.9% in goats. A RVFV IgG seroprevalence of 17.8% was found among the ruminant herders, with 8.3% of all herders being IgM positive. RVFV was shown, for the first time, to have been circulating in southern Ghana, with evidence of a recent outbreak in Kwahu East; however, it was clinically undetected despite significant recent human exposure. A One Health approach is recommended to better understand RVF epidemiology and socio-economic impact in Ghana.

"Like it's Already Done": Spiritual Experience, Hope, and Optimism in Southern Ghana

ABSTRACT: This article examines the intersection of optimism and religion by exploring the spiritual experiences of Pentecostal Christians and Traditionalists in Cape Coast, Ghana. We argue that for both Pentecostals and Traditionalists (practitioners of indigenous Akan religion) an experience of contact with the spirit realm conditions movements between pessimistic and hopeful subjectivities. When the object of hope is definite, but uncertain, Pentecostal spiritual experiences are similar to those of traditionalists. Pentecostalism stands out as unique from traditionalist experience and practice because it also provokes states of confident expectation for a generalized object, resulting in periods of boundless optimism that shift seamlessly between confident expectancy for specific material aspirations and more abstract ends like blessing and anointing. These general states we analytically define as optimism. Pentecostal experiences generate optimistic stances that collapse the believers' economically modest presents and imagined wealthy futures, allowing for the identification of spiritual and material well-being, eclipsing actual wealth differences. For our Pentecostal interlocutors, optimism is a moment within a spectrum of states that include pessimism and variegated states of hopefulness—all of which are mediated by experiences with God/Spirit.

Patterns and drivers of disturbance in tropical forest reserves of southern Ghana

Ghana has retained a substantial area of tropical forests in an extensive network of protected reserves. These forests are impacted by land uses such as logging, mining, and agriculture as well as wildfires. We studied forest disturbance and recovery from 2013 to 2020 using annual maps of forest cover derived from Landsat imagery. Fire-associated disturbance was distinguished using VIIRS active fire data. We used boosted regression trees to model disturbances in closed and open forests as a function of climate variability, human accessibility, and landscape structure. A total of 3562 km2 of forest reserves were disturbed, of which 17% (615 km2) were fire disturbances and 83% (2946 km2) were non-fire disturbances. Of the total disturbed area, 68% was degradation (change from closed to open forest), 28% was open forest loss, and only 4% was closed forest loss. Over the same period, 2702 km2 of forest reserves recovered, with 1948 km2 of these recovering to closed-canopy forests. Fire disturbances were strongly associated with precipitation anomalies and occurred mostly in drier years, whereas non-fire disturbances had weaker relationships with precipitation. Disturbances in closed forests occurred in landscapes where closed forest cover was already low. In contrast, disturbances in open forests were most common in locations with intermediate levels of population pressure from nearby cities and proximity to non-forest land cover. The results support the idea that forest disturbance in Ghana is a multi-stage process involving degradation of closed forests followed by loss of the resulting open forests. Although non-fire disturbance rates are consistent from year to year, sharp increases in fire disturbance occur in drought years. Locations with the highest disturbance risk are associated with measurable indicators of climate, human pressure, and fragmentation, which can be used to identify these areas for conservation and forest restoration activities.

CHOICE AND INTENSITY OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: EVIDENCE FROM MAIZE FARMERS IN SOUTHERN GHANA

ABSTRACT Embedded in a quantitative approach focused on smallholder maize farmers in southern Ghana, this article addresses the dual questions of what climate variability strategies remain adopted? And what is the intensity of adoption as well as the factors that influence the choice and intensity of adaptation strategies? The related literature presents mixed conclusions. Even more compelling is an understanding of how our research questions intersect with socio-demographic factors in mediating and shaping climate variability adaptation strategies. We find drought-resistant varieties, pest and disease control, early/late planting, and the application of indigenous knowledge to be the dominantly adopted climate variability adaptation strategies. The adoption intensity shows three climate adaptation strategies to be the highest (22.34 percent), followed by two (19.29 percent), with the least (0.5 percent) being ten. Farming experience, household size, and farm size positively correlated with the intensity of climate variability adaptation strategies. Temperature perception is inversely correlated with climate variability adaptation intensity. The findings suggest that social capital and other socio-demographic characteristics are relevant for the adoption of climate variability adaptation strategies in southern Ghana.

Smallholder farmers’ knowledge, practices and perceptions associated with grain storage and hermetic technology in southern Ghana: Implications for awareness and training

Hermetic grain storage (HGS) bags are simple and appropriate to effectively protect stored grains against pests and aflatoxins in areas where effective facilities are lacking. This study assessed farmers’ knowledge and perceptions associated with current practices, awareness-facilitating agents, and HGS bags in interior southern Ghana. The main objective was to provide information that can be included in sensitization and awareness creation programs to increase adoption of HGS bags for sustainable production of grain crops, food security, income-generation, and livelihood improvement across farming communities in selected areas in southern Ghana. Therefore, 925 smallholder farmers were randomly selected and interviewed across three districts (or municipals), which included West Akim Municipal, Ayensuano District, and Suhum Municipal in southern Ghana, using a semi-structured questionnaire for data collection and analysis. The results showed that 95.24% of farmers were still using ineffective grain storage approaches to store grains. Average awareness level about HGS bags among farmers was ≤30%, whereas adoption of HGS bags was very low (4.76%). However, awareness and adoption were mostly observed in West Akim Municipal. Although awareness was significantly dependent on numerous demographic and farming factors, it had significant positive correlations with ‘female farmers’ and respondents’ age-range (36–50 years) only; it suggests that if these two factors are considered in sensitization programs, they will increase awareness about HGS bags. The most performing awareness-facilitating agent was the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, followed by famers’ neighbors. Nonetheless, farmers (who were aware of or adopted HGS bags) were facing challenges or limitations. Hence, the need for training smallholder farmers has been discussed.

High opsonic phagocytosis activity and growth inhibition of merozoites are associated with RON4 antibody levels and protect against febrile malaria in Ghanaian children.

Naturally acquired immunity to malaria may involve different immune mechanisms working in concert, however, their respective contributions and potential antigenic targets have not been clearly established. Here, we assessed the roles of opsonic phagocytosis and antibody-mediated merozoite growth inhibition in Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection outcomes in Ghanaian children. The levels of merozoite opsonic phagocytosis, growth inhibition activities and six P. falciparum antigen-specific IgG of plasma samples from children (n=238, aged 0.5 to 13 years) were measured at baseline prior to the malaria seasons in southern Ghana. The children were then actively and passively followed up for febrile malaria and asymptomatic P. falciparum infection detection in a 50-week longitudinal cohort. P. falciparum infection outcome was modelled as a function of the measured immune parameters while accounting for important demographic factors. High plasma activity of opsonic phagocytosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 0.16; 95%CI= 0.05 - 0.50, p = 0.002], and growth inhibition (aOR=0.15; 95% CI = 0.04-0.47; p = 0.001) were individually associated with protection against febrile malaria. There was no evidence of correlation (b= 0.13; 95% CI= -0.04-0.30; p=0.14) between the two assays. IgG antibodies against MSPDBL1 correlated with opsonic phagocytosis (OP) while IgG against PfRh2a correlated with growth inhibition. Notably, IgG antibodies against RON4 correlated with both assays. Opsonic phagocytosis and growth inhibition are protective immune mechanisms against malaria that may be acting independently to confer overall protection. Vaccines incorporating RON4 may benefit from both immune mechanisms.

Prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among women in Southern Ghana: evidence from 2014 GDHS

Prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among women in Southern Ghana: evidence from 2014 GDHS

Access and Control of Resources and Participation in Rice-Breeding Activities among Men and Women Farmers in Southern Ghana

This paper provides evidence of gender differences in the access and control of resources and their relation to participation in rice-breeding activities among men and women farmers in southern Ghana. We used a mixed methods design which involved the use of qualitative data collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) and quantitative data collection through a survey. Using data collected from 315 smallholder rice farmers, perception analyses and probit and multivariate regression were employed in the analyses. Our findings indicate that higher levels of education, experience in rice farming, a favorable dependency ratio, larger farm size, more rice plots, access to extension services, and involvement with financial organizations positively influence participation in rice-breeding activities. On the other hand, distance to market is found to have a negative impact on participation. Moreover, years of education, experience in rice farming, farm size, number of rice plots, dependency ratio, and distance to market were found to negatively influence the control of production resources among both male and female participants in rice-breeding activities. From both the quantitative and qualitative results, men had more access to productive resources than women. Insights from this study will enhance gender equity in promoting the participation of both men and women in rice varietal development activities.

Insecticide resistance status of Aedes aegypti in southern and northern Ghana

BackgroundOutbreaks of Aedes-borne arboviral diseases are becoming rampant in Africa. In Ghana, there is no organized arboviral control programme with interventions restricted to mitigate outbreaks. Insecticide application is a crucial part of outbreak responses and future preventative control measures. Thus, knowledge of the resistance status and underlying mechanisms of Aedes populations is required to ensure optimal insecticide choices. The present study assessed the insecticide resistance status of Aedes aegypti populations from southern Ghana (Accra, Tema and Ada Foah) and northern Ghana (Navrongo) respectively.MethodsPhenotypic resistance was determined with WHO susceptibility tests using Ae. aegypti collected as larvae and reared into adults. Knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations were detected using allele-specific PCR. Synergist assays were performed with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) to investigate the possible involvement of metabolic mechanisms in resistance phenotypes.ResultsResistance to DDT was moderate to high across sites (11.3 to 75.8%) and, for the pyrethroids deltamethrin and permethrin, moderate resistance was detected (62.5 to 88.8%). The 1534C kdr and 1016I kdr alleles were common in all sites (0.65 to 1) and may be on a trajectory toward fixation. In addition, a third kdr mutant, V410L, was detected at lower frequencies (0.03 to 0.31). Pre-exposure to PBO significantly increased the susceptibility of Ae. aegypti to deltamethrin and permethrin (P < 0.001). This indicates that in addition to kdr mutants, metabolic enzymes (monooxygenases) may be involved in the resistance phenotypes observed in the Ae. aegypti populations in these sites.ConclusionInsecticide resistance underpinned by multiple mechanisms in Ae. aegypti indicates the need for surveillance to assist in developing appropriate vector control strategies for arboviral disease control in Ghana.Graphical

Teacher Trainees’ Experiences and Challenges in Project Work at Colleges of Education in Ghana: The Case of a College in Southern Ghana

Project work plays a key role in the training of teachers because it prepares them to be able to research their practices to improve teaching and learning. This case study explored teacher trainees’ experiences and challenges in doing project work using the views of a cross section of trainees from one College of Education in southern Ghana. Twenty-two Diploma in Basic Education teacher trainees who completed their programme from 2017 to 2020 participated in the study. The data was collected through an open-ended online questionnaire. The data collected were analysed qualitatively and presented as narratives with some illustrative examples. The results from the study revealed the trainees reporting that their experiences working with supervisors were generally good. They however reported a number of challenges, with financial challenges associated with the cost of traveling to their colleges to see supervisors being the most common. The study recommended among other things, the need for the management of the Colleges of Education to ensure that trainees would not have to travel frequently to colleges to meet supervisors to save cost and equip the trainees to ensure that their experiences through project work build their core skills.