The Continuous Use of Asbestos in Ghana Despite Its Hazards （Case Study Area： Sekondi-Takoradi）

This paper reported on a research work conducted with the aims of investigating the regulatory position regarding the use of asbestos and also of assessing the evidence of the continuous use of asbestos cement products in the construction industries in Ghana, using Sekondi-Takoradi as a case study area. This paper adopted both quantitative and qualitative research approach to seek information from, landlords, and manufacturers of asbestos cement products, parliament and other Government Agencies. Data was obtained through questionnaire, interview and field work survey. In all, a total of 20 questionnaires were distributed. The research emerged that about 1200 housing units roofed with asbestos cement roofing sheet were constructed by the state owned construction company between 1976 and 2000 in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis （about 12,000 nationwide）, a period when the risk of asbestos was known in Ghana. The study in the newly developing areas in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis indicated that, out of every 100 housing unit being built, at least 40 of these were roofed with asbestos cement corrugated roofing sheet. It was also emerged from this research that there were no laws prohibiting the use, manufacturing or importation of asbestos products in Ghana. And this exposes maintenance workers in the building construction industries to the risk of asbestos related diseases. The research recommended that those who have asbestos materials present in their premises should take action to manage the risk so that no one will unknowingly disturb it and also provide information about the material to those who are likely to disturb it.

Relative Importance Analysis of Factors Influencing Unauthorized Siting of Residential Buildings in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana

The act of unauthorized siting of buildings has persisted in most developing countries. Despite numerous efforts at local levels to address this problem, its existence and effects keep on rising in various metropolises in Ghana. This research explores the causes of unauthorized siting of buildings in Asakae, a suburb of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, and suggests measures to curb them. In view of this, a sample size of 182 house-owners was chosen for the study. Accordingly, the sample size was determined using Fisher et al. formula and questionnaire survey approach was adopted for the study. More so, data generated from the survey were further analyzed, using Relative Importance Index. The findings of the survey indicated that ignorance on planning and building regulations, inadequate housing schemes, unrealistic zonings and the location of land are critical variables which influence unauthorized siting of buildings. It is recommended that the populace should be given regular public education on land-use planning and the building regulations of Ghana. More so, the Assemblies should automate their systems, with respect to monitoring and detection of buildings under construction;so that buildings that were being located at unapproved places could be quickly detected, and appropriate measures could be taken before their completion.

Impact of Small Scale Irrigation Technologies on Poverty Alleviation among Peri-urban and Urban Farmers

Smallholder farms, mainly rain-fed dominate the agricultural sector in Ghana, accounting for about 80% of total production. Cultivation is mostly of indigenous and non-traditional varieties, characterized by low productivity, and compounded by production shocks due to environmental stresses. The research introduced vegetable farmers to better irrigation and compost management practices using the nuclear and isotopic techniques. On the average, yield of vegetables increase by 9.2% under irrigation and organic manure application compared to yield under the conventional method. Farmers saved 60%-70% of the total cost on water per acre using drip irrigation. Relative to conventional methods, farmers save at least US$70 per acre on fertilizer taking in to account cost of converting manure to compost. The result also revealed that, overall poverty gap among farmers who only depends on rain fall needed an additional 55% of the present income to attain minimum basket of their basic needs compared to 30% among some of those who irrigate in addition to rainfall. Results of our study have shown that farmers could gain financially, redeem themselves from poverty as well as improving their social conditions and ensure ecologically sustainable development with Small Scale Irrigation integrated with the right composting recipe.

Anatomical Properties of Three Lesser Utilised Ghanaian Hardwood Species

Wood is composed of mostly hollow, elongated, spindle-shaped cells that are arranged parallel to each other along the trunk of a tree. The characteristics of these fibrous cells and their arrangement affect strength properties, appearance, resistance to penetration by water and chemical solutions, resistance to decay and many other properties. The characterisation of wood helps in identifying them. In this work, we studied the anatomical properties of three lesser utilised Ghanaian hardwood species namely Albizia ferruginea (Guill. & Perr.) Benth, Blighia sapida K. D. Koenig and Sterculia rhinopetala K. Schum using the light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Anatomical features studied were fiber length, double fiber wall thickness, fiber proportion, vessel diameter and proportion, rays and axial parenchyma proportions. We observed that the use of SEM in studying the anatomical or ultra-structural aspects of wood gave a clearer understanding of the features and structures found in wood. Anatomical features such as presence of crystals and absence of axial parenchyma in Blighia sapida and the thick wall fibers of Sterculia rhinopetala were better understood.

Experimenting the Feasibility of Banana Stalk for Practical Textile

Finding viable alternatives to conventional textiles and fashion has proved to be a herculean challenge for government and policy makers in Ghana. Banana stalk identified as possible eccentric material for textiles and fashion needs to be examined to ascertain its feasibility. The study intends to engage mixed approach with particular emphasis on experimental methods to ascertain feasibility of banana stalk braids for textiles. Also what to be adopted are observation, descriptive, interpretative, and narrative methods. Test results from the study are necessary for determining the extent to which thematerials could be applied for varying textiles and costumes. Adopting waste as alternative material in fashioning costumes for textile art and subsequently normal fashion for humans is a possible means to turn around the poorly performing the industrial sub-sector. It also has the potential of being converted into sacks for packaging some foodstuffs like grains, tubers, and cocoa. The success of this research shall pave way for looking inward the nation for readily available and relatively cheap materials for addressing the concern of local textiles and fashion.

Economic Impact of Mutant Cassava （Manihot Species） for Agricultural Improvement in Ghana

The importance of agricultural innovations for raising the living standards of farmers has received substantial attention from the economic and political communities. In Ghana, cassava serves as an important source of calorie and cash crop. Production constraints such as the cassava mosaic disease caused by virus have limit farmers access to productivity potentials and marketing. Breeding efforts attempting to address this constraints have had some success such as the mutant Tech Bankye virus resistant variety. This research, therefore, analysed the impact of some production input on mutant cassava productivity growth in Ghana with the use of Cobb-Douglas production function. Results show that farmers cultivate the mutant variety in addition to other traditional varieties to averse risking in marketing and income. The average cost of production of the mutant variety is higher compared to that of the traditional variety. Eighty percent of the farmers complained difficulty in accessing market for the mutant variety because it could not replace the traditional variety in terms of its texture for the local native ＂fufu＂ production and ＂ampesi＂ and also deteriorate quickly in storage. However, for industrial production of ＂gari＂ and starch, the mutant is the best. Both the mutant cassava and the traditional varieties showed increasing returns to scale, however, the returns to scale of the mutant variety were lower compared to that of the traditional variety. Also, the opportunity cost of forgoing the traditional varieties to cultivating the mutant variety was very high making adopted farmers hesitant to continue it cultivation.

The Impact of the Ghana＇s Oil Discovery on Land Investment and Its Implications in the People, Agriculture and the Environment （Case Study： Cape Three Points, Ghana）

The study was conducted to assess the impact of Ghana＇s oil discovery on the land values, the extent of acquisition, and their implications of the land investment in the people, agriculture and the environment in the Cape Three Points area, which is the communities close to the oil field. Questionnaires were designed and administered to collect data from the chiefs, queen mothers, family heads and opinion leaders of the area. Results of the studies indicated that there had been an increase of about 2000% in land values from 2007 to 2011. Also there was an increase in demand for lands in the Cape Three Points with acquisitions usually ranging from 10 acres to over 600 acres. It also emerged that the livelihood of the inhabitants of Cape Three Points was threatened due to the conversion of arable land to non-agriculture uses. This change in land uses has significant negative impacts on land degradation and its related reduction of agricultural and food production in the area. The technical difficulties of assessing land degradation, the weakness of existing databases, and the poorly explored linkages between land degradation and other aspects of rural development were some of the limitation of the studies. The study increased awareness of the chiefs and other land owners to reserve land for the future generation and for agriculture purposes. The study drew government＇s attention through the Ahanta West District Assembly to the planning needs of the towns in the Cape Three Points to streamline land use of the area.