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The main component of the environment that is essential for human existence on earth is availability of quality water. As human activity has evolved, particularly in the industrial, household, and agricultural sectors, groundwater systems are exposed to various contaminants. Groundwater is one of the main sources of water at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Ghana. However, no research has been carried out to assess the levels of microbial load and heavy metal toxicants in water transmission systems at UESD. In this current study, we investigated the levels of selected heavy metals and microbial load present in the water supply systems at UESD. Water samples were collected from four (4) different zones at the University. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to analyse the levels of eleven heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Co, Hg, Pb, Ni and As), whereas correct growth media were used to estimate microbial loads. Observations for water samples were compared to the permissible limits, using one-sample t-tests. Similarly, paired t-tests and Tukey’s honestly significant difference were used to compare observations between water samples from the zones. Water quality indicators (hazard quotient (HQ) and health hazard index (HI)) were used to examine any potential health risks. In addition, water quality index (WQI) was used to predict the quality of the groundwater at UESD campus. The results showed that the levels of Fe, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, Co and Hg were within the permissible limits. However, the levels of Pb, Ni and As for all the sampling zones were significantly higher than the permissible limits. The results of HI and HQ for the oral ingestion pathways of the metals were within the accepted levels. The result of WQI showed that heavy metals would contaminate groundwater in wells and the natural pond on UESD campus. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli colony-forming units present in the water samples were significantly higher than the acceptable levels, indicating a possible health risk when ingested. Therefore, we recommend water recycling and regular water quality monitoring programs at the University.

Small private irrigation (SPI) is a farmer-initiated irrigation which has the potential to increase the contribution of the overall irrigation sector to global food security. However, there is no much information about these systems for effective policies for regulation. This study compared the resource use productivities and environmental impacts of SPI systems to those of a government-led irrigation scheme (GIS) in Northern Ghana. The results showed that land productivity was higher in the SPI than in the GIS. Productivity per unit cultivated area was 2571.00 US$/ha under SPI while that of the GIS was 676.00 US$/ha. Output per unit command area was also two times higher in the SPI than in the GIS; that is 2571.00 US$/ha and 1113.00 US$/ha for SPI and GIS respectively. For water productivity, output per unit irrigation supply was 0.33 US$/m3 and 0.08US$/m3 for SPI and GIS respectively while output per unit water consumed by ET was 0.60 US$/m3 for SPI and 0.06 US$/m3 for the GIS. The results implied that the SPI schemes performed better in land and water productivities compared with the GIS which is attributed to higher yields and the selection of high valued crops by farmers under SPI. However, both irrigation system types at the time of this study did not cause significant deterioration to the water bodies and surrounding environment as the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values of nearby water bodies were less than 3.0–5.0 mg/l, which is considered as acceptable levels for drinking water by World Health Organisation (WHO) while salinity levels were also within acceptable limits (

This paper examines (i) the state of environmental conditions in two low-income urban communities in Accra, Ghana, using a Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) method, and (ii) changes in the environmental conditions in the two low-income communities over the years using the PRA method. The PRA was augmented with qualitative interviews with selected heads of household and other stakeholders from the study communities. The results showed that environmental conditions in the two study communities were poor as indicated by the computed average scores for the environmental problem areas. However, conditions were poorer in Chorkor compared to La. The paper recommends that local governments units in Ghana must prioritise sustained, improved, and reliable funding for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure undisruptive implementation of environmental health programs and policies. This must be accompanied with improved community education and sensitization on proper sanitary practices, which have the potential to mitigate the effects of disease epidemics such as cholera in the two communities. The study also provides important perspectives on differentials in environmental conditions in low-income communities in urban Ghana.

Since 2011, successive Governments in Ghana have developed, and implemented Renewable Energy Master Plan to leverage macroenvironmental forces and encourage indigenous investment in Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs), but the actual impacts are yet to be felt by Ghanaians. The main objectives of the study are to: examine the impacts of Macroenvironment Forces (MF) on Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) investment intentions in RETs, and determine the moderating effects of Entrepreneurship Orientation (EO) dimensions (viz. proactiveness, competitive aggression, innovativeness, and risk-taken) on the relationship between MF and SMEs’ investment intentions. A total of 240 usable responses were received through self-administered survey questionnaires among Ghanaian SMEs. Variance-Based Partial Least Square Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was used for the data analyses and hypotheses testing. The results revealed that MF had significant and positive relationship with SMEs’ intention to invest in RETs. Moreover, the results showed that proactiveness, competitive aggressive, and innovation had direct effects on intention to invest in RETs. Again, the results showed that EO dimensions significantly moderated the relationship between MF and investment intentions in RETs. The implications of these results include extending previous MF works by evaluating MF, EO, and investment intention relationships in a developing country context, which has been largely ignored in previous studies. Again, this paper provides insights into the value of macroenvironment scanning and assessment which could lead to better investment intentions in clean, affordable, and reliable energy service. Besides, the efficacy of EO in MF-investment intentions relationship has been well established in this paper.

Following a theory of strategic positioning perspective, this paper aims to explore the operating context in which dimensions of the macro-environment factors are likely to enhance Small and Medium Enterprise's (SMEs) intentions to invest in the Ghana's’ downstream oil and gas sector. Specifically, macro environment model has been developed wherein an important exogenous context (supply chain resilience) variable has been considered and studied its moderating effect on the relationship between macro environment dimensions and intentions to invest. The study also, examined the conditional effect of micro environment dimensions on intention to invest at different levels of supply chain resilience. Using Partial Least Square method we analyze cross sectional data across Ghana's SMEs spectrum between the periods 2017–2018. Our indicative evidence suggests that political factors, economic factors, environmental factors and technological factors are related to SMEs intentions to invest in the down stream oil and gas. Moreover, the research findings revealed that supply chain resilience moderated the relationship between macroenvironment dimensions and intention to invest. The link between macro environment dimensions and intention to invest was strengthened via the interaction effect of supply chain resilience. These robust results are consistent with the theory of strategic positioning. Overall, our results are akin to policy makers agenda to create enabling macro environment to improve local businesses participation in the Ghanaian oil and gas value chain. Besides, the findings will assist SMEs owners and managers in their decisi ons to invest in the downstream oil and gas sector by strengthening investment capability at different levels of Supply chain resilience.