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Scholarly discourse and global policies advocate policy integration across sectors, including land use and transportation. However, African cities lack best practices for transport and land use integration. This paper employed a 'plan quality evaluation framework' and key informant interviews to assess the quality of decentralized plans of the Kumasi Metropolis regarding integrating transportation planning considerations. The integration of transport considerations into the goals and policies of the KMA's plans was weak. Although coordination and implementation arrangements were strong, provisions for monitoring and evaluation were inadequate. Institutional fragmentation, poor inter-departmental coordination, and resource constraints were integration hurdles that needed immediate attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the factors that influence households' willingness to comply with municipal solid waste (MSW) management regulations in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Data from a survey conducted in 400 households in Kumasi were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a binomial logistic regression model. The study found that households' willingness to comply with MSW management regulations is influenced by education, employment, income, monthly expenditure on MSW management, familiarity with MSW management regulations and regulation benefit expectations (P<0.05). The city authorities should educate households on the benefits they stand to gain from their strict compliance with MSW management regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed a growth in research on urban green spaces given their significance to human wellbeing and environmental management. This paper explores the perceived health benefits of urban green areas by drawing on the experiences of 95 participants sampled from three urban communities in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. It is a qualitative study employing a cross-sectional design. The paper argues that participants' perceptions straddle physical and non-physical dimensions of health. From the physical perspective, the participants revealed that green spaces improved physical activity and reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. The non-physical health benefits included improved attention, reduced stress and positive emotions such as happiness. The findings of this paper call for broad-based multi-sectoral approach to managing green spaces in urban Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the determinants of place attachment among flood victims in the two low-income communities of Aboabo and Asawase in Kumasi, Ghana. It draws on empirical evidences from 203 households and key informants to explore the enduring communal mobilisation and social capital exhibited by victims during and after floods. The study reveals context-specific structural and non-structural coping strategies, shaped by intense local knowledge, lived experiences and attachment to place of affected households. We recommend that local knowledge and residents' attachments to their neighbourhoods be mainstreamed into the design of community-based flood risk management frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the impact of social support on elderly well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, given its absorptive potential in mitigating the adverse effects of distressful circumstances. This study examines the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and social support on the well-being of older adults (aged 50+) in Ghana. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey with a quantitative approach to collect data from 400 older adults residing in the Accra and Kumasi metropolitan areas. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit the participants. Categorical regression analysis was employed to estimate the associations between socio-demographic factors, social support dimensions, and the well-being of older adults. Of the eleven variables used, six were significant predictors of well-being. In their order of importance, enacted social support (β = 0.496), social integration (β = 0.252), perceived social support (β = 0.149), educational level (β = 0.121), gender (β = 0.074), and employment status (β = -0.017) were the predictors of well-being among the sample. The strongest and weakest predictive factors of well-being within the sample are enacted social support and employment status, respectively. The study emphasizes that focus should not solely be on socio-demographic factors when addressing the well-being of older adults during distressful situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, it highlights the paramountcy or primacy of social support in mitigating the harmful impact of the pandemic on their well-being. Interventions should prioritize strengthening older individuals' access to diverse social support options for enhanced well-being. Subjects: Health & Development; Sociology & Social Policy; Aging [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in human activities in urban areas resulting from the urbanisation process continues to put immense pressure on urban ecological resources including water bodies. This study seeks to assess the relationship between the various categories of human activities within the 100 m buffer of the major water bodies in the Kumasi Metropolis and the chemical and biological composition of the pollutants that are emitted into the water bodies. The findings of this study showed that the Kumasi Metropolis is confronted with weak enforcement of regulations that protect water bodies. For example, along the Subin River, human activities such as commercial activities and the development of squatter settlements did not conform to the standard setback average distance of 100 feet in the Zoning Regulation and Planning Standards. There is a need for city authorities to strategically respond to the various human activities that threaten the sustainability of water resources in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to fill the information gap by exploring pedestrian behavior at footbridges in the Greater Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan areas of Ghana. Further, the study modelled the behavior of 69,840 pedestrians at the footbridges using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Pedestrians were observed as users and non-users of seven selected footbridges in the morning (7:00 am–9:00 am), afternoon (11:00 am–1:00 pm), and evening (3:00 pm–5:00 pm) periods for seven consecutive days (Monday to Sunday). Selected footbridges were characterized by traffic generators as schools, shopping malls, bus stops, office complexes, and restaurants in different matrices. The results showed that 30.7% of the observed pedestrians did not use the footbridges, males and young pedestrians were more likely not to use the footbridges as opposed to females and the elderly with more than half of observed pedestrians carrying luggage or load. Footbridge users were more likely to talk and hold phones than non-users and the elderly were more likely to run and ride compared to young pedestrians. Officials of the National Road Safety Authority should carry out effective public education on pedestrian safety targeting males and young pedestrians to encourage the use of pedestrian footbridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, Ghana is popular for its outstanding exhibition of authentic cultural artefacts. However, these artefacts have always been associated with the beliefs, spirituality and philosophy of the Ashanti people and they are numinous or sacred objects venerated by both the museum's staff and its visitors. This article explores the phenomenon of numinosity surrounding selected objects in the collections and the impact this has on their preservation. It uses qualitative tools to explore case studies, including their detailed study, and interviews with people knowledgeable about their use and sacred status. A major finding the authors report is that numinous artefacts in the museum were not created as aesthetic objects but primarily for religious and utilitarian purposes that correlate with the devotion of the people involved. Their numinosity was also found to contribute to their preservation by protecting them from handling and use by visitors and museum personnel. The article is offered as a contribution to the literature both to stimulate similar research and widen the interests of those involved in the care of cultural heritage by situating such artefacts in cultural traditions that are arguably left largely outside the field of museology and yet are still to be fully explored in most parts of Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ghana, a population of teenage head porters have made the streets their sole living and breathing space. They are faced with several challenges as they live and work on the streets. The era of COVID-19 amidst several safety protocols that should be followed including maintaining physical and social distance as well as reducing movements appears to be detrimental to the survival patterns of teenager head porters as they live and work on the streets. Consequently, the study explores the experiences of teenage head porters in the wake of the pandemic to draw practice implications. Evidence was collected using semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 teenage head porters in Kumasi, Ghana. Narratives were analyzed thematically using reflective thematic analysis procedures. The study identified Kinship neglect and high exposure to infection as over-arching challenges experienced by teenage head porters on the streets amidst COVID-19. The study suggests providing emergency state intervention programs to aid teenage head porters' survival. Findings also support working with social workers to spearhead the campaign for these interventions as a humanitarian profession and recommend that the Department of Social Welfare collaborates with some agencies and organizations like the street children's project in Accra and Kumasi to provide alternative economic engagements like vocational training to take them out of the streets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge of solid waste management has been subjected to a variety of reactions and interpretations: strange mixtures of neglect and misconceptions of what could be the way forward. Over the years, Ghanaian authorities have problematized issues of waste management to collection and transportation and have shied away from formulating policies that can limit conflicts in waste sink communities. This article examines how a landfill infrastructure in Kumasi has engendered conflicts. Triggers of the conflicts and key actors involved are examined using data generated from a questionnaire survey of 160 households obtained through the quadrant method. The results show that three actors are involved in the conflicts: the chiefs and residents on one side and municipal authorities on the other. While the chiefs accuse municipal authorities of illegally acquiring the landfill site and of non-compensation payment, concerns of community members are their alienation from site management as enjoined by law. They also argue that the facility has degraded the environment and divested the local economy. The paper concludes that context and situation are significant for how, where and to what degree solid waste is disposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though studies have established that informal sector workers are prone to occupational-related diseases, not much is known about their health-seeking behaviour. This study aims to examine drivers of health-seeking behaviour among informal sector workers in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 350 informal sector workers. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. The study revealed that 33.5% of the participants practiced good health-seeking behaviour when they developed occupational-related diseases in 2016. The study further revealed that informal sector workers with five or more dependents (AOR: 8.482; CI: 1.265-56.872; p = 0.028) and those who spent more than an hour at a health facility (AOR: 24.040; CI: 8.508-67.927; p < 0.0001) were more probable to exhibit good health-seeking behaviour. Informal sector workers without active National Health Insurance Scheme [NHIS] (AOR: 0.149; CI: 0.052-0.430; p < 0.0001) and employees were less likely to adopt good health-seeking behaviour. Given the limited formal healthcare system and resources available, socio-demographic factors should be taken into consideration when formulating policies to encourage informal sector workers to adopt good health-seeking behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste constitutes significant quantities of waste generated in markets. Markets produce substantial quantities of fruit and vegetable waste, a source of nuisance in landfills. In Ghana, market waste (MW) appears to be unexplored and has limited data available. The need for MW valorization in the face of a circular economy requires reliable knowledge of MW properties. The study determined the waste compositions of selected major markets from two different classes of settlement in Kumasi and the seasonal effect on the compositions. The chemical properties of organics were determined via proximate and ultimate analyses and the theoretical biomethane potential, with the Buswell equation. From the results, MW composition in the wet season is 59.6% organic, 11.4% plastics, 8.3% paper, 5.3% textiles, 4.7% inert, 4.1% miscellaneous, 2.1% metal, 1.8% glass and 2.8% leather. The dry season values are 45.8% organic, 14.6% plastics, 12.7% paper, 7.3% textiles, 6.4% inert, 4.3% miscellaneous, 2.3% metal, 2.6% glass and 3.9% leather. An ANOVA indicates significant differences between the two seasons and some waste components; organics, plastics, paper and cardboard, leather, and inert. The high calorific values recorded ranged from 14.8 MJ kg−1 to 16.6 MJ kg−1. The biogas potential and biomethane content ranged from 775.3 l/kgVS to 828.9 L/kgVS and 50% to 57% respectively. Implications: Market waste (MW) in Ghana appears to be an unchartered area and there is limited data on market generation and composition. The need for MW valorization requires reliable knowledge on MW properties. This study explores MW characteristics of six major market from two different classes of settlements in a developing country. Study findings suggest that the quantities of market organics are higher than household waste. Again, MW composition can be influenced by season and geographical location. Furthermore, the study establishes the potential of MW in considerable quantities of biogas and methane generation, in comparison with household waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care provision by single mothers to autism children in traditional communities in Ghana is widespread. As care for children is generally a challenging task, single mothers with autistic children face a double challenge because they have to give extra care and attention solely. Consequently, this study explores the experiences of single mothers caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to help pinpoint prevailing setbacks to draw practice implications. Evidence was collected through semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 single mothers in Kumasi, Ghana. Narratives were analyzed thematically following the reflective thematic analysis procedures. The study identified stigmatization and rejection, financial strains and stagnation of social life as predisposing challenges experienced by single mothers of autistic children. The study suggests the need to sensitize people not to reject families with the condition as it is medical and not superstitious. The study also stresses the need for state interventions including enrolling poor mothers with autistic children into state programs like the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Program (LEAP). The study suggests that further research is needed to solicit the views of the extended family members of women parenting autistic children on the best ways to overcome the challenges identified in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although assessing the cost of workplace injuries and illnesses as part of occupational health and safety management is important in ensuring workplace safety, the issue is generally neglected among informal auto-artisans in Ghana. This paper examines the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses in terms of productivity, financial and social aspects of selected auto-artisans who service or fabricate auto parts in Suame 'Magazine' in Kumasi, Ghana. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 957 auto-artisans selected through a multistage cluster sampling method. The study found that the most frequent occupational illnesses and injuries experienced by the auto-artisans are those related to sharp objects (83.9%), inhalation of dust particles (45.8%), objects falling from height (35.6%) and burns (21.8%). These injuries and illnesses have led to loss of productivity and income which affects family members with no variations between the various categories of auto-artisans (p = 0.976). It is concluded that occupational injuries and illnesses among informal auto-artisans presents enormous financial and emotional costs to survivors and their families. It is recommended that government should lead a policy dialogue on safety in the country's informal sector, while supporting artisans to establish insurance schemes to support them in times of injuries and illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present systematic analyses of the temporal dynamics of the growth of Kumasi, the fastest growing city in Ghana using 20-year Landsat time-series data from 2000 to 2020 (with 1986 Landsat image as a baseline). Two classification algorithms – random forest (RF) and support vector machines (SVM) – were used to produce binary (built-up / non-built up) maps for all years within the temporal span. We further implemented an anomaly detection and temporal consistency algorithm followed by a changing logic to correct the classification anomalies due to image contamination from the cloud and other sources. The mean overall accuracies obtained for RF and SVM were 94.9% (kappa = 0.90) and 95.5% (kappa = 0.91), respectively. Our results reveal that the mean built-up area percentages of the metropolis are approximately 74, 65, 47, and 23 for the years 2020, 2010, 2000, and 1986, respectively, representing a mean annual change of 3.5% over the 34 years. With the present lack of labeled data in Ghana for in-depth analyses of the evolution of land use, we believe that this study serves as an initial attempt to a better understanding of the effects of increasing anthropogenic activities due to urbanization, on human and environment health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red light running places the violator and other road users at risk of road traffic crash. The aim of this research was to undertake a baseline study to establish the current rate of red light running in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana and to determine the associated risk factors. An uninterrupted road side observational survey was conducted at 10 signalized intersections using pro-forma checklist. A binary logit model was employed to determine the risk factors associated with traffic light violations. Overall, drivers were observed running the red light in 35% of all the red phases studied. From the statistical model, red light running was found to be influenced by the age and gender of the driver, presence of a passenger in the vehicle, vehicle type, junction type, cycle length of the signal and queue length. There is a need for targeted public awareness campaigns on the dangers of red light running. The education on red light violation must be accompanied by sustained Police enforcement of the traffic law to reduce the rate of violation. Automatic surveillance cameras should be installed at all critical signalized intersections to supplement Police efforts to enforce traffic safety laws and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines agricultural livelihood effects of urban sprawl and farmers' response in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana, involving in-depth interviews with sixty farmers (n = 60) and four key informants (n = 4). Greater Kumasi has expanded spatially over time resulting in arable land reduction in the peri-urban interface and affecting households in varying ways. This has evoked different responses from affected farmers including agricultural intensification, extensification, diversification and adoption of off-farm livelihood strategies. While some households made livelihood gains in their response, and some livelihood losses, others neither gained nor lost. A mix of livelihood assets, but more importantly human and social capital, were identified as key determinants of the outcomes of households' livelihood strategies employed. To protect arable land from urban encroachment and reduce peri-urban households' vulnerabilities the following policy interventions are noteworthy: effective spatial planning through institutional strengthening, legislative enforcement and widening market for agricultural goods and expanding non-farm jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite official introduction of the universal national health insurance scheme (NHIS) and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in Ghana since 2003, most Ghanaians still don't seem to have spatial access to healthcare. Based on a case study of Kumasi, this paper discusses spatial accessibility to health facilities in Ghana using the Generalized Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method. Overall, the results showed that most people in the study area could reach a hospital within 20 minutes, but those in peri-urban areas have very limited spatial access to health facilities. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is an important zoonosis worldwide. Q fever is documented in many parts of the world; however, information on the disease in Ghana is scanty. This study was therefore conducted to provide evidence of exposure of sheep and goats slaughtered at the Kumasi Abattoir to Coxiella burnetii. A total of 350 serum samples collected from 175 sheep and 175 goats were analyzed for the presence of C. burnetii antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit (ID Vet). Results of the study established a seroprevalence of 28.57% in goats, 16.57% in sheep and an overall seroprevalence of 22.29% in sheep and goats; 20.57% for male sheep, 23.86% for female sheep, 26.44% for male goats and 30.68% for female goats. Results showed that goats are more at risk to the infection than sheep however sex is not a risk factor. This study confirms the existence of Q fever in sheep and goats in Ghana hence, the disease should be considered as a public health risk to workers at the abattoir and other stakeholders in the sheep and goat production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region of the world experiencing the highest rates of urbanization and population growth. However, the expansion of cities in sub-Saharan Africa is following a different trajectory than cities in the rest of the world, especially in Europe and North America. Indeed, urbanization on the African subcontinent has not been preceded by economic development and industrialization. The objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the process of urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa by comparing and contrasting two major cities of Ghana, Accra and Kumasi. We combined remote sensing methods and spatial metrics to compare the growth, built-up density, land use composition, and fragmentation of Accra and Kumasi between 2000 and 2010. Results show that Accra and Kumasi grew at an annual rate of 4.5% and 6% respectively. Residential land use constituted the major addition in both cities. Accra, the capital city of Ghana, added the most non-residential built-up land. Moreover, growth in both cities was compact, with new built-up land use occurring adjacent to existing urban land at the beginning of the study period in 2000. Finally, the urban-rural interface located within a 2 km buffer beyond the urban core experienced the greatest amount of fragmentation between 2000 and 2010 for both cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control occupational hazards are lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards, including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). The health risks associated with exposure to the different forms of occupational hazards include rhinitis, excessive cough, irritation of the eye and wheezing, resulting in breathlessness, burns, scalds, dizziness and bodily pain (lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, pain in the hand and, muscle spasm and pain in the leg). The coping mechanisms employed to control occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, use of peel to move excess fire from the oven, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. The findings of this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study aimed to assess reciprocity qualities in childcare and likely influences on child health outcomes. Informants were 83 child caregivers from the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Of these, 56 individual maternal (n = 28) and non-maternal child caregivers (n = 28) completed in-depth individual interviews. Another 23 participated completed focus group discussions, while four key informants shared their expert views on the subject-matter. All the participants responded to open-ended questions on positive and negative reciprocity in childcare. Thematic analysis of the data revealed dyads of positive reciprocal maternal and household non-maternal supports for child well-being. Conversely, negative reciprocal relational outcomes between maternal and non-maternal caregivers were detrimental to children, placing them at risk for various forms of maltreatment. Future studies should consider the conditions in which positive reciprocity is likely to thrive with a view to promoting sustainable child caregiving in Ghanaian societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis, caused by T. gondii, is an important zoonosis worldwide. In Ghana, information on the disease in humans abounds but scanty in animals. This study was therefore conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection sheep and goats sampled from the Kumasi Abattoir in Ashanti Region, Ghana. A total of 347 serum samples collected from 170 sheep and 177 goats were analyzed for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. Results of this study estimated the seroprevalence of 23.7% in goats an, 35.9% in sheep. In sheep, 24 (35.82%) out of a total of 67 male samples were positive and 37 (35.92%) out of a total of 104 female samples were positive while in goats, 6 (8.2%) bucks out of a total of 73 were positive while 36 (34.6%) does out of a total of 104 were positive. There was a significant difference in the rate of seropositivity of female goats (p-value 0.01). This study confirms the existence of T. gondii infection in small ruminants in Ghana and it showed that sheep and dogs are more at risk to T. gondii infection hence meat from such animals could be a potential risk to public health if consumed raw or undercooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seat belt use does not only save lives but prevents the severity of injuries in road traffic crashes (RTCs). Vehicle type and usage have been found to influence the use of seat belt in cities like Kumasi, the host of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus. This paper presents a study on an un-obstructive survey of seat belt use by vehicle occupants entering and leaving KNUST campus through the four entrances from 7 to 9 am and 3 to 5 pm on five weekdays. A total of 5489 vehicles with 9542 occupants comprising 5489 drivers, front-right and first back seat and second back seat passengers were observed. The majority of the private and SUV drivers used seat belts. Meanwhile, almost all the commercial drivers did not use seat belts. There is a statistically significant relationship between vehicle type and use and the use of seat belt in KNUST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about female sex workers' daily lives or emotional relationships. Using relational-cultural theory, this study explored the relationship dynamics between sex workers and their intimate partners in Kumasi, Ghana. We collected qualitative data from 37 male intimate partners through 24 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions (FGDs) with 13 male partners. We also conducted three FGDs with 20 women involved in sex work. Relationships between sex workers and their intimate partners were mutual, reciprocal and transactional. Male partners provided protection for financial support, a place to sleep and intimacy. Both men and women described their relationships in terms of friendship, love and a hopeful future. Women were reluctant to quit sex work because they depended on it for income. Most respondents did not use condoms in these romantic relationships, citing trust, love, faithfulness and commitment. Both men and women described high levels of violence in their relationships. The context of sex work heightens vulnerability but also appears to facilitate resilience and creative coping strategies. The relational dynamics between sex workers and their intimate partners in Ghana merit further exploration to examine the extent to which women involved in sex work hold and exert power within these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine Flu or Influenza A (H1N1) is caused by one of several swine influenza A strains and its highly contagious. The transmission of the virus is from person-to-person and is similar to how seasonal influenza spreads. This report describes an Influenza A Virus (H1N1) outbreak in Asokore Mampong Sub-Municipal. Ninety-six (96) people were infected by the Influenza A (H1N1), and four (4) of them died. Those who died were lodging at the Sadler house; Jubilee House and Yaa Achiaa House. Three (3) health staff at KNUST hospital emergency unit were also infected, but they were treated and discharged. Three (3) of those who died as a result of the outbreak were males. An outbreak of H1N1 influenza type A caused by the H1N1 pdm09 virus on the campus of Kumasi Academy (KUMACA) led to Ninety-six (96) people becoming infected and four (4) dying. Several steps were taken by a national and regional multi-sectoral team from the World Health Organization, Ghana Health Service HQ as well as the Regional Health Directorate to manage the situation. Health education on H1NI must be intensified and sustained in the municipality as well as disease surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Ghana has been plagued by increasing and disastrous fire emergencies, yet little research exists on Ghana’s fire response system. This paper examines the emergency fire response system in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city. We use spatial analysis to evaluate the geographic distribution of existing fire stations and their service areas, and identify coverage gaps based on specified response times. Our results show that large portions of the Kumasi Metropolitan Area are underserved, a situation that partly explains the huge losses in property and lives during recent fire outbreaks. Efficient location of fire stations using simple location–allocation models can help to improve response to fire emergencies and reduce the cost of fire outbreaks in African cities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research has revealed that frontline hotel employees experience work-related stress. However, there is dearth of research on coping strategies employed by these employees in the Kumasi metropolis. The paper, therefore, examines the coping strategies used by frontline hotel employees. Questionnaires were administered to 296 respondents. Majority of the respondents employ problem-focused coping strategies. The few emotion-focused strategies included drug and alcohol use. With the exception of educational level and problem-focused coping strategy, there were no statistically significant differences between the remaining socio-demographics and problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies employed. The use of drugs and alcohol as coping strategies should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified and assessed the differences in the extent to which location factors were considered by hotel owners based on certain characteristics of their hotels in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The behavioural thought on industrial location decisions was used as a framework to identify and assess hotel owners’ location decisions. Data on hotel location decisions were collected from 153 hotel owners in the Kumasi Metropolis and analysed with the chi-square test of independence. It was found that the extent to which location factors such as economic, neighbourhood characteristics, physical site characteristics, laws and regulations, socio-cultural and transport factors considered by hotel owners differed by hotel location, hotel category, ownership, age of hotel and the number of rooms in a hotel. Hotel location factors are considered differently based on hotel characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of soil heavy metal concentration is very important for assessing the purity and quality of the soil in an environment. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (NHM), Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Hg, and As, from the near-surface soils (∼ 0–15 cm) from an industrial cluster in Kumasi, Ghana, were qualitatively and quantitatively measured and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy analysis. The sources of these NHM were mainly anthropogenic as a result of the indiscriminate industrial waste disposal. In all, a total of about 100 soil samples were taken from six sampling sites, four of which were industrial and the remaining two residential. Forty soil samples out of the total number were carefully selected for elemental analyses and the mean heavy metal concentrations were calculated using statistical methods. The results from locations of high industrial impact showed that the mean concentrations of the NHM present in the soil were in the order of Zn (189.2−908.6 mgkg−1), Pb (133.7−571.3 mgkg−1), Cr (91.3−545.8 mgkg−1), Cu (62.9−334.6 mgkg−1), Co (38.6−81.9 mgkg−1), Ni (12.4−30.9 mgkg−1), Cd (6.9−13.2 mgkg−1), Hg (5.5−10.4 mg kg−1), and As (2.3−18.6 mgkg−1). Apart from Ni and As, all the heavy metals recorded concentrations that ranged from 10−900% higher than their respective threshold limit values (TLVs). Heavy metal concentrations from the residential sites were comparatively far lower with only Cr, Cd, and Hg registering concentrations between 65−250% above their TLVs. The cluster with its residential communities is at a serious risk of soil heavy metal toxicity and awareness to this needs to be created as such. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes a papermaking project initiated by Mary Hark of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Kumasi, Ghana. The project is a collaboration between book and paper artists and plant biologists from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The effort led to the production of a historic fine press or handmade book and CD recording documenting the life and work of Ghanian composer and performer Koo Nimo.

This study, conducted during the summer of 2008 in Kumasi, Ghana analysed the role of religious and moral education (RME) in ameliorating the witchcraft discourse in three Ghanaian junior secondary schools. Although the syllabus acknowledges the pernicious effects of witchcraft allegations, it adopts a ‘Thou shalt not’ approach that fails to adequately grapple with the challenge. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and a questionnaire, pupils’ attitudes towards witchcraft were analysed. The study reveals deep-seated beliefs to the effect that women – particularly elderly females – engage in witchcraft for devious purposes. Employing the theoretical framework of Foucault’s knowledge – power symbiotic nexus, I explore the misogynous nature of the witchcraft discourse as evidenced through these responses. It is argued that RME can benefit from attending more closely to the subtle ways in which the ‘dense web’ of knowledge – power is internalised and perpetuated by pupils. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although the concept of the apprenticeship seems to be universal, its institutional form and status differ around the world. This article discusses informal apprenticeship training as it occurs among car mechanics in the informal industrial complex of the Suame Magazine, Kumasi, Ghana. Using on-site research and theories of social learning and material culture, it focuses on the material aspects of the apprenticeship training and shows that materiality is, in multiple ways, a crucial aspect for both the content and learning practices of the apprenticeship system. The material nature of the Suame Magazine forms a strong learning environment and the status of apprentices is also directly related to the mastering of specific car parts. Moreover, the increasing use of electronics in vehicles demands a different curriculum for apprentices. The role of materiality in social learning is an apparent, though understudied, element in apprenticeship systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study aims at a critical examination of the security risks to which staff of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Library are exposed and measures put in place to deal with them. It also assesses the personal safety measures already in place with the objective of identifying their adequacy. Literature on personal security and safety in academic libraries is reviewed. Questionnaire, interview, and personal observation were used for the collection of data. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software. Eighty-four of 124 responses representing 67.7% were received from the staff of the KNUST Main Library for the study. The study revealed that just like any other workers of a service organization, the staff of the KNUST Main Library are not completely free from threats to their personal security and safety. Efforts are made to address the shortcomings in these security and safety measures to enable KNUST Library staff tp work in an atmosphere devoid of risks and uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment was done on the microbiological quality of water in hand-dug wells in urban communities in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 256 water samples were taken from eight wells and examined for faecal coliforms, enterococci and helminths. High contamination levels were recorded in the wells, more so in the wet season, with faecal coliforms levels between 6.44 and 10.19 log units and faecal enterococci between 4.23 and 4.85 CFU per 100 ml. Influence on protection and lining of wells on water quality was not pronounced but mechanization reduced contamination significantly by about 3 log units. This study shows a stronger influence of poor sanitation and improper placement of wells on water quality compared to improvements made from lining and protection of wells. In the race to increase access to drinking water in poor urban settlements, quality of groundwater could be a major barrier, if provision of drinking water is not matched with improvements in sanitation and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a model for evaluating the consequences of increasing block tariff pricing policies when multiple households share a connection and applies it to a sample from Kumasi, Ghana. Results show that for any given consumption, a household's average share of total monthly water bill for shared connections can either be higher or lower than its single-household equivalent. Significant differences between the average and single-household equivalent bills were found in these cases, although this difference is under-estimated if the sample is not disaggregated by payment group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reviews the history of information delivery at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from 1993 to the present. Information delivery (which includes document and electronic resource delivery) from CD-ROM and online databases has given Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology's users access to about 15,000 online journals. Sponsorship of information delivery has largely come from donors such as the Danish International Development Agency, the Norwegian Ministry of Aid to Developing Countries, and the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publication. The bane of information delivery over the years has been the financial implications of sustainability, especially after the pullout of sponsors. This paper analyses the situation and proposes a solution in open access journals, cost-sharing by beneficiaries, ingenuity on the part of librarians, and eventual support by university administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the preparedness and awareness of staff of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Main Library to prevent, fight, or manage disasters. Questionnaire, interview, and personal observation were used for the collection of data. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software. Fifty respondents were selected from the junior staff, senior staff, and senior member categories of the KNUST Main Library for the study. The university librarian was also interviewed to find out management perspective on the subject. It was revealed from the study that the Library is not very prepared to prevent, fight, or manage disasters. This comes as a result of inadequate training for members of staff. Provision of a clearly marked emergency exit, training for staff members, and notices showing how members of staff should react and where to go are some of the recommendations made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mortuary is an important foundation for injury surveillance. However, mortuary data are incomplete in many developing countries. The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary handles most injury deaths for Kumasi, Ghana. During 1994-1995, many cases in KATH's mortuary logbooks had missing information deaths. A low-cost pilot programme was adopted to improve recording of injury deaths. During 1996-1999, 633 deaths per year were recorded. Project sustainability assessment in 2006 showed that reporting was high, with 773 cases per year. Data quality was standard with similar per cents of missing values for key variables compared with the pilot period. Supplemental data constituting 20% was obtained from the intensive care unit, for which data recording in the mortuary was incomplete. Low-cost improvements can lead to improved mortuary reporting of injury deaths. Collation of data from multiple sources remains a problem at KATH. Improved organisation and training could remedy the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of toxic metals in liver, a rich natural source of essential elements, can present health risks to regular consumers of liver. A total of 35 fresh liver samples of cow, sheep, goat, pig, grass-cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus), gaint rat (Cricetomys gambianus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), chicken and antelope (Antilocapra americana) were obtained from three different markets in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry and an automatic mercury analyzer. Levels of iron in the grass-cutter and pig of 500.5-645.4 mg kg-1 were the highest in the animal livers examined. Mn concentrations were highest in grass-cutter and rat liver, ranging 16.5-30.2 mg kg-1. The safe Cu and Zn permissible limits of 20 and 50 mg kg-1 were exceeded in 70 and 75% of the liver samples, respectively. Generally, for each animal group studied, at least 50% of the sample livers exceeded the Cd permissible limit of 0.5 mg kg-1. The levels of Pb, which ranged 1.3-13.8 mg kg-1, exceeded the proposed European Commission (EC) limit of 0.5 mg kg-1. Care must be taken by regular consumers of the iron-rich animal livers of grass-cutter, pig and rat because they also had the highest levels of Pb (in grass-cutter and pig) and Cd (in grass-cutter, rat and pig). The liver samples analyzed for Hg had values far below the permissible limit of 0.5 mg kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the reprographic services of the Knust Library. It examines the concept of reprography, which is employed in the library in the provision of information services and focuses on photocopying services, the only reprographic service currently in place at Knust Library. Data for the study were obtained from official files, interviews, and personal observation for a period of one semester. An assessment of the performance of the Photocopy Department reveals that there were fluctuations in the income generated from photocopying services. Compared to the expenditure patterns, some of the expenses far outrun the income, but this scenario is a common problem in many African universities. Among the challenges are the advent of information and communication technology and the installation of campus-wide networks. The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications/Danish International Development Agency-sponsored projects have made it possible for users to access and download journal articles which hitherto could be obtained only through photocopying, which is governed by copyright legislation, frequent breakdown of photocopiers, and power outages. Appropriate recommendations are also offered to ensure smooth operations of the unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ghana a large proportion of the land is vested in 'stools' (customary communities). The current Constitution recognises the traditional authorities as custodians of this land, and customary law as the regulating order. In the Ashanti Region it is the chiefs who are caretakers of the customary lands. Peri-urban areas, such as peri-urban Kumasi, are arenas of severe struggles over land between chiefs, local government and community members and families. These actors are all trying to manage the rising demand for residential land, attempting either to profit from conversions of agricultural to residential land or to resist the demand and hold on to their farmland. Chiefs are often the main beneficiaries of land conversions, although they are customarily and constitutionally obliged to administer land in the interest of the whole community. This paper reports on research into the little-studied question of popular perceptions of chiefs and chiefly rule. It finds that in the study area there is support for chieftaincy, but that this is not based on high satisfaction with the way chiefs perform their tasks. The reasons are rather found in common perceptions that chieftaincy is essential to the culture and to the identity of the communities. People can simultaneously support the institution of chieftaincy and be highly critical of the performance of certain chiefs or certain tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines indigenous and colonial influences on the development and use of urban space in Kumasi, Ghana as a historical narrative. It is argued that sanitary concern, the creation of a culturally recognizable landscape and residential segregation, through the importation of contemporary English planning practices and ideas, drove residential planning decisions. The paper then proceeds to examine these spaces as they are today, noting that they have either been abandoned or re-appropriated through the reassertion of long-standing cultural traditions. The characteristics of such spaces are next examined, noting that flexibility, multi-purpose, functionality and location all play a role in creating a successful urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using empirical data from a sample of the Kumasi traders we explore how discourses around education and development contribute to understandings of market trading as an occupational destination. We start with some historical background to market trading in Ghana together with characterisations of market traders from previous academic work. Following this we focus on some of the ways in which education to work trajectories are constructed in development policy and theory. As market trade in Ghana has been dominated by women, we use a gender perspective which shows that within this sector, level of education and income are gender differentiated. We then move to consider how this highly feminised sector is incorporated into the macroeconomics of development. Finally, we turn to the qualitative data from the traders themselves in a discussion of which factors, including their educational background, have influenced the traders to enter and remain in the market. This produces a far more complex scenario that highlights the importance of social and domestic factors which have not been entirely captured in theories linking education and work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the factors influencing participation of residents during the national immunization days in Kumasi, Ghana. Rate of individuals participated in the polio-immunization; Implications for improvement of overall performance of immunization programs; Advantages of the immunization programs.

Much empirical work has been undertaken on housing production, investment levels and on the changes necessary to increase the supply of housing at a national level. The implicit assumption in these perspectives, that owners buy and sell housing as an adjustment process, is not realised in all housing markets around the world. In fact, in a number of developing countries houses are seldom bought or sold: one such country is Ghana. Here traditional economic perspectives on modelling an owner's decision to extend by comparing it with his decision to sell and move are largely irrelevant. This paper seeks to make a contribution to the analysis of housing supply by developing a housing extension model for the Asante culture in Ghana. The model is evaluated in a two-step econometric analysis of the decision to extend. In the first stage the probability of extending is modelled as a function of household characteristics, while the second stage predicts the amount spent on the extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper recounts and reflects on conversations about love and sexuality conducted with young people in Kumasi and Endwa, Ghana. It examines the settings of these conversations – in a kinship-based household, secondary schools and Pentecostal churches – and explores young people's reticence to talk about such matters in the light of intergenerational respect. Analysing young people's strategies of silence and provocative speech, the paper shows that, paradoxically, schools and churches provide institutionalised spaces for young people's subversive outspokenness that contrasts with the ethical codex of decency as the expression of hierarchical relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]