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This paper reports on a study on delinquent acts in three academic libraries in northern Ghana. A survey method was used for the study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study population consisted of staff in the Reader Service Sections of the three libraries. The study found that failure to observe library regulations, keeping overdue materials, eating in the library, littering, reserving seats unjustifiably, and hiding of books for the purpose of monopoly are examples of delinquent acts practiced by library users. According to the participants, the main reasons for delinquent acts are inadequate orientation to users, insufficient copies of books, and indiscipline among library users. The respondents further reported that these actions led to a reduction in library resources and low patronage. To curb deviant behaviors in libraries, the study recommends the adoption of pragmatic approaches including massive orientation for users, imbibing positive library culture that fosters respect, bolstering commitment and cooperation among library users and the staff, increasing library budgets as well as finding more creative ways of acquiring more copies of books, such as using Open Educational Resources (OERs), belonging to consortia and building and/or enhancing existing Institutional Repositories (IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghana's 1985 Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law 111) is a notable example of attempts by postcolonial African states to introduce new forms of protection for widows and children in cases of death ‘intestate' (that is, when the deceased person had not made a valid will). Whilst some legal scholars depicted Law 111 as a radical departure from customary laws pertaining to marriage and property, feminist scholars have been more sceptical, pointing to deficiencies in both the letter and implementation of the law, and advocating for further reform. This article is driven by a historical question: given that several previous governments had considered the issue of intestate succession but had not actually reformed the law, why did the military regime of Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings decide upon Law 111 in 1985? The national archives for this period are fragmentary, but we draw from newspapers, ‘grey literature', and oral history interviews to trace the prolonged struggle over intestate succession, suggest what motivated the Rawlings' regime in 1985, and identify the compromises that were made. By locating Law 111 in Ghana's postcolonial political history, we nuance established typologies of women’s organisation, activism, and advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-stage fractional regression model is applied to 998 farm observations from Ghana to estimate how three climate-change adaptation practices influence the contribution of crop revenue to household income. The first stage, analysing land selection, shows that farmers in peri-urban areas who cultivate drought-tolerant varieties raise their crops on poor soils, but male farmers, who cultivate large farms and have access to inorganic fertiliser (on credit), have the benefit of fertile soils. The second-stage shows that crop substitution, use of drought-tolerant varieties, and variation in planting dates increase the contribution of crop revenue to household income. Therefore, public and non-state institutions should continue to invest in technology transferat the same time, addressing farm-level constraints on the adoption of proven agricultural innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizospheric microbial communities improve the effectiveness of hyperaccumulators in the phytoremediation of heavy metals. However, limited access to tailing dams and inadequate assessment of plants' phytoremediation potential limit the characterization of native accumulators, hindering the effectiveness of local remediation efforts. This study evaluates the heavy metal sequestration potentials of Pennisetum purpureum, Leucaena leucocephala, and Pteris vittata and their associated rhizospheric microbial communities at the Marlu and Pompora tailing dams in Ghana. The results indicate shoot hyperaccumulation of Cd (334.5 ± 6.3 mg/kg) and Fe (10,647.0 ± 12.6 mg/kg) in P. purpureum and L. leucocephala, respectively. Analysis of rhizospheric bacterial communities revealed the impact of heavy metal contamination on bacterial community composition, associating Fe and Cd hyperaccumulation with Bacillus, Arthrobacter, and Sphingomonas species. This study reports the hyperaccumulation potentials of L. leucocephala and P. purpureum enhanced by associated rhizosphere bacterial communities, suggesting their potential application as an environmentally friendly remediation process of heavy metals contaminated lands. The novelty of this study is the report of the heavy metal accumulation potentials of the fast-growing herbaceous plants Leucaena leucocephala and Pennisetum purpureum at abandoned gold mine tailing dams in Ghana. Substantial amounts of Cd (334.5 mg/kg) and Fe (10,647.0 mg/kg) were accumulated in P. purpureum and L. leucocephala shoots, indicating their hyperaccumulation potentials. The concentration of heavy metal levels in the rhizosphere influenced the bacterial community structure, with the abundance of Bacillus, Arthrobacter, and Sphingomonas linked to hyperaccumulation. The outcome of this study supports the utilization of L. leucocephala and P. purpureum in the phytoremediation of lands contaminated with heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slogans on commercial vehicles are a common sight in Ghana. These material artefacts can provide insight into beliefs and values about the sociocultural, spiritual, and political experiences of life in the contemporary Ghanaian context. In this study, we collected and analysed a total of 438 commercial vehicles’ slogans from 5 main transportation terminals in the Accra metropolitan area. Our thematic analysis of these slogans shows a major emphasis on religious and spiritual values to the extent that most of the recorded slogans serve as positive affirmations of religious values and sources of spiritual encouragement. The dominance of religious references in such slogans highlights the importance of religiosity as a cultural value in everyday life in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial barriers to education such as the payment of school fees have long been identified as a key driver of the perennially high out-of-school rates in developing countries. Accordingly, Ghana implemented the education capitation grant (CG) policy in 2005 as part of efforts to universalise access to primary education. At its core, the policy abolishes the payment of school fees and levies and replaces these with a government-funded per capita allocation to every basic school. Despite its critical role in widening access to education, the CG programme has received very little scholarly curiosity. The extant studies have largely focused on the CG programme's impacts on enrolment and retention. The funding component of the programme has generally been under-researched. This qualitative study, therefore, examines the implication of funding challenges for the delivery of the CG programme. Relying on one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 16 head teachers and 16 chairpersons of School Management Committees (SMCs), the article shows how a system of long-lasting funding constraints has compelled school administrators to adopt unsanctioned coping strategies such as charging fees and padding enrolment figures. Ultimately, these coping strategies undercut the CG’s objectives of removing financial barriers to basic education in Ghana and also raise critical questions about the viability of the CG’s goal of addressing the wealth bias that has characterised accessing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been associated with increased risk factors for HIV transmission, but the causal pathway is uncertain. This study documents the prevalence of ACEs by gender and their association with HIV risk factors and assesses depressive symptoms as mediating this relationship. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 among a representative sample of men and women, aged 18–24 years, living in an informal settlement in Accra, Ghana. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, ACEs, ten HIV risk factors (five sexual behaviors, HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual assault, three substance use behaviors), and depressive symptoms were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were estimated to assess the independent association between four or more ACEs and each of the ten HIV risk factors. Structural equation models examined depressive symptoms as a mediator in these associations. A third (34.6%) of participants reported four or more ACEs, and among those who experienced four or more ACEs 60% were men and 40% were women. Gender did not modify the effect of the association between four or more ACEs and HIV factors and therefore the multiple regression analysis was not stratified by gender. After controlling for sociodemographic covariates and depressive symptoms, having experienced four or more ACEs was associated with alcohol use (OR = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.34, 11.21), injection drug use (OR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.15, 6.73), low knowledge of HIV (OR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.43, 9.00), sexually transmitted infection (OR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.15, 11.96), and sexual assault (OR = 3.58; 95% CI: 1.07, 12.05). There was some evidence that depressive symptoms could be mediating the association between reporting four or more ACEs and ever having a sexually transmitted infection. The mitigation of ACEs and depressive symptoms has the potential to decrease HIV risk factors and thus reduce the risk for HIV transmission among youth living in informal settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culturalization of religion has received considerable scholarly attention in recent years as a compelling restatement of religion in the secular public sphere. Existing research has focused primarily on Western contexts where Christianity, as the dominant religion, is relabelled as culture in order to sanction its continued presence in the secular and multi-religious public sphere. Building on the treatment of non-majority religions in postcolonial contexts, particularly in contemporary Ghana, the article proposes a second model of culturalization in which non-dominant religions undergo culturalization as a sign of marginalisation, restriction, and exclusion. The model of culturalization adopted, the article argues, is determined by the presumed compatibility of the given religious tradition with a specific understanding of ‘modernity’. Looking at culturalization as a form of marginality adds much-needed regional and thematic breadth to the ongoing discussion, as it allows for moving beyond the mostly Western Christian framework to include post-colonial and post-imperial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the Kusaas of Ghana, folktales convey messages that touch on every aspect of the socio-cultural and socio-economic lives of the people. This study discusses the use of folktales to communicate didactic messages on marriage and peaceful social cohesion. The study argues that the folktales of the Kusaas are used to communicate clear societal norms that are meant to guide people on how to choose spouses and how to relate to one another as couples in times of difficulty. They also present culturally defined roles of men and women in marriage and the influence of parents, chiefs, and other opinion-leaders in decision-making relating to marriage. Lessons drawn from the folktales are meant to enhance peaceful co-existence between couples and among other community members. These serve as indigenous ways of curbing unacceptable behaviours that can cause serious misunderstanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative effects of Ghana's artisanal mining industry on the sustainability of the natural environment and community life, exemplifies the dilemma of the protracted relationship between the quest for human well-being and sustainability of communities. Nevertheless, sustainable communities are crucial if the flourishing of the natural environment and engendering of human well-being would be attained. Indeed, within the indigenous African community, one is not pursued without the other, for both occur in tandem to ensure the sustainability and well-being of community. Drawing on secondary sources on artisanal mining and its drivers – human livelihoods and wellbeing – as against their social and environmental effects, this article sets out to offer an eco-justice analysis of the relationship between the quest for human wellbeing through artisanal mining and sustainable communities towards a constructive eco-justice theological ethics of sustainable community for Christian ecological praxis in the context of artisanal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to examine the agentic role of the physical spaces (e.g. landing beach, fish market and fish processing kitchen) within which fishery tasks are undertaken as they entangle with human, non-human, and discursive forces to co-create gendered subjectivities in fisher couples' decision-making and practices. The paper is based on larger ethnographic study on fisher couples' decision-making and practices in Ghana's Western region, using participatory ethnographic observation including photo elicitation, vignettes and 38 in-depth interviews. Findings from the study indicate that the fish landing beach (consisting of sea water and sandy coast) played active roles in the kinds of tasks men and women could perform. The ability of the sea water to wet women's long dresses, coupled with their menstrual body and discourse of women as unclean worked together to limit women's ability to engage in activities, such as fishing. In terms of fish processing and trading, the study showed that the enclosed nature of fish processing kitchen served as a protective force which prevented public scrutiny of couples' household practices to allow for husbands to help their wives in fish processing and storage. In instances of disagreement, the bedroom played a protective role where couples settled their differences on somewhat equal ground. Tracing the agentic and constitutive role of spaces, shift our focus from a purely social understanding of gender towards a holistic view of the multiple and complex pathways through which the environment and matter combine with discourses to co-create continuous and flexible (re)iterations of gender emergences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant discovery of hydrocarbon in the Cretaceous Deep-Water Tano Basin of Ghana, detailed molecular characteristics and paleo-depositional environment of the Basin are insufficiently documented in peer-reviewed works. Therefore, in our study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) and gas chromatographic (GC) analyses were used to characterize biomarkers obtained from organic matter (oils and rock extracts) to determine the organic matter source, the environment of deposition, and maturity. Sixteen (16) oil and ninety-eight (98) rock samples from seven wells were studied. The work has indicated that distributions of these biomarkers suggested that Cretaceous oils were derived from a mixed kerogen source (marine and terrestrial) deposited in anoxic to suboxic paleo depositional conditions. CPI, Ts/Tm and C29 ββ/(ββ + αα) sterane ratios plotted against C29 20S/(20S + 20R) sterane ratios indicates that the studied samples are relatively low to medium level maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation scholars disseminate their significant findings through international scientific journals. We conducted content analysis of 2,869 peer-reviewed articles on innovation in Africa, examining their origins, themes, collaborative networks, and scholarly influence. These articles, spanning the years 2015–2021, were curated from the Web of Science database across scientific, social science, and humanities journals. The findings reveal that 46.3% of these articles lacked contributions from African organizations or scholars, while 25.1% involved collaborations between African and non-African entities. A remaining 28.6% were exclusively authored by African scholars, with South African universities being the most frequent contributors. Notably, articles authored by scholars from non-African institutions garnered more citations and appeared in journals with higher impact factors. Key themes within these articles revolved around the knowledge economy, African business innovation, agricultural advancements, and the role of mobile phones in knowledge dissemination and marketing. Surprisingly, sustainability topics were notably absent. South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana featured prominently in the discussions. In conclusion, it is imperative to foster broader participation from African nations and scholars in innovation research and ensure a stronger African perspective in international publications. Additionally, as open-access publishing gains momentum, concerns about escalating publishing costs warrant attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of mobile money on intra-household employment diversification in Ghana using data from the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standards Surveys. The study relies on several econometric models including instrumental variables and shows that mobile money has a statistically significant and positive effect on the probability to diversify employment irrespective of whether diversification is measured across paid employment, household farm and household nonfarm activities or across agriculture, industry and services sectors. Additionally, it was found that mobile money positively affects the extent of employment diversification across paid employment, farm and nonfarm activities. These effects, however, largely pertain to rural communities with null effects for urban communities. A statistically significant and positive effects are found for both male and female headed households although the magnitude of the effect generally tend be slightly higher for male headed households. The findings suggest that policies that promote mobile money adoption and usage can deepen employment diversification, and hence, may help protect or improve household welfare, particularly in rural areas. The study therefore makes a significant contribution on mobile money's impact on household diversification and whether the impact varies by the forms of diversification, gender and locality of residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the effects of the use of financial services (financial innovation and financial inclusion) on the enterprises' performance in Cameroon. Ordinary least squares and logit model estimation methods were used for the empirical analyses. The data used are those of the World Bank's Enterprise Survey 2016 data. The results reveal, on the one hand, positive effects of all financial services on the productivity of the enterprise's workforce and on their probability of exporting, with the respective exception of the unique use of microfinance and mobile money. On the other hand, the contribution of banking services to the improvement of manufacturing turnover, and in particular of banking, microfinance, and mobile money services to the improvement of trade and services turnover, is noted. Thus, it is necessary to liberalize the financial sector for the benefit of network operators so that they can also operate internationally and in terms of microfinance institutions for the improvement of enterprise performance in Cameroon like their peers in Ghana and Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Unintentional drowning, intentional drowning, and water immersion deaths unrelated to drowning are the three most common presentations in bodies found in water. Drowning is common and a mainly preventable cause of death. Preventative measures may depend on local and regional characteristics of these deaths, and understanding regional underlying characteristics may help in death prevention. This six-year retrospective study in Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) compared the characteristics of drowning and water immersion deaths. While there are overarching similarities, some regional characteristics differed from other regional, national, and international data. Differing from other studies, we have found a high proportion of local Australian residents predominantly drowning at sea. This study gives evidence that regional specific strategies may be needed to further prevent drowning and immersion deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Departing from the relationship between the texts of the Ghanaian poet and novelist Kojo Laing and a recent international art exhibition, this article traces the relationship between style and the multivalent activity of flight across Laing's work. Drawing upon an intercontinental range of philosophers – from Deleuze and Guattari to contemporary Akan thinkers – it analyses the intersections between gender, geography, and language in Laing's texts, and demonstrates their value within the context of discussion of contemporary literature's investment in possible futures. Laing's transnational aesthetic foregrounds lines of flight across and between different linguistic and cultural communities, and traces relentlessly emerging or possible constellations of relation. Situating Laing in the context of his interdisciplinary reception, this article seeks to explore the aesthetic and ethical ramifications of the unusual networks of affiliation and response of one of West Africa's most important, yet critically undervalued, contemporary writers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the moderating influence of library size on the relationship between library space attributes and learning satisfaction. Employing a quantitative methodology, a sample of 196 university library users in Ghana was selected to investigate the perceived impact of repurposed library spaces on learning satisfaction. The author conducted an empirical analysis to examine how organizational size (the total number of workers at a particular location) moderates the association between library space attributes (including access and linkages [physical location and proximity to campus resources], usage patterns [highlights the hours when users are most active and displays when a specific app is utilized during the day], sociability [the propensity and corresponding abilities to look for friendship, interact with others, and take part in social activities], and comfort [a state of physically ease and freedom from pain or constraint]) and the learning satisfaction of users. The research, administered through a closed-ended questionnaire, underscored the significant influence of access and linkages, usage patterns, sociability, and the physical environment on users' satisfaction levels. These four library space attributes together accounted for 13.1% of the variance in learning satisfaction, according to a multiple regression study conducted with SPSS version 27. Nevertheless, moderation analysis showed that there was no statistically significant relationship (p = 0.3370) between the characteristics of the library space and learning satisfaction through organizational size. The paper recommends adaptations to library designs to better align with the evolving learning needs of university library users in Ghana. A notable suggestion is the transformation of university libraries into dynamic physical spaces known as "learning commons" on campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely HIV diagnosis and medical engagement are crucial for effective viral load suppression and treatment as prevention. However, significant delays persist, particularly in Africa, including Ghana. This study focused on Ghanaian men whose route of exposure to HIV was through same-gender sexual contact (MSM), a group disproportionately impacted by HIV. Using structured surveys, we investigated the sociodemographic factors associated with late HIV diagnosis, a topic with limited existing research. Results indicate that older age groups were associated with an increased risk of late diagnosis compared to the 18–24 age group. Among the demographic variables studied, only age showed a consistent association with late HIV diagnosis. This study underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address HIV diagnosis disparities among MSM in Ghana, particularly for older age groups. The findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions addressing age-related disparities in timely diagnosis and engagement with medical services among this population. Such interventions can play a crucial role in reducing the burden of HIV within this community and fostering improved public health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death is the commonest, incomprehensible, and inescapable reality confronting humanity in all nations and cultures. However, cultures vary in their conceptions of death, grieving and mourning rituals. Among the Akan of Ghana, mourning and funeral obsequies are essential cultural and spiritual practices. In this article, we draw insights from our reflective lived experiences and critical literature review to explore mourning and death rituals among the Akan as a stratified cultural system that reflects and reproduces broader gender patterns of masculinity and femininity in Ghana. We discuss the concept and cultural significance of mourning and bereavement practices, and further examine how socio-cultural notions of gender shape mourning and death rituals in Ghana. We argue that, as in many social and economic spaces in Ghana, funeral obsequies and bereavement practices represent sites for enacting and reproducing masculinity and femininity. The deleterious health and psychological consequences for men and women are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWhile one of the key responsibilities of social services in Ghana is to conduct maintenance arrangements so that the nonresident parent is committed to making financial contributions to the well-being of the child, little is known about what informs social workers’ assessments in child maintenance cases. The aim of this study was to determine what social workers consider when undertaking child maintenance assessments. A qualitative practice research study was conducted with 13 social workers and 12 parents involved in a child maintenance case with three agencies of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in Ghana. The study showed that corroborating the existence of nonpayment for maintenance in the family is the first step in assessing other factors, such as the parent’s income, occupational status and maintenance amount. Even after the maintenance amount was decided upon, social workers were often unable to follow-up on nonresident parents to ensure that they complied with the maintenance arrangements. Given that no assessment instrument exists in Ghana for addressing child maintenance cases, the study’s findings can provide useful information that can aid in the development of an instrument or framework to assist social workers in their assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neoliberal turn in the cultural and creative industries has led to two distinct bodies of work. Global North scholars focus on the tension between the emphasis on the creative industries as an engine of growth and the unequal access to the means of cultural production and consumption that neoliberalism presents. Global South scholars face a different reality; the increasing inability of governments to provide institutional support, particularly finance, for growing these industries. This article documents grassroots alternatives to financial support from the state for growing a cultural and creative industry in the global South. Drawing on data generated from multiple sources about the work of two private institutions in Ghana, this article shows how private institutions and individuals can fundamentally shape the creative and cultural industries in ways that allow them to make their mark globally, even in the absence of financial support from the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs the political settlement framework, diffusion theory, and data generated through a mixed methods design to examine the adoption of innovations and technology in Ghana’s cocoa sector, with particular reference to the Juaboso district, a major cocoa producing area. The findings indicate that while most farmers have adopted improved cocoa planting methods in rows, the use of hybrid varieties and application of chemicals because of perceived benefits of these innovations and state support in adopting them, the use of fertilizers on cocoa farms is very low due to political economy issues, economic challenges, and neopatrimonialism. Historically, corrupt state politicians have used the fertilizer subsidy programme to strengthen patronage networks and reward crony capitalists. We conclude that the socio-political dimension of innovation-diffusion overrides the technical-economic reasons often cited in the literature for the failure of cocoa farmers to adopt these technologies. Addressing neopatrimonialism and recent politicization of input distribution is needed to enhance adoption of innovation and improved technology in Ghana’s cocoa sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education in countries like Ghana faces significant challenges, including financial barriers, which usually hinder students’ educational progress and graduation rates. While some students usually rely on family support and personal savings, these resources are generally insufficient for covering all educational expenses. Although student loans have emerged as a beacon of hope to address these challenges, research on this topic, particularly in developing countries, has remained underexplored. This study, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, investigates the psychological factors influencing Ghanaian students’ decisions to utilize student loans and the impact on graduation rates. Data is gathered from 114 Ghanaian students using a purposive sampling technique. The analysis reveals a positive correlation between favourable attitudes toward student loans and intentions to use them. Subjective norms significantly influence loan decisions, while perceived behavioural control has no significant impact. Also, loan decisions positively correlate with graduation rates, suggesting loans can enhance academic persistence. These findings highlight the need for responsible loan programs to improve graduation outcomes and socioeconomic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored prospects of extending propositions of the value-belief-norm theory to off-farm livelihood preferences among food crop farmers in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The predominantly qualitative study used the case study approach. Data collection involved questionnaire administration to 197 households, 6 community-level focus group discussions, and 18 key informant interviews. Quantitative analysis involved a non-parametric chi-square test at 95% confidence level and descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically using NVivo software. The study departs from the dominant application of the value-belief-norm theory to pro-environmental behavior, to explore the theory’s prospects for explaining off-farm livelihood activities of men and women food crop farmers. It found that effects of climate change on the off-farm livelihoods of male farmers differed significantly from females. The study also found that the fundamental link between values, beliefs, and norms as proposed by the value-belief-norm theory successfully explained off-farm livelihood choices in response to climate change and explained the strong difference between men and women in off-farm livelihood responses. It recommends that public policy developmental programs targeting off-farm livelihoods acknowledge the dichotomy in off-farm livelihood preferences, as well as the role of values, beliefs, and norms, and accommodate these in development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnuts in major markets in Accra and assesses the population’s exposure to aflatoxins. Raw maize and groundnuts from 6 major markets in Accra were sampled and analysed for their aflatoxin content. A total of 92 samples comprising 48 maize and 44 groundnuts were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography, after extraction with methanol/water and cleanup on an immunoaffinity column. Total aflatoxins were quantified in 98% of the maize samples and 70% of the groundnut samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.60 to 1065 µg/kg and 0.20 to 627 µg/kg, respectively. Exposure assessment showed an estimated daily intake of 0.436 μg/kg bw/day and 0.0632 μg/kg bw/day for maize and groundnut consumption, respectively, suggesting significant health risks for consumers. The high prevalence and concentrations of aflatoxins call for an urgent need for measures to control exposure of the Ghanaian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials/MethodsResultsConclusion\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThis study provides an understanding of the chronic low back pain (CLBP) beliefs and management practices of physicians/doctors and physiotherapists in Ghana, and the mechanisms underlying their beliefs and practices.Thirty-three individual semi-structured interviews, involving eighteen physio­therapists and fifteen physicians involved with CLBP management, were carried out. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Straussian grounded theory principles and critical realist philosophy.Five categories were derived: The predominance of bio-medical/mechanical beliefs, maladaptive beliefs, maladaptive practices, limited involvement of physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) and evidence-based beliefs and practices. The predominant mechanisms underlying the HCPs beliefs and practices were: the healthcare environment (professional roles/identity hinged around paternalistic and biomedical care, fragmented CLBP management, limited physiotherapy/HCPs’ knowledge) and sociocultural environment (sociocultural/patients’ expectations of passive therapy and paternalism).The CLBP beliefs and practices of HCPs involved with CLBP in Ghana is modelled around a professional identity that is largely hinged on paternalism and bio-medical/mechanical understandings. Lack of collaboration and sociocultural expectations also play a significant role. There is the need for a reconstitution of Ghanaian HCPs’ CLBP beliefs and management approaches to align with evidenced-based approaches (e.g., imaging should not be universally prescribed, biopsychosocial and patient-centred care).The burden of low back pain is substantial globally, with an increasing burden identified in low-to-middle income countries.This study highlights a predominance of non-evidence-based understandings around chronic low back pain and its management among Ghanaian healthcare professionals, although some evidence-based approaches were also identified.Ghanaian healthcare professionals need to engage with current evidence for chronic low back pain management, incorporate psychological factors and consider non-specific chronic low back pain as a possible diagnostic label.Professional, structural, and sociocultural inclinations towards paternalism, passive therapies, biomedical and fragmented approaches to chronic low back pain management need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFrom the integrative perspectives of the health belief model and social influence theories, the study sought to identify factors social and health marketers should focus on to elicit voluntary change in behavior toward the performance of COVID-19 infection prevention behaviors such as frequent handwashing with soap, social distancing, and avoidance of handshaking using mixed method approach. The quantitative data from 605 respondents through structured questionnaires were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The qualitative data through five focus group discussions were also analyzed using thematic analysis. The result shows that religiosity and trust in traditional medicine are the major factors contributing to the lack of severity and susceptibility to the coronavirus. The result further shows informational and normative social influencers as significant mediators between the constructs of the HBM and the performance of the COVID-19 protocols, suggesting that these influencers play a significant role in achieving the performance of the recommended behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1950s, many Ghanaians identified with African Americans as they read about events involving American racial violence in Ghanaian newspapers. Yet the transnational connections appearing in those periodicals varied in depth, intensity, and sincerity depending on their political or commercial connections. This study analyzes the reactions in key Ghanaian newspapers, such as those affiliated with Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party, the British-owned Daily Graphic, and the Ashanti Pioneer, to key moments in 1950s American race relations, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the events in Little Rock, and the infamous 'Orange Juice' incident involving discrimination against the Ghanaian minister of finance. By demonstrating that the Pioneer more often covered the personal angles of such events, while the tones of CPP-affiliated papers and even the Daily Graphic vacillated based on changing political needs, this study both shows the complicated nature of transnational racial identifications as they flowed west across the Atlantic and reveals the promises and limits of Ghanaian connections to members of the African diaspora during the decolonizing period in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how indigenous ontologies of gold, land, and rivers shape extractive practices, based on ethnographic field work in Ghana. I draw from political ecology to account for how invisible properties of the subsoil become entangled with social realities. In Ghana, understandings of the subsoil as more-than-material worlds inform rituals, taboos, and other protocols. Through such protocols, chiefs, spiritualists, and others emerge to govern subterranean access. This research shows that subterranean sovereignty extends beyond the state to include invisible forces of extractive landscapes, presenting ontological challenges to neoliberal land acquisition and gold privatization processes. The study also shows that mineral matters have resisting and intentional capacities that are constituted through resource making. Such resisting capacities contradict dominant views of resources, generating new understandings of resources as things that do not always become. The study suggests the need to attend to complicated forces of extraction and mining regulations. Such an approach is not merely epistemological intervention for addressing the subsoil's invisible properties but provides important insights to reimagine contemporary extractive practices as ontological struggles over the subsoil wherein indigenous persons produce and challenge claims to land through more-than-material relationships with the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with disabilities have an inviolable right to equitable access and participation in tertiary education and support systems are known to be indispensable in making this right a reality. This article presents the voices of students with disabilities regarding aspects that influence their successful access and participation in tertiary education in Ghana. A qualitative approach was adopted for the study with data collected through interviews with 12 students with disabilities in three public universities. From the perspective of these students, successful inclusion of people with disabilities in tertiary education in Ghana is influenced by enrolment practices, the built environment, teaching and learning approaches, and assessment provisions. The context influenced provisions and support provided. Attitudes of the university community and lack of knowledge of inclusive practices such as Universal Design play a role in students' access and participation. Comprehensive awareness-raising on disability and inclusive practices is recommended to address this issue. This paper explores inclusion practices in three Ghanaian public universities focussing on the combined voices of students with disabilities. The context of the three universities influences the provisions and support available for people with disabilities. The students with disabilities involved in the study reported that access to the university environment and support for academic engagement impact their university experience. The attitude of the university community is a factor in ensuring access, participation and success of people with disabilities in higher education. Creating awareness of disability issues within the university community is pivotal in building and sustaining inclusive culture. The application of universal design principles is essential to improving access and participation of people with disabilities in higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional marketplaces have become the key targets for urban redevelopment by local governments in Ghana to reinvent spaces and generate income. However, the resettlement issues have become the main constraints affecting developers and the affected traders. The present study seeks to provide practical solutions to the top resettlement issues and effects using the Kejetia Project as a case study. A mixed methodology approach was used to elicit and analyse data obtained from structured questionnaires and interviews. The Theory of Constraints was adopted as a solution framework using its three fundamental questions, "What to change", "What to change to", and "How to cause change." The Relative Importance Index was used to determine the importance levels of issues through a five-point Likert scale. The findings on "What to change" listed relocation resistance and doubts on reallocation among others as top issues for local authorities and affected traders, respectively. Psychological stress was a top effect among others for affected traders. And on "What to change to", direct solutions were provided to the issues to reverse the effects. Collaborative implementation of the solutions is prioritized for "How to cause the change". The study concludes that the resettlement issues of the traders did not only impact them but the activities of local authorities. The Findings imply that complex resettlement issues require direct and simple solutions to reverse them. Participatory decision-making is therefore recommended to ensure the interests of both parties. Key Policy Highlights Relocation resistance remains a highly important issue for local authorities implementing urban redevelopment. Issues of place reallocation and relocation are top resettlement issues for people affected by urban redevelopment. Stress and financial burden are top resettlement effects for people affected by urban redevelopment. Direct solution is the most effective approach to reverse resettlement issues. All solutions require collaborative implementation to ensure sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature has extensively explored the causes of farmer–herder conflicts in Ghana. However, there has been limited investigation into the relationship between royal hegemony over customary lands and the persistent nature of farmer–herder conflicts in the country. This study contributes to the understanding of agrarian conflicts in Ghana by examining the interconnectedness of cultural and social practices of land access with the intractability of farmer–herder conflicts in Agogo. The study utilised a qualitative research approach, involving 33 participants recruited through maximum variation purposive sampling. Data was gathered through interviews and focus group discussions. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that social practices of land access hold greater influence than legal provisions, granting significant power over lands to traditional authorities in Agogo. We argue that the on-going intransigence of traditional rulers regarding land access, coupled with the persistent resistance from smallholder farmers through attempts to evict Fulani herders, as well as the resistance demonstrated by the Fulani herders themselves, are key factors contributing to the intractable nature of farmer–herder conflicts in Agogo. This study emphasises the need for a deeper understanding of the cultural and social dimensions underlying land access practices and their impact on farmer–herder conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the prevalence of immigrant entrepreneurship in Ghana's informal economy through institutional theory. Specifically, the study sought to understand how the elements of the institutional theory (norms, culture, and regulations, which form formal and informal institutions) support or discourage immigrant entrepreneurship in the Sub-Saharan African context, with insights from Ghana. It is qualitative research that adopts an in-depth face-to-face interview with 30 respondents. Analyzing the data from the interviews, the key findings are immigrants' inability to find paid jobs, failure to gather sufficient funds to operate in the formal sector, and the willingness to use innate ability. The Ghanaian culture of hospitality and the government's inability to implement trade regulations have been an enabler to the prevalence of immigrant entrepreneurship in Ghana. The legal frameworks that prohibit immigrants from participating in retailing, especially in the informal economy of Ghana, are well known by immigrant entrepreneurs, albeit it has yet to adhere. Therefore, there is a call for policy measures to address the weak institutional framework, which encourages disregard for the country's laws. Immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to remain in doing business in Ghana must obey the rules or suffer the punishment thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal/purpose/objective of the inquiry is to empirically investigate the impact of capital structure (CS) on firm performance (FP), from an emerging capital market perspective, Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Using financial data from 36 listed-firms on the GSE, spanning 2010–2020, and employing a robust dynamic panel System of Generalized Method of Moment (GMM), this inquiry examined CS-FP-nexuses. Results revealed that whilst total-debt-to-total-equity-ratio, total-debt-to-total-assets-ratio, long-term-debt-ratio, and financial risk exhibited negative associations with FP; total-equity-to-total-assets-ratio, short-term-debt-ratio, cash conversion cycle, total assets turnover, tangibility, sales-growth, firm size, and firm age revealed positive associations with FP, suggesting that highly leveraged-firms are susceptible to insolvency due to high debt-financing cost with worsened macroeconomic instability effect via increased sensitivity of the economy to shocks. Recommendations were made to policymakers to revamp Ghana's capital market to encourage equity-investment and also entreat listed-firms to improve upon their profitability and utilize more retained earnings as an internal-financing source to minimize the interest cost on debt-financing. By utilizing data on all the 36 firms listed on the GSE, an uncharted/unexploited path, this current inquiry is one of the few studies that has contributed to the literature on capital structure-performance nexus in Ghana, an emerging West African country south of the Sahara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing evidence of the high deforestation rate of Ghana's forest reserves as a result of non-proper management. This study focused on deepening the understanding of the prospects and challenges in the management of the Mpameso Forest Reserve in Ghana. Based on a qualitative study, major stakeholders such as traditional heads, community members, and members of the forestry department were interviewed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results show that respondents were aware of the relevance of the forest reserve. Though there is a collaborative effort between the forestry commission, the chiefs, and the communities, challenges such as a lack of collaboration between chiefs and the forestry department in the district, and encroachment by community members, among other factors, affected the sustainability of the forest reserve.. The study recommends an alternative livelihood should be provided, consideration for the creation of an ecotourism park, and intensification of the enforcement of laws protecting the forest reserve and its sanctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer education has become an increasingly popular mode of community-level human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention around the globe. In Ghana, networks of volunteer peer educators are mobilized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to conduct sexual health outreach among populations disproportionately affected by HIV, including men who have sex with men (MSM). In development discourse, peer education is typically rationalized in terms of its cost efficiency and “community empowerment” objectives. This article explores whether these initiatives are indeed “empowering” for the working-class men who work as MSM peer educators in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, as well as their broader impact on queer political organizing. Empirically, the article draws on ethnographic research conducted between 2013 and 2014, including participant observation in an HIV/MSM NGO, group and life story interviews with peer educators, and semi-structured interviews with key civil society actors involved in HIV/MSM and wider lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) rights work in Ghana. The article conceptualizes peer education as a form of social reproductive labor that is systematically devalued and frequently invisibilized within the global capitalist economy. It further argues that, contrary to the intervention’s core “empowerment” aims, peer education in Ghana places a disproportionate burden of responsibility on queer working-class men in dealing with the HIV epidemic, increases peer educators’ risk of homophobic violence and abuse, and engenders division between working-class queer communities and the civil society organizations that are supposed to represent them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local climate change impacts hit hard at smallholder farmers in developing countries due to their overreliance on rain-fed farming. Whilst ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change holds an answer to smallholder farmers' adaptation needs, there are inadequate empirical results from the field to support formulation of effective adaptation strategies. Hence, this paper aimed at investigating EbA practices adopted by farmers, in North-Western Ghana to ameliorate local climate change impacts, with emphasis on benefits and associated challenges. The study methods were cross-sectional survey, mixed methods, and case study approach, with all data collected in the Wa West District of Ghana. Data were gathered using questionnaire, focus group discussion (FGD) and interviews. Data from the questionnaire were entered into SPSS version 20 to analyze associations between the variables using cross-tabulation. Descriptive statistics, in the form of percentages and frequencies, were then generated from the survey data and integrated with the qualitative information in the presentation of results. Also, statistical significance of the relationships was analyzed using chi-square test. Chi-squared tests were done to determine associations between socio-economic and environmental factors, and challenges and benefits associated with the adoption of EbA practices. This was necessary to give further insights to inform policy-related decisions aimed at addressing EbA adoption challenges. The results revealed that farmers use a combination of practices rather than single practice. Farmers integrated crops and trees and keep local breed of farm animals. Benefits of EbA included improvements in soil fertility leading to high crop yield and availability of food and income. Challenges of adopting EbA were the long timespan for benefits of most EbA practices to begin to accrue, lack of extension information and increasing cost of hired labour. It is recommended that tree integration should emphasis trees with multiple benefits and compatible with food crops. For the achievement of food security policy objectives, agroforestry promotion should focus on the integration of fruit tree crops and food crops to address hunger and increase farmers' incomes. Mobile extension technology should be exploited by government for the provision of EbA-specific information to farmers to bridge the extension services gap. Climate change policy of government should include the planting of non-fruit trees as windbreaks to provide multi-purpose benefits including provision of stakes for yam farmers, live-fencing and firewood for women. There is the need for government policy objectives to include EbA by farmers under the flagship 'planting for food and jobs' programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by the capability approach and critical discourse analysis, this article examines how the development of green skills among master craftspersons and apprentices in the informal sector of Ghana could be promoted for cleaner production and sustainable futures. The findings show that inequality and poverty; cyclical policy trap; sectoral green initiatives and the green coordination gap; and limited human resource capacity including uncoordinated informal learning approaches serve to constrain the development of green skills among master craftspersons and apprentices in the informal sector of Ghana. To address these challenges, the current study proposes the development of a framework that (1) harmonises the different sectoral initiatives and strategies on green skills to avoid the cyclical policy trap; (2) expands the current green Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda to include green skills development for individuals in the informal TVET sector; (3) closes the coordination gap in government green initiatives by creating an agency responsible for national green agenda; and (4) creates clear qualification models and strategies for the development of green skills in the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi-parental hybrids (BPHs) are recommended cocoa planting materials in Ghana and other West African countries. However, the inability to produce enough BPHs to meet farmers' demand makes it almost impossible to avoid open-pollinated families (OPF) in the supply chain. To study the effects of OPF on cocoa production, parentage analysis, vigor, and precocity of seven BPHs generated from a 4 × 2 North Carolina II (NC II) incomplete mating design were compared with eight OPFs. The 15 cocoa progenies together with two checks of Guiana (GU) origin were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replications across five contrasting locations for stem diameter increment (SDI) and number of pods per tree (NP). Parentage analyses at 75 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci of leave samples from the 17 progenies revealed that the BPHs were of the appropriate female and male parents, while the OPF had varying number of male parents. The pollination effect (bi-parental vs open-pollinated progenies) was not significantly different for both traits, but the BPH was relatively better and surpassed on average the OPF by 3.5% for SDI and 7.8% for NP. Crosses involving GU 144/ C, T63/967, and T65/238 as females in both the OPF and BPH showed predominantly higher performance than those with PA 7 and T79/501 for both traits. Among the promising female parents, GU 144/C is the only one that is not in the seed gardens and could be added to parental clones currently used in producing cocoa varieties in the seed garden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-Smart Cocoa (CSC), a strategic offshoot of the wider Climate-Smart Agriculture, is gaining ground in Ghana, a cocoa export-dependent country. CSC is imperative, given the rapidly declining forests, prolonged periods of drought, pest and disease infestations, and fluctuating cocoa yields attributed to climate variability and change. Although many interventions are instituted to restore sustainable cocoa production, they are largely technicist because they do not pay attention to gender relations of production in the communities. Given the context of the embeddedness of gender inequality in access to resources, we used some CSC interventions in Ghana to reflect on the lingering questions of CSC production practices. We relied on CSC project documents, extant literature, farmer surveys and qualitative data to highlight the need for climate-smart agricultural approaches to be sensitive to structural and systemic issues that exclude female farmers. We argue that transforming norms that perpetuate unequal access to land, labour, input and extension services between men and women should be central to approaches that aim to promote sustainable and ecologically sound agricultural practices in cocoa production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moral practices and principles of accumulating and (re)distributing wealth in charismatic Christianity in Africa are controversial and contested. In Ghana, rich charismatic pastors are perceived as dubious figures and the legitimacy of their wealth is questionable. At the same time, a pastor’s wealth is a sign of his or her spiritual and charismatic gifts. In this article, I discuss the ways in which Ghanaian charismatic pastors, church members and the broader public understand different forms and shifting principles of wealth acquisition and (re)distribution within the religious field. The article highlights the dynamic and fluid nature of distinctions such as legitimate and illegitimate and argues that a moral economy approach is apt for capturing these tensions. Moreover, it is important to include religion and sources of spiritual power in the analysis of moral economies as these are crucial parts of social life and moral values in many African societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 2016/2017 to examine household consumption variations across different poverty subgroups. Non-poor households display significantly higher expenditures than poor and extremely poor counterparts. Contributing factors include older married male heads, larger family sizes, and rural locations with limited education. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition highlights characteristic effects in consumption disparities. While endorsing fertility reduction policies, caution is urged against extremist approaches that may worsen poverty since the extremely poor depend on household labor. Recognizing the importance of location and employment sectors is crucial for targeted economic development in both urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to critically review the impacts of ecotourism in Ghana by synthesising the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of ecotourism. It relied on databases including Web of Science, EBSCO host, Scopus, Science Direct, Emerald, Google Scholar, University libraries as well as government institutions and personal contacts to gather 23 relevant published papers and nine policy documents and strategic plans for the review. The study found that whereas there are several studies on the positive socio-cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of ecotourism, the absence of quantitative analysis to monitor changes in biodiversity in terms of species population and distribution and economic returns to make an economic case for private sector investment are critical gaps. Advancing research on ecotourism and SDG interlinkages can provide directions for policy choices on maximising synergies and minimising trade-offs. The findings suggest that sustainable financing through public-private partnerships is necessary for catalysing positive sustainability outcomes of ecotourism projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate knowledge among health care providers (HCPs) and parents of affected children limits the understanding and utility of secondary genetic findings (SFs) in under-represented populations in genomics research. SFs arise from deep DNA sequencing done for research or diagnostic purposes and may burden patients and their families despite their potential health importance. This study aims to evaluate the perspective of both groups regarding SFs and their choices in the return of results from genetic testing in the context of orofacial clefts. Using an online survey, we evaluated the experiences of 252 HCPs and 197 parents across participating cleft clinics in Ghana and Nigeria toward the return of SFs across several domains. Only 1.6% of the HCPs felt they had an expert understanding of when and how to incorporate genomic medicine into practice, while 50.0% agreed that all SFs should be returned to patients. About 95.4% of parents were willing to receive all the information from genetic testing (including SFs), while the majority cited physicians as their primary information source (64%). Overall, parents and providers were aware that genetic testing could help in the clinical management of diseases. However, they cited a lack of knowledge about genomic medicine, uncertain clinical utility, and lack of available learning resources as barriers. The knowledge gained from this study will assist with developing guidelines and policies to guide providers on the return of SFs in sub-Saharan Africa and across the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates information literacy among students in higher learning institutions in Ghana using Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as a case study. Specifically, it sought to find out students' information sources, the mechanisms instituted by the institution to promote information literacy, assess students' information literacy skills, and find out the challenges impeding students' access to information. Adopting the survey research design, 391 final-year undergraduate students and 3 librarians were conveniently sampled for the study. Results show that KNUST has put in place mechanisms to support information literacy and this includes a network of libraries, varied library tools and resources, and information literacy training and orientation programs. Students demonstrated competence in recognizing their information needs, evaluating information sources critically, and effectively utilizing gathered information for academic purposes. However, the findings underscore the need for targeted efforts to enhance skills in locating and accessing information sources, as well as in understanding ethical and legal considerations associated with information use. The study concludes that the institution's efforts to promote information literacy can be bolstered by addressing key challenges faced by students in seeking information which reflect a complex interplay of technological, resource-related, and skill-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cybercrime remains a focal point in global and regional discussions concerning contemporary issues in West Africa. In line with this discourse, this article delves into the intricate web of viewpoints that envelop the issue of cybercrime in Ghana, with emphasis on Ghana social media users' opinion. Our study focuses on analyzing comments related to cybercrime that have been shared by Ghanaian Facebook users. Through thematic analysis, we dissect the primary narratives that revolve around cybercrime in these discussions. What we discovered in our study goes beyond the traditional portrayal of cybercrime as mere unlawful activity. Instead, we have shown a paradoxical sentiment held by Ghanaians who use Facebook. Cybercrime is evolving into a method for marginalized sections of society to push back against Western dominance, internal political hegemonic, and secure financial stabilities. This trend often unfolds within the broader context of challenging governmentalities. Our research challenges the typical focus on cybercrime as primarily a criminal matter. It prompts a reevaluation, urging us to explore cybercrime within the framework of various socioeconomic and political environments. As a result, our study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of individuals attitude toward cybercrime in Ghana, reshaping the way we approach and discuss it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical studies that examine the effectiveness of corporate social marketing (CSM) on behavior lag behind despite its distinctiveness from other corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and social marketing undertaken by governmental and nonprofit agencies. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to empirically examine the impact of the attributes of CSM on behavior change. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from 485 commercial drivers who benefited from a behavioral change initiative. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that only two out of the five CSM attributes had a direct and positive impact on behavior change. Only company-cause fit and perceived benefit had a significant influence on behavior. The perceived effort, motive, and removal of barriers have no significant influence on behavior change. These findings indicate that CSM initiatives with high congruence with companies' operation and initiatives perceived by the target audience as beneficial will effectively influence behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government implemented education access policies occupy a prominent place in the discourse on access to education. Education access issues have, thus, been examined almost exclusively from macro-level structural perspective. The micro-politics that take place behind the scenes after structural access issues have been resolved is minimally broached. Drawing on qualitative data from first generation educated women in Ghana and their mothers, this paper addresses the dark underbelly of girls' access to education, and the resistance activities undertaken by women to ensure that girls who become causalities of non-enrolment decisions are enrolled. Thus, the paper is guided by two questions. How do girls who become casualties of non-enrolment decisions go to school? How does the resistance activities women take against such non-enrolment decisions enable access for girls? In presenting the roles played by different actors such as mothers and kins, this paper makes an argument that, through women's resistance activities such as subverting the norms, covert diplomacy, and infractions of gendered rules in decision-making, women resist structural distribution of norms that exclude them from decision-making before girls can go to school unimpeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]