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Unintended pregnancy among the adolescent globally is very high. It poses serious health risk to them and must be addressed to save the young girls. The adolescent females are mostly in unstable relations and are most unlikely to be on regular contraceptives. Sex among them is sporadic and impromptu, hence they are unable to negotiate for safer sex, which sometimes results in unintended pregnancy. Emergency contraceptives remain the only option to prevent unintended pregnancies after unprotected sex. This study, therefore, sought to determine the factors that promote EC utilization among the Muslim youth in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern region of Ghana. A community-based cross-sectional design was adopted with a mixed method approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data using a semi-structured questionnaire and FGD guide. A multi-staged sampling technique was used to select young Muslims, both males and females aged 15-24 years. Associated factors influencing EC use were determined using Chi-square (Chi2) and logistic regression at 95% CI and significant level set at p

Adolescent females are prone to unintended pregnancies due to the sporadic and impromptu sexual intercourse. Under such circumstances, they are unable to negotiate for safer sex. Emergency contraceptives is vital in the prevention of unintended pregnancies in such situations, but religious communities are perceived to resist modern contrasceptive. This study sought to assess the perspective of the Islamic clergy on the use EC for the prevention of pregnancy among young the people in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern Region of Ghana. A qualitative cross-sectional approach was used for this study. An in-depth interview was conducted involving a total of three clerics, one from each religious sect of the study area to assess their knowledge of EC and perspective on its use among the youth. 2 out of the 3 clerics demonstrated good knowledge of EC, including situations in which it is used and the correct time for use. They were unanimous in the use of family planning methods for birth control but indicated that it is the sole preserve of the married. They contended that the hormonal forms including EC are forbidden in Islam but in situations of forced sex; they had no objection to its use. Overall EC knowledge and awareness level among the clerics was high but strongly opposed the use of it for pregnancy prevention in general but raised no objection to its use in situations of forced sex or incest since they opined it is no fault of the victim under such circumstances.

This study examines the debt policy and firm value nexus with a sample of 10 non‐financial sector firms. Data on the firms and other macroeconomic variables spanning from 2006 to 2015 were sourced from Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) databases. We shed further light on the interaction between the two magnitudes considering the influence of the macroeconomic environment. The interaction is modelled in two separate panel multiple regression frameworks controlling for the fixed and random effects of the model estimators. LLC unit root test, normality test, collinearity test and Hausman test were conducted on the data prior to the estimation of the models. The study found that debt policy in the presence of market imperfections (tax effects) has statistically significant impact on firm value, but the effect is transmitted through either ROA or ROE, and that the macroeconomic environment is important in the debt policy‐firm value nexus; as GDP growth and inflation respectively impacts positively and negatively on both stances of firm performance (ROA; ROE).We recommend that government's macroeconomic policy target tradeoff on economic growth and price stability should be in tandem with corporate management's objective to maximize firm value, and that institutional investors must diversify to minimize their exposure to negative inflationary effects and to take advantage of shifts in economic growth.

Concerns about corruption have prompted organizations such as Transparency International, the World Bank, and Freedom House to develop some key indicators using a variety of methods, as well as other equally important indicators. The construction of indexes, on the other hand, differs, posing concerns about the global corruption indices' implementations and challenges. This study examines whether these indices are effective and useful and elaborates on some discussions about them. In this context, the World Bank, Corruption Index, Freedom House and Transparency International indicators are subjected to a comprehensive review of how they work, their methodologies, sources of financing, reporting frequencies, motivations and global reach. In this study, special attention is paid to Measurement of Corruption, Utilization of Corruption Indices and Challenges of Global Corruption Indices. The paper concludes that despite the challenge of measuring corruption, it still is a reality with negative impact on different countries. While international measures of corruption may contribute positively to the welfare and democracy level of some countries, they can have extremely negative consequences for others as well. Although they are seen as a useful framework that opens the door to a global awareness, the political spirit behind the corruption assessments should never be overlooked., Yolsuzlukla ilgili endişeler; Uluslararası Şeffaflık Örgütü, Dünya Bankası ve Freedom House gibi kuruluşları, çeşitli yöntemlerin yanı sıra eşit derecede önemli diğer bazı göstergeleri kullanarak temel bazı göstergeler geliştirmeye sevk etmiştir. Bununla birlikte endekslerin yapısı farklılık göstermekte ve küresel yolsuzluk endekslerinin uygulamaları ve zorlukları hakkında endişeler yaratmaktadır. Bu çalışma, söz konusu endekslerin etkili ve kullanışlı olup olmadığını incelemekte ve endeksler etrafındaki bazı tartışmalara yer vermektedir. Bu çerçevede, Dünya Bankası, Yolsuzluk Endeksi, Freedom House ve Uluslararası Şeffaflık göstergelerinin, nasıl çalıştıkları, metodolojileri, finansman kaynakları, raporlama sıklıkları, motivasyonları ve küresel erişimleri kapsamlı bir incelemeye tabi tutulmaktadır. Çalışmada; Yolsuzluk Ölçümü, Yolsuzluk Endekslerinin Kullanımı ve Küresel Yolsuzluk Endekslerinin Zorlukları konularına özel bir önem atfedilmiştir. Çalışma, yolsuzluğun ölçülmesindeki zorluklara rağmen, bunun hala farklı ülkeler üzerinde olumsuz etkileri olan bir gerçek olduğu sonucuna varmaktadır. Uluslararası yolsuzluk önlemleri bazı ülkelerin refah ve demokrasi düzeyine olumlu katkıda bulunurken, diğerleri için de son derece olumsuz sonuçlar doğurabilir. Her ne kadar küresel bir bilince kapı aralayan faydalı bir çerçeve olarak görülseler de yolsuzluk değerlendirmelerinin arkasındaki politik ruh asla gözden kaçırılmamalıdır.

Bu çalışma, Gana'nın Damongo bölgesinde evsel katı atık yönetimine olan yaklaşımı incelemektedir. Çalışma, evsel atık imhasını etkileyen unsurları tespit etmiş, katı atık durumunu değerlendirmiş ve katık atık yönetimini için atık yönetim acentaları tarafından benimsenen stratejileri inceleyerek Batı Gonja İlçesi'ndeki katı atık yönetiminin etkinliğini ortaya çıkarmıştır. Damongo bölge başkentinde bulunan 10 alandan toplam 200 hane halkı seçmek için çok aşamalı, rasgele bir örnekleme prosedürü uygulanmıştır. İkinci olarak, konu hakkında bilgi vermesi için kilit 16 kişiyi (atık yönetim şirketleri çalışanları, bölge sağlık hizmetleri görevlileri ve bölge halkı paydaşları) seçmede amaçlı bir örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Hane halkı anket verisi toplamak için yarı yapılandırılmış bir form kullanılmış ve bilgi verecek kilit kişilerle mülakat yapmak için de bir görüşme kılavuzu kullanılmıştır. Bilgi veren kilit kişilerden gelen bilgileri analiz etmek için konusal içerik analiz yöntemi kullanılırken, evsel atık imhasını etkileyen unsurları belirlemek için lojistik regresyon modeli kullanılmıştır. Diğer hedefler betimleyici istatistikler kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Yiyecek atıklarının bölge başkentinde oluşan katı atık türlerinin en başında geldiği ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Çalışma, hane halkı reisinin yaşı, yok etme alanına olan mesafe ve hane halklarının atıkların yok edilmesi için ödemeye istekli oldukları gerçek miktarı ve katı atıkların yok edilmesini büyük ölçüde etkilediğini ancak katı atıkların yok edilmesi için para ödemeye istekli olmanın katı atıkların yok edilmesini olumsuz yönde etkilediğini tespit etmiştir. Buna ek olarak, çevre sağlığı birimi çalışanları ve diğer paydaşlardan gelen yanıtlar, atıkların yok edilmesi, nüfus büyümesi, sağlıktaki gelişme, tüketimdeki değişiklik ve yetersiz çöp kutularına karşı olan tutumun, bölge başkentinde katı atık üretiminde meydana gelen artışın itici unsurları olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır. İzinsiz atık çöplükleri birden meydana geldiğinden, bizler, katık atıkların sürdürülebilir yönetimi için Damongo bölge meclisinin daha fazla aktörü ve oyuncuyu bir araya getirecek sektörler arası iş birliğini teşvik etmesini önermekteyiz. Ayrıca, toplumsal eğitim, kirleten öder ilkesi, çöp kutularının tedarik edilmesi, halk temizliği ve katı atık yönetimine sermaye ayrılması sağlanmalıdır. This study analyzed household approach to solid waste management in the Damango district of Ghana. The study identified factors that influence household waste disposal, assessed the solid waste situation, examined strategies adopted by waste management agencies in managing solid waste and ascertained the effectiveness of solid waste management in the West Gonja District. A multi stage random sampling procedure was employed to select a total of 200 households from 10 zones in the Damango district capital. Secondly a purposive sampling technique was used to select 16 key informants (staff of waste management companies, district sanitation officers and community stakeholders) on the subject matter. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect household survey data and an interview guide to interview key informants. The logistic regression model was used to determine the factors that influence household waste disposal while the thematic content analysis technique was employed to analyze the information from key informants, other objectives were analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was revealed that food waste is the leading type of solid waste generated in the district capital. The study found that age of household head, distance to disposal site and the actual amount households are willing to pay for waste disposal positively and significantly influenced solid waste disposal whereas willingness to pay for waste disposal negatively affected solid waste disposal. There was also a negative relationship between household size and household solid waste disposal. Additionally, response from staff of the environmental health office and other stakeholders revealed that attitude on waste disposal, population growth, improvement in wellbeing, change in consumption and inadequate waste bins are the propelling factors causing increase in solid waste generation in the district capital. We recommend that the Damango district assembly should encourage inter-sectorial collaboration to bring in more actors and players towards a sustainable management of the solid waste since more unauthorized refuse dumping sites are springing up. Additionally, public education, polluter pay principle, provision of bins, community cleaning, and allocation of funds to invest in solid waste management should be enforced. 140

Developing nations are confronted with issues of poor sanitation and its implications on human welfare cannot be under-estimated. This challenge cannot be dealt with only by central governments and therefore the need to share this burden with the citizenry by way of cost sharing. However, little is known about the people ability and willingness to pay (WTP) for the provision of sanitary facilities to deal with this poor sanitation problem. The current study contributes to this discussion by offering an empirical assessment of the determinants of households’ WTP and their ability to pay using a recently collected data from the Kassena- Nankana district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data was collected by designing and administering questionnaires to 150 households in three communities in the study area using a multi-stage sampling technique. Using probit regression, it is observed that gender, educational status and household size are the major determinants of households’ WTP. Additionally, more than 50% of the households in the study area were able and more willing to pay for the provision of these toilet facilities. It is concluded that households were more prepared to partner with the local government authorities to deal with the poor sanitation issue in the area. The study recommends that government and other developmental partners in the sanitation fraternity should consider partnering with the communities to deal with the sanitation problems. Keywords : Sanitation, Willingness to pay, Determinants, Ability to Pay, Kassena-Nankana

The present study focuses on the contribution of Simli Radio to the livelihood improvement of the people in the Tolon-Kumbungu and Savelugu-Nanton Districts of the Northern Region of Ghana. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 12 communities for the study. Data were gathered on the use of broadcasting as an educational tool, the promotion of traditional culture, communication and information sharing, entertainment and income promotion. The study established that Simli Radio has worked to improve awareness and knowledge of solutions to community development problems ranging from culture, rural development, education, hygiene and sanitation, agriculture to local governance. The station has been an appropriate medium that has facilitated an interface between duty bearers and rights holders. It has promoted small and medium enterprise development by creating market opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) operators and consequently improved sales and incomes. It is recommended that regular feedback from the listening public is essential in identifying listeners’ preferences and the taste of various listeners segments (youth, women, men, aged, etc) and to avoid politics and religion.