A comparison of logistics strategies and integration in the U.S. and Ghana

This manuscript empirically compares logistics strategies and outcomes in Ghanaian and U.S. firms to test the underlying factor structure and measurement equivalences of the Bowersox/Daugherty model and its relationship with critical success factors. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from Ghanaian and American logistics managers. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we compared the three dimensions of Overall Logistics Strategy (OLS) - Process Strategy, Market Strategy, and Information Strategy – in the two countries. A structural equation model (SEM) was then used to assess the impact of OLS on perceived organizational competitiveness in the two countries. Although the economic, political, and cultural dimensions of the two countries differed substantially, the relationships among the constructs used were similar. Data from both countries provided strong support for the dimensionality of the Overall Logistic Strategy (OLS). In addition, it was found that OLS, when combined with Logistics Coordination Effectiveness (LCE) and Customer Service Effectiveness (CSE), contributes to organizational effectiveness (COMP) in both the countries studied. This research provides insights into comparative logistics in two completely disparate economies and provides support for the Bowersox/Daugherty logistics/supply chain management typology. The manuscript also provides insights into comparative logistics/ supply chain management that have not been previously reported through empirical research

Assessment of the water balance of the Barekese reservoir in Kumasi, Ghana

The Barekese Reservoir constructed across the Offin River provides 80% of the total public pipe borne water supplied to the Kumasi metropolis and its environs. The reservoir was designed to produce both potable water and hydropower, however, the hydropower component has not been implemented since its construction in 1971.There is also reported land cover degradation in the catchment area which has the propensity to alter the hydrologic cycle and hence runoff into the reservoir. A 10 year water balance has been assessed for the Barekese Reservoir using an integrated Remote Sensing and GIS approach for estimation of surface runoff based on Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN). The SCS-CN model was calibrated against observed discharges recorded at Offinso located 10.3km upstream from Barekese and the result of the calibration used to simulate runoff into the reservoir. The SCS-CN model produced an R2 value of 0.84 and an efficiency of 82.68%. Monthly observed reservoir levels were used for the calibration and validation of the water balance model. The water balance model produced an R2 value of 0.84 and an efficiency of 81.9%. The monthly water budget revealed that total catchment runoff and direct precipitation respectively constituted 94.32% and 5.68% of the inflows while spilled water, water withdrawal and evaporation respectively amounted to 72.19%, 20.85% and 6.96% of the outflows. This result reveals that the reservoir is being underutilized. The current average production of treated water is 109,000m3day but the reservoir can safely yield the design capacity of 220,000m3day and an additional average hydropower of 368.6kW in six months during the rainy season provided the economic analysis for the hydropower generation is found to be justifiable.Keywords: Water balance, Barekese Reservoir, SCS-CN model, Offinso, Hydropowe

Lessons for pumped hydro energy storage systems uptake

Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) has for years been touted as a suitable alternative for balancing the mismatch between demand and supply of electricity. As the world transits from a fossil fuel-based electricity sector to a renewable energy-based one, PHES is also continuously being used to resolve challenges regarding variable or intermittent sources of energy. This chapter presents lessons from countless literature and studies on the global development and market environment of PHES. The study reveals that critical factors such as investing in public-private research, development and deployment, instituting regulatory frameworks that stimulate innovative operation of PHES, increasing digital operation of PHES systems, and retrofitting PHES facilities could foster the uptake and revolutionize the development of PHES

Lessons for pumped hydro energy storage systems uptake

In Kabo-Bah, A. T.; Diawuo, F. A.; Antwi, E. O. (Eds.). Pumped hydro energy storage for hybrid systems. London, UK: Academic PressPumped hydro energy storage (PHES) has for years been touted as a suitable alternative for balancing the mismatch between demand and supply of electricity. As the world transits from a fossil fuel-based electricity sector to a renewable energy-based one, PHES is also continuously being used to resolve challenges regarding variable or intermittent sources of energy. This chapter presents lessons from countless literature and studies on the global development and market environment of PHES. The study reveals that critical factors such as investing in public-private research, development and deployment, instituting regulatory frameworks that stimulate innovative operation of PHES, increasing digital operation of PHES systems, and retrofitting PHES facilities could foster the uptake and revolutionize the development of PHES

Evaluation of Four Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits Used at the Enyiresi Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Microscopic identification of Plasmodium spp. is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis. However, malaria rapid diagnostic test kits are also available for prompt diagnosis. This study evaluated four routinely used malaria rapid diagnostic test kits at the Enyiresi Government Hospital in the Eastern Region of Ghana. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 patients suspected of malaria. Venous blood samples were collected to identify Plasmodium falciparum using microscopic techniques. Further, the performances of four malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, First Response Malaria Ag Pf, Carestart Malaria Pf, SD Bioline Ag Pf, and ABON Malaria Pf, were evaluated using the results from the microscopy as the standard reference. As confirmed by microscopy, 65.5% (156/238) of the patients have falciparum malaria. All malaria rapid diagnostic test kits had sensitivities and specificities over 75% compared to microscopy results as the reference standard. However, the SD Bioline Ag Pf kit recorded the highest agreement with the microscopy (Cohen’s kappa=0.879). All the malaria rapid diagnostic test kits performed quite well and can be used in emergencies. However, results from these kits need to be confirmed by microscopy

Cacao sustainability: The case of cacao swollen-shoot virus co-infection.

The cacao swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is among the most economically damaging diseases of cacao trees and accounts for almost 15-50% of harvest losses in Ghana. This virus is transmitted by several species of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae, Homoptera) when they feed on cacao plants. One of the mitigation strategies for CSSVD investigated at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) is the use of mild-strain cross-protection of cacao trees against the effects of severe strains. In this study, simple deterministic, delay, and stochastic ordinary differential equation-based models to describe the dynamic of the disease and spread of the virus are suggested. Model parameters are estimated using detailed empirical data from CRIG. The modeling outcomes demonstrate a remarkable resemblance between real and simulated dynamics. We have found that models with delay approximate the data better and this agrees with the knowledge that CSSVD epidemics develop slowly. Also, since there are large variations in the data, stochastic models lead to better results. We show that these models can be used to gain useful informative insights about the nature of disease spread

Technological advances in prospecting sites for pumped hydro energy storage

In Kabo-Bah, A. T.; Diawuo, F. A.; Antwi, E. O. (Eds.). Pumped hydro energy storage for hybrid systems. London, UK: Academic PressThis chapter provides a survey of pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) in terms of the factors considered in the site selection process: geographic, social, economic, and environmental. Due to the number and complexity of factors considered for this purpose, a multicriteria decision-making model is often used during the selection process. From our study, it is observed that the implementation of a PHES project may come with several environmental concerns, that is land and water requirements, impacts on the fishery industry, aquatic habitat, cultural, historical as well as natural. However, we also observed that many of these concerns are being addressed with improvement in PHES technology

Technological advances in prospecting sites for pumped hydro energy storage

This chapter provides a survey of pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) in terms of the factors considered in the site selection process: geographic, social, economic, and environmental. Due to the number and complexity of factors considered for this purpose, a multicriteria decision-making model is often used during the selection process. From our study, it is observed that the implementation of a PHES project may come with several environmental concerns, that is land and water requirements, impacts on the fishery industry, aquatic habitat, cultural, historical as well as natural. However, we also observed that many of these concerns are being addressed with improvement in PHES technology