Factors Influencing the Competitiveness of Cocoa Export of Ghana and Its Implication on Ghana’s Economy

This study examines the competitiveness of Ghana’s cocoa by assessing the performance and determinants of cocoa export from Ghana. Competitiveness of the country in cocoa exports was assessed using the Pearson's Correlation model and Linear Regression model using SPSS and STATA respectively. Time series data on Ghana’s cocoa production and exports and GDP from 2000 to 2014 were collected and analyzed using Pearson Correlation Statistics that were adopted in SPSS. The first analysis was to find the relationship between total cocoa products exports in US$(including raw cocoa beans and processed cocoa products) and factors such as the real world prices of cocoa (US$/MT) between 2000 and 2014, the gross domestic product of Ghana, the amount of Cocoa beans produced (in tonnes) and processed cocoa exports. The outcome of the analyses revealed that Ghana has comparative advantage in the exportation of cocoa, that Ghana is highly competitive in exports of cocoa beans, total cocoa products and processed cocoa exports. In spite of improvements observed in the country’s export performance over the past three decades, there is potential for further improvement, based on the SPSS and STATA results. The study proceeds to propose measures eminent in ensuring robust cocoa production and consequential exports. Keywords：Competitiveness, cocoa export, determinants, real world price, gross domestic price. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 201

Prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension and its related risk factors among undergraduate students in a Tertiary institution, Ghana

Objectives: This study sought to provide information about pre-hypertension and hypertension status among undergraduate students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 540 students. Participants were interviewed using questionnaires and their blood pressures (BP), height, weight were measured and Body Mass Index ‘BMI’ and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Repeated measurements were obtained on two successive times in students with persistently elevated BP. Data obtained was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Final prevalence was adjusted for loss-to- follow up on participants with first elevated BP from the reading and logistic regression used to evaluate risk factors. P-value less than .05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Twelve (2.2%) of the students were hypertensive, whilst pre-hypertension was prevalent in 26.1% of the student. Family history of hypertension [OR = 1.68(0.73–1.68)], kidney failure [OR = 1.38(0.34– 5.60)], stroke [OR = 1.10(0.64–1.91)] and heart failure [OR = 1.03(0.27–3.94)] were associated with increased risk of developing pre-hypertension; however no significant association was observed (p > .05). WHtR and BMI were independent positively correlated with blood pressure status after controlling for gender and age (p < .05). Further analysis revealed that, obesity detected by WHtR [OR = 3.67 (1.13–11.94), p = .031] and BMI [OR = 6.89(0.71–66.48), p = .0005] were significant predictors of hypertension using logistic regression analysis.Conclusion: The study revealed considerable prevalence rates of pre-hypertension and hypertension among undergraduate students, with significant risk factors such as obesity detected by BMI and WHtR. Gender as male was also significant for pre-hypertension and hypertension. Sound prevention and control programmes of hypertension should be devised among students, to improve their knowledge and lifestyle practices early in life.Keywords: Hypertension, Pre-hypertension, Obesity, Tertiary students, Ghan

Nexus between constructs of social cognitive theory model and diabetes self-management among Ghanaian diabetic patients: A mediation modelling approach

The promotion of Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) practices, education, and support is vital to improving the care and wellbeing of diabetic patients. Identifying factors that affect DSM behaviours may be useful to promote healthy living among these patients. The study assessed the determinants of DSM practices among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using a model-based social cognitive theory (SCT). This cross-sectional study comprised 420 (T2DM) patients who visited the Diabetic Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi-Ghana. Data was collected using self-structured questionnaires to obtain socio-demographic characteristics, T2DM-related knowledge, DSM practices, SCT constructs; beliefs in treatment effectiveness, level of self-efficacy, perceived family support, and healthcare provider-patient communication. Path analysis was used to determine direct and indirect effects of T2DM-related knowledge, perceived family support, and healthcare provider service on DSM practices with level of self-efficacy mediating the relationships, and beliefs in treatment effectiveness as moderators. The mean age of the participants was 53.1(SD = 11.4) years and the average disease duration of T2DM was 10 years. Most of the participants (65.5 %) had high ( \u3e 6.1mmol/L) fasting blood glucose (FBG) with an average of 6.93 (SD = 2.41). The path analysis model revealed that age (p = 0.176), gender (p = 0.901), and duration of T2DM (p = 0.119) did not confound the relationships between the SCT constructs and DSM specified in the model. A significant direct positive effect of family and friends’ support (Critical ratio (CR) = 5.279, p \u3c 0.001) on DSM was observed. Self-efficacy was a significant mediator in this relationship (CR = 4.833, p \u3c 0.001). There were significant conditional indirect effects (CIE) for knowledge of T2DM and family and friends’ support at medium and high levels of belief in treatment effectiveness (p \u3c 0.05) via level of self-efficacy on DSM practices. However, no evidence of moderated-mediation was observed for the exogenous variables on DSM. Diabetes-related knowledge of T2DM, family and friends’ support, level of self-efficacy, and belief in treatment effectiveness are crucial in DSM practices among Ghanaian T2DM patients. It is incumbent to consider these factors when designing interventions to improve DSM adherence

Predictors of noncompliance to antihypertensive therapy among hypertensive patients Ghana: Application of health belief model

This study determined noncompliance to antihypertensive therapy (AHT) and its associated factors in a Ghanaian population by using the health belief model (HBM). This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kintampo Municipality in Ghana recruited a total of 678 hypertensive patients. The questionnaire constituted information regarding sociodemographics, a five-Likert type HBM questionnaire, and lifestyle-related factors. The rate of noncompliance to AHT in this study was 58.6%. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 43.5 (±5.2) years and median duration of hypertension was 2 years. Overall, the five HBM constructs explained 31.7% of the variance in noncompliance to AHT with a prediction accuracy of 77.5%, after adjusting for age, gender, and duration of condition. Higher levels of perceived benefits of using medicine [aOR=0.55(0.36-0.82),p=0.0001] and cue to actions [aOR=0.59(0.38-0.90),p=0.0008] were significantly associated with reduced noncompliance while perceived susceptibility [aOR=3.05(2.20-6.25),

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

An evaluation of farmer field school induced changes in Ghanaian cocoa production

A case study of Ghanaian cocoa farmer field schools was conducted to provide feedback on a regional effort to close the yield gap across the cocoa belt of West Africa. Production practices were significantly modified in the year following training with notable increases registered in both the number of producers planting hand pollinated hybrid cocoa seedlings and in the area planted to hybrids. The effectiveness of pesticide application on farms of trained participants was significantly higher following training. Nearly 30 percent of the trained farmers were women, who appeared to derive a lower benefit from training as compared to men, although the result was on the borderline of statistical significance. In sum, farmer field school training and subsequent changes in management practices are estimated to have resulted in a net production increase of 14% for the average farmer field school participant. To improve the impact for women more attention should be given to their specific needs. Expansion of the curriculum to cover nursery management and planting/replanting options should also be considered

Goitre Prevalence and Urinary Iodine Concentration in School-Aged Children in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Background. Iodine deficiency is a public health problem. The universal salt iodization (USI) program is the main, simple, and cost-effective intervention strategy to control iodine deficiency. The study examined the iodine status in school-aged children in Ashanti region, Ghana, using thyroid volumes along with urinary iodine concentrations, the methods recommended by the WHO/ICCIDD for monitoring the sustained impact of USI programs. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among school-aged children (6–12 years) from randomly selected schools in the central and northern part of the Ashanti region, Kumasi Metropolis, and Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, respectively. A total of 852 children were enrolled in the study. Thyroid volume and urinary iodine concentrations of the children were determined using the standardized methods recommended by WHO/ICCIDD. Anthropometric measurements were also evaluated. Results. The mean values of thyroid volume in female and male school-aged children were 3.53 ± 0.09 and 3.32 ± 0.07, respectively. The thyroid size was significantly associated with age (P<0.0001), weight (P<0.0001), height (P<0.0001), BMI (P<0.05), and BSA (P<0.0001) by Pearson’s correlation in both males and females. The P50 (median) thyroid volumes of school children investigated in this study were generally larger compared to the WHO/ICCIDD reference data by age and body surface area. The median value of urinary iodine concentration was 201.85 μg/L, which showed significant sex difference (P value <0.0001). Excessive iodine nutrition (≥300 μg/L) was observed among 34.4% of male children and 27.6% of female children. Also, 12.8% of the male and 19.5% of the female children had UIC below requirement (<100 μg/L). The criteria of thyroid volume per age yielded a goitre prevalence of 2.2%. In contrast, the criteria of thyroid volume by body surface area yielded a goitre prevalence of 0.9%. Conclusion. The study clearly indicated that adequate iodine nutrition exists generally among the school children. However, insufficient and excessive iodine intakes still persist among some of the children. The establishment of local reference values for thyroid volume that might be applicable to precisely define goitre prevalence in the Ghanaian context is highly recommended

Tragocephala nobilis Fabricius (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae): A new insect pest threatening the domestication of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum and Thonn.) in Ghana

Tragocephala nobilis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae), an insect pest (herbivorous insect), was recently found on a multipurpose tropical tree species, Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum and Thonn.) Taub, in Ghana. Although the pest has been previously reported on other tree crops such as cocoa and Coffea arabica, this is the first report on T. tetraptera. T. tetraptera is a deciduous tree crop with numerous nutritional and medicinal benefits. The pest, a long-horned beetle is found to attack T. tetraptera tree and damage is first observed as die-back of twigs and branches leading to the formation of a witches broom in the crown. This is followed by a series of tunnels created by the larvae on the main stem resulting in branch death and/or tree mortality. In view of the threat posed by the pest to T. tetraptera, a broader study is needed urgently to develop an integrated pest management strategy for T. nobilis pest in T. tetraptera plantations as the interest in its domestication as a tree crop is burgeoning in response to increasing herbal medicine and food supplements demand