The Contribution of Fruit bats, Eidolon helvum, to biodiversity on the University of Energy and Natural Resources’ Campus, Sunyani, Ghana

The dispersal ability of straw coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), was investigated on the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Campus in Sunyani from January 2013 to December 2014. A reconnaissance exercise was conducted in the UENR in order to stratify the campus into bat-occupied and unoccupied zones (strata) based on the presence or absence of roost trees occupied by bats. The Wildlife Sanctuary represented the main bat roost site (bat-occupied zone) whilst the rest of the campus constituted the unoccupied zone. Using 64 (4m x 4m) quadrats and 32 seed traps made from plastic sheets were set up randomly in the bat occupied areas. Seeds dispersed were collected on the seed traps and identified. The contribution of the dispersed seeds to the regeneration of the total plant population in the undergrowth wasestimated at 1.7%. Notable species which were dispersed by bats were Mallotus opposotifolius, (16.1%), Broussonetia papyrifera (10.6%), Ficus exasperate (6.6%), Solanum erianthum (6.2%) and Morus mesozygia (4.6%) of total seeds dispersed. These plants were found to have been introduced by E. helvum into the study area and are contributing to the ecological improvement by increasing biodiversity through regeneration. Key Words: Eidolon helvum, disperse, seeds, reconnaissanc

Bamboo, Hope for the Wood Industry in Ghana

Over exploitation of some of the forest products in Ghana has led to their extermination. The current state of the Ghanaian woodland has drawn Government attention to wood sources that are renewable, environmentally supportive and fast growing. This is an attempt to check deforestation and to develop alternative resource for the fast dyeing wood industry which depends on the forest for its supply of timber? Studies made on bamboo, uncovered its capabilities and potentials as an appropriate material for adoption to replace Timber wood. Keywords: Bamboo, forest, extinction, timber wood, lamination, deforestatio

To what extent did innovation strategy and pricing policies by Japanese camera manufacturers contribute to their success in the mature amateur camera industry during 1955-1974? Emmanuel Agyei

The central premise within this thesis was to further explore Windrum’s (2005) study by looking at the role that both innovation strategy and pricing had in the ability of Japanese camera manufacturers to compete in the mature amateur camera industry between 1955 and 1974. In order to explore the influence of innovation, a focus was first placed on the product life cycle, as advocated by Klepper (1997), Vernon(1966; 1979) and Abernathy and Utterback (1975; 1978; 1985) as well as the relationship between innovation and price as advocated by both Chenavaz (2012; 2013) and Porter’s (1980) cost generic strategy. In exploring the key camera components that contribute to the pricing of cameras, findings showed that camera characteristics associated with the camera lens had the most significant impact on the price setting of cameras. In continuation, the paper also establish that the relationship between camera price and innovation (lens speed) is more inelastic in Japan that both the USA and West Germany which therefore insinuates that a correlation is existent between the ability to product low priced products and the ability to compete in a mature industry

Symbolic Representation And Socio-Cultural Significance Of Selected Akan Proverbs In Ghana

Although Akan proverbs of the Twi-speaking people of Ghana are creatively crafted speeches with beautiful and rich values that make lengthy statements short; and spoken in a cultured way for communication of traditional values, the influx of foreign languages in Ghana has contributed to the rapid decline in the standards of this cherished Akan indigenous linguistics. These proverbs embody deep symbolic and socio-cultural values of the Akan people of the Ghanaian society. This paper showcases 20 visual symbols, created from the selected proverbs by the researchers, of selected Akan proverbs with the aim of making them regain their past glory and to promote visual literacy. In highlighting the significance of these selected proverbs, the study employed art-based technique of a qualitative research approach to represent them graphically. Based upon the findings of the socio-cultural values embedded in these proverbs, this paper recommends that more symbols should be created using the numerous proverbs and wise sayings that are in existence in our local languages to salvage the declining image of those proverbs as an important component of African art for communication. Keywords: Adinkra, Akan proverbs, Asante-Twi, philosophical, socio-cultural, symbolic, Twi, visual literac

Diversity and Abundance of Bird Species in Mole National Park, Damongo, Ghana

A survey of birds in Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana between February and May 2016 to identify and determine the diversity and abundance of bird species. Using Point Count Method, all birds were observed at fixed locations using an Opticron Polarex 8×40 field binocular and identification of birds’ species were confirmed by Birds of Ghana and recorded vocal replay of birds. The Gamin GPS device was used to take the coordinate and location of all stations. 366 of individual birds consisting of 59 species were recorded, 45 were identified by sighting and 14 by vocalization, all belonging to 29 families. Species abundance indicated that Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) (Relative Abundance (RA)= 4.90%), followed by Red-throated Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus) (RA =4.63%), Red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta Senegala) (RA =4.36%), Little Weaver (Ploceus lucteolus) (RA =4.09%), Senegal Parrot (Piocephals senegalus) (RA =3.81%), Bar-breasted firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta) (RA =3.54%), White faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) (RA =3.27%) and Laughing Dove (Sterptopelia senegalensis) (RA =3.00%), whereas, the Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) (0.54), African Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx lecontei) (0.27) and Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius) (0.27) had low relative species abundance. Estrildidae and Alcedinidae families were highest in abundance, (8.5%) of the total respectively, followed by Columbidae and Malaconotidae with the same relative abundance (6.8%), Ploceidae (5.1%). The practice of bird watching aimed at avifauna conservation can be encouraged in the fringe communities such as; Morgnori, Larabanga and Murugu, to document and protect bird species to improve community livelihood. Further investigations are required to compare avifauna within the off reserve and the protected areas (on reserve). Keywords: Avifauna, Opticron, Polarex, Diversity, Abundanc

The effect of management control on labour productivity of labour intensive works in Ghana

In Ghana, many construction projects end in dispute, because contractors are unable to meet the completion time. As many construction operations are labour intensive, the question of labour productivity becomes paramount, especially as higher productivity levels usually translate into superior profitability, competitiveness, and income. This article aims to examine the management control factors affecting construction labour productivity in Ghanaian construction firms. It assesses the measuring techniques that are used to improve labour productivity in the construction firms. The article also determines the relationship between management control and labour productivity on labour-intensive works in Ghanaian construction firms. The study adopted a quantitative research design that used a questionnaire-based descriptive survey. Records available at the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) indicate that 920 professionals are involved in labour-intensive works on road infrastructure. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 40 districts involved in road construction projects; 560 respondents were considered for the study. The summary of the data consisted of means, standard deviations, percentages, cross-tabulations, and frequencies. Principal axis factor analysis revealed three (3) components with eigenvalues above 1 that may influence labour productivity of labour-intensive works on road construction. These components are effective communication, supervision technique, and design inadequacies. Construction managers must monitor workforce performance by ensuring that the three factors influencing management control are considered.&nbsp

An Examination of Selected Wood Properties of Some Economic Tropical Timber Species.

Characterizing wood is necessary in order to make information available to interested users of a particular timber species. In this study we characterized Aningeria robusta (A.Chev.) Aubrev.& Pelleger,( Asanfena), Terminalia ivorensis A.Chev., (Emeri), Terminalia superba Engl. & Diel., (Ofram), Khaya ivorensis A.Chev., (Mahogany) and Entandrophragma cylindricum Sprague., (Sapele) according to their anatomical and physical properties. This work discussed the macroscopic physical properties in terms of densities (air/oven dry), colour and surface roughness of the five wood species. Cell properties studied included vessel, fibre and parenchyma cell dimensions as well as their pore arrangements. It was clear that, the proportion of fibres per mm2 of the species, as well as their corresponding cell wall thicknesses values seems to bear some relationship with their densities Keywords: maceration; optical microscopy; roughness; wood anatomy; wood densit

Determinants of viral load non-suppression among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Kumasi, Ghana

Objectives: To determine the rate and factors associated with viral load non-suppression among adults living with HIV/AIDS on active anti-retroviral therapy (ART).Design: A retrospective cross-sectional studySetting: Three ART clinics in Kumasi, GhanaParticipants: All HIV-infected adults who were ≥18 years and on active ART for 12 months and whose viral loadnhad been estimated were included.Main outcome measure: Unsuppressed viral load among patients on ARTResults: In all, 483 HIV patients were included in the study, with 369 (76.4%) achieving viral load suppression. Gender, educational level, comorbidity status, and duration on ART were independently associated with viral nonsuppression (p < 0.05).Conclusions: This study has revealed that the rate of viral suppression in the study area is lower than the UNAIDS 90% target. The findings have implications on designing new and stemming up implementation of existing interventions to improve the rate of viral suppression among patients in the study area. It is also necessary that more of such studies are replicated in other parts of the country to identify risk factors for virological failure among patients on ART

Measurement and Characterisation of Fractures in Parts of the Togo Structural Units (TSU) and Dahomeyan Gneissic Complex (DGC), SE Ghana

Fracture characterisation in fractured rocks is a critical step in the generation of discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling and the evaluation of the hydraulic and mechanical properties of the rockmass. In this study, an integrated approach of using structural geological mapping, linear and circular scanline mappings, and laboratory investigation of rock samples were undertaken at two selected sites, Site 1, within the Togo structural units (TSU) near Ablekuma settlement, and Site 2 within the Dahomeyan Gneissic Complex (DGC), near Danfa settlement to derive information on fracture characteristics in the Study Area. A total of 1128 fractures were surveyed along a total length of 238 m of scanline at Site 1, and 629 fractures along a total of 156.0 m at Site 2. Fourteen and thirteen circular scanlines were surveyed at Site 1 and Site 2 respectively Linear fracture density or intensity (P10) from the 7 scanlines at Site 1 ranged from 3.50 fractures/m to 6.26 fractures/m, compared to fractures at Site 2, which have fracture linear density ranging from 2.34 fractures/m to 5.04 fractures/m. The mean linear fracture intensity for Site 1 was computed as 4.739 fractures/m from 1128 fractures along 238.0 m scanline length, and 4.030 fractures/m from 629 fractures along a total of scanline of 156.0 m for Site 2. The DIPS software was used to analyse the orientation data, while the EasyFit used for modelling fracture spacing distribution. The best fit model for fracture spacing at Site 1 was a negative 2-parameter exponential distribution function (pdf), while that for Site 2 was a negative exponential distribution. There appear to be a lithological and/or stratigraphic thickness control on fracture density, as fracturing was more intense in the medium grained less thick quartzite beds of the Site 1, within TSU compared to the coarse grain much thicker stratigraphic units of gneiss of Site 2 within the DF. Keywords: Fracture characterisation, Togo Structural Units, Dahomeyan Gneissic Complex

Integrated Flower Vases in Clayware and Wood

The local pottery industry faces tremendous challenges from the increasing interest Ghanaian are showing in imported products because of their functional value, quality and aesthetic appeal. This is due among others, to the monotonous approach to production and finishing of indigenous products, conditions that also marred the philosophical impact they are supposed to convey. To overcome some of these challenges the researchers experimented on the integration clay-wear and wood for the production of flower vases. The qualitative research method where observational, experimental and descriptive approaches were employed to investigate the viability of integrating clay-wear with wood for the project. The research unveiled that clay-wear and wood can be integrated in the production of finished products that are functional, aesthetically presentable and of high quality. Besides, it is also proven that with appropriate manipulation through experiment other locally available raw materials can be used to produce products would convey the Ghanaian culture to would be buyers and the outside world. Keywords: Clay, Wood, Integration, Decoration, Production