SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF LAND DISPUTES IN THE ASHANTI REGION

Context and Background: Land is an important resource for human survival as well as that of other living organisms. Despite its importance, there are many problems that come with its management. There are increasing controversies and disputes over the ownership, access, and use of land. This is due to the increase in land demand, owing to factors such as population growth, urbanization, and food security. Land disputes in the Ashanti Region have drastically escalated recently as a result of these factors. Many land parcels have been left underdeveloped as a result of these disputes.Goal and Objectives:This study investigates land dispute cases from 2016 to 2021 in the Ashanti Region using survey records of land dispute cases from the Ashanti Regional Lands Commission.Methodology:The study reviewed 203 land dispute case files from the Lands Commission to perform spatial analysis in identifying the hotspot zones of land disputes in the area of study. Ripley’s K-function was used to test the null hypothesis of complete spatial randomisation and Moran’s I was used to measure the spatial autocorrelation of the land dispute incidences. A kernel density map was used to show the intensity of recorded disputes in the hotspot zones.Results:It was evident from the study that most of the land dispute cases were recorded in and around the central part of the study area. A map depicting the spatial extent and hotspot zones of the land dispute cases was developed to provide contextual background for policy makers, and researchers. Based on the Moran Scatterplots, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) cluster maps were used to identify hotspot zones in the study area. A total of 12 localities were identified as hotspot zones in the study area. The incidence of land disputes was mostly in the peri-urban areas with proximity to the Central Business District. Further research is recommended to probe into factors that influence a locality or town’s vulnerability to land

Assessment of the Relative Suitability of Three Different Soils for Dry Season Lettuce Production in Ghana

The research was conducted at the project site of the University of Educatoion, Winneba - Mampong campus between mid - November 2007 and Mid-April 2008. The main objective of the study was to compare the relative suitability of three soils in supporting lettuce production in the dry season. The treatments were Calcic Vertisol (Akuse scries), Rodic Nitisol (Ejura sesries) and Chromic Luvisol (Bediest series). The randomized complete block design was used in a pot experience with the three treatments and each replicated three times. Plant height, fresh leaf mass, leaf dry matter yield, fresh root mass, gravimetric moisture content, total porosity, drainability and bulk density were the parameters considered. From the result Bediesi Series recorded the highest growth rate as measured by plant height (266.5mm), fresh leaf weight (30.6g), leaf dry matter weight (4.9g) at 7 weeks after transplanting as well as been the most succulent with 84% succulent. Fresh root weight however, was highest with Akuse Series followed by Bediesi Series and Ejura Series in that decreasing order. Ejura Series recorded the least value for all growth and yield parameters measured. For soil parameters, Akuse Series recorded the highest value for porosity (43.0%) and gravimetric moisture of 6.43 throughout the period of field drying for 8weeks. Ejura Series Bediesi Series also recorded the highest value for drainability after 25 minutes of drainage, followed by Bediesi Series and then Akuse Series. The result of this work indicated that the Bediesi Series is the best soil type among the soils evaluated for lettuce production in the dry season in Ghana

Ghanaian public and private junior high school mathematics classroom learning environment: A look at students’ attitudes

The public outcry about students’ poor performance in mathematics can be said to have gained currency in recent times, in the dailies in Ghana. The outcry has been fueled by the fact that Ghanaian eight graders have always been among the least performing in international assessments such as TIMSS. Since available literature is replete with the fact that students’ attitudes of their mathematics classroom environment influence their attitudes to their classroom activities and hence their mathematics achievement, this study was designed to determine the attitudes of junior high school pupils towards their mathematics classroom learning environment. A total of 350 eighth and ninth graders (i.e., forms two and three junior high school students) from four public and two private randomly selected schools in a metropolitan community in southern Ghana participated in the study. The study adapted the mathematics attitude questionnaire (MAQ) instruments, a questionnaire designed to measure students’ attitudes of their classroom environment on four different subscales. The results revealed that, though in general, the attitudes of students were positive, that of the private school students were relatively more positive than their public-school counterparts in each of the subscales. Implications of this are discussed and recommendations for classroom teachers and future research are also presented

Biodigester Rapid Analysis and Design System (B-RADeS): A candidate attainable region-based simulator for the synthesis of biogas reactor structures

Anaerobic digesters are seldom designed based on process kinetics, but rather on a combination of hydraulic and organic loading, which may limit operational performance. This study focuses on the incorporation of process kinetics in the design of anaerobic digesters, within the attainable region conceptual framework. Candidate attainable regions for anaerobic digesters are identified using the software environment Biodigester Rapid Analysis and Design System (B-RADeS), which couples, biodegradation kinetics as well as economic parameters for the synthesis of biodigester structures. By considering swine, palm oil and pharmaceutical wastewaters, payback periods of 0.5, 1 & 2years, and substrate, kinetic model and/or economic parameters, a promising digester structure (and associated hydraulic retention times) is synthesized, consisting of a CSTR followed by PFR (15days), CSTR (4.8hours) and a PFR with bypass of feed (3days). The framework offers great promise for widespread practical application.publishedVersio

A coupled modeling of design and investment parameters for optimal operation of methane bioreactors: Attainable region concept approach

Current practice to design methane bioreactors does not consider all degrees of freedom simultaneously, which raises question of global optimality. This study presents a model-based design framework, which simultaneously integrates process kinetics and business parameters into the design process, a key motivation for investors. Within the study, a methane bioreactor model is presented and kinetic models incorporating different economic feasibility indicators (PBP and BCR) are developed. The methane bioreactor model gives a good prediction of test data for digestion of diary manure and the natural patterns of payback period and benefit cost ratio are predicted. Stochastic stimulation is presented to include robustness in the design process and overall yield coefficients are illustrated for model dimensionality reduction. Two-dimensional attainable region is introduced as a reliable technique for defining limits of achievability as well as obtaining optimal methane bioreactor structures. Finally, a schematic model of the design process is established.publishedVersio

Effects of crude extracts of Allium sativum Linn, Cymbopogon citratus (CD) Stapf and Terminalia catappa L. on rotcausing fungi of Dioscorea species

Fungitoxic effects ofAllium sativum Linn., Terminalia catappa L. and Cymhopogoll citratus (DC) Stapf. on four rot-causing fungi (Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oXysporum and Penicillium oxalicum, Botryodiplodia Iheobromae) of stored yam tubers were studied in vitro. Pathogenicity test revealed that A.<,pergillus niger. Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium oxalicum induced rot in healthy yam tubers after] 0 days of fe-inoculation, with B. theobromae as the most virulent. Four different concentrations of each plant extract were obtained by blending 25g, 50g, 75g, and 100g of each plant part in 100 ml of sterile distilled water (SDW). A. sativum extracts had effective inhibitions on the mycelial growth of all fungi ranging from 31.1% -92.4%. Extracts of T. catappa and C. citratus showed between slight to moderately effective inhibitions ranging from 3.0% to 46.7% respectively. The effects of T. catappa and C. citratus extracts on the mycelial growth of B, theobromae was stimulatory rather than inhibitory at all concentrations while A. sativum proved just slightly inhibitory at higher concentrations. The most fungitoxic of all the extracts was A. sativum at 10% concentration which showed significant (P < 0.01) inhibitions on all the fungal pathogens investigated indicating its potential as a natural fungicide against rot common in yams while in storage

A coupled modeling of design and investment parameters for optimal operation of methane bioreactors: Attainable region concept approach

Current practice to design methane bioreactors does not consider all degrees of freedom simultaneously, which raises question of global optimality. This study presents a model-based design framework, which simultaneously integrates process kinetics and business parameters into the design process, a key motivation for investors. Within the study, a methane bioreactor model is presented and kinetic models incorporating different economic feasibility indicators (PBP and BCR) are developed. The methane bioreactor model gives a good prediction of test data for digestion of diary manure and the natural patterns of payback period and benefit cost ratio are predicted. Stochastic stimulation is presented to include robustness in the design process and overall yield coefficients are illustrated for model dimensionality reduction. Two-dimensional attainable region is introduced as a reliable technique for defining limits of achievability as well as obtaining optimal methane bioreactor structures. Finally, a schematic model of the design process is established

A coupled modeling of design and investment parameters for optimal operation of methane bioreactors: Attainable region concept approach

Current practice to design methane bioreactors does not consider all degrees of freedom simultaneously, which raises question of global optimality. This study presents a model-based design framework, which simultaneously integrates process kinetics and business parameters into the design process, a key motivation for investors. Within the study, a methane bioreactor model is presented and kinetic models incorporating different economic feasibility indicators (PBP and BCR) are developed. The methane bioreactor model gives a good prediction of test data for digestion of diary manure and the natural patterns of payback period and benefit cost ratio are predicted. Stochastic stimulation is presented to include robustness in the design process and overall yield coefficients are illustrated for model dimensionality reduction. Two-dimensional attainable region is introduced as a reliable technique for defining limits of achievability as well as obtaining optimal methane bioreactor structures. Finally, a schematic model of the design process is established