Performance of Rehabilitated Cocoa Farms in the Assin North Municipality of Ghana

Although Ghana is a highly recognised country in the global cocoa industry, average production per ha is described among the lowest in the world; a situation which is blamed on aging tree stocks and other factors. Through sector policy reforms, government instituted and supported activities including gradual rehabilitation of over-aged cocoa farms with improved variety with the aim of boosting productivity and overall cocoa production. Although the rehabilitation of the cocoa farms is ongoing, research has not covered much on the performance of the rehabilitated cocoa farms.  The study assessed the yield performance of rehabilitated cocoa farms in the Assin North municipality. The study involved a descriptive survey in which data was obtained with questionnaires and administered by interviewers. A total of 115 farmers were purposively drawn from 5 communities in the district. It was found that the rehabilitated cocoa farms (RCFs) were planted with hybrid varieties and starts yielding in the 3rd year. Recorded average yield of 533kg/ha in the 4th year and 742kg/ha in the 5th year are 33% and 85% higher than the national average of 400kg/ha. Productivity was positively correlated with age of trees and tree survival rate but negatively correlated to farm size. Farmers described growth rate, general appearing (vigour), pest and disease resistance, and yield to be significantly better than the old crop. KEY WORKS: performance, rehabilitated, cocoa, productivity, hybri

In search of competitiveness through innovation-driven CSR initiatives in Multinational Enterprise subsidiaries in developing countries

Purpose – The objective of the present study is to investigate opportunities for integrating innovation and CSR in the context of firms’ activities. This is explored by investigating the extent to which innovation may complement CSR activities of MNE subsidiaries in developing-countries. Method/approach – This paper employs literature study to describe how innovation complements CSR in the search for competitiveness at the level of the firm. In doing so, the competitiveness of firms, which is often driven by the demands for responsible behaviour and innovativeness, is derived from studying the extant literature. By drawing from multiple theoretical lenses (i.e., legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, CSR literature, firms’ reputation, and innovativeness), we aim at evaluating their collective impact on firms’ competitiveness. Findings - The model suggests that firm’s contextual capabilities (e.g. legitimacy, innovation, and stakeholders) can define its CSR activities (e.g. CSR ethical, CSR social, and CSR environmental). The cumulative effects of these, define firm’s reputation, which eventually, produces firm’s own competitiveness. The study has argued that there is more to firms’ stakeholders than ordinary resources required in furtherance of firms’ economic objectives. It therefore follows that stakeholders’ potential to constitute a pool of resources and capabilities that the firm can blend with to realize its strategic objectives ought to be stressed. Consequently, markets and for that matter firms, are subject to CSR and innovation demands through, for example, more socially responsible productive behaviour. This requires that MNE subsidiaries in developing-countries connect different strategies towards improving their own competitiveness. This may be accomplished through, re-packaging CSR into bundles of interrelated activities, collaborating with stakeholders to jointly create and deliver social and economic values, and integrating CSR into productive activities that may lead to bundles of products to suit local market conditions. © www.iiste.or

In search of competitiveness through innovation-driven CSR initiatives in Multinational Enterprise subsidiaries in developing countries

Purpose – The objective of the present study is to investigate opportunities for integrating innovation and CSR in the context of firms’ activities. This is explored by investigating the extent to which innovation may complement CSR activities of MNE subsidiaries in developing-countries. Method/approach – This paper employs literature study to describe how innovation complements CSR in the search for competitiveness at the level of the firm. In doing so, the competitiveness of firms, which is often driven by the demands for responsible behaviour and innovativeness, is derived from studying the extant literature. By drawing from multiple theoretical lenses (i.e., legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, CSR literature, firms’ reputation, and innovativeness), we aim at evaluating their collective impact on firms’ competitiveness. Findings - The model suggests that firm’s contextual capabilities (e.g. legitimacy, innovation, and stakeholders) can define its CSR activities (e.g. CSR ethical, CSR social, and CSR environmental). The cumulative effects of these, define firm’s reputation, which eventually, produces firm’s own competitiveness. The study has argued that there is more to firms’ stakeholders than ordinary resources required in furtherance of firms’ economic objectives. It therefore follows that stakeholders’ potential to constitute a pool of resources and capabilities that the firm can blend with to realize its strategic objectives ought to be stressed. Consequently, markets and for that matter firms, are subject to CSR and innovation demands through, for example, more socially responsible productive behaviour. This requires that MNE subsidiaries in developing-countries connect different strategies towards improving their own competitiveness. This may be accomplished through, re-packaging CSR into bundles of interrelated activities, collaborating with stakeholders to jointly create and deliver social and economic values, and integrating CSR into productive activities that may lead to bundles of products to suit local market conditions. © www.iiste.or

Leaving no disease behind: The roadmap to securing universal health security and what this means for the surveillance of infectious diseases in Ghana as a precedent for sub- Saharan Africa

Introduction Ghana is the first country in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to aim for universal health coverage (UHC). Based on Ghana's UHC system, the accessibility and distribution of healthcare facilities were evaluated for 2020. Projecting into 2030, this study aimed at providing geographical information data for guiding future policies on siting required healthcare facilities. Ghana as a precedent for SSA was evaluated and proposed to "leave no disease behind"in the surveillance of infectious diseases (IDs). This is to reinforce the sustainable development goals (SDG) 3 agenda on health that underpins monitoring equity in "leaving no one behind."Methods Geospatial accessibility, travel time data, and algorithms were employed to evaluate the universality and accessibility of healthcare facilities, and their future projections to meet UHC by 2030. Healthcare facilities as surveillance sites were compared to communitybased surveillance to identify which would be more applicable as a surveillance system to leave no disease behind in Ghana. Findings Ghana has 93.8%, 6.1% and 0.1% as primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities respectively. It has 26.1% of healthcare facilities remaining to meet the SDG 3 health target by 2030. In terms of providing quality healthcare, 29.3% and 67.2% of the additional required healthcare facilities for optimal allocation and achieving the UHC target need to be secondary and tertiary respectively. In assessing the broad spectrum of IDs studied from 2000 to 2020, an average of 226 IDs were endemic or potentially endemic to Ghana. The majority of the studies carried out to identify these IDs were done through community-based surveillance. Conclusion Establishing community-based surveillance sites to leave no disease behind and also providing the required healthcare facilities to reinforce leaving no one behind will enhance the universal health security of Ghana as a precedent for SSA

Leaving no disease behind: the roadmap to securing universal health security and what this means for the surveillance of infectious diseases in Ghana as a precedent to sub-Saharan Africa

Replication code and data for the paper "Leaving no disease behind: the roadmap to securing universal health security and what this means for the surveillance of infectious diseases in Ghana as a precedent to sub-Saharan Africa." It contains computer code in R and input data to replicate or update the analysis and the figures, and the resulting data set

The unmet surgical needs of global refugee populations: A perspective review

The global refugee community, including those forced to flee due to persecution, conflict, or violence, faces significant challenges in accessing healthcare, resulting in a higher prevalence of surgical disease. These challenges have a profound impact on morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where many immigrants seek refuge. Limited availability of medical facilities, an inadequate surgical workforce, financial constraints and linguistic and cultural barriers all contribute to reduced access to healthcare. Limited access to competent healthcare leads to poor health outcomes, increased morbidity and mortality rates and suboptimal surgical results for refugees. To address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes increased funding for healthcare initiatives, workforce recruitment and training and improved coordination between aid organisations and local healthcare systems. Strategies for managing surgical conditions in the global refugee community encompass the development of targeted public health programmes, removing legal barriers, establishing healthcare facilities to enhance surgical access and prioritising disease prevention among refugees

The unmet surgical needs of global refugee populations: A perspective review

Peer reviewed: TrueThe global refugee community, including those forced to flee due to persecution, conflict, or violence, faces significant challenges in accessing healthcare, resulting in a higher prevalence of surgical disease. These challenges have a profound impact on morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where many immigrants seek refuge. Limited availability of medical facilities, an inadequate surgical workforce, financial constraints and linguistic and cultural barriers all contribute to reduced access to healthcare. Limited access to competent healthcare leads to poor health outcomes, increased morbidity and mortality rates and suboptimal surgical results for refugees. To address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes increased funding for healthcare initiatives, workforce recruitment and training and improved coordination between aid organisations and local healthcare systems. Strategies for managing surgical conditions in the global refugee community encompass the development of targeted public health programmes, removing legal barriers, establishing healthcare facilities to enhance surgical access and prioritising disease prevention among refugees

Recognising the barriers to securing affordable housing through the land use planning system in Sub-Saharan Africa: A perspective from Ghana

Housing low-income households is a daunting task for policy makers across the Global South, and especially for those in Africa where past attempts to deliver State-funded affordable housing projects yielded minimal results. Presenting Ghana as a case study, the purpose of this article is to consider the rationale for and barriers to securing affordable housing through the planning system, situated within an African context. The key factors that would inhibit effective policy implementation include, on the one hand, a lack of central government commitment, weak enforcement of planning regulations and low capacity of local planning authorities, and, on the other hand, the dominance of customary land ownership and the informal nature of housing delivery. That notwithstanding, undertaking a mapping exercise of large-scale formal residential developments built across Greater Accra in recent years, the article suggests that there is an opportunity cost in not attempting to extract some form of economic rent from the private sector. By having an already established nationalised development rights system alongside a rising formal real estate market, there is in effect scope for introducing planning obligations in the longer term. Whilst by necessity, it takes time to fully establish and enforce this form of land value capture legislation; nonetheless, if the principles can be established, transferable lessons exist across Africa and the Global South. n/