A study of amateur groups’ re-interpretation of traditional dances in Ghana: Role on continuity and safeguarding

The amateur dance category in Ghana has been a vibrant force in the performance of traditional Ghanaian dancing for over 20 years. Fluid in ideologies, they have been able to affect the paradigms of traditional dancing in Ghana so much that their activities cannot be overlooked. Even though they are mostly taunted as the ‘destroyers’ of traditional forms by some schools of thought, this category’s input is especially important as they have a direct influence on dance structures in Ghana through their re-interpretations of traditional dance forms. This paper seeks to identify some distinctive re-interpretative styles/patterns this category exerts on traditional dances and their effects on preservation of traditional dances in Ghana

Perception of Fishermen on Heavy Metal Pollution of the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast, Ghana

Many lagoons around the globe including those in Ghana are perceived to have been polluted in one way or another. The Fosu lagoon located in Cape Coast in the Central region of Ghana is among the much known ones. The importance of the Fosu lagoon includes tourist attraction, religious and economic value, of particular importance to fishermen who fish various aquatic animals, is blackchin tilapia, referred to locally as mpatoa with zoological name saratherodon melanotheron specie of the chiclid family. However the lagoon appears to be polluted in several ways and this is contributing to the drying of the lagoon and subsequently reducing its economic value. This study however looks at the perception of fishermen who fish in the lagoon for their livelihood to find out as to whether the lagoon is polluted with heavy metals. Sixty fishermen were sampled among an estimated 131 using the purposive and snowball sampling technique. Both open- and closed-ended questions in a questionnaire were employed to collect the data. Descriptive method of analysis was utilized in analyzing the data using SPSS software. The study identified ignorance, illiteracy, economic, and cultural factors as the reasons for fishermen’s perception. This calls for the need to educate fishermen on translocation of heavy metals through plants to fishes in the lagoon. The author recommends that radio, vernacular, health and medical practitioners be used as the media of communication to educate fishermen on pollution of the lagoon and its effects. Keywords: perception, pollution, heavy metals, leachates

Usage of Autogas within the Road Transport Industry in Two Contrasting Settlements in Ghana

Road transport carries beyond 95% of passenger and freight traffic in Ghana. Though autogas, also referred to as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was traditionally encouraged to be used in residences and households, many road transport owners and drivers have shifted to the use of the fuel. The main objective of the study was therefore to ascertain the consumption characteristics of autogas in the urban and rural administrative districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods in gathering data, using questionnaire and interview schedule. Multistage sampling technique was used in choosing the region, Metropolitans, Municipalities and Districts (MMDs). Ten rural and urban districts were considered while five hundred and fifty-six drivers partook in the study. Open- and closed-ended questions were posed. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (Version 21) was employed as the in the analysis. Descriptive tools such as frequencies, percentages, and tables were utilized in the analysis. It was found among others that between 19 percent (within the districts) and 39 percent (in the metropolis/municipalities) of the drivers use autogas to power their vehicles comprising taxis, private cars and minibuses. The ratios of autogas, gasoline and gasoil usage in the rural and urban districts were 19:29:58 and 39:20:45 respectively. This consumption can be said to be substantial enough to influence autogas shortages. The paper recommends that there must be an integrated and holistic approach, designed in a strategic fashion in dealing with the supply chain of the fuel to avoid frequent shortages. Keywords: liquefied petroleum gas; rural; transportation; urban

The State of a ‘Choked’ Lagoon: A Two-decade Overview of the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast, Ghana

Environmental researchers all over the world are concerned with the rate at which lagoons are being negatively modified beyond critical threshold capacities to the detriment of future generations. The Fosu lagoon located in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana is no exception. The lagoon was identified as polluted by the close of 1993. Various strategies to prevent, if not curtail, pollution and its effects on the lagoon, since then, have been suggested. Though the privatization of waste collection management in the metropolis was introduced during the 2000’s, this has not been enough to save the lagoon from the effects of pollution.  Using content analysis as research technique the study looked at various works of researchers in relation to the lagoon from 1993 to 2013. Secondary data was basically employed using texts, essays, book chapters, journal and non-journal articles, historical documents, theses and dissertations. Informed interviews and observations were also employed. The paper contends that various stakeholders have failed to heed to suggestions made by researchers. It attributes the inadequacy of efforts to save the lagoon to myopic leadership, bribery and corruption, lack of shared visionary leadership among political parties and traditional councils, discontinuity of local government leadership and general institutional failure. The study sought to provide recommendations to stake-holders ways by which the lagoon could be salvaged from complete demise. It identified the central government, lands commission, metropolitan assembly, traditional council, town and country planning, the Environmental Protection Agency and educational institutions as the major stake holders in this regard. Keywords: aquatic; landfills; food chain; nitrates; solid waste

Electricity Consumption, Exchange-rebate Facility, and Banning of Imported Second-hand Refrigerators: Reviewing an On-going Process

Second-hand and old refrigerators are relatively not energy-efficient. They also use refrigerants such as chloroflourocarbons and hydroflourochlourocarbons. They therefore cause climate change and ozone-layer depletion. Among these and other reasons was the implementation of the Montreal protocol in 1987. The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was therefore established to assist needy nations to facilitate the implementation of the protocol. Ghana therefore qualified for the fund and thereby in March 2013 introduced a rebate programme on refrigerators. Households were invited at will to submit old refrigerators for new ones at subsidized prices. As an on-going process, however, it appears the patronage of the facility is not encouraging. The purpose of the study being qualitative and quantitative was therefore to ascertain the response of the public to the exchange-rebate facility in relation to electricity cost and banning of second-hand refrigerators. Cape Coast Polytechnic in Ghana was used as a case study.  One-hundred-and-twenty questionnaire were administered at a response rate of 95 percent. Interviews were also conducted among seven suppliers and retailers. Stratified and systematic random sampling methods were employed. SPSS Version 17 was used to analyze data. Cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were also utilized in analyzing the data.  It was found that monthly electricity cost per household ranged between 8.00 ($2.49) and GH¢155.00 ($35.74). Only 11% of those using imported second-hand refrigerators had patronized the facility. It is recommended that CEPS and the Energy Commission should intensify their monitoring activities at harbors, national borders and retail shops that still sell imported second-hand refrigerators in the country. Key words: climate change, energy-efficient, ozone-layer

Strength and Direction of Demographic Variables as Determinants of Driver-Chauffeur Satisfaction in Judicial Procedural Fairness

Studies have shown that treating litigants fairly is one way by which public confidence can be improved and sustained in the judiciary. Demographic features of such individuals may also influence their confidence indirectly and how they are satisfied with the procedures in the criminal justice system directly. The rationale of implementing the study was therefore to establish the extent of dissatisfaction of procedural fairness within the driver-chauffeur community in Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. The objectives were to determine the strength, direction and odds ratio of the major satisfaction predictors with reference to demographic characteristics. The study employed the purposive method, dwelling on the accidental technique to sample drivers and chauffeurs who had on one occasion or more fallen victim of traffic offence. Eighty subjects were sampled. The demographic variables considered include age; driving experience; type of vehicle; brand of vehicle; religion; and highest education attainment in relation to ten judicial fairness characteristics. Logistic regression was employed as the statistical tool to analyze the data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 21. Generally, factors that influenced satisfaction were experience in driving (β2 = -0.667); type of vehicle (β3 = 0.553); religion (β4 = -0.363); highest educational attainment (β5 = -1.306) and brand of vehicle (β6 = -1.809). The contribution of age to the combined model was insignificant (ρ = 0.337). The paper recommends that judges in the metropolis should take these factors into consideration when hearing and deciding on matters concerning traffic offences.Key words: age; driving experience; educational attainment; religion; vehicle brand; vehicle type

Institutional Case-based Study on the Effect of Research Methods on Project Work in the Curriculum of Mechanical Engineering Programmes in Ghanaian Polytechnics

Preparing students for Project Work (PROJ 1 and PROJ 2) require them to go through Research Methods (RE) as part of the curriculum though it takes the centre stage of the entire preparation process. Knowledge of the relationships between the two could be a useful tool in improving the performance of students in the former. The purpose of the case study was therefore to assess the relationship between the two courses of Higher National Diploma (HND) Mechanical Engineering students in Cape Coast Polytechnic, Ghana, within a ten-year period from 2002 to 2011. Raw data of examination results of all 529 students comprising Plant Maintenance Engineering, 285; Automotive Engineering, 165; and Production Engineering 79, on case-by-case basis was analyzed. The study was entirely quantitative employing frequencies, percentages, ratios and tables as descriptive tools for the analysis. The strength, direction and significance (ρ) of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) between the courses were determined utilizing SPSS, version 21 software. The ratios, in terms of positive significant correlation coefficients were found to be 11:7:13 for RE/PROJ 1; RE/PROJ 2; and PROJ1/PROJ 2 respectively; and 16:11:4 for Plant Maintenance, Automotive and Production Engineering respectively. Strength ranged between 0.117 and 0.869. The paper suggests that in reviewing the subject-curricula for the two courses, experts with professional background in curriculum design and structuring should be involved. Stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Accreditation Board (NAB); The National Board for Professional and Technical Examination, (NABPTEX); the Polytechnic(s); and subject teachers should be included in the process. Keywords: annual; biennial; correlation coefficient; relationship: subject-curricula

Health Implications of Polluted Tilapia Consumption – The Perception of Fosu Lagoon Fishermen in Cape Coast, Ghana

It has long been posited that the Fosu Lagoon, located in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana, is among polluted lagoons in the West African Coastal Zone.  The lagoon is a habitat of many aquatic fishes, the most popular among is tilapia with zoological name saratherodon melanotheron of the chiclid family.  Tilapia continues to be fished from this polluted lagoon in spite of the fact that the fishesare polluted with lead and cadmium.This paper looks at the perception of fishermen who fish in the lagoon with regards to effects of consumption of the tilapia on their health. The purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in selecting the sample population.  Interview schedule and observation tools were applied in soliciting data from the fishermen.  Both open and closed ended questions were posed in the schedule.SPSS 13 was used for the analysis. The descriptive method of analysis was employed. Results gathered showed that fishermen did not have any idea on translocation of toxic heavy metals from water through the food chain to humans. On the average 75.5 percent of the fishermendid not perceive that tilapia consumption had negative health implications. However over 90 percent of the subjects consumed between 78g and 500g of tilapia per week. The paper recommends that medical personnel, particularly, doctors must be involved in educating the fishermen on the health implications that may arise in the consumption of tilapia from the Fosu lagoon.  Vernacular, particularly the local dialect, would be the most appropriate medium of communication in the education process. Keywords: cadmium, health, lead, perception, pollution.

Perceptive Views of Fishermen on Sustainability of Fishing in the Fosu lagoon in Cape Coast, Ghana

Pollution of water bodies such as lagoons has rendered such natural resources unsustainable in terms of fishing activities. The Fosu lagoon in the Central Region of Ghana is suffering the same fate. The black chin tilapia catch which was the main source of fishing activity has reduced now-a-years while fishermen loose the economic incentive of their fishing activities. This study examines the perception of fishermen who fish in the lagoon. It looks at how the fishermen perceive the pollution of thelagoon ingeneral and how it is affecting fishing activities vis-à-vis sustainability of fishing in the lagoon. Sixty fishermen were sampled for the study. The purposive and snowball sampling methods were used in sampling the population. The Descriptive statistic technique was employed to analyze the data. Majority of the fishermen were of the view that the lagoon is not polluted though contaminated.They contended that fish catch was not sustainable when assessed in terms of lagoon habitat, overfishing, tilapia-stock depletion andpollution. It is recommended that measures should be taken to reduce if not eliminate pollution of the lagoon. The paper concludes that both sustainable fishing and pollution of the lagoon could be managed using modern scientific methods. Keywords: fish-stock depletion, habitat destruction, over-exploitation,pollution, sustainable fishing

Attitude of the Youth towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): The Case of Cape Coast Polytechnic

Various forms of stigma exist as far as HIH/AIDS is concerned. Its infection is usually related to promiscuous lifestyles though that is not the only means by which it could be contracted. Its effects include high bills on medications, nutrition, diets, funerals and welfare related support systems in addition to loss of productive time and energy from care-givers.  Stigmatization and associated discrimination creates the vicious cycle by which infected persons spread the disease. This study therefore intends to ascertain the attitudes of students with respect to stigma and discriminating attitudes such as friendship, sex-mating and marriage. It is a case study of students in Cape Coast Polytechnic, Ghana. Four hundred and sixty-six students were involved. Stratified sampling technique was used to sample the target population. Questionnaire was utilized to solicit data. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data. Cross- tabulations and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. Associations between demographic variables such as gender, age, settlement type, programme of study and school in institution versus attitudes were sought.  The study found that 91.8 percent polytechnic students were aware of the existence of HIV/AIDS. There was 67.31 percent negative attitude in terms of choosing a spouse and sixty percent negative attitude in separating with PLWHA as spouse. Geographic region and settlement type could affect the attitude of students towards PLWHA. It is recommended that the management must have a policy on stigmatization and discrimination to make students’ associations organically and intrinsically part of HIV/AIDS education programmes in the institution. Key words: discrimination, HIV-positive, PLWHA, stigma,