Factors Influencing the Effects of Large-Scale Land Acquisition on The Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers in the Pru District of Ghana

This study is undertaken to find out the factors influencing the effects of large-scale land acquisition on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in the Pru district. An important driver for large-scale land acquisition in Ghana, and the rest of Africa, is the growing global demand for biofuels and other plantations. Methodologically, mixed method approach was adopted by applying both quantitative and qualitative research designs. Quantitative data was obtained through a cross-sectional survey from smallholder farming households in the study communities of the Pru District with the help of a multi-stage sampling technique and cluster sampling technique. Qualitative data was obtained through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) from farmerbased associations in the Pru district. The Pru district in the Bono East region was purposively selected based on the reason that it isthe most affected district with activities of land grabbing in Ghana. Based on the sample frame of 2,554 households in the communities, a sample size of 346 was used for the study out of which 332 were households and 14 were investors and traditional authorities. The study revealed that household heads’ level of education, sex of household heads, household engagement in off-farm activities, total farm land owned by a household, size of land lost by households to large-scale land investors, households’ participation in decision making, and training of households for other alternative jobs significantly influence large-scale land acquisition on the livelihood of smallholder farming households. The study found out that the higher the level of education of a household head, the lesser the household suffers the adverse effects of losing their farm land to largescale land investors hence their livelihoods. It was revealed that some major factors that influenced large-scale land acquisition in the Pru district were the availability of land for the cultivation of plantations by investors, the soil fertility of the land in the district and the freedom and peace enjoyed by investors to go about their businesses and enjoying good tax exemptions in such an environment thus Pru district

Ethnic Variations in Blood Pressure and Hypertension

The objective of the study was to review published evidence on whether blood pressure levels and the prevalence of hypertension are higher or lower in South Asian adults living in the UK as compared to white populations. A systematic literature review was carried out using MEDLINE 1966-2001, EMBASE 1980-2001, and citations from references. A total of 12 studies were identified. The data showed important differences between studies in terms of age and sex of samples, definition of South Asians (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) and methods of evaluating blood pressure. Seven studies reported lower mean systolic blood pressures, while seven studies showed higher diastolic pressures in South Asian men compared to white men. In women, six of nine studies showed lower systolic blood pressures, while five reported higher diastolic pressures. For prevalence of hypertension, five of 10 studies reported higher rates in South Asian men than in white men. Two of six studies showed higher prevalence rates in South Asian women. Overall, the most representative sample and up-to-date data came from the Health Survey of England 1999. Both blood pressure and the prevalence data show important differences between South Asian subgroups, yet most studies combined them. The data also showed a geographical variation between London (comparatively high blood pressure in South Asians) and the rest of the UK (comparatively low or similar blood pressure). Bangladeshis had low blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). In other South Asian subgroups, low blood pressure and the low BMI did not always coincide. To conclude, the common perception that blood pressure in South Asians is comparatively high is unreliable - the picture is complex. Overall, blood pressures are similar but there is stark heterogeneity in the South Asian groups, with slightly higher blood pressure in Indians, slightly lower blood pressure in Pakistanis, and much lower blood pressure in Bangladeshis. Variations in study methods, body shape, size and fat, and in the mix of South Asian groups probably explain much of the inconsistency in the results

Decolonising the Discourse on Resilience

This article presents a discursive critique of the Eurocentric paradigms of knowledge production that characterise much of the underlying logics in the age of neoliberal discourses on resilience, pointing out important areas not given sufficient attention. In particular, it highlights the limits of the modernist ontology of resilience, whereby extremely “vulnerable” African communities are encouraged “to become resilient” to climatic disruption and environmental catastrophe and to “bounce back” as rapidly as possible. The article moves the discussion forward, drawing from critical decolonial approaches, in alignment with Indigenous knowledges, to question and rethink meaningful alternative ontologies, ways of knowing and being, in adaptive governance. I argue that the recognition of the plurality of many worlds, rather than one world, highlighted through critical decolonial understandings of epistemic forms with Indigenous knowledges, can be counterposed to Western universality as an innovative ontology to decentre the world order in the problematic dominant development of resilience thinking. Keywords: resilience; decolonisation; Africa; epistemology; pluriverse; Indigeneit

The Politics of Trade Disputes in the Fourth Republic: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria

The relationship between Ghana and Nigeria over the years can be described as oscillatory because of the occasional twist and turn. Notably, a trade dispute was one of the challenges that marred the relationship between the two countries. Historically, trade disputes emerged in the 1930s as a result of the cocoa hold-up crisis in 1932, and this led to the call by the National Crusade for the protection of Ghanaian enterprises to expel foreign traders, predominantly Nigerians. This phenomenon continued during Busia's regime, where he expelled a large number of Nigerian traders through the Aliens Compliance Order in 1969. Buhari's regime also responded in 1983-85 by expelling over one million Ghanaians from Nigeria for economic and trade reasons. In 2012, the government of Ghana employed a contingent economic policy that led to the closure of many Nigerian shops. Moreover, the closure of the Nigerian land borders on Ghana and other trading partners revived the trade tension between the two countries, where Ghanaians retaliated with other draconian policies. The intermittent trade disputes between the two countries triggered the quest of the researchers to assess the fundamental driving forces of the impasse, identify the politico-economic ramifications of the disputes on both countries and provide some recommendations to deal with the problem. Relevant related literature was reviewed thematically, and International Regime Theory was used to underpin the research. The study used a qualitative research approach to gather in-depth data from respondents through interviews and observations. Thematic analysis was used as an approach for data interpretation and discussion. The relevant literature and the findings revealed that the inconsistencies of ECOWAS protocols with the national trade policies, the use of protectionist economic policies such as the "prohibited goods" policy by Nigeria against Ghana, and the implementation of the GIPC Act 2013 (865), Nigeria’s border closure, and lockdown of Nigerian retail shops in Ghana were some of the fundamental driving forces of the trade disputes between the countries in the fourth republic. Economically, the occasional trade disturbances led to the loss of capital and revenue for traders from both sides. Notwithstanding these challenges, there was an initiative by both governments to find a lasting solution to the menace. The research concluded with some recommendations for policy and praxis. Keywords: Trade Dispute, ECOWAS Protocols, Traders Association, West Africa, Fourth Republic DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-10-07 Publication date:May 31st 202

Assessment of Emotional Distress in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Case Study at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle-Bu

Emotional distress is a common symptom experienced by most cancer patients which is difficult to detect and if detected, only a small percentage receives treatment. It becomes worse over the course of treatment and after the end of therapy which negatively impact on the quality of life of the patients. This study looked at the prevalence of emotional distress of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and the factors that affects emotional distress. A cross-sectional study was done with 150 participants receiving chemotherapy at the National Centre for Radiotherapy, Korle-Bu. Data were collected using structured self-rated questionnaires. Emotional distress was assessed using the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and linked with their clinical characteristics from their medical records. Chi-square was used to examine the factors that affect emotional distress. Out of 150 participants, 89(59.3%) were distressed. More females were more distressed than men. Analysis indicated that the younger the age, low income level,   being employed and low educational status affects distress level. Common side effects of chemotherapy experienced by the patients were also related to high levels of distress. Emotional distress is relatively high in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and it is affected by younger age, low income level, being employed and low educational status. Early detection and intervention of distress during chemotherapy will be easier if health professionals especially the oncology nurse screen patients before and during chemotherapy so as to know those who are vulnerable and need psychological care. Keywords: cancer, emotional distress, chemotherapy, hospital anxiety and depression scale, tumour

Development of Composite Material for Wind Turbine Blades

Rapid increases in the prices of conventional turbine blade making materials as well as future sustainability issues is attracting research interest in the development of polymer composites for turbine blade applications. This study examines the suitability of using a novel bamboo fibre and recycled plastics composite developed for wind turbine blade application. Bamboo fibre was extracted from raw bamboo by chemical and mechanical processes. Recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) was collected, cut into pieces, cleaned and combined with extracted bamboo fibre to form the composite. The percentage ratio of fibre content in the ten specimens ranged from 2.5% to 25%. A series of mechanical tests were conducted on the specimens, including tensile test, impact test, water absorption test and sun radiation test. Results established that as the percentage of bamboo fibre in the specimen increased, the tensile strength and impact energy also increased. Water absorption and sun radiation tests conducted on specimen X revealed no meaningful impact its mechanical properties. Hence, the most significant deduction from this study is that the specimen with 25% bamboo fibre and 75% HDPE matrix possesses the quality that qualifies it to be used as a material for wind turbine blade fabrication

Total physical activity might not be a good measure in the relationship with HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in a multi-ethnic population: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) has a beneficial effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides. However, observational studies show contrasting results for this association between different ethnic groups. It is unclear whether this is due to differences in the PA composition. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the total PA, along with its intensity and duration, with HDL and triglycerides in a multi-ethnic population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population was sampled from the SUNSET study and included: 502 European- Dutch, 338 Hindustani-Surinamese, and 596 African-Surinamese participants living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We assessed PA with the SQUASH questionnaire. We calculated age-sex-adjusted betas, geometric mean ratios (GMRs), and prevalence ratios (PRs) to assess the relationship of PA with HDL and triglycerides.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the adjusted models, the highest total PA tertile compared to the lowest tertile was beneficially associated with HDL (beta: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.16 and PR low HDL 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.88) and triglycerides (GMR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.03 and PR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.29, 1.08) for the African-Surinamese. No statistically significant associations appeared for total PA among the European-Dutch and Hindustani-Surinamese. The adjusted models with the intensity score and HDL showed beneficial associations for the European-Dutch (beta: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.10) and African-Surinamese (beta: 0.06, 0.02, 0.10), for log triglycerides for the European-Dutch (beta: -0.08, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.03), Hindustani-Surinamese (beta: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.16, 0.03), and African-Surinamese (beta: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.01). Excepting HDL in African-Surinamese, the duration score was unrelated to HDL and triglycerides in any group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Activity intensity related beneficially to blood lipids in almost every ethnic group. The activity duration was unrelated to blood lipids, while the total PA 'summary score' was associated only with blood lipids for African-Surinamese. The difference in total PA composition is the most probable explanation for ethnic differences in the total PA association with blood lipids. Multi-ethnic observational studies should include not only a measure of the total PA, but other measures of PA as well, particularly the intensity of activity.</p