Sub-Saharan Africa’s Financial Market Development Gap: A Human Capital Deficiency? (Decomposition of Banking, Financial Sector Intermediation and Stock Market Failures)

This study evaluates the influence of human capital on development of three elements of a financial market, namely: banks, financial sector intermediation to the private sector and stock markets, in Sub-Saharan Africa. The developed model is relatively innovative as it explicitly models financial market failures, includes a nonlinear variable and is underpinned by adaptive expectations. Tertiary education was found to be critical for banking, financial sector intermediation and stock market development. The study finds that, for the banking industry, past failures narrow current gaps. However, increased public expenditure on education is important for only financial sector intermediation and stock market development. Keywords: Financial markets, Human capital, Sub-Saharan Africa. JEL Classification: G10, O16, O55

岡山県に分布する白亜紀前期羽山層砕屑物質の供給源：砕屑粒の鉱物化学組成とモード組成から導かれる制約

Petrographic and phase chemistry studies of detrital grains were carried out on sandstones from the Lower Cretaceous Hayama Formation, Inner Zone of Southwest Japan, to determine their provenance and the tectonic setting during the early Cretaceous. The results of the modal mineralogy suggest that the Hayama Formation has magmatic arc provenance and that deposition of the sediments took place in the back-arc areas with detritus mostly derived from the magmatic arc and rifted continental margins. The chemical compositions of chromian spinel, chlorite and sphene indicate that significant proportions of the detrital grains were derived from mafic and/or ultramafic sources. The source areas are the mafic and ophiolitic rocks in the Sangun-Renge and Akiyoshi terranes and the felsic volcanic rocks probably from either the Akiyoshi terrane or a source not presently exposed in southwest Japan. However, minor amounts of the detritus were derived from the basement rocks; i.e., carbonates and siliciclastic rocks of the Akiyoshi terrane and the metamorphosed mafic rocks of the Chizu terrane

Provenance of Lower Cretaceous sediments in the Nariwa and Hokubo areas, Okayama Prefecture, deduced from detrital modes and geochemistry of sandstones

Petrographic and geochemical study of sandstones from the Kenseki Formation have shown that the sandstones are compositionally immature. The immaturity is reflected geochemically by their low SiO2 contents (52-66 wt%) and petrographically by low modal percents of quartz and K-feldspar, and high modal percents of plagioclase and volcanic lithic fragmants. The Kensaki sandstones are, however, poor in Na2O (up to 2.1 wt%). Both petrography and geochemistry suggest a heterogeneous source lithologies of acidic and basic volcanics, sedimentary, and ultramafic rocks. Petrographic evidence is supplied by quartz and plagioclase of volcanic origin, acidic volcanic fragments, basic volcanic fragments, volcanic glass, serpentinite fragments and detrital spinel grains. Geochemical evidence is provided by high FeO* (total iron as FeO), MgO, TiO2, CaO and K2O contents. Petrographic and geochemical study of the Kenseki sandstones indicate calc-alkaline oceanic island are provenance. The sediments were locally derived, with Alpine-type ultramafic rocks exposed in the north and volcanic materials of the Akiyoshi Belt supplying the bulk of the detritus

Exploring fraud and abuse in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) using data mining technique as a statistical model

This study explored patterns of fraud and abuse that exist in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District using data mining techniques, with a specific focus on malaria-related claims. The study employed quantitative research approach with survey design as a strategy of enquiry. This survey explores the utility of various data mining techniques such as data collection, data cleaning/extraction, data integration, data selection, data transformation and pattern evaluation in the health domain. Samples of 720 clients diagnosed with malaria in the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 from 4 NHIS service providers in the districts were randomly selected for this study.  Results from two-way between-subjects Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that Hospital B Private and Hospital A Private recorded the highest and lowest mean cost of malaria treatment respectively. The study further revealed that repetition of NHIS registration number, overbilling of drugs, drug mismatch, excessive prescription of drugs for malaria treatment and duplication of clients records were some of the fraud and abuse at the facility

Students’ errors in solving linear equation word problems: Case study of a Ghanaian senior high school

The study examined errors students make in solving linear equation word problems with a view to expose the nature of these errors and to make suggestions for classroom teaching. A diagnostic test comprising 10 linear equation word problems, was administered to a sample (n=130) of senior high school first year Home Economics and General Arts students in a senior high school in the Central Region of Ghana. The errors students made were identified based on the modified Newman Error Hierarchical levels (NEAL), which comprise reading, comprehension, transformation, process skills and encoding errors. The results revealed that majority (60%) of the students attempted most of the questions with a few (2%) arriving at the correct answer which implies students have difficulties in tackling linear equation word problems. It revealed that about 75% of the students made comprehension errors; 86% made transformation errors which occurred during the translation of the statement to algebraic form; 84% made process skills errors which occurred during computation process, and finally 86% made encoding errors which occurred at the final stages of the work. The proportion of students reaching the encoding level was very few (< 30%). In conclusion, it can be argued from the results that students’ errors in solving linear equation word problems are due largely to their inability to comprehend and interpret the sentences in other to proceed to the process and encoding skills. Recommendations are made for supporting senior high school mathematics teachers in in-service education programmes to increase their efficacy in teaching linear equation word problems

La vida de los pescadores importa: cuestiones sociales en la migración de la pesca en pequeña escala de Ghana

Migration is a common feature of most small-scale fisheries (SSF) across the globe. To enhance fisheries resources sustainability and management, we examined the social issues in the SSF from the perspective of fishers, Chief Fishermen, and Fisheries Technical Officers who are actively involved in SSF migration and fisheries management along the coast of Ghana. We conducted in-depth interviews in six important migrant fishers’ communities and analysed documents on the socio-economic conditions of migrant fishers, conflicts among migrant fishers, rights of migrant fishers and the role of government in managing fishers’ migration. Findings showed that the successful integration of migrant fishers in the host communities resulted in minimal conflictual incidents that are resolved through dialogue. Furthermore, both the Fisheries Technical Officers and Chief Fishermen are involved in conflict resolution depending on the nature of the dispute. Also, most migrant fishers (over 50%) have the same rights as the local fishers, though they are marginalized during the distribution of premix fuel. Migrant fishers with prominent status played key role during decision-making process in the host communities. Overall, the study showed that migrant fishers have aided in the progress of fishing technology, food security, and small-scale business in the host fishing communities. To avert any form of marginalization during the distribution of premix fuel, it is prudent for authorities to develop relevant policies that will ensure that migrant fishers receive enough fuel for their fishing activities in the host communities.La migración es una característica común de la mayoría de las pesquerías de pequeña escala (PPE) en todo el mundo. Para mejorar la sostenibilidad y la gestión de los recursos pesqueros, se examinaron los problemas sociales en las PPE desde la perspectiva de los pescadores, los Jefes de Pescadores y los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca que participan activamente en la migración y la gestión pesquera de las PPE a lo largo de la costa de Ghana. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad en seis importantes comunidades de pescadores migrantes y analizamos documentos sobre las condiciones socioeconómicas de los pescadores migrantes, los conflictos entre los pescadores migrantes, los derechos de los pescadores migrantes y el papel del gobierno en la gestión de la migración de los pescadores. Los hallazgos mostraron que la integración exitosa de los pescadores migrantes en las comunidades de acogida resultó en incidentes conflictivos mínimos que se resuelven a través del diálogo. Además, tanto los Oficiales Técnicos de Pesca como los Jefes de Pescadores están involucrados en la resolución de conflictos, dependiendo de la naturaleza de la disputa. Además, la mayoría de los pescadores migrantes (más de 50%) tienen los mismos derechos que los pescadores locales, aunque son marginados durante la distribución de la premezcla de combustible. Los pescadores migrantes con un estatus destacado desempeñaron un papel clave durante el proceso de toma de decisiones en las comunidades de acogida. En general, el estudio mostró que los pescadores migrantes han ayudado en el progreso de la tecnología pesquera, la seguridad alimentaria y los negocios a pequeña escala en las comunidades pesqueras anfitrionas. Para evitar cualquier forma de marginación durante la distribución de combustible de premezcla, es prudente que las autoridades desarrollen políticas inteligentes que aseguren que los pescadores migrantes reciban suficiente combustible para sus actividades pesqueras en las comunidades de acogida

Susceptibility to Botrytis blight at different floral stages of wild blueberry phenotypes

Botrytis blossom blight is an important disease of wild blueberries with yield losses in excess of 20% frequently occurring. Two field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to determine the susceptibility of four phenotypes (Vaccinium angustifolium, V. angustifolium f. nigrum, V. myrtilloides and V. angustifolium var. Fundy] at different floral stages [(Bud break (F5); bud prebloom; (F6), corolla fully open (F7), and senescent corolla (F8)] to Botrytis infection. Specific flower clusters on tagged stems from different phenotypes were inoculated with Botrytis cinerea conidial suspension (106 conidia·ml-1). Disease development were assessed eight days after inoculation. Disease incidence and severity in phenotype ranged from 14.1 to 22.6% and 37.4 to 42.3% in 2016, respectively, and 39.8 to 44.1% and 9.70 to 19.1% in 2017, respectively. Results indicated that V. angustifolium was the most susceptible followed by V. angustifolium f. nigrum and V. angustifolium var. Fundy. Vaccinium myrtilloides was found to be least susceptible. Incidence and severity on floral stages ranged from 2.95 to 36.4% and 7.81 to 75.5% in 2016, respectively, and 7.28 to 66.9% and 11.1 to 27.1% in 2017, respectively. Floral stage F7 was the most susceptible with incidence up to 66.9% and severity up to 75.5% followed by F6, F5 and F8. Therefore, results from this study indicated that V. myrtilloides was less susceptible to B. cinerea than V. angustifolium phenotypes, and F6 and F7 stages were the most susceptible to Botrytis blight. These results will assist producers in making more informed decisions on Botrytis blight control and as its management practices shift from blanket to precise delivery of disease control products

Primary school mathematics teachers’ ideas, beliefs, and practices of constructivist instructional strategies

The study explored Ghanaian primary school mathematics teachers’ ideas, beliefs and practices of constructivist instructional strategies (CIS). The design for the study was a sequential exploratory design, comprising two hundred and fifty-two (252) mathematics teachers (126 lower primary teachers and 126 upper primary teachers), who were purposively selected from school districts in the Upper East region. The qualitative data consisted of interview responses and lesson observations. The quantitative data consisting mainly of teachers’ responses to 3-point Likert scale questionnaire items, helped to investigate relationship in two quantitative variables. The results indicated that through CIS pupils were able to construct their own understanding, and were willing to follow a learner-centred method of instruction. Additionally, teachers became aware of social interaction and authentic learning tasks, two aspects of CIS. It was also determined that as teachers’ perceptions of CIS increased, their frequency of use of selected CIS correspondingly increased. The implications of this study are that mathematics teachers should be provided with resources that would enable them to teach using CIS. To forestall this, in-service and professional development programmes should continually be organized for teachers to keep them abreast of CIS