A multi-channel noise dosimeter

Ph.D.Eugene T. Patronis, Jr

Strategic Uncertainty And Environmental Scanning Behaviors Among CEOs In Ghana

Fifty-nine CEOs from sectors across the country were sampled concerning their views on perceived uncertainty in seven environmental sectors and how it affects scanning behavior across the sectors. It was observed that the sectors in the task environment produced more strategic uncertainty than did sectors in the general environment. The results also showed that environmental scanning correlated positively with strategic uncertainty but that the frequency at which the environment is scanned varied across firms and industries and was CEO-specific. Moreover, when sector uncertainty was high, scanning involved a greater use of personal and external sources

Typologies and drivers of the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices by smallholder farmers in rural Ghana

This study examined the factors that determine the adoption of CSA practices in dryland farming systems. The study answers the following questions: (i) what are the typologies of CSA practices available to smallholder farmers in rural Ghana?, (ii) what is the adoption rate of CSA practices among smallholder farmers? and, (iii) what are the socioeconomic predictors of the adoption of CSA practices in rural Ghana? This paper employed mixed-method participatory approaches including surveys of 1061 households, and 15 key informant interviews supplemented with 2 regional stakeholder workshops. The study used a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to examine the climate smart agriculture typologies adopted among the smallholder farmers. To investigate the drivers of adoption, the multinomial ordered probit model was applied. The PCA results suggested that, there were seven (7) uncorrelated dimensions involving 23 CSA practices that were generally employed – water smart practices, energy smart practices, nutrient smart practices, carbon smart practices, weather smart practices, planting smart practices, and knowledge smart practices. These 7 typologies explained 63.91% of the total variance. The PCA results indicated that smallholder farmers do not necessarily rely on a single CSA practice to cope with climate change; but utilise a combination of practices. The results of the ordered probit model suggested that the factors driving the adoption of CSA practices are mixed nuanced on the adoption typology and farmers' location and institutional factors. The paper contributes to an understanding of the different typologies for CSA practices and highlights the various socioeconomic factors driving the adoption rates of CSA practices by smallholders' farmers. This is crucial for the upscale of CSA practices in the face of climate change in Ghana and West Africa more widely

A decomposition analysis of microcredit welfare gaps in Ghana. A gender analysis

The literature is replete with studies suggesting that the microcredit market is expanding with varying degrees of impact on male and female clients. The paper investigates the extent to which differences in loan use behaviour and loan amount received contribute to differences in microcredit welfare impact among male and female clients. Using the sixth (2012/2013) and seventh (2016/2017) rounds of the Ghana Living Standards Survey, and applying the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique with the two-staged recentred influence functions, we find that the welfare disparity in microcredit delivery is due to a lower inequality and poverty rate among female clients relative to their male counterparts. Additionally, we find that gender welfare gaps in microcredit delivery are powered extensively by differences in the size of loans received and the loan use behaviour of clients. The findings lend support for policy reassessment on gender in the provision of credit; to improve portfolio quality and reinforce the returns of microcredit access among clients

Credit Unions in Ghana

Abstract The study examined the technical efficiency of 66 Credit Unions (CUs) in Ghana using a Cobb-Douglas Stochastic frontier model for the period 2009 to 2012. Factors influencing the technical inefficiency of the CUs were also investigated. We applied the production and intermediation approaches to efficiency modelling to select the input and output variables to generate the technical efficiencies of the CUs. The results show average technical efficiency of 53.40% and 57.96% across the sampled CUs over the period for the production and intermediation models respectively. Thus CUs can improve inputs use by about 47% and 42% on the average to increase outputs through its production and intermediation channels respectively. We also found staff numbers and productivity as critical inputs that influence technical efficiency of the CUs. Finally, CUs can take advantage of increasing returns in financial intermediation to restructure and engage in mergers to strengthen their capital base and competitiveness in Ghana

Effects of trade liberalization on the global decoupling and decomposition of CO2 emissions from economic growth

Evidence of climate change is widespread and severe across all parts of the world. This poses a threat to humanity, and the entire environment. Appropriate policies are therefore required to help reduce greenhouse gas emission levels, limit the rate of global warming and its impact on climate change while pursuing national growth targets. This study employs the Tapio decoupling method to analyse the decoupling relationship (DR) between economic growth and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 1998 to 2018. We also apply the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method on an extended Kaya identity to analyse CO2 emissions drivers in 145 countries. Last, the study examined the relative impacts of trade intensity and trade efficiency on the DR between economic growth and CO2 emissions. The results revealed that regions with relatively many developing and emerging countries (i.e., SSA, EAP, LAC, MENA, and SA) generally performed Weak Decoupling (WD), Expansive Negative Decoupling (END) and Expansive Coupling (EC), and the decoupling process was largely unstable. The ECA and NA regions on the other hand, which are typically composed of developed economies performed stable WD and Strong Decoupling (SD) statuses throughout the study period. The evidence further revealed that while trade intensity, activity, population, output per carbon emission and Carbon Intensity (CI) effects promote CO2 emissions, trade efficiency and energy intensity (EI) hinder emissions. We recommend that developing countries should enforce laws and cooperate with the developed economies to gain access to green technology to promote environmental sustainability

Households’ preference and willingness to pay for alternative energy sources: a discrete choice experiment

Abstract As consumers play an increasingly active role in the energy market, understanding their preferences for renewable and non-renewable energy is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7. This study employs a labelled discrete choice experiment to investigate consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for solar PV panels, power generators, and biomass, considering service provider, service quality, and purchasing price. The survey was administered to 250 households in Kumasi, Ghana. This study finds that solar PV panels are the most preferred energy source, with the highest willingness to pay estimate. However, in cases where solar panels are not easily accessible, households turn to biomass as an alternative. Although there are similarities in choices, variations in preferences among consumers were identified. Furthermore, consumers value product or service quality but remain indifferent between foreign and domestic service providers. Based on these findings, policymakers are advised to engage in awareness campaigns and provide incentives such as subsidies and low-interest loans, to drive solar PV panel adoption among households. Energy developers should consider customized payment plans based on income levels to facilitate affordability. Additionally, recognizing the heterogeneity in preferences necessitates an inclusive policy approach that considers diverse consumer needs and addresses the energy access challenges faced by low-income households

Comparative efficacy of low-dose versus standard-dose azithromycin for patients with yaws: a randomised non-inferiority trial in Ghana and Papua New Guinea

Summary: Background: A dose of 30 mg/kg of azithromycin is recommended for treatment of yaws, a disease targeted for global eradication. Treatment with 20 mg/kg of azithromycin is recommended for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. In some settings, these diseases are co-endemic. We aimed to determine the efficacy of 20 mg/kg of azithromycin compared with 30 mg/kg azithromycin for the treatment of active and latent yaws. Methods: We did a non-inferiority, open-label, randomised controlled trial in children aged 6–15 years who were recruited from schools in Ghana and schools and the community in Papua New Guinea. Participants were enrolled based on the presence of a clinical lesion that was consistent with infectious primary or secondary yaws and a positive rapid diagnostic test for treponemal and non-treponemal antibodies. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either standard-dose (30 mg/kg) or low-dose (20 mg/kg) azithromycin by a computer-generated random number sequence. Health-care workers assessing clinical outcomes in the field were not blinded to the patient's treatment, but investigators involved in statistical or laboratory analyses and the participants were blinded to treatment group. We followed up participants at 4 weeks and 6 months. The primary outcome was cure at 6 months, defined as lesion healing at 4 weeks in patients with active yaws and at least a four-fold decrease in rapid plasma reagin titre from baseline to 6 months in patients with active and latent yaws. Active yaws was defined as a skin lesion that was positive for Treponema pallidum ssp pertenue in PCR testing. We used a non-inferiority margin of 10%. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02344628. Findings: Between June 12, 2015, and July 2, 2016, 583 (65·1%) of 895 children screened were enrolled; 292 patients were assigned a low dose of azithromycin and 291 patients were assigned a standard dose of azithromycin. 191 participants had active yaws and 392 had presumed latent yaws. Complete follow-up to 6 months was available for 157 (82·2%) of 191 patients with active yaws. In cases of active yaws, cure was achieved in 61 (80·3%) of 76 patients in the low-dose group and in 68 (84·0%) of 81 patients in the standard-dose group (difference 3·7%; 95% CI −8·4 to 15·7%; this result did not meet the non-inferiority criterion). There were no serious adverse events reported in response to treatment in either group. The most commonly reported adverse event at 4 weeks was gastrointestinal upset, with eight (2·7%) participants in each group reporting this symptom. Interpretation: In this study, low-dose azithromycin did not meet the prespecified non-inferiority margin compared with standard-dose azithromycin in achieving clinical and serological cure in PCR-confirmed active yaws. Only a single participant (with presumed latent yaws) had definitive serological failure. This work suggests that 20 mg/kg of azithromycin is probably effective against yaws, but further data are needed. Funding: Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases