The impact of innovative marketing on the performance of Ghanaian food processing small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

Abstracts in English and ZuluThe main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of innovative marketing on the performance of Ghanaian food processing SMEs. The research study was carried out in response to the scholarly and managerial interest in the construct of innovative marketing as a novel competitive tool and its effect on performance in food processing SME organisations. This research study examined the effect of the six components of innovative marketing (i.e. marketing mix variables (MV), marketing modification (MM), integrated marketing (IM), customer focus (CF), market focus (MF) and value proposition (VP) on the four components of food processing SME performance i.e. financial performance (FP), customer performance (CP), internal business process performance (IBPP) and learning & growth performance (LGP). The research study was carried out on 225 food processing SMEs on the registered list of the National Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI) in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study was quantitative in nature with the use of questionnaires distributed to 225 owners/managers of food processing SMEs in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Through an extensive literature review, a conceptual framework and empirical result from 225 food processing SMEs in Ghana, the research study employed exploratory factor analysis along with structural equation modelling – path analysis to evaluate the proposed model for understanding the relationships among the constructs. The collected data was analysed through descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 23 and STATA version 15.1. The reliability of innovative marketing and food processing performance factors were determined using Composite Reliability and Cronbach’s alpha and the validity of the factors of innovative marketing and food processing SMEs were also ascertained using convergent and discriminant validity methods. The research study established that SMEs in the food processing sector in Ghana exhibit high levels of five innovative marketing factors (i.e. market focus, value proposition, customer focus, integrated marketing and marketing mix variables) which impact on all four factors of food processing SME performance (i.e. financial performance, customer performance, internal business process performance and learning and growth performance) whereas marketing modification, a factor of innovative marketing, indicated insignificant association with food processing SME performance. The recommendation of the conducted research study made a clear statement that food processing SMEs in Ghana should maintain a positive attitude towards innovative marketing, and also negate the effect of innovative marketing challenges to achieve high performance. The conclusions that were drawn from the conducted research study indicated that the main research objective had been achieved. Hence, innovative marketing positively influences the performance of food processing SMEs in Ghana.Inhloso enkulu yalolu cwaningo bekungukuphenya umthelela wokumaketha okusha ekusebenzeni kwama-SME wokucubungula ukudla waseGhana. Ucwaningo lwenziwe kuphendulwa intshisekelo yezifundiswa nezokuphatha ekwakheni ukumaketha okusha njengethuluzi lokuncintisana lenoveli nomphumela walo ekusebenzeni ezinhlanganweni zokucubungula ukudla kwama-SME. Lolu cwaningo lubheke umphumelela wezinto eziyisithupha zokumaketha okusha (isbokuguquguqukayo kokuhlanganiswa kokumaketha (MV), ukuguqulwa kokumaketha (MM), ukumaketha okuhlanganisiwe (IM), ukugxila kwamakhasimende (CF), ukugxila emakethe (MF), nokuphakanyiswa kwevelu (VP) ezingxenyeni ezine zokulungiswa kokudla ukusebenza kwe-SME okungukuthi, ukusebenza kwezezimali (FP), ukusebenza kwamakhasimende (CP), ukusebenza kwenqubo yebhizinisi yangaphakathi (IBPP), nokusebenza kokufunda nokukhula (LGP). Ucwaningo lwenziwe kuma-SME wokucubungula ukudla angama-225 ohlwini olubhalisiwe lweNational Board for Small Scale Industry (NBSSI) esifundeni esiseMpumalanga yeGhana. Lolu cwaningo belunobuningi ngokwendalo ngokusetshenziswa kwamaphepha emibuzo anikezwe abanikazi/abaphathi abangama-225 bokucubungula ukudla ama-SME esifundeni esiseMpumalanga yeGhana. Ngokubuyekezwa okubanzi kwezincwadi, uhlaka lomqondo kanye nomphumela wezobuciko kusuka kuma-SME wokucubungula ukudla angama-225 eGhana, ucwaningo lwasebenzisa ukuhlaziywa kwezici zokuhlola kanye nokuhlelwa kwesimo sokulinganisa - indlela yokuhlola imodeli ehlongozwayo yokuqonda ubudlelwano phakathi kokwakhiwa. Imininingwane eqoqiwe yahlaziywa ngezibalo ezichazayo kanye nasekuhlaziyweni okuningi kokuhlehla kusetshenziswa i-Statistical Package ye-Social Science (SPSS) inguqulo 23 kanye ne-STATA version 15.1. Ukuthembeka kokumaketha okusha kanye nokusebenza kokucubungula ukudla kunqunywe kusetshenziswa i-Composite. Ukuthembeka kanye ne-alpha kaCronbach nokuba semthethweni kwezici zokumaketha okusha nokuqhutshwa kokudla kwama-SME nakho kwaqinisekiswa kusetshenziswa izindlela zokuqinisekisa nezokunbandlulula. Ucwaningo luye lwaveza ukuthi ama-SME emkhakheni wokulungiswa kokudla eGhana akhombisa amazing aphezulu wezinto ezinhlanu ezintsha zokumaketha (okusho ukugxila emakethe, ukuphakanyiswa kwenani, ukugxila kwamakhasimende, ukumaketha okuhlanganisiwe kanye nokuxubana kokuxubana kokumaketha) okunomthelela kuzo zonke izici ezine zokulungiswa kokudla ukusebenza kwe-SME (okusho ukusebenza kwezezimali, ukusebenza kwamakhasimende, ukusebenza kwenqubo yebhizinisi yangaphakathi nokusebenza kokufunda nokukhula), kanti, ukuguqulwa kokumaketha, okuyisici sokumaketha okusha, kukhombisa ukuzihlanganisa okungabalulekile nokusebenza kokudla kwe-SME. Incomo yocwaningo olwenziwe yenze isitatimende esicacile sokuthi ama-SME okucubungula ukudla eGhana kufanele agcine isimo esihle mayelana nokukhangisa okusha, futhi angaphikisi nomphumela wezinselelo ezintsha zokumaketha ukuza kuzuzwe ukusebenza okuphezulu. Iziphetho ezithathwe ocwaningweni olwenziwe zikhombisile ukuthi inhloso enkulu yocwaningo seyifeziwe. Ngakho-ke, ukumaketha okusha kunomthelela omuhle ekusebenzeni kokulungiswa kokudla kwama-SME eGhana.Business ManagementD. Phil. (Management Studies (Marketing)

Development of Ghanaian Pentecostalism : a study in the appropriation of the Christian gospel in twentieth century Ghana setting with special reference to the Christ Apostolic Church, the Church of Pentecost, and the International Central Gospel Church

The study investigates the origins and development of Pentecostalism in Ghana with special reference to the Christ Apostolic Church, the Church of Pentecost, and the International Central Gospel Church. The theological section explores the continuity and discontinuity between the movement's conception of salvation and the primal concept of salvation. Part A looks at the Akan cosmology, the Akan concept of salvation, and the political, economic and social history of the Gold Coast/ Ghana. It also examines some twentieth century Christian renewal movements in Ghana. Part B probes into the historical development of Ghanaian Pentecostalism and the Life and Faith of the movement, using the Christ Apostolic Church, the Church of Pentecost, and the International Central Gospel Church as case studies. Part C examines the Ghanaian Pentecostal soteriology using the Prayer Camps as a case study. The author concludes that the search of the Pentecostals for salvation or abundant life, manifests a continuity with the Akan traditional religious aspirations: a search for Salvation in which health, prosperity, dignity, fertility, security, vitality, and equilibrium within the cosmos are dominant. It also manifests a radical discontinuity in its hostile stand against all traditional forms of supernatural succour. Aspect of the discontinuity between the two religious expressions is Pentecostalism's concern for the paradise beyond. A related interest in this study is the investigation of the influence of socioeconomic factors on the eschatological presuppositions and the evangelistic ethos of the Pentecostal churches. The evidence from the Ghanaian context has led us to the conclusion that the materials presented in this study do not corroborate the thesis that the expectation of the parousia declines in the older Pentecostal denominations as their economic circumstances improve. Our findings indicate that though the neopentecostals believe in the parousia, this has not featured prominently in their kerygma. This, we propose, is due to their avowed concern to address the existential issues facing Ghanaians. The evidence indicates that the Prosperity or Abundant Life Gospel as espoused by the neo-pentecostals, is an attempt to appropriate the biblical message of salvation to suit the contemporary socio-economic and religious experience of Ghanaians

Subchronic toxicity studies of cocoa pod husk pectin intended as a pharmaceutical excipient in Sprague Dawley rats

Context: Excipients play a key role in the quality of medicines and contribute to viable delivery systems. This has intensified the search for new natural polymer pharmaceutical excipients. Cocoa pod husks (CPHs) are a rich source of pectin. A study of CPH pectin showed that it possesses the requisite physicochemical properties to be employed as a multi-functional pharmaceutical excipient. However, the safety of this natural polymer has not been evaluated. Aims: To conduct sub-chronic toxic effects of CPH pectin in Sprague Dawley rats to assess its safety as a pharmaceutical grade excipient. Methods: CPH pectin at doses of 0.714, 7.14, and 71.4 mg/kg were administered to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats by oral gavage over a 90-day period. Parameters assessed were food and water intake, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, wet organ weights, histopathology and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Results: CPH pectin at the orally administered doses had no significant effects on feed and water intake nor on biochemical parameters, except elevations in alkaline phosphatase at the medium and high dose in the female rat. There were also reductions in creatine kinase in both male and female rats at the medium dose after 60 days, suggesting a potential cardioprotective effect of CPH pectin. Conclusions: There were no adverse effects of CPH pectin on the kidneys, wet organ weights and histopathology of the rat tissues. Subchronic administration of cocoa pod husk pectin therefore, has no significant toxic effects

A Meta-Analysis of Modifications of Root System Traits of Crop Plants to Potassium (K) Deprivation

Unlike nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), morphological responses of root systems of crop plants to potassium (K) dynamics in soils or growth media are only gaining currency. This is due to the realization of the instrumental role of K in several cellular and tissue level processes crucial for the growth, stress tolerance, metabolic functions, and yield of crop plants, and ultimately, food security and sustainable agriculture. This chapter used meta-analysis to synthesize the pooled evidence for modifications in several root system traits of different crop plants under conditions of K starvation in different growth media. In all, 37 studies that passed inclusion/exclusion criteria, from 1969 to 2019, were analyzed in aggregate and then disaggregated for root biomass, root length, and the number of roots. Three moderators were analyzed: type of soil or growth medium, crop, and K fertilizer applied in the included studies. The aggregated results show that the cumulative effect of K deprivation was a significant and large reduction (about 25.5 ± 15.0%) in the bulk of root system traits considered, which was slightly lower than the reduction in shoot- or yield-related traits. Reductions of approximately 38 ± 38.0% in root biomass and 23.2 ± 18.6% in root length were observed, and the magnitudes of reduction were comparable to those observed from the disaggregated data. Though reductions in root system traits due to K starvation occurred under both greenhouse/lab and field conditions, the cumulative reduction in the former was significantly larger than that of the latter. Among the moderators, the effect of type of soil (or growth media) and crop on the scale of modification of root system traits to K deprivation are stronger compared to the effect of type of K fertilizer applied. It is concluded that, overall, K deprivation leads to significant reductions in root system traits, especially root biomass and length in soils and perlite regardless of the type of K fertilizer applied. Attention should be given to K management in cropping systems to avoid K starvation, especially at the early and vegetative stages, and to improve K reserves in soils. Further attention should be given to the responses of root system traits to K supply when matching crops to soils

Impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense in fish farming: current insights and future perspectives

There has been a surge of research in the aquaculture industry investigating probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic interventions on the physiological mechanisms of fish, specifically digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense. In fish, probiotics have been shown to improve nutrient utilization and growth performance by stimulating digestive enzymes. Meanwhile, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have also been studied for their ability to modulate oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in fish, highlighting their multifaceted health benefits. This review identified current trends, research gaps, and future considerations in this evolving field. Although promising findings have been made, a significant research gap exists in understanding the specific role of probiotics prebiotics, and synbiotics in modulating digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense systems in a variety of fish species. As this study investigate into the existing body of literature, it becomes evident that while certain aspects of these interactions have been elucidated, a nuanced and comprehensive understanding still needs to be discovered. The variations in experimental design, species-specific responses, and the lack of standardized methodologies contribute to the complexity of the field. Digestive physiology and antioxidant defense mechanisms vary among different fish species, so future research should focus on species-specific responses to probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic formulations. It will also be possible to establish robust correlations between dietary interventions and observed effects through a systematic experimental design and methodology approach. Accordingly, further research is needed to understand the interactions between probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in fish and digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense. Identifying research gaps and adopting standardized methodologies can help develop tailored strategies to optimize aquaculture fish health and growth performance

Collaboration between Chiefs and Local Government Actors in Combating Climate Change: Evidence from New Juaben, Ghana

Institutional barriers remain a constraint to efficient adaptation to climate change in many countries. Therefore, there is much to be desired regarding knowledge on the capacity and roles of local institutions in responding to climate change across sectors and locales. Drawing evidence from randomly selected chiefs and local government actors, and purposively selected officials of the Municipal Assembly, we examined how partnership between local government actors and informal institutions such as chieftaincy could enhance coordinated and integrated climate action and adaptation planning in local communities. All interviews were transcribed and analysed in themes generated from deductive codes. Participants demonstrated varied levels of knowledge on the causes and impacts of climate change. We observed the implementation of several unstructured climate change activities in local communities as actors of the two institutions individually and collaboratively implemented some adaptation and mitigation actions. We therefore conclude that when given the right attention, by addressing the problems which include financial allocation, low capacity of personnel, and the lack of coordination between units that confront the local institutions, informal institutions and local government actors, could spearhead lasting climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes, and produce equity and sustainability at the national level

Impacts of Coastal Inundation Due to Climate Change in a CLUSTER of Urban Coastal Communities in Ghana, West Africa

The increasing rates of sea level rise caused by global warming within the 21st century are expected to exacerbate inundation and episodic flooding tide in low-lying coastal environments. This development threatens both human development and natural habitats within such coastal communities. The impact of sea level rise will be more pronounced in developing countries where there is limited adaptation capacity. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the expected impacts of sea level rise in three communities in the Dansoman coastal area of Accra, Ghana. Future sea level rises were projected based on global scenarios and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization General Circulation Models—CSIRO_MK2_GS GCM. These were used in the SimCLIM model based on the modified Bruun rule and the simulated results overlaid on near vertical aerial photographs taken in 2005. It emerged that the Dansoman coastline could recede by about 202 m by the year 2100 with baseline from 1970 to 1990. The potential impacts on the socioeconomic and natural systems of the Dansoman coastal area were characterized at the Panbros, Grefi and Gbegbeyise communities. The study revealed that about 84% of the local dwellers is aware of the rising sea level in the coastal area but have poor measures of adapting to the effects of flood disasters. Analysis of the likely impacts of coastal inundation revealed that about 650,000 people, 926 buildings and a total area of about 0.80 km2 of land are vulnerable to permanent inundation by the year 2100. The study has shown that there will be significant losses to both life and property by the year 2100 in the Dansoman coastal community in the event of sea level rise

Impact and Lessons Learned from Mass Drug Administrations of Malaria Chemoprevention during the Ebola Outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia, 2014

Background: In October 2014, during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia healthcare services were limited while malaria transmission continued. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) implemented a mass drug administration (MDA) of malaria chemoprevention (CP) in Monrovia to reduce malaria-associated morbidity. In order to inform future interventions, we described the scale of the MDA, evaluated its acceptance and estimated the effectiveness. Methods: MSF carried out two rounds of MDA with artesunate/amodiaquine (ASAQ) targeting four neighbourhoods of Monrovia (October to December 2014). We systematically selected households in the distribution area and administered standardized questionnaires. We calculated incidence ratios (IR) of side effects using poisson regression and compared self-reported fever risk differences (RD) pre- and post-MDA using a z-test. Findings: In total, 1,259,699 courses of ASAQ-CP were distributed. All households surveyed (n = 222; 1233 household members) attended the MDA in round 1 (r1) and 96% in round 2 (r2) (212/222 households; 1,154 household members). 52% (643/1233) initiated ASAQ-CP in r1 and 22% (256/1154) in r2. Of those not initiating ASAQ-CP, 29% (172/590) saved it for later in r1, 47% (423/898) in r2. Experiencing side effects in r1 was not associated with ASAQ-CP initiation in r2 (IR 1.0, 95%CI 0.49–2.1). The incidence of self-reported fever decreased from 4.2% (52/1229) in the month prior to r1 to 1.5% (18/1229) after r1 (

Blood collection tubes impact expression of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in human whole blood assay

Background: T-lymphocyte subsets CD4 and CD8 play important role in host immune responses. However, little attention has been given to the impact of time lapse and the various anticoagulant blood collection tubes on the expression frequency and activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. To this end, we explore the impact of time (t<1 h and t=4 h) and collection tubes (EDTA and heparin) on the expression frequency and activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells among healthy Ghanaian individuals. Methods: A cohort of healthy individuals (n=9) is recruited, and blood samples obtained in Ghana for the frequency of CD4+and CD8+ T cells at various time points (<1 h and 4 h). The proportions of activation of these immune markers were profiled using immunophenotyping. Results: Significant statistical differences in the activation frequency of CD69 expressing CD4+T cells (t < 1 h and t=4 h; p=0.02) and CD69 expressing CD8+ T cells from EDTA tubes at times (t < 1 h and t=4 h; p=0.05) was observed. No significant difference were observed with CD69 expressing cells in Heparin tubes. Notably, CD8+ T cell activation frequency was observed to be consistently higher than that of CD4+ T cell at the various study time points and in the collection tubes used. No marked alterations were observed witth the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the samples collected at the time points; <1 h and at 4 h. Conclusion: The study shows that activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in EDTA tubes differed significantly between both time points (t <1 h and t=4 h) but not in the heparin collection tubes. Therefore, it is important to take into account the elapsed time and the type of blood collection tubes when performing phenotypic characterization of activated immune markers