Ethnonationalism versus political nationalism in Ghanaian electoral politics 1996-2000

In a nation-state, ethnonationalism and political nationalism equate with each other in both theory and practice. In a multinational state, the mutual antagonisms between the two forms of nationalism demonstrate. In multinational states such as Ghana where "politics of the belly" prevails, ethnonationalism is the political nationalism, and more the substance rather than style of politics. This is the paradox within the rationality of Ghanaian politics. Owing to the modernising and integrative factors associated with urbanisation, urbanites are notioned to be detribalised and more prone towards political nationalism than ethnonationalism. A survey on the political attitudes of supposedly detribalised Ghanaian urbanites would reveal that urbanites, although geographically detribalised, are not so attitudinally, and for most, association with their ethnonational roots grew stronger with length of urban experience, even if there is no proof of a direct relationship between the two, or between association with roots and ethnonationalism. Ethnonationalism results from "politics of the belly", and subsequently, the postcolonial nation-state project, which seeks to integrate a heterogeneity of ethnonational identities submerged under single statehood, becomes a chore as a result. The thesis argues that identity perceptions among Ghanaians, vis-a-vis fellow multinational citizens, are influenced by the immediate political history as well as distant myths of origin, and that, an accentuation of current enmities between various ethnonational groups enhances the invocation of myths of origin to explain the present. The anthropological proof that majority of Modern Ghana are traceable to Ancient Ghana, except Ewes and CTMs', offers an explanation to: (a) modem heightened animosities between Akans and Ewes, even though there is no evidence of enmity between the two groups in the distant history, and; (b) the perception by some, that Ewes are not "native" Ghanaians. The thesis highlights the overall effects of citizens' identity perceptions on political actions and trends in Ghana. The thesis contributes that, there is a wider, more inclusive Guan ancestry and perception for the majority of Ghanaians than any current, exclusive, "latter-day" Guan identity, and that, the adoption of the name "Ghana" for the postcolonial state has more to do with anthropology than political fantasy. Both the Ghana hypothesis and Guan controversy are thereby explained. The thesis also discusses past agitation by non-Ewe groups in the Volta Region of Ghana for a separate Region, as well as the case for pan-Eweist irredentism in the West African sub-region. The scope of the thesis is broad, encapsulating theorising on the doctrine of nationalism, and assessing the extent of its global applicability. The essential Eurocentricity of the doctrine is exposed, as well as its subsequent inapplicability to several pre-l 8th century nations in Africa, for example the Fanti and Ashanti. The thesis further contributes that Ghanaian spouses tended to conceal their political views from each other, the ratio weighing against the female gender. The research involved methodological innovation, utilising a computerised technique to circumvent the `culture of silence 'Z and potential negative response to postal questionnaire method. The innovative strategy ensured anonymity, confidentiality and express delivery, and has positive application for societies with limited freedom of political expression

Review of vegetative propagation of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) by rooted cuttings. 2. Environmental and technical considerations

ABSTRACT The paper reviews the unfavourable environmental factors and technical difficulties that have limited the extensive use of vegetative propagation by rooted cuttings in multiplying cacao. Important among the external factors affecting rooting of cacao cuttings are light, temperature, humidity, and the air-moisture relations of the rooting media. The most important technical factors that affect rooting of cuttings are hormonal treatment, wounding, etiolation, and exogenous supply of carbohydrates and minerals to cuttings. These factors may influence rooting success in isolation or in combination with each other because it is often impossible to separate the effect of one factor from the other. The light intensity at which rooting occurs is dependent on temperature. The relative humidity within the propagation set-up is related to the light intensity and associated temperature. The effects of various media on rooting of cuttings are usually closely influenced by the temperature and water relations. The most effective hormonal treatment for cacao is a mixture of indole butyric acid (IBA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in equal proportions at a concentration dependent on the dipping time and the size of cutting. Wounding and etiolation are treatments which have been reported to improve rooting in most tree species, but have not had wider application in cacao propagation. Exogenous application of carbohydrates may improve rooting of cuttings. The need is for an effective manipulation of the external environment and a wider exploitation of some technical factors to improve on rooting in cacao. . Cet article fait une révision de facteurs environnementaux favorables et les diffecultés techniques qui ont limité l'utilisation extensive de propagation végétative pour la multiplication de cacao. Inclus dans les facteurs extérieurs importante influençcant l'enracinement de boutures de cacao saont: la lumière, la température, l'humidité et les relations d'air-humidité de substances de la prise de raines. Les facteurs techniques les plus importants qui influencent la prise de racines par les boutures sont le traitement hormonal, la coupe blessante, étiolement et la provision exogène de hydrates de carbone et de minérals. Ces facteurs pourraient influencer le succès de la prise de racines en isolement ou en combinaison l'un evec l'autre comme ce n'est pas souvent possible de séparer l'effet d'un facteur de l'autre. L'intensité de lumière à laquelle la prise de racines se produit dépend de la température. L'humidité relative à l'intérieur de l'instensité de la lumière et à la température associés. Les effets des différents substances sur le plus souvent étroitement influencés par les rapports de température et d'eau. Le traitement hormonal le plus efficace pour le cacao et une mèlange de IBA et NAA à parts égales d'une concentration dépendant de temps d'enfoncement et les dimensions des boutures. La coupe blessante et l'étiolement sont des traitements qui ont été annoncé d'améliorer la prise de racines en plusieurs espèces d'arbre mais qui n'ont pas réalisé de plus grande application de propagation de cacao. L'application exogène de hydrates de carbone pourrait améliorer la prise de racines de semis. Il y a la nécessité d'une manipulation efficace de l'environnement extérieur et une exploitation plus grande de quelques facteurs techniques pour améliorer la prise de racines de cacao. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (2) 2006: pp. 217-22

Review of vegetative propagation of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) by rooted cuttings. 1. Physiological considerations

The paper reviews physiological factors that affect rooting of cocoa stem cuttings, including clonal differences, leaf area, physiological age, anatomical features, nutritional and biochemical factors which exert the strongest influence. Upper Amazon and Trinitario clones root better than Amelonado clones, the causes of the differences being mainly nutritional. Rooting does not normally occur in cuttings without leaves, because they are deprived of their photosynthetic function. Rooting decreases in general with increasing age of the tree. Cuttings from trees in healthy and luxuriant vegetative growth are, therefore, preferable. No major differences are observed in rooting between orthotropic and plagiotropic cuttings of cocoa. Information on the anatomical condition of cuttings in rooting performance is limited. However, a clear relationship is noted between the position of cutting on the stock plant and rooting performance; rooting potential increases from the apex to the base of the shoot. Single-node cuttings take longer time to root than multinode cuttings. The physiological condition of cacao cuttings changes with changing seasons, and this in turn affects their rooting performance. Cacao shoot is in optimal condition for rooting immediately after the flush has matured. The interaction of two or more physiological factors determines the degree of success in rooting .Cet article fait une révision de facteurs physiologiques qui influencent la prise de racines des boutures de tige de cacao. Parmi les facteurs physiologiques influençant la propagation de cacao par les boutures de cacao, les différences du clonage, la surface foliaire, l'âge physiologique, les traits anatomiques, les facteurs nutritionnels et biochimiques exercent la plus forte influence. Les clones d'Upper Amazon et de Trinitario prennent les racines mieux que les clones d'Amelonado, les causes des différances étant nutritionnelles. Généralement la prise de racine ne se produit pas dans les boutures de tige privées de leur feuilles, les fonctions de la feuille pendant la prise de racines étant photosynthétiques implicites. La facilité de la prise de racine des boutures de cacao deminue en générale avec l'augmentation de l'âge de l'arbre. Les boutures des arbres en croissance végétative de bonne santé et luxuraint sont donc préférables. Il semble qu'il n'y a pas de différences majeures dans la prise de racines entre les boutures de cacao d'orthotropie et de plagiotropie. L'information sur la condition anatomique des boutures de cacao par rapport au résultat de la prise de racines est limitée dans la litérature. Toutefois il y a un rapport certain entre la position de la coupe sur le tronc de plante et le résultat de la prise de racine; avec le potentiel de la prise de racine augmentant du sommet au pied du tronc. Les boutures d'un seul nœud prennent de plus longue temps pour prendre les racines que les boutures de multinœud. La condition physiologique de boutures de cacao change avec le changement des saisons et ceci influence également leur résultat de la prise de racines. La pousse de cacao est en condition optimale pour la prise de racines sotôt après l'affleurement est mûr. L'interaction de deux ou plus des différents facteurs physiologiques détermine le degré de succès réalisé dans la prise de racine de boutures de cacao sous les différentes conditions de propagation. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (2) 2006: pp. 209-21

The orthodontic management of an adult with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by abnormally shaped red cells. SCD frequently exhibits multisystemic manifestations including oral and craniofacial disorders. Craniofacial features such as maxillary protrusion and more forward growth of the mandible with significantly retruded maxillary and mandibular incisors are common. When a patient with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) needs orthodontic treatment, it is important for the practitioner involved to know about the disease and the respective treatment because of the importance of complete blood supply after application of intraoral and extraoral forces. This article describes a sickle cell HbSS patient with orthodontic problems and how she was successfully managed at the University of Ghana Dental School.Keywords: sickle cell disease, orthodontic treatment, craniofacial features, gnatopath

Appraisal of some methods of weed control during initial establishment of cocoa in a semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana

In appraising the effects of the quantum and quality of weed control required in establishment of young cocoa, six manual methods of controlling weeds were compared with chemical weed control at two stations of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. Growth of cocoa seedlings after 2 years in the field was superior (P < 0.05) in plots which were clean-weeded two or four times per year or treated with paraquat four times per year than when plots were slashed two or four times per year. There was strong evidence to suggest that treatments which ensured a weed-free environment to the cocoa over a long period were favourable to girth increments in the seedlings. Death of seedlings during establishment was generally lower in plots which were either clean-weeded or treated with paraquat. Labour requirement for controlling weeds with paraquat was considerably lower than that required for the other treatments. Considering the equipment and chemical input, paraquat application was expensive compared to high slashing with or without clean-line weeding two times a year, or clean weeding two times a year; but by virtue of its efficacy, it is recommended for cocoa establishment. En évaluant les effets du quatum et de la qualité de désherbage exigé dans la culture de jeune cacao, six méthodes de désherbage manuel étaient comparées avec le désherbage chimique à deux stations de l'Institut de Recherche en cacao du Ghana. La croissance de semis de cacao, après deux années, dans le champ était supérieure (P £ 0.05 ) dans les lots qui étaient complètement désherbés 2 ou 4 fois/an ou traités avec le paraquat 4 fois/an que dans les lots qui étaient entaillés 2 ou 4 fois/an. Il y avait de nombreuses preuves qui laissent penser que les traitements qui assuraient un environnement sans mauvaise herbe pour le cacao sur une longue période étaient favorables aux augmentations de circonférence des semis. La mort de semis pendant la culture était dans l'ensemble plus faible dans les lots, qui étaient soit complètement désherbés soit traités avec le paraquat. L'exigence de main-d'oeuvre pour maîtriser les mauvaises herbes avec le paraquat était considérablement plus faible que celle exigée pour les autres traitements. En ce qui concerne les matériels et les intrants chimiques, l'application de paraquat était chère que les entailles élevées avec ou sans le désherbage complet en ligne deux fois par an ou le désherbage complet deux fois par an mais en vertu de son efficacité il est recommandé pour la culture de cacao. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 40 (1) 2007: pp. 67-7

Pneumatic Reduction Of Intussusception In Children At The Komfo Anokye Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Objective: To evaluate the role of pneumatic reduction in the management of intussusception in children in the setting of a sub-Saharan African nation. Design: Prospective case series. Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Subjects: Forty four children, aged 4 months to 13 years, 28 boys and 16 girls, were admitted with a clinical diagnosis of intussusception and confirmed by ultrasonography. Interventions: Twenty two children had air enema reduction of the intussusception attempted in the operation theatre under general anaesthesia. The average pressure used for air enema reduction of the intussusceptions was 110.4 mm Hg. Main outcome measures: Success of pneumatic reduction, morbidity and mortality. Results: Overall air enema reduction of intussusception was successful in 59.1% of children who underwent this procedure. There were no deaths among children who had a successful air enema reduction of intussusception. One child (11.1 %) out of nine who had laparotomy done after a failed pneumatic reduction died. The average length of hospital stay was shorter in those with successful air enema reduction (3.8 ± 2.3 days, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 2.4 to 5.2) than those who had a laparotomy performed for manual reduction of the intussusception after a failed pneumatic reduction (6.7 ± 5.1 days, 95% CI = 33 to 9.9). Conclusion: Although the sample size is small, pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children without peritonitis is possible, practical, and reliable and must be tried first, preferably under general anaesthesia in our sub-region before proceeding to laparotomy in case of failure. East African Medical Journal Vol. 85 (11) 2008: pp. 550-55

CONSUMER PREFERENCES AND PURCHASE INTENTIONS FOR RATTAN FURNITURE

Although research on consumer preference and purchase intentions has received significant attention, little research has been performed with respect to furniture products, particularly in the area of empirical hypothesis testing. This study used regression models to test hypotheses relating to positional goods consumption and environmental and sustainable consumption theories to investigate consumers’ preference for rattan cane furniture and their intentions to purchase the product. A questionnaire was administered to 750 staff and students from universities, polytechnics, and research institutions in Ghana. The results showed that social status, modernity, and environmental safety supported the preference and purchase intentions for rattan cane furniture, whereas mixed results emerged from sustainable consumption. The most important driver of preference for rattan cane furniture was modernity, followed byenvironmental safety, social status, and sustainable consumption. In the case of purchase intentions, social status emerged as the most important factor, followed by modernity, and then environmental consumption. Building a positive social, environmental, and sustainable image of rattan cane furniture will enhance the product’s value, and this will culminate in increasing consumers’ preference for the product and their intentions to purchase the product. The study concluded that through market segmentation, manufacturers, and marketers of rattan cane furniture can target consumers who are proenvironmentalists and those who want to use the product to enhance their social image, thereby attracting a price premium

Assessment of trace metal contamination by geochemical normalisation in sediments of two lagoons: A comparative study of the Kpeshie and Muni lagoons, Ghana

Heavy metal contamination status of bottom sediments of two lagoons was compared by the employment of Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis for Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cupper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Zinc (Zn) and Mercury (Hg). Kpeshie Lagoon recorded enrichment (EF ≥ 1) for Cd, Pb, Ag, Hg and Zn, whilst Muni Lagoon recorded enrichment for Cd, Mn, Ag, Hg and Zn as metals of anthropogenic influence. Kpeshie, situated in a highly urbanized area, has 75% spatial distribution of Pb enrichment. The assessment shows that Ag and Hg are the most enriched metals in the sediments of both Lagoons, reaching extremely severe levels. Only Mn showed statistically significant difference in mean concentration of metals for both Lagoons. Pearson correlation matrix indicated that Pb had a strong relation with Ag, Hg and Zn (r = 0.956; p &lt; 0.05) which is significant in Kpeshie. It also had a strong association with Ag and Hg but not with Zn (r = 0.240) in the Muni. The study clearly delineates Pb as a pollutant that designates the urban status of Kpeshie. Its associated metals; Ag, Hg and Zn which may be coming from a common source are from industrialized zones

Incidence of Blood and Meat Spots in Eggs from a Commercial Poultry Farm

A study was conducted in two phases simultaneously in a commercial poultry farm to ascertain whether egg weight, temperature variation in pens, and proximity of birds to a noise source had an influence on the incidence of blood and meat spots in chicken eggs. Phase one involved the random sampling of 60 eggs per week for 15 weeks, making a total of 900 eggs from the pens of a 50-week-old layer strain. Phase two determined the effect of noise from a 3.3 kW electrical gasoline generator on the incidence of blood and meat spots. It lasted for 14 weeks and involved the random sampling of 10 eggs per week directly from two pens (i.e., A &amp; D). Pen A and D were 4.7 m and 68 m away from the noise source respectively. A Chi-square test was conducted to establish the relationship between the parameters, whilst a Cramer’s V test was used to determine the extent of association where differences were deemed significant (p&lt;0.05). Out of the 1040 eggs collected, 63% of the eggs had spots (32% blood spots and 31% meat spots). No association was observed between the occurrence of spots and egg weight, temperature variation, and proximity of birds to a generator