Public opinion on the death penalty in Ghana

This publication reports findings from the first empirical study on public opinion on the death penalty in Ghana. The research was inspired by the work of the Constitutional Review Commission, which recommended in its final report to Government the abolition of the death penalty. The Commission advanced four main arguments for its recommendation: the current de facto abolition position does not adequately punish death penalty convicts; the lack of justification for the state arrogating to itself the right to take life; current international trends towards abolition; and belief in utilitarian principles which emphasise reformation as the fundamental aim of the justice system. As can be seen, none of these reasons makes reference to public sentiments about the death penalty. The Commission’s work involved a ‘public’ consultation, but opinion leaders and key stakeholders such as professional bodies and local advocacy groups dominated the process. For various reasons – for example, the structure of the process, lack of awareness of the consultative meetings, and the structure of people’s routine activities – a large section of Ghanaians was unable to participate in the Commission’s work. Yet, a wider public engagement would seem important given the peculiar history of the death penalty in Ghana and concerns about backlash effects in the form of vigilante violence. Moreover, Articles 3(3) and 13(1), which concern the death penalty, are entrenched provisions in the Ghanaian constitution. Therefore, notwithstanding Government’s acceptance of the Commission’s recommendations, a referendum is required to decide whether or not the death penalty should be abolished. Research evidence on the nature of public opinion on the death penalty will contribute to debate preceding the referendum. The research began following a presentation by the authors at the invitation of the European Union Delegation in Ghana and the French Embassy on the 11th World viii Day Against the Death Penalty in 2013. The research was funded by the Smuts Memorial Fund and the Cambridge-Africa Alborada Research Fund, University of Cambridge. The Centre of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Ghana) carried out the study based on a face-to-face survey of 2460 people randomly selected from four communities in Accra. The selected communities reflect the varying socio-economic and ethnic compositions of the capital city and country. The fieldwork was conducted in April and May 2014, and covered a broad range of issues in relation to the death penalty. The results showed that views about the death penalty do not appear to be polarized. The majority of Ghanaian respondents (48.3%) expressed strong opposition to the death penalty. Only 8.6% indicated strong endorsement of this form of punishment. Almost 6 out of every 10 respondents supported abolition of the death penalty in cases of murder. Among those opposed to abolition, 7 in 10 would support a discretionary death penalty in place of the current mandatory death penalty. The most preferred replacement for the death penalty was life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Approximately, 71% of people interviewed chose life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as the alternative to the death penalty. This is consistent with the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Commission. Popular commentary on the death penalty suggests that Ghanaians support retention of the death penalty for reasons of deterrence. The evidence from this study revealed a tripod of reasons: deterrence; retribution; and justice for victims’ families. Among proponents of abolition, sanctity of life and the possibility of executing innocent people were the two prominent reasons. The data show very little evidence of potential backlash in the form of support for vigilante violence or lynching; 26% said they would take the law into their own hands if the death penalty was abolished. The ix findings from a detailed analysis showed that traditional religious beliefs about supernatural punishments were a powerful force shaping attitudes to the death penalty. People who believed in these punishments were more likely to endorse the death penalty and to resist abolition for murder. This is novel finding in the academic literature on the death penalty. However, more research is required to establish more fully the mechanisms that link these beliefs to anti-abolition attitudes. There is evidence of hotspots of death penalty views from this study. Residents of high-class neighbourhoods were likely to oppose the death penalty and to support its abolition for murder. Support for the death penalty was concentrated in low-class migrant areas. An interesting finding emerged that low-class indigenous areas were more opposed to the death penalty than middle-class areas. Finally, a key issue in death penalty research concerns the role of scientific evidence, especially evidence on deterrence effects and wrongful conviction. The findings show that evidence has both transformative and reinforcement effects. While scientific evidence does not lead to a complete rejection of the death penalty, the findings showed that some anti-abolitionists are open to a reasoned debate, and will reconsider their views in the face of scientific evidence. Taken together, the findings from this public opinion survey show a weak public support for the death penalty in Ghana. On the issue of abolishing the death penalty and possible backlash effect, the evidence suggests this is unlikely to be the case. Importantly, the survey reveals the complexity of public opinion on the death penalty and the need for evidence-based approach to understanding the roots of public concerns in order to prevent any possible backlash effects that might lead to pressure to reinstate the death penalty

Drill and Blast Performance Evaluation at the Obra Pit of Chirano Gold Mines Ltd, Ghana

This paper investigates the causes of inefficient fragmentation and formation of toes in the Obra pit of Chirano Gold Mines Ltd and recommends best practices in order to produce optimum fragmentation to feed the crusher at a reduced cost and to provide good working pit floors. The methods employed included: drilling performance analysis using statistical methods; fragmentation analysis of blasting performance using Kuz-Ram Model and Wipfrag software; determination of the velocity of detonation of the bulk explosive using MREL Micro Trap VOD/Data Recorder; and estimation of the cost of secondary drilling and blasting using Mine Management Reporting Software. From the analyses, it was observed that the blast designed parameters and blasting practices were acceptable to produce good fragmentation but the actual drilling parameters deviated from the designed parameters by about 25%, 24% and 26% in hole depth, burden and spacing respectively. It was concluded that the cause of the ineffective fragmentation leading to high cost of secondary breakage and uneven pit floors was due to operational errors during drilling. It is therefore recommended that in order to reduce excessive deviations in the drilling parameters, periodic training of operators must be conducted, supervision of drilling and blasting operations must be enhanced, and inclinometers should be used during drilling activities to ensure the accuracy and precision of all blast holes. Keywords: Drilling, Blasting, Fragmentation, Kuz-Ram Model, Wipfrag Softwar

The use of free autogenous rib grafts in maxillofacial reconstruction

Background: Hard tissue defects in the maxillofacial region due to trauma or ablative surgery result in functional and cosmetic problems. State-of-theart methods for reconstruction include the use of vascularised tissue. Objective: To review our results with the use of non-vascularised rib grafts for maxillofacial reconstruction. Method: Patients who underwent maxillofacial reconstruction using rib at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital during 1996-2004 were studied. The technique for rib harvest and implantation of the graft was standardized. Clindamycin was administered peri-operatively and the harvested rib was temporarily stored in clindamycin/saline before implantation. The graft was successful if it survived beyond 6 months after placement. Follow- up was for at least 12months postoperatively. Results: A total of 29 patients were studied. The indications for grafting included ameloblastoma, malignant disease, cyst, ankylosis, and trauma. Either rib bone only or with cartilage were used. In 90% of patients (26/29) the graft healed uneventfully. Two patients had dehiscence of the wound with exposure of the graft intraorally within two weeks of surgery and were successfully managed with antibiotics. Conclusion: Free autogenous rib was successfully used to reconstruct defects in the maxillofacial region. Further stabilization of the graft by intermaxillary fixation and the prophylactic use of clindamycin may have helped to minimize complications

Identification, characterization and heparin binding capacity of a spore-wall, virulence protein from the shrimp microsporidian, Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP)

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: The microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a spore-forming, intracellular parasite that causes an economically debilitating disease (hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis or HPM) in cultured shrimp. HPM is characterized by growth retardation and wide size variation that can result in economic loss for shrimp farmers. Currently, the infection mechanism of EHP in shrimp is poorly understood, especially at the level of host-parasite interaction. In other microsporidia, spore wall proteins have been reported to be involved in host cell recognition. For the host, heparin, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) molecule found on cell surfaces, has been shown to be recognized by many parasites such as Plasmodium spp. and Leishmania spp. RESULTS: We identified and characterized the first spore wall protein of EHP (EhSWP1). EhSWP1 contains three heparin binding motifs (HBMs) at its N-terminus and a Bin-amphiphysin-Rvs-2 (BAR2) domain at its C-terminus. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that EhSWP1 is similar to an uncharacterized spore wall protein from Enterospora canceri. In a cohabitation bioassay using EHP-infected shrimp with naïve shrimp, the expression of EhSWP1 was detected by RT-PCR in the naïve test shrimp at 20 days after the start of cohabitation. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed that EhSWP1 was localized in the walls of purified, mature spores. Subcellular localization by an immunoelectron assay revealed that EhSWP1 was distributed in both the endospore and exospore layers. An in vitro binding assay, a competition assay and mutagenesis studies revealed that EhSWP1 is a bona fide heparin binding protein. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, we hypothesize that EhSWP1 is an important host-parasite interaction protein involved in tethering spores to host-cell-surface heparin during the process of infection.This project was supported by the Agricultural Research Development Agency (ARDA) of Thailand under project CRP5905020530, by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under project IRG5980008 and TRG5780032, by the Newton Institutional Links (IL) program to BIOTEC, Thailand and Cefas, UK, and by Mahidol University. PJ would like to thank the Science Achievement Scholarship of Thailand (SAST) for a PhD scholarshi

Insect defoliation modulates influence of climate on the growth of tree species in the boreal mixed forests of eastern Canada

Increasing air temperatures and changing precipitation patterns due to climate change can affect tree growth in boreal forests. Periodic insect outbreaks affect the growth trajectory of trees, making it difficult to quantify the climate signal in growth dynamics at scales longer than a year. We studied climate-driven growth trends and the influence of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) outbreaks on these trends by analyzing the basal area increment (BAI) of 2058 trees of Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, Thuja occidentalis L., Populus tremuloides Michx., and Betula papyrifera Marsh, which co-occurs in the boreal mixedwood forests of western Quebec. We used a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) to analyze species-specific trends in BAI dynamics from 1967 to 1991. The model relied on tree size, cambial age, degree of spruce budworm defoliation, and seasonal climatic variables. Overall, we observed a decreasing growth rate of the spruce budworm host species, A. balsamea and P. glauca between 1967 and 1991, and an increasing growth rate for the non-host, P. tremuloides, B. papyrifera, and T. occidentalis. Our results suggest that insect outbreaks may offset growth increases resulting from a warmer climate. The observation warrants the inclusion of the spruce budworm defoliation into models predicting future forest productivity

Comparing and contrasting travelling wave behaviour for groundwater flow and foam drainage

Liquid drainage within foam is generally described by the foam drainage equation which admits travelling wave solutions. Meanwhile, Richards’ equation has been used to describe liquid flow in unsaturated soil. Travelling wave solutions for Richards equation are also available using soil material property functions which have been developed by Van Genuchten. In order to compare and contrast these solutions, the travelling waves are expressed as dimensionless height, ξ^ , versus moisture content, Θ. For low moisture content, ξ^ exhibits an abrupt change away from the dry state in Richards equation compared to a much more gradual change in foam drainage. When moisture content nears saturation, ξ^ reaches large values (i.e. ξ^ ≫ 1) for both Richards equation and foam drainage, implying a gradual approach of Θ towards the saturated state. The ξ^ values in Richards equation tend, however, to be larger than those in the foam drainage equation, implying an even more gradual approach towards saturation. The reasons for the difference between foam drainage and Richards equation solutions are traced back to soil material properties and in particular a soil specific parameter “m” which is determined from the soil-water retention curve

Combining work and child care: The experiences of mothers in Accra, Ghana

Work-family research has focused predominantly on Western women. Yet the forms of economic labour in which women are typically involved and the meaning of motherhood are context-specific. This paper aims to explore the experience of combining economic activity and child care of mothers with young children using urban Ghana as a case study. Semi-structured interviews (n=24) were conducted in three locations in the Accra Metropolitan Area. Transcripts were analysed using the general inductive approach. The results found women’s experience of role conflict to be bi-directional. With regard to role enhancement, economic activity allowed women to provide materially for their children. The combination of work and child care had negative consequences for women’s wellbeing. This research questions policy makers’ strategy of frequently targeting women in their roles either as generators of income, or as the primary care-takers of children by highlighting the reality of women’s simultaneous performance of these roles

The impact of residual infections on Anopheles-transmitted Wuchereria bancrofti after multiple rounds of mass drug administration

Background Many countries have made significant progress in the implementation of World Health Organization recommended preventive chemotherapy strategy, to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). However, pertinent challenges such as the existence of areas of residual infections in disease endemic districts pose potential threats to the achievements made. Thus, this study was undertaken to assess the importance of these areas in implementation units (districts) where microfilaria (MF) positive individuals could not be found during the mid-term assessment after three rounds of mass drug administration. Methods This study was undertaken in Bo and Pujehun, two LF endemic districts of Sierra Leone, with baseline MF prevalence of 2 % and 0 % respectively in sentinel sites for monitoring impact of the national programme. Study communities in the districts were purposefully selected and an assessment of LF infection prevalence was conducted together with entomological investigations undertaken to determine the existence of areas with residual MF that could enable transmission by local vectors. The transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) protocol described by WHO was applied in the two districts to determine infection of LF in 6–7 year old children who were born before MDA against LF started. Results The results indicated the presence of MF infected children in Pujehun district. An. gambiae collected in the district were also positive for W. bancrofti, even though the prevalence of infection was below the threshold associated with active transmission. Conclusions Residual infection was detected after three rounds of MDA in Pujehun – a district of 0 % Mf prevalence at the sentinel site. Nevertheless, our results showed that the transmission was contained in a small area. With the scale up of vector control in Anopheles transmission zones, some areas of residual infection may not pose a serious threat for the resurgence of LF if the prevalence of infections observed during TAS are below the threshold required for active transmission of the parasite. However, robust surveillance strategies capable of detecting residual infections must be implemented, together with entomological assessments to determine if ongoing vector control activities, biting rates and infection rates of the vectors can support the transmission of the disease. Furthermore, in areas where mid-term assessments reveal MF prevalence below 1 % or 2 % antigen level, in Anopheles transmission areas with active and effective malaria vector control efforts, the minimum 5 rounds of MDA may not be required before implementing TAS. Thus, we propose a modification of the WHO recommendation for the timing of sentinel and spot-check site assessments in national programs

Irreversible Effects of Ivermectin on Adult Parasites in Onchocerciasis Patients in the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa

Ivermectin is an effective drug for the treatment of human onchocerciasis, a disease caused by the parasitic filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. When humans are treated, the microfilariae normally found in the skin are rapidly and very nearly completely eliminated. Nonetheless, after a delay, microfilariae gradually reappear in the skin. This study is concerned with the causes of this delay. Hypotheses are tested by comparing the results of model calculations with skin microfilaria counts collected from 114 patients during a trial of five annual treatments in the focus area of Asubende, Ghana. The results obtained strongly suggest that annual treatment with ivermectin causes an irreversible decline in microfilariae production of ∼30%/treatment. This result has important implications for public health strategies designed to eliminate onchocerciasis as a significant health hazar

Hiv/Aids prevalence at the accident & emergency centre of a tertiary and referral health institution in Ghana

Background: Ghana has an estimated HIV prevalence of 1.4%, but the HIV prevalence of patients presenting at emergency departments in Ghana is not well documented in published literature. This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV infection at the Accident & Emergency Department, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH A&E), Kumasi, Ghana.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out on patients aged 18 and above presenting to KATH A&E. An opt-in testing approach was used; consenting patients were screened for HIV using rapid HIV finger-stick testing with HIV 1-2 STAT-PAK. Sero-positivity was confirmed by OraQuick HIV 1-2 test. Data was analysed using multivariate logistic regression.Results: 1125 patients presenting at the KATH A&E during the study period were offered the Rapid HIV test. 667 of these patients consented to have the test. HIV prevalence was 13.5% (90/667). 53 females (58.9%) were HIV positive compared to 37 males (41.1%). The age group 30-50 years had the highest risk of being HIV-positive. Other socio-demographic variables such as educational level and occupation were significantly associated with HIV-infection (Pvalue = 0.001 at 95% CI).Conclusion: This study shows that emergency department HIV testing in Ghana is feasible. The prevalence of HIV sero-positive patients presenting at KATH A&E was tenfold higher than national estimates. We conclude that this study showed a high prevalence among patients seeking emergency care in our setting. Testing in the emergency department could lead to early detection of HIV-infected patients for linkage to care.Keywords: HIV Infections; HIV Screening; Prevalence, Diagnosis, Emergency Departmen