Land Degradation is Indicative: Proxies of Forest Land Degradation in Ghana

How is land degradation measured? The aim of the paper is to address this research question. At the premise, the paper states that land degradation as one of the truth claims of environmental science, is not directly monitored and detectable. Observers rely on indicators to know land degradation. The issues are illuminated by theoretical reference based on the notion of critical political ecology which tries to combine realist biophysical predictions and socio-political constructions. A methodology which mixes literature review, group discussion and field work produces a set of indicators of land degradation. Indigenous farmers used the indicators to spot land degradation in the forest ecosystem of Ghana. The results reveal physical indicators of ironpan formation in farms, uphill and downhill respective lost and gain of soil fertility, roots and building foundations exposed by soil erosion and river channels that do not carry running water even in the raining season. There are biological indicators of invasive species and termite infestations as well as socioeconomic indicators of poverty implicitly taken as indicators of land degradation. The paper concludes that land degradation includes multifaceted set of processes measured by variable and error-filled indicators operating at various spatial, temporal, economic and cultural scales

Sustainable Production of Afforestation and Reforestation to Salvage Land Degradation in Asunafo District, Ghana

Savannazation and marshy areas are common features of once evergreen and deciduous forest of Ghana. Attempts to salvage such degraded lands have considered replacement with closed tree canopy. This study aims at examining efforts at Asunafo forest area to use tree planting of different species to remedy land degradation in a swamp area colonized by shrubs and grasses. Study methods include the use of field visits and transect walk, photography, archival data, key informant interview, community meeting and socio-economic survey for sourcing primary data for analysis. The results indicate that where the swamp is vegetated by shrubs of different kinds, afforestation shows rapid success. And, where the swamp is dominated by grass species, afforestation success is slow. Terminalia ivorensis, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Ceiba pentandra registered quick impacts in height growth, stem development, canopy formation where the degraded land was originally covered with shrubs. Trees grow well when weed competition for essential resources is reduced through weed control. The study concludes that tree planting in swamp area is sustainable land management practice to redeem land degradation. Also, environmental benefits are imperatives but host communities derived near to zero social and economic benefits because such projects happen outside clean development mechanisms' arrangement

Industrialization of cassava sector in Ghana: progress and the role of developing high starch cassava varieties

In Ghana, cassava is a marginalized crop in food policies due to low research attention given it. However, high starch in cassava root is an important characteristic that makes the crop a potential industrial cash crop. In light of this, the Government of Ghana in 2001 introduced the Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) on Cassava, which aimed at industrializing the cassava sector for job creation and livelihood improvement through starch extraction. One of the import industrial products from cassava starch is ethanol. Ethanol is reported as the largest opportunity for cassava industrialization in Ghana followed by food-grade starch. However, the local ethanol consuming industry, Kasapreko, operates by importing over 25 million litres of ethanol every year due to inadequate supply of ethanol from local starch factories. This situation exists because of lack of cassava varieties that can yield more starch (75% or more) per total dry weight to feed the starch factories for sustainable production. Therefore, this review explores the relevance of developing high starch yielding cassava to the industrialization of the cassava sector in Ghana and lessons to learn from the success story of Thailand, the country with the world’s most industrialized cassava sector

Prevalence of cholelithiasis among persons undergoing abdominal ultrasound at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: The prevalence of gallstones among Ghanaians is unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of gallstones among persons undergoing abdominal ultrasound at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of patients aged ≥14years presenting to KATH for abdominal ultrasound between 2009 and 2012. Patient demographics were recorded. The gallbladder was assessed by ultrasonography. Cholelithiasis was defined as presence of gallstones or absence of gallbladder. Data was expressed as descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: There were 2824 participants. 55% were females. Mean age was 47±18 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.0±5.5. Mean parity among females was 3±3. Prevalence of cholelithiasis was 5.9 (95%C.I:5.0,6.8). Females had a high prevalence compared to males (6.8 vs 4.7). Prevalence increased steadily by age. Prevalence was 6.6, 5.1 and 8.8 for patients with BMI <18.5, 18.5-24.9 and ≥30 respectively. Prevalence among women with parity of 0,1-5 and >5 was 3.1, 6.7 and 6.4 respectively.On multivariate regression analysis, female sex (AOR=1.55;p<0.05), age≥40 years (AOR=2.05;p<0.01), BMI<18.5 (AOR=1.25;p>0.05) or BMI≥30 (AOR=1.39;p>0.05) and family history of gallstones (AOR=11.9;p<0.01) increased the odds of cholelithiasis.Conclusions: Prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients undergoing ultrasonography at KATH was 5.9. Patient age, sex and family history significantly influenced the prevalence.Key words: Cholelithiasis, Prevalence, Kumasi, Ghan

Performance of nine cassava (Manihot esculanta Crantz) clones across three environments

The study was carried out to quantify the genotype × environment interaction (G × E) and to estimate the phenotypic stability by genotype genotype × environment (GGE) biplot of nine cassava clones comprising 5 hybrids, 3 parent checks and 1 improved variety. The study was planted across three different environments; Fumesua, Pokuase and Ejura representing forest, coastal savanna and forest transition zones, respectively. Genotype main effect was significant (P < 0.001) for fresh root yield and dry matter content, G × E interaction effect was significant (P < 0.001) for fresh root yield only and environment main effect was significant (P < 0.01) for only fresh root yield. The most stable clone for fresh root yield with above average performance was La02/026 (hybrid). The high genotype and low environment effects, and the relatively low interaction on dry matter content imply that evaluation and selection can be effectively done in fewer environments to select clones with high performance for the trait whiles fresh root yield requires multiple environments to identify clones with broad and specific adaptation

Genetic variability of three cassava traits across three locations in Ghana

A study was conducted to assess the extent of genetic variability, broad-sense heritability and correlations for fresh root weight, root number and top weight of five cassava genotypes across three locations in 2 years. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant genotypic effect for all the traits. Genotype x environment interaction was also significant for all the traits studied indicating considerable but, varying response of the genotypes to the environments. High broad-sense heritability and genetic advance as percent of the mean were observed for fresh root weight, suggesting that the trait is primarily under genetic control and that a simple recurrent phenotypic selection scheme would be rewarding. Phenotypic coefficients of variation values were larger than their corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation values for all traits. Correlations between the three traits were highly significant and positive indicating that simultaneous progress for the three traits is feasible

The role of multimodality radiological imaging in extrauterine misplaced IUCD: A case report

Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is among the commonly used contraceptive methods in the world including sub-Saharan Africa but have been associated with a number of complications that although rare, can occur. Uterine perforation is the most serious complication of the IUCD. Surgical management is required in cases with complete uterine perforation, in which the IUCD is partially or completely within the peritoneal cavity. We present a case of a 27year old para 2 woman reporting with mild lower abdominal pains and the absence of IUCD string in the vagina after its insertion following evacuation of the uterus 2 years prior to this study. With the utilization of multiple imaging modalities, an exploratory laparotomy was done to remove the migrated IUCD and repair of the perforated bowel and urinary bladder.&nbsp; Keywords: Migrated IUCD, uterine perforation, ultrasonography, radiography, Computed Tomography Le dispositif contraceptif intra-utérin (IUCD) fait partie des méthodes contraceptives couramment utilisées dans le monde, y compris en Afrique subsaharienne, mais a été associé à un certain nombre de complications qui, bien que rares, peuvent survenir. La perforation utérine est la complication la plus grave de l'IUCD. Une prise en charge chirurgicale est nécessaire dans les cas de perforation utérine complète, dans laquelle l'IUCD est partiellement ou complètement dans la cavité péritonéale. Nous présentons le cas d'une femme Para 2 de 27 ans qui a rapporté avec des légères douleurs abdominales basses et l'absence de fil du dispositif contraceptif intra-utérin dans le vagin après son insertion suite à l'évacuation de l'utérus 2 ans avant cette étude. L'utilisation des multiples modalités d'imagerie , une laparotomie exploratoire a été réalisée pour retirer l'IUCD migré et réparer l'intestin et la vessie perforés. Mots-clés: IUCD migré, perforation uterine, échographie, radiographie, Tomodensitométri

Advancing health system strengthening through improving access to medicines: a review of local manufacturing policies in Ghana

Providing access to quality-assured medicines is a fundamental component of strengthening health systems. Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 13.6% of all medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC’s) may be substandard or falsified (SF) impeding patient outcomes, imposing financial burden, and contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Circulation of SF medicines also undermines trust in the health system and legitimate health care professionals. It may erode trust in the manufacturers of genuine pharmaceutical products as well as health professionals who prescribe and dispense them. Failure to address challenges in medicines quality assurance and supply risks jeopardizing progress towards universal healthcare coverage. This editorial draws on perspectives from a Ghanaian context and highlights the importance of ensuring an adequate and stable medicine supply, specifically through mechanisms to foster local manufacturing. This will serve to address the problem of SF medicines, as well as providing opportunities for mutual benefit with multiple related sectors. The WHO’s mechanism on substandard and falsified medical products 2020 highlights multiple sectors have a key role in combatting SF medicines. Although key considerations and initiatives in other sectors are beyond the scope of this article, local manufacturing should be viewed with WHO’s a multilevel systemwide approach