A Linear Model for the Collection of Institutional Plastic Wastes in Ghana: A Case of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR)

The collection of plastic wastes (p-wastes) in Ghana has received attention in recent years. However, there are persistent disposal of the p-wastes into the environment with associated costs to life on land, sea and in the air. The collection of domestic and industrial p-wastes, con­tributes to the national recycling rates whilst the intuitional p-wastes lags behind with minimal backing and contributions. For this reason, the study sought to explore the structures required to improve plastic wastes collection at the workplace to enhance recycling and greener jobs. In the pilot study, workers at the CSIR-IIR were interviewed to determine a premier model for the efficient collection of the institutional plastic wastes. The methodology included random administration and retrieval of questionnaires, coding and tallying of survey responses, and the processing of generated data. The research questions bordered on the most generated solid and plastic wastes, the preferred mode of collection and the expected gains to the institution. Quali­tatively, plastic wastes were the most generated solid wastes. Purified water sachets formed the bulk of generated p-wastes. Source sorting was favoured over the mixed mode of collecting the solid wastes, which will contribute to income generation and a linear collection model. Keywords: Institutional plastic wastes, linear model, plastic wastes collection, source sorting of plastic wastes, model for plastic wastes collection

Modeling a Secured Digital Image Encryption Scheme Using a Three Moduli Set

This paper proposes a new digital image coding scheme that uses a three moduli set with a common factor. The proposed scheme is specific to a particular three moduli set {2n+2, 2n+1,2n}. The design of the scheme is based on the residue to binary converter which achieves in terms of area and critical path delay as compared to the state of the art. This scheme offers high-speed processing because in the reverse converter the computation of the multiplicative inverse is eliminated, and it achieves low-power VLSI implementation for image processing such as digital image transform and digital image filtering

Impacts of Climate Change on Stream Inflows into the Volta Lake

The study examined the impact of climate change on future water availability in the Volta Lake from climate downscaled data using ensemble projections of two Global Climate Models (MPEH5 and HADCM3) and two emission scenarios (A1B and A2) used in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The SWAT hydrological model was calibrated and validated and then used with the downscaled climate change data to assess the impacts of climate change on the inflows to the Lake. Results from the impact assessment showed that future mean annual streamflow into the Volta Lake could increase by about 17 and 16 percent under the A1B and A2 scenarios, respectively. However, streamflow from Geoere, Boromo and Dapola in the Black Volta basin and Nawuni in the White Volta basin could decrease. The projected increase in total annual streamflow in the basin is consistent with the increase in annual rainfall in the basin under both the A1B and A2 scenarios of between 2.0 and 8.0 percent obtained in a separate climate downscaling study. Since streamflow in some of the sub-basins were found to decrease under the climate change scenarios investigated, integrated and prudent management of the basin's water resources would be necessary to ensure sustainability in water use

Suspended sediment transport into a water supply reservoir in southern Ghana

Weija reservoir on the Densu river serves as a source of water supply to parts of Greater Accra and Central regions of Ghana. The Densu river basin is characterised by accelerated land degradation. A number of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) interventions have been implemented in the basin. Reports suggest there has been an improvement of physicochemical parameters of the water resources. However, there is no recent study on fluvial sediment transport in the basin. This paper assessed sediment transport into the Weija reservoir via the Densu River. Weekly suspended sediment concentration and river discharge were monitored over a 1 year period to quantify sediment yield into the reservoir. The results indicated that total annual suspended sediment yield, and annual specific suspended sediment yield were 5375 t yr-1 and 2.0 t km-2 yr-1, respectively. These were relatively low compared to results obtained by past studies on the Densu basin at upstream Mangoase (6146 t yr-1 and 2.49 t km-2 yr-1) and other river basins in Ghana. Parameters established from a yield rating curve indicated that parts of the basin were degraded and sediment transport in the basin was largely due to the availability of sediment in the catchment and not just due to high river discharges. The relatively low sediment transport at Weija may be indicative of the success of the IWRM interventions. It is recommended that these be sustained and/or intensified

Perceptions of workers on the benefits of institutional source sorting: A case of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR), Accra, Ghana

The management of solid wastes at the workplace in Ghana is characterised by mixed wastes pickup delays, dustbin overflows and leakage of plastic bags into the environment. Benefits from the pilot of source sorting as a mitigation measure at the workplace are unavailable in literature. Hence, the study employed descriptive statistical tools to assess the advantages of a piloted source sorting system at the CSIR-IIR. The sampled size was 100 staff with an 80% questionnaire recovery rate. The analysis of data showed that, the implementation of segregation at source transformed the social approach of workers towards waste management. Most workers (97.7%) preferred sorting their wastes at source irrespective of the location of the generation point. A congenial environment was created by the source separation infra­structure, which made staff worked better, (70% responses). The majority of staff (95.2%) confirmed the savings made by the Institute on the cost of landfilling. The sorting at source improved cleanliness of the compound (97.6% responses) and eliminated open-air burning of wastes (95.1% responses). In all, the source segregation was beneficial to the social, economic and environmental well-being of staff and management of the Institution

Changes in bulk and surface properties of two biochar types during 12 months of field ageing in two West-African soils

The study investigated the changes in properties of rice husk and corn cob biochars applied in urban agricultural field soils in Tamale (northern Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), respectively. The biochars were both pyrolyzed at 500 °C with a batch reactor. Fine polyethylene mesh (litter bags) filled with 10 g of each type of biochar were buried at 20 cm depth in urban fields trials with a 3 x 2 factorial layout replicated 4 times. Factor 1 involved soil management practices at 3 levels: (1) farmers’ practice (FP), (2) 20 t biochar ha-1 and (3) control (no biochar). The second factor was time (duration) at two levels (6 and 12 months). Aged and fresh biochars were analyzed for volatile matter (VM), ash and fixed carbon (FC) contents, pH, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), and total surface acidity (Sa) and basicity (Sb). Dissolved organic carbon contents were determined sequentially by cold (cDOC) and hot water extractions (hDOC), respectively and aromaticities of cold water DOC (cSUVA) and hot water DOC (hSUVA) were determined. There was no significant interaction effect of soil management practices and time on measured ageing biochar properties. Time significantly affected most biochar ageing properties except Sa and Sb in rice husk biochar and ECEC in corn cob biochars at 6 months of exposure. In both biochars, Ash content, Fixed carbon (FC), cDOC, hDOC, cSUVA and hSUVA increased whilst pH and volatile matter contents decreased significantly. The hDOC was 2-3 times higher than cDOC contents for both biochars. Aromaticity of DOC contents of aged rice husk biochar exposed to soil management practices and time in the experimental site in Tamale showed persistence with time compared to corn cob biochar exposed in Ouagadougou experimental site. The results imply that rainfall, soil organic matter contents with interplay of soil minerals are key drivers to ageing and sequestration of these biochars and that these forces act at different scales but driven by time

Hunting practices and heavy metals concentrations in fresh and smoked wildmeats in Kumasi, Ghana

The consumption of bush meat is currently a common practice in sub-urban and urban communities of Africa. The study investigates hunting practices and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd and Mn) concentrations in fresh and smoked bush meats in Kumasi, Ghana. The animal samples were obtained from Sekyere Dumase, Atwemunom and Central Markets. A total of 32 samples from various game animals were used for the study. The samples were wet digested and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The use of guns (68%) was the most applied method of capture followed by cutlasses (10%), dogs (4%), traps (2%) and baits (2%). In the fresh meat, the concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb was 12.72±2.56mg⁻kg 5.16±2.65mg⁻kg, 0.96±0.29mg⁻kg, 7.40±0.68 mg ⁻kg, 0.10±0.00 mg ⁻kg and 4.31±3.46 mg ⁻kg respectively while in smoked meats, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were 15.28±2.29 mg ⁻kg, 5.33±0.98 mg ⁻kg, 0.94±0.98 mg⁻kg, 7.39±0.57 mg ⁻kg, 0.1±0.00 mg ⁻kg, 0.07±0.00 mg ⁻kg respectively. Higher amount of Lead (Pb) was found in the fresh wild meat than in the processed. The levels of Zinc in both the fresh and smoked bush meat were high while Mn, Cu, Fe and Cd in both fresh and smoked meats were in the acceptable range recommended for human consumption. However, there is need to monitor the levels of heavy metals in bush meat in relation to the hunting practices so as to avoid any possibility of poisoning to human health.Keywords: Heavy metals, Bush meat, Hunting, Ghana, Healt

Circulating Angiogenic Growth Factors in Diabetes Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exertional Leg Pain in Ghana

Objective. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common complication of diabetes, associated with impairment in angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is regulated by angiogenic growth factors such as angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We studied the association between angiogenic growth factors versus PAD and exertional leg symptoms in diabetes patients in Ghana. Method. In this cross-sectional study, ankle-brachial index was measured with oscillometrically and exertional leg symptoms were screened with Edinburgh claudication questionnaire in 140 diabetes patients and 110 nondiabetes individuals. Circulating levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, and VEGF were measured with immunosorbent assay. Results. The prevalence of PAD and exertional leg pain was 16.8% and 24.8%, respectively. Compared to non-PAD participants, PAD patients had higher VEGF levels [85.8 (37.5–154.5) versus 57.7 (16.6–161.1) p=0.032] and lower Ang-1 levels [31.3 (24.8–42.6) versus 40.9 (28.2–62.1), p=0.017]. In multivariable logistic regression, patients with exertional leg pain had increased the odds of plasma Ang-2 levels [OR (95% CI): 2.08 (1.08–6.41), p=0.036]. Conclusion. Diabetes patients with PAD and exertional leg pain have imbalance in angiogenic growth factors, indicating impaired angiogenesis. In patients with exertional leg pains, Ang-2 may be an important biomarker

Can a constructivist, community-based intervention increase student motivation to study history? A case study from Ghana

Student interest in studying history is in decline in Ghana, as it is in secondary schools in many other parts of the world. Can student interest be stimulated, and can they be better served, by a curriculum that includes a focus on community, belonging and co-creation? This article details a preliminary intervention of just such a learning unit in a high school in Central Region, Ghana. Using a framework aligned with the historically responsive literacy approach, this programme supported student-directed research into aspects of local and personal history. The evidence from this study suggests that student motivation did increase, justifying an expanded future study of greater length, with additional participants, and building on the lessons from this preliminary effort