Browsing by Author "Ansah, M.O."
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Item Achieving trachoma control in Ghana after implementing the SAFE strategy(2009-10) Yayemain, D.; King, J.D.; Debrah, O.; Emerson, P.M.; Aboe, A.; Ahorsu, F.; Wanye, S.; Ansah, M.O.; Gyapong, J.O.; Hagan, M.The Ghana Health Service plans to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2010 and has implemented the SAFE strategy since 2001. The programme impact was assessed in all endemic districts. A two-stage, cluster random sample of 720 households was selected in each of 18 endemic districts in Upper West and Northern Regions. All eligible residents were examined for trachoma signs. Household environmental risk factors were assessed. In total, 74 225 persons from 12 679 households were examined. Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in 1-9 year-old children was 0.84% (95% CI 0.63-1.05, range of point estimates by district 0.14-2.81%) and prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged ≥15 years was 0.31% (95% CI 0.24-0.38, range by district 0.00-1.07%). An estimated 4950 persons have trichiasis, of whom 72.6% are aged ≥60 years and 71.4% are women. Latrines were observed in 11.6% of households and 79.2% of interview respondents reported use of an improved water source. Active trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Ghana after successful implementation of the SAFE strategy. The programme should maintain health education, advocate for improved water and sanitation and focus on providing surgery. Surveillance activities are needed to ensure sustained control.Item Effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers: Evidence from Ghana(Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 2018-09) Osei-Asare, Y.B.; Ansah, M.O.; Mensah-Bonsu, A.; Kuwornu, J.K.M.Gold mining comes with several benefits to developing countries, manifested mainly in the form of employment and revenue, but simultaneously impacts negatively on the immediate environment. It affects the economic structure including agriculture and its productivity. Hence, this study investigated the effect of gold mining on total factor productivity of farmers in Ghana using 110 cocoa farmers from Asutifi North and Asutifi South districts of the Brong Ahafo Region, categorised into mining and non-mining areas respectively. About 83 % of the farmers in the mining areas were affected by gold mining through channels such as land disputes, relocation of farm/residence, high cost of labour, illegal small-scale mining and dust settlement on crops. Also, about 64 % of cocoa farmers in the mining areas lost their farm lands (between 0.4 and 3.64 ha as a result of gold mining. The Tornqvist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) indices for cocoa farmers in the non-mining areas (mean TFP of 1.404) were also statistically higher than those in the mining areas (mean TFP of 0.371). The study concluded that gold mining activities adversely affect productivity of farmers in the catchment areas. The study recommends, among others, that a policy of land-for-land should be in place and effectively implemented to ensure that mining companies in order to enhance and ensure continuity of livelihoods must fully replace lands lost through mining activities.Item The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana(Ecological Laboratory, 2023) Ansah, M.O.; Pabi, O.; Ayivor, J.S.Abstract The adoption of cocoa agroforests in Ghana and other West African countries for biodiversity conservation has not been conclusive. Though constituting major landscapes, cocoa agroforests are not fully adopted for biodiversity conservation, despite the declining cover of protected forest areas that are considered as biodiversity hotspots. We assessed the biodiversity conservation potential of cocoa agroforest farms relative to a protected forest vegetation. Six plots were delineated in cocoa agroforest farms, and a plot in a protected forest. Trees with a diameter of, at least, 5 cm at breast height (1.3m) were identified and counted in the plots. Multiple quantitative general diversity measurements of species richness, Shannon index, Simpson index and Sorensen’s plot similarity were estimated and compared among the plots. Though the protected forest recorded the highest (2.74) for the Shannon index, some cocoa farms recorded higher measurements as well (2.46 and 2.31). Three cocoa plots recorded higher values for Simpson index (0.92, 0.89 and 0.83) than the protected area (0.73). Dominance was higher in the protected forest (0.127) than one cocoa plot (0.098). The Sorensens’s index showed a wide variation in similarity among the cocoa farms, indicating the possibility of management types. The finding indicates a potential for adopting cocoa agroforestry for biodiversity conservation, yet, given the variations in diversity measures among the farms, further studies to determine the management types and the mix of tree species diversity and abundance that yields the optimum sustainability benefits must be conducted.