Browsing by Author "Arhin, E."

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Compositional characteristics of mineralised and unmineralised gneisses and schist around the Abansuoso area, southwestern Ghana
(Applied Earth Science, 2023) Kazapoe, R.W.; Okunlola, O.; Arhin, E.; Olisa, O.; Kwayisi, D.; Dzikunoo, E.A.; Amuah, E.E.Y.
Gold-bearing granitoid deposits have recently been discovered in the Birimian of Ghana but their mode of formation and ore genesis remain enigmatic. This study presents petrographic, and geochemical characteristics of mineralised and unmineralised (gold grade >0.05 and <0.05 g/t respectively) granitoids (now gneisses) and schists (metasedimentary) to evaluate their petrogenesis/provenance, and relationship to gold mineralisation in the Abansuoso area. The unmineralised rocks comprise biotite- and hornblende-biotite gneisses, sericite-quartz, carbonate-sericite, and biotite-quartz schist. The mineralised varieties are biotite-, muscovite gneiss, iron-carbonate-sericite, carbonate-sericite-quartz, chlorite carbonate, and biotite-carbonate schist. The mineralised and unmineralised gneisses are both metaluminous and peraluminous. Both mineralised and unmineraised gneiss and schist show Nb-Ta trough, depleted LILE and enriched HFSE although widespread overall trace element concentrations for the mineralised rocks on UCC-normalised multi-element diagram, suggestive of their formation in an arc setting. This suggests coeval granitic plutonism and sedimentation with subduction-accretion during the Eburnean orogeny, hence, mineralisation may be orogenic-type.
Corporate Branding And Consumer Loyalty: The Moderating Role Of Cause-Related Marketing
(University Of Ghana, 2021-10) Arhin, E.
The purpose of the research study was to examine the influence of corporate branding on consumers loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana. Cause-related marketing served as a moderator on the relationship between corporate branding and consumer loyalty. The study used questionnaire to collect primary data from respondents in the Accra Metropolis. Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed to the sampled population. One hundred and ninety-eight questionnaires were deemed usable for the data analysis of the study. A PLS-SEM method was used to test the developed hypothesis of the research study. The findings of the study revealed that corporate branding significantly impacts consumer loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana. However, the results of the study indicated that cause-related marketing insignificantly moderates the relationship between corporate branding and consumer loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana. Impliedly, the findings of the study indicate that banking consumers loyalty can be enhanced when banks use primary attributes of a corporate brand such as personality, value, symbolism and ability. However, secondary associations such as cause-related marketing are perceived by banking consumers as irrelevant when banks design and undertake such initiatives. The research study recommended that banks in Ghana emphasize their corporate ability, corporate personality, corporate value and symbolic benefits when introducing a new product into the market or during brand extensions in Ghana.
Genotoxic And Cardio-Protective Effects Of Kalanchoe Integra In Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity In A Rat Model
(University Of Ghana, 2022-06) Arhin, E.
Background: Advancement in cancer therapy has improved survival among patients. However, the use of anticancer drugs like the anthracyclines (e.g., doxorubicin) are not without untoward or side effects. Notable among these is its cardiotoxic effect which ranges from mild transient blood pressure changes to potentially serious heart failure. Kalanchoe integra (KI) is used in folklore medicine in the management of several clinical conditions. The components of KI predict its cardioprotective potential which could be beneficial among its numerous uses. The aim of the study was to determine the cardio-protective effect of KI against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity using a rat model. Methods: The leaves of Kalanchoe integra (KI) were collected, air-dried, pulverized and extracted using 70% ethanol. HPLC fingerprinting analyses of KI was carried out using an Agilent 1100 system (Santa Clara, CA, USA), composed of quaternary pump, autosampler, diode array detector (DAD), and HP ChemStation Software. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Tskgel ODS C18 (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) analytical column maintained at 40 oC. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE, also known as comet assay) was also employed to ascertain the genotoxic effects of the KI extract. The comet assay was used to study the potential genotoxic effect of KI on the liver, kidney, epithelium of the rectum and bone marrow. A total number of 42 Sprague-Dawley rats (150-200g) were put into 7 groups (n=6). Group I: Vehicle control, received normal saline (1 ml/kg p.o) for 30 days. Group II: Toxic control, received doxorubicin (DOX) (20 mg/kg i.p.) once on the 29th day. Group III: KI control, received KI (300 mg/kg p.o) for 30 days. Group IV: Vitamin E control, received Vitamin E (100 mg/kg p.o) for 30 days. Group V: KI treated-1, received KI (300 mg/kg p.o) for 30 days and DOX (20 mg/kg i.p) on the 29th day. Group VI: KI treated-2, received KI (600 mg/kg p.o) for 30 days and DOX (20mg/kg i.p) on the 29th day. Group VII: Vitamin E treated, received Vitamin E (100 mg/kg p.o) for 30 days and DOX (20mg/kg i.p) on the 29th day. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), enzymatic antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were assayed from blood taken via cardiac puncture 36 hours after last treatment administration. Excised hearts from rats from each group were taken through histopathological examination. Results: In the HPLC fingerprint analysis, 13 peaks were identified. The first peak with retention time of 3.4min had a peak area of 1.1754 x10 4 mAU and overall percentage peak area of 19.2%. Also peak with retention time of 24.0 min had the highest peak area of 3.223 x104 mAU and overall percentage peak area of 52.63% which is directly proportional to high concentration of that compound in the plant extract. The criterion for toxicity was a statistically significant increase in the number of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comets in the organs and tissues studied compared with controls. Results showed that the KI extract was non-genotoxic. Pre-treatment with KI protected rats against doxorubicin- induced cardiotoxicity as evidenced by the low levels of AST, ALT, ALP, CK and LDH compared with the controls (p < 0.05). SOD, CAT and GPX levels were also high for KI extracts; further showing that KI protected rats against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity. Histological examinations revealed that in the KI pretreated groups there were no signs of abnormal myocardial fibers. The myocardia were of normal shape, size and configuration. It was also observed that there was no evidence of vacuolation, neither was there any sign of necrosis or inflammation. The observations contrasted with what was observed in the doxorubicin only group (without treatment). Rats in the doxorubicin only group showed signs of abnormal hypertrophic myocardial fibers, and the myocardia also had small and large vacuoles. Conclusion: The current study showed that the ethanolic (70%) leaf extract of KI offered cardio protection in rats administered with doxorubicin. This is evident in AST, ALT, ALP, CK, LDH, GPX, SOD and CAT levels of assayed blood samples. KI also protected the heart of the rats against histopathological changes such as necrosis, abnormal myocardial fibers, and edema. The study also showed that KI is non-genotoxic.
Geochemical Dispersion of Elements and Their Correlation with Gold in the Regolith at the Tetteh Prospect of the Chirano Gold Mines in the Sefwi Belt of the Birimian, Southwestern Ghana
(Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2014) Nude, P.M.; Arhin, E.; Yidana, S.M.; Foli, G.; Dowuona, G.N. N.
The processes controlling gold (Au) mineralization in Chirano, a gold prospect in south-western Ghana have been investigated using a detailed geochemical dataset of 45 variables from 197 sampling locations. The data were subjected to advanced statistical analyses and bivariate graphical interpretations in the light of the underlying lithology. Four processes of significance have been identified from the multivariate analysis in terms of the geochemistry of the soil in the area. The most important process accounts for almost half of the total variance in the dataset and also correlates strongly with Au. Although Arsenic (As) registers the highest loading under this factor, Aluminium (Al), Silver (Ag), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), and Iron (Fe) record higher correlations and could serve as better pathfinders than As in the study area. This study also shows that there is a second, less prominent process contributing to the availability of Au in the area. This process ranks third amongst the processes of significance in terms of the geochemistry, and correlates negatively with As, suggesting that the latter is not suitable as a pathfinder for Au in the traditional sense. However, since this third process is weaker compared to the first, the implication of this interpretation may be limited to only some locations in the study area. In addition to the revelations from the multivariate statistics, the regolith in the study area has evolved over the years and therefore the changes in regolith should be factored into the exploration protocols. The pre-existing preserved surfaces were found to be masked predominantly by transported materials consisting of ferruginized and exotic sediments. Within the surficial regolith and especially in the Feoxyhydroxide rich horizons, Au concentrations increase to significant values that are higher than those of the bedrock or saprolite thereby showing the significant Au re-distribution within the regolith. This study also highlights the apparent Au depletion in the mottled clay zones and in the saprolite and the enrichment of the metal in lateritic residuum and the topsoil. The high Au expressions in the upper parts of the regolith generally are transported whereas the residual soil anomalies have low Au concentrations and do not merit further exploration follow up.
Impact of iron fortification on anaemia and iron deficiency among pre-school children living in Rural Ghana
(PLOS ONE, 2021) Tchum, S.T.; Arthur, F.K.; Adu, B.; Sakyi, S.A.; Abubakar, L.A.; Atibilla, D.; Amenga-Etego, S.; Oppong, F.B.; Dzabeng, F.; Amoani, B.; Gyan, T.; Arhin, E.; Poku-Asante, K.
Anaemia in young sub-Saharan African children may be due to the double burden of malaria and iron deficiency. Primary analysis of a double-blind, cluster randomized trial of iron con taining micronutrient powder supplementation in Ghanaian children aged 6 to 35 months found no difference in malaria risk between intervention and placebo groups. Here, we per formed a secondary analysis of the trial data to assess the impact of long-term prophylactic iron fortificant on the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia in trial subjects. This population based randomized-cluster trial involved 1958 children aged between 6 to 35 months, identi fied at home and able to eat semi-solid foods. The intervention group (n = 967) received a daily dose containing 12.5 mg elemental iron (as ferrous fumarate), vitamin A (400 μg), ascorbic acid (30 mg) and zinc (5 mg). The placebo group (n = 991) received a similar micro nutrient powder but without iron. Micronutrient powder was provided daily to both groups for 5 months. At baseline and endline, health assessment questionnaires were administered and blood samples collected for analysis. The two groups had similar baseline anthropome try, anaemia, iron status, demographic characteristics, and dietary intakes (p > 0.05). Of the 1904 (97.2%) children who remained at the end of the intervention, the intervention group had significantly higher haemoglobin (p = 0.0001) and serum ferritin (p = 0.0002) levels than the placebo group. Soluble transferrin receptor levels were more saturated among children from the iron group compared to non-iron group (p = 0.012). Anaemia status in the iron group improved compared to the placebo group (p = 0.03). Continued long-term routine use of micronutrient powder containing prophylactic iron reduced anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia among pre-school children living in rural Ghana’s malaria endemic area.
Overbank sediments as appropriate geochemical sample media in regional stream sediment surveys for gold exploration in the savannah regions of northern Ghana
(Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2009-01) Nude, P.M.; Arhin, E.
Conventional stream sediment sampling in which sediments are taken from the active channels during reconnaissance regional geochemical surveys in gold exploration has over the years failed to delineate prospective target zones in northern Ghana, where the relict is flat. Whereas the technique has been successful in the south western Ghana, which is characterised by moderate to high relief, generally the savannah north is associated with low relief, commonly with flat topographies and generally decoupled stream channels. Geochemical comparison of active stream and overbank sediments in this study demonstrate that active stream channels may contain contaminated materials of recent origin, but overbank sediments, except for the uppermost horizons, represent alluvial regolith of earlier depositional cycles over time. Based on gold value repeatability, composite samples taken from the overbank sediment layers were relatively less erratic and are considered to be an appropriate geochemical medium in delineating potential regional gold targets for follow up. The results show that overbank sediment sampling can be used as a cost-effective method to define broad anomalous zones; and the technique must be considered useful during reconnaissance geochemical surveys in the savannah regions. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Psychosocial Challenges of Pregnant Adolescents in the Ho Municipal Area of the Volta Region
(University of Ghana, 2017-07) Arhin, E.
Background: Adolescent pregnancy is considered to be high risk. The psychosocial challenges of these adolescents are enormous. This study therefore seeks to explore the psychosocial challenges of pregnant adolescents in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region in order to help inform policy on the appropriate psychosocial interventions. The scope of this study focused predominantly on the menace of adolescent pregnancy in the Ho Municipal area in the Volta Region of Ghana. Therefore, the central objective of the study was to explore the psychosocial challenges of pregnant adolescents in the Ho Municipal area of the Volta Region. Methodology: The study is purely qualitative and relies primarily on literature review and interviews for data collection and analyses. Results: Findings from the study revealed that the major causes of teenage pregnancy in the Ho Municipal area includes poverty, influence of alcohol and drugs on sexual behavior, influence childhood environment, the lack of education on safe sex or contraceptive usage, family structure and its influences on sexual behavior of adolescents and peer pressure. It was also revealed that the psychosocial effects of adolescent pregnancy in the Ho Municipal area in the Volta Region of Ghana includes depression, anxiety, anger and violence, sadness, lack of community and family support, isolation, lack of proper health and stigmatization and discrimination. Conclusion: Pregnant adolescents in the Ho Municipality encounter various psychosocial challenges. Multiple factors such as poverty, alcohol and drug abuse and lack of adequate knowledge on the use of contraceptive contribute significantly to the menace in the study area. It is therefore imperative that working strategies be implemented to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancies, and to support pregnant adolescents in realizing their right to continue with their education, during pregnancy and following childbirth.
Regolith mapping of deeply weathered terrain in savannah regions of the Birimian Lawra Greenstone Belt, Ghana
(Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2015-09) Arhin, E.; Jenkin, G.R.T.; Cunningham, D.; Nude, P.
A regolith map for the Lawra Belt has been developed by categorising the regolith-landform units by processing and interpreting remote sensing data. Regolith landform units were extracted from Landsat band ratios 3/1 and 5/4 to map ferruginous saprolite and lags; band ratio 5/7 was used to identify residual regolith and band ratio 4/2 was employed to separate ferruginous units from non-ferruginous regolith. Additional regolith landform units' discrimination was provided by compiling and interpolating radiometric data particularly for Landsat TM poorly defined areas. SRTM images were used to mark out the extent of the alluvial plains. High topographical terrains were marked from DEM image to represent the residual areas. Regolith landform unit (RLU) map that showed residual (relict and erosional), ferruginous, and depositional domains of the Lawra Belt was developed by superimposing the extractions made from the remote sensed data. Interpretive map generated from the remote sensed image analysis was validated by first creating a non-genetic regolith map through ground truth survey. The non-genetic map based on spatial distributions of the different regolith mapping units were classified on genetic classes or regimes based on regolith-landform similarities to develop a genetic map. The interpretive and the genetic map were superimposed to develop the regolith map for the Lawra Belt. The inliers and outliers presenting compositional overlaps within broad regolith classes were rectified from the field mapping information. The combined approach of image analysis and the ground truth mapping grouped the regolith of Lawra Belt into ferruginous (F), relict (R), erosional (E) and depositional (D) regimes. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
Significance of regolith mapping and its implication for gold exploration in northern Ghana: A case study at Tinga and Kunche
(Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 2009-01) Arhin, E.; Nude, P.M.
The complex regolith in the savanna belts of northern Ghana is believed to be a major cause of the failure of gold exploration in the area. The present study highlights the integration of field regolith mapping, pitting and trenching in the classification of regolith and its significance to gold exploration at Tinga and Kunche in northern Ghana. These two areas are underlain by Birimian greenstones but have not seen any gold production apart from the reported gold occurrences known to be associated with the metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks in the area. The importance of understanding the regolith, the landscape, and the sampling medium has not been seriously considered in past exploration programmes. The classification of the regolith regimes into ferruginous, relict, erosional and depositional regimes in the two study areas aided in determining the differences in the soil profiles, the source of the regolith materials and nature of weathering. For relict and erosional regimes, optimum depth of sampling was established to be between 0.2 and 0.4 m. However, for depositional regimes, because of the variable overburden thickness, the base of the transported materials was sampled. The pits and trenches dug also contributed in identifying the in-situ and transported regolith. The study shows that, in savanna areas of northern Ghana, relict regimes generally have preserved laterite profiles whereas the ferruginous, erosional and depositional regimes are associated with landscape modifications. © 2009 AAG/Geological Society of London.
Use of Multi-Media Sampling as Integrated Approach to Surficial Geochemical Sampling for Gold in Regional Reconnaissance Surveys in Parts of the Ashanti Belt, Southwest Ghana
(Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences 5(1): 18-25, 2013) Nude, P.M.; Arhin, E.; Foli, G.
This study compared the conventional method used in surficial geochemical sampling to multimedia sampling method during reconnaissance surveys in gold exploration. The use of the conventional method in regional reconnaissance exploration surveys whereby surficial geochemical sampling is done step-wise, first by sampling stream sediments followed by rock chips then soils and other regolith materials in the search and defining of prospective targets of gold mineralization appears inefficient in geological environments characterized by complex regolith and landform modifications. However, multi-media geochemical sampling which involves the simultaneous sampling of different geochemical samples appears a better alternative and eliminates false and erratic anomalies often associated with the sampling of a single medium. Multi-media samples comprising rock chips, scree, termite mounds and lateritic lags, were collected simultaneously to support stream sediments in parts of the Ashanti belt in the Birimian of southwest Ghana, which is characterized by complex regolith and landform modifications. The most prospective targets among the three anomalous zones defined by the stream survey were better pronounced with the support of the other media, based on the consistency in significant gold contents in those samples. Gold assay values from the multi-media samples ranked the Manso East target as the most prospective and the Manso Northwest target being least prospective due to the inconsistent gold assay values in the different media. Thus the integration of the gold assay values from the various media defined real and prospective geochemical gold targets better than in the conventional method in which sampling of different media was done in stages. Unlike the conventional method, the multi-media survey provided gold results that showed regional, proximal and in-situ anomalies simultaneously. Multi-media geochemical survey therefore, appears to be a reliable method that can be used in regional surficial geochemical exploration for gold in areas characterized by hidden anomalies.
Use of termitaria in surficial geochemical surveys: Evidence for >125-μm size fractions as the appropriate media for gold exploration in northern Ghana
(Geochemistry Exploration Environment Analysis, 2010-11) Arhin, E.; Nude, P.M.
Extensive lateritization and widespread sheet wash and alluvial deposits characterize the thick regolith in the savannah regions of northern Ghana. As often is the case in these areas, the presence of these cover materials mask geochemical gold (Au) response in soils during surficial gold exploration. Anomaly detection thus becomes very difficult perhaps due to gold grain encrustation during lateritization and anomaly dilution by sheet wash deposits. Termite mound samples collected from areas of thick regolith, transported overburden and laterite cap in gold bearing areas of northern Ghana which were analyzed for gold defined anomalous zones. Gold contents were determined from size fractions consisting of -125 μm, +125-250 μm, +250-500 μm and +500 μm. The gold contents show relatively insignificant changes in concentration and in repeat samples in the - 125 μm and +125-250 μm size fractions, but there were significant differences when sub-samples were re-analysed in the coarser samples. Gold content repeatability was relatively better in the fine size fractions (- 125 μm) and decreased in the coarser size fractions. The study showed that termite mounds can be used as a geochemical sample medium to support conventional soil surveys especially in areas under thick regolith and transported cover, and the - 125 μm size fraction appears the most appropriate. © 2010 Geological Society of London.