ABSTRACT Energy is an indispensable component of human living. Renewable energy (RE) is regarded as a strategic approach to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Biogas is regarded as one of the most reliable forms of renewable energy capable of addressing the energy needs of many institutions. Research indicates that Ghana has enough potential in terms of feedstock for the generation of biogas at both institutional and household level. The aim of this study was therefore to assess...
A B S T R A C T The principal goal of this work was to identify specific conditions of river water in West Africa, that influence the efficacy of the microbial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 formulation (VectoBac®) against Simulium damnosum sensu lato larvae for onchocerciasis control. One hundred and thirty assays of a standard formulation using the mini-gutter system were carried out over a period of 15 months at a field station situated near Pra River in southern Ghana. To ident...
ABSTRACT Maize is an important staple food crop in Ghana and is cultivated throughout the country. The Guinea savanna zone in the Northern region, which is fast becoming a major production zone, is also the natural ecological zone o f Parkia plants. Some insect pests, such as Sitophilus zeamais are a serious threat to maize production in Ghana. These insects appear to have adapted to and survive on some wild host plants. They may therefore emigrate from these alternative hosts to preferred h...
Abstract: The 19th century was a boisterous time for Lagos. Quite momentous were the events that they left a significant change on many aspects of Lagos’ urban character and outlook. This paper looks at city fires and how they shaped the architectural landscape of Lagos. While city fires are in some ways a standard occurrence in many sprawling 19th century metropolises, not many received nearly as many fire as Lagos did. Though some of the fire events were acts of incendiarism, a significa...
ABSTRACT Globally, incorporating farmers’ perception on soil quality indicators and its associated influence on soil management practices into policy decisions has become a topical issue in recent times. This study assesses the perception of farmers on soil quality within the Ada District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Using a mixed method approach, 212 questionnaires were administered to farmers in five communities of the Ada West District. Thirty six soil samples were taken from fo...
ABSTRACT Insecticide bio as 3 ays were carried out on JD. thoracica (a) adults by topical application of 1 pi drop of toxicant on their nota; and Ob) eggs by dipping them into insecticidal solutions for 30 min. LC50 values obtained from the tests on the adults were: Gamma BHC, 26.4Ctog/l; Pirimiphos methyl (PP511) 28.00 mg/l; Serin, 67.00 mg/l and Malathion, 580.00 mg/l. Values obtained from the eggs tests were: PP511, 1.30 mg/l; Sevin, 5.30 mg/l; gamma BHC, 18.30 mg/l andMalathion, 83.00 mg/...
ABSTRACT This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals and vegetation around the Korle Lagoon Reclamation site in Accra (Ghana). The dispersion of heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Zn, Sn, Ni, Cu and Cr within the soil profile from a depth of 0 – 60cm (at 20cm intervals) were assessed. A total of ninety (90) soil samples were taken from the ewaste zone (EW), central gardens zone (GZ), recreational zone (KD), reclaimed zone (RZ) and estuary zone (ES) and eighteen (18...
ABSTRACT This aim of the study was to conduct an environmental assessment of three irrigation systems in the Kassena-Nankanna East Municipality and determine microbiological quality of tomato crops grown on farms irrigated from study schemes and water used for irrigation. A structured questionnaire and direct observation was used to gather background information from a total of 120 farmers from the study area in order to identify environmental conditions that may be contributing to the contam...
ABSTRACT The use of materials that contain radioactive substances has gained grounds in Ghana due to numerous benefits derived from them. These radioactive materials can be found in the areas of medicine, agriculture and industries such as mining. Though there are strict measures to ensure such material do not find its way into the environment, improper management of the waste poses a threat to the environment. To be able to understand the impact the radioactive material has on the environmen...
ABSTRACT Ten clones and 10 hybrids each of four cocoa populations; Nanays (Na), IMCs, Trinidad introduction (Ts) and Parinaris (Pa), were screened for attractiveness and resistance/tolerance to the capsid, Sahlbergella singularis (Hagl.). Two screening methods; a laboratory ‘microtest’ and an insectary test were used to determine the attractiveness of the genotypes to capsids. In addition, seedlings exposed to capsids in the insectary were observed under ‘ semi-field’ conditions to as...
ABSTRACT A field study was conducted on the Assessment of Ground Water Quality around Abandoned Quarry Ponds near Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria. Water samples were collected using 1liter amber glass bottles each fitted with a screw cap and lined with foil from the four abandoned quarry pits measured fifty meters (50m) (165ft) deep. These were labeled ABP1, ABP2, ABP3, ABP4, while the wells were labeled HDW (hand dug wells) measured eighty meters (80m) (264ft) deep and BH (borehole), measured t...
ABSTRACT Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) is increasing worldwide but there is currently no effective chemotherapeutic treatment. Prevention and control has also not been possible because the mode of transmission remains illusive and at best speculative. Recent investigation however points to the possible involvement of aquatic bugs belonging to the familily Naucoridae in the transmission process. In the laboratory, infected Naucorid species have been shown to transmit the bacter...
ABSTRACT Due to high poverty levels coupled with high patients to doctor ratio in Ghana, most people especially the urban poor and rural dwellers resort to herbal medicines which are quite cheap for their primary healthcare. Developing measures to maximize the medicinal potentials of indigenous plants will reduce the number of lives lost through diseases. A major setback is that most herbal products sold in public places lack scientific evidence for safety, quality and efficacy. As the safety...
ABSTRACT Toxicity and protectant potential of isoeugenol, limonene and essential oil of Hyptis spicigera against Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), Callosobruchus maculatus F. and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) and the effect of the oils on germination of maize and cowpea were investigated in the laboratory using contact toxicity, grain treatment and repellency assays. The effects of acetone extracts from leaf and seed of Hyptis spicigera on oviposition and adult emergence of C. maculatus were also...
Abstract A year-long investigation has been carried out on atmospheric particulate matter (APM). Elemental composition,mass concentration, sources contributions and their fingerprints were determined in APM samples collected, in Agbogbloshie scrap market, between May 2010 and April 2011. PM2.5 and PM102.5 size fractions of APM were collected 24-hourly on 47 mm diameter nuclepore filters of pore sizes 0.4 µm and 8 µm respectively, using the Gent sampler. Gravimetric analyses were carried out...