Eric Kofi Doe

This study investigates the effect of high urban land temperatures on pesticide residue (PR) accumulation in cabbage and lettuce and on public health in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) in Ghana. A comparative toxicological analysis regarding the food system was conducted with 66 farmers across three land surface temperatures: low (Atomic, n = 22), moderate (Ashaiman, n = 22), and high (Korle-Bu, n = 22). Pesticide residue concentrations were assessed using an ANOVA to examine spatial variations across sites. The results indicate a strong correlation between high land surface temperatures and pesticide residue accumulation, with lettuce recording significantly (p < 0.05) higher PR levels than cabbage. Several pesticides, including carbendazim (CBZ), Imidacloprid (IMI), Thiamethoxam (TMX), and Chlorpyrifos (CHL), exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) at moderate and high-temperature sites. carbendazim was the dominant pesticide detected, with a concentration of 19.0 mg/kg in lettuce, which far exceeded its maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.10 mg/kg across all study sites. Statistical analyses (PERMANOVA) confirmed that land surface temperatures and pesticide types significantly influenced the PR concentrations. Public health risk assessments indicate that children are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure than adults. The toxicity hazard quotient (THQ) for organophosphate pesticides, particularly CHL and Dimethoate (DMT), exceeded safe thresholds at moderate and high-temperature sites.

Air pollution and inadequate or poorly equipped health infrastructure are drivers in determining the health risks of urban populations globally. The spatial impacts of these drivers on the health risks of densely populated areas remain unexplored, particularly in the global south. Air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), tropospheric ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) vary spatially along gradients in maximum temperature (Tmax), relative humidity (RH), and wind speed (WS). The current study spatially predicts the combined impact of air pollutants within varying climatic conditions (Tmax, RH and WS) and the distribution of healthcare facilities on Ghana’s urban population health risk in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA). The study employed spatial correlation and regression kriging using district-level population density per km2 as the primary variate (dependent variable) with the air pollutants, climate, and distribution of health facilities as covariates (drivers) of the population health risk. Preliminary results revealed specific spots (areas) of high and low health risks to communities in GAMA. The Accra and Tema Metropolitan Areas and Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma North, Korle Klottey, and Ashaiman District Assemblies had high population health risk spots (>25,000 persons/km2) with a mean dry season PM2.5 of 75.0 µg m-3, five times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 15 µg m-3, as the main significant driver. Other determining risk factors were monthly mean PM2.5 (36.5 µg m-3), NO (68.4 µg m-3), NO2 (70.5 µg m-3), O3 (16 ppb), SO2 (3 ppb), CO (327 ppb) and Tmax (26℃), HR (80%) and WS (9 km h-1). The concentration and spatial autocorrelation of the pollutants diminished towards peri-urban areas such as Kpone-Katamanso, Ga East, and Ga West. These results underscore the critical role of applying geospatial tools to monitoring, understanding and managing population health risks induced by air pollution and adverse climate of densely populated areas. The results highlight the need to manage and address the combined effects of air pollutants and the role of climate and inadequate health facilities in the health risks of the GAMA population with spatial precision and district-level policies. It also contributes to global efforts toward achieving spatial equity in universal healthcare coverage, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 and strengthening policy and practical relevance of geospatial approaches for sustainable interventions.Keywords: Urban climate condition and informatics; Environment and social challenges; Spatial dependency; Urbanization; spatial regression

Introduction: Soil health is critical for the efficient management of soil fertility and crop yield in “green” cocoa (GC) (Theobroma cacao L.) agroforestry systems. However, knowledge about agroecosystem factors that affect healthy soil productivity in “green” cocoa agroforestry systems is patchy in West Africa. Based on organic cocoa (OC) and conventional cocoa (CC) agroforestry systems in Ghana, this study examined the soil health and synergy of ecological factors that determine the yield of GC.Methods: Using multi-stage random sampling, 11 CC and 11 OC farms were sampled from three soil types (ferralsols, lixisols, and leptosols) within selected agroecological zones. Socioeconomic and farm data, including bulked soil samples, were collected at 0–30 cm depth for analysis of soil chemical and physical properties.Results: The results showed intricate relationships between the ecological factors and the yield of GC (1.07 t ha⁻¹), which comprised dry beans of OC (1.24 t ha⁻¹) and CC (0.89 t ha⁻¹). The green cocoa yield increased for fields owned by female farmers and for native farmers who inherited or outrightly owned farmlands. The cocoa yield was also positively related to physicochemical factors such as soil organic carbon (0.21%), pH (5.8), and carbon–nitrogen ratio (40.8%). The carbon–nitrogen ratio and pH together exerted the highest positive influence (0.62%) on the yield. Biological factors such as plant density (>7 cocoa trees per 23.4 m²) and black pod rots reduced the cocoa yield.Discussion: This study provides comprehensive empirical determinants of green cocoa productivity and offers a more reliable estimate of cocoa plant density. The findings suggest that Ghana's cocoa can be much greener if stakeholders promote healthy farm soil productivity and empower women who engage in soil organic carbon-conserving agroforestry.

The study assessed the value and supply chain of kola nuts in Ghana through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) in eighteen communities. Key actors, flow of products and product information, and relationship among actors were assessed using content analysis. Results suggest that the nuts are picked or harvested from either wild or cultivated kola trees by farmers or pickers. The nuts are then processed or cured for storage by either the farmers, pickers or brokers who buy harvested kola pods for assemblers. The assemblers either sell to local consumers or on large markets in neighbouring countries like Nigeria. The business model for the kola nut industry in Ghana is such that transactions are usually on mutual trust and verbal agreements without any documented evidence. There is limited market information, which often hinders price negotiation, and this affects especially producers and processors. For improving the value chain for mutual benefit among the actors, especially for producers, we recommend the formation of a strong horizontal linkage through avenues, such as associations as well as strong vertical and consistent linkages between the actors.

The use of kola nut, including natural or alternative medicinal sources, has inevitably created an increased global market demand in excess of its production and provides great prospects for the growth of the kola nut industry in producing countries like Ghana. Nonetheless, there is a great dearth of information on Ghana’s kola nut supply-side practices and constraints that can provide a basis for the development of the industry. This study fills the research gap by describing the practices and constraints of farmers, processors, and marketers of kola nut in Ghana. Using a survey methodology, results showed that nearly all (99.5%) farmers interviewed had not received any extension training on agronomic practices. Low market price of nuts (61.5%) and pests and diseases (60.4%) were the most reported constraints to kola nut production. Chiefs among motivating factors for cultivating kola nut were alternative livelihood support (58%). Some processors (28.6%) who rinsed nuts after depulping used a solution of Akate Master (bifenthrin) and others (51.0%) used fumigation tablets (aluminium phosphide) (91.0%) for storing the nuts. However, these chemicals may be dangerous to the health of consumers in the long run. The low selling price of kola nuts was perceived to be the most (74.8%) constraint to kola nut processing and marketing. Respondents noted that the red nuts were preferred for their durability during transportation and longer shelf life, while the white nuts were preferred for their taste. The results suggest the need for further agronomic, postharvest handling, preservation, and storage, as well as breeding research to provide recommendations to farmers and processors. To overcome some marketing challenges, there is a need for policy support to standardize pricing and grading systems for the mutual benefit of all the stakeholders.