Ghana Journal of Geography

Household Water Use Efficiency and its implication for Sustainable Accessibility: A Case Study

Timothy Ogunbode — 2024-01-30

The existential value of water for human survival and sustenance prompted the need to determine factors responsible for water use efficiency (WUE) among twenty-seven households working in Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria. The households were made up of academic and non-academic staff who, by virtue of their exposure and experience are knowledgeable enough to respond accurately to the insightful questions. Specialized variables of indoor water use were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Estimates of used
volume of each variable/day were expressed in litres, the frequency of use and the sources of the used water were obtained. All respondents have tertiary education and are females. The family size ranged from 2 to 5 and they generally source their water (96.37% groundwater) close to their homes and premises. Potential areas of excessive water use in homes were identified, using Factor Analysis, to be laundry, incidental uses and auto-wash which are in the non-consumptive category. The trio constituted 53.33% of all water usage in homes. This is evidently beyond sustainability threshold and demands further attention. Thus, water use efficiency in homes should conservatively address non-consumptive uses by using water-propelled machines at full capacities, water-reuse/recycling and taking sensible responsibilities for resource sustainability.

The Contribution of Climate-Smart Agriculture to Reducing Climate-Related Risks to Rain-Fed Maize Production: Insights from Tanzania’s Semi-Arid and Sub-Humid Regions

Barnabas Msongaleli — 2024-01-30

Adaptation responses of rain-fed smallholder farming systems to climate change and variability have become more unpredictable. Semi-arid and sub-humid regions are most affected by knowledge gaps on climate change adaptation strategies. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices are crucial because they ensure predictable and effective adaptation responses that reduce crop failures. To determine potential new strategies for farm-level climate change adaptation, this study examined the implications of three CSA practices on rain-fed maize production: crop diversification, intercropping, and planting date adjustment. Plot-level data were obtained from the Tanzania National Panel Survey (TNPS) throughout waves 1 (2008/2009) and 2 (2010/2011). The consistency of the adaptation responses was evaluated using test-retest reliability. The findings showed that intercropping and splitting plots to plant crops other than maize was an analogue for crop diversification and reduced variability of maize grain yields. The panel linear regression model revealed that the yields of maize grains were positively correlated with intercropping and crop diversification (plot division). Moreover, the results of the meta-analysis showed that intercropping, crop diversification, and planting date adjustments could greatly increase smallholder rain-fed maize farmers’ resistance to the effects of climate variability and change. The government and non-governmental
organizations should be encouraged to provide funding for agricultural extension education, which is a major factor in the implementation of CSA techniques.

Severe Cold Harmattan Events in the Northwestern Region of Nigeria from 1961 to 2020

Alex Folorunsho — 2024-01-30

This study examined the occurrences of severe cold harmattan events in Northwestern Nigeria from 1961 to 2020. Monthly minimum temperatures of the harmattan seasons (November to February) for five (5) selected stations: Kaduna, Kano, Gusau, Katsina, and Sokoto, were collected and analyzed over 60 years. A modified Standard Anomaly Index (SAI) was applied to determine the severe cold harmattan (SCH) events for the harmattan seasons. Findings revealed that SCH events occurred 55 times in the study area throughout the study period. In terms of geographical distribution, Sokoto experienced the most frequent SCH events (16 times in 60 years), followed by Kano and Katsina (15 times each). Kaduna had the lowest frequency (3 times), next to Gusau (6 times). Among decades, the second decade (1971-1980) had the highest occurrences of SCH in the study area (15 times in 10 years or 27.27%). Sokoto experienced the highest occurrence in this decade, while both Kaduna and Gusau witnessed the lowest. In regards to total decadal frequency, the most recent decade (2011-2020) and the first decade (1961-1970) tied for second. In general, all stations experienced SCH in the most recent decade (2011-2020). The study suggests that measures should be put in place to mitigate against SCH events that focus on climate change abatement strategies such as conventional mitigation, reduction of negative emissions, and unpleasant land use practices because climate change can increase the frequency of SCH and may put human health at risk of cold-related illnesses.

Sediments Composition and Morphology of the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach, Bakaano, Cape Coast, Ghana

Ishmael Yaw Dadson — 2024-01-30

This research examined the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach sediment composition at Bakaano in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The researchers focused on the physical attributes of the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach at Bakaano in Cape Coast and analysed its sediment composition. The paper analysed twelve (12) samples or specimens of soils/sediments at the laboratory to determine the sediment composition of the barrier beach. The physical dimensions of the barrier beach were measured in the field with a tape measure and a Global Positioning System (GPS). The study established that the Fosu Lagoon Barrier Beach is approximately 130m long and 58m wide. It is shallow in height, about 10m above sea level and composed mainly of coarse sand particles. The granulated sand composition has made this barrier beach fragile. Aside from wave action, human-induced factors were prominent in the catchment area, such as sand mining and artificial breaching of the barrier, accounting for the temporal changes in its physical characteristics. The paper recommends that the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly should play a critical role in protecting and maintaining the feature by regulating threatening human activities carried out on it.

Exploring the Nature of Road Safety Education in Basic Schools and School Children’s Travel Mode Options in Winneba, Ghana

Prince Kwame Odame — 2024-01-30

Road safety education among school children is a critical issue that needs to be addressed as African countries record more road traffic-related deaths and disabilities. Despite efforts to increase road safety education across various mediums, basic schools in Ghana have received little of such attention despite their role in socialisation. This study explored the nature of road safety education and school children’s travel mode opinions in Winneba. The study adopted a quantitative research approach which sampled 400 school children within Class 4 to 9 (Junior High 3) from 5 basic schools. Questionnaires were filled after class hours after receiving approval from school heads. Jamovi was used to analyse the data and presented using frequency, cross-tabulation and chi-square test of independence. The study found that walking constitutes a major travel option for children in Winneba as this mode comes at no cost. Even though schools constituted a primary source of knowledge, road safety education was not assigned to a dedicated subject teacher(s) and was seldom taught in school. The study found a significant relationship between the impact of road safety education and school children’s frequently used travel mode option. The study recommends efforts to dedicate road safety lessons to subjects like Social Studies and Our World Our People since such subject’s touch on Ghanaians’ daily living situations.

Perceived Effects of Drought on Urban and Peri-urban Crop Production in Nigeria: Farmers’ Adaptation Measures

Afolabi Monisola Tunde — 2024-01-30

This paper examines the perceived effects of drought on crop production in Ilorin and its fringes by making use of climatic elements (temperature and rainfall) and crop yield for a period of 10years. One hundred and twenty crop farmers were sampled randomly with copies of questionnaire. Climatic and crop yield data from 2011-2020 were collected. Findings revealed that sampled farmers (85%) perceived drought to be cessation of rainfall for a long period during rainy season. Causes of droughts include insufficient rainfall, high temperatures and deforestation among others. Decline in crop was perceived as the greatest effect of drought on crop production by 92% of the sampled farmers. The correlation analysis revealed rainfall is highly correlated with maize (0.723), but weakly correlated with sorghum (0.190) and cassava (0.037). Maximum temperature correlates weakly with cassava (0.003). Minimum temperature also
correlates weakly with cassava (0.019) maize (0.274) and sorghum (0.152). The regression analysis revealed that 43%, 67% and 82% of the variance in sorghum, maize and cassava production respectively could be explained by the climatic elements under study. Amongst the adaptation measures suggested include irrigation and changing planting dates. It can therefore be concluded that fluctuations in rainfall and temperature resulted into drought, which affect crop production in the study area.

The Challenges of Deforestation and Management in Nigeria: Suggestions for Improvement

Yusuf Alapata Ahmed — 2024-01-30

This paper appraises the dangers posed to forests regions in Nigeria resulting from deforestation impacts. The country is deprived with socio-economic and environmental benefits due to the over exploitation of forests and land cover. Nigeria is losing steadily economic opulence, leaving her with hazard from erosion, flooding and desertification culminating into climate change. Like some tropical world regions, many people illegally engaged in export of log/wood, and get solace in unlawful taxes and illegitimate royalties
which fetch them personal income from this repulsive job. This work employs a classical review in examining the challenges and poor management facing the economic forest regions in Nigeria. The main goal is centred on the pressures on the forest population leading to a number of causes like; urbanization, overpopulation and over expansion of agricultural lands. The work suggests that, the stakeholders and governments need to establish some laws and regulations that can check the indiscriminate felling of trees and degrading of the environment in Nigeria. Government is also advised to find alternative means of power generation and introduce modern farming techniques for the populace. The public enlightenment campaign is also imperative for citizenry in order to forestall dangers posed by un-restrained deforestation.

COVID–19 Impacts: Government Interventions and Residential Housing Prices in Lagos Metropolis

Victor Ilechukwu — 2024-01-30

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had profound impact on global economies. Various studies have focused on the impact of COVID-19 interventions on the financial market such as stocks markets, but few studies examined government interventions influence on housing market, particularly the housing price. This paper explores the influence of the government interventions during COVID-19 on housing prices in the residential areas of Lagos Metropolis in Nigeria. The aim is to understand whether price variations can be attributed to the epidemic shocks, by employing a review of literature on government interventions for COVID 19 pandemic and housing prices (2009 & 2015) before the pandemic and 2020 Lagos Property Market Consensus Report during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were deployed in the application of difference-in-difference method for data analysis. The findings revealed that a lesser percentage of housing price increase was associated with the decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases and less partial
lockdown measures. While a higher percentage housing price increase was associated with an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases along with more stringent full lockdown measures. The study concluded that housing price change was influenced by government interventions during COVID-19 pandemic in the Lagos Metropolis. The study recommends that to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infections in order to ensure a lesser percentage increase in housing price, spacious and more affordable housing units should be encouraged. Therefore, the effectiveness of lockdown and restriction measures should be further assessed, given their impacts on individual liberties and housing affordability.

Analysis of Households’ Water Access and Consumption in Differential Urban Neighbourhoods of Osogbo, Nigeria

Samuel Babatunde Adedotun — 2024-01-30

The study focused on scrutinizing the sources and consumption patterns of domestic water supply in Osogbo, with an emphasis on households' socio-economic characteristics. Data were collected from three deliberately chosen residential neighborhoods representing low, medium, and high-density areas, with a cumulative population of 134,159 and an estimated 26,829 households. Employing a multistage sampling technique, 25% of streets in each neighborhood were randomly selected, and systematic sampling was utilized to distribute 268 structured questionnaires (1% of households) to gather information. Descriptive analyses, such as means and percentages, were employed to scrutinize socio-economic characteristics and water consumption patterns. The study also utilized inferential statistics, specifically Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), to assess the impact of residential densities and water sources on water consumption volume. Results highlighted hand-dug wells (46%), public taps (22.4%), and boreholes (15.7%) as the
predominant water sources. MANOVA revealed a statistically significant influence of residential densities and water sources on water consumption volume (p=0.049). In low-density areas, households consumed an average of 960 liters per day, compared to 735 and 517.5 liters in medium- and high-density areas, respectively. Across Osogbo, the average household consumed 664.7 liters daily. Correlation analysis indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship between resident population and water consumption (p<0.05). The study concluded by emphasizing the pivotal roles of government, communities, NGOs, and individuals in addressing water provision challenges in the area.