Microcredit and Poverty Reduction in Bangladesh: Beyond Publication Bias, Does Genuine Effect Exist?

We review the empirical evidence on the impact of microcredit on poverty in Bangladesh. Drawing on evidence from seven empirical studies with 306 estimates, we examine the impact of microcredit on three proxies of poverty – income, assets and consumption/expenditure. After addressing issues of publication selection bias, we find that microcredit has a statistically insignificant effect on income, and also on assets. Evidence shows a positive but weak effect of microcredit on consumption/expenditure. Meta-regression analysis reveals that sources of variations in the existing literature such as study design, data characteristics and empirical methodology can explain the differences in reported estimates

Adinkra: An Epitome of Asante Philosophy and History

This paper investigated into the philosophical and historical representations of the celebrated Adinkra cloth production using the case study approach at Ntonso in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Data were solicited through personal and telephone interview as well as participant observation from respondents who were purposively sampled.  The study revealed that the Badie dye was locally obtained and prepared using the barks from the Badie tree. There are no additives mixed with the prepared dye as purported by several writers. It was also realized that the entire Adinkra cloth process from the acquisition of the tools and materials, production processes and the symbols usually printed in the cloth was firmly rooted in an interesting and thought provoking philosophical and historical foundation which portrays the African as a wise, creative artist. The study more importantly voiced out that though Asantes and Africans in general usually do not have written documentaries of their histories and philosophy that in anyway does not imply that these literally are absent. The rich artistic productions of residents in Africa are in fact a visual representation of their unadulterated histories and philosophies. The Adinkra cloth is but one example of such inspiring assets of the Asantes that are repositories of their rich philosophy and history.   Keywords: Adinkra Cloth; History; Philosophy; Badie dy

Performance Evaluation of Local Cassava Starch Flour as a Secondary Viscosifier and Fluid Loss Agent in Water Based Drilling Mud

The success of any rotary drilling process depends on the type of drilling mud selected to achieve a particular task. The main function of drilling mud is to remove cuttings during drilling process. Viscosity is by far, the most needed property of the drilling fluid to aid it perform its needed task. The viscosity property of the mud helps in well cleaning and also aid in the suspension of drilling cuttings when circulation of the fluid is put on hold. It is important to monitor and continuously adjust the viscosity of the drilling fluid. Series of investigations have been carried out to discover less expensive and high performance viscosifiers. Cassava starch flour with bentonite in controlling viscosity and fluid loss in Water Based Mud (WBM) was investigated in this study. Various mud samples were formulated consisting of different masses of cassava starch flour (2 g, 4 g, 6 g and 8 g) and an additional one being the control bentonite (0 g of cassava starch flour). Fluid loss and rheological tests were carried out to determine the plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength among others. Results from this investigation showed that, increasing the amount of cassava starch flour in the WBM increased the viscosity of the mud samples due to its swelling ability. Mud samples with cassava starch flour exhibited greater suspension ability (gel strength) of cuttings than that of the control sample with the exception of 6 g and 8 g of cassava starch at 80 ℃ for the 10 minutes gel strength. At the end of the fluid loss test, mud sample with cassava starch flour concentration of 2 g recorded a filter cake thickness of 2 mm while that of 4 g, 6 g, and 8 g gave 3 mm thickness. In conclusion, introduction of cassava starch flour into the mud samples from concentrations of 2 g to 8 g reduced its fluid loss by an average of 8 %. Based on the analyses, starch flour prepared from freshly uprooted local cassava has the potential to improve viscosity and also control fluid loss in WBM. Keywords: Bentonite, Drilling Fluid, Fluid Loss, Rheology, Water Based Mud (WBM), Viscosifie

Modern Trends in Ownership and Acquisition of Large-scale Lands in Teshie and Kasoa, Ghana

With the rising urbanisation of some parts of Ghana, the demand for land for various purposes is inevitable. The article assesses current trend of  large-scale land acquisition in Teshie and Kasoa. The study used semi-structured interviews to solicit primary data from key informants such as chiefs at Nyanyano-Kasoa and Tsie-We family head at Teshie, land guards, and investors who acquire large scale lands in these areas to identify the trends in such acquisitions between 2014 to 2019.The study uncovered that though there are variations in the nature of land ownership in Teshie and Kasoa, multiple sale of lands, poor land management practices, litigation and land guarding are common practices in both areas. The study found that there is an institutional gap as both the state and traditional institutions have not really done much to deal with the challenges  confronting LSLAs in these areas. It is recommended that land owning groups be engaged and educated by the Lands Commission in collaboration with Customary Lands Secretariat on proper ways to manage and sell their lands to avoid multiple sales and the conflicts that it brings. The Ghana police service should crackdown on land guarding which is an illegal activity. Keywords: Large-scale, Land Acquisition, Land Ownership, Customary Land Secretariat, Traditional Authoritie

Gurene Utilitarian Basketry Arts: A Critical Discourse

The Gurene people in the Upper East Region of Ghana have a variety of notable utilitarian basketry articles which are used in many cultural applications in the Gurene society. These category of basketry articles, even though very important in the day-to-day activities of the Gurene people, are not extensively researched into. This study sought to identify, describe and underpin the functions of these basketry articles, in order to underpin their socio-cultural relevance among the Gurene people. Ethnographic research design was used. 85 respondents were sampled for the study using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Primary data was collected using observations, interviews and focus group discussions and analysed thematically, using NVivo 9 qualitative data analysis package. The findings showed that the basketry articles are employed in agricultural and culinary activities such as harvesting, carting of farm produce, storage of grains, rearing of livestock, winnowing, and food preparations. Also, some are utilised in burial and funeral rites, expended as architectural accoutrements, and applied as containers and carriers which are used in selling diverse items in the Gurene society.Keywords: Gurene basketry, baskets, ethnic artefacts, utilitarian basketry arts, fibre arts.DOI: 10.7176/ADS/80-03Publication date: January 31st 202

Examining the Determinants of Location Attributes and their Effect on Hotel Pricing in the Period of the Covid-19 Pandemic in an Emerging Market

The emergence of COVID-19 and the consequent travel restrictions have led to a decrease in the patronage of hotel services in nearly all economies in the world. In this circumstance, location attributes have become even more important in hotel pricing and investment decision-making. It is even more interesting to see how this plays out in emerging economies such as Ghana. The study assesses the effect of location attributes on hotel pricing during the COVID-19 pandemic period in Tamale. A sequential mixed research design including Mixed Spatial Hedonic Price Approach, Exploratory Factor Analysis and key informant interviews was employed. A sample of 815 tourists and 163 hotels was used. Hotel class, road accessibility, age of building, and hotel rate are the key determinants of hotel pricing. Among these, the hotel class showed more significance in influencing pricing decisions in the COVID-19 period. The models show that the hotel class with positive coefficients are located outside the city centre of Tamale. This has resulted in increased Yield To Maturity because the hotels located outside the city centre received more clients, with grade one hotels showing a huge net income and good post-COVID-19 investment drive. The results show that potential hotel investors should consider hotel class as a major entry decision factor during and after periods of the pandemic

The Hybridity in the Rites of Passage among the Ewe Ethnic Society in the Kumasi Metropolis

This study investigated the rites of passage of the Ewe ethnic society in the Kumasi Metropolis. It discusses the influence of the Asante host culture’s rites of passage on the Ewe ethnic society’s culture resulting in the hybridity of culture as a result of migration. The study was driven in a purely qualitative study with descriptive study as the study design. Thirty (30) study participants consisting of chiefs, elders in the traditional court and the elderly in the study area. Personal interviews and focus group discussions were the data collection tools used for collecting the data for the study. The findings of the study revealed that the Ewe cultural practices exhibited in the Kumasi metropolis is as a result of hybridity. The study contends that as the Ewes play their culture alongside the host culture-Asante culture, they consciously and unconsciously fuse and or substitute their indigenous culture which has virtually merged or replace their culture. Keywords: Value, Rites of Passage, Acculturation, Enculturation, Ethnicity, Cultural Hybridity DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/62-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

Social Capital Inequality and Subjective Wellbeing of Older Chinese

Using longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study provides insights on comparative wellbeing outcomes for older people who are institutionally segregated into clusters that produce uneven social capital. We present the first study that examines how institutionalized social capital inequality,measured by the social capital gapgenerated by hukou(household registration) statusin China,affects the wellbeing of older people. Our results showthat high levels of social capital inequality are associated with lower subjective wellbeing, measured by life satisfaction. This general conclusion is robust to a number of sensitivity checks including alternative ways of measuring subjective wellbeing and inequality. We also find that the negative relationship between social capital inequality and subjective wellbeing is strongest for people with a non-urban hukouliving in urban areas.Our findings highlight the need for policies aimed at narrowing the social capital gap and the dismantling of institutional structures that hinder upward social capital mobility

The Theoretical and Socio –Cultural Dimensions of Kpando Women’s Pottery

Pottery plays a very important role in the indigenous culture of the various ethnic groups in Ghana. At Kpando in the Volta Region, the art of pottery making, the meaning and uses of the artefacts are enshrined in some deep philosophies that permeate the socio-cultural life of the people. However, the rich theoretical and cultural components of the art have not been fully documented, and are not well understood and appreciated. This knowledge gap has rendered this cultural landmark almost invisible in cultural anthropology and native art. This study therefore provides an intellectual review of indigenous pottery production at Kpando with the view to unearth their role in the social sustainability of the indigenous people. The paper takes a critical look at the ontology of the art, clay winning process, pottery production, their usage and associated taboos. The descriptive method of qualitative research was employed for the study. The findings of the study show that traditional pottery production in Kpando is principally women’s art and the artefacts have both theoretical and cultural undertones. Keywords: Pottery production, native art, theoretical undertone, Kpando wome