‘If this is of God’: Choosing to Curse in Ghanaian Charismatic Christianity

African Christianity takes the challenges from their enemies and the evil forces seriously. There is hardly a call to love the enemy. Moreover, it is about destroying physical or spiritual beings that oppose one’s wellbeing. In the African Pentecostal/Charismatic ministries, one finds pastors and prophets who are cursing their colleagues openly. This essay reflects on the cursing prayers of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, the founder and Presiding Bishop of Lighthouse Chapel International, and Pastor Kelvin Elson Godson, founder of Zoe Outreach Embassy, Ogbodjo, Accra to explore their religious, ethical, and cultural justifications in contemporary neo-Charismatic ministries in Ghana in light of the African religious and cultural values. It uses the African cultural hermeneutics and paradigmatic approach in biblical ethics to show why the Akan of Ghana do not allow leaders of society to curse others. It shows that it is not only the motive and intention of the one at prayer but also the cultural and religious values that make cursing prayers legitimate or illegitimate. &nbsp

Consumers’ Perception of Safety of Leafy Vegetables and Its Effect on Their Vegetable Purchasing Decisions in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

Aim: The study sought to determine consumers’ perception of the safety of leafy vegetables and how it affects their decision to purchase leafy vegetables in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Methodology: Data employed in the study comes from 200 consumers in the study area. Perceptions of consumers were assessed by using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Consumers were asked to indicate the extent to which they agree to statements about safety of vegetables in the retail market of Kumasi-Ghana. These perception scores were averaged to form the consumer perception index. Consumers’ demographic characteristics were cross tabulated against their perception to find the influence one has on the other. Also, consumers’ perceptions were cross-tabulated against their purchasing decision of leafy vegetable to find the association between them. Results: The main findings are that consumers are very much aware of the unsafe nature of leafy vegetables in the retail market, which is caused by the use of chemicals and contaminated water on vegetables during production. Consumers also perceive retailers as mishandling leafy vegetables in the retail market and that consuming leafy vegetable with chemical residue is a risk to consumers’ health. Demographic characteristics such as educational level, type of occupation and monthly income had a significant positive relationship with consumers’ perception of leafy vegetable safety. Unsafe perception had a significant effect on the purchasing decision of leafy vegetable. Conclusions: The findings of the study imply that consumers’ demographic characteristics have the ability to influence his or her perception regarding the safety of leafy vegetables. Also, consumers’ negative perception is likely to affect their decision to purchase leafy vegetables. Moreover, the high awareness and consumer perceptions indicate consumers are likely to patronize products of retailers whose products are perceived to be safe by consumers. Thus, efforts to assist retailers should aim at making them understand this perception and how products can be handled well

Studies on kenkey: a food product made from corn in Ghana

LD2668 .T4 1967 A288Master of Scienc

The Impact of Innovation of the Construction Industry in Ghana

The essence of this paper therefore, is to bring out the impact of innovation of the Construction industry in Ghana and also to establish tangible and intangible benefits associated with innovation.  Analysis of the relevant literature indicates the impact and the problem of slow adaptation of innovation and new ways of working within the construction industry is a great concern to most organization that operates within and outside the industry. To bridge this conservatism attitude of innovation in the industry, it is fundamental to explore the impact and for that matter the benefits of innovation within the industry. This paper however, seeks to embark on this investigation on the impact of innovation and to bring to light its related benefits and how these would be achieved. Data were collected among construction professionals (Consultants) and Contractors via questionnaires supported by informal interviews. Analysis of the data was done using simple percentage method and the findings were represented in the form of pie-chart and bar-chart using micro-soft excel programme. The study established that innovation within an industry brings about increased in economic growth and profitability. The study also revealed that ease of working at a lower cost with much precision is assured when there is innovation Recommendation of effective coordination between Consultants and Contractors must exist to facilitate innovation beginning from research and development set-up within the firms. Keywords: Impact; innovation; Construction; industry; Ghan

Analysis of seed yam varieties, sources and quantity demanded by farmers in major yam producing districts in Ghana

The study analysed the varieties, sources and quantities of seed yam demanded by farmers for cultivation in order to inform policies aimed at ensuring adequate supply of quality seed yam of desirable varieties at an affordable price to boost yam productivity for improved income and livelihoods. A structured questionnaire was administered to 380 randomly selected yam farmers in three major yam producing districts in Ghana in 2015. The data analysis was done using STATA statistical software. The study identified Pona/Punjo, Lariboko, Asana, Afebetuye, Dente, Olondo and Kparinjo as the yam varieties mainly cultivated by farmers in a reducing order with high market demands by consumers. Own production remains the major source of seed yam for farmers. The estimated monetary value of quantity of seed yam used by farmers for cultivation in 2014 farming season was GH¢ 198, 552,841.0 (USD 51,706,469.0) in the study locations. About GH¢ 5,679,979.0 (USD 1,479,161.2) worth of quantities of seed yam was obtained from the market and other sources. The results demonstrate the existence of market potential for commercial seed yam production and supply in Ghana. Commercial seed yam certification system and yam breeding activities should target the identified yam varieties

Climate change impacts on worldwide ecological niche and invasive potential of Sternochetus mangiferae.

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Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Cereal Production: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture in Northern Ghana

This paper investigates the economic impacts of climate change on cereal crop production in Northern Ghana using 240 households comprising maize and sorghum farmers. The Ricardian regression approach was used to examine the economic impacts of climate change based on data generated from a survey conducted in the 2013/2014 farming seasons. Forty-year time-series data of rainfall and temperature from 1974 to 2013, together with cross-sectional data, were used for the empirical analysis. The Ricardian regression estimates for both maize and sorghum showed varying degrees of climate change impacts on net revenues. The results indicated that early season precipitation was beneficial for sorghum, but harmful for maize. However, mid-season precipitation tended to promote maize production. Temperature levels for all seasons impacted negatively on net revenue for both crops, except during the mid-season, when temperature exerted a positive effect on net revenue for sorghum. Our findings suggest that appropriate adaptation strategies should be promoted to reduce the negative impacts of prevailing climate change on cereal crop production

Characterization of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface antigen MB2 in malaria exposed individuals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MB2 protein is a sporozoite surface antigen on the human malaria parasite <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>. MB2 was identified by screening a <it>P. falciparum </it>sporozoite cDNA expression library using immune sera from a protected donor immunized via the bites of <it>P. falciparum</it>-infected irradiated mosquitoes. It is not known whether natural exposure to <it>P. falciparum </it>also induces the anti-MB2 response and if this response differs from that in protected individuals immunized via the bites of <it>P. falciparum </it>infected irradiated mosquitoes. The anti-MB2 antibody response may be part of a robust protective response against the sporozoite.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fragments of polypeptide regions of MB2 were constructed as recombinant fusions sandwiched between glutathione S-transferase and a hexa histidine tag for bacterial expression. The hexa histidine tag affinity purified proteins were used to immunize rabbits and the polyclonal sera evaluated in an <it>in vitro </it>inhibition of sporozoite invasion assay. The proteins were also used in immunoblots with sera from a limited number of donors immunized via the bites of <it>P. falciparum </it>infected irradiated mosquitoes and plasma and serum obtained from naturally exposed individuals in Kenya.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rabbit polyclonal antibodies targeting the non-repeat region of the basic domain of MB2 inhibited sporozoites entry into HepG2-A16 cells <it>in vitro</it>. Analysis of serum from five human volunteers that were immunized via the bites of <it>P. falciparum </it>infected irradiated mosquitoes that developed immunity and were completely protected against subsequent challenge with non-irradiated parasite also had detectable levels of antibody against MB2 basic domain. In contrast, in three volunteers not protected, anti-MB2 antibodies were below the level of detection. Sera from protected volunteers preferentially recognized a non-repeat region of the basic domain of MB2, whereas plasma from naturally-infected individuals also had antibodies that recognize regions of MB2 that contain a repeat motif in immunoblots. Sequence analysis of eleven field isolates and four laboratory strains showed that these antigenic regions of the basic domain of the <it>MB2 </it>gene are highly conserved in parasites obtained from different parts of the world. Moreover, anti-MB2 antibodies also were detected in the plasma of 83% of the individuals living in a malaria endemic area of Kenya (n = 41).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A preliminary analysis of the human humoral response against MB2 indicates that it may be an additional highly conserved target for immune intervention at the pre-erythrocytic stage of <it>P. falciparum </it>life cycle.</p

Central African Hunters Exposed to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV-seronegative Cameroonians with exposure to nonhuman primates were tested for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Seroreactivity was correlated with exposure risk (p<0.001). One person had strong humoral and weak cellular immune reactivity to SIVcol peptides. Humans are exposed to and possibly infected with SIV, which has major public health implications