Is illegal mining socio-politically entrenched? An opinion piece of the interaction between formal politics and chief dominance in mineral governance, and its influence on fighting Galamsey in Ghana.

Gold mining has been the backbone of Ghana's development since pre-colonial times. It has been essential in revenue mobilisation and the provision of employment to many people. However, in recent times the sector has received severe public backlash due to its inability to effect appropriate socioeconomic change; and the consequential destruction to forests, croplands and water bodies that has accompanied the livelihood activity. While the need to curb this menace has been hyper-crucial in recent times, these attempts have failed cyclically. This paper argues that the deep-seated linkages between different power actors such as politicians and chiefs/kings are the driving forces thwarting the fight against the menace. Recently, constructive criticisms from the public have rejuvenated the fight against galamsey, however, the modalities of the fight and socio-political power relations have jointly militated against the effectiveness of the fight. It is particularly argued that policymakers should rather take advantage of the evolved nature of the political landscape of Ghana, where politicians sometimes negotiate with chiefs/kings for political expediency during elections. This can be achieved by motivating chiefs/king's to become principal "galamsey-fighters". In the meantime, the authors also suggest that the confiscated excavators from the mining sites which are usually burnt should be stopped and rather sold to generate capital for reclaiming the lands.

Association of food insecurity with psychological disorders: Results of a population-based study among older people in Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: Food insecurity has been related to poor health, and the effect may be heightened in later life. This study examines age and gender differences in the association of food insecurity with psychological disorders (PD) in older people in Ghana. METHODS: Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions separately examined the associations between food insecurity and PD score using data from the 2016-2017 AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB Study. PD was assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) whilst food insecurity was assessed with past 30-day hunger (H), breakfast skipping (BS) and time of first daily meal. RESULTS: Among 1,200 individuals aged ≥50 years, the prevalence of food insecurity indicators of hunger (36%), skipped breakfast (29%) and late intake of first daily meal (5%) were revealed. After full adjustment, moderate (H: ß = 0.705, p < 0.001; BS: ß = 0.824, p < 0.001) and severe (H: ß = 1.813, p < 0.001; BS: ß = 1.096, p < 0.001) food insecurity significantly increased PD score compared to no food insecurity. Moreover, having late daily meal was associated with increased the risk of PD (ß = 1.035, p < 0.001). These associations were moderated by gender and age (men and 65+ age group had increased risk of PD compared to women and 50-64 age cohorts). CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity independently increases PD in older people. These findings are relevant for public health and policy interventions aimed at improving mental health of older people.

Comparative Analysis of Households Solid Waste Management in Rural and Urban Ghana.

The comparative analysis of solid waste management between rural and urban Ghana is largely lacking. This study investigated the solid waste situation and the organisation of solid waste management in both urban and rural settings from the perspective of households. The study employed cross-sectional survey covering both rural and urban districts in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The study systematically sampled houses from which 400 households and respondents were randomly selected. Pearson's Chi square test was used to compare demographic and socioeconomic variables in rural and urban areas. Multivariate Test, Tests of Between-Subjects Effects, and Pair-Wise Comparisons were performed through one-way MANOVA to determine whether or not solid waste situations in rural and urban areas are significantly different. The results revealed that location significantly affects solid waste management in Ghana. Urban communities had lower mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in homes. However, urban communities had higher mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in principal streets and dumping sites. The study recommends that the local government authorities implement very comprehensive policies (sanitary inspection, infrastructure development, and community participation) that will take into consideration the specific solid waste management needs of both urban and rural areas.