Papers by Patrick A A N I A M E N G A Bowan
Abstract. Urban waste management is drawing increasing attention, as citizens observe that too mu... more Abstract. Urban waste management is drawing increasing attention, as citizens observe that too much garbage is lying uncollected in the streets, causing inconvenience and environmental pollution, and being a risk to public health. Although government authorities apply all the means at their disposal, the piles of wastes only seem to grow from day to day. Some people suggest that private sector participation is the only way to provide solid waste management services. The objective of this paper is to assess the capacity of Zoomlion to manage urban solid waste in the Wa Municipality. The techniques used in this study were survey questionnaires, key informants interviews and focus groups discussions. The study revealed that Zoomlion lacks both the expertise and the equipment that are necessary for effective urban solid waste management. The study thus recommend that Zoomlion should employ waste management experts such as planners and engineers; and procure waste management equipment su...
Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (JGhIE)
The development and management of irrigation in many developing countries have been characterized... more The development and management of irrigation in many developing countries have been characterized by many challenges, which have led to irrigation capacity utilization on some existing schemes being very low. This study assesses small-scale irrigation scheme infrastructure in the Upper West Region of Ghana, using Yeleyiri irrigation scheme in the Wa West District and Pulima irrigation scheme in the Sissala West District as case studies. The focus of the assessment was on the status and an analysis of the rehabilitation requirements of the two schemes. In conducting the evaluation, transect walks, topographic surveys, field observation, field measurement, interviews, focused group discussions, and questionnaire surveys were the approaches and methodology adopted. The results showed that the head works, slopes, inlet and outlet structures, water distribution systems, and drainage in both schemes were in a deplorable state and thus, required maintenance to ensure the optimization of th...
Journal of Environmental Science Studies
Water quality analysis is an essential component of water supply globally. This study analyzed dr... more Water quality analysis is an essential component of water supply globally. This study analyzed drinking water quality at the tap in the Wa Municipality of Ghana. Bacteriological, physicochemical, aesthetic, and some chemical parameters of raw, treated and tap water was analyzed. The analysis showed that drinking tap water has a good quality and was satisfactory according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. However, an assessment of consumers’ perception of water consumption profiles revealed that 25 % of the respondents claimed that the water quality was bad and had some taste that may be attributable to the long period of water storage. Therefore, it is recommended that the post chlorination dose should be increased to ensure the disinfection requirements and avoid any post-treatment contamination.
Sustainability
The construction industry is a vital part of every nation’s economy. Construction activities infl... more The construction industry is a vital part of every nation’s economy. Construction activities influence the social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainability. There are so many barriers to sustainable construction and demolition waste management (C&DWM). This study aims to identify barriers for effective sustainable C&DWM in developed and developing countries. To achieve the objective, 11 barriers have been selected and identified based on an excessive and comprehensive literature review, and then reviewed by experts. These reviewed barriers were further examined by various experts within different organizations using a questionnaire survey. Ranking of the barriers was carried out using the Relative Importance Index (RI), and the results were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Practical solutions were proposed to overcome the identified barriers. The overall ranking of barriers by RI indicates that insufficient attention paid to C...
The need for housing and other works, which require the use of cement, is rising due to rapid pop... more The need for housing and other works, which require the use of cement, is rising due to rapid population increase. This study determines the suitability of cocoa pod husk ash (CPHA) for the partial replacement of cement in concrete production. The results showed that 6% replacement produced medium workability. Also, 12% and 18% replacements produced compressive strengths within the targeted design strength of . Again, 6% CPHA replacement recorded a tensile strength of 4.02 . Thus, the study showed some promise for the use of CPHA to partially replace cement in concrete production in some developing countries
The discovery of gold in most parts of Ghana has resulted in the emergence of illegal small-scale... more The discovery of gold in most parts of Ghana has resulted in the emergence of illegal small-scale gold mining activities alongside water bodies. This paper investigated illegal small-scale gold mining vis-à-vis the Black Volta River water quality in Ghana. Water samples were collected from three sites along the Block Volta River and some physicochemical parameters of the sampled water were analyzed. In addition, informal interviews were conducted using purposive and simple random sampling methods to understand the perspectives of the illegal small-scale miners on laws governing mining and the environment in Ghana. The results showed that some physicochemical parameters are high at the upstream of the Black Volta River. However, the illegal small-scale miners had poor knowledge of mining laws and the impact of their activities on the Black Volta River water quality. The study proposes the strict enforcement of environmental laws in Ghana to stop illegal small-scale mining activities ...
This study presents a framework for sustainable planning and decision-making for municipal solid ... more This study presents a framework for sustainable planning and decision-making for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in the context of developing countries. The framework was developed through a detailed study of MSW disposal in Ghana, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. The methodology and research design for the study was a descriptive and interpretive case study that was analysed through both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The developed framework consists of three main pillars of solid waste management (SWM) elements: MSW generation and characteristics, the baseline scenario of MSW disposal, and MSW disposal environmental performance. The framework can assist waste management decision-makers to take the guesswork out of decisions for waste management planning in developing countries, as the framework incorporates a better picture of how a current waste management system works and what effects changes could have, through an integrated environmental performa...
Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a global challenge and the situation is worse in urban... more Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a global challenge and the situation is worse in urban areas of developing countries due to ineffective disposal systems. In many industrialised countries, waste minimisation and recycling/reuse policies have been introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated, and increasingly, alternative waste management practices to waste disposal on land have been implemented to reduce the environmental impacts of MSWM. Nevertheless, research and MSWM in most developing countries have largely concentrated on waste collection. This doctoral study investigates how planning and decision-making for MSW disposal in developing countries with similar circumstances and MSW problems to Ghana can be improved, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. It established the baseline scenario of MSW disposal and examined MSW disposal management and operational performances. The methodology and research design for the study was a descriptive and interpretive case ...
Sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a major challenge in urban areas throughou... more Sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is a major challenge in urban areas throughout the world, with the situation getting worse in most developing countries. This paper evaluates MSWM performance in Ghana, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. The policy and legal, institutional, and financial frameworks, as well as the technical capacity for waste management, were examined. The methodology and research design for the study was an exploratory and interpretive case study that was analysed through both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The study findings indicate that Ghana has a good institutional framework, sufficient and robust legislation, existing bylaws, policies and programmes regarding MSWM. However, the challenge is the non-enforcement of and non-compliance with the laws and regulations governing MSWM. Also, the emphasis on stakeholders’ involvement in MSWM in the country is focused mainly on waste collection, and no attention paid to waste re...
In the developing world, women work hard at a variety of tasks with little control over productiv... more In the developing world, women work hard at a variety of tasks with little control over productive resources. women entrepreneurs, identified sources of venture capital and analysed factors that militate against women entrepreneurs. The study employed questionnaires and interviews for data collection. Simple random s sampling techniques were employed for data collection. Graphs, charts percentages and tables were used for analysis of the findings. The study revealed that the major barriers facing women entrepreneurs are access to credi cultural barriers. Also majority of the women entrepreneurs were within the 36 age cohort with educational level up to primary school. Further, the main source of financing businesses was own savings with bank loans registering Therefore, skills training through education and credit women are recommended in this regard.
Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy, 2018
This study developed logistic regression models to analyse the relationship between 12 observed v... more This study developed logistic regression models to analyse the relationship between 12 observed variables on knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward solid waste management in the suburbs of Phnom Penh city. We interviewed 800 households, including 200 collection service users and 600 non-service users. The determinants of how individuals are aware of, think of, and behave were assessed in the models based on the values of estimated coefficient and probability of t-statistics. As a result, education level and knowledge of health effects have positive influences on knowledge of waste problems. Income is a decisive economic factor of knowledge and attitudes. The residents seem dissatisfied with the status of waste management and collection service if they are aware of the problems. The administration, therefore, needs improvements to satisfy the knowledgeable citizens. Service provision to the non-service users is imperative to halt the practice of illegal dumping. However, the infr...
International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2020
The baseline scenarios of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities that will expose the... more The baseline scenarios of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) activities that will expose the specific challenges militating against sustainable waste management in many developing countries are not properly documented or not understood. This paper established a baseline scenario of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in Ghana, through material flow analysis and understanding of MSW handling practices, using the Wa Municipality as a case study. The study was theoretically based on empirical observation and an exploratory design. The findings showed that sustainable waste management has remained elusive because MSWM in the case study area and Ghana in general, consist of some waste collection, transportation and open dumping, where the entire amount of waste is open dumped without pretreatment. The sorting of waste at the generation sources, and the provision of adequate MSWM infrastructure, through an integrated solid waste management system can ensure sustainable waste management in the country.
Journal of Health and Pollution, 2019
Background. The generation and management of solid waste pose potential adverse impacts on human ... more Background. The generation and management of solid waste pose potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Objective. The present study examines the operational performance of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. Methods. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods and modelled the Wa Municipality's MSW disposal system using the municipal solid waste decision support tool (MSW DST). Acid gases (sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides) and total particulate matter that have a direct impact on human health were set as the objective functions for modelling five MSW disposal scenarios. The modelled scenarios were: 1) landfill disposal only; 2) composting and landfill disposal; 3) composting, incineration, refuse derived fuels (RDF) and landfill disposal; 4) separation, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disposal; and 5) separation, transfer, material recovery, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disp...
Journal of Studies in Social Sciences, Dec 2, 2013
Urban waste management is drawing increasing attention, as citizens observe that too much garbage... more Urban waste management is drawing increasing attention, as citizens observe that too much garbage is lying uncollected in the streets, causing inconvenience and environm ental pollution, and being a risk to public health. Although governm ent authorities apply all the m eans at their disposal, the piles of wastes only seem to grow from day to day. Som e people suggest that private sector participation is the only way to provide solid waste m anagem ent services. The objective of this paper is to assess the capacity of Zoomlion to manage urban solid waste in the Wa Municipality. The techniques used in this study were survey questionnaires, key inform ants interviews and focus groups discussions. The study revealed that Zoomlion lacks both the expertise and the equipm ent that are necessary for effective urban solid waste management. The study thus recommend that Zoom lion should em ploy waste management experts such as planners and engineers; and procure waste managem ent equipment such as tipper trucks, tractors, front end loaders and landfill compactors to ensure effective urban solid waste management in the Wa Municipality.
Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 2014
Many cities in Ghana have no controlled system for waste disposal. Waste is burned in pits, dumpe... more Many cities in Ghana have no controlled system for waste disposal. Waste is burned in pits, dumped in random locations, or disposed of in uncontrolled dumps without any further management. All these actions harm public health and the environment. The objective of the study is to assess solid waste disposal practices in relation to sex, age and educational level in the Wa Municipality. The research instruments used for the study were questionnaire, interview and personal observation. Simple correlation analysis was employed to determine among others the combined effect of age, sex and educational level on the solid waste disposal methods of households in the study area. Statistical tests of significance were performed to determine the models reliability at predicting future outcomes. Graphs, percentages and tables were used for analysis of the findings. The study revealed that sex, age and educational level negatively correlated with the solid waste disposal methods in the Wa Municipality. The study also revealed that, open dumping of solid waste is a common practice in the Wa municipality. While some employ the service of drains to transport their solid wastes out of their sight, some directly dump their solid wastes by the road sides. The study thus, recommends that the Wa Municipal Authorities should stop the use of the open dumping site and construct an engineered landfill for the disposal of solid waste in the Wa Municipality.
Developing Country Studies, 2014
This study analysed the extent of decentralization in the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the effe... more This study analysed the extent of decentralization in the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the effect it has on the management of the Service. A retrospective descriptive study method was employed in the study. Questionnaires and interviews were used to obtain views from health managers at the various levels in the GHS. The study used frequencies, percentages, tables and graphs to analyze the results. The study revealed a limited application of decentralization in the GHS. The execution of key management functions were adversely affected by the level of decentralization in the study area. For decentralization in the GHS to yield beneficial outcome or be successful, there is the need for some reforms or preconditions. Without these reforms, the status quo may just persist.
Journal of Education and Practice, 2013
Academic performance manifested in the class obtained is the indicator or the performance measure... more Academic performance manifested in the class obtained is the indicator or the performance measure of academic achievement. However, the variation in achievement scores among students is indicative that there exist some factors that influence this situation. This study sought to investigate the influence of some demographic factors on students' academic performance in tertiary institutions in Ghana. The study used primary data collected from graduating students of Wa Polytechnic. Both descriptive and explanatory techniques were used for the study. Simple regression analysis was employed to determine among others the combined effect of age and sex on academic performance. Statistical tests of significance were performed to determine the models reliability at predicting future outcomes. Tables and graphs were used to present these findings. Key findings of the study revealed that both age and sex were positively related to the class obtained. However, the coefficient of sex was statistically significant whereas that of age was not significant. Also, an increase (decrease) in age of male will decrease (increase) academic performance by that margin more than their female counterparts. The novel contribution of this study is to examine the role of the combined effect of age and sex on academic performance. Therefore, it is fit for counselors and policy makers to consider these background attributes in assessing and projecting the outcomes of students' academic performance.
Civil and Environmental Research, 2014
Waste management occupies a vital place in the economies of both developed and developing countri... more Waste management occupies a vital place in the economies of both developed and developing countries. Urbanization in Ghana has made the management of solid waste very crucial in the areas of public health and the environment. Poor solid waste management in Ghana can be attributed to the failure of proper waste characterization in Ghana. Thus, the objective of this paper is to determine solid waste composition and bulk density in the Wa market. The study considered waste characterization at the Wa Central Market by determining the percentage by weight of the various solid waste components generated in the market within the months of June to August, 2013. Waste bins were placed at selected locations in the market for waste collection and sorting for the study. The study obtained the densities of solid waste as follows: organic waste, 468 paper/card board, ; plastic waste, ; metals/cans waste, ; textiles/fabrics waste, and other waste has a density of ; thus, the bulk density obtained was. Also, the study revealed that the solid waste in the Wa market is dominated by organic waste of 47% and other waste, 29%. Paper/card board made up 13% of the solid waste generated in the Wa Market; 5% was plastics; metals/cans waste and textiles/fabrics waste constituted 3% each of the solid waste generated in the Wa Market. The study thus recommended that, the Municipal Authorities should reduce the quantity of solid waste that goes to the dumping site through composting and recycling/reuse solid waste generated from the Wa Central Market.
Journal of Sustainable Development Studies, 2023
Solid waste management (SWM) has the potential to contribute to the achievement of many of the su... more Solid waste management (SWM) has the potential to contribute to the achievement of many of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), even though SWM is not specifically mentioned in any of the 17 SDGs. This study assesses the potential of SWM contribution to the attainment of the SDGs, using Wa Municipality in Ghana as a case study. The study adopted an explanatory sequential research design and applied both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study revealed that the Wa Municipality's SWM system involves some solid waste (SW) storage, collection, transport, and final open dumping of the SW without treatment, which does not present opportunities for SWM to contribute to the attainment of some of the SDGs. Improvements in SWM, through the adoption of appropriate SWM processing technologies will substantially contribute to better living conditions and better health for residents and possibly lead to the attainment of some of the SDGs in the Wa Municipality.
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Papers by Patrick A A N I A M E N G A Bowan