Publications by authors named "J A Quaye-Ballard"

The ecosystem and economy's reliance on clean water is influenced by various factors such as geology, topography, soil types, activities, and the presence of plants and animals. The Ghana Water Company is encountering difficulties in delivering water to consumers in the Ashanti Region due to the shortage of surface water resources, leading to water rationing in the area. Furthermore, poor waste disposal practices, illegal mining, use of fertilizers, and industrial activities have resulted in surface and groundwater source damage.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzes land use and land cover changes in the Owabi catchment in Ghana from 1991 to 2021, highlighting a significant loss of high-density forests and an increase in built-up areas.
  • The research utilized remote sensing, GIS, and participatory methods involving 200 participants, revealing that human activities, driven by demand for housing and trade, are main contributors to biodiversity loss in the region.
  • The paper recommends stricter measures from various stakeholders, including government agencies, to protect remaining forests and monitor ongoing LULC changes in the community.
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Improper discharge of cassava mill effluent (CME) has attracted much attention in major cassava-producing areas due to cyanide contamination. This study conducted a target survey on inhabitants and processors of the Akrofrom-Techiman cassava processing area in Ghana that aimed to assess their knowledge and perception of cyanide contamination from the CME discharge. The study further examined the effect of CME on the soil and groundwater at the processing area using physicochemical and bacteriological characterizations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a parasitic infection causing significant economic issues in Ghana, with varied prevalence and symptoms between northern and southern regions.
  • Species distribution models (SDMs) were employed to analyze factors affecting LF transmission, using different algorithms like Random Forests and Generalized Boosted Models, which yielded high predictive accuracy.
  • The study identified unique risk factors for LF based on geographic location, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to manage the disease effectively in different areas of Ghana.
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Radiosonde is extensively used for understanding meteorological parameters in the vertical direction. Four typhoon events, including three landfalls (MERANTI, NEPARTAK, and MEGI) and one non-landfall (MALAKAS), were chosen in analysing the precipitable water vapour (PWV) characteristics in this study. The spatial distribution of the three radiosonde stations in Zhejiang province does not meet the requirement in analysing changes in PWV during typhoon event.

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