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Sam, E. F., Ojo, T. K., Siita, S., Sarpong, A., Baffour, I. K., & Abenyi, E. (2018). Determinants of public transport passengers' choice of seating positions in Ghana. Urban, Planning and Transport Research, 6,
Abstract
Public bus/minibus safety concerns predispose passengers to make safety evaluations and engage in behavioural adaptations (i.e. behaviour change to compensate for changes in perceived risk) to the perceived unsafety. This cross-sectional study sought to explore Public Transport (PT) users' choice of seating positions in Ghana, a form of behavioural adaptation to PT unsafety. Data for the study came from 660 public bus/minibus users (through questionnaire administration) in three towns (Wa, Kumasi, and Mankessim) in Ghana. We established the association between the dependent (preferred seating position) and independent variables (socio-demographic characteristics, trip duration and perceived safe seats) via cross-tabulations and Pearson Chi-Square. We tested the strength of the association (effect size) among the variables using the Cramer's V. We found that the seats behind the driver, in the middle and in front were both the perceived safe seats and the preferred seating positions on a public bus/minibus in Ghana. Justifications for these were mainly informed by safety and comfort. Notably, we observed that occupational status, trip duration and perceived safe seats determine the preferred seating position on a public bus/minibus. Our study findings provide further perspectives on passengers' seating position decisions which are expected to inform future research and policy directions.
Public bus/minibus safety concerns predispose passengers to make safety evaluations and engage in behavioural adaptations (i.e. behaviour change to compensate for changes in perceived risk) to the perceived unsafety. This cross-sectional study sought to explore Public Transport (PT) users' choice of seating positions in Ghana, a form of behavioural adaptation to PT unsafety. Data for the study came from 660 public bus/minibus users (through questionnaire administration) in three towns (Wa, Kumasi, and Mankessim) in Ghana. We established the association between the dependent (preferred seating position) and independent variables (socio-demographic characteristics, trip duration and perceived safe seats) via cross-tabulations and Pearson Chi-Square. We tested the strength of the association (effect size) among the variables using the Cramer's V. We found that the seats behind the driver, in the middle and in front were both the perceived safe seats and the preferred seating positions on a public bus/minibus in Ghana. Justifications for these were mainly informed by safety and comfort. Notably, we observed that occupational status, trip duration and perceived safe seats determine the preferred seating position on a public bus/minibus. Our study findings provide further perspectives on passengers' seating position decisions which are expected to inform future research and policy directions.
Sam, E.F., Brijs, K., Daniels, S., Brijs, T., & Wets, G.
31st International Co-operation on Theories and Concepts in Traffic Safety (ICTCT). Porto, Portugal 25-26 October 2018
Paper presented:
Construction and validation of a public bus passenger safety scale
Abstract
Public transport (PT) passengers make safety evaluations, yet to the best of our knowledge, there exists no instrument that captures what is considered by public transport users when they make such personal safety evaluations. What exists is a generalised service quality scale (SERVQUAL). Unfortunately, this scale does not adequately capture the content domain of personal safety which is important to PT users, especially in developing countries where PT vehicle accidents are both frequent and severe. This study discusses the development and validation of the public bus passenger safety scale (PBPSS), for measuring public bus passengers’ safety. The results of two independent studies suggest that the PBPSS measures three facets of public bus passengers’ safety: driver-related, transport operator-related and vehicle-related. Through both exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (using IBM SPSS Statistics and AMOS respectively), we demonstrated that the new scale is reliable, psychometrically sound and can be utilised to assess public bus passengers’ safety. The 3-factor model observed through PCA was confirmed using CFA, indicating that the same factor structure existed in both datasets. The final 3-factor, 17-item model exhibited an acceptable model fit and evidenced both convergent and discriminant validity.
Public transport (PT) passengers make safety evaluations, yet to the best of our knowledge, there exists no instrument that captures what is considered by public transport users when they make such personal safety evaluations. What exists is a generalised service quality scale (SERVQUAL). Unfortunately, this scale does not adequately capture the content domain of personal safety which is important to PT users, especially in developing countries where PT vehicle accidents are both frequent and severe. This study discusses the development and validation of the public bus passenger safety scale (PBPSS), for measuring public bus passengers’ safety. The results of two independent studies suggest that the PBPSS measures three facets of public bus passengers’ safety: driver-related, transport operator-related and vehicle-related. Through both exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (using IBM SPSS Statistics and AMOS respectively), we demonstrated that the new scale is reliable, psychometrically sound and can be utilised to assess public bus passengers’ safety. The 3-factor model observed through PCA was confirmed using CFA, indicating that the same factor structure existed in both datasets. The final 3-factor, 17-item model exhibited an acceptable model fit and evidenced both convergent and discriminant validity.
Kursah, M.B (2018). Resolving the landfill siting impasse: modelling technocratic and indigenous perspectives using GIS multicriteria approach. GeoJournal, 83,
Abstract
Increase in waste generation calls for an effective waste management as this has become a necessity for environmental sustainability. Several methods are adopted in managing waste, which include waste reduction, reuse, thermal treatment, recycling and landfilling. The landfill method is recognised as the most used of all the waste management methods in developing countries such as Ghana. However, the selection of a suitable landfill site is very difficult and tedious. This is because it involves a consideration of many factors such as environmental, topographic, economic, socio-cultural and civil engineering. This research sought to identify a suitable landfill site by applying GIS multicriteria and weighted overlay approach in the Bongo District of Northern Ghana. The analysis relied on criteria and weights provided by the technocrats and the indigenes in the district as a way of demonstrating how landfill siting impasse can be resolved by incorporating the various stakeholders. The results obtained provided clear areas for landfill sites in the study area from the technocratic and the indigenous perspectives. However, the technocratic perspective failed to include an important cultural criterion, sacred groves, as a factor. The indigenous perspective also compromised on the factor related to nearness to residential areas, and is equally not sufficient on its own. The optimal landfill sites, which meets the expectations of both the technocrats and indigenes, was identified. This perspective has produced technically favourable and socio-culturally acceptable landfill site. However, it is recommended an environmental impact assessment (EIA) be conducted to identify the full environmental and social cost of the site. It is concluded that in landfill site selection much attention be given to cultural factors in the same way as the technical factors.
Increase in waste generation calls for an effective waste management as this has become a necessity for environmental sustainability. Several methods are adopted in managing waste, which include waste reduction, reuse, thermal treatment, recycling and landfilling. The landfill method is recognised as the most used of all the waste management methods in developing countries such as Ghana. However, the selection of a suitable landfill site is very difficult and tedious. This is because it involves a consideration of many factors such as environmental, topographic, economic, socio-cultural and civil engineering. This research sought to identify a suitable landfill site by applying GIS multicriteria and weighted overlay approach in the Bongo District of Northern Ghana. The analysis relied on criteria and weights provided by the technocrats and the indigenes in the district as a way of demonstrating how landfill siting impasse can be resolved by incorporating the various stakeholders. The results obtained provided clear areas for landfill sites in the study area from the technocratic and the indigenous perspectives. However, the technocratic perspective failed to include an important cultural criterion, sacred groves, as a factor. The indigenous perspective also compromised on the factor related to nearness to residential areas, and is equally not sufficient on its own. The optimal landfill sites, which meets the expectations of both the technocrats and indigenes, was identified. This perspective has produced technically favourable and socio-culturally acceptable landfill site. However, it is recommended an environmental impact assessment (EIA) be conducted to identify the full environmental and social cost of the site. It is concluded that in landfill site selection much attention be given to cultural factors in the same way as the technical factors.
Kursah, M. B. & Baabereyir, A. (2018). Willingness to pay for sachet water plastic waste management through deposit-refund system. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 19,
Abstract
Deposit refund system (DRS) combines a tax on product consumption with a refund when the product or its packaging is returned for recycling or for appropriate disposal. The policy is gaining more consideration as it has become difficult to impose a direct tax on disposal, since people may avoid the tax through midnight dumping. However, the willingness to pay (WTP) for DRS has not been explored in Ghana. This study was therefore conducted in order to ascertain whether residents in Accra, Tema and the surrounding communities are willing to pay for plastic waste management using the DRS, how much they are willing to pay as well as their concerns on the implementation of this policy instrument. It also correlated the willingness to pay amount (WTPA) against socio-economic variables such as income, educational level age and neighbourhood type of the residents. Through accidental sampling technique, respondents were randomly approached to participate in the questionnaire administration, and the result coded and analysed in SPSS. The result showed a high level of WTP (64.8%) among participants. The minimum WTPA is 1GHp and the maximum amount is 20GHp, the same amount it costs to purchase the product. The mean WTPA per a sachet is approximately 8GHp (7.75GHp), that is, 40% of the current unit cost of the product (sachet water). The result also showed that lower income earners were willing to pay a higher amount as deposit-refund than the high-income earners. The educational level, age and neighbourhood type correlated positively, while income had an inverse relationship with the WTPA. However, all these socioeconomic variables, with the exception of age, were not statistically significant correlators of WTPA. Also, more than half (51.1%) of the participants thought that DRS was a good policy instrument and did not raise any negative concern about its implementation. However, some concerns such as the nature of the implementation, effectiveness, locational, awareness, incentive and health issues were raised. It is, therefore, recommended that policymakers consider introducing the DRS but in the process address the concerns raised by the study participants.
Deposit refund system (DRS) combines a tax on product consumption with a refund when the product or its packaging is returned for recycling or for appropriate disposal. The policy is gaining more consideration as it has become difficult to impose a direct tax on disposal, since people may avoid the tax through midnight dumping. However, the willingness to pay (WTP) for DRS has not been explored in Ghana. This study was therefore conducted in order to ascertain whether residents in Accra, Tema and the surrounding communities are willing to pay for plastic waste management using the DRS, how much they are willing to pay as well as their concerns on the implementation of this policy instrument. It also correlated the willingness to pay amount (WTPA) against socio-economic variables such as income, educational level age and neighbourhood type of the residents. Through accidental sampling technique, respondents were randomly approached to participate in the questionnaire administration, and the result coded and analysed in SPSS. The result showed a high level of WTP (64.8%) among participants. The minimum WTPA is 1GHp and the maximum amount is 20GHp, the same amount it costs to purchase the product. The mean WTPA per a sachet is approximately 8GHp (7.75GHp), that is, 40% of the current unit cost of the product (sachet water). The result also showed that lower income earners were willing to pay a higher amount as deposit-refund than the high-income earners. The educational level, age and neighbourhood type correlated positively, while income had an inverse relationship with the WTPA. However, all these socioeconomic variables, with the exception of age, were not statistically significant correlators of WTPA. Also, more than half (51.1%) of the participants thought that DRS was a good policy instrument and did not raise any negative concern about its implementation. However, some concerns such as the nature of the implementation, effectiveness, locational, awareness, incentive and health issues were raised. It is, therefore, recommended that policymakers consider introducing the DRS but in the process address the concerns raised by the study participants.
Kursah, M.B (2017). Modelling malaria susceptibility using Geographic Information System. GeoJournal, 82,
Abstract
Identifying and/or predicting the geography of malaria will help decision makers locate the particular area with the health problem, and to design area-specific interventions. Using GIS (ArcMap 10.1), a spatial analysis of environmental factors that contribute to the spread of malaria vector was conducted to develop a malaria susceptibility model that could be used in effective malaria control planning. The study first determined malaria susceptibility index and combined it with geospatial modelling to predict malaria susceptibility. Clinical malaria cases were then geocoded and tested to determine the accuracy of the prediction. The results show that 72.3, 24.5, 3.1 and 0.1 % of the clinical malaria incidence were found in areas that were predicted to have very high, high, low and very low susceptibility levels. Hence, the model, to a large extent, predicted malaria occurrences. The conclusion is that modelling such as this can help determine spatio-temporal prediction and mapping of malaria incidence to aid in the design and administration of appropriate interventions.
Identifying and/or predicting the geography of malaria will help decision makers locate the particular area with the health problem, and to design area-specific interventions. Using GIS (ArcMap 10.1), a spatial analysis of environmental factors that contribute to the spread of malaria vector was conducted to develop a malaria susceptibility model that could be used in effective malaria control planning. The study first determined malaria susceptibility index and combined it with geospatial modelling to predict malaria susceptibility. Clinical malaria cases were then geocoded and tested to determine the accuracy of the prediction. The results show that 72.3, 24.5, 3.1 and 0.1 % of the clinical malaria incidence were found in areas that were predicted to have very high, high, low and very low susceptibility levels. Hence, the model, to a large extent, predicted malaria occurrences. The conclusion is that modelling such as this can help determine spatio-temporal prediction and mapping of malaria incidence to aid in the design and administration of appropriate interventions.
Kursah, M.B (2017). GIS and correlation analysis of geo-environmental variables influencing malaria prevalence. Ghana Journal of Geography, 9,
Abstract
Analysing the significance of geo-environmental variables influencing malaria incidence will help decision makers design area-specific interventions for tackling the menace, particularly in high risk areas. This study applied geocoding and raster extraction functionalities in GIS (ArcMap) and Pearson correlation in SPSS to identify the relationship between five geo-environmental variables and malaria incidence. It first geocoded malaria incidence data and extracted the corresponding values for five geo-environmental variables in ArcMap 10.1. The five geo-environmental variables are: distance to marshy areas, distance to watercourses (rivers and streams), soil water retention capacity, elevation and population. Pearson correlation was then used to find the relationship between the variables and malaria incidence. The study also applied spline interpolation technique to map malaria prevalence in the district using standardised malaria incidence. The result indicates that distance to marshy areas is inversely and significantly (at 1% level) related to malaria incidence. This means that malaria incidence decreases as distance to marshy areas increases. The distance to watercourses and elevation are also inversely related to malaria incidence in the study area. This means that as distance to watercourses increases and elevation rises, malaria incidence decreases. However, these relationships are not statistically significant at any of the conventional levels of significance (p<0.01 and p<0.05). The result also indicates that water retention capacity of different soils and population are positively related to malaria incidence. This means that malaria incidence rises with increases in the two variables, but the relationships are not statistically significant at any of the conventional levels. The study concluded that the null hypothesis (H0) that there is no significant relationship between distance to marshy areas and malaria incidence may be rejected at 1% (P<0.01) level of significance. However, there is not enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis (H0) that there is no significant relationship between distance to watercourses, different soil retention capacity, elevation and population, on the one hand, and malaria incidence on the other. It is, therefore, recommended that much broader settlement planning policies be adopted to curb building in those areas that are malaria prone.
Analysing the significance of geo-environmental variables influencing malaria incidence will help decision makers design area-specific interventions for tackling the menace, particularly in high risk areas. This study applied geocoding and raster extraction functionalities in GIS (ArcMap) and Pearson correlation in SPSS to identify the relationship between five geo-environmental variables and malaria incidence. It first geocoded malaria incidence data and extracted the corresponding values for five geo-environmental variables in ArcMap 10.1. The five geo-environmental variables are: distance to marshy areas, distance to watercourses (rivers and streams), soil water retention capacity, elevation and population. Pearson correlation was then used to find the relationship between the variables and malaria incidence. The study also applied spline interpolation technique to map malaria prevalence in the district using standardised malaria incidence. The result indicates that distance to marshy areas is inversely and significantly (at 1% level) related to malaria incidence. This means that malaria incidence decreases as distance to marshy areas increases. The distance to watercourses and elevation are also inversely related to malaria incidence in the study area. This means that as distance to watercourses increases and elevation rises, malaria incidence decreases. However, these relationships are not statistically significant at any of the conventional levels of significance (p<0.01 and p<0.05). The result also indicates that water retention capacity of different soils and population are positively related to malaria incidence. This means that malaria incidence rises with increases in the two variables, but the relationships are not statistically significant at any of the conventional levels. The study concluded that the null hypothesis (H0) that there is no significant relationship between distance to marshy areas and malaria incidence may be rejected at 1% (P<0.01) level of significance. However, there is not enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis (H0) that there is no significant relationship between distance to watercourses, different soil retention capacity, elevation and population, on the one hand, and malaria incidence on the other. It is, therefore, recommended that much broader settlement planning policies be adopted to curb building in those areas that are malaria prone.
Kursah, M.B (2017). Least-cost pipeline using Geographic Information System: The Limit to Technicalities. International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research, 8,
Abstract
Increasing demand for water in Wapuli and its environ has led to a proposal to construct a pipeline to link the town to an existing water plant. This paper developed a geospatial model incorporating multi-criteria analysis involving factors such as slope, landcover, watercourses, distance to roads and soil types to determine a least-cost path for the pipeline. However, the least-cost path passes through a tiny sacred grove near Moadani dam, necessitating the generation of a second least-cost path by considering sacred groves as constraint. The result showed that the least-cost path avoided steep slopes, and runs through relatively levelled grounds. This analysis showed the importance of cultural factors in route planning. It is recommended that in route planning attention be given to cultural factors much in the same way as the technical factors.
Increasing demand for water in Wapuli and its environ has led to a proposal to construct a pipeline to link the town to an existing water plant. This paper developed a geospatial model incorporating multi-criteria analysis involving factors such as slope, landcover, watercourses, distance to roads and soil types to determine a least-cost path for the pipeline. However, the least-cost path passes through a tiny sacred grove near Moadani dam, necessitating the generation of a second least-cost path by considering sacred groves as constraint. The result showed that the least-cost path avoided steep slopes, and runs through relatively levelled grounds. This analysis showed the importance of cultural factors in route planning. It is recommended that in route planning attention be given to cultural factors much in the same way as the technical factors.
Kursah, M.B (2017). A quantitative methodology for assessing sustainable tourism potentials. Tourism Review International, 21,
Abstract
Sustainable tourism potential is the measure of the ability and opportunity of material and nonmaterial elements to attract tourists to a destination that takes full account of its current and future socioeconomic and environmental impacts, while addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and the host communities. Thus, an effective way to developing sustainable tourism is a better identification of tourism potentials of different areas for accurate planning. Using a quantitative approach, this study identified the pull and push factors in assessing tourism potentials in Ghana, normalized the factors using scaled-item model and weight system assigned by tourists. It also acquired availability scores for each factor in five Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in Ghana and used this to show the application of the model. The final output is the tourism potential index (TPI), which could be used for assessing sustainable tourism development at the micro and the macrolevels. The article concludes with a ranking of the selected MDAs according to their tourism potentials and substantiation of the scaled-item model to be implemented to ensure a sustainable tourism development of the MDAs. For the pull factors, the Effutu municipality with an index of 4.44 is ranked highest, followed in that order by Gomoa West district (4.26), Agona West municipality (4.00), Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district (3.98), and Gomoa East district (3.9). For the TPI, which included the pull and the push factors, the Effutu municipality is still ranked highest with an index of 3.20. This is followed, in that order, by Gomoa West district (2.99), Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam (2.63), Gomoa East (2.59), and Agona West municipality (2.02), which lost the third position for the least position. Effutu municipality (3.20) with the highest TPI is 1.18 higher than the Agona West municipality (2.02) with the least TPI. It is suggested that examining the tourism potentials of areas based on the pull factors or attraction sites/facilities alone is inadequate as the tourism industry involves other sectors and push factors such as security and safety, socioeconomic, environment, and natural resources.
Sustainable tourism potential is the measure of the ability and opportunity of material and nonmaterial elements to attract tourists to a destination that takes full account of its current and future socioeconomic and environmental impacts, while addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and the host communities. Thus, an effective way to developing sustainable tourism is a better identification of tourism potentials of different areas for accurate planning. Using a quantitative approach, this study identified the pull and push factors in assessing tourism potentials in Ghana, normalized the factors using scaled-item model and weight system assigned by tourists. It also acquired availability scores for each factor in five Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in Ghana and used this to show the application of the model. The final output is the tourism potential index (TPI), which could be used for assessing sustainable tourism development at the micro and the macrolevels. The article concludes with a ranking of the selected MDAs according to their tourism potentials and substantiation of the scaled-item model to be implemented to ensure a sustainable tourism development of the MDAs. For the pull factors, the Effutu municipality with an index of 4.44 is ranked highest, followed in that order by Gomoa West district (4.26), Agona West municipality (4.00), Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district (3.98), and Gomoa East district (3.9). For the TPI, which included the pull and the push factors, the Effutu municipality is still ranked highest with an index of 3.20. This is followed, in that order, by Gomoa West district (2.99), Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam (2.63), Gomoa East (2.59), and Agona West municipality (2.02), which lost the third position for the least position. Effutu municipality (3.20) with the highest TPI is 1.18 higher than the Agona West municipality (2.02) with the least TPI. It is suggested that examining the tourism potentials of areas based on the pull factors or attraction sites/facilities alone is inadequate as the tourism industry involves other sectors and push factors such as security and safety, socioeconomic, environment, and natural resources.
Danso-Wiredu, E. Y. Midheme, E (2017). Slum upgrading in developing countries: lessons from Ghana and Kenya. Ghana Journal of Geography, 9,
Abstract
Abstract The proliferation of slums in many cities of the developing countries has been widely discussed in the literature as a great concern to most countries. The complexities of the slum problem make upgrading difficult. To help reduce such complexities, there have been studies focussed on measures put in place by various governments and organisations to help find solutions to the problem. The article analyses some slum upgrading projects discussed in the literature which are deemed to have been successful. The paper identifies common elements in the upgrading programmes in the literature. It assesses two slum upgrading projects from Ghana and Kenya to determine how the elements were factored into the projects’ implementation. The article concludes that stakeholders involved in slum upgrading in Africa should consider the common elements identified to ensure sustainable slum upgrading on the continent. Keywords: Urban slum; Upgrading; Stakeholders; Ghana; Kenya
Abstract The proliferation of slums in many cities of the developing countries has been widely discussed in the literature as a great concern to most countries. The complexities of the slum problem make upgrading difficult. To help reduce such complexities, there have been studies focussed on measures put in place by various governments and organisations to help find solutions to the problem. The article analyses some slum upgrading projects discussed in the literature which are deemed to have been successful. The paper identifies common elements in the upgrading programmes in the literature. It assesses two slum upgrading projects from Ghana and Kenya to determine how the elements were factored into the projects’ implementation. The article concludes that stakeholders involved in slum upgrading in Africa should consider the common elements identified to ensure sustainable slum upgrading on the continent. Keywords: Urban slum; Upgrading; Stakeholders; Ghana; Kenya
Danso-Wiredu, E. Y (2018). Housing strategies in low income urban communities in Accra, Ghana. GeoJournal, 83,
Abstract
As the rent-free compound housing system in Ghana gradually became unpopular, there was the need for state intervention in housing provision. Housing became an important part of the country’s developmental policies through state interventions prior to the late 1970s. The economic crises in 1979 forced the country to opt for Structural Adjustment Programme, compelling the state to relax on its efforts to provide housing for the public. The paper uses the mode of economic integration framework to discuss the various housing forms in the country. It argues, housing provision led by the private sector creates remarked differences between housing for the higher and lower income groups. The study uses two low income communities in Accra to explain different ways by which the urban poor in Ghana accommodate themselves amidst the country’s housing problems. The study concludes there is an alternative to the housing crises in the country which could be found in the public-private investments in the rental form of the compound housing system.
As the rent-free compound housing system in Ghana gradually became unpopular, there was the need for state intervention in housing provision. Housing became an important part of the country’s developmental policies through state interventions prior to the late 1970s. The economic crises in 1979 forced the country to opt for Structural Adjustment Programme, compelling the state to relax on its efforts to provide housing for the public. The paper uses the mode of economic integration framework to discuss the various housing forms in the country. It argues, housing provision led by the private sector creates remarked differences between housing for the higher and lower income groups. The study uses two low income communities in Accra to explain different ways by which the urban poor in Ghana accommodate themselves amidst the country’s housing problems. The study concludes there is an alternative to the housing crises in the country which could be found in the public-private investments in the rental form of the compound housing system.
