Determinants of Chronic Illness Among Aged Population in Ghana: A Multinomial Logit Approach

Generally, the constant change in demographic trends among the aged depict gradual increase in the size of the aged population globally. The aged population is often capitalised with degenerative conditions such as chronic illness which affect their ability to function effectively and often require special support. Despite the increase in the size of the aged population and their associated degenerative conditions, very few descriptive studies on the determinants of chronic illness among the aged has been researched especially in developing countries such as Ghana and there is no compelling evidence on the association of chronic illness and its determinants. Thus, this study seeks to analyse and predict the impact of age, gender, education, marital status, Quality of Life (QoL), social cohesion, settlement and depression on chronic illness among the aged population in Ghana. From the studies a Multinomial Logit Regression (MLR) was employed to analyse the data obtained from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) under, Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE), 2012. It was revealed that out of the 1384 sampled, 71% had no chronic illness whilst 22% and 7% had one and two or more chronic illness respectively. Again, it was observed that, Depression State, Gender, Marital Status and Settlement Type (rural or urban) play significant roles in determining the likelihood of the aged getting chronic illness while Physical Function, Social Cohesion, QoL, Age and Education Level were not statistically significant determinants of chronic illness. Our findings demonstrate that chronic illness among the aged is constantly increasing in Ghana especially in the urban communities and need to be addressed urgently through governmental policies and programs in the quest to help salvage the deteriorating conditions of the aged. Keywords: Aged Population, Multinomial Logit Model, Chronic Illness

Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Health Risk Levels of TSP and PM10 in the Mining Town of Tarkwa, Ghana

Particulate matter (PM) varies significantly in space and time. Effective PM risk analysis requires adequate knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of PM. In order to understand TSP/PM10 variability within the microclimate of Tarkwa and their potential impact. The Spatio-temporal distribution of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and PM10 in Tarkwa was studied. Five years TSP and PM10 monthly concentration data from fifteen (15) monitoring stations were collected and analysed for Spatio-temporal characteristics within the suburbs around three mining companies in Tarkwa. Autocorrelation between neighbouring suburbs, attainment rate, particle size distribution and risk levels were evaluated. The results revealed that all the monitoring stations except two (stations NV and TN) recorded TSP and PM10 concentrations below the national guideline for all years of study. Geo-spatially, highest TSP and PM10 risk level were recorded East of Tarkwa. Inhalable particles constitute about 44.09-72.90% of TSP. Attainment values between 44.09%-100% and 30%-100% were recorded for TSP and PM10, respectively. Estimated AQI values ranged between good and unhealthy for sensitive groups. Future studies directed at the chemical composition of PM was recommended to enhance further understanding of the risk levels. Keywords: Particulate Matter, Attainment Rate, Air Pollution, Trends, Particle Size Distribution

Land Management Problems in the Mining Communities of Tarkwa, Ghana -A Look at Boundary Markers and Resurveys

Boundary resurveys have become necessary in most mining communities of Ghana, especially, Tarkwa and its environs due to pressure and alteration in land use and land cover by mining operations. Most of the boundary markers (pillars, trees, streams, hills, valleys, footpaths, etc.) used in the past have been destroyed by mining and other associated activities. This has led to many disputes about ground boundaries and ownership of land tracts in the area. To curb the incidences of such conflicts, it has become important to have more reliable and scientific demarcations and surveys of the old boundaries and owners of land tracts in the area for registration, using modern technologies in land surveying. Equipment and methods used over a century ago to mark and describe land boundaries in the area have become obsolete now, and modern equipment and methods, while capable of measuring to very high precisions, cannot automatically give or tell the right boundaries and owners of land tracts established centuries ago. This paper examines the land boundaries situation in the study area, the impacts of mining on this, the need for boundary retracement surveys, the challenges that the rampant destruction of boundary markers in mining communities pose to such resurveys, and offers suggestions on dealing with these challenges in the management of land in the area. It also provides helpful information to land owners, land ‘buyers’ and land surveyors on the effects of the boundary problems on land transactions, surveys and registration in mining areas. Keywords: Surface Mining, Boundary Markers, Retracement Surveys, Land Conflicts, Management

Comparative Analysis of Stockpile Volume Estimation using UAV and GPS Techniques

Mining operations involve the extraction of minerals of economic value from the earth. In surface mining operations, overburdens need to be stripped in other to reach the ore. Large volumes of waste as well as ore is stripped in the process. Various technologies have been used to aid in stockpile volume estimation. Notable among them are the Total Stations and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). However, labour, safety and time has challenged the use of these technologies. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as drone is an emerging technology for stockpile volume computations in the Mine. UAV technology for data collection is less labour intensive, safer and faster. Therefore, this study applied the UAV technology in an open pit to estimate stockpile volumes from a Mine. For the purpose of this study, GPS and UAV data were collected for measuring stockpile volumes of materials mined. The actual volumes of stockpiles A, B, C, D (Case 2), produced differences of 0.05% for A, 0.05% for B, 0.08% for C, 0.07% for D and 0.03% for A, -0.03% for B, 0.03% for C and 0.04% for D, for the GPS-based and the UAV-based techniques, respectively. The GPS-based technique generated moderate accuracies for volume estimation, but was time consuming and labour intensive, compared to the UAV-based technique; which was faster and less labour intensive. The UAV-based technique was the most accurate, safest and is capable of mapping large areas rapidly. It is therefore recommended that UAV survey be incorporated in stockpile volume estimation. Keywords: UAV, GPS, Stockpile, Mine, Total Stations

Application of Split Desktop Image Analysis and Kuz-Ram Empirical Model for Evaluation of Blast Fragmentation Efficiency in a Typical Granite Quarry

Evaluation of fragmentation efficiency is an integral aspect of blasting operation. This study therefore assesses the efficiency of fragmentation size at Eminent granite quarry, Ibadan, Nigeria using Split Desktop software and Kuz-Ram empirical model. Five muckpiles of blasted rocks with the same blast design were analysed. The muckpile images were captured using smart high precision digital camera and uploaded into computer for Split Desktop analysis. The results of the fragment size distribution obtained from Kuz-Ram vary slightly with that of the Split Desktop but follow similar trend. The average values of F80 and F90 from the Split Desktop image analysis were 90.96 cm and 98.24 cm respectively. The Kuz-Ram model values for F80 and F90 were 88.52 cm and 92.95 cm respectively. The results of the Split Desktop were compared to the results obtained from the Kuz-Ram experiential model. The findings showed that the results obtained from Kuz-Ram empirical model were in conformity with the results from the Split Desktop software based on empirical relationship. Hence, the model is good for preliminary evaluation of blast design. Keywords: Blasting, Particle Size Distribution, Split Desktop Software, Muckpile, Fragmentation Indicator

Multivariate Statistical Evaluation of Geochemical Data from Quartz Vein-Associated Gold Mineralisation at the Badukrom Prospect within the Tarkwaian Base

The Kawere conglomerate at the base of the Tarkwaian Group in the Iduapriem Mine appears to show good prospect for hydrothermal gold mineralisation evidenced by major structures mapped from magnetic and Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) geophysical data. Detailed geological mapping and sampling at Badukrom target which lies within the Kawere rocks confirm the presence of multiple structures as well as quartz veins indicative of potential hydrothermal gold mineralisation. Follow up soil sampling conducted within the area revealed a strong anomalous trend from the southern portion. Two diamond drilled (DD) holes pushed to delineate the extent of the anomalous zones returned narrow veins of significant gold intersections. Twenty-five (25) samples of the Badukrom hydrothermal Au mineralisation intersects were sent for analysis to ascertain the optimum pathfinder element suite for the hydrothermal targets within the Iduapriem concession. A total of fifty-nine elements were analysed via ICP-MS and ICP-OES. Multivariate statistical evaluation was carried out on the results to understand the geochemical associations of Au and the other elements to aid future exploration programmes planned for the hydrothermal targets. Multivariate analysis of the geochemical data using Pearson product-moment of correlation suggests a stronger positive correlation of gold with Iron, Antimony, Sulphur, Chromium, Vanadium respectively. However, the Spearman Rank correlation data indicates that, the optimum pathfinder elements for hydrothermal Au are: As, Sb and Te. Keywords: Tarkwaian Base, Statistical Evaluation, Hydrothermal Mineralisation, Geochemical Data

Assessment of Ore Grade Estimation Methods for Structurally Controlled Vein Deposits - A Review

Resource estimation techniques have upgraded over the past couple of years, thereby improving resource estimates. The classical method of estimation is less used in ore grade estimation than geostatistics (kriging) which proved to provide more accurate estimates by its ability to account for the geology of the deposit and assess error. Geostatistics has therefore been said to be superior over the classical methods of estimation. However, due to the complexity of using geostatistics in resource estimation, its time-consuming nature, the susceptibility to errors due to human interference, the difficulty in applying it to deposits with few data points and the difficulty in using it to estimate complicated deposits paved the way for the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to be applied in ore grade estimation. AI techniques have been employed in diverse ore deposit types for the past two decades and have proven to provide comparable or better results than those estimated with kriging. This research aimed to review and compare the most commonly used kriging methods and AI techniques in ore grade estimation of complex structurally controlled vein deposits. The review showed that AI techniques outperformed kriging methods in ore grade estimation of vein deposits. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks, Geostatistics, Kriging, Mineral Resource, Grade

Production of Metallic Iron from the Pudo Magnetite Ore using End-of-Life Rubber Tyre as Reductant: The Role of an Underlying Ankerite Ore as a Fluxing Agent on Productivity

This research work investigated the nature of a nonmagnetic ore from Pudo in the Upper West Region of Ghana and its fluxing effect on the extent of reduction of the Pudo titaniferous magnetite ore using pulverised samples of charred carbonaceous materials generated from end-of-life vehicle tyres (ELT) as reductants. Reduction studies were conducted on composite pellets of the Pudo titaniferous magnetite iron ore containing fixed amounts of charred ELT and varying amounts (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) of the nonmagnetic fluxing material in a domestic microwave oven and the extent of reduction was calculated after microwave irradiation for 40 minutes. Analyses by XRF, SEM/EDS and XRD of the nonmagnetic ore revealed an Ankerite type of ore of the form Ca0.95Fe0.95Mn0.1 (CO3)2. From the microwave reduction studies it was observed that premium grade metallic iron could be produced from appropriate blends of the Pudo iron ores using ELT as reductant, with a measured extent of reduction up to 103.8%. Further, the extent of reduction was observed to increase with an increase in the amount of the nonmagnetic fluxing material (Ankerite) that was added as fluxing agent. Keywords: Ankerite, End-of-life Rubber Tyres, Fluxing Agent, Extent of Reduction

Borehole Rehabilitation: A Case Study in the Dunkwa Mining Town

Rehabilitation works were carried out on boreholes in the Dunkwa Mining town in the Central Region of Ghana. These works were carried out because the boreholes had lost their original yields due to clogging, corrosion and encrustation and had been abandoned for a long time. The cost of drilling a new well and assessing the productivity of the well is $4,500 which is more expensive that carrying out rehabilitation works which is cheaper, about $800. Also, the initial yields of the boreholes were very high according to the feasibility report which is not a common characteristic of the rocks in the area. Camera inspection followed by rehabilitation, pre and post pumping tests were carried out to assess whether there has been an improvement in their yield after the exercise and that the yield obtained will be adequate for a water supply design. Results show that all the boreholes had an improvement in their yields (57.19 - 259.80 %) after the rehabilitation. It can therefore be concluded that rehabilitation is effective in restoring boreholes to their original yields. Organisations drilling boreholes to communities can take advantage of rehabilitation of the existing boreholes located in the communities which are high yielding, thereby reducing project implementation cost. Keywords: Borehole Rehabilitation, Borehole Yields, Borehole Camera Inspection, Pumping Test

Human Factor Analysis Framework for Ghana’s Mining Industry

In an attempt to incorporate human factors into technical failures as accident causal factors, researchers have promoted the concept of human factor analysis. Human factor analysis models seek to identify latent conditions within the system that influence the operator’s action to trigger an accident. For an effective application of human factor analysis models, a domain-specific model is recommended. Most existing models are developed with category/subcategory peculiar to a particular domain. This presents challenges and hinders effective application outside the domain developed for. This paper sought to propose a human factor analysis framework for Ghana’s mining industry. A comparative study was carried out between three dominated accident causation models and investigation methods in literature; AcciMap, HFACS, and STAMP. The comparative assessment showed that HFACS is suitable for incident data analysis based on the following reason; ease of learning and use, suitability for multiple incident analysis and statistical quantification of trends and patterns, and high inter and intra-coder reliability. A thorough study was done on HFACS and its derivative. Based on recommendations and research findings on HFACS from literature, Human Factor Analysis, and Classification System – Ghana Mining Industry (HFACS-GMI) was proposed. The HFACS-GMI has 4 tiers, namely; External influence/factor, Organisational factor, Local Workplace/Individual Condition and, Unsafe Act. A partial list of causal factors under each tier was generated to serve as a guide during incident coding and investigation. The HFACS-GMI consists of 18 subcategories and these have been discussed. The HFACS-GMI is specific to the Ghanaian Mines and could potentially help in identifying causal and contributing factors of an accident during an incident investigation and data analysis. Keywords: Human Factor Analysis, Causal Factor, Causation Model, Mining Industry