Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development (JESD)

Financial Attitudes and Micropension Scheme Participation Among Informal Economy Workers in Ghana: Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

2025-08-28T14:37:05-07:00

Micropension schemes (MPS), instituted for informal economy workers have been studied to guarantee economic security after retirement, yet a chunk of these workers are left out of the scheme. This study relied on the hypotheses of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to investigate the financial attitude of informal economy workers towards pension saving offered in MPS. Through a mixed research approach, I interrogated the effect of financial knowledge, financial planning and financial risk tolerance, which constitute the financial attitude of a worker, on the likelihood of saving in an MPS or otherwise. I used logistic regression and synthesis from interviews of key informants that yielded themes, to conclude that informal economy workers with financial attitudes such as financial planning exhibited higher probabilities of contributing to MPS compared to those who have less or no financial attitudes.

CONTAMINATION RISK BY HEAVY METALS IN RIVER BIRIM UNDER INTENSE ILLEGAL GOLD MINING IN GHANA

2025-10-14T03:25:39-07:00

Illegal artisanal gold mining has emerged as a major environmental challenge in Ghana, with significant consequences for water resources. This study assessed contamination risks posed by heavy metals in water and sediments of the River Birim, a river system severely impacted by unregulated mining. Water and sediment were obtained using standard protocols and analyzed for metals such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Sediment concentrations (mg/kg) followed the order Fe (8986.33) > Mn (425.90) > Ni (24.68) > Cd (17.67) > Zn (11.23) > Cr (2.50) > Pb (1.33) > Hg (0.50), while water concentrations (mg/L) ranked as Fe (5.36) > Cd (0.23) > Ni (0.08) > Zn = Hg (0.04) > Cr = Mn (0.03) > Pb (0.02). Concentrations of Cd, Fe, Pb, Hg, and Ni in water exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) limits for potable water. Sediment quality indices indicated moderate to severe contamination by Hg and Cd, with cadmium alone contributing approximately 98% of the total ecological risk (PERI = 10,827.3). Non-carcinogenic risks were below the threshold of concern (HI < 1). However, carcinogenic risk assessments revealed ingestion of Cd- and Ni-contaminated water and Cd-rich sediments exceeded permissible limits, suggesting potential long-term health implications. These findings highlight the urgent need for stricter environmental regulation, sustainable mining practices, and continuous monitoring to protect communities reliant on the River Birim.

Project Management Methods for Digital Transformation in Ghana’s Education Sector

2026-07-30T12:13:07-07:00

Ghana’s education sector. This national priority aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4. Many digital education projects fail to deliver intended outcomes. Poor planning organizational resistance and limited institutional capacity contribute to these failures. This desktop analytical study reviews national and institutional policy documents. It also reviews international development reports. A SWOT analysis evaluates project management approaches for digital initiatives in Ghanaian education. The SWOT analysis identifies hybrid methods as optimal. These methods integrate Waterfall structure with Agile adaptability. Strengths include flexibility, governance, alignment and stakeholder engagement. Weaknesses encompass skill gaps and coordination challenges. Opportunities arise from donor partnerships and policy harmonization. Threats involve institutional
resistance and funding rigidity. The study proposes a context specific hybrid framework. This framework spans five phases. These phases include strategic planning stakeholder co creation iterative delivery institutional integration and dual loop evaluation. The approach aligns with Ghana's institutional realities. It enables responsive scalable and sustainable digital transformation. Targeted capacity building is recommended to pilot and refine the model for wider adoption.

Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older Adults in the UK: A Review

2026-07-30T12:27:58-07:00

This study conducted a critical systematic review of the literature, focusing on the causes, effects, and intervention strategies for social isolation and loneliness among older adults in the UK. Through a systematic review process, 766 articles were
initially identified and screened based on geographical focus, relevance, clarity and justification of the research design, quality of analysis and synthesis, and the robustness of the evidence. Of the 766 articles identified, 20 published between 2011 and 2021 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. The findings revealed that loneliness and social isolation among older adults in the UK are driven by a range of interconnected factors, including life transitions and social bereavement, health-related problems, socioeconomic challenges, environmental and community factors, and demographic changes. The review also found that social isolation and loneliness are associated with adverse outcomes such as poor mental health, frailty, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and increased mortality. Identified intervention strategies include primary healthcare prevention,
community-based support, social prescribing programmes, and individual-focused interventions. Overall, the findings suggest that implementing appropriate and evidence-based intervention strategies can substantially reduce the impact of social
isolation and loneliness among older adults in the UK.

Eco-pavement Bricks from Waste: Assessing Demographic Determinants of Adoption in Bunso, Ghana

2026-07-30T12:40:53-07:00

The exponential growth in solid waste generation, driven by rapid industrialisation, population expansion and economic development, has severe consequences for human health, biodiversity and environmental sustainability. In response, this study
investigates the feasibility of reusing solid waste materials to develop eco-pavement bricks. A survey-based approach was employed to assess the influence of demographic factors on the willingness of individuals to pay for eco-pavement bricks. Conducted at Bunso, Abuakwa South Municipality in Ghana, the study utilised a questionnaire-based methodology to collect data, which was subsequently analysed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression. The study's
results reveal that 89% of the respondents were willing to pay for eco-pavement bricks, suggesting a strong potential for the adoption of sustainable waste management practices and environmentally conscious products. Notably, the findings indicate that demographic factors do not significantly influence the willingness to pay with all p-values > 0.05, implying a broad-based support for eco friendly infrastructure solutions. This suggests that eco-pavement bricks could be a viable option for promoting sustainable development and reducing environmental impacts associated with traditional pavement materials.