Elisha Kwaku Denkyirah

Bio: Elisha Kwaku Denkyirah is an academic researcher from University of Ghana. The author has contributed to research in topics: Higher education & Climate change. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 12 publications receiving 209 citations.

Economic growth and environmental pollution in West Africa: Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis

Abstract: Several studies suggest that increased economic activities result in poor environmental quality while others argue otherwise, due to the demand for improved environmental quality as a result of higher incomes. This paper empirically tested the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis by analyzing the relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution (carbon dioxide emission, CO2 and combustible renewable waste, CoWaste) using a panel dataset from 1970 to 2013 for selected West African countries with similar income status. This study is important in order to ascertain if economic growth really lead to a reduction in environmental pollution and at what income level would this be achieved. The results revealed that economic growth in the short-run significantly increases CO2 emissions and CoWaste but does not significantly decrease CO2 emission and CoWaste in the long-run. The non-significant relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution indicates the non-existence of EKC in West Africa. The results of the study further revealed a very low turning point at which CO2 emission and CoWaste start to decrease; however, the non-existence of the EKC implies that the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation in West African countries cannot be explained by an inverted U-shaped curve. The study recommends that West African economies should pursue efficiency improvement policy intervention to prevent environmental degradation.

Modeling Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of application: the case of Brong Ahafo Region

Abstract: Pesticides are a significant component of the modern agricultural technology that has been widely adopted across the globe to control pests, diseases, weeds and other plant pathogens, in an effort to reduce or eliminate yield losses and maintain high product quality. Although pesticides are said to be toxic and exposes farmers to risk due to the hazardous effects of these chemicals, pesticide use among cocoa farmers in Ghana is still high. Furthermore, cocoa farmers do not apply pesticide on their cocoa farms at the recommended frequency of application. In view of this, the study assessed the factors influencing cocoa farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of pesticide application. A total of 240 cocoa farmers from six cocoa growing communities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana were selected for the study using the multi-stage sampling technique. The Probit and Tobit regression models were used to estimate factors influencing farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of pesticide application, respectively. Results of the study revealed that the use of pesticide is still high among farmers in the Region and that cocoa farmers do not follow the Ghana Cocoa Board recommended frequency of pesticide application. In addition, cocoa farmers in the study area were found to be using both Ghana Cocoa Board approved/recommended and unapproved pesticides for cocoa production. Gender, age, educational level, years of farming experience, access to extension service, availability of agrochemical shop and access to credit significantly influenced farmers’ decision to use pesticides. Also, educational level, years of farming experience, membership of farmer based organisation, access to extension service, access to credit and cocoa income significantly influenced frequency of pesticide application. Since access to extension service is one key factor that reduces pesticide use and frequency of application among cocoa farmers, it is recommended that policies by government and non-governmental organisations should be aimed at mobilizing resources towards the expansion of extension education. In addition, extension service should target younger farmers as well as provide information on alternative pest control methods in order to reduce pesticide use among cocoa farmers. Furthermore, extension service/agents should target cocoa farmers with less years of farming experience and encourage cocoa farmers to join farmer based organisations in order to decrease frequency of pesticide application.

A double-hurdle model estimation of cocoa farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance in Ghana

Abstract: Agriculture is an important sector in Ghana’s economy, however, with high risk due to natural factors like climate change, pests and diseases and bush fires among others. Farmers in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana which is known as one of the major cocoa producing regions, face these risks which sometimes results in crop failure. The need for farmers to therefore insure their farms against crop loss is crucial. Insurance has been a measure to guard against risk. The aim of this study was to assess cocoa farmers’ willingness to access crop insurance, the factors affecting willingness to pay (WTP) for crop insurance scheme and insurance companies’ willingness to provide crop insurance to cocoa farmers. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 240 farmers from four communities in the Dormaa West District in Brong-Ahafo Region. The double-hurdle model shows that age, marital status and education significantly and positively influenced cocoa farmer’s willingness to insure their farms whiles household size and cropped area negatively influenced farmers’ willingness to insure their farms. Similarly, age, household size and cropped area significantly and positively influenced the premium cocoa farmers were willing to pay whiles marital status and cocoa income negatively influenced the premium farmers were willing to pay. The contingent valuation method shows that the maximum, minimum and average amounts cocoa farmers are willing to pay for crop insurance per production cost per acre was GH¢128.40, GH¢32.10 and GH¢49.32 respectively. Insurance companies do not have crop insurance policy but willing to provide crop insurance policy to cocoa farmers on a condition that farmers adopt modern cultivation practices to reduce the level of risk. The study recommends that cocoa farmers should be well educated on crop insurance and should be involved in planning the crop insurance scheme in order to conclude on the premium to be paid by them.

What are the drivers of cocoa farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies in Ghana?

Abstract: This study analyses cocoa farmers’ perception on climate change and adaptation strategies in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Better understanding of these perceptions would help identify knowledge...

Financial development and economic growth

Abstract: relationship. All subsequent studies confirmed it (see for example King and Levine, 1993, and the review in: Pagano, 1993). Goldsmith used a sample of 35 countries for the period between 1860 and 1963 to show the relationship between income and financial depth measured by the ratio between bank's assets and GDP. He also showed that in periods of rapid growth, financial depth grows faster than income. More details about measuring financial depth can be found in this paper. FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH Velimir Šonje