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This paper identifies and examines nine factors that affect formalization of informal artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana. Despite a series of efforts to ensure cleaner and safer production, informal artisanal and small-scale mining continues to expand with the resulting increase in environmental pollution and damage. The nine factors form what is described in the paper as the ASM anti-formalization pyramid with corruption, involvement of political leaders in informal mining, and political interference in the formalization process as the top three factors. The crucial argument is that informal artisanal and small-scale mining will continue to expand, devastate the environment, and threaten communities if the anti-formalization factors are not properly addressed. The government must cede authority to regulatory institutions and ensure their independence to operate in accordance with the laws and regulations. • Informal mining continues to be destructive despite several formalization efforts. • Corruption, political interference, and involvement of politicians threaten ASM formalization. • Corruption is the greatest challenge to informal ASM formalization in Ghana. • Formalization needs to be decentralized and regulatory institutions allowed to lead the effort. • Political interference and collusion of authority figures need to be fully tackled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper achieves three specific objectives. First, it examines the effect of sustainability knowledge on sustainability reporting. Second, the mediating role of perceived benefit in the nexus between sustainability knowledge and sustainability reporting is assessed. Finally, it examines the moderating role of stakeholder pressure in the relationship between perceived benefit and sustainability reporting. The study adopted the cross sectional research design and survey approach. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The population was the Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana and the target respondents were key decision-makers of firms. 258 respondents formed the sample size. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. The study found statistically insignificant positive effect of sustainability knowledge on sustainability reporting. Moreover, perceived benefit was found to fully mediate the nexus between sustainability knowledge and sustainability reporting. Finally, stakeholder pressure was found to positively moderate the relationship between perceived benefit and sustainability reporting. In light of the study's findings, SMEs management should disclose environmental, social, and economic information in financial statements and similar reports. Moreover, managers of firms should enhance stakeholder relationship management by considering stakeholders' environmental, social, and economic concerns in strategy formulation. Governments' should motivate SMEs to make environmental, social and economic disclosures which are beyond their primary objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how resilience capacity mediates or moderates the relationship between weather shocks and household food security based on two waves of farm household survey and satellite-based weather data in northern Ghana and applying econometric models. Results show that resilience capacity moderate or mediates the negative effects of heat stress and drought on food security. However, the mediating role of resilience capacity in the shock-food security nexus is more stable and stronger than its moderating role. A standard deviation (SD) increase in heat stress reduces household food consumption by 0.71 SD, but resilience capacity effectively moderates this effect by approximately 0.61 SD. For drought, household food consumption is reduced by 0.67 SD, but resilience capacity effectively dampens this negative effect by approximately 0.60 SD. The mediation results, on the other hand, indicate that 537% of the total effect of heat stress on household calorie consumption is explained by the indirect effect through resilience capacity. Similarly, resilience capacity mediates about 74% of the total effect of heat stress on household food consumption. These results suggest that strategies that help improve resilience capacity, such as the adoption of sustainable intensification practices, are critical in enhancing food security in northern Ghana. • Weather shocks, proxied by heat stress and drought, are found to reduce food security. • Heat stress cause stronger adverse effects on food security than drought does. • Resilience capacity mediates substantial shares of the total effects of heat stress and drought. • The shock-dampening effect of resilience capacity is stable for heat stress than for drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has witnessed increasing water scarcity and demand for additional water resources due to climate change. However, lack of information and access to irrigation scheduling decision support tools may limit smallholder farmers' ability to manage irrigation water efficiently for sustainable crop production. To overcome the complex nature associated with irrigation scheduling, simple low-cost, and user-friendly soil water monitoring tools such as the Wetting Front Detector (WFD) have been developed but the commercial viability of these tools relies on effective demand for the services. This paper assesses how information on the Wetting Front Detector influences farmers' willingness to pay (WTP). We find firstly that about 57% of the farmers have information about the WFD and 98% reported a WTP higher than zero. Secondly, farmers are highly price sensitive, but most are willing to pay a small amount for the WFD. Thirdly, irrigation information increases farmers' WTP for WFD by US$6 after controlling for variations existing among irrigation communities. A heterogeneity analysis indicates that WTP is higher for women, youth, and high-income earners than men, adults, and low-income earners. The results imply that increasing initial awareness and providing price subsidies for the new irrigation scheduling tool will increase future adoption. • The study examines the effect of information on farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a wetting front detector (WFD). • The study uses primary data of 337 farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana. • The study finds that about 98% of the farmers reported a positive WTP for the WFD. • Access to irrigation information increases farmers' WTP for WFD by US$6. • Creating awareness and providing subsidy will facilitate adoption of the WFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments on climate change and sustainability have led regional and international environmental activists to exert pressure on firms to adopt and implement sustainable green initiatives. Implementation of green policies is, however, not free from obstacles. This research investigated the critical barriers to green human resource management (GHRM) implementation among Ghanaian firms. Seventeen barriers were identified and subsequently categorized into five major barriers. An interview was conducted with twenty human resource and environmental management professionals to pre-test the survey items. Later, one hundred and nineteen questionnaires were administered to selected chief executive officers (19), human resource managers (30), chief financial officers (30), and heads of employees (40) in selected firms. The Preference selection index (PSI) method was applied to rank the major barriers and sub-barriers. The economic barrier accounted for 23.3% of GHRM hindrances in the study area. Overall, the lack of financial resources scored (0.999), and emerged as the most critical barrier within the sub-barriers. The political and regulatory barrier (20.1%) came second, while the culture and education barrier (18.2%) ranked lowest. To mitigate the most critical barriers, the government and financial institutions can provide funding opportunities in the form of low-interest loans to organizations to design and implement green corporate policies and strategies. This paper adds to the existing green human resource management literature by investigating and analyzing GHRM implementation barriers within a developing country setting. This provides policy makers and practitioners with knowledge in designing suitable policies to counter environmental innovation obstacles and thereby promote GHRM implementation in Ghana and in similar economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]