Biomass Burning Among Small-Scale Fish Processors in Coastal Ghana: Implications for Health and Climate
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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh REGIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POPULATION STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF GHANA BIOMASS BURNING AMONG SMALL-SCALE FISH PROCESSORS IN COASTAL GHANA: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND CLIMATE BY ANTWI-BOASIAKO AMOAH (10013914) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF PHD POPULATION STUDIES DEGREE JULY 2017 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACCEPTANCE Accepted by the College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Legon, in fulfillment of the requirement for the award of a Doctorate of Philosophy Degree in Population Studies. Supervisors of Thesis: ____________________________ Prof. Samuel N.A. Codjoe ____________________________ Date: ____________________________ Prof. Pamela Jagger ____________________________ Date: _______________________________ Prof. John K. Anarfi ___________________________________ Date: ____________________________________ Prof. Stephen O. Kwankye _____________________________________ Date: DECLARATION I University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh I hereby declare that, except for reference to other people‟s works which have been duly acknowledged, this work is the result of my research and that it has neither in part nor in whole been presented elsewhere for another degree. ___________________________________ Antwi-Boasiako Amoah (Candidate) _______________________________ Date II University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This piece of work is dedicated to my late mother, Madam Agnes Kumah and to my better half Patricia Ababio Antwi and the fruits of our union Zenora Antwi, Richmond Osei Antwi, Luke Asare Amoah and Prince Papa Yaw Antwi. III University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To God be the glory for how far He has brought me. Indeed, I could never have got to this point without the countless support of some wonderful people. First of all, I would like to thank Prof. Samuel .N.A. Codjoe, the Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana who was also my Lead Supervisor for his guidance and support, without which this work wouldn‟t have got to this level. He stood by me when the paths of the PhD journey became rough and rugged. My sincerest gratitude also goes to Prof. Pamela Jagger of the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, United States of America, whose expertise, continuous guidance and invaluable criticisms gave birth to and nurtured this thesis for its completion. Pam, I am really grateful. I am also grateful to Prof. John Anarfi and Prof. Stephen O. Kwankye for accepting to be part of my supervisory team. Despite their busy schedules, they both created valuable space to read my work and provided relevant insights which made this work how it is today. I am indebted also to Joseph Pedit and Ashley Sarah Bittner (both at UNC, USA) for generously reading this work and providing useful inputs for enhancement. Gratitude also goes to all the Faculty and Staff of the Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, for an excellent relationship during my stay with them as family and to all the students of RIPS, both PhD and MA, for the peaceful and lovely togetherness. Special gratitude also goes to the Management of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana, for granting me Study Leave which enabled me to pursue the PhD programme. Also deserving my warmest gratitude are the hardworking research team members including; John Nyante, Frank Kyei-Arthur, Desmond Klu, Emma Akwelley Amarh, Sandra Adusei-Poku, Paul Adzakro, Paul Fenny and Sulleman Lawal, who spent countless effort in Moree and Elmina to collect data for this study. May God reward all of iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh them accordingly. My heart also goes out for the people of Elmina and Moree, especially the women, for the cordial atmosphere of work during the data collection. Special mention goes to Tobi and Ernest (RIPS) for helping with the data analysis. When it comes to friends, I am indebted to a whole bunch of people (home and abroad). Indeed space will not allow me to list all the names. However, I cannot bring my acknowledgement to an end without mentioning names like, Joseph Baffoe, Daniel Tutu Benefoh, Rosemary, Emmanuel Karikari, Charles Frimpong, Eric Manu, Kwabena Atta, Dorcas Antoh, Fred, Sammy, Chris, and all others who have assisted me in one way or the other in the development of this work. I am also grateful to Cynthia Gyamfi for being always there for me. God bless you. I wish to also acknowledge the financial support provided by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada for granting me a 4-year Scholarship to pursue this PhD and also to the Carolina Population Center (CPC) of the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, USA, for supporting the field data collection with field instruments and training for the field assistants. To all members of my family (nucleus and extended); your encouragement and support have always been there for me. ABOVE ALL, I GIVE GLORY AND HONOUR TO THE HIGHEST GOD FOR HIS MERCIES ENDURES FOREVER. AMEN!! v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS ACCEPTANCE......................................................................................................................I DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................I DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ x LIST OF FIGURES..............................................................................................................xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................xiv ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................xvi CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background.................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................ 5 1.3 Objective of the Study ............................................................................................... 10 1.4 Significance of the Study........................................................................................... 10 1.5 Scope of the Study ..................................................................................................... 12 1.6 Key Pollutants Relevant for the Study ...................................................................... 13 1.7 Organisation of Work ................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................. 16 LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Biomass Fuel Consumption in Developing Countries .............................................. 16 2.3 Clean Energy Access versus Socio-economic Status ................................................ 20 2.4 Implications of Biomass Energy Consumption on Health in Developing Countries 22 2.4.1 Biomass Burning and Specific Health Implications ........................................... 22 2.4.2 Global Burden of Disease and Biomass Pollution .............................................. 25 2.4.3 The Role of Technology Interventions and Health ............................................. 28 2.5 Biomass Energy - Climate and Environment Nexus ................................................. 30 2.5.1 Greenhouse Gas Connections ............................................................................. 30 2.5.2 Short-Lived Climate Implications....................................................................... 31 2.5.3 Local Benefits for Clean Air ............................................................................... 33 2.5.4 Biomass Consumption and Ghana‟s GHG Inventory ......................................... 34 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 2.5.5 Environmental Implications ................................................................................ 36 2.6 Summary of Literature Review ................................................................................. 41 2.7 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework ................................................................... 42 2.7.1 Environmental Health Theory............................................................................. 43 2.7.2 Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response