Browsing by Author "Asare, Desmond"

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    Evolution of “traditional funeral” songs among the inhabitants of Asante Mampong
    (2017-01-23) Asare, Desmond
    In Ghana, indigenous songs are regarded commonly as songs of the olden days. People who understand the need to keep tradition agree that indigenous songs should be preserved. Most studies of traditional songs have focused on the need to preserve an aspect of the Ghanaian society, but the major aim of this study is to identify, documented and notate the traditional funeral songs in Asante Mampong. It will further throw more light on their role and significance and how they have evolved over the past three decades for cultural perpetuation. It also sought to identify and document indigenous funeral songs and the roles they play in the Asante Mampong. In accomplishing this, the various types of songs were considered namely; adowa, nwomkorɔ and ayinaa (dirge). These were used because the Municipal under study cannot do away with them during funeral ceremonies. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were adopted for the study. The study revealed that indigenous funeral songs in Asante Mampong are indispensable and play an integral role in the funeral celebration among the inhabitants. The role and the significance of the various types of indigenous songs were derived from the song text. There was the realization that each song came with its own purpose and has the reason which backs the composition. It was discovered that indigenous funeral songs performed in the Asante Mampong municipal are of rich value and have rich histories. It is however recommended that traditional leaders in Asante Mampong municipal should encourage the younger generation and adults to learn how to sing traditional songs for cultural perpetuation. It behooves on scholars in the municipal to document and notate the various types of indigenous funeral songs in Asante Mampong for future references.
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    Potential Use of Eragrostis Curvula and Chromolaena Odorata for Phytoremediation on Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil: A Case Study at Newmont Ghana Gold Limited – Ahafo Kenyasi
    (2013) Asare, Desmond
    Contaminated soil containing oil and grease and total petroleum hydrocarbon was phytoremediated by blending 3 Kg of the hydrocarbon contaminated soil with portions of compost, topsoil and fertilizer (urea). The soil was homogenized with the above mentioned nitrogen sources and monitored for a period of Twenty (20) weeks with seeds of Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong plant) and vegetative part of Eragrostis curvula (Love grass) nursed and planted respectively. The different treatment combinations used in this study were, Treatment A (Hydrocarbon contaminated soil (HCS) + Top soil), Treatment B (HCS + Inorganic fertilizer), Treatment C (HCS + Compost), Treatment D (HCS + Fertilizer + Topsoil), Treatment E (HCS + Compost + Topsoil), Treatment F (HCS + fertilizer + Compost) and the control treatment, Treatment G (HCS only). The different treatment combinations were augmented with different levels of inorganic nitrogen at 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2%. The 7 different treatments all reported significantly different rates of biodegradation of oil and grease and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), with most of the treatments resulting in significant reduction of oil and grease and TPH concentrations. The results of the phytoremediation experiment indicated measurable reduction of oil and grease as well as Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations in the different treatment media as far as the two plants are concerned with Treatment E resulted in the best enhancement of oil and grease and TPH with over 90% reduction in contaminant levels after the 20-week period. Generally, the treatment combinations with the 0.8% nitrogen amendment recorded the lowest oil and grease and TPH phytoremediation rates using Chromolaena odorata and Eragrostis curvula. The residual Oil and Grease / TPH levels after the 20-week period were higher in 0.8% compared to the 1.0% and 1.2% Nitrogen levels. The phytoremediation experiment showed that, the higher the nitrogen amendment in the various treatments, the higher the plant growth and thus the higher the reduction of the petroleum contaminants. The addition of organic fertilizers and materials significantly (p<0.05) enhanced phytoremediation rates. Treatment E (Hydrocarbon contaminated soil + Compost + Topsoil) yielded the best phytoremediation rates for the two plants probably because of the compost and topsoil combination as opposed to Treatment B (Hydrocarbon contaminated soil + fertilizer) which consistently produced the lowest phytoremediation rates in the different Nitrogen amendments. Accumulation of oil and grease as well as Total petroleum was also higher in the root and shoot of the Chromolaena odorata as compared to the root and shoot of the Eragrostis curvula after the distractive sampling.