SURVEY ON NEWSPAPER

SURVEY ON NEWSPAPER
FROM
16TH APRIL TO 11TH JUNE, 2009
BY
ERIC .K. AMPONSAH


TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGES
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 2
CHAPTER TWO
METHODOLOGY 3
CHAPTER THREE
RESULTS OR FINDINGS 4
CHAPTER FOUR
CHARTS 5
CHAPTER FIVE
TABLES 6
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
APPENDICE 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
REFERNCES 9


INTRODUCTION

Newspaper, publication usually issued on a daily or weekly basis, the main function of which is to report news. Many newspapers also furnish special information to readers, such as weather reports, television schedules, and listings of stock prices. They provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture, and sometimes include entertainment features, such as comics and crossword puzzles. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income.

The staff of a large newspaper works under the constant pressure of deadlines to bring news to readers as quickly as human energy and technological devices permit. Reporters, photographers, artists, and editors compile articles and graphics—sometimes in just a few hours. Page designers assemble articles, photos, illustrations, advertisements, and eye-catching headlines into page layouts, then rush their work to the printer. Printing technicians may work through the night operating printing presses that can churn out more than 60,000 copies per hour.

Newspapers trace their roots to handwritten news sheets posted daily in the public marketplaces of ancient Rome. The first printed newspapers appeared in China during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). These newspapers were printed from carved wood blocks. Precursors to modern papers first appeared in Venice, Italy, in the middle of the 14th century. Newspapers as known today, complete with advertising and a mixture of political, economic, and social news and commentary, emerged in Britain in the mid-18th century.
(Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

ACKNOWLEGMENT
We thank the Almighty God for given as the strength and knowledge in doing this work successfully. We also acknowledge the interviewers who helped us in filling the questionnaires, our lecturer, Mr. Kofi Wellington who was always there for us and all those who helped us in diverse ways.

TABLE 1

TABLE SHOWING THE AGE OF RESPONDENTS

AGE MALE FREQ. PER.% FEMALE FREQ. PER.% TOTAL FRE.
15-19 10 17 7 12 17
20-25 25 42 18 30 43
TOTAL 35 59 25 42 60

The table shows the age of respondents, on the table, 15-19 is 17 and 20-25 is 43 making the total 60.


TABLE 2
TABLE SHOWING THE SEX OF RESPONDENT

MALE FREQU. PERCENT. FEMALE FREQ. PER. %
TOTAL FREQUENCY
TOTAL 35 58 25 42 60

The table shows the sex of respondent, 35 for male and 25 for female.

TABLE 3
TABLE SHOWING RESPONDENTS HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION

LEVEL OF EDU. MALE FREQ. PER.% FEMALE FREQ. PER. % TOTAL FREQ. TOTAL PER.%
J. S. S 9 15 4 7 13
S.S.S 14 23 12 20 26
TERTIARY 10 17 9 15 19
OTHERS 2 3 0 0 2
TOTAL 35 26 60

The table shows respondents level of education, it is clear from the table that majority of the respondents are s.s.s with 26

TABLE 4
TABLE SHOWING RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND OF RESPONDENTS

RELIGIOUS MALE FREQ. PER. % FEMALE FREQ. PER.% TOTAL FREQ.
CHRISTIAN 23 38 19 32 42
MOSLEM 9 15 5 8 14
TRADITIONAL 2 3 1 2 3
OTHERS 1 2 - - 1
TOTAL 35 25 60
The table shows religious background of respondents, it is seen from the that Christians have the highest frequency representing 42.

TABLE 5
TABLE SHOWING OCCUPATION OF RESPONDENTS

OCCUPATION MALE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE FEMALE FREQUNCY PER. % TOTA F.
TRADERS 10 17 5 8 15
STUDENTS 12 20 14 23 26
ARTISAN 9 15 1 2 10
ACCOUNT. 2 3 3 5 5
OTHERS 2 3 2 3 4
TOTAL 35 25 60

The table shows occupation of respondents, from the table, it is clear that students obtain the higher frequency which is 26 whiles others obtain 4.

TABLE 6
TABLE SHOWING WHY RESPONDENTS READ NEWSPAPER

REASONS MALE FREQUENCY PPERCENTAGE FEMALE FREQU. PER.% TOTAL F.
FOR INFO. 4 7 3 5 7
FOR ADVRTS 1 2 - - 1
FOR QUIZ-PUZZLE - - 1 2 1
FOR JOB - - 1 2 1
FOR EDU. 4 7 1 2 5
FOR ENTER. 1 2 1 2 2
20 - 25
FOR INFO. 14 23 10 17 24
FOR RELAXA 2 3 2 3 4
FOR ENTER. 1 2 3 5 4
FOR JOB 3 5 2 3 5
FOR EDU. 2 3 1 2 3
ADVRTS 1 2 - - 1
SPORTS 1 2 - - 1
CATCHY FRONT PAGE 1 2 - - 1
TOTAL 35 25 60

TABLE 7
TABLE SHOWING RESPONDENTS NEWSPAPER THEY READ
NEWSPAPRE 15 - 19 MALE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE FEMALE FREQUUENCY PERCENTAGE TOTAL FRE.
JUNIOR GRAPHIC 4 7 2 3 6
P AND P 4 7 2 3 6
GRAPHIC SPORTS 2 3 - - 2
DAILY GRAPHIC 2 3 1 2 3
GHANAIAN TIMES 2 3 1 2 3
FUN TIME - - 1 2 1
20 – 25
SPECTATOR 2 3 2 3 4
DAILY GRAPHIC 14 13 10 7 24
DAILY GUIDE 4 7 - - 4
INDEPENDENT 2 3 - - 2
P AND P 3 5 2 3 5
90 MINUTES 2 3 - - 2
GRAPHIC SPORTS 2 3 - - 2
ADVOCATE 2 3 - - 2
INSIGHT 2 3 - - 2
OBSERVER 2 3 - - 2
MIRRO 2 3 - - 2
EBONY - - 2 3 2
CHRONICLE - - 2 3 2
ENQUIRER - - 2 3 2
PASSION - - 2 3 2
DE VIBE - - 2 3 2
GRUSADIN - - 2 3 2
JUNIOR GRAPHIC - - 2 3 2
TOTAL 51 35 82

CHART 1
A COLUMN SHOWING RESPONDENTS HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ NEWSPAPER

The column shows how often respondents read newspaper, on the column, it is seen that majority of the respondents spend less often on newspaper.

CHART 2
A CHART SHOWING HOW RESPONDENTS OBTAIN COPIES OF THE NEWSPAPER

The column below shows respondents how they get copies of newspapers, it can be seen from the column that most of the respondents get copies from vendors.

TABLE
 TABLE SHOWING RESONDENTS FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
15 -19 MALE FREQUEN. PERCENT. FEMALE FREQUEN. PERCEN. TOTAL FREQUE.
DAIL GRAPHIC 4 7 2 3 6
P AND P 3 5 - - 3
JUNIOR GRAPHIC 1 2 1 2 2
GRAPHIC SPORTS 1 2 - - 1
INSIGHT 1 2 - - 1
DEVIBE - - 1 2 1
CHRONICLE - - 1 2 1
MIRRO - - 1 2 1
GHANAIAN TIMES 1 2 1 2 1
20 – 25
MIRRO 1 2 - - 1
ENQUIRER 1 2 - - 1
DAILY GUIDE 1 2 1 2 1
EBONY 1 2 2 3 3
SPECTATOR 4 7 - - 4
GRAPHIC SPORTS 2 3 - - 2
CHRISTIAN JOURNAL 1 2 1 2 2
DAILY GRAPHIC 9 15 9 15 18
P AND P 2 3 - - 2
KOTOKO EXPRESS 1 2 - - 1
DE VIBE 1 2 - - 1
JUNIOR GRAPHIC - - 1 2 1
LOVE N FUNE - - 1 2 1
PASSION - - 1 2 1
NONE 1 2 1 2 2
TOTAL 35 25 60

SUMMARY
The report was conducted on the youth between the ages of 15 to 25 years of age; they were all 60 in number. This report covers the various background information, jobs, education, religious affiliation and everything they know about newspapers.
The research has also helped to come with respondent’s choices paper, and the reason for that particular newspaper.

METHODOLOGY
The research study was conducted through a questionnaire. The interview involved sixty 60) respondents. The sampling technique used in this study is convenient sampling because we came across people who were readily available for the study.
The method of data collection used is a survey. In statistics, survey is a method of collection data in which respondents are asked to answer a number of questions. The reliability of a survey’s results depends on whether the respondent from which the information has being collected is free from bias and sufficiently large.
Research can be described as the methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory or to develop a plan. This research was to know why people read newspaper, their choices of newspaper, and also accessing the newspaper.
The research was conducted in various communities like Osu, Dansoman, Malame McCarthy Hills, all in the Greater Accra Region respectively.
Most of the newspapers are found in the Greater Accra Region and majority of the respondents were ready to talk to us. In our data processing the tally was used in our calculations because it was the simplest means of calculation. The frequencies and percentages are also another processing data which was used to find out the total number of respondents and their percentages.

FINDINGS
Even though there were some difficulties, we came out with a successful interview, we entered problems such as respondents being illiterate about some of the questions; others were not willing to give their actual age. We found out that most people were interested in educative and entertainment stories and sports. In general, we interviewed 60 respondents, 30 male and 30 female. We obtained 30% for ages between 15 to 19 years, 80% for 20 to 25 years and 1.7% for no response Tables, columns and other charts have been use in describing the ages and other answers the respondents gave.

REFERENCES

1. Encarta (2008)1, Microsoft students with Encarta premium.

CHART 3
A CHART SHOWING RESPONDENTS ACCESSING FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER

T he column indicates respondents accessing favourite newspaper; it could be from the table that most of the respondents access the newspaper by the content.

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REPORT ON INTERNSHIP

JAYEE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM




REPORT ON INTERNSHIP UNDERTAKEN AT GHANAIN TIMES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN JOURNALISM


 PRESENTED BY ERIC K. AMPONSAH
 SUPERVISED BY AUNTY ABIGAIL
 DATE SUBMITTED 30TH APIRL, 2010



TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION PAGE 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PAGE 2
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION PAGE 3
CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND OF INTERNSHIP PAGE 5
 PURPOSE FOR THE INTERNSHIP 6
 PLACE UNDERTAKEN 6
 DURATION OF THE INTERNSHIP 7
 DIRECTORS | SUPERVISORS | MENTOR 7

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY PAGE 8

CHAPTER 4 DETAILS OF WORK DONE PAGE 9
 ACTUAL WORK DONE FROM START TO FINISH 9
 DEPARTMENTS ( SECTIONS) 10
 METHODS OR EQIUPMENTS USED 11
 OBSERVATIONS OR FINDINGS 11
 CHALLENGES 0R PROBLEMS 12

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUTION PAGE 13
 RECONMENDATIONS 13
 THE WAY FORWARD FOR FUTURE PROGRAM 13

CHAPTER 6 REFERENCES PAGE 14
CHAPTER 7 APPENDICE PAGE 15


Dedication
This report is dedicated to Mr. Stephen Nibebale Bemile, Vice president, Jayee University College, whose advice, encouragement, and support made completing my internship and the report a reality
To Mr. P. F. Ameyawof Jesus Up Group of company Limited, whose simple pure love, and affection, free given, inspires me to be a better student.
Aunt Abigail, news editor of Ghanaian times, whose love and guidance have given me a great appreciation for knowledge, hard work, and personal excellence.
And to all Lecturer and students of J. U. C especially the UP Internal Crew who read my stories throughout the internship period.
My heart goes to you all.














ACKNOWLEGMENT
Over years of study, I have been blessed to meet many extraordinary people who have share their knowledge and experience to help me be a better student.
A few of these very special people are:
Mr. Daniel Apah, of Christian Journal Radio, who shares his unique insights into religion and metaphysics and gave me an opportunity to work and study with him,
Mr. Fiifi Ofosu Okyere , director, Dormaa FM, who gave me the opportunity to study with him during my attachment with Dormaa FM.
Mr. John Emmanuel Donkor, President of J. U. C whose institution has made me what I am today.















CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
As part of the requirement for the acquisition of the Advance Diploma Certificate, one is expected to undertake a two months internship with a reputable organization.
This is to help the student to put into practice what has been taught and learnt in school.
The report gives the importance of participating in an internship as a final year student, it explains the detail work done from the start to finish throughout the internship period.
The report examines the findings, the observations, methods and some equipment used during the internship.
It also gives the names of supervisors, mentors and director who supervise the internship and suggest recommendations and the way forward for future programs.
Another major purpose of this report is to give my fellow students the Vim and guidance of I can do spirit to reach the expected standard in journalism without being handicapped by ignorance of what they are expected to do or how to do it.










Chapter 2

BACKGROUD OF THE INTERNSHIP
Internship is an assistant or practical experience in an occupation. The two months internship which started on the 1st of December and ended at 1st of February I spent at the New Times Cooperation has enable me write this report.
Although internship is not expensive, it requires a lot of sacrifice. In my estimation I see it as the best way for up and coming journalist to explode him or her, self.
Permit me also to note that when I talk of internship in this report, it is not the same as attachment, with attachment; any student regardless of your level in school can go and render service to an organization of your choice without special supervisors from your school.
Finally, as you read the rest of this report remember that journalist are not born but made, develop the skills in writing stories and listening to news.
Even though there are many difficulties and challenges in the work field, remember to get the knowledge, techniques and association that you need to create a better life for you self.
The fact you are doing well in the internship is clear indication that you are close to getting what you need.
Basically, all you that you need is one or two people to guide you on the path. This is a new insight, together with what you already learnt from school, will guide you on your journey to goals you wish to accomplish, the vision you desire to realize, and the person you want to be come.




PURPOSE OF THE INTERNSHIP
The main purposes of the internship are as follows.
 To provide the stenographer student an opportunity to under acquire practice and technical understanding of what has been taught in the class room.
 To offer student on the job training to facilitate a better understanding of the theoretical aspect of the course through interactions with staff at the organization.
 To provide and enlighten on the nature of the course and also attain the qualities expected when job opportunity comes one way.
 To help student acquire practical experience the in relation to course that labour market demands.
 Provides a student with experience in an actual public or nonprofit agency before entering the job market. Such experience not only increases students’ job prospects, but also teaches what is expected in terms of professional behavior.



PLACE UNDERTAKEN
The internship was done at the New Times Cooperation; it is one of Ghana’s biggest media with the aim of disseminating news.
It is located at circle a suburb of Accra with about hundred workers spread over the country. The structure of the organization can be expressed in the following,
 National head quarters in Accra
 Regional head quarters in the regional capitals
 Offices in some of the districts.




DURATION OF THE INTERNSHIP
The internship started on the 1st of December 2009 and ended on the 1st of February, 2010, that is two months period.


DIRECTORS OR SUPERVISORS
The internship was directed by Mr. Harry Raynord the group editorial manager of the organization and supervised by Aunty Abigail the news editor of The Ghanaian Times,
Other authorities were also sent from the institution to monitor how the students were doing during the internship period.















CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
Though I found it very difficult in writing the report, the interviews I conducted with past students and other people who have undergone the same art help me a lot. Most of these people had the time to explain in details to me, different way I can use in writing the report.
They also had the opportunity to answer most of the questions I asked about the internship and how to go about it.















CHAPTER 4

DETAILS OF WORK DONE
The Encarta dictionary defines journalist as Somebody engaged in journalism: a writer or editor for a newspaper or magazine or for television or radio. Students were asking to go on the internship to offer theory that has been taught into a practical form.


ACTUAL WORK DONE FROM START TO FINISH
Prominent among the work rendered in the organization are as follows
 Printing of stories from the computer room, since the printer at news room was not working, the interns were sent to the computer room by senior reporters to print their stories. This was however done when you are been seated idle without no work.
 Editing press conferences and press releases. The interns’ students develop press conferences and press releases into proper stories to use in the news paper.
 Taken stories from the internet. Another work of the internship student was to retrieve stories sent by other reporter through the net to the news editor to be use as stories.
 I also wrote several stories which was use in the papers, which include the launch of the code of conduct for public officers which had the front page, news conference on Ghana’s inflation, World lappers day celebration, the launch of the Anlo Education Fund, the launch of Haiti Relief Fund, AMA decongestion at Kaneshie Market and many other stories which were used in the Times news paper.







DEPARTMENTS OR SECTIONS
The under listed are the department of the organization
 News room
 Computer room
 Photo room
 Photo lab
 Speculations
 Transportation
 Sports room
 The spectator news room
 Advert room
 Printing room
 Workshop room
 Engineering room
 Logistics department
 Security desk
 canteen
 Library
 The reception

The department I was luck to do my internship was the news room; it is one of the oldest departments in the organization.
The department consists of the news editor, the sub editors, the typist and the reporters.






METHODS OR EQUIPMENTS USED
As a student journalist, I had the chance of working with the following equipments.
 Camera, this was use in taken pictures for my stories.
 Recorder, this was use in recording speeches during assignments
 Computer, this is the machine I use to type my stories before I submit it to the news editor.
 Reporter’s book and pen, this was during assignments to write down important facts and information which guides me when writing the official story.





OBSERVATIONS | FINDINGS
During the internship, I realized that the entire department at the organization has its own head of which I find it difficult in knowing their names at the begging.
I also learnt that the organization has its own style of news writing which is compulsory for all the reporters to oblige before you have your story in paper.
Almost all the reporters were very cordial and really enhance my work activities in the organization.
I also observed that during the internship, there were competitions in the newsroom especially with those of as doing the internship with the idea that when we do well the organization may employ as which made as more recognizing in the newsroom.




PROBLEMS | CHALLENGES
As much as I had many stories in the Ghanaian Times news paper does not mean I did not encounter any problem, some of the major problems encounter are as follows.
 Some stories I was expecting to be publish were not, with the explanation that there were too many stories in the house to be use and that the senior reporters should be consider fist.
 There was no printer in the news room and that one has to run to the computer room for the story to be printed which wasted much of time in submission my stories to the news editor.
 Allowances were not paid for transportation but the new editor wants you to report at work early no matter where you stay.


















CHAPTER 5
CONCLUTION

RECOMMENDATIONS
I would recommend that the school will write back to the organizations which granted the students opportunity to do their internship; this is to express your acceptance and appreciations since it is not easy to come by organization for practical internship.
I also wish to recommend Ghanaian Times to any student who wants to have his or her practical internship with them.
The staffs of Ghanaian Times are cordial and have a great sense of humor that makes the working environment lively.
In conclusion, the expected level of training and technical knowhow was achieved, no matter the challenges and the difficulties.
Besides being a journalist in future I learnt the importance with correspondence and members of staff and cordial human relations with reporters of the organization.
It was also an opportunity for me to meet certain dignities in and outside the country that I have not met in my life before I have also proof to the world that I can do it.

Go to the people, live among them. Love them. Learn from them. Plan with them, start with what they know. Build on what they have. And when the best leaders leave, the people will say, we did it ourselves.”
Old Chinese proverb.




CHAPTER 6

REFERENCES
 The 12 universal laws of success
Author Herbert Harris
Published by life Skills Institute Int.
Year January 2004
 How to win friends and influences people
Author Dale Carnegie
Published by Dale Carnegie and Associate, Inc
Year 1964
 Model Servant hood
Author Joel K. Amartey Apenkro
Published by tecnic channel Ghana
Year 2008
 The Internet ( Google )
 The Encarta dictionary

















CHAPTER 7



APPENDICES
 Vim ……………………………………………………………………… spirit
 Stenographer ……………………………………………………… someone who has the skills in writing report

POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

BY:AMPONSAH K. ERIC

Population, term referring to the total human inhabitants of a specified area, such as a city, country, or continent, at a given time. Population study as a discipline is known as demography. It is concerned with the size, composition, and distribution of populations; their patterns of change over time through births, deaths, and migration; and the determinants and consequences of such changes.
Population studies yield knowledge important for planning, particularly by governments, in fields such as health, education, housing, social security, employment, and environmental preservation. Such studies also provide information needed to formulate government population policies, which seek to modify demographic trends in order to achieve economic and social objectives.
Environment, all of the external factors affecting an organism, these factors may be other living organisms (biotic factors) or nonliving variables (a biotic factors), such as temperature, rainfall, day length, wind, and ocean currents.
The interactions of organisms with biotic and a biotic factors form an ecosystem. Even minute changes in any one factor in an ecosystem can influence whether or not a particular plant or animal species will be successful in its environment.
Population, term referring to the total human inhabitants of a specified area, such as a city, country, or continent, at a given time, the environment on the other hand are all the external factors affecting an organism, these factors may be other living organisms (biotic factors) or nonliving variables (a biotic factors), such as temperature, rainfall, day length, wind, and ocean currents.
The UN Statistical Office, after extensive investigations, estimated for mid-1955 a world total of almost two and two-thirds billion people:
Whatever errors, especially for Asia and Africa, these approximations may contain, it is known that since the end of the 19th century the growth of the world's population is of a magnitude unparalleled in history, and that the human race is multiplying at a constantly accelerating rate.

According to the best available estimates, the phenomenon started around the middle of the 17th century; until then, the world's population had risen very slowly and during long periods had either been stagnant or was even on the decline.

Between about 1650 and the end of the 19th century it probably tripled, going from about 500 to 1,500 million. Between 1920 and 1950, in spite of the enormous blood-letting of a number of catastrophic wars, including World War II, it increased, according to the best estimates, from 1,834 to 2,406 million, or by 31 per cent. Meanwhile, the rate of growth has again increased, amounting now to 17 per cent per decade — which means, for the single year of 1957, an increase of world population of approximately 47 million.
Within the memory of many Americans, the United States had 75 million inhabitants.
By 1980, the figure will most probably have tripled: forecasts indicate a population of some 240 million by that date. Between 1950 and 1955, the increase for the country as a whole was 9 per cent per decade; for the decade ending 1965, it has been estimated at 16.3 per cent. Even for the United States — which is not only the wealthiest country but is also relatively not yet very densely populated — this unparalleled development creates a host of problems.

To mention only one, authorities foresee that the total of Americans, now numbering 30 million (estimate of the U.S. Public Health Service) who are suffering from mental or emotional disturbances will further increase as a result of the 'aging' of the population and the increasing strains of living in ever more congested urban areas.
The 'population explosion' is a world-wide phenomenon and is staggering and unpredictable in its international and domestic repercussions. However, its intensity varies from area to area. It is most marked in the underdeveloped and industrially less advanced countries.
Changing Age Structure of Populations.
The above observations apply also to other underdeveloped and less advanced countries in the world, and focus attention on one of the most crucial population problems, the significance of the age structure of any population.
From the standpoint of statistics, the population of an area decreases if the deaths exceed the births; it is stationary if their number is equal; and it increases if births exceed deaths. However, in order to appreciate the profound economic, social, and human implications of population trends, not only the absolute mortality figures but also the ages at which deaths occur, must be considered.
Obviously if a person dies before having attained a productive age, he will only have been a consumer, and will have contributed nothing to his nation's or family's income. The economic loss is particularly glaring in the less industrialized countries, where the economy's most urgent need is for more production, not more consumption.
Infant Mortality Rates.
While many aspects of the present 'population explosion' are as yet unexplored, there is general agreement that the unequaled population growth is due not to an increase in fecundity nor to a higher fertility, but primarily to a lower infant (and foetal) mortality.
Experience has shown that this results from even relatively elementary or inexpensive improvements in public sanitation, in medical services (especially insecticides and antibiotics), and in personal hygiene.
In Mexico, for example, of every 1,000 infants born, 223.1 died during the first year in 1921, but only 106.6 (estimate) in 1949; for Puerto Rico, the corresponding figures were 132.2 in 1932, against 67.7 in 1949.
Ghana's first postindependence population census in 1960 counted about 6.7 million inhabitants. By 1970 the national census registered 8.5 million people, about a 27 percent increase, while the most recent official census in 1984 recorded a figure of 12.3 million--almost double the 1960 figure.
The nation's population was estimated to have increased to about 15 million in 1990 and to an estimated 17.2 million in mid-1994. With an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent for the period between 1965 and 1980, a 3.4 percent growth rate for 1981 through 1989, and a 1992 growth rate of 3.2 percent, the country's population is projected to surpass 20 million by the year 2000 and 35 million by 2025.
The underlying cause of biodiversity loss is the explosion in human population, now at 6 billion, but expected to double again by the year 2050. The human population already consumes nearly half of all the food, crops, medicines, and other useful items produced by the Earth’s organisms, and more than million people in Ghana lack adequate supplies of fresh water.
Cultivation of the land, especially over cultivation or the introduction of nonnative plant species, can lead to the loss of topsoil and degradation of the soil.
Human population growth is at the root of virtually all of the world’s environmental problems. Although the growth rate of the world’s population has slowed slightly since the 1990s, the world’s population increases by about 77 million human beings each year. As the number of people increases, crowding generates pollution, destroys more habitats, and uses up additional natural resources.
Soil faces many threats throughout the world. Deforestation, overgrazing by livestock, and agricultural practices that fail to conserve soil are three main causes of accelerated soil loss. Other acts of human carelessness also damage soil.
These include pollution from agricultural pesticides, chemical spills, liquid and solid wastes, and acidification from the fall of acid rain. Loss of green spaces, such as grassland and forested areas, in favor of impermeable surfaces, such as pavement, buildings, and developed land, reduces the amount of soil and increases pressure on what soil remains. Soil is also compacted by heavy machinery and off-road vehicles.
Compaction rearranges soil particles, increasing the density of the soil and reducing porosity. Crusts form on compacted soils, preventing water movement into the soil and increasing runoff and erosion.

(PATH) COMMISSIONED

BY: ERIC K. AMPONSAH
The program coordinator for Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) Mrs. Patience Cofie has proposed the need for local base solution to the country’s health problem.
She said the time has come to look out for technologies that are necessary for the highly trained health workers even though the technologies have to be both cost effective and culturally appropriate.
She said this at the commission of Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), a non-governmental organization in Accra.
The program was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and all the key partners’ organization across the country.
Mrs. Patience Cofie, said the health sector of Ghana has chalked some success in the health indicators such as reducing childhood deaths and increasing antenatal coverage, among others.
However, there are still challenges regarding incidence of malaria and maternal deaths, though improved significantly, still stands high and that professional staff for critical health service delivery is still inadequate and resources for scaling up interventions in the sector are also inadequate.
She said the office of PATH in Ghana is currently focused on MCHN and oversees the Oxytocin Initiative project which works with the GHS and Kintampo Health Research Center, and supporting the Malaria Vaccine Initiative through malaria vaccine trials in KHRC and Agogo Hospital and Meningococcal “A” vaccine trial at Navrongo Health Research Center, for prevention of cerebrospinal meningitis.
Mrs. Cofie noted, “we work in maternal, newborn and child health nutrition, health systems strengthening, reproductive health, malaria, TB and other emerging diseases, HIV|AIDS and vaccine development as well as immunization programs.
She complemented the government effort in improving maternal health, and announced the commencement of the oxytocin Initiative (OI) project in Ghana, the three year Oxytocin Initiative (OI) research project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates which will investigate the administration of oxytocin via Inject device during the third stage of labor by health care providers, specifically Community Health Officers (CHOs) in order to reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) occurring at home births in Ghana.
Mrs. Cofie added that, the ultimate goal of the OI project is to look for solutions that contribute to the reduction of the high maternal mortality rate in Ghana, particularly those attributed to postpartum hemorrhage of which the reduction will assist Ghana to achieve the MDG5.
The Deputy Minister for Health Dr. Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah who commissioned the offices said, the history of the development of the health sector in Ghana would have noted that under this government the health sector in Ghana has put before it some of the most difficult policies which are aimed at improving in sustainable manner of the health status of all Ghanaians.
These policies require that we work with the private sector and nongovernmental organization to ensure that we achieve the desired result and it is against this background that I welcome the presence of PATH in Ghana, he noted.
He added that engaging organizations such as PATH, will give Ghana the opportunity to take on board new ideas and pave the way for the introduction of new technologies.
Dr. Quaye-Kumah stressed that the policy of free deliveries in health facilities is also being vigorously promoted and for the first time the Ministry will take the initiative to ensure that the mal-distribution of human resource for health is dealt with.
He urged PATH to keep a keen focus on the health of our rural communities while in Ghana because it is the rural communities who produce the bulk of our nation’s wealth.
Dr. Quaye-Kumah cautioned PATH to make maximum use of the facilities government will put at their disposal and also recognize that the facilities cost government huge sums of money.