a)

b)

c)

Positive effects of rainfall

1. Agriculture: It enables farmers to grow their crops. It also helps the farmers to uproot their crops (tuber crops) as the soil becomes soft
2. Water for domestic and industrial uses: Rainfall enables us to get water for domestic (drinking, washing, cooking, etc.) and for industrial (cooling of engines, mixing of chemicals, etc.) purposes
3. Grass for animal feed: Rainfall enables animals to obtain enough pastures (food) to graze on. The animals grow fat during the rainy season when there is abundant supply of grass
4. Rainfall helps to cool the weather and maintain the vegetation green
5. Rainfall enables hydroelectric dams to run continuously so that there will be uninterrupted electricity supply
6. Provides water for use in the dry season (irrigation)

Negative effects of rainfall

1. Heavy rainfall causes flooding thereby destroying lives and properties making people homeless
2. Flood also makes roads inaccessible to vehicles thereby disrupting economic activities
3. It prevents farmers from drying their crops such as cocoa and grains
4. It causes gully erosion which leads to land degradation

a)

Characteristics of the North-East Trade winds (Harmattan)

1. It is a dry wind which blows over West Africa from Sahara desert. It is dry and hazy
2. It blows from North-East to South-West direction
3. It carries a lot of dust which makes breathing very difficult
4. There are very few or no rain clouds in the sky during these periods
5. It brings about haze and makes visibility poor
6. It blows between October and November, also February and March and extends to the North in April
7. Temperatures are generally lower with coldness in the nights

b)

Usefulness of the North-East Trade winds

1. The weather conditions make it easy for farmers to dry their crops such as cocoa, maize, etc.
2. The harmattan season is mosquito-free period because stagnant water are mostly not available (dried) to breed mosquitoes
3. It helps farmers to prepare new lands for next farming season
4. The dry season helps in the production of salt

c)

Disadvantages of the North-East Trade winds

1. Poor visibility: The operations flights (aeroplanes) are disrupted due to bad weather
2. Bushfire: Dry land are exposed to frequent bushfires resulting in lose of properties
3. Dusty atmosphere which is harmful to human health
4. Rivers and streams reduce in size and volume rendering water supply for hydroelectric power for domestic and industrial purpose difficult
5. Easy spread of diseases like influenza and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the dry season
6. Quick dry lips and skin

a)

The Fante Confederation

1. The Fante Confederation was formed in 1868 by the Fante states and some southern states like Denkyire, Wassaw, Twifu and Assin.
2. It was one of the movements that opposed the growth of British influence in Ghana

Reasons for which the Fante Confederation was formed

1. British interference in local affairs
2. Protest against payment of taxes
3. Failure of the British to protect the less performing states e.g. Twifo Ajumako and Asikuma
4. Maltreatment of some Fante Chiefs
5. To prevent the Dutch from taking over Komenda
6. The Fante at certain time lost confidence in the British
7. Lack of social amenities in the Gold Coast Colony
8. Non representation at the legislative and executive councils

b)

Reasons for the fall of the Fante Confederation

1. The British caused confusion among the chiefs thereby dividing their front
2. The non-Fante members of the confederation lost interest in the confederation because they joined the union to help the people of Komenda against the Dutch. When the Dutch left in 1972 they saw no need to be members of the union
3. Members of the various groups felt that leaders should be chosen from their groups and this led to power struggle which eventually weakened the union
4. The British were hostile to the confederation, so they arrested and imprisoned some of its leaders in an attempt to weaken the confederation
5. Financial problems also made it impossible for the union to implement its plans

a)

Importance of co-operation among African countries

1. Political or economic benefit: Co-operation will give greater influence to African nations at international meetings on negotiations. It will strengthen their voice in their attempt to press for African interests
2. Co-operation will show African solidarity on major subjects to the outside world
3. It will pave way for the development and expansion of African markets for goods and services
4. Regional stability: Co-operation will help to reduce border conflicts between neighbouring countries
5. Co-operation helps to maintain African cultural heritage

b)

Ways co-operation can be maintained

1. By establishing diplomatic missions abroad
2. By sports and games organizations such as WAFU games
3. Through bilateral/multilateral meetings and trades
4. By establishing joint commissions for specific functions (regional integration)
5. Regular payment of dues by Member States to the Union to enable it to run its programmes smoothly

a)

Countries of West Africa were the following minerals mined

b)

Importance of mining in West African

1. Jewellery/ornaments making: Gold and diamond are used in making regalia of chiefs, crowns and ornaments for decorations
2. Foreign Exchange: Minerals are major foreign exchange earners for most countries in the sub-region
3. Employment creation: Mining creates jobs for drivers, laborers, engineers in the mining and jewellery industries
4. Infrastructural facilities: It leads to the development of social amenities such as hospitals, stadiums, schools, roads in the mining communities
5. Source of government revenue: Payment of taxes and royalties from the mining companies provides revenue for the states to run their respective economics
6. Raw material: Most minerals are important raw materials for various processing/manufacturing industries