(a)

Major problems related to cattle rearing in Africa

1. Lack of financial assistance to enable farmers expand their businesses
2. Prevalence of pests and diseases such as tsetse flies, rinderpest, trypanosomiasis, etc.
3. Shortage of water: Many parts of Africa experience low amount of rainfall. The irregular pattern of rainfall causes shortage of water when dams and rivers reduce in volume or dry up completely
4. Shortage of feed: As a result of water shortage, there are low yield of grass (pasture) for the cattle to feed on and this eventually affect their growth
5. Inadequate veterinary services and extension officers and high cost of drugs and vaccines
6. Because the cattle are not properly housed or kept under free-running system, animals are stolen or killed
7. Bush fire: Burning of bush destroys the pasture which requires an alternative source of feeding and that will lead to high cost of feeding

(b)

Solutions to problems

1. Government should assist cattle owners with loans. Cattle owners can also form co-operatives and apply for bank loans to enable them expand their businesses
2. Regular clearing of bushes around ranches as well as spraying of pesticides and insecticides
3. Irrigation dams and wells could be constructed to ensure the availability of drinking water for the cattle at all times of the year
4. Farmers should prepare hay and silage in times of abundance of grass to feed the cattle in dry seasons
5. More veterinary service stations must be built and resourced in cattle rearing areas and extension officers trained to offer regular services to animals and farmers
6. Farmers should properly house their cattle or guide the cattle by herdsmen for free-running system to prevent being stolen or killed
7. Bush fires should be checked for instance using fire belt and enacting by-laws to punish the culprits

a)

Human rights abuses are the infringements on the rights and freedom of an individual.

b)

Examples of human rights abuses

1. Domestic slavery
2. Child labour
3. Sex trade
4. Child defilement
5. Gender, social and religious discriminations
6. Child trafficking
7. Violence against women

c)

Ways by which human rights abuses can be prevented

1. Education: This provide the knowledge of what constitute the abuse and action for preventing any of such abuses like slavery, child abuse and all forms of discriminations and violence against women, children and minority groups
2. The role of the courts and department of social welfare in providing justice, sanctions and compensations for the abused persons
3. The role of institutions such as commission on Children, churches, ministry of women and children affairs could be of much help to stop these abuses
4. Modification of cultural practices which tend to infringe on human rights
5. Prompt reporting of abuse cases to the appropriate institutions
6. Strengthening of our democratic and governmental institutions and agencies such as s DOVVSU, CHRAJ, the Ghana Police Service and the law courts and equipping them to deal with human rights abuse cases more effectively and swiftly

a)

Major activity which brought foreigners into West Africa

1. Trade: They came to West Africa to trade with the people (citizens)
2. Explore and learn: Foreigners were interested in exploring and learning more about West Africa
3. Spread the gospel: The foreigners also came to preach the gospel of Christ

b)

Good effects that the coming of the foreigners had on West Africa

1. They introduced formal education to West Africa and built schools
2. They helped to reshape culture/traditional beliefs and customs such as human sacrifice
3. They improved the health delivery system with the introduction of orthodox medicines and constructions of health centres
4. They introduced local farmers to commercial farming and brought into West Africa new exotic plants or crops such as tea, coffee, some vegetables, etc.
5. They upgraded transport and communication systems with the construction of roads, bridges, railways, ports, etc.
6. Christianity was introduced into West Africa by the Europeans
7. They influenced the expansion of kingdoms and empires because of the use of guns, horses, gun powder, etc.
8. The introduction of the formal legal system, which helped to maintain law and order
9. The introduction of new and improved physical structures, which were much more stronger and beautiful
10. The forts and castles they left now serve as tourist sites which generates revenue for the government

Bad effects of the coming of the foreigners on West Africa

1. Introduction of guns and gun powders fueled tribal wars
2. Most citizens of West Africa were forced into slavery, which greatly affected the human resource base and the economy of most West African states
3. It led to the collapse of the empire system. Examples of such empires include the Asante, Oyo, Dahomey and Sokoto Empires
4. The mineral wealth and other natural resources of the sub-region were exploited
5. Most countries such as Gold Coast (Ghana) and Cote d'Ivoire lost their independence to colonial masters
6. Over-dependence on the colonial masters
7. Changes in our cultural system

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)

Population refers to the number of people living in a particular or specific geographical area within a specific time.

b)

c)

Disadvantages of Ghana's population structure

1. Increase in dependency ratio
2. Government expenses on social services will be high
3. High government expenditure on pensioners
4. Slow development
5. There will be low savings and low investment
6. High government expenditure on the youth and the aged
7. Low tax revenue
8. High expenditure on training and retaining of manpower