This paper assesses water quality that is used for vegetable irrigation in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. A mixed-method of research design was employed in this study to collect and analyze the data based on survey instruments. The paper found that Escherichia coli (E. coli) that is usually used as an indicator of water contamination and heavy metals exist in all taken water samples. The mean concentrations of nutrients such as ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate were recorded as 0.022 mg/l to 5.98 mg/l for ammonia, 1.06 mg/l to 7.52 mg/l for nitrate, 0.031 mg/l to 0.056 mg/l for nitrate and 0.037 mg/l to 0.069 mg/l for phosphate. E. coli and Total Coliforms levels for Sanghani, Kamina and Waterworks from the laboratory analysis were recorded as 3.2 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 5.5 × 102 CFU 100 m/l, 4.0 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 1 × 102 CFU 100 m/l, and 2.1 × 103 CFU 100 m/l and 4.6 × 102 CFU 100 m/l respectively. To conclude, based on the measured parameters, water used for irrigation in the Tamale Metropolitan is polluted and may cause potential health risks. Therefore, farmers, traders and consumers need to apply further safety measures to make the vegetables safe.

Researches on regional inequalities in Ghana have largely focused on principal cities and towns as well as urban and rural areas. Based on the traditional north-south divide in Ghana, this study explored a third dimension of regional disparities, by assessing the level of infrastructural inequalities among districts in northern and southern Ghana. The study is based on a documentary review of existing statistics on the availability of basic infrastructure in the selected districts. Twelve districts (2 each from 3 regions in the north and south respectively) were involved. The Composite Infrastructure Index (CII) method, Lorenz Curve and Gini Coefficient techniques were employed. Results showed that, the distribution of basic infrastructure among all twelve districts was skewed towards perfect equality (Gini coefficient= 0.20). Inequalities were however more significant among districts of the north (Gini coefficient= 0.22) than districts of the south (Gini coefficient= 0.12). Albeit positive, no significant correlation was found between CIIs and population (P< .001) as well as Internally Generated Funds (P< .001) of the districts. The study also revealed that, on the average, districts allocated 97.1% of their Internally Generated Funds to administrative costs rather than infrastructure projects.

A range of technologies, strategies and policies have been implemented to improve water quality worldwide. This systematic review comprehensively appraises technologies, strategies, and water pollution control policies enacted in different countries worldwide between 2055 and 2021. Five databases, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar and Library of Congress, were used for the search. After screening, a total of 86 eligible manuscripts were selected from 2119 documents for further analysis. Selected articles were divided into two categories: (1) articles introducing the strategies enacted for controlling water pollution based on different technologies, and (2) articles that focused on different policies and regulations to control water pollution in different countries. The results indicated that the most common technologies are Eco-Remediation, Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Technology, Bio-Manipulation Technology, Floating Aquatic-Plant Bed Systems, Wetlands Rehabilitation Technology and Adsorption Technology. And the current one is Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). Most of these technologies are related to controlling industrial water pollution. Policies and regulations enacted in most countries are pertinent to the industrial and agricultural sectors. Adopting green industrialisation and farming, particularly elimination or limited use of pesticides, was reported as an effective action by governments to reduce water pollution. Overall, most policies enacted by governments can be divided into two general categories: (a) Prescriptive policies (b) Market-Based policies. Depending on the circumstances, these policies are implemented alone or jointly. In addition to the acceptance of international agreements to reduce water pollution by governments, safe agricultural practices, treating industrial waste before discharge play an important role in reducing water pollution.