Contrasted with the unimodal road mode, multimodal transport is potentially more feasible as it saves cost and lower environmental effect. This paper investigates freight transport and logistics framework to advance sustainable multimodal freight delivery involving road, rail, and waterway in an inland transportation. We consider a genetic algorithm model comprising time, distance, and CO2 emissions. The optimal design system is modeled by adapting Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Matlab (R2016a) software to improve the existing transport split modes with high shipment cost. An optimal model is formulated to integrate the existing modes to mitigate the prevailing economic, social, and environmental issues. A case investigation of 10 regional capitals in Ghana where freights are transported to and from the main national port was useful to formulate and model an optimized sustainable multimodal freight transport and logistics system (SMFTLS). The Matlab software was used to solve containerized cargo shipment in the optimal system and compare it with the previous system. It was realized that the total cost savings achieved from the optimized system was USD 97.03 million (i.e., 4.5%) lower than the same cargo quantity shipped with the existing system. This SMFTLS model will assist governments, policy makers and investors in deciding the appropriate transport schemes that would manage their overall effects. The study recommends the development of rail and waterway infrastructures to help build the resilient sustainable system (SMFTLS) to manage the rising freight transport demands and related economic, social, and environmental issues.

This paper examines the influence of innovation on the adoption of smartphones for accessing electronic resources in the library by postgraduate students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The theoretical model that underpinned this study was the diffusion of innovation theory. Based on a quantitative research approach, a survey research design was used. Questionnaire was employed in the collection of data from 278 postgraduate students. The responses were coded, captured and analysed using IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 22. The findings of the study show that postgraduate students’ gender and faculty influenced their adoption of smartphones for accessing e-resources at the University of Cape Coast. However, the age of the students did not have any significant influence on the adoption of smartphones. The findings further show that only two of the perceived characteristics of innovation, complexity and compatibility, had a significant influence on the adoption of smartphones among the postgraduate students.

The importance of transportation in the socio-economic development of nations cannot be downplayed. Intermodal transport has become vital concept for ensuring sustainable freight transport in developed economies but less focused on among African scientific community as it attracts fewer researches and developments. This paper aims to review and promote the development of sustainable intermodal freight transport systems in African developing countries with insights from Ghana.The researchers adopted literature review approach for the global intermodal developments and that of developing economies with emphasis on Africa and Ghana.Transport experts and experienced practitioners’ opinions were sought to complement the limited literature on the means to improve intermodal transport and logistics management systems. Authors discovered that some African countries like Ghana potentially posses some relevant multimodal resources such as seaport, waterway, railway and road infrastructures. However, they are not well interconnected to acquire intermodal benefits. Besides, the existing transportation systems were mostly road dominated and frauded with cost-inefficiencies; greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, accidents, high maintenance and service deficiencies.The constraints are lack of skilled labor, limited infrastructure, safety and security problems, limited institutional capacity, poor intermodal transport network and connectivity issues. Some practical measures to improve the lapses in the transport system were highlighted. It was suggested that management of African developing countries must remodify their transport policies to attract investors and transport players. This would strengthen Public Private Partnerships (PPP) collaborations in developing intermodal freight transport and logistics systems.