Decomposition analysis of electricity generation on carbon dioxide emissions in Ghana.

This study analyses the factors driving CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Ghana from 1990 to 2020. Employing Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) techniques, the research decomposes electricity generation into different factors and assesses their impact on CO2 emissions, considering both short and long-run effects. The LMDI analysis reveals that the total CO2 emissions from electricity generation amount to 3.33%, with all factors contributing positively in each subperiod. Notably, fossil fuel intensity, production, and transformation factors exhibit substantial contributions of about 1.16%, 0.49%, and 0.48%, respectively. Contrastingly, the ARDL results highlight that only electricity intensity and production factors significantly increase CO2 emissions by about 0.20% and 0.09% (0.38% and 0.10%) in the short-run (long-run), while other factors contribute to a reduction in electricity generation emissions. Overall, we conclude that electricity intensity and production factors are the primary drivers of CO2 emissions from electricity generation in Ghana. Nevertheless, effective measures to address all decomposition factors is crucial for effective mitigation of electricity generation CO2 emissions.

The Role of Proline-Proline-Glutamic Acid (PPE) Proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Implications.

For decades, tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), has remained a global health challenge. Central to this issue are the proline-proline-glutamic acid (PPE) proteins, which play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and persistence of MTB. This article explores the molecular mechanisms of PPE proteins and their roles in facilitating MTB's evasion of the host's immune system while enhancing virulence and transmission. Focusing on the structural and functional aspects of PPE proteins, this review provides a detailed analysis of antigenic variation, a crucial mechanism allowing MTB to elude immune detection. It also probes the genetic diversity of these PPE proteins and their complex interactions with host immunity, offering insights into the challenges they pose for therapeutic development. This review delves into the potential of targeting PPE proteins in novel therapeutic strategies, discussing the prospects of drug and vaccine development. The evidence reviewed in this article underscores the pressing need for innovative approaches to combat TB, especially in the face of increasing drug resistance. Ultimately, this review article highlights the untapped potential of PPE proteins in revolutionizing TB treatment, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug and vaccine development.

International trade and environmental pollution in sub-Saharan Africa: do exports and imports matter?

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Africa in general are known as the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, CO2 emissions in SSA are increasing, making it a problem of concern and calls for attention given its adverse consequences on human health and climate change. International trade is argued to have a vital role in global and SSA emissions in diverse ways, leading to doubts of whether trade is good or bad to the environment. As a result, we explore the environmental effect of international trade in 33 SSA countries from 1990 to 2020. The study further evaluates the differential effect of exports and imports on environmental pollution. The generalized method of moment estimator and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D-H) causality test were utilized. The results revealed that the overall effect of trade reduces environmental pollution by about 0.10% and 0.79% in both the short and long run, respectively. Again, we observe that exports and imports minimize environmental pollution of about 0.07% and 0.45% (0.08% and 0.58%) in the short run (long run), respectively. Regarding D-H results, we noticed the existence of bidirectional causality between total trade and environmental pollution, whereas exports and imports have a unidirectional causality from CO2 emissions to exports and imports. We conclude based on the findings that international trade causes pollution reduction in SSA. Furthermore, we establish that exports and imports have a homogeneous impact on environmental pollution in SSA. Given the results, we call for trade initiatives that ensure improvement in environmental and energy efficiency technologies related to production and transportation of exported and imported goods and services.

External debt and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: does heterogeneity in the quality of public sector management make a difference?

This study empirically examines the effect of external debt on economic growth, taking into account heterogeneity in public sector management (PSM) across 31 selected sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries spanning 2005 to 2017. In this study, we contributed to existing studies by examining how differences in PSM quality complement external debt to influence economic growth. We employ the system-generalized method of moment (system-GMM) and the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) methods for the analysis. The results without differences in PSM quality show that external debt has a significant negative effect on economic growth in SSA. However, the effect of external debt on economic growth tends to be positive for SSA countries with strong PSM quality when external debt interacts with PSM quality. Furthermore, the results show that countries with strong PSM quality experienced higher economic growth than those with weak PSM quality. The PSTR also showed strong evidence of a nonlinear relationship between external debt and economic growth and estimated the indebtedness threshold value at 45% for the selected SSA countries. The implication of the findings calls for governments in SSA to strengthen the quality of public sector management via structural reforms aimed at public sector reform, tax reforms and strengthening debt management capacity to ensure positive growth effects of external debt.

The role of environmental regulatory quality in the relationship between natural resources and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Natural resources benefit economies through economic growth and development. However, continuing unsustainable exploitation of these resources tend to harm the sustainability of the environment. Therefore, this paper explores the role of environmental regulatory quality (ERQ) in the relationship between natural resources (NR) and environmental sustainability (ES). The study covered 28 sub-Saharan African countries (SSA) from 2005-2017. Regarding the estimations, we utilized cross-sectional dependence, first-and second-generation unit root, and cointegration tests for preliminary checks. Finally, we used the system-GMM estimation for the analysis. We found that environmental regulatory quality improves environmental sustainability in SSA. We also observed that natural resources degrade environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we noticed that natural resources complemented environmental regulatory quality to reduce environmental sustainability in SSA. Therefore, we establish that ERQ in SSA does not complement NR to induce environmental sustainability. Based on the findings, we appeal for effective and rigorous implementation of environmental policies and regulations in SSA.

Foreign direct investments and environmental quality in sub-Saharan Africa: the merits of policy and institutions for environmental sustainability.

This study investigates the association between foreign direct investment (FDI) and environmental quality, taking into account policies and institutions for environmental sustainability across 23 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We applied the Generalised Method of Moment (system-GMM) to analyse the data for the period 2005 to 2019. The results revealed that FDI improves environmental quality in the long run, whereas in the short run, FDI diminishes environmental quality when interacted with policies and institutions for environmental sustainability. Furthermore, policies and institutions for environmental sustainability and domestic investment improve environmental quality in both the long and short run. The study concludes that policies and institutions for environmental sustainability in SSA are important as they improve environmental quality. The study also finds policies and institutions for environmental sustainability complements with FDI to improve environmental quality in the long run. Finally, the study further establishes that domestic investment is important to improve environmental quality in SSA. The key findings call for strengthening policies for improving environmental quality in SSA.