General

In my opinion, the benefits of blockchain are being paraded as akin to that of cryptocurrencies and while to a large extent that is accurate, from the few conversations I have had over the past weeks, there needs to be an urgent understanding of each of them, and both. For instance, while all cryptocurrencies utilise blockchain technology but not all blockchain technology is cryptocurrency.  In elementary terms, cryptocurrency is a digital currency. Its transactions are all verified and secured using a decentralised system that operates by cryptography.  Cryptocurrencies are not backed by centralised systems and are not controlled by regulating authorities. These currencies are largely autonomous and public, which to some is the best feature, while to some, is the opposite because of the associated risks. As a result of the encryption (cryptographic) technologies they use, these (crypto) currencies act as both virtual accounting systems and also as currencies.  On the off chance you are still a tad confused as to what precisely it may be or how it may be used in real-life settings around you, think of cryptocurrencies as mobile money but on steroids. Think of it as mobile money, but more secure, arguably un-hackable, as anchored and cemented as a US Bullion Depository in Fort Knox – Good luck robbing that!  What precisely is blockchain technology? Fun fact: blockchain technology is actually older than cryptocurrencies. It is the core or backbone technology that cryptocurrencies run on. It is a decentralised (public) digital book of accounts or ledger.  As IBM explains it, “Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. An asset can be tangible (a house, car, cash, land) or intangible (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding). Virtually anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved“ Blockchain technology has the ability to share data without being copied and has been named among the most secure and innovative technological inventions in the 21 century. Experts in blockchain technology would tell you that there are three pillars it stands on, namely, decentralisation, transparency, and immutability. Payments made using blockchain technology leave virtually no room for the kind of chicaneries employed by centralised financial institutions.  What are cryptocurrencies? So as you may know already, Bitcoin was one of the very first public and fully operational cryptocurrencies. There are many kinds of cryptocurrencies. The differences depend on how they are coded or designed and the purpose they are supposed to serve. Typically, we can list four of them as some of the primary or primarily used ones by the market. This site helps illustrate this a tad more and proffers more clarification.  “Coins: Coins can be differentiated from altcoins because they are based on their blockchain. On such a blockchain, they act as the native token as well as gas or fuel payment token, although a blockchain can have the gas paid in a different cryptocurrency. A good example is Bitcoin on the Bitcoin and Ether or ETH on the Ethereum blockchain. In terms of constructing or developing a cryptocurrency, it starts or comes along with developing a blockchain. Altcoins: Although these can be regarded as coins, they are all understood to be alternatives to Bitcoin as the first cryptocurrency. Also known as shitcoins, apart from Ethereum, most of the first ones were forked from Bitcoin. These include Namecoin, Peercoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Auroracoin. That said, some altcoins like Ethereum, Ripple, Omni, and NEO have their blockchains. Others do not. Tokens: Tokens are the digital representations of a particular asset or utility in a blockchain. All tokens can be termed altcoins, but they are differentiated by residing on top of another blockchain and not being native to the blockchain on which they reside. They are coded to facilitate smart contracts on blockchain networks like Ethereum, and we can transfer some from one chain to another. The tokens are embedded in self-executing computer programs or codes and can operate without a third-party platform. They are also fungible and tradable. They can be used to represent loyalty points and commodities or even other cryptos. When designing or coding a token, the developer will require following a given template. The developer does not need to edit or code the blockchain from scratch. All they have to do is follow a given standard template. It is faster to come up with a token.“  In order to obtain an even better overview, let us compare these different kinds of cryptocurrencies for perspective.  Type Main feature  Examples Utility tokens Meant to provide access to platform service where they reside. Funfair, Basic Attention Token, Brickblock, Timicoin, Sirin Labs Token, and Golem. Security tokens Usage and issuance are governed by financial regulation. Sia Funds, Bcap (Blockchain Capital), and Science Blockchain. Payment tokens Used for paying for goods and services inside and outside their own platforms. Almost every crypto falls in this category. Monero, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. Exchange tokens Exchange tokens are native to crypto exchange platforms. Binance Coin or BNB token, Gemini USD, FTX Coin for FTX Exchange, OKB for Okex exchange, KuCoin Token, Uni token, HT for Huobi exchange, Shushi, and CRO for Crypto.com. Non-fungible tokens Non-fungible tokens are cryptocurrencies with limited issuance that have unique identities and tokens that make them hard to copy or replicate. Good examples include Logan Paul’s video clips, Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweets NFT, EVERYDAYS: The First 5000 Days drawings by Mike Winklemann, better known as “Beeple”, and several crypto kitties. (Types Of Cryptocurrency And Tokens With Examples, 2022) Uses of blockchain and crypto Owning crypto is akin to buying and storing or trading stocks on Wall Street because one takes a bet on its stability and fiscal security. People who are engaged in buying and holding crypto per se, are doing largely the same thing but with this digital currency. And there lies the risk; many have made millions, and many have lost millions – can you afford to risk it? On the other side of the proverbial coin, in the case of blockchain

Traffic Light Malfunctions Does anyone ever pause and ponder traffic lights and traffic signals? And would it be weird to know that I do? In a city as quickly growing as Accra, one would think it would be something we did more often. Imagine the exceedingly high levels of carnage and chaos that would ensue if we woke one day and traffic lights and signals had disappeared from our cities. Between the commercial and private vehicles, the motorcycles and bicycles, pedestrians and even baby walkers, the traffic and confusion would be scores worse than the China National Highway 110 traffic jam (Wikipedia contributors, 2022) that began on August the 13th, 2010 and slowed thousands of vehicles for more than 100 kilometres and lasted an astounding 10 days! Traffic lights first appeared (for public use) 154 years ago in 1868 in Parliament Square in London to reduce the number of policemen needed to control traffic. The genius invention that has saved more lives and livelihoods than we can ever hope to quantify has several variated applications. According to some experts, traffic lights have a general purpose, a specific purpose, and a more diversified focus that includes the use of big-picture road safety signs.  The general, specific, and diversified purpose  Concerning the elaborated and expanded purpose of traffic lights and traffic signals, experts, ELTEC Corp, documented it as such: The General purpose From managing travel times to preserving safe roadways, the majority of traffic signals are designed to keep cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone else using the road safely. These signals might be anything from warning signs to streetlights, from complex to simple, all for the sake of keeping people in their lane. The idea here is to limit the speed and volume of traffic to safe levels by speeding up or slowing down traffic along the whole span of the road in question.  When it comes to intersections, crosswalks, school zones, and other places where there’s a good deal of both vehicular and foot traffic, traffic signals help communicate potential risk areas for both drivers and pedestrians. The signs that let you know a stoplight is around a curve, for example, prevent crashes or vehicle-pedestrian collisions by alerting drivers of a sudden or unexpected stop or slow down on the road. Generally, this is about managing anywhere that roadways and traffic might bump up against non-traffic areas – city centres, neighbourhoods, or anything that isn’t a long barren highway. Finally, traffic signals also play a role in limiting the amount and intensity of accidents that do happen. People aren’t infallible, so accidents happen even in some of the safest environments. In situations like this, limiting speeds or designing a series of signals to slow or stop traffic can at the very least reduce the impact of accidents that do happen. Practically speaking, this usually looks like speed limits or restructuring of lanes and major signals in highly trafficked areas that are more prone to accidents.“ The specific purpose “Of course, over the years, traffic signals have evolved significantly to accommodate a wide variety of more particular uses. As neighbourhoods and roadways expand to cover more areas and weave through more of where we live, more specific and detailed traffic signals become necessary…In many cases, there’s a fairly homogeneous traffic light system in place, but in some cases, more specialized equipment makes sense. Specialized doesn’t necessarily mean complex, of course. Something as simple as a sign for deer crossing is a perfect example. It’s just a sign, but it’s specialized for areas susceptible to deer. It might also be more complicated of course, such as an RRFB that allows for an improved level of pedestrian and roadway safety in places where standard signage or signal intensity isn’t sufficient.“  “Looking forward, as people rethink the design of cars and cities to incorporate automation and AI, like self-driving cars or more technologically advanced public transportation, traffic signals will have to evolve even further. To account for increased speeds, more or less human interaction, and the shifts in urban design, we may see completely new traffic signals or unexpected evolutions of traffic signals that already exist.” Diversified purpose  “Of course, traffic signals work in tandem with civic design to increase safety. In much the same way that traffic signals change to meet the needs and requirements of different roads and urban design, the way people think about urban design will change as well. In some cities, a push towards more bike lanes necessitates signage and signals that account for increased bicycle traffic. In other cities, a set space in the middle of town may be designated for only pedestrian traffic, or places that are accessible only for public transport“ (The Purpose of Traffic Signals | ELTEC, 2019) Reasons for malfunctioning traffic lights, signals, and signs Now, there is a myriad of reasons traffic lights, signals, and signs would malfunction or simply be damaged. One of the most obvious and predominantly the usual suspect is bad weather conditions. A good amount of strong rain and very heavy winds go a long way in rendering traffic lights, signals and signs out of service and use. In Ghana, we can expect a series of malfunctions as we dive into the rainy season – A note to all and sundry to remain extra vigilant. Of course, another reason they may malfunction includes situations in which the electric poles or power grids supplying them (the traffic lights and signals) power also malfunctions. Associated reasons such as blackouts and brownouts. There are also recorded incidents in which people have vandalised them (the traffic lights, signals and signs); some people have even gone so far as to drive their vehicles into them. Additional reasons include tampering, power surges which cause them to short-circuit; old equipment deterioration; maintenance issues; the dumping of trash in traffic light crevices, and other unknown reasons.  Who is responsible for repair and maintenance  So really, who can we confidently point to or refer to whenever one of our traffic lights, signals or signs needs of

Since immemorial, the people of Accra and its environs have constantly grappled with perennial flooding. Despite various interventions by national and local governments now and in the past, the situation persists to this day, exacting a heavy toll on livelihoods and property.  Flooding in Ghana is a topic that has been very extensively written about this rainy season, but bear with me. As an agro-commodities trader, I need the rains but it’s August end and it’s still raining. We cannot even start trading Shea Nut because the moisture content requirements keeps getting our schedule thrown off with the rains and the clouds and the humidity it brings with it.  How do you dry tens of millions of kilos of an easily damped nut when it’s always cloudy, humid and/or rainy??? I vent. So I did some reading. Now I’m doing some writing. One other harsh effect of this sustained raining, aside throwing off my Shea Nut Season, is Flooding. But why? The effects of climate change on the flooding in Accra Climate change is a global problem that is already having an impact on the environment and society. In Ghana, climate change is causing more extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts. These extreme weather conditions are affecting the lives of people in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. The effects of climate change on the flooding in Accra are evident. The most evident one occurred in June 2015, when heavy rains caused severe flooding in many parts of the city.  The floods affected over 200,000 people and caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of floods in Accra. (Abeka et al., 2019) Several factors contribute to the flooding in Accra. The city is built on a low-lying coastal plain, which makes it susceptible to flooding from heavy rains and rising sea levels.  Climate change is also causing other problems in Accra, such as water shortages and food insecurity. The city’s population is growing rapidly, putting strain on the arguably limited resources. This will likely worsen in the future as climate change continues to impact the city. The effects of climate change are evident with this increased frequency and severity of rains and of floods. This is likely to continue in the future, with devastating consequences for the people who live in the city. Poor city planning and urbanization as the main causes of flooding Climate change is not the only factor that is causing floods in Accra. Poor city planning and urbanization are also major contributors to the problem. The city of Accra is growing rapidly, with the population expected to double by 2030. This rapid growth is putting a strain on the city’s infrastructure and resources.  The city’s infrastructure and drainage system also cannot cope with the increasing frequency and severity of floods. For example, the Accra drains cannot handle the large volumes of water that are now being released during storms. As a result, floods are becoming more common. In addition, the way the city has been developed contributes to the problem. Many of the city’s buildings have been constructed without adequate drainage systems. Water can quickly build up around these buildings during storms, leading to flooding. (Amoako & Frimpong Boamah, 2014) The effects of climate change are making the problem of flooding worse. If the issues of poor city planning and urbanization are not addressed, the city of Accra will continue to be at risk of flooding. The lack of maintenance culture among residents and authorities is another key factor. Another factor contributing to the flooding in Accra is the lack of maintenance culture among residents and authorities.  The city’s drainage system is not properly maintained, which means it cannot cope with the increased volume of water being released during storms. As a result, floods are becoming more common. In addition, many of the city’s buildings are in disrepair. This means that they cannot stand the heavy rains and flooding that happen more frequently. The lack of maintenance also makes it difficult for the city to recover from floods. The lack of maintenance culture among residents and authorities is a major factor in the flooding problem in Accra. Deforestation and sand mining as the root causes of the floods Deforestation and sand mining are two main activities that have been cited as the root causes of the floods that hit the city of Accra in June 2015. (Saviour, 2012) These activities have led to a loss of vegetation cover and a decrease in the material available to act as a buffer against flooding. The city’s drainage system has become more vulnerable to flooding, as a result, leading to the disaster that occurred in June 2015. The city of Accra is located in Ghana, on the Gulf of Guinea. It is the country’s capital and most populous city, with an estimated population of 4.6 million in 2019. The June 2015 floods in Accra were caused by a heavy downpour that lasted several hours. The rains led to the city’s drainage system overflowing, which caused widespread flooding. (Clark, 1987) In the wake of the floods, an investigation was launched to determine the root causes of the disaster. Deforestation and sand mining were identified as two of the main contributing factors. Deforestation has led to a loss of vegetation cover in the city, which has, in turn, led to an increase in surface runoff during heavy rains. This has made it more difficult for the city’s drainage system to cope with large volumes of water, leading to flooding. Sand mining has also been identified as a contributing factor to floods. Sand mining involves the removal of sand from river beds, beaches, and other areas. This sand is then used for construction purposes. The removal of sand from river beds and other areas has decreased the amount of material available to act as a buffer against flooding. This has made the city’s drainage system more vulnerable to flooding during