ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Ministerial Appointments and Government Expenditure in Developing Democracies: A Case Study of Ghana’s Fourth Republic

Every government desires to be efficient to be able to provide basic services for the total welfare of the citizens they seek to govern. But what makes for an efficient government? Big or small-size government? This issue reflects widespread criticisms of governments in Ghana under the Fourth Republican dispensation, name, that these governments have through ministerial appointments unduly expanded the frontiers of the state while at the same time touting the virtues of privatization. Indeed, the constitutional provision that empowers governments to appoint ministers, section 78 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992, does not set an upper limit. As a result of this constitutional lapse, governments have appointed too many ministers culminating in the increase in the size of government. Using Ghana as a case study, but with emphasis on the Fourth Republic, this paper examines the concept of big government and its effects on government expenditure. It also makes appropriate recommendations for a small sized government capable of delivering quality services to the people without incurring much cost to the state and the entire citizenry.

Source: UG
Minority rights, democracy and development: The African experience

The article contends that in spite of recent attempts to marry human rights to development, the marriage remains one of convenience, and to the inconvenience of disadvantaged groups, particularly indigenous peoples who are the focus of discussion. The author further contends that contrary to the claim that the relationship between rights and development were non-existent to begin with, there was such recognition. In the context of promoting effective minority rights which lies at the heart of peace and stability in Africa, a re-visioning of the relationship between rights, democracy and development in Africa is suggested which challenges the current notions of “market democracy,” “good governance” and “liberal international orthodoxy”. The analysis tackles ways in which effective promotion of minority rights can be realised, based on a cultural relativist perspective. The paper finally proposes the creation of a distinct Protocol or Charter on Minority Peoples in Africa to better serve their peculiar needs and interests.

Source: UG
Minority Rights, Political Stability and Economic Development – The African Experience

The article argues that, in spite of recent attempts to marry human rights to development, such a marriage remains one of convenience or, rather, to the inconvenience of minority or indigenous peoples who are the focus of discussion. The article asserts that, contrary to the claim that the relationship between rights and development is non-existent to begin with, such a relationship does exist. The crucial issue, however, is the category of people who are allowed to enjoy rights to development and to enjoy the fruits thereof. This analysis is grounded in three types of relationship between rights and development. These are identified as positive, negative and passive relationships. The article contends that the positive relationship is captured and colonised by the political and economic elite who control and direct how and when those under their control should benefit from a negative or passive relationship approach between rights and development. It is contended that the negative and positive relationship perspectives have continued to dominate the dynamics of economic development from the Enlightenment era, through colonialism, post-colonialism and the globalisation era. In the context of promoting effective minority rights which lies at the heart of peace and stability in Africa, the article suggests a re-visioning of the relationship between rights, democracy and development in Africa which challenges the current notion of ‘market democracy’, and ‘liberal international orthodoxy’, among other mantras. The analysis tackles ways in which the effective promotion of minority rights can be realised.

Source: UG
Misclassification of recent HIV-1 seroconversion in sub-saharan africa using the sensitive/less sensitive technique

Background: In resource-limited settings where HIV-1 is endemic, there is a need for simple, inexpensive but effective rapid methods for detecting recent infections and estimating incidence for the purposes of surveillance and management. We sort to determine possible reasons for reported misclassifications of recent HIV-1 seroconversion as determined with the S/LS assay in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings: We used the modified Determine HIV-1/2 sensitive/less sensitive method for determining recent HIV-1 seroconversion to determine recent infections among ELISA repeat HIV-1 positive samples from blood donors. Furthermore, HIV-1 seropositivity was confirmed using a line immunoassay and the results used to validate the performance of the modified Determine HIV-1/2 S/LS assay. The results confirmed reported misclassifications of recent HIV-1 seroconversion in sub-Saharan Africa. It was noted that, lack of confirmation of HIV-1 seropositivity in suspected cases of HIV-1 contributed to misclassifications. Conclusions: It was concluded that, with confirmation of HIV-1 seropositivity, the modified Determine HIV-1/2 S/LS assay will be a rapid and cost effective method for determining HIV-1 recent infections and estimating incidence in resource-limited settings. The need for detailed studies to validate simple methods for determining recent HIV-1 infections is emphasized.

Source: UG
Misconceptions about HIV infection faced by diagnosed Ghanaian women

Background: This paper reports on the expressions of people’s misconceptions about women infected with HIV and AIDS Majority of people living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are women with the proportion of women continually increasing, constituting 61% while the global percentage of women living with HIV and AIDS is stable at 50% (UNAIDS, 2007). In Ghana, females are four times more at risk of contracting HIV than males (National AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme, 2010). Meanwhile, available literature show that various misconceptions exist among Africans that HIV and AIDS is a disease of the female prostitute. Women are considered guilty of spreading HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (Quan-Baffour, 2007). Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study was to explore how HIV-positive women receiving care from an NGO-based support framework expressed the misconceptions people have regarding their HIV diagnosis. Methods and sample: A qualitative, explorative and contextual research design was used. The sampling method was purposive and convenience. Self-reported data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. Tesch in Creswell, (2009) hermeneutical analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Sampling was based on data saturation and totaled 16 (n=16). Results: The main theme was ignorance with sub themes emerging from the data-the sub themes included; AIDS is prostitutes’ disease, HIV-infection is punishment from God, HIV/AIDS is a spoiled woman’s disease (Muora) and HIV-positive woman can transmit the virus to people by sitting on the chair she used, touching her hand or big toe or crossing her urine. Conclusion: Misconceptions and beliefs about the mode of transmission of HIV is a social phenomenon that works against controlling the spread of the epidemic. Fear and awe are engendered in people about the disease. With knowledge about the mode of transmission, society will be in a better position to put in place measures to deal with the epidemic.

Source: UG
Misconceptions And Rumours About Family Planning Among Moslem Males In Tamle Metropolis, Ghana.

The practice of modern family planning since time immemorial has been associated with only women. It is, however, now becoming very clear that for any family planning programme to achieve the desire impact, it will need the active and full participate of both the wife and husband. Unfortunately, however, this is not the reality in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana. This is the result of misconceptions and rumors associated with family planning as most men especially Moslem men have been very reluctant in practicing family planning. This paper therefore discusses the misconceptions and rumors associated with family planning, which serve as a hindrance to the participation of Moslem men and the measures to be employed I changing their negative attitudes towards family planning practice in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed the survey research design with the aid of purposive and simple random sampling techniques to pursue its objectives. Data for the study were generated from a sample size of 240 married Moslem men by the use of focus group discussion (FGD) and structured interview schedules. The study revealed that that though Moslem men have some level of awareness and knowledge about family planning, they religions and cultural belief. The measures identified for effective participation of Moslem men in family planning include intensive and adequate in both print and electronic media based on accurate and relevant information to deal with not only the benefits but also the unfounded misconceptions and rumors. The focus should be on religious, traditional and other opinion leaders and constitute the reservoir of religious and cultural beliefs systems.

Source: UG
Misconceptions, Misinformation and Politics of COVID-19 on Social Media: A Multi-Level Analysis in Ghana

Background: Ghana developed an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) in response to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) pandemic. A key strategy in the EPRP is to mobilize national resources and implement strategies for improved risk and behavioral change communication. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised on social media about COVID-19 misinformation and misconceptions. This study used social media content to determine the types, forms, and effects of the myths, misconceptions, and misinformation in Ghana’s COVID-19 containment. Method: The study was conducted in three phases involving the use of both primary and secondary data. A review of social media information on COVID-19 was done. This was complemented by document review and interviews with key stakeholders with expertise in managing public health emergencies and mass communication experts (N = 18). All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using NVivo 12. Results: The study showed a changing pattern in the misconceptions and misinformation about COVID-19. Initially, myths were largely on causes and vulnerability. It was widely speculated that black people had some immunity against COVID-19. Also, the condition was perceived to cause severe disease among the elderly. These misconceptions served as risk attenuators among Ghanaians, especially the younger generation. As the infection evolved in the country, another misconception emerged that the hot climate in Africa inhibited viral replication and transmission, followed by speculations and conjectures that COVID-19 was being used as a biological weapon to target developed economies. For the management of COVID-19, the use of local remedies such as Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and herbal preparation also emerged. Myths about the efficacy of locally manufactured gin (akpeteshie) and hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis led to the abuse of such substances. Interview segments revealed the use of myths to propagate political agendas in the country. Conclusion: The study concludes that COVID-19 misconceptions and misinformation are widespread and cover the course of the condition. These myths necessitate culturally sensitive health communication strategies that take into account local perceptions of COVID-19 to tackle the circulation of misconceived messages about the pandemic in Ghana.

Source: UG
Mismatch in body-chair dimensions and the associated musculoskeletal pain among selected undergraduate students in Ghana

Purpose: To assess the misfit in body-chair dimensions ith regard to the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduates. Methods: Selected undergraduate students of School of Allied Health Sciences University of Ghana, participated in this study. The popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length and the hip breadth of the students ere measured in sitting using retractable tape measure. The corresponding seat height, seat depth and seat idth of three fixed-style lecture hall chairs ere similarly measured and the average scores ere determined. Mismatch or fit in body-chair dimension ere calculated through a standard rule. The associated musculoskeletal pain as reported by the participants as assessed using numerical rating scale. Data ere analyzed ith percentage, mean, standard deviation and Krukas-allis test at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 126 students ith mean age 22 ± 01 years ere recruited. The mean popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length and hip breadth of the students ere 40.8(4.5), 46.8(4.6) and 35.3(3.3) cm, respectively hile the corresponding average chair dimensions for seat height, seat depth and seat idth ere 52.0, 51.0 and 53.0 cm, respectively. Appreciable number of the students mismatched the lecture hall chair at the three levels of study. About 114 (90.5%) of the students attributed their pain to the study chairs in hich 40 (31.7%) and 38 (30.2%) ere in their fourth and second years of study, respectively. Loer back pain as the most prevalent (38.6%) among the sampled students. Conclusion: The large proportion of the incompatibility indicated that the school chairs ere not designed based on anthropometric dimensions, thus giving insight into the source of the pain. © World Scientific Publishing Company.

Source: UG
Misperception of drivers of risk alters willingness to adapt in the case of sargassum influxes in West Africa

Since 2011, large influxes of a brown macroalgae (pelagic sargassum seaweed) have proliferated across the Tropical Atlantic basin, its dispersal and seasonality theorized to be driven by localized and large scale winds and currents, in combination with changes in the Atlantic Meridional Mode and ocean upwelling. These influxes seasonally affect coastal populations across the breadth of the Tropical Atlantic (from central America to West Africa), causing damage to: economies, marine-based and non-marine coastal livelihoods, social functioning, health, ecology, and the aesthetics of the local environment. We use the ongoing sargassum influx in West Africa as a case study of adaptation to an emergent (and compound) risk in progress that also contributes to the empirical gap in sargassum adaptation research in West Africa. The research, in four sites in the Western Region of Ghana employs data from 16 focus group discussions, six key informant interviews, and participant obser vation. We finds that due to a series of coincidences, participant communities perceive that sargassum influxes were seeded by and then annually driven by oil and gas exploration in Western Ghana. This is in contrast to scientific research that indicates that pelagic sargassum was initially seeded in the tropical Atlantic basin (from the Sargasso Sea) in 2010 following an anomalous weather event in winter 2009–2010. Following Rogers’ Protection Motivation Theory, we explore the sources of information and the processing of that information to understand the divergence between scientific and community perceptions of the physical drivers. We find that community perceptions of oil and gas company responsibility for causing the sargassum problem leads the communities to perceive that the oil and gas companies should be responsible for the clean-up activities. Communities are further constrained by a perceived lack of capacity to act. Solutions to address this adaptation impasse could involve the government working with communities and the oil and gas industry to clarify the actual drivers of sargassum. Such guidance may open opportunities for the government and industry to work with communities to address misperceptions of the scientific nature of the influxes. Collaborative approaches, while addressing extant tensions, may also change the narrative about the problem, support affected commu nities to engage with adaptive measures, including re-use opportunities, and enhance community capacity to act. As a present-day emergent risk, pelagic sargassum provides an unusual yet contemporary empirical study of real time adaptation and the central role of perceptions in shaping proactive adaptation and seeking exploitable opportunities from new environmental risks.

Source: UG
Misperceptions, misinformation and myths about modern contraceptive use in Ghana

Objective: Ghana, like the rest of West Africa, has very low contraceptive prevalence and is one of a few nations that reports declines in contraceptive use over time based on two of the most recent national surveys. Fear of side effects is a leading cause of non-use of contraception, based on national surveys. The objective of this study was to gain a more holistic understanding of why Ghanaian women are not using contraception. Methods: We used focus groups with vignettes to elicit normative beliefs about contraception. We recruited 91 women from three different clinics within Legon Hospital in Accra, Ghana: the antenatal clinic, the student clinic and the child welfare clinic. Focus groups were homogeneous with regard to age group and union status. Results: We found that women were most concerned with the menstrual irregularities caused by hormonal methods. In addition, women believed strongly that the hospital was the best place to get contraception as blood tests were needed to match women with the appropriate method. Knowledge of how methods worked and of basic reproductive biology was low. Conclusions: Poor knowledge of how to use modern methods combined with myths and misinformation should be the targets of programmes to increase modern contraceptive prevalence in Ghana.

Source: UG
“Missing Link between Quality of Work Life and Productivity of Loan Disbursement: The Ghanaian Perspective”

The study examines the impact of credit officers’ Quality of Work Life (QWL) on productivity of loan disbursement in 10 selected Savings and Loans Companies in the Accra, Ghana. The study was quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical. Out of 1602 employees, 310 employees were sampled. Simple random sampling technique was used to select both companies and respondents. 92% of questionnaires were self-administered and 8% were e-mailed. The finding indicated a significant positive impact of credit officers’ QWL on productivity of loan disbursement (β= .274, p<.001). It was suggested that it will be profitable to and prudent on the part of managers not to play with the QWL of credit officers if they really want to experience an increase in loan disbursement. Also, managers’ comprehensive focus on the general happiness of credit officers by ensuring employees’ holistic well-being in the organisation will lead to productivity of loan disbursement. The study becomes the first to research on both credit officers and productivity of loan disbursement in the financial sector of Ghana.

Source: UG
Missing links in solid waste management in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area in Ghana

In recent years, solid waste management (SWM) policies and programmes have received lots of attention in the menu of most political leaders in developing countries. However, these concerns often focus on the efficiency criterion. Even that, efficiency is only narrowed down to the removal of waste from residential areas without much concern for either its safe disposal or its impact on the environment in case of improper waste disposal. There is little attention on reducing waste flows (through reuse, recycling and composting), or exploiting its economic value. The results of such blatant omission include threats to public health, environmental deterioration and lack of attention to waste as a resource. This study examines the key barriers to effective SWM practices in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and attests to the marginalization of waste treatment and disposal practices. It recommends that these missing links must be addressed through network service arrangements to ensure sustainable urban environment management. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Source: UG
Missing Links in Solid Waste Management Practices in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA)

In recent years, solid waste management (SWM) policies and programmes have received lots of attention in the menu of most political leaders in developing countries. However, these concerns often focus on the efficiency criterion. Even that, efficiency is only narrowed down to the removal of waste from residential areas without much concern for either its safe disposal or its impact on the environment in case of improper waste disposal. There is little attention on reducing waste flows (through reuse, recycling and composting), or exploiting its economic value. The results of such blatant omission include threats to public health, environmental deterioration and lack of attention to waste as a resource. This study examines the key barriers to effective SWM practices in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and attests to the marginalization of waste treatment and disposal practices. It recommends that these missing links must be addressed through network service arrangements to ensure sustainable urban environment management.

Source: UG
Missing Links: African Media Studies and Feminist Concerns

Political and economic developments in many African countries in the last two decades have led to significant transformations in the media and enhanced academic scholarship in the field. Despite the tremendous growth and the changes in media and communication systems, there is a dearth of feminist media scholarship in Africa that needs to be addressed. This article provides a feminist reappraisal of African media in the context of democratic and economic change and proposes a tall research agenda for Africanist feminists aimed at filling the gaps in media and gender scholarship. The author argues that research should interrogate afresh old concerns as well as new opportunities and challenges brought about by redemocratization, an expanded public sphere of civil society activism, rapid technological developments and legal and policy reforms of the media.

Source: UG