ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A web-based management and tracking system for university accreditation processes

This paper focuses on the design and implementation of a web-based accreditation management system to assist in managing Ashesi University's accreditation processes. It seeks to provide a detailed outline of the processes, decisions and outcomes involved in this project, as well as the motivation behind everything. Accreditation is a review process meant to evaluate educational programs to see if they fulfill certain quality standards. In Ghana, this review process is monitored and coordinated by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, GTEC. This process is required of every degree-awarding tertiary institution for the institution to remain in good educational standing. Accreditation in Ghana is usually carried out every 3 to 5 years.

Source: Ashesi
A web-based remote medical assistant for the mobility impaired and aged in Accra - Rhema Rapha Medical Center

This 'MediCare' project is centered on discovering telemedicine devices in Ghana and their implementation and use within the Ghanaian setting. The user needs assessment conducted at the beginning of this project was used to uncover system functional and non-functional requirements and benchmark the implementation of a system that contributes to the fulfillment of SDG 3; good health and well-being by promoting remote medical care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic placed a strict restriction on movement to and from medical facilities, the implementation of MediCare sought to offer patients, precisely the mobility impaired and aged who are most vulnerable in society, a way to receive medical care from the comfort of their homes. This system was designed for Rhema Rapha Medical Center located in the Tse Addo community of Accra due to their desire for a telemedicine devise that facilitates health consultation virtually and their patient demographic ranging from the middle to upper-class population of Ghana. This patient demographic is likely to have a more significant percentage consisting of the aged and mobility impaired. The results of this indicate a 100% desire for the deployment of this system for Rhema Rapha Medical Center and 88.2% achievement of functional requirements identified at the beginning of the user needs assessment

Source: Ashesi
ACAPELA: Audio composition and production e-learning app

Technical ear training is a process of learning how to apply and identify different audio effects in order to change the qualities of a sound. It is a key skill for music producers and audio professionals.. Despite its importance, there is a lack of easily accessible and beginner friendly tools available to support individuals in this process. This paper presents a system aimed at filling this gap, the Audio Composition and Production E-Learning App (ACAPELA). ACAPELA helps users learn six audio processing effects: reverb, delay, compression, equalization, distortion and panning. The system also incorporates dynamic difficulty adjustment and machine-generated music to remain engaging for users of different experience levels.

Source: Ashesi
aceSense Breathalyzer - Breath analyzer system for diabetes monitoring and management

Currently, over 24 million adults in Africa live with diabetes, and this number is projected to increase by 129% by 2045. A common source of frustration for diabetic people is the need to prick their hands several times a day to monitor their blood sugar levels. AceSensose Breathalyzer is a device that solves this problem by providing a non-invasive monitoring tool via breath analysis so that diabetic individuals can have a good estimate of their blood sugar level at any time, thus promoting self-management of diabetes in Africa. The project is implemented as a portable, self-powered, and hand-held device that has a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) electrochemical sensor in a gas chamber, which is able to detect and measure acetone levels. It also has a removable mouthpiece, an alert system composed of an active buzzer and an RGB LED, an OLED display that allows users to view their results in real time and is IoT enabled. This allows patients to log their measured blood sugar level to the cloud and view it on a mobile app, where they can view their real time measurements and history. Here, they can also share with their blood glucose information with their doctors.

Source: Ashesi
Active cancellation of noise in acoustic signals

In the acoustic domain, sources of noise can be derived from music, vibration from an engine or a person shouting. There has been a rise in different technologies to combat the problem of noise. Passive techniques such as using soundproof materials have been developed, however they pose the challenge of weight from the bulky materials used. Active noise cancellation techniques although requiring complex computation, can cancel noise up to 50 decibels (dB), depending on the efficiency of the technology or algorithm used. In this project, an active noise cancellation device which has the capability of cancelling surrounding sound has been built using the filtered NLMS algorithm in a digital signal processor to create a region of silence. It is based on the principle of Destructive Interference. It is a more affordable rendition of existing products on the market which incorporate these same principles.

Source: Ashesi
Adapting Prusa 3D Printer for alginate hydrogel printing

Note: No formal abstract is available. The following is extracted from the objectives of the project. This project aims to modify the mechanical and structural aspects of an original Prusa 3D printer to accommodate the printing of alginate hydrogels. The objectives of the project are: 1. Re-designing the extrusion system, print bed, delivery system, and storage of the print material, ensuring appropriate components are compact. These sub-systems need to be redesigned to accommodate the difference in characteristics such as viscosity, melting point, and specific heat capacity. These structural adjustments are pertinent in creating a conducive environment for proteins and other biological components that can be inserted into the alginate hydrogel. 2. Printing high-quality samples, using alginate hydrogel, that have good precision, mechanical strength, printed layer adhesion, biological functionality, porosity, and structural integrity. Considering the intended bioengineering application, the printing process must result in a sample that has the appropriate desirable mechanical, chemical, and biological characteristics. 3. Implementing a user-friendly interface that generates customizable G-code for common bioprinting models based on dimension inputs from the user. 1.4 Scope of Project The integration of a cost-effective 3D printer tailored to bioengineering applications can advance the growth in medical treatments as it fosters more research, aligning with SDGs 3,4 and 9.

Source: Ashesi
Adaptive credit card fraud prediction using Artificial Neural Network

Currently, there is a growth in online transactions which has led to the immerse growth of the number of credit card fraud. A lot more people are opting to shop online due to convenience and therefore they make online payments to make a purchase that would be delivered to them and in some cases, they make payments online for a service rendered to them. With such an opportunity, fraudsters are also increasing their fraud activities online. Therefore, this study seeks to detect credit card fraud using an adaptive tool and also attempts to reduce the number of wrongly predicted valid transactions made by the model. Researchers have used tools such as K-nearest neighbour, logistic regression, random forest, decision trees and others however, this study uses an autoencoder neural network to detect credit card fraud. The study then evaluates the model using an appropriate evaluation metric. Keywords: Fraud detection, adaptable, autoencoder neural network, credit card, online transactions

Source: Ashesi
Addressing Credential Verification In Ghanaian SMEs With Blockchain: A Kedebah ERP Study

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana increasingly rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to streamline HR processes, but traditional modules remain vulnerable to Curriculum Vitae (CV) fraud, manual delays, and data-integrity failures. This study investigates the integration of a blockchain-based credential-verification layer into the Kedebah ERP HR module to deliver real-time, tamper-proof candidate authentication. We developed a minimally viable prototype that simulates smart-contract workflows for credential issuance, hashing, verification, and revocation, all surfaced through familiar ERP forms and dashboards. Through a mixed-method evaluation, comprising functional test suites, System Usability Scale (SUS) assessments, and user-trust interviews with HR professionals, we demonstrate that the blockchain-enhanced prototype achieves near-instant verification, robust auditability, and high user acceptance. Participants reported increased confidence in data integrity and appreciated the seamless embedding of blockchain checks into their existing ERP workflows. Our findings confirm that lightweight, blockchain-based extensions can enhance HR recruitment integrity without imposing steep learning curves or prohibitive costs such as payment for third-party checkers and time. We conclude with a roadmap for production deployment by covering live network configuration, issuer-API integration, and regulatory compliance and outline future research to extend blockchain automation across additional HR functions.

Source: Ashesi
Advanced automated security system for high-value assets

This report addresses the issue of solar backup battery theft, a significant challenge for many telecommunication companies by proposing an advanced automated security system as a solution to this problem. The paper outlines the scope of this solution reviews relevant literature, and details the methodology for designing the system parameters and requirements. The system parameters are then simulated and analyzed to verify their effectiveness before final implementation. Results indicate that the proposed solution significantly enhances security, making it more difficult for thieves to access the batteries. This system not only benefits telecommunication companies by protecting their high-value assets but can also be adapted for other applications requiring maximum security for valuable assets.

Source: Ashesi
Advanced Carbon Fibre Composite Optimization For Formula 1 Car Components Using Locally Available Bamboo Fibres

This project developed a hybrid composite material combining bamboo fibers and chopped carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix, with the goal of creating a material suitable for Formula 1 car components. The composite leverages bamboo's strengthening properties and carbon fiber's stiffening characteristics to achieve unique material properties. Being lightweight, high-strength, environmentally friendly, and low-cost makes this composite attractive for various applications. The material achieved impressive mechanical properties: compressive strength up to 220 MPa, tensile strength up to 300 MPa, and density between 1.77 and 1.80 g/cmhould focus on additional mechanical testing, improving fiber-resin bonding, and exploring advanced manufacturing techniques to enhance quality and commercial viability.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable desktop computing using low end hardware like Raspberry Pi and Cubiebaord NII LOUS NELSON

The field of computer science over the past two decades has witnessed a huge leap in the areas of improved systems design, hardware processing power and the development of software that maximizes these advances in systems. This leap can attributed to continuous innovation that drives the field to new heights at an ever speedy pace. The pace at which the field is growing requires educators to be abreast with new and changing technology. It is the desire of educators to have access to physical laboratories and computing centers in which they can physically train students. The challenge faced by educators in executing this task is the high expense that comes with the construction of physical laboratories. This write up stems from a project that aims to tackle this challenge by providing low powered, low cost, portable computing systems for students, laboratories and computing centers using devices such as the Raspberry pi and Cubieboard. Although not a perfect system, it promises to be a desirable solution that can be adopted across a wide range of institutions.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable digital guitar effects pedal for local guitarists.

Music has been a mode of communication and a source of identity for many cultures, especially in Africa. The sound from the guitar is one of the many components that make up music, The electric guitar is a musical instrument, usually made up of six strings which is connected to amplifiers to produce sound. Technological advancement has led to the creation of Guitar effects pedals. However, manufacturers keep making new models of guitar effects pedals with a continuous increasse in cost. It is therefore difficult for low-income young guitarists to have access to guitar effects pedals. This project seeks to use a general purpose microcontroller to create a very affordable guitar effects pedal.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable digitisation of analog marine systems for bilharzia control

The Internet remains the world's largest source of information today. It has been through stages of reforms to enhance usability and connected functions. IoT according to Kumar and Rahim is a system of related sensors, computing and digital devices spread across the globe over the internet which can communicate amongst them to share and transfer information using a unique id which is assigned to each and every device. The paper describes the design and development of an IoT based water quality and salinity level monitoring instrument and its integration to a Bilharzia control system comprising of abandoned boats which have gone through refurbishment. The research work implements a unique approach by recycling prototypes of abandoned boats to be used as Anti-Bilharzia active chemical dispersers. This system can be adopted by agencies trying to fight water borne diseases.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable exoskeleton brace for people with lower limb mobility

This report determines the feasibility of designing an affordable Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis or Exoskeleton Brace that can provide support to a user with lower limb mobility. This report reviews existing designs of braces and scrutinizes that which makes them expensive but efficient. It looks into alternatives for materials, locations of supports and sizing of the parts of the braces. The report also includes an analysis of the forces at play in the supporting frame of the exoskeleton brace. The report details a meticulous selection process for the subsystems that make an exoskeleton brace work.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable Housing: Developing and End-To-End System for The Administration of an Alternative Home Ownership Pathway

Homeownership has been turned into an unattainable goal for most Ghanaians due to the high cost of living and low salary compensation. GCB Capital Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), the client for this project, has recognized this issue and has proposed a Rent-to-Own scheme to make homeownership more affordable for the average Ghanaian. Rent-to-Own schemes are a new introduction to the Ghanaian market and as such, there is a distinct lack of software capable of facilitating the administrative and client-side activities of such a scheme. This project focused on developing a comprehensive end-to-end web application for GCB REIT to effectively execute their Rent-to-Own scheme. The team designed and implemented aservice-oriented web application that allows GCB REIT to efficiently collect data from clients and real estate developers, manage properties, monitor payments made by tenants and generate statistics that will aid with in the production of their yearly financial reports.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable smart refrigeration for professionals

Internet of Things is a growing industry all around the world, in which numerous applications and innovations are being made, smart home automation being one of them. In Ghana, the traction or adoption of these technologies is low, because of the cost and ineffectiveness associated with appliances such as a smart refrigerator. The aim of this project is to design a system that accounts for the ineffectiveness of current smart models, and economizes on the cost of creating such a system. Various parts of such a system were individually simulated and tested, using sensors, NodeMCU, a Raspberry Pi, and a Raspberry Pi camera. Web and mobile applications were built to interact with the user. Each system part was successfully simulated; however, the system could not be tested as a whole, due to modifications that had to be made while simulating. It was realized that with the implementation done the objectives of the project would be achieved if properly deployed. The impact of the work done would increase traction and adoption of smart refrigeration in Ghana as it would be more affordable and more relevant to the Ghanaian context.

Source: Ashesi
Affordable solutions for computers in schools: Operating system and tools on a USB flash drive

Over the past few years, there have been numerous developments of more efficient and portable ways of using computers. Hardware and storage have been designed to provide progressively smaller systems for computing while speed and data performance has greatly increased. The purpose of this project is to provide a complete Operating System and tools on a USB flash drive. This is done with the aim of providing users with a much more portable, durable and affordable outlook to computing. Users can also share or reuse the same hardware while keeping their operating systems and data separate. This project is necessary as other options require people to have and carry their own hardware, or rely strictly on the operating systems preinstalled on existing machines. Customers have preference for portable and cost-effective devices, while administrators want to simplify asset management. Overall, this project offers a new outlook on using IT hardware while bringing choice and convenience to end users.

Source: Ashesi
African video movies and global desires: A Ghanaian history by Carmela Garritano (review)

One of the key defining features of most Ghanaian video movies is that they are embedded—either explicitly or implicitly—in Pentecostal Christian aesthetics. Fittingly, a major research perspective, situated at the juncture of religion and film (and pioneered by Birgit Meyer), elucidates how the movies draw on shared Pentecostal beliefs and practices to mediate themes on occult practices. In African Video Movies and Global Desires: A Ghanaian History, Garritano, motivated by her apt identification of the video movies’ “unrestrained and unruly heterogeneity” and their concomitant multiple narrative forms, examines a subject with which scholars have so far not explicitly engaged.2 This characteristic of the video movies as a “shifting and historically contingent discursive field marked by myriad ideologies, anxieties, discourses, and desires” enables the author to explore a historical narration of the Ghanaian movie industry through analyses of selected video movies.3 This [End Page 151] approach allows the author to show the connection between the economic circumstances that gave rise to the industry and the manifestation of these same conditions within the movies’ themes—centered on poverty, work, and gender—that the first generation of producers explored. Here, the author teases out the ways in which the movies normalize and refashion “dominant discourses of globalization, gender and sexuality, neoliberalism, and consumerism.”4 In the same breath, she also emphasizes the manner in which the innumerable number of movies made since the inception of the industry in the 1980s generates a certain ambivalence toward these same themes. The approach also enables the author to explore and elaborate on multiple visual texts and their “variations in aesthetics, narrative form, modes of spectator engagement [as well as] [their] anxieties, desires, subjectivities, and styles.”5 This discussion is in the introduction to the book. In this same section, Garritano presents the book’s thematic focus, offers a short historical overview of the initial negative critiques of video movies by African film and literature scholars, and addresses the global aspirations of the industry’s players when she adopts the term Ghallywood. Additionally, the introduction includes a succinct summary of the five chapters that make up the book. The introduction together with the conclusion provide the theoretical lens of contextual criticism that underpins this work and the historical approach that the author adopts to investigate the huge changes that have occurred in the Ghanaian video-movie industry.

Source: Ashesi
AfricCase: An Intelligent Platform for Promoting Creative Works in Africa

Africcase: An intelligent platform for promoting creative works in Africa addresses the challenges faced by young artists in gaining visibility, collaboration opportunities, and monetization avenues for their creative works. Traditional social media platforms often fail to cater to the unique needs of artists, leading to fragmented online presences and limited engagement. This capstone project, developed by Nicholas Tafadzwa Mutsaka and Tinotenda Chagaka at Ashesi University, proposes a dedicated web-based platform tailored for young artists to showcase, collaborate on, and sell their artworks across diverse media types, including visual arts, music, writing, and film. The platform integrates advanced features such as AI-driven content recommendations, gamification elements (badges, leaderboards, and challenges), and file-hashing technology for art authenticity and PayStack for secure transactions. A microservices architecture ensures scalability, flexibility, and resilience, while third-party integrations (e.g., Paystack for payments and Twilio for notifications) enhance functionality. Key modules include portfolio management, a marketplace, real-time messaging, and analytics tools to track engagement. Through iterative development and testing, the project demonstrates how tailored digital solutions can empower young artists by fostering community, improving discoverability, and competitor analysis, and literature on gamification, collaborative systems, and digital creativity. Future work includes expanding AI capabilities, refining monetization strategies, and scaling the platform for broader adoption.

Source: Ashesi
Age estimation using biometric features among the black race

The estimation of a person’s age based on their face is usually done effortlessly by humans based on their intuition. However, age estimation from facial images has become one of the biggest challenges in the area of face recognition. This challenge is mainly due to the unavailability, underrepresentation and different forms of data that are used in training age estimation models. Data as a relevant component of artificial intelligence is key to the efficiency of age estimation models as well. An underrepresentation of face images belonging to people of the black race has raised concerns on algorithm biasedness and inaccuracies. With the motivation to rule out this biasedness, this study undergoes a data collection of face images of the black race, creating training and testing datasets for the proposed model. A hybrid KNN Classifier and Support Vector Regression (SVR) model approach is presented for age estimation using face images of the black race. The results of another hybrid model is compared to the KNN-SVR model on three datasets. It is concluded that the KNN-SVR fusion produces a highest accuracy on the newly created dataset.

Source: Ashesi