ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Discharge planning from emergency department to home; professionals and informal caregivers perspective.

Discharge planning is a series of activities employed to aid in smooth transition of patients from hospital. It includes assessment, education of patients and relatives, and informal caregivers’ involvement. Emergency department discharge planning promotes patient and family satisfaction and reduces the rate at which patient are readmitted. The study aimed at exploring discharge planning from the perspectives of professionals and informal caregivers. The study used qualitative method approach with convenience sampling method to select 10 healthcare professionals and 12 informal caregivers to participate in the research. A semi structured interview guide was used to acquire the right responses from the participants. The results from the study proved that health care professionals have some knowledge on discharge planning but did not practice it. There was also absence of protocols and guidelines to guide discharge planning at the emergency department. The professionals educated only patients with diabetes and hypertensive cases. Interaction and communication flow between healthcare professionals and informal caregiver did not seem to be adequate. Informal caregivers therefore felt left out of discharge planning. Inadequate number of staff and limited facility with their attendant overcrowding and heavy workloads served as barriers to effective discharge planning at the department. The consensus between the professionals and informal caregivers on the presence of patient related, staff related and hospital related barriers to discharge planning is a worrying situation. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency if stakeholders wish to have effective healthcare delivery at the emergency department. It is therefore imperative for discharge planning to be regarded as a daily activity at the ward. Protocols and guidelines on discharge planning also need to be designed and made available to staff to enhance effective health care delivery at the department. In designing discharge planning, professionals need to regard informal caregivers’ involvement as relevant.

Source: KNUST
Discourse strategies in advertising language: A case of selected radio and newspaper advertisements in Ghana

Newspaper and Radio advertisements still provide an impressive return on investment for businesses. Aware of this, advertisers use language, actions and strategies to create a common ground with their audience. This study examines how advertisers, relying on cultural ideologies, use several discourse strategies of language to persuade their target audience. Classical Conditioning theory, the study primarily discusses how advertisers use both linguistic strategies and elements in the target culture to persuade their audience, with the view to unravelling how meaning is embedded in the advertising texts. Data is collected through general observation of how buyers are influenced by strategies such as persuasions, implicature, honorifics, conversational tone and verbal descriptions (rather than numerical measure/hard data), in advertisements on radio stations including Peace FM, Joy FM, Adom FM, Citi FM and Star FM, and advertisements in newspaper outlets including Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times. This study reveals among other things that:  Advertisers tend to employ endearment forms and familiar expressions to influence the buying behaviour of their audience.  Linguistic devices such as repetition, apposition, implicature, hedges, honorifics, and conversational tone normally characterize spoken and written advertisements.  Advertisers adapt linguistic features of communication to dominant ideologies in the indigenous culture so as to persuade the target audience.  Many advertising authorities have come to believe that advertising works best when it most closely approximates a dialogue between two human beings.

Source: KNUST
A discourse on cultural elements in “Akan” films

Filmic representations of indigenous people and their knowledge is a starting point to free cultural meanings that objectify the indigenous people as commodities of a global culture. Nevertheless, African films remain “foreigners in their own countries” where the makers of these popular movies have never been principally concerned with authenticity, cultural revival, and or the preservation of their culture. These phenomena have been accused of lowering the image of Africa and the Africans in general through their low quality productions. Thus, based on qualitative research approach, six Akan films, three of which were selected from the 2012/2013 Kumawood Akobeng Awards, and three others sampled from the wider patronage and popular Akan movies to undertake an analysis of cultural elements in Akan films in Ghana. The study sought to ascertain how the Akan films incorporated Akan proverbs; Ghanaian culture and moral conducts; foreign cultural elements and whether Akan films present distortions on Akan culture or not. The selected video films were watched twice by study panel that were knowledgeable in filmmaking and the Akan culture in accordance with a designed film observation guide, which were then transcribed. The results obtained after the content analysis of the data indicated that, Akan films are enriched in diverse Akan proverbs used for ensuring the inculcation of moral conducts, welfare, and acquisition of wisdom; manifestations of the rich traditional Akan kings dress code and adornments; showcasing of Akan traditional festivals, folksongs, drumming and dancing, games; as well as sense of communal welfare, hospitality and traditional courtesies. Nevertheless, witchcraft and fetishism were overused to subjugate enemies. Moreover, there were the inclusion of Western cultural elements regarding banquet-like hall decorations and Hip pop and Nigerian Music, men in ear rings; women in mini-skirts and anklets. Additionally, the Akan films according to the study obviously depicted distortions of traditional chieftaincy and political customs, hospitality ethics and the use of proverbs. The use of witchcraft and fetishism misinform foreign audience about the true identity and rich culture of Akans, and Africans in general. The results have implications on the “Akan” films in its attempts to present cultural meanings in Ghanaian films. As such, “Akan” films will have to sufficiently capture the national values of respect for humanity, justice and reduce the reoccurrences of witchcraft and occultism; vulgar words, insults, profanity and the like; and should be able to domesticate the love and romance components to suit the Akan socio-cultural context to achieve high artistic standards.

Source: KNUST
Discourse with Foase traditional wood carvers: implications for art education

This thesis discusses the operations of Foase traditional wood carvers and its implication to Art Education in Ghanaian schools and colleges and on the broader spectrum, national development. Education, which is the medium through which culture is passed on from one generation to another needs to be clearly planned in our today’s Ghana where Western concepts have tremendously influenced all walks of life of students and the young in general, resulting in production of social misfits. They may be called social misfits because they are not in touch with the traditions of their motherland. In this vein, it is in the right direction to incorporate traditions, values and concepts in the school curriculum. The incorporation of traditional art in our school art curriculum will ensure the continuity of the Ghanaian concepts and identity found in the arts. Carvings produced by Foase traditional wood carvers are no exception when talking of the most vibrant and culturally loaded arts. They carry philosophical values in the form of proverbs, stories, historical records and other aesthetic values projected from cultural contexts. This research aims at discussing, analyzing and documenting priceless information gathered from the carvers of the locality, as they touch on their working practices, the philosophies that have become the bedrock of their work, their market segment, innovations and their future forecasts, to mention but a few. The qualitative method of research was employed. The researcher however dwelt on the critical discourse methodology. The researcher employed interview and observation as the tools of research. Data were also collected from available relevant or related literature based on the topic, in the form of text books, journals, magazines, the internet and other related sources. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample carvers of all ranks. They were twelve in number. The researcher engaged all groups in an interesting and facts driven discourse. The researcher in his effort therefore arrived at some major findings based on objectives and other vital information, yielding new knowledge. These major findings include the fact that the study of Foase wood carving will promote and enhance the teaching of carving related to Ghanaian culture in our schools and colleges, and that the art is a great asset to the export and tourism pillars of the Ghanaian economy. The researcher has also provided useful recommendations in the text after a careful study of the short comings with operations at Foase traditional carving sheds and in schools and colleges.

Source: KNUST
Discourse strategies in advertising language: a case of selected radio and newspaper advertisements in Ghana

ABSTRACT Newspaper and Radio advertisements still provide an impressive return on investment for businesses. Aware of this, advertisers use language, actions and strategies to create a common ground with their audience. This study examines how advertisers, relying on cultural ideologies, use several discourse strategies of language to persuade their target audience. Classical Conditioning theory, the study primarily discusses how advertisers use both linguistic strategies and elements in the target culture to persuade their audience, with the view to unravelling how meaning is embedded in the advertising texts. Data is collected through general observation of how buyers are influenced by strategies such as persuasions, implicature, honorifics, conversational tone and verbal descriptions (rather than numerical measure/hard data), in advertisements on radio stations including Peace FM, Joy FM, Adom FM, Citi FM and Star FM, and advertisements in newspaper outlets including Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times. This study reveals among other things that:  Advertisers tend to employ endearment forms and familiar expressions to influence the buying behaviour of their audience.  Linguistic devices such as repetition, apposition, implicature, hedges, honorifics, and conversational tone normally characterize spoken and written advertisements.  Advertisers adapt linguistic features of communication to dominant ideologies in the indigenous culture so as to persuade the target audience.  Many advertising authorities have come to believe that advertising works best when it most closely approximates a dialogue between two human beings.

Source: KNUST
Discrimination against the women in top management positions: a case study of selected Universities and Polytechnics

The study describes, examines and analyses how women occupying top positions are being discriminated against in their bid to climb higher the administrative ladder. The study which was conducted in some selected tertiary institutions had the following objectives: To identify and examine the reasons why there are only a few number of women at the top administrative hierarchy in the tertiary educational level especially universities and polytechnics. To find out what problems confront women in their professional advancements and how women managers relate to their male and female counterparts at the workplace. The methodology used involved a survey and desk study. A set of questionnaire was administered to women in top management positions who formed the sample population. An interview was also conducted on the sample population to find out some of the obstacles women in management positions face and how they see the gender imbalance. Among other things the study showed that, women after passing through the various stages in education to obtain the right qualifications and employment, at the workplace most of them are not given the chance by their male counterparts because of tradition and discrimination to train and upgrade and develop their skills for the next higher position. The study also revealed that over 87% of the male colleagues work to sabotage and suppress the efforts of leading women to get them out and relegate them to the background. However, 23% of the women indicated that they have not experienced any hostilities from their male counterparts. It was observed that 64% of the respondents indicated that, the solidarity of women at the office was very weak and as such the males have capitalized on it to ‘rule’ the women. Governments have relaxed in the implementation and enforcement of affirmative action arrived at conferences. Based on the empirical findings the recommendations made among others are, female education should be continued at the workplace. Government, NGOs and Women agencies should assist women to take up the challenges that face them at the managerial positions. Women must be supportive of each other in their endeavours to reach the top positions. The males, who take interest in harassing and discriminating against women at the workplace, should be sanctioned.

Source: KNUST
Disc attrition mill (corn mill) as a medium for aflatoxin contamination in milled maize

Two (2) disc attrition mill popularly known in Ghana as “nika nika” were selected from two sub metros of different socioeconomic status (Low income earners and High income earners) in Kumasi. They were audited against good manufacturing practices (GMP) checklist. Maize samples were purchased from the market at each sample point. They were filled into low density polyethylene (LDPE) zip lock bags and wrapped in aluminum foil. They were distributed to the four corn mill facilities in an ice chest filled with ice in the morning and peak period of the day of maximum and minimum sale at each sampling point. The samples and the controls were analyzed for aflatoxin. The four disc attrition mills scored below 25 % after the GMP audit. This was an indication of poor hygienic conditions that existed. The data obtained from the laboratory was analyzed. The aflatoxin levels of the maize sold in the market significantly exceeded the maximum acceptable level in Ghana with a p < 0.05. Samples milled in the morning and the peak of the day of maximum sale showed significant increase in the level of aflatoxin with p < 0.05. This increment may be attributed to the fact that, the test samples had contact with previously milled products that were contaminated with aflatoxin as well as remnants that got stuck in the grinding discs. A p > 0.05 showed that there was no significant increase in the level of aflatoxin in the test samples milled in the morning and peak period of the day of minimum sale. The test samples that were milled by disc attrition mills located in the low income earners communities were significantly higher than those in high income earners (p < 0.05). This implied that, clients who patronize disc attrition mills at the low income communities were at higher risk of aflatoxin contamination of their samples than those in the high income earners communities.

Source: KNUST
Disinfection of water using chlorine generated on-site by the electrolysis of sodium chloride (common salt)

This report covers a 3-month study into the USC of sodium chloride (common salt) for on-site generation of sodium hypochlorite for disinfection of potable water in comparison with Chlorine gas. Sodium chloride samples obtained from three sources in Southern Ghana were analyzed and thereafter used to generate chlorine in the form of sodium hypochlorite by electrolysis. The chlorine so generated was used to perform disinfection trials at the Weija Water Treatment Works. Simultaneously, chlorine solution prepared from chlorine gas was used for similar disinfection trials. The study revealed some differences among the salt samples in some parameters such as sodium chloride and moisture content; however, the differences did not affect the strength of sodium hypochlorite generated for all three samples. The study also revealed that, using sodium hypochlorite generated on-site at the same dose as chlorine gas, chlorine gas performed relatively better than sodium hypochlorite in coliform removal for contact times of 10 minutes and 20 minutes. However, at a contact time of 30 minutes, sodium hypochlorite was as effective as chlorine gas in coliform removal in post filtration disinfection. Based on 1999 prices of chlorine gas (imported) and common salt and electricity cost (both locally available), the study revealed that annual cost savings of about 0126 million ($51,782 as at April, 1999) could be realized if On-site Sodium Hypochlorite Generation were employed in place of Gas Chlorination. However further economic analysis involving other factors such as capital cost and design life of equipment would be required to establish the overall cost effectiveness of either chlorinating method. On the whole, the study revealed that On-site Sodium Hypochlorite Generation was technically feasible and could be a formidable alternative to Gas Chlorination.

Source: KNUST
Disseminating and Promoting Agriculture Information through Library and Information Services in Ghana

Farmers in Ghana are expected to be given relevant information they need for high quality and quantity of food, cash crops and animal production required to meet nutritional demands by the growing Ghanaian population. Librarians and information workers should participate actively in disseminating agricultural information to farmers in Ghana using audio-visual materials, Web 2.0 tools and Information Communication Technologies. This paper looks into the role of information in boosting food and cash crop production in Ghana. It highlights the problems associated with information dissemination to farmers in the country. Better agricultural practice and high associated yields can, however, be realized in the country through the provision of relevant agricultural information to farmers. Librarians and information workers in the country should make useful agricultural information available, and on time via researchers, agricultural extension officers or direct to farmers; using emerging technologies as a way of contributing to improve on the current food insecurity. Agricultural librarians, researchers and extension officers can get useful information from the Internet and various databases on agriculture and make same available to farmers in the manner and languages they can understand for use in ensuring faster agricultural development.

Source: KNUST
Dissertation on “organisation of marketing promotion in the wholesaling industry in Ghana”

The central focus of this Book is on the problems, failures, achievements and promotion of the Wholesaling Industry in Ghana, as they seek to develop effective marketing programs It was discerned from various sources of information like the “ministry of Trade”, that the Wholesaling Industry in Ghana is attributed with some problems and therefore its performance does not match with the expected. Therefore these major objectives were considered: 1.To investigate the problems associated with the promotion of goods in the wholesale industry. 2. To investigate strategies to promote goods in the wholesale industry 3. To investigate the different approaches of credit facilities in the wholesale industry; Among the problems, the chapter two of this book expatiates on the salient ones. Also through a combination of text and case material, readers are introduced to the substance and challenge of marketing Management concepts, theory and empirical data that relate to the accompanying cases. The history as well as the role of the Wholesaling Industry in Ghana has been emphasized in the chapter one of this study. Go far beside the Frank Al Company Limited considered as a basis of the case study, seven, well established Firms and fifty individuals were questioned for relevant data. However because of the need for anonymity in the presentation of Confidential Information, letters were used in representation. The marketing strategy is the pivotal virtue, perused for an analytical and recommendation purpose, with regards to the theme of this book, (Organisation of Marketing Promotion in the Wholesaling Industry) Although the problems, mentioned differ outwardly, Technically, they all emanate from the marketing Strategy which entails, the Market Target and the Market mix (Product, Price, Distribution, and Promotion). Therefore anything geared towards marketing promotion cannot be done without the elements of marketing strategy.

Source: KNUST
Dissolved nitrogen in drinking water resources of farming communities in Ghana

A water quality study was carried out on streams and boreholes which serve as drinking water sources in farming communities in the Brong Ahafo region of the Republic of Ghana. The objective of this research was to determine concentrations of different forms of nitrogen in drinking water samples. Water samples were collected from these sources every three months (from January – December 2005) and analyzed for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite using the Palintest Photometer Method. Results indicated the annual mean concentration of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia varied from 0.09 - 1.06 mg/l, 0.006 - 0.36 mg/l and 0.008 - 0.179 mg/l respectively. An important observation is that, in general, higher nitrate and nitrite concentrations were found during the rainy season compared to the dry season. Concentrations of these potentially toxic substances were below WHO acceptable limits for surface and groundwaters, indicating these water resources appear safe for drinking from a dissolved nitrogen perspective.

Source: KNUST