ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Acute phase responses vary between children of HBAS and HBAA genotypes during plasmodium falciparum infection

Purpose: Haemoglobin genotype S is known to offer protection against Plasmodium falciparum infections but the mechanism underlying this protection is not completely under-stood. Associated changes in acute phase proteins (APPs) during Plasmodium falciparum infections between Haemoglobin AA (HbAA) and Haemoglobin AS (HbAS) individuals also remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate changes in three APPs and full blood count (FBC) indices of HbAA and HbAS children during Plasmodium falciparum infection. Methods: Venous blood was collected from three hundred and twenty children (6 months to 15 years) in Begoro in Fanteakwa District of Ghana during a cross-sectional study. Full blood count (FBC) indices were measured and levels of previously investigated APPs in malaria patients; C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and transferrin measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. Results: Among the HbAA and HbAS children, levels of CRP and ferritin were higher in malaria positive children as compared to those who did not have malaria. The mean CRP levels were significantly higher among HbAA children (p=0.2e-08) as compared to the HbAS children (p=0.43). Levels of transferrin reduced in both HbAA and HbAS children with malaria, but the difference was only significant among HbAA children (p=0.0038), as compared to the HbAS children. No significant differences were observed in ferritin levels between HbAA and HbAS children in both malaria negative (p=0.76) and positive (p=0.26) children. Of the full blood count indices measured, red blood cell count (p=0.044) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels (p=0.017) differed between HbAA and HbAS in those without malaria, with higher RBC counts and lower Hb levels found in HbAS children. In contrast, during malaria, lymphocyte and platelet counts were elevated, whilst granulocytes and Mean Cell Haematocrit counts were reduced among children of the HbAS genotypes. Conclusion: Significant changes in APPs were found in HbAA children during malaria as compared to HbAS children, possibly due to differences in malaria-induced inflammation levels. This suggests that the HbAS genotype is associated with better control of P. falciparum infection-induced inflammatory response than HbAA genotype. � 2021 Tetteh et al.

Source: UEW
Adaptive cluster sampling for assessment of non timber forest products (NTFPs)

Various studies have been conducted on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) over the years. These studies have however, concentrated more on socio-economic issues of NTFPs than methods of inventory. Forest inventory methods developed for timber have been found to be inefficient for NTFPs because of the special characteristics of NTFPs. Efficient inventory methods are essential to provide quality information on the abundance and distribution of the species for sustainable management. This study contributes to methods of NTFP inventory by comparing the efficiency of systematic sampling method with adaptive cluster sampling method for inventorying 3 NTFP species in off- reserve areas of the Goaso forest district, Ghana. Calamus deeratus, raphia palms and bamboo were the 3 NTFP species selected through community and market survey and inventoried in the off-reserve areas of the Goaso forest district. Adaptive cluster sampling with a systematic base was designed to inventory the three species. The results showed that adaptive cluster sampling was about 8 times efficient than systematic sampling for all the 3 species inventoried. However, the density of the species was found to be low and this was attributed to habitat destruction. It was suggested that the methods be tried in a forest reserve where habitat destruction is minimum. � 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Source: UEW
Additional income and consumption expenditure at retirement in Ajumako � Enyan � Essiam District (AEED) in the Central Region of Ghana

Purpose: Pension income provides the main means for augmenting consumption expenditure and maintaining the welfare of households during retirement. Debate on the reduction in consumption expenditure upon retirement due to insufficient pension income is ongoing. This study seeks to investigate the impact of pensioners without additional income apart from SSNIT pension income on their consumption expenditure. Design/methodology/approach: This is a quantitative study. Primary data were used in this study. The population includes SSNIT pensioners who are household heads and aged between 56 and 64�years in Ajumako � Enyan � Essiam District (AEED) in the Central Region of Ghana. The study deployed simple random sampling to sample 164 respondents and estimated the consumption expenditure model using White�s heteroskedasticity-corrected standard errors of OLS. Findings: The findings show that pension income from SSNIT positively influences consumption expenditure on nondurable goods at retirement. The findings also show a drop in consumption expenditure at retirement by pensioners who do not earn additional income. Research limitations/implications: This calls for an increase in the SSNIT pension income paid to persons who are on retirement. Also, employees are encouraged to plan early, save enough resources and invest in their working life before they retire. Variables such as health status and rural/urban areas were not included in the study. Also, panel data would have been suitable for this kind of study, but due to the unavailability of data, cross-section data were used. These are the limitations of the study. Originality/value: This study investigated the impact of pensioners without additional income apart from SSNIT pension income on their consumption expenditure. The study also examined whether pensioners without additional sources of income apart from SSNIT pension income can sustain their consumption expenditure on nondurable goods at retirement. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2021-0616. � 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Source: UEW
Addressing HIV/AIDS education: A look at teacher preparedness in Ghana

Our research shows that social science university trained Ghanaian student/teachers do have the knowledge, confidence, and willingness to address HIV/AIDS issues in their teaching, yet they do not. The reason, we argue, is that teachers have little incentive to address contentious issues in the classroom. Questionnaires were administered to 382 University of Education, Winneba students, 61 of whom were just returning from year-long placements. We conclude with the argument that the rethinking of the current dominant approach to curriculum is necessary and that a curriculum that will better support teachers in addressing controversial issues such as HIV/AIDS in the classroom should be considered. Keywords: Teacher Preparation; HIV/AIDS Education; Addressing Social Issues; Critical Pedagogy

Source: UEW
Addressing illegal logging in Ghana: Do value, social identity, and corporate social responsibility theories matter?

Even though several researchers have advanced reasons underlying the prevalence of illegal logging in the tropics, the use of socialization, social identity and corporate social responsibility theories to explain this phenomenon is rare. This study examined whether value, social identity, and corporate social responsibility theories can be used to explain why illegal logging is prevalent in four forest communities in Ghana. Drawing on these theories, it was hypothesized that the chainsaw operators (CSO) are using their social responsibility activities and community solidarity to solicit support from the forest communities in which they operate. Using systematic and convenience sampling techniques, 95 households and 380 individuals were sampled, respectively, for the study. It is evident from the study that the strong attachment of the chainsaw operators to the communities in which they operate has enabled them to galvanize support from the communities and this support appears to have been strengthened by the perceived social, environmental, and economic benefits derived from the chainsaw operations. Among the corporate social responsibility factors, higher compensation rates paid to farmers for crops damage by CSO and the perception that chainsaw operations are more environmentally benign than those of large-scale timber harvesting firms appear to be the most significant factors influencing farmers' decision to support CSO. The paper concludes that the question of who should own trees on farmlands and what economic benefits should be accrued to farmers for keeping commercial trees on their farms needs rethinking. Strengthening the policy regime on compensation payments and strong adherence to timber harvesting rules could also help reduce the incidence of illegal logging, at least, at the community level.

Source: UEW
Adherence to integrated reporting framework and performance of listed manufacturing companies in Ghana

This study sought to investigate the degree of adherence to the integrated reporting framework and its effect on the performance of listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. The study employed the descriptive and causal research designs for the analysis after secondary data was drawn from the audited annual reports of ten (10) listed manufacturing companies observed from 2014 to 2020. The panel regression results were generated from the EViews version 12 software programme. The study employed content analysis of annual reports to identify the non-financial information disclosed. From the result, it was found that an integrated reporting framework has no significant influence on profitability. The result also revealed that sales growth, independent board of directors, assets quality, business sustainability, age general reporting guideline, governance index, audit firms, and liquidity statistically influence a firm’s profitability. Still, firm size does not significantly affect profitability. The study disclosed that the determinants of the integrated reporting framework included liquidity, firm age, sales growth, sustainability reporting, business sustainability, general reporting guideline and audit firm. It was further revealed that firm size, assets quality and independent board of directors are not determinants of IRF. Finally, the study finds that the size of the firm significantly influences financial performance. The study suggests that manufacturing companies should improve non-financial information, especially on strategies and resources allocation in their financial statements. It further recommended that to increase their profitability, it has to increase their liquid assets, sell more of their products or services (sale growth), adhere to the general reporting guidelines, engage on an independent board of directors, ensure assets quality and employ a governance index of improving performance.

Source: UEW
Adi (1975) anwonsjm nwoma “Mewc Bi Ka” mu mpjnsjmpjnsjmu

Nhwehwjmu yi yjj mpjnsjmpjnsjmu jwc Kwabena Adi (1975) anwonsjm nwoma “MEWC BI KA” mu hwjj kasasuo ahodoc, nsjmpc atitire ne anwonsjm ahodoc no nhyehyjej. Mede Hymes (1974) Kasapa Nnyinasoc (SPEAKING) Ticri ne Ferdinand de Saussure (1983) nhyehyjej (Structuralism) Ticri dii dwuma de hwjj dej enti a ctwerjfoc no de nsjmfua ahodoc bi ne kasasuo ahodoc binom dii dwuma. Afei, jnam sj nwoma a merepjnsjmpjnsjm mu yi yj dej adesuafoc a wcwc ntoasoc sukuu resua enti no, mefaaa nsrahwj, nkcmmctwetwee ne atwerj kwan so paww nnipa aduasa num a wcn mu aduonu yj mmarima a wcn mu mmienu yj Asante Twi akyerjkyerjfoc na wcn mu edumum yj mmaa ne wcn twetwee nkcmmc gyee wcn nso mmoa. Saa nsrahwj dwumadie yi kcc so jwc Nkonaman Senior High School, Bono mantam. Nhwehwjmu no mu no, jbjdaa adi maa mehunuu sj, anwonsjm no nyinaa nhyehyjej yj ntiantia.Yjhunuu sj nsjmpctitire bi te sj; “Onipa yj adej a, csj ayeyie”, “Nkwa sene biribiara”, “Obiara ho nnejma jnso no akwankc”, “Nipa wc baabi kc” ne dej jkeka ho. Saa ara nso na nhwehwjmu no mu mehunuu sj ctwerjfoc no de kasasuo ahodoc binom tete sj abjbuo, kasakoa, sj-nipa, abirabc, ntimu, nnyinahcma, ntotohosjm ne anihanehane dii dwuma. Cnwonfoc no de saa nnejma ahodoc yi nyinaa guu akwan mu wc merj a crenwono n’anwonsjm no sjnea jbjyj a jbjboa ama n’anwono no ada nimdej soronko binom adi na ama nsjm ahodoc binom nso ayera ananafoc. Afei, dwumadie yi bjboa adesuafoc, akyerjkyerjfoc ne wcn a wcwc pj pa sj daakye bi wcbjyj nhwehwjmu afa kasadwini ho ama wcanya nimdej mapa afiri dwumadie yi mu de aboa wcn ankasa dej.

Source: UEW
Adjective sequencing in Ga.

The use of multiple words to describe nouns is a common phenomenon in language and languages that have adjectives mostly employ this word class. Ga, a Kwa language of the Niger Congo branch, is no exception, whereas languages without adjectives may use other lexical categories like nouns and verbs which play the adjectival role. Ga has adjectives and employs them as attributives for nouns. The paper examines the syntactic rules governing the occurrence of several adjectives serving as attributes of a single head noun. In this paper the noun is considered the head of the Ga Nominal Phrase. The order of these adjectives has not received scholarly attention in Ga and this is to fill that gap in the literature. I argue that the order of adjectives is not haphazardly arranged but follows a laid down syntactic prescription. For instance, the data showed that Dimension adjectives normally occur in first position, whereas Colour adjectives occur further from the head noun. It was also revealed that in the ordering of adjectives in which value adjective is included, the Age adjective occurs in last position and Value adjective occurs first or last when included in the ordering of adjectives for a noun. Consequently, it is suggested that defying the arrangement in the ordering of the adjectives results in unacceptable forms. The adjectives are grouped according to semantic classes. Data are gathered from native speakers of Ga. The findings contribute to the existing literature on adjective sequencing in Ghanaian languages.

Source: UEW
Adjustment experiences of couples in living-apart-together marriage in the university of education, winneba

This study looked at the adjustment experiences of couples in living-apart-together marriages and came out with counselling or coping strategies for couples in LAT marriages. The study was guided by four research questions. The study was qualitative in nature adopting phenomenological case study design. Sixteen (16) married couples were sampled for the study. Of the 16 participants, five were males, and 11 were females. The sampling techniques used for the study were the purposive sampling and snowballing techniques. Data were gathered using interview guide and were analysed thematically. The outcome of the study were that couples in LAT marriages enjoy adequate time for career goals. Despite the merits of LAT marriages, it was also revealed among other things that couples in LAT marriages experience lack of companionship and intimacy, and there is a high incidence of infidelity among couples. Effective communications, forgiveness among others were the coping strategies couples in LAT marriages used. In order to harness the inherent potential and advantages and minimize the drawbacks of LAT relationships, it was recommended that couples must cultivate the habit of effective communication, maximizing the power of virtues such as love, forgiveness and trust and practice the value of acceptance of responsibility, use work and social activities as a distraction, apply the principles of cognitive restructuring.

Source: UEW
Administrative and management practices of headmasters on school performance A case study of selected senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis

The study was conducted to investigate headmasters’ administrative and management practices on school performance in selected public senior high schools in Kumasi metropolis. The objectives of the study were to determine how headmasters’ decision making practices affect school performance, establish how headmasters’ in-service training practices affect school performance, establish how headmasters’ effective communication practices affect school performance and to investigate how headmasters’ instructional supervision practices affect school performance. Descriptive survey design using the mixed method triangulation research approach was adopted for the study. The target population of the study was 1013. Purposive sampling technique was used to select five schools. Purposive sampling technique was also used to select all the five headmasters. The lottery type of the simple random sampling was used to select 56 teachers. Questionnaire and interview guide were used for the study. The pilot-test yielded Cronbach Alpha of 0.83. The quantitative data were analyzed using statistical methods including percentages and frequencies while the qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The study revealed that headmasters engaged in rational decision making to promote teachers’ performance. Also, headmasters provided teachers with experiences which enabled them to work together and grow professionally. Headmasters engaged in upward and downward communication with teachers to promote performance. Also, headmasters visited teachers in class to supervise their teaching. It is recommended that headmasters should strategically involve teachers in decision making since the study revealed that involving teachers in decision making promoted performance of the school.

Source: UEW
Administrative challenges confronting public basic school headteachers in the Bosomtwe district of the Ashanti Region

The purpose of this study was to investigate the administrative challenges facing public Basic school head teachers in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region. The objectives of the study were to find out administrative duties head teachers perform in basic schools, examine the administrative challenges head teachers face in managing basic schools and to determine measures that can be adopted to overcome the administrative challenges head teachers face in managing basic schools at Bosomtwe District. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study was head teachers. Simple random sampling was used to select 86 head teachers for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The reliability test yielded Cronbach Alpha of 0.81. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the result were presented using frequencies and percentages. The study found that head teachers ensured the implementation of curriculum, supervised instruction of teachers, and ensured adequacy of teaching and learning materials. One of the challenges head teachers faced was lack of cooperation from teachers. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Bosomtwe District Director of Education should liaise with the Ghana Education Service to provide adequate financial resources to head teachers to facilitate their administrative duties.

Source: UEW
Administrative challenges facing basic school heads in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipal Education Directorate

The purpose of this study was to find out the administrative challenges facing public Basic school head teachers in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipality. The design of the study was a descriptive survey design. Quantitative research approach was used for the study. The population for the study was made up of all basic school head teachers in the Atronie circuit of the Sunyani Municipality numbering 50 head teachers. Census sampling technique was used to select all the 50 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The data were analyzed using percentages and frequencies with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The study concluded that indiscipline and interpersonal conflict affected school administration. Moreover, teacher’s inability to perform tasks on time and teachers’ unauthorized absenteeism also affected school administration. Moreover, alcohol consumption and dictatorial tendencies on the part of teachers affected school administration. The challenges head teachers faced in students management were unsafe school environment, teachers’ unwillingness to help students’ supervision, lack of adequately qualified guidance and counseling personnel in the school, withdrawal of the cane as a tool to control indiscipline in the schools, negative attitude towards schooling and education in general, indiscipline truancy and poor attitude of learners affected school administration. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education through Ghana Education Service (GES) should offer continuous in- service training to the head teachers on pupil management to keep them up-to date with skills that will assist them to run their schools effectively.

Source: UEW
Administrative roles of school heads in promoting improved academic performance of students, a case study of Amenfiman Senior High School

This research was based on the fundamental reason that headmasters as leaders of second cycle schools play very influential roles that have both direct and indirect effect on academic performance. Literature review was carried out to explore the roles of school heads to help investigate how effective those roles are performed by headmasters and the challenges that confront them in executing those roles. The study area was Amenfiman Senior High School in the Wasa Amenfi East Municipality of the Western Region. Random sampling and purposive sampling were used in selecting the respondents. Four-Hundred and Nine (409) were sampled. The research employed both quantitative and qualitative method. Questionnaires and interview were used as data collection instruments. The research found that the head was effectively performing most of the administrative roles and was also guided by the vision and mission of the school. It was also revealed that the relationship between the headmaster and the wider community was not friendly and therefore did not make the school attract the support of the community members. The study found that there was lack of understanding and cooperation from the teachers, division among the teachers, recognition of those working hard, lack of support from community members and indiscipline were the challenges that impeded the effective performance of the head and as a result affected the academic performance of the students. It was therefore recommended among other things the school head must emphasize on the school mission and vision at all gatherings of stakeholders and also take a serious look at clinical supervision in the school.

Source: UEW