ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An assessment of the sustainability of EU micro- projects programme: a case study of Saboba/Chereponi District.

Sustainability as a development paradigm is pertinent in ensuring that community projects are well thought out, executed, monitored, managed and maintained for the benefits of the present and future generations. The study considered four main indicators such as the participation of community members in the project implementation process, resource management capacity and project management capacity of the beneficiary communities as well as the opportunities available for community members to seek accountability from implementing agencies to enhance or sustain the EU Micro-Projects Programme. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to select the units of data collection. Seven out of the twenty five communities that implemented the EU Micro-Projects in Saboba/Chereponi District were selected for this study. In all a total of 90 households were sampled from these communities and in addition to these households, institutions like the District Implementing Committee (DIC), the Community Implementing Committees (CICs) and the District Planning and Co-ordinating Unit (DPCU) were also interviewed. The project manual and reports of the programme provided a wealth of information for triangulation. The study revealed that from 2001 to 2007 the EU Micro-Projects Programme has made immense contributions to the provision of socio-economic infrastructure in Saboba/Chereponi District but the sustainability of these projects cannot be ensured. In terms of participation of community members, it was dominated by a few leaders in the communities, especially in project selection and identification. This dominance led to the selection of projects that were not priorities for community members. The resource management capacity of projects resources was weak especially at the community level and the project management capacities of the Micro- Projects were also weak. Though the project made provision for community members to participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the projects, these opportunities were not known to community members. Recommendations were made to ensure the sustenance of these projects by improving communication during project implementation, building the capacity of community structures to keep up to their task and taking the pain to sensitise community members to acknowledge their roles and the opportunities available to them. It is hoped that these recommendations will help to improve the sustainability of EU Micro- Projects Programme and also interest government, Micro-Projects Management Units and other donors who are interested in supporting rural communities.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the Variations of Ph and Concentrations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus along the Length of River Kokroko in Wenchi

The largest contribution of unnaturally high nutrients in water bodies is from erosion of soil carrying nitrogen and phosphorus from non-point sources such as fertilized fields, livestock operations, construction sites, pet waste. These nutrients are the main causes of eutrophication (excessive plant growth) in surface water bodies. Objectives of this study were to carry out the initial assessment of the relationship (correlation) if any between the levels pH, Nitrogen and Phosphorus variations along the length of River Kokroko. Two batch samples of water at the following locations: The source, 400m, 800m, 1200m, 1500m, and 1800m downstream of the river were collected for analysis of Nitrogen Phosphorous, pH and temperature. It was observed that concentrations of nutrient generally increased downstream with increasing pH levels. However, the average concentration of nitrogen was below the maximum contaminant level by EPA and WHO, while average concentration of phosphorus was above the recommended level set by US EPA. The lowest pH of 4.36 and 4.14 were recorded the source of the river for sample 1and 2 respectively. The average pH for both batches 1 and 2 samples were below the normal surface water pH of 5.5 and for that matter below 6.5-8.5 (EPA secondary drinking water standard). The pH at the source was far below standard. There seems to be correlation between pH, nutrient and distance. However, there is no enough data to establish any significant proof about this observation.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of three different drying technologies (sun, solar and bin) used for the production of cassava (manihot esculenta crants) chips in Ghana

An experiment was conducted to assess three different drying technologies (sun, solar and bin) used for the production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crants) chips in Ghana. The study was conducted at Caltech Ventures Limited, Hodzo – Ho, and the CSIR - Food Research Institute (FRI) in Accra in January, 2011. Parameter studied included moisture content, pH, total titratable acidity, starch yield, bulk density and pasting characteristics. From the results, bin drying at 4kg loading density had the lowest moisture content of 6.77%. pH value of 6.38 were recorded for bin drying at loading density of 2kg and 4kg respectively. The lowest total titratable acidity of 0.24 was recorded for 2kg loading density under bin and sun drying while solar drying was at 3kg loading density. The starch yield of the cassava flour was higher in the sun drying (67.74%) than bin drying. Loading density of 2kg under sun drying had the highest starch yield of 69.46%. Bulk density of the flour was high in bin drying (0.74g/cm3). Pasting characteristics of the flour showed that cooking temperature of the flour was lowest in bin drying (67.93oC). The cassava flour from sun drying technology had the highest final viscosity of 289.78BU. Loading density of 2kg recorded the highest final viscosity of 278.44BU. Solar drying at 4kg loading density also resulted in the highest final viscosity of 293.44BU. Bin drying at 4kg loading density recorded the highest breakdown of value 413.00BU. Among the technologies, the highest setback value of 108.22BU was recorded by the cassava flour produced by bin drying technology. Bin drying at 2kg loading density also recorded the highest setback value of 121.33BU. Generally, drying using sun and solar technologies produced flours of acceptable pasting qualities suitable for industrial use.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the youth in Agriculture programme in Ejura-Sekyedumase District

The youth represent one of the productive resources of every country. In Ghana, however, most of the youth do not have jobs to do. Youths constitute about 60 percent of the unemployed in Ghana making the youth unemployment rate one of the highest in the world. In order to address this challenge, the Government of Ghana initiated the Youth in Agriculture programme (YIAP), as part of the National Youth and Employment Programme (NYEP) to provide jobs in the agriculture sector for the youth. Even though agriculture remains a sector with greater potential of providing jobs for the youth, the youth are less willing to engage in farming as their main occupation. The youth perceive farming as dirty and lacking the opportunities for personal achievements. The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the YIAP in motivating the youth to pursue farming as a career. The study also assessed whether beneficiaries who pursued farming after exiting the YIAP were able to generate appreciable income. A quasi-experimental design was adopted to gather data on selected variables from same beneficiaries before and after their participation in the YIAP. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select beneficiaries who participated in the programme in 2011. Government departments responsible for the implementation of the Youth in Agriculture programme were also surveyed. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study showed that the provision of land and agro-inputs, agricultural extension services and agribusiness management training motivated the beneficiaries to participate in the YIAP. It was also realized that the YIAP changed the negative perceptions that beneficiaries held about farming. It was also found that beneficiaries who pursued farming after exiting the YIAP generated appreciable income. The study however identified that unemployed youths with high levels of education did not participate in the YIAP. The study recommends that GYEEDA and MOFA embark on a massive sensitization drive in the form of workshops, youth fora, TV and radio programmes to attract participation by youths with high levels of education. The study also recommends that MoFA should continue to supply input credit to the youth through the Block Farm Programme so that their farming careers can be sustained. It is believed that if these recommendations are implemented, th e YIAP would become a more effective programme for motivating the unemployed youth to accept farming as a career.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of three White Yam (Dioscorea Rotundata) varieties for possible development into Flour

A study was conducted to assess three white yam (dioscorea rotundata) varieties for possible development into flour in the Ashanti Region of Ghana from February to May, 2012. Field survey was conducted in five market centers in the Kumasi metropolis including Asafo, Bantama, Central (Bode), Krofrom (Moro) and Abinchi and one producing area in the Tanoso district of the Techiman municipality. Interviews, together with semi-structured questionnaires, were used in data collection from retailers and producers who were randomly selected from each location. Fifty retailers from the market centers and twenty farmers from the yam producing area. Laboratory work was also conducted at the Department of Horticulture of the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, KNUST, Kumasi and Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra. Yam was collected from the Moro market in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti Region, cut into chips and dried. They were them milled into flour and used for the laboratory work. The survey revealed that females (%) engaged in trading of the yam while the males engage in the farming. Education was, however, a problem for both yam farmers and traders. There were a lot of yam varieties in the country but majority of the respondent’s interviewed preferred Pona because of its taste and size. Labreko was one second choice because it had a better taste compared to Pona while Dente was one third preferred choice. Three yam cultivars were dried under three drying methods namely Solar, Sun and Oven. This study investigated the proximate, functional and pasting and colour properties of yam flour samples. The foam capacity, foam stability, Bulk density, swelling power, water and oil absorption index, moisture, protein and carbohydrate was investigated. Drying methods and cultivars were found to have significant effect (P˂0.05) on the functional, colour, pasting and proximate properties of all the yam flour samples, There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the foam capacity (61.00 to 37.33)g/ml, foam stability (51.87 to 28.10)g/ml, Bulk density (0.85 to 0.81) g/ml, Swelling power (6.33 to 3.56)g/ml, Moisture (12.67 to 4.00)%, Protein (5.25 to 4.380%, Fat (1.32 to 0.50)%, Carbohydrate (84.80 to 74.19)% Peak viscosity (458.67 to 259.67) BU, Setback (119.00 to 10.33) BU, and Browning index (31.44 to 8.43)%. There were significant difference (P<0.05) in the Pasting properties as some are thicker than others and also some are lighter in colour than others. The study shows that the yam flour samples developed were significantly different (p<0.05) in terms of the proximate, functional, pasting and colour properties.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of time overruns in construction of thermal power generation plant projects in Ghana

Ensuring that projects are completed within the allocated time or period and within the planned budget is essential to making a project successful. It is therefore important to effectively manage project cost and time right from the beginning of the project to ensure effective time management. Globally several studies have been conducted on time overrun with an effort to help in mitigating it, especially for public projects. One of such studies was conducted in Malaysia and the study recommended procedures to mitigate time overrun through the implementation of several measures at the same time. However, the procedures to mitigate time overrun during the study were a recommendation and not procedures that were rigorously tested or being implemented by experts in the field to attest to their effectiveness. This study focuses on looking at the effects of time overruns and effective measures that can be practically implemented to mitigate it from the beginning through the various stages to the end of the project. Realistic and practically viable measures that is workable and literally effective to mitigate time overrun in projects. The data was analyzed in descriptive and quantitative forms using, tables, bar charts, pie charts, graphs, etc. The findings of this study show that the most effective mitigation measures for controlling time overrun was through implementation of realistic planning and scheduling of the project time and budget to practically work. The mitigation measures for controlling time overrun in accordance to the phases of project life cycle were successfully investigated and implemented by various key players on the projects used as the case study.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of trace metal levels in selected marine fish species landed in Ghana and their potential human health risk

The study examined the levels of six (6) heavy metals; Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As) and Mercury (Hg) in four marine fish species (Sardinella maderensis, Dentex angolensis, Sphyraena sphyraena and Penaeus notialis) and their potential health risks to potentially exposed populations in Ghana in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG) region. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd and As in fish tissues were analyzed after microwave digestion of samples using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Mercury was measured directly in the solid samples using an Automated Mercury Analyzer. With the exception of Pb, all metals analyzed were detected in fish samples. Highest concentrations of Cu (12.08 ± 1.46), Zn (19.20 ± 2.27), As (8.46 ± 2.42) and Cd (0.03 ± 0.01) were observed in the muscle tissues of P. notialis while D. angolensis recorded the highest concentration of Hg (0.14 ± 0.03). Largely, significant variations (p < 0.0001) were observed in the concentrations of metals across the various fish species analyzed. Except for As, the levels of all metals were below the tolerable limits set by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Australian and New Zealand Food standard code and the European Commission (EC).The study however reveals significant carcinogenic risk due to As intake for S. maderensis and D. angolensis in all age categories except for children between age 1 to 3 years, and all 9 age categories for P. notialis .It is therefore recommended that, the consumption of P.notialis , D. angolensis and S. maderensis caught from the Ghana coastal water is done with caution particularly among children and adolescents populations to avoid possible non-carcinogenic effects and long-term carcinogenic effects later in life.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish and Sediments from River Ankobra and its Major Tributaries

A total of thirty six (36) river sediment samples and one hundred and sixty-nine (169) fish samples covering eight species were collected from River Ankobra at Heman, Prestea, and Mehame, from River Mansi at Beposo, River Bonsa at Bonsaso and River Fure at Kutukrom all of which are impacted by small-scale gold mining activities. All the samples were analysed for total mercury concentration by Cold Vapour Atomc Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) technique using an automatic mercury analyzer Model Hg 5000. Total mercury concentrations ranged from 36.96 to 123.91 ng/g wet weights (average 64.56 ng/g) for Alestes imberi. For Labeo coubie, Labeo chariensis and Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus the ranges were from 62.87 to 204.97 ng/g (average 122.32 ng/g), 8.20 to 409.73 ng/g (average 144.32 ng/g) and 172.00 to 1152.00 ng/g (average 457.00 ng/g wet weight) respectively. The range for Tilapia zilli and Eutropius mentalis were 46.34 — 335.09 ng/g (average 126.96 ng/g) and 132.61 — 911.46 ng/g (average 296.27 ng/g) respectively whereas Gnat honemus cyprino ides and Hydrocynus lineatus had concentrations ranging from 501.62 to 1073.00 ng/g (average 728.21 ng/g) and 865.27 to 1517.39 ng/g (average 1191.30 ng/g) respectively. Eighteen (18) fish samples comprising Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (n = 11), Gnathonemus cyprinoids (n = 3) and Hydrocynus lineatus (n = 4) had mercury concentrations that were higher than 500 ng/g, which is the maximum acceptable limit in fish as set by the World Health Organization. The highest total Hg concentration in river sediment and fish were observed at Mehame. The mean total mercury concentration in sediment ranged from 278.20 ng/g to 682.90 ng/g. Mercury concentrations in fish showed poor correlation with fish weight and length. Only 3% and 1.2% of fish species showed positive correlation between Hg concentration and fish weight and length respectively. Positive correlation between Hg concentration in fish and sediment was observed only for Alestes imberi at Beposo and Labeo coubie at Prestea. The results in this study suggest that gold mining activities could contribute mercury to the aquatic environment as was reflected in the high fish mercury content. The poltion of the population at Mehame that eat fish frequently from river Ankobras are at risk of Hg contamination through fish consumption, and should avoid consuming large amounts of species with Hg concentration above the WHO recommended limit.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of training and employee performance: evidence from the health sector in Ashanti Region

For some time now, training of employees has become a very essential aspect of organisation and without which most organisations would have closed down. However, it is very crucial that steps are taken to solve these problems because irrespective of the type of the organisation, industry or sector, the most significant resource in the input process is the human resource. It is against this background that the researcher to explore the assessment of training on employees’ performance. The research aimed among other thingsto assess the effectiveness of the training and how training will help employees to perform well.The study reviewed literature on the concepts of training and performance as well as theories underlying their conceptualisation. The employees of the health sector were the population of the studyas the researcher selected 120 employees (sample size) out of the population. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the employees. The study found out that the youth are more dominant in the health sector and they are mostly recommended by their supervisors for training. The researcher recommended that management should try every effort to incorporate employee training programmes at all the health centres in order to elevate employee efficiency on the job to deliver up to the expected objectives of their specific tasks and to make it compulsory for every employee to be given the chance or opportunity to attend training programmes that would sharp their skills for the job and where possible based on the supervisors’ recommendation and the performance appraisal.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of Total Quality Management Practices on Organisational Performance at Intravenous Infusions Limited Koforidua

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach for an organization centred on quality, based on the participation of all its members and aiming at long term success through customer satisfaction and benefits to all members of the organization and to society .This research work therefore aimed at assessing the TQM practices and its effect on organizational performance at Intravenous Infusions Limited Koforidua (IIL). The company needs to find ways to surviving in the increasing competitive market and TQM as a strategic Management tool can be used for improving the competitiveness, effectiveness and flexibility of the whole organization. A population of 120 workers comprising both senior and junior staff was used for the study. Due to the relatively small number of workers at IIL the whole population was used for the study. Primary data for this research was collected using a well designed and structured questionnaire which was made up of both close ended and open ended questions. The key findings showed that IIL is practicing TQM but it is yet to implement it to the highest level of subscribing to a quality award system. The implementation of TQM is at the quality assurance level. It was found out that management inactions undermined leadership commitment to quality and rendered TQM practices ineffective. It was concluded that there was the need to procure modern equipment to boost production. Again the firm needs to diversify key portfolio in order to spread the overhead cost. Management must work to build trust amongst staff to improve on team work. It is also recommended that the company subscribe to a quality award system. For instance ISO certification can help IIL practice TQM to the highest level to ensure customer confidence in the company’s products.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of underground water (boreholes) quality and levels of some heavy metals in the Upper East and Northern Regions of Ghana

Groundwater from 28 boreholes from the Northern and 30 boreholes from the Upper East Regions of Ghana have been sampled in October 1999 (rainy season) and in March 2000 (dry season) for physicochemical studies. Some of the physicoehemical parameters determined include temperature, conductivity, acidity, colour, alkalinity, free carbon dioxide, total hardness, permanent hardness, temporary hardness, pH, TS, TDS, TSS, C1-, NO-3, NO-2, NH3-N, PO43-, SO42-, F-, I-, total Iron, total Cadmium, total Manganese, total Lead, total Zinc and total Arsenic. Ion chromatographic and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods (A.A.S.) were used to determine anion and metals respectively. Gravimetric method was used to determine total solids and total suspended solids. Titrimetric methods were used to determine hardness, acidity, alkalinity arid free carbon dioxide. Analyses of the samples obtained from the above-named study area indicated that, some of the parameters had levels above the W.H.O. and G.W.S.C. guidelines. The levels of Iodide, NH3-N, NO2-, As, Zn, pH, colour, TDS, Conductivity, acidity, alkalinity, free carbon dioxide, TS and temperature were found to be within or below the W.H.O. and G.W.S.C. guideline values. Phosphate was high at Binjaya (8.755 mg/L) and high Manganese concentrations occurred at Tuna (0.236 mg/L) and Sowla (0.176 rng/L). Few boreholes had high Cadmium concentration but the main problem identified with groundwater in the study area w:s high levels of NO3-, Fluoride, Lead and Iron. High concentration of NO3- occurred at Gambaga(103.380 mg/I), Wakawaka (70.595 mg/L), Tuna (148.270 mg/L), Kugri (54.767 mg/L), Binduri (58.805 mg/L) and Bolgatanga (65.120 mg/L). For Fluoride concentration it was high at Chamba (4.033 mg/L), Kpasenkpe (1.704 mg/L), Bolgatanga(2.557 mg/L), Bongo (3.172 mg/L) and Kanjaga (1.770 mg/L). For Lead all the boreholes sampled in the Upper East Region exceeded the W.H.O. guideline value while 9642% of the boreholes sampled in Northern Region exceeded the guideline value. 57.47% and 40.00% of the boreholes in the Northern Region and Upper East Region respectively exceeded the W.H.O. and G.W.S.C. guideline values for Iron. There was seasonal variation in some physicochemical parameters of the groundwater although no regular pattern was observed.

Source: KNUST