ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Stock assessment and aspects of reproduction of trichiurus lepturus and lutjanus fulgens in Ghanaian waters

The ribbonfish, Trichiurus lepturus and golden African snapper, Lutjanus fulgens are actively and locally exploited by commercial fishers along the coast of Ghana. To bridge the knowledge gap on these species, size composition, growth and mortality as well as aspects of reproduction were assessed. Samples were collected from major fish landing sites along the coast of Ghana from September 2018 to August 2019. Length-frequency data were used to estimate growth and mortality rates and exploitation ratio. Total lengths of T. lepturus sampled ranged between 24.8 and 103.9 cm with a unimodal distribution of 55 cm. The length-weight relationship, BW = 0.0002TL3.3437 (r = 0.98) indicated positive allometric growth. The asymptotic length (L∞), growth coefficient (K) and age at zero length (to) for T. lepturus were estimated as 133.66, 0.46 yr-1 and -0.88, respectively. Total (Z), fishing (F) and natural (M) mortality rates of T. lepturus were estimated at 2.69 yr-1, 2.03 yr-1 and 0.66 yr-1, respectively. The length at first capture (Lc) was lower than the length at first maturity (Lm). Spawning occurred all year round with a peak spawning period from March to June. Fecundity was estimated to be 17,440 ± 1,250 eggs (mean ± SE). For Lutjanus fulgens, the total length sampled ranged between 16.2 and 45.6 cm with a length-weight relationship of BW = 0.0192TL2.8959 (r = 0.97) indicating isometric growth. The L∞, K and to were estimated as 51.09, 0.47 yr-1 and -0.30, respectively. Z, F and M of L. fulgens were estimated at 2.69 yr-1, 1.91 yr-1 and 0.78 yr-1, respectively. The study showed that the stocks enter the exploitation phase just before attaining maturity with Lc estimated at 31.51 cm and Lm at 33.7cm. Mean fecundity was estimated to be 77,833 ± 13,012 eggs. Peak spawning period of L. fulgens was observed from June to September. There was no significant difference © University of Cape Coast https://erl.ucc.edu.gh/jspui Digitized by observed in the sex ratio between males and females for both species. Stocks of both species were found to be vulnerable to overfishing. There is therefore the need for a reduction in fishing pressure of the stocks to promote proper management of the fishery resources

Source: UCC
Stock market capitalization and economic growth in Ghana

This study examines the relationship between stock market capitalization and economic growth in Ghana using quarterly time series data from 1991 to 2006. The study employed Johansen multivariate cointegration technique and vector error correction model to investigate the long-run relationship and the short-run dynamics among the variables. Also, the standard Granger-causality test was conducted to determine the causal relationship between the variables. The study finds that real economic growth, real stock market liquidity and real gross domestic investment have significant positive impact on the development of the Ghana Stock Exchange. Economic growth is the most important factor explaining the development of the Ghana Stock Exchange. In contrast, the results show that the banking sector development has a significant negative relationship with the stock market development suggesting that they are substitutes in financing corporate investments in Ghana. The results of the Granger-causality test indicate that economic growth leads to stock market capitalization (stock market development) without any feedback supporting “demand following” hypothesis. The study concludes that although the Ghana Stock Exchange is new, illiquid and highly concentrated, it has a great potential to mobilize both domestic savings and foreign capital for financing future investments. Therefore, there is the need for government to initiate policies to promote economic growth, stock market liquidity and domestic investment so as to develop the Ghana Stock Exchange.

Source: UCC
Stock market integration in West Africa

The study focused on the integration of stock exchanges within West Africa using a Non-linear Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL). Market capitalizations as a percentage of GDP of the various markets within the region were obtained from the World Development Indicator (2014) and used to determine whether the markets move in the same direction both in the long and short runs. The empirical results indicated that market capitalization for the various countries was I(1) and I(0). The short run estimations showed some form of relationship between the stock exchanges but the relationships were not clear as to the nature of the direction. In the long run there exist a relationship only between the Ghana stock exchange and the Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres stock exchange. No long run relationship exists between the Ghana stock exchange and the Nigeria stock exchange. The study further recommended that investors should embark on cross listings and portfolio diversification since there is the presence of potential gains due to the absence of information asymmetry and low transaction cost within the Ghana Stock Exchange, the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres Stock Exchange. The major stock exchange bodies should also embark on fostering the establishment of stock exchanges as well as their integration within ECOWAS.

Source: UCC
Stock market performance and economic growth in Ghana

This study investigated the relationship between stock market performance and economic growth in Ghana for the period 1991–2014, using quarterly secondary data. The objective was to empirically analyse the relationship between stock market performance and economic growth using Auto regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach.The study found aco integrating relationship between economic growth and its determinants. The regression results show that stock market performance is a very important determinant of economic growth in Ghana since they exerted statistically significant positive effects on economic growth both in the short-run and long run in Ghana.Additionally, consumer price index and interest rate also exerted negative and statistically significant effects on economic growth both in the short-run and long-run in Ghana. Further,real effective exchange rate,physical capital and labour force exerted positive and statistically significant effects on economic growth both in the short-run and long-run in Ghana. It is therefore recommended that policy makers specifically of Ghana Stock Exchange should put pragmatic measures to improve the performance of the stock market, increase physical capital, and labour force,as well as maintaining low inflationary rate. Finally, Bank of Ghana should maintain a stable exchange rate while financial institutions are to reduce their interest rate on lending.

Source: UCC
Stock market performance and economic growth: evidence from Ghana

This study empirically examines the relationship between stock market performance and economic growth in Ghana using quarterly time series data from 1991 to 2012 for four stock market performance indicators, namely; stock market capitalization ratio, stock market turnover ratio, total value traded ratio and the Ghana Stock Exchange market index with three other control variables. The study employed the Johansen and Juselius (1990) multivariate cointegration technique and vector error correction model to investigate the long and short-run relationships amongst the variables. The standard Granger causality test is performed to establish the direction of causality. The impulse response functions (IRFs) and forecast error variance decomposition (FEVD) are used to assess shocks and the relative importance of each variable in the system. The results indicate a positive and significant relationship between stock market performance and economic growth. The Granger causality results suggest a unidirectional causality in general from stock market performance to economic growth. This substantiates the supply leading finance hypothesis. The IRFs and the FEVD results reinforce the positive link between stock market performance and economic growth. The study concludes that to tap into the growth enhancing capacity of the Ghana Stock Exchange, the government should initiate policies to promote the supply (tax incentives to companies to list on the GSE) of and demand (using the GSE as a source of finance for all government projects) of securities. This would ensure continuous and sustained economic growth in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Stock Returns, Exchange Rates, and Uncertainties in West Africa

This study examines the degree of interconnectedness between stock returns and exchange rates, and the influence of some uncertainty indices on such a relationship within a time-frequency domain in West Africa. The study adopts a quantitative research approach and an explanatory research design. Monthly observation of one hundred and five, from 1st March 2013 to 1st December 2021 is utilised. The wavelet approaches are employed in executing the purpose of this study. The findings reveal that, in West Africa, a negative correlation exists between stock return and currency rate. The partial wavelet coherence results indicate that global economic policy uncertainty, oil market implied volatility and the United States volatility index are key drivers of the comovements in the selected markets. Again, the study finds that the degree of integration among stock returns and currency rates in West African economies increases in the long-term when implied volatility indices are included in the multiple wavelet approach. It is suggested that investors who want to hedge against stock return fluctuations can do so using exchange rate. Also, policymakers and investors should consider the impact of external uncertainty measures in the formulation of policies regarding exchange rates and stock return integration at various investment horizons.

Source: UCC
Storage related haematological and biochemical changes in Plasmodium falciparum infected and sickle cell trait donor blood

. Background: In sub-Saharan Africa where sickle cell trait (SCT) and malaria is prevalent, significant proportions of blood donors may be affected by one or more of these abnormalities.The haemato-biochemical properties of SCT and asymptomatic malaria in donor blood have not been evaluated. his study evaluated the haemato-biochemical impact of SCT and asymptomatic malaria infections in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) stored donor blood units. Methods: Fifty-milliliters of sterile CPDA-1 anti-coagulated blood were drained into the sample pouch attached to the main blood bag. Ten units each of sickle cell/malaria negative, sickle cell and malaria positive blood were analyzed. Baseline and weekly haematological profiling and week 1, 3 and 5 concentrations of plasma haemoglobin, % haemolysis, sodium, potassium and chloride and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed. Differences between baseline and weekly data were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test, whereas differences between baseline parameters and week 1–3 data pairs were determined using paired t-test.P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Storage of SCT and malaria infected blood affected all haematological cell lines. In the SCT donors, red blood cells (RBC) (4.75 × 10 12 /L ± 1.43 baseline to 3.49 × 10 12 /L ± 1.09 week-5), haemoglobin (14.45 g/dl ± 1.63baseline to 11.43 g/dl ± 1.69 week-5 ) and haematocrit (39.96% ± 3.18 baseline to 33.22% ± 4.12 week-5) were reduced. In the asymptomatic malaria group, reductions were observed in RBC (5.00 × 1012/L ± 0.75baseline to 3.72 × 1012/L ± 0.71week-5), haemoglobin (14.73 g/dl ± 1.67baseline to 11.53 g/dl ± 1.62week-5), haematocrit (42.72% ± 5.16baseline to 33.38% ± 5.80week-5), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (35.48 g/dl ± 1.84baseline to 35.01 g/dl ± 0.64week-5) and red cell distribution width coefficient of variation (14.81% ± 1.54 baseline to 16.26% ± 1.37 week-5). Biochemically, whereas plasma LDH levels significantly increased in asymptomatic malaria blood donors (319% increase at week 5 compared to baseline), SCT blood donors had the most significant increase in plasma potassium levels at week 5 (382% increase). Sodium ions significantly reduced in SCT/malaria negative and sickle cell trait blood at an average rate of 0.21 mmol/L per day.Moreover, elevations in lymphocytes-to-eosinophils and lymphocytes-to-neutrophils ratios were associated with SCT and malaria positive blood whilst elevation lymphocytes-to-basophils ratio was exclusive to malaria positive blood. Conclusion:Severe storage lesions were significant in SCT or malaria positive donor blood units. Proper clinical evaluation must be done in prospective blood donors to ensure deferral of such donors

Source: UCC
Storage related haematological and biochemical changes in Plasmodium falciparum infected and sickle cell trait donor blood

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa where sickle cell trait (SCT) and malaria is prevalent, significant proportions of blood donors may be affected by one or more of these abnormalities. The haemato-biochemical properties of SCT and asymptomatic malaria in donor blood have not been evaluated. This study evaluated the haemato-biochemical impact of SCT and asymptomatic malaria infections in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) stored donor blood units. Methods: Fifty-milliliters of sterile CPDA-1 anti-coagulated blood were drained into the sample pouch attached to the main blood bag. Ten units each of sickle cell/malaria negative, sickle cell and malaria positive blood were analyzed. Baseline and weekly haematological profiling and week 1, 3 and 5 concentrations of plasma haemoglobin, % haemolysis, sodium, potassium and chloride and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed. Differences between baseline and weekly data were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test, whereas differences between baseline parameters and week 1–3 data pairs were determined using paired t-test. P- value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Storage of SCT and malaria infected blood affected all haematological cell lines. In the SCT donors, red blood cells (RBC) (4.75 × 1012/L ± 1.43baseline to 3.49 × 1012/L ± 1.09week-5), haemoglobin (14.45 g/dl ± 1.63baseline to 11.43 g/dl ± 1.69week-5) and haematocrit (39.96% ± 3.18baseline to 33.22% ± 4.12week-5) were reduced. In the asymptomatic malaria group, reductions were observed in RBC (5.00 × 1012/L ± 0.75baseline to 3.72 × 1012/L ± 0.71week-5), haemoglobin (14.73 g/dl ± 1.67baseline to 11.53 g/dl ± 1.62week-5), haematocrit (42.72% ± 5.16baseline to 33.38% ± 5.80week-5), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (35.48 g/dl ± 1.84baseline to 35.01 g/dl ± 0.64week-5) and red cell distribution width coefficient of variation (14.81% ± 1.54baseline to 16.26% ± 1.37week-5). Biochemically, whereas plasma LDH levels significantly increased in asymptomatic malaria blood donors (319% increase at week 5 compared to baseline), SCT blood donors had the most significant increase in plasma potassium levels at week 5 (382% increase). Sodium ions significantly reduced in SCT/malaria negative and sickle cell trait blood at an average rate of 0.21 mmol/L per day. Moreover, elevations in lymphocytes-to-eosinophils and lymphocytes-to-neutrophils ratios were associated with SCT and malaria positive blood whilst elevation lymphocytes-to-basophils ratio was exclusive to malaria positive blood. Conclusion: Severe storage lesions were significant in SCT or malaria positive donor blood units. Proper clinical evaluation must be done in prospective blood donors to ensure deferral of such donors.

Source: UCC
Strangers and authorities in the Gold Coast: Immigration control in colonial Ghana, 1900–1957 Adjei Adjepong

Until the imposition of colonial rule on Africa, movements of people from one place to another were not restricted by national or regional borders, visa systems, or national security fears. The modern idea of immigration is related to the development of nation states and nationality laws, which often distinguish between citizens and immigrants. Citizenship of a nation-state confers on nationals an inalienable right of residence, employment and free movement in that state, but the residence, employment and movement of immigrants are subject to conditions set by immigration regulations. Since it was the colonial authorities that introduced immigration regulations into Ghana, any attempt to gain a good understanding of the history of immigration control in the country must start from the colonial times. Therefore, using both primary and secondary documents, this study examines the measures which the colonial authorities devised to control the entry of immigrants into Ghana as well as their stay in and exit from the country, and assesses the relative effectiveness of their implementation. It argues that the colonial authorities had been generally liberal towards immigrants in Ghana. The study concludes that the manner in which immigration control had been handled in the colonial era was partly accountable for the frequent influx of many ‘illegal’ migrants into Ghana after independence

Source: UCC
A strategic quality assurance framework in an African higher education context

This study is based on a pragmatist analysis of selected international accounts on quality assurance in higher education. A pragmatist perspective was used to conceptualise a logical internal quality assurance model to embed and support the alignment of graduate competencies in curriculum and assessment of Ghanaian polytechnics. Through focus group and in-depth interviews, the framework was evaluated by internal stakeholders including lecturers, students and administrators of the polytechnics. It was found that from a pragmatist perspective, quality assurance concepts and practices in higher education reported in the international literature could be used to design a context-specific quality assurance framework for higher education systems in Africa but there will be challenges with implementation of such a framework. The challenges found include quality culture and financial resources. Nonetheless, it was noted that effective planning and stakeholder commitment can surmount the challenges to ensure effective implementation of the framework to enhance quality.

Source: UCC
Strategies De Comprehension Ecrite Sur L'internet Quelles Approches Pedagogiques Adopter Pour Developper L'autonomie Des Etudiants En Fle Dans Les Universites Du Ghana?

The focus of this study was on strategies that students would adopt in order to comprehend information that is available to them while browsing a French website. It sought to identify the mental processes that underlie comprehension on the Internet taking as basis research realized in the cognitive sciences by RUBIN (1989), OXFORD (1990), O'MALLEY and CHAMOT (1990) and COHEN (1998) about language learning strategies. From 52 students doing French in four public universities in Ghana, we were able to obtain through think-aloud procedures, data about strategies that they adopted when browsing on authentic websites in French. The browsing tasks involved shopping for items on the Internet, booking a place on a train or in a hotel, among others. Browsing strategies such as looking out for clues, critical reading, trial and error, seeking help, forming hypothesis were identified as strategies that aid comprehension of information on the websites. The strategies helped students to guess meaning through such means as inference (in context - keywords, images, interactive tools, colours, etc.), deductive and inductive reasoning, translation, analogy and textual analysis with previous knowledge in French. Social and affective strategies such as seeking explanation from a peer and reminding oneself of goals of the tasks also helped students confirm interpretative guesses about words and phrases, they encountered for the first time in French. At the end of the study, it was quite evident that strategies adopted by students in understanding information on the website did not differ from those identified by early research in cognitive sciences. However, it is important to note how these strategies enhanced the general understanding of the French Language by students and also their autonomy in learning the language.

Source: UCC
Strategies for Achieving ICT Literacy & Proficiency in the Rural Primary and Secondary Schools in Ghana

In order to be productive members of African society, as well as responsible world citizens, the continent’s next generation of leaders requires a full suite of knowledge and skills to compete in national, international, and global markets. The core of this knowledge base rests in the STEM and STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). The technology component - through ICT (Internet Computing Technology) - fosters research, discovery, communication, collaboration, and idea exchange among the other disciplines. It enables individuals to conduct business globally; and on local and national levels, leveraging myriad aspects of socio-economic and cultural prosperity. ICT literacy is mandated for all primary and secondary school students both by the African Deans Education Forum (“ADEF”) and UNESCO’s EFA (Education for All) goals for the African diaspora, as well as by the local Ministries of Education; however, resources and funding are limited with larger funding appropriations allocated to urban areas with pre-existing infrastructure. Thus, schools in rural, underserved communities present special situations relative to meeting the mandate due to insufficient or non-existent infrastructure, access, and training that requires ancillary initiatives over and above those currently provided in order to insure educational equality with their urban counterparts. This paper presents a synthesis of the issues and indicators systems causing the disenfranchisement in rural and underserved communities of Ghana in ICT deployment and usage. Consequently, the authors developed a framework of strategies to address and correct the issue of disenfranchisement in ICT literacy and proficiency in Ghana’s rural primary and secondary schools.

Source: UCC
Strategies for Managing Childhood Obesity in Primary Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

Childhood obesity is a critical global public health issue due to its association with psychological, social, economic and health problems. This study explored the potency of using teachers in managing childhood obesity among primary school pupils in a Ghanaian Metropolis, Cape Coast. Structured questionnaire were used for data collection. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 133 teachers as respondents for the study. Analyses were done using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. The study revealed that teachers were appreciably aware of and had useful perceptions of childhood obesity which could be built upon by way of interventional strategies to curb obesity among the school pupils.. These included physical activity-based strategies and dietary-based strategies such as: children being allowed to play and run around during break periods (91.7%); no foods, sweets and drinks being allowed in the classroom during lessons (84.1%); and existence of a school policy that guides the type of foods sold on school premises (72.0%). However, the teachers needed to be supported to effectively manage the phenomenon in the school environment. School authorities could develop policies on sale of food and snacks on school premises and ensure adherence to the policies through strict enforcement.

Source: UCC