ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Co-worker incivility and employee engagement among Ghanaian bank workers: does emotional intelligence matter?

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to ascertain the mechanism through which an employee engages at the workplace when faced with an uncivil act. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design to sample 482 participants drawn from commercial banks operating in Ghana. The population of the study (employees working in banks in Ghana) was selected owing to the recent reforms in the sector coupled with the emerging fear of loss of jobs as a result of the corona virus pandemic and the potential impact on employee work attitudes. Participants were however selected conveniently and employees who were available and willing to participate given questionnaires to complete. Findings – Co-worker incivility significantly and negatively predicted employee engagement, while emotional intelligence (EI) predicted employee engagement positively. Furthermore, EI served as a mediator between co-worker incivility and engagement. Research limitations/implications – Despite these encouraging findings, the mechanism underlying these effects could not be identified. Therefore, future studies can establish the underlying mechanisms of these effects by using qualitative studies or the mixed-method. Future studies can also explore other personal resources such as psychological capital or personality traits in mitigating the negative effects of workplace incivility. Practical implications – Given the fact that incivility has a significant negative influence on employees within the organisation, there is the need for government and policy makers to enact an inclusive policy that deals with employee mistreatments and most especially low key mistreatment. This could be done through the promulgation of a national policy on psychosocial risk management (PRIMA) as most of the uncivil acts in organisations present as psychosocial risk factors. Secondly, at the organisational level there is the need to consider EI of employees most especially when recruiting employees so as to avoid squared pegs being placed in round holes. Originality/value – This research found out that for an employee to engage or not when faced with an uncivil act, one’s EI has to play a role. The appraisal theory was used to provide a sufficient grounds in exploring the role of EI in the evaluations and determination of occurrences in organisations as intentional or unintentional, positive or negative and hence the resultant work outcomes.

Source: UG
Coastal erosion in ghana: Causes and effects

Coastal erosion is a critical issue along Ghana coast and has become the centre of national debate in recent times. Although erosion is largely a natural process, human activities have exacerbated their impact within the Ghana coastal zone. Such activities directly impact the coast and indirectly influence the coastal processes by reducing the capacity of the coastal ecosystem to cope with the natural phenomenon. Coastal erosion in Ghana has destroyed coastal infrastructure ranging from urban areas to small fishing villages, threatens important cultural and historical resources, hindered coastal tourism development, and affected the socioeconomic life of the local population. Twenty five erosion hot spots have been identified along the Ghana coast with varying erosion intensity and drivers. Mitigation efforts by the government to manage the erosion situation have transferred the problem from one location to another. The situation is further worsened by the lack of effective policies and the ad hoc approach adopted in coastal erosion management. This paper critically assesses the causes of coastal erosion in Ghana and their impact on the socioeconomic life of the coastal communities under increasing climate change scenarios. © 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Coastal Erosion Management in Ghana: Combining Local Knowledge with Empirical Research.

Coastal erosion along the Accra coast has become a chronic phenomenon that threatens both life and property. The issue has assumed a center stage of national debate in recent times due to its impact on the coastal communities. Lack of reliable geospatial data hinders effective scientific investigations into the changing trends in the shoreline position. However, perception about coastal erosion by the local people and how far the shoreline has migrated inland over time is high in the coastal communities in Accra. This opens a new chapter in coastal erosion research approach to include local knowledge of the local settlers in developing sustainable coastal management. This paper adopted a scientific approach to estimate rate of erosion and tested the results against perceived erosion trend by the local settlers. The study used 1974 digital topographic map and 1996 aerial photograph. The end point rate statistical method in DSAS was used to compute the rates of change. The short term rate of change for the 22 years period under study was estimated as -0.91 ± 0.49 meters per annum. It was revealed that about 79 % of the shoreline is eroding while the remaining 21 % is either stabilized or accreting. It emerged from semi-structured interviews with inhabitants in the Accra coastal communities that an average of about 30 meters of coastal lands are perceived to have been lost to erosion for a period of about 20 years. This translates to historic rate of change of about 1.5 meters per year, which corroborate the results of the scientific study. Again this study has established that the local knowledge of the inhabitants about coastal erosion can serve as reliable information under scarcity of scientific data for coastal management analyses in developing countries.

Source: UG
Coastal Flooding Caused by Extreme Coastal Water Level at the World Heritage Historic Keta City (Ghana, West Africa)

Like low-lying sandy coasts around the world, the Ghanaian coast is experiencing increasingly frequent coastal flooding due to climate change, putting important socioeconomic infrastructure and people at risk. Our study assesses the major factors contributing to extreme coastal water levels (ECWLs) from 1994 to 2015. ECWLs are categorized into low, moderate, and severe levels corresponding to the 30th, 60th, and 98th percentiles, respectively. Using these three levels over the Pleiades satellite-derived digital elevation model topography, potential flood extent zones are mapped. ECWLs have the potential to flood more than 40% of the study area, including socioeconomically important sites such as tourist beach resorts, Cape St. Paul lighthouse, and Fort Prinzenstein. In this study, all coastal flooding events recorded by the municipality of Keta fall within the 98th percentile category. Our results show a gradual increase in the frequency of flooding over the years. Flooding events are caused by a compound effect of the tide, sea level anomaly, waves, and atmospheric conditions. Finally, while wave run-up is the major contributor to coastal flooding, the tide is the one varying most, which facilitates a simple early warning system based on waves and tide but adds uncertainty and complicates long-term predictability

Source: UG
Coastal Flooding Caused by Extreme Coastal Water Level at the World Heritage Historic Keta City (Ghana, West Africa)

Abstract: Like low-lying sandy coasts around the world, the Ghanaian coast is experiencing increasingly frequent coastal flooding due to climate change, putting important socioeconomic infrastructure and people at risk. Our study assesses the major factors contributing to extreme coastal water levels (ECWLs) from 1994 to 2015. ECWLs are categorized into low, moderate, and severe levels corresponding to the 30th, 60th, and 98th percentiles, respectively. Using these three levels over the Pleiades satellite-derived digital elevation model topography, potential flood extent zones are mapped. ECWLs have the potential to flood more than 40% of the study area, including socioeconomically important sites such as tourist beach resorts, Cape St. Paul lighthouse, and Fort Prinzenstein. In this study, all coastal flooding events recorded by the municipality of Keta fall within the 98th percentile category. Our results show a gradual increase in the frequency of flooding over the years. Flooding events are caused by a compound effect of the tide, sea level anomaly, waves, and atmospheric conditions. Finally, while wave run-up is the major contributor to coastal flooding, the tide is the one varying most, which facilitates a simple early warning system based on waves and tide but adds uncertainty and complicates long-term predictability.

Source: UG
Coastal vulnerability and migration in Ghana

Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise and other hazards is expected to push migration due to loss of land, habitat and livelihood security. The migration literature on Ghana rarely links coastal environmental systems with migration. This study aimed (i) to assess the vulnerability of Ghana's coasts to inundation and erosion (ii) to explore the relation between coastal vulnerability and population change through migration. We used data from Ghana's 2000 and 2010 Population and Housing Censuses and remotely sensed data to develop a coastal vulnerability index (CVI) comprising physical and socioeconomic vulnerability. The physical vulnerability index (PVI) was based on coastal elevation, geomorphology, geology, local subsidence,. shoreline change, tidal range and wave height. The socioeconomic vulnerability index (SVI) was based on economic activity, socio-demographic characteristics and housing conditions. Due to unavailability of explicit out-migration data at the district level, we estimated net migration using the Census Survival Ratio method. The results of the PVI revealed that districts in the farthest western and eastern coasts are highly vulnerable. The SVI showed the eastern coastal districts as the most vulnerable. Consequently, three districts in the eastern coast of Ghana with the highest combined CVI also tend to have very high deficit migration. Simple linear regression models show a negative correlation between coastal vulnerability and net migration. The technique employed in this study provides an improved assessment of coastal vulnerability and contributes to evaluating the environment-migration nexus

Source: UG
Cockroaches and Food-borne Pathogens

Food-borne disease is a widespread and escalating public health problem globally. About a quarter of the microorganisms isolated from cockroaches are food-borne pathogens including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi, Rotavirus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptosporidium parvum. Thus, cockroaches could be an important reservoir and mechanical vector of food-borne pathogens. Generally, the role of cockroaches in human infections is poorly understood and has been an issue of debate for several years. This article aims to elucidate the possible role of cockroaches in food-borne infections by reviewing the relevant research publications.

Source: UG
Cocoa agroforestry for increasing forest connectivity in a fragmented landscape in Ghana

In Ghana, farmers perceive protected forests as land banks for increasing agricultural productivity to support subsistence living. This has led to fragmentation of existing protected forests. Two of such reserve forests namely Bia Conservation Area and Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve have been encroached through lumbering for timber and area expansion of no-shade cocoa production systems. The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-disciplinary strategy to increase forest connectivity using cocoa agroforest corridors. Biophysical assessments involving satellite images for vegetation patterns, and expert data from a decision support system were used to select suitable sites for the corridor within a Geographic Information System framework. Socio-economic assessments of the opportunity costs of alternative farming systems to cocoa agroforestry in the delineated corridors show that while timber trees planted within cocoa agroforests settings would help offset the yield losses in cocoa shade-yield relationships compared to full sun-production systems, the on-farm benefits of cocoa agroforestry alone are insufficient to justify the adoption. Paying farmers premium prices for cocoa and substantial off-farm environmental and ecosystem services under agroforestry systems can tip the balance towards adoption. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Source: UG
Cocoa and chocolate consumption – Are there aphrodisiac and other benefits for human health?

Cocoa and chocolate have been acclaimed for several years for their possible medicinal and health benefits. It is only recently, however, that some of these claims have been more clearly identified and studied. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies, for example, have shown that dietary supplementation with flavonoid-rich cocoa and chocolate may exert a protective effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, which has been associated with a reduced risk of developing atherosclerosis. Some of the identified benefits of flavonoid-rich cocoa and chocolate include antioxidant properties, reduced blood pressure via the induction of nitric-oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation in men, improved endothelial function, increased insulin sensitivity, decreased platelet activation and function, as well as modulated immune function and inflammation. Furthermore, chocolate has been reported to release phenylethylamine and serotonin into the human system, producing some aphrodisiac and mood-lifting effects. Since these claims could have implications for the consumption levels of cocoa and chocolate products on the global market, understanding the critical factors involved and their potential benefits are currently thought to be of great importance to consumers.

Source: UG
Cocoa Fermentation: Chocolate Flavor Quality

Chocolate aroma and flavor attributes not only originate in precursor compounds present in cocoa beans, but are generated during fermentation and drying and transformed into desirable odor notes in the manufacturing process. Complex biochemical modifications of bean constituents are further altered by thermal reactions in the roasting and conching steps and during alkalization leading to the development of the finished flavor character; however, the extent to which fermentation component influences chocolate flavor formation and the relationships contributing to final flavor quality are not clear. With increasing specialty niche products in chocolate confectionery area, greater understanding of factors contributing to variations in flavor character during cocoa fermentation has significant commercial implications.

Source: UG
The cocoa mirid (Hemiptera: Miridae) problem: Evidence to support new recommendations on the timing of insecticide application on cocoa in Ghana

The government's cocoa spraying gangs in Ghana treat about two million hectares of the crop against black pod disease and mirids, the key insect pests of cocoa in West Africa, each August through to December, based on recommendations issued in the 1950s. A few cocoa farmers use additional pesticides. We studied the temporal distribution of two important mirid species, Distantiella theobroma (Dist.) and Sahlbergella singularis Hagl., in 1991, 1999, 2003 and 2012 to determine the appropriate timing for the application of control measures in current farming systems. There was a significant correlation between mirid abundance and pod availability on trees, as well as the number of basal shoots and the cocoa variety grown. Mirid populations peaked between January and April and from September to October. Surveys (interviews and focus group discussions involving over 300 farmers in 33 cocoa-growing districts) on pesticide use, sources of recommendations, and perceived successes and failures of current cocoa pest treatments suggested that the 1950 recommendations on the timing of insecticide application need revising. Copyright © ICIPE 2014.

Source: UG
Cocoa pod ash pre-treatment of wawa (Triplochiton scleroxylori) and sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) sawdust: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic characterization of lignin

Effective pre-treatment of lignocellulosic materials, to reduce the recalcitrance of lignin, is critical to achieving high yields of bioethanol. The use of local resources in Ghana for the pre-treatment of bioethanol feedstocks would enhance the feasibility of bioethanol production by reducing the cost of production. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of cocoa pod ash pretreatment of two important feedstocks in Ghana, wawa and sapele sawdust. Extractive-free milled sawdust samples, containing 25.1 and 27.1% lignin, respectively (dry weight basis), were treated with either 2% cocoa pod ash solution or 2% NaOH at 121°C for 60 min or at 25°C for 24 h. Controls were treated with water. Lignin was isolated from untreated and alkali-treated samples and characterized using Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Differences in spectra were recorded in the low wavenumber region as well as the fingerprint region. Treatment with 2% cocoa pod ash at 121°C completely altered the spectral characteristics of lignin indicating disruption of the structure of lignin contained in wawa and sapele. This was similar to results obtained following treatment with 2% NaOH at 121°C. At 25°C, however, cocoa pod ash treatment had little effect on lignin structure. The findings indicate that cocoa pod ash might be a suitable chemical pre-treatment for the production of bioethanol from sawdust. The use of cocoa pod ash, an inexpensive, abundant and readily available local resource, for the pre-treatment step would reduce cost and thereby enhance the profitability and feasibility of bioethanol production in Ghana. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information.

Source: UG
Cocoa pod husk is a potential feed ingredient in laying hen diets

The experiment was carried out to determine if inclusion of cocoa pod husks (CPH) in layer diets will affect laying performance and egg characteristics. Two hundred and sixteen (216) Bovan Brown {BB} layers (92 weeks old) were randomly assigned to twelve experimental diets for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design. There were three levels of CPH inclusion; 0%, 10% and 15%. For each level of CPH, diets were further sub-divided into four and each portion treated with, i) no enzyme, ii) phytase only, iii) a commercial enzyme cocktail only and iv) a combination of both phytase and cocktail. The enzyme cocktail was added at a rate of 200g per tonne of complete feed. The phytase was added at the rate of 250g per ton of complete feed to give a phytase activity of 500 FTU (Phytase Units)/kg of complete feed. Overall, adding CPH did not affect average daily feed intake (ADFI). Hen day egg production for layers on diets with 0%, 10% and 15% CPH, with a combination of phytase plus an enzyme cocktail (76.19, 73.81 and 66.34 respectively), was better than that of hens on diets without enzymes. Adding either phytase, a cocktail enzyme, or a combination of the two improved egg weight. There were no effects of CPH or enzyme addition on egg quality characteristics. Cocoa pod husk (up to 15%) plus exogenous enzymes can effectively be used in layer diets without adversely affecting production performance or egg quality characteristics. © 2015 Fundacion CIPAV. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Cocoa Pod Husk Plus Enzymes is a Potential Feed Ingredient for Hy-Line Silver Brown Laying Hens

The aim of the experiment was to determine whether the inclusion of pelleted cocoa pod husks (CPH) in diets for Hyline Silver Brown (HSB) layers would affect egg laying performance and egg characteristics. Two hundred and sixteen (216), 36-week old, HSB layers in battery cages were randomly assigned to twelve experimental diets for 12 weeks in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diets had three levels of CPH inclusion: 0, 10 and 15%. For each inclusion level, the diets were further sub-divided into four treatments. The four treatments either had, i) no enzyme, ii) phytase only, iii) a commercial enzymes cocktail only, or iv) a mixture of both phytase and cocktail. The enzyme cocktail and phytase were added at rates of 250g and 300g per ton of complete feed respectively according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Overall, adding CPH did not affect Average Daily Feed Intake, although a combination of an enzyme cocktail and phytase improved ADFI, especially at the 15% CPH-inclusion level. Hen-day egg production of birds on diets with 0, 10 and 15% CPH, with an enzyme cocktail alone (78.70, 76.23 and 71.96% respectively), or with a combination of enzyme cocktail and phytase (79.5, 71.89 and 72.16% respectively) was better than egg production of hens on the other diets. There were no effects of CPH or enzyme addition on egg quality characteristics. Cocoa pod husk can be used in diets for HSB birds (up to 15%) without adversely affecting production performance or egg quality characteristics when appropriate exogenous enzymes are added.

Source: UG
Cocoa pod husk with enzyme supplementation is a potential feed ingredient in broiler diets

The aim of the trial was to evaluate the performance of broilers fed diets containing varying levels of cocoa pod husk. The diets were supplemented with either phytase, an enzyme cocktail or both. Three hundred and sixty Cobb broiler day-old chicks were randomly assigned to 12 experimental treatments, replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The diets had three levels of CPH inclusion; 0%, 5% and 7.5% (starter), and 0%, 7% and 10% (finisher) and these were further sub-divided into four. Each portion was treated with, i) no enzyme, ii) phytase (200g per ton of complete feed) only, iii) a commercial enzymes cocktail (250g per ton of complete feed) only and iv) a combination of both enzymes. At the end of the trial on day 57, six birds per treatment were used for carcass analysis. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment diets for any of the production parameters studied. Dressing percentages for birds on 0, 7 and 10% CPH, and without enzymes were 72.9, 65.0 and 61.2% respectively and these were lower (P<0.05) than that for birds on diets supplemented with a combination of phytase plus an enzyme cocktail (73.2, 73.2 and 69.8% respectively). The dressing percentage of birds fed on enzyme treated diets was better (P<0.05) than that for birds fed on diets without added enzymes (72.03 vs 66.36% respectively). Cocoa pod husk plus exogenous enzymes can effectively be used as an ingredient in broilers diets without adversely affecting performance or cost of production. © 2015 Fundacion CIPAV. All rights reserved.

Source: UG