ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Impact of Information and Communication Technologies and Renewable Energy Consumption on Carbon Emissions in Africa

The pursuit of economic growth has implications for carbon emissions and climate change. Achieving low carbon development is important for attaining the targets of the sustainable development goals. Africa is often described as a largely import-dependent continent. The continent also requires signifcant investment in information and com‑ munication technologies (ICT) and renewable energy to achieve low-carbon economic growth. However, empirical evidence on the joint impacts of imports of goods and services, clean energy use, ICT, and economic growth on car‑ bon emissions in Africa is scanty and mixed. This paper investigated the impacts of information and communication technologies, renewable energy consumption, import and economic growth on carbon emissions by using rich data on total per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, economic growth, import of goods and services, renewable energy consumption, fxed telephone subscriptions, mobile cellular subscriptions, and individuals using the internet in Africa (2001 ─ 2020) obtained from the World development indicators (WDI) database. Using the Panel autore‑ gressive distributed lag model (PARDL), we found that mobile cellular subscriptions, and level of economic growth signifcantly increased per capita CO2 emissions in Africa in the long run while renewable energy consumption and technologies and import of goods and services signifcantly decreased per capita CO2 emissions in the long run. We conclude that information and communication technologies, level of economic growth, import of goods and ser‑ vices, and renewable energy consumption exert impacts on carbon emissions in Africa.

Source: UG
The Impact of Information Systems Investment on Bank Performance in Ghana

The advancement of technology is a necessity of the current era. Businesses need to adopt and embrace new technologies to provide excellent business operations and services to their customers. This study looks at the impact of information systems investment on bank performance in Ghana. The major objectives are; (1) to determine the types of technology that the banks invest in (2) to find out the level of IS investment in the banks and (3) to determine the relationship between IS investments and bank’s performance. The following hypothesis was proposed and tested statistically “Information systems investment has a positive relationship with bank performance”. This study adopted the survey methodology. Taking into account the purpose of the study and the research hypothesis, this study is comfortably placed within a scientific epistemology of logical positivism. The cases investigated were local banks and foreign banks. The six banks used were named Bank A, Bank B, Bank C, Bank D, Bank E and Bank F respectively for the sake of anonymity. The population for the study was the strategic staff from the six banks all selected at their Head Offices in Greater Accra Region. The findings revealed that, there has been a high rate of investment in the past three years made by the various banks. The findings also revealed that both the foreign banks and the local banks asserted to the fact that, market share, profitability and ROA increases as IS investments are employed in the industry. Subjecting the hypothesis to statistical test also showed that, information systems investment has a positive relationship with bank performance. This study would help bank managers to recognize the importance of information systems investment and its use to gain competitive advantage and increase profit margins.

Source: UG
Impact of information technology (IT) on distance learning education: A retrospective analysis

The main aim of the study was to assess the accessibility, adequacy and use of lCT in Distance Education (DE) programme of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon distance learning students. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a critical role in enhancing the teaching and learning processes of the DE programme. Both interviews and questionnaires were used as instruments for collecting data from the management staff and distance learning students respectively. The main findings of the study were that the inaccessibility and inadequacy of ICT facilities had affected students' academic work especially in the area of research, learning and even library services. Moreover, the findings confirmed that a strong relationship exist between 'adequacy of ICT facilities' and teaching, learning and research'.

Source: UG
The Impact of Internal Democracy on the Performance of Political Parties in Ghana: The Cases of Three Constituencies.

Internal democracy, also known as intra-party democracy, refers to the level and methods of including party members in decision making and deliberation within the party structure. The debate as to whether internal democracy enhances the performance of political parties in elections has left scholars divided. The subject of internal democracy has become important in Ghana because of the argument that democracy within political parties is a reflection of how democracy is organized within the state, largely because of the winner takes all politics. This study explores the extent to which internal democracy has affected the performance of Ghana’s leading political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), that have alternated power since the return to constitutional rule in 1993. Relying on mixed research methods and anchored on the philosophy of pragmatism, the study intends to examine the subject between 2000 and 2016 in three unique constituencies, Ledzokuku, Ketu South and Kwabre East; the first, a swing constituency, and the second and third, strongholds of the NDC and NPP respectively. Preliminary findings based on the literature reviewed are discussed.

Source: UG
Impact of international trade on the quality of the natural environment: A case study of Ghana from 1970 to 2010

While trade openness has existed in Ghana since independence in 1957, economic liberalization policies implemented in Ghana starting from April 1983 to present date have led to a significant increase in trade openness. However, the impact of increased trade liberalization on the natural environment still remains unclear. In this work, we estimate the scale, technique and composition effects of trade liberalization on Ghana's environment using carbon dioxide emissions as proxy for environmental degradation and data for the period 1970 to 2010. The results indicate that in the long-run period, international trade has had adverse effects through the increased emissions of carbon dioxide as a result of increasing urbanization. However, increasing per capita income over the period has also reduced emissions of carbon dioxide illustrating the technique effect that increasing wealth of the individual leads to improved demand for higher quality of the environment. Similar results were obtained for the short-run period with the negative scale effect of increasing carbon dioxide emissions from increasing urbanization, and the positive technique effect arising from reduction of emissions from increasing per capita income being observed.

Source: UG
Impact of iron fortification on anaemia and iron deficiency among pre-school children living in Rural Ghana

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
The impact of irrigated agriculture on child nutrition outcomes in southern Ghana

In this study, we investigated whether irrigated agriculture results in improved child nutrition outcomes among farm households in southern Ghana. Using panel data collected between 2014 and 2015, this study seeks to add to the growing body of literature on the determinants of irri gated agriculture adoption, its effects on child nutrition, and the potential pathways through which irrigation can affect child nutrition outcomes. The results from the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) estimator suggest that children living in irrigating households have, on average, 0.23 standard deviations of weight-for-age and 0.27 standard de viations of weight-for-height higher than their counterparts; with males and under-five children gaining substantial improvements. Disaggregating irrigation by types, the results indicate that households planting on riverbeds or riverbanks had improved child nutrition. In contrast, chil dren living with households lifting water from water sources had higher height-for-age and weight-for-age. Further analysis of the underlying pathways suggests that an increase in health care financing and improvement in environmental quality rather than decreases in illness inci dence may be the crucial channels. Altogether, the findings show the importance of investments in agricultural development, particularly in small-scale irrigated agriculture technologies, to reduce childhood undernutrition.

Source: UG
The impact of kaolin dehydroxylation on the porosity and mechanical integrity of kaolin based ceramics using different pore formers

Thermally induced lattice defects in kaolin play a key role in the mechanical integrity of kaolin based ceramics during heat treatment due to their phase transformations. The effects of three types of pore formers (sawdust, styrofoam and powdery high density polyethylene) on the porosity and mechanical integrity of kaolin based ceramics have been studied based on their batch formulations. The porosity of the ceramic bodies was experimentally determined, while the structure and chemistry of the materials were elucidated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR, DSC/TG/DTA, and zeta potential. The kaolin-based porous samples sintered at 1150 °C exhibited mullite phase transformation attributed to recrystallization effects. Morphologically, open pores were distributed on the sample surfaces due to larger pathways and available channels of eviction of the pore formers. Compressive strength decreased linearly as apparent porosity increased signifying its correlation. The compressive strength showed to be much more sensitive to defects created by dehydroxylation as micro cracks were observed on the sample with HDPE as pore former which could be as a result of large volume change accompanying phase transformations and sensitivity to the dehydroxylation phase. It is noted that the new pore former (HDPE) used in this study produced ceramic bodies with porosity as high as 67% and hence the least compressive strength. © 2017

Source: UG
The Impact of Kidney Development on the Life Course: A Consensus Document for Action

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a significant impact on global morbidity and mortality. The Low Birth Weight and Nephron Number Working Group has prepared a consensus document aimed to address the relatively neglected issue for the developmental programming of hypertension and CKD. It emerged from a workshop held on April 2, 2016, including eminent internationally recognized experts in the field of obstetrics, neonatology, and nephrology. Through multidisciplinary engagement, the goal of the workshop was to highlight the association between fetal and childhood development and an increased risk of adult diseases, focusing on hypertension and CKD, and to suggest possible practical solutions for the future. The recommendations for action of the consensus workshop are the results of combined clinical experience, shared research expertise, and a review of the literature. They highlight the need to act early to prevent CKD and other related noncommunicable diseases later in life by reducing low birth weight, small for gestational age, prematurity, and low nephron numbers at birth through coordinated interventions. Meeting the current unmet needs would help to define the most cost-effective strategies and to optimize interventions to limit or interrupt the developmental programming cycle of CKD later in life, especially in the poorest part of the world. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Source: UG
Impact of kinship support on child mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana: assessing the Grandmother Hypothesis

Background: The grandmother is an important family member whose contribution to childcare and survival has been recognized in the literature, hence the grandmother hypothesis. This article examines the effect of the presence of a grandmother on child mortality. Methods: Data were obtained from the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance System, located in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Children born between January 1999 and December 2018 were included in the analysis. Person-months lived for each child were generated. The multilevel Poisson regression technique was employed to investigate the effect of a grandmother on child survival. Results: In all, 57,116 children were included in the analysis, of whom 7% died before age 5. Person-months were generated for the children, which produced 2.7 million records with about 487,800 person-years. After controlling for confounders, results showed that children in households with paternal grandmothers are 11% less likely to die compared with those without paternal grandmothers. However, when other confounders were taken into account, the beneficial effect of maternal grandmothers disappeared. Conclusions: We conclude that the presence of grandmothers improves child survival, thus sustaining the Grandmother Hypothesis. The experiences of these grandmothers should be tapped to improve child survival. particularly in rural areas.

Source: UG
Impact of land use on river systems in Ghana

Rivers play significant roles in the provision of water for domestic and industrial purposes. Nevertheless, land use dynamics continue to impact on river catchments which have negative repercussions for river health. This study focuses on land use change in the Okyeman Traditional Area, which encompasses three major river basins namely, the Densu, the Birim and the Ayensu. The study was aimed at investigating causes and impacts of land use change within the three river catchments and how these impacts could be curtailed to safeguard river health and sustainable water supply. Data for the study was derived from analysis of remotely sensed Landsat 7 ETM satellite imagery, and from questionnaire administration. Additional information was culled from the existing literature on land use, land use change, land cover change and related subjects. One major finding was that most of the river basins have undergone massive transformation over the last three decades as a result of various land use activities. The dominant land use types in the basins presently are agriculture, urban development, grazing, residential and transportation and fishing. The study also revealed that mining, indiscriminate waste disposal, water extraction and deforestation for fuel wood and other domestic uses, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and land degradation due to improper agricultural practices are also major land use activities that impact negatively on the river systems. The study concluded that there is the need to streamline land use activities, conserve vital ecosystems like watershed areas and maintain buffers along stream channels as a matter of policy to ensure adequate protection of aquatic fauna and to ensure sustainable water supply.

Source: UG
Impact Of Late-Stage Hypoxic Stimulation And Layer Breeder Age On Embryonic Development, Hatching And Chick Quality.

The present study examined the effects of breeder age and oxygen (O₂) concentrations during the late chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) growth stage on embryo development, hatching dynamics, chick quality, bone mineralization and hatchability. A total of 1200 eggs from 33- and 50-week-old ISA layer breeders, weighing 53.85 g and 60.42 g on average respectively, were incubated at 37.7°C and 56 % relative humidity. From embryonic day (ED) 13 to 15, experimental eggs were exposed to hypoxia (15 % or 17 % O₂ for 1 hr/day) while the control was at 21 % O₂. Results showed significant interactions (p = 0.040) between breeder age and oxygen level, with embryos exposed to 15 % and 17 % O₂ exhibiting slower growth by ED 17. However, embryo weight at internal pipping (IP) was unaffected (p > 0.05). At hatch, chick weights were higher in hypoxic groups due to increased yolk sac retention (p = 0.024), while yolk-free weights were influenced only by breeder age (p < 0.001). Hypoxia at 15 % O₂ reduced chick length, toe length, and tibia parameters (p < 0.05), likely due to impaired calcium and phosphorus absorption. Embryos exposed to 15 % O2 had longer internal and external pipping events, delaying hatch time. Embryonic mortality was highest (p < 0.001) at 15 % O₂, contributing to the reduced hatch of fertile eggs. This research demonstrates that controlled hypoxic conditions can slow embryonic development, conserve yolk nutrients, improve organ maturation and chick weight across breeder ages.

Source: UG
Impact of Lecturers’ Gender on Learning: Assessing University of Ghana Students’ Views

Studies conducted since the late 1970s have sought to describe students' conceptions of learning especially how gender of lecturers affected the learning of students. However, not many studies have been done in Ghana concerning how gender of lecturers affected learning among students. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of gender of lecturers on students learning. The study was conducted at the University of Ghana, Legon among undergraduates in levels 200, 300 and 400. Respondents were selected using the multi stage sampling procedure including quota and purposive sampling. Data were collected by the means of a self administered questionnaire and analyzed using the SPSS with interpretation in the form of tables, bar charts and followed by discussions. The findings revealed that male lecturers were rated higher as having positive impacts on learning whilst female lecturers were rated higher on class participation. Generally, however, most students agreed with existing literature that gender of lecturer really did not matter and that lecturers’ lecturing skills and personality were more important.

Source: UG
The impact of lipid-based nutrient supplement provision to pregnant women on newborn size in rural Malawi: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Small birth size, often associated with insufficient maternal nutrition, contributes to a large share of global child undernutrition, morbidity, and mortality. We developed a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) to enrich the diets of pregnant women. Objective: The objective was to test a hypothesis that home fortification of pregnant women's diets with SQ-LNS would increase birth size in an African community. Design: We enrolled 1391 women with uncomplicated pregnancies (<20 gestational weeks) in a randomized controlled trial in Malawi. The women were provided with one daily iron-folic acid (IFA) capsule, one capsule containing multiple micronutrients (MMNs), or one 20-g sachet of SQ-LNS (LNS, containing 118 kcal, protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and 21 micronutrients). Primary outcomes were birth weight and newborn length. Secondary outcomes included newborn weight, head and arm circumference, and pregnancy duration. Analysis was by intention to treat. Results: The mean ï¿½ SD birth weight and newborn length were 2948 ï¿½ 432, 2964 ï¿½ 460, and 3000 ï¿½ 447 g (P = 0.258) and 49.5 ï¿½ 2.4, 49.7 ï¿½ 2.2, and 49.9 ï¿½ 2.1 cm (P = 0.104) in the IFA, MMN, and LNS groups, respectively. For newborn weight-for-age, head circumference, and arm circumference, the point estimate for the mean was also highest in the LNS group, intermediate in the MMN group, and lowest in the IFA group, but except for midupper arm circumference (P = 0.024), the differences were not statistically significant. The prevalence of low birth weight (<2500 g) was 12.7%, 13.5%, and 12.1% (P = 0.856), respectively; newborn stunting (length-for-age z score < -2) was 19.2%, 14.0%, and 14.9% (P = 0.130), respectively; and newborn small head circumference (head circumference-for-age z score < -2) was 5.8%, 3.0%, and 3.1% (P = 0.099), respectively. The associations between the intervention and the outcomes were not modified by maternal parity, age, or nutritional status (P > 0.100). Conclusion: The study findings do not support a hypothesis that provision of SQ-LNS to all pregnant women would increase the mean birth size in rural Malawi. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01239693. ï¿½ 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Source: UG
Impact of LPG promotion program in Ghana: The role of distance to refill

This study investigates the impact of a clean cooking intervention on primary fuel choice and on households’ willingness to pay for an improved LPG distribution model in Ghana. Using data obtained via a survey of 904 households in two beneficiary districts, we found that the intervention led to higher LPG usage. The program increases the probability of households choosing LPG as a primary cooking fuel by 24% and the rate of use of LPG among households by 33%. Furthermore, an analysis of willingness to pay shows that delivery preference is not statistically different between beneficiary and control groups. The distance to refill the cylinder significantly affects LPG usage and willingness to pay. A policy that brings LPG refill closer to households and reduces the time and money cost of accessing a refill station is key to increasing the adoption of LPG as the primary cooking fuel.

Source: UG
Impact of macroeconomic indicators on stock market performance: The case of the Ghana Stock Exchange

Purpose – The study aims at examining how macroeconomic indicators affect the performance of stock markets by using the Ghana Stock Exchange as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – Quarterly time series data covering the period 1991-2005 were used. Cointegration and the error correction model techniques are employed to ascertain both short- and long-run relationships. Findings – Findings of the study reveal that lending rates from deposit money banks have an adverse effect on stock market performance and particularly serve as major hindrance to business growth in Ghana. Again, while inflation rate is found to have a negative effect on stock market performance, the results indicate that it takes time for this to take effect due to the presence of a lag period; and that investors benefit from exchange-rate losses as a result of domestic currency depreciation. Originality/value – The single most important contribution of this study is its emphasis on macroeconomic variables and stock market performance in a small country, since most studies have concentrated on stock markets and economic growth in advanced economies. © 2008, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG