ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The African Union and the quest for peace and security in Africa: 2002-2012

A significant challenge that confronted the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) throughout its establishment was the successful management of intra-state conflicts. The OAU was criticised for its lack of intervention in these conflicts due to its Charter provision of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. The launch of the African Union in 2002 signalled a new era in the quest for peace and security in Africa. The AU initiated important steps towards the creation of an African Peace and Security Architecture for the management and maintenance of conflicts. The AU's Constitutive Act further gives the right of intervention in the internal affairs of members to the Union. Since its establishment, the AU has lunched military and diplomatic operations in Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Comoros, Togo, Ivory Coast, Niger, Madagascar, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Libya among others. The main objective of this study is to assess the African Union's management of the African Peace and Security Architecture since its formation to see what has been achieved via interventions and what remains problematic in the quest for peace and security in Africa. The study hypothesised that although the African Union's doctrine of non-indifference has galvanized its young institutions of peace and security into making significant strides in the conduct of peace operations on the continent, it has had very limited effect on the success of interventions. The research findings noted that whiles the AU has demonstrated commitment to address conflicts in Africa; it faces severe capacity constraints that does not auger well for the Union's future in peace and security

Source: UG
The African urban food environment framework for creating healthy nutrition policy and interventions in urban Africa

This study developed, validated, and evaluated a framework of factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban African food environments, to inform research prioritisation and inter vention development in Africa. A multi-component methodology, drawing on concept map ping, was employed to construct a framework of factors influencing dietary behaviours in urban Africa. The framework adapted a widely used socio-ecological model (developed in a high-income country context) and was developed using a mixed-methods research approach that comprised: i. Evidence synthesis consisting of a systematic review of 39 papers covering 14 African countries; ii. Qualitative interview data collected for adolescents and adults (n = 144) using photovoice in urban Ghana and Kenya; and iii. Consultation with interdisciplinary African experts (n = 71) from 27 countries, who contributed to at least one step of the framework (creation, validation/evaluation, finalisation). The final framework included 103 factors influencing dietary behaviours. Experts identified the factors influencing dietary behaviours across all the four levels of the food environment i.e. the individual, social, physical and macro levels. Nearly half (n = 48) were individual-level factors and just under a quarter (n = 26) were at the macro environmental level. Fewer factors associated with social (n = 15) and physical (14) environments were identified. At the macro level, the factors ranked as most important were food prices, cultural beliefs and seasonality. Factors ranked as important at the social level were household composition, family food habits and dietary practices. The type of food available in the neighbourhood and convenience were seen as important at the physical level, while individual food habits, food preferences and socioeconomic status were ranked highly at the individual level. About half of the factors (n = 54) overlap with those reported in an existing socio-ecological food environment framework developed in a high-income country context. A further 49 factors were identified that were not reported in the selected high-income country framework, underlining the importance of contextualisation. Our conceptual framework offers a useful tool for research to understand dietary transitions in urban African adolescents and adults, as well as identification of factors to intervene when promoting healthy nutritious diets to prevent multiple forms of malnutrition.

Source: UG
The African Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Network: A vaccine advocacy initiative

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
African weaver ant-produced semiochemicals impact on foraging behaviour and parasitism by the Opiine parasitoid, Fopius arisanus on Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens is an alien invasive pest of mango in Africa. The predatory African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda is being promoted for managing B. invadens and classical biological control with the Opiine parasitoid, Fopius arisanus is also underway. The current study investigated interactions between these two natural enemies. Specifically we assessed whether semiochemicals deposited by the ant on leaves and fruit affected the landing behavior of F. arisanus, its patch residence time and subsequent parasitism rates. Results showed that significantly more F. arisanus landed on 'ant-unexposed' leaves and fruits (leaves: 3.8 ± 0.5-7.7 ± 0.8; fruits: 4.1 ± 0.1-8.1 ± 1.2) compared with 'ant-exposed' leaves and fruits (leaves: 0.4 ± 0.1-2.5 ± 0.3; fruits: 0.2 ± 0.1-2.8 ± 0.7) from mango, citrus, guava and avocado. Parasitoid patch residence times were significantly longer on 'ant-unexposed' mango fruits (654.2 ± 28.4. s-1034.2 ± 112.6. s) compared to 'ant-exposed' fruits (75.2 ± 18.4. s-144.8 ± 42. s) regardless of whether eggs of B. invadens were present. In terms of percent parasitism, F. arisanus achieved significantly higher parasitism rates in B. invadens from 'ant-unexposed' mango fruits (72.8 ± 3.8) compared with 'ant-exposed' fruits (18.2 ± 1.8). Regression analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between the duration of exposure of mango fruits to ant-produced semiochemicals and the number of F. arisanus adults landing on fruits and percent parasitism. In field cages, 32% parasitism of B. invadens was achieved in mango fruits on trees without ants and 11% in mango fruits on ant-infested trees. These results suggest the potential for biotic interference between the two natural enemies if they are recommended for use within the same ecosystem. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Source: UG
African Women in Neurosurgery: An Exploration of Historical Perspectives, Current Realities, and Future Prospects

BACKGROUND: Gender disparities remain significant issue, particularly impacting African women in the field of neurosurgery. METHODS: Databases, articles, and perspectives were reviewed to identify challenges faced by African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN), and explore solutions for recruitment, retention, and career advancement of AWIN. RESULTS: In 1982, Africa saw its first female neurosurgeon, with the first female president of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies appointed 4 null decades later. Presently, the continent hosts 245 female neurosurgeons, with North Africa comprising the majority at 76.3%, with Algeria notably contributing 72.2% of this total. Southern Africa contributes 7.8%, while West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa contributed 6.5%, 6.1%, and 3.3%, respectively. Thirteen countries lack neurosurgeons entirely and 30 out of the 54 African nations face shortages of female neurosurgeons, with distributions as follows: North Africa (1-country), Southern Africa (6-countries), West Africa (8-countries), East Africa (9-countries), and Central Africa (6 countries). Our analysis mapped the distribution of 245 AWIN across the African regions and examined the professional trajectories and achievements of 17 pioneering AWIN. Additionally, we compiled registries for: 1) 76 neurosurgical training programs across 26 African countries, 2) organizations tackling gender disparities in neurosurgery, and 3) recommendations to promote AWIN across governmental, community, and academic spheres. CONCLUSIONS: To boost AWIN representation in neurosurgery, concerted and comprehensive efforts are vital. Collaboration among medical schools, training programs, and governments are key to fostering diversity and inclusivity in African neurosurgical settings.

Source: UG
African Women Writers Across Generations: Navigating Local Contexts And Evolving Feminist Approaches.

: Scholars in African feminism have historically repudiated the concept of feminism, which has been perceived as a Western imposition. Through a literary analysis of Ekomo (Nsué Angüe, 1985), Efuru (Nwapa, 1966) and Une si longue lettre (Bâ, 1979), the current article examines how first-generation African women writers approach the conditions that oppress women. Furthermore, the article discusses how the approach to women’s challenges in first-generation novels differs from the forms of feminism that are being articulated more recently by African feminist activists. The findings show that Nsué Angüe, Nwapa, and Bâ’s novels project the experiences and concerns of their female characters through the various ways of liberating women in the local context such as nego-feminism and snail-sense feminism. These African variants of feminism cater to their local peculiarities in ways that reflect the differences between African and Western cultures. However, these earlier approaches to women’s challenges do not align with the forms of feminism articulated today.

Source: UG
Afriflu2-Second international workshop on influenza vaccination in the African continent-8 November 2012, Cape Town (South Africa)

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Afrocentricity, the adae festival of the Akan, African American festivals, and intergenerational communication

African American communities celebrate different kinds of festivals each year, but little has been published on this subject. This article is intended to fill part of the vacuum, demonstrating the importance and functions of African festivals and their relationship with contemporary African American festivals. African festivals are a tool of community gathering and unity and place us at the center of our culture and social environment. They are also a medium of cultural education and intergenerational communication and play an important role in the preservation of our cultural heritage, transmitting knowledge and our experiences as a people to future generations. The celebration of festivals in the African American communities must not be seen merely as an annual congregation of street and food vendors, marching bands, and musicians but also as a tool of cultural reconstruction and transmission of knowledge to the younger generation. © 2005 Sage Publications.

Source: UG
Afrophobia, “black on black” violence and the new racism in South Africa: the nexus between adult education and mutual co-existence

Black South Africans have been widely described in the popular media as having anti-foreigner sentiments, particularly towards African migrants in the country. Anchored on labels such as “makwerekwere” (a derogatory word used to describe African migrants in the country) and “foreigners”, such sentiments have Unfortunately, this resulted in waves of violent attacks on African migrants, leading to loss of lives and properties. These actions have been described as being “Afrophobic”, “Black on Black” violence, and a new form of racism in South Africa. We contend that these vices cannot be divorced from the history of Apartheid, which fostered a system of fear of and mistrust for other foreign African nationals through isolating black South Africans from the international community. In this paper, we employ Kenneth Waltz’s levels of analysis as an analytical framework to examine the conceptualisations of Afrophobia, “black on black” violence and the so-called new racism in South Africa. Using Bronwyn Harris’ thematic classifications of the Using various hypotheses of the causes of xenophobia, we analyse the rationale behind the increasing anti-migrant tendencies of black South Africans. Going beyond this analysis, the paper examines how adult education could help promote tolerance and co-existence between South Africans and foreign nationals

Source: UG
Afrophobia, “black on black” violence and the new racism in South Africa: the nexus between adult education and mutual co-existence

Black South Africans have been widely described in the popular media as having anti-foreigner sentiments, particularly towards African migrants in the country. Anchored on labels such as “makwerekwere” (a derogatory word used to describe African migrants in the country) and “foreigner”, such sentiments have unfortunately resulted in waves of violent attacks on African migrants leading to loss of lives and properties. These actions have been described as being “Afrophobic”, “Black on Black” Violence and a new form of racism in South Africa. We contend that these vices cannot be divorced from the history of Apartheid which fostered a system of fear of and mistrust for other foreign African nationals through isolating black South Africans from the international community. In this paper, we employ Kenneth Waltz’s levels of analysis as an analytical framework to examine the conceptualisations of Afrophobia, “black on black” violence and the so-called new racism in South Africa. Using Bronwyn Harris’ thematic classifications of the various hypotheses of the causes of xenophobia, we analyse the rationale behind the increasing anti-migrant tendencies of black South Africans. Going beyond this analysis, the paper examines how adult education could help promote tolerance and co-existence between South Africans and foreign nationals.

Source: UG
“After Cutting It, Things Have Never Remained the Same”: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Amputees and Their Caregivers.

Introduction: Physical and emotional loss from amputation and associated physical disability are associated with adverse physical and psychological experiences. However, little research, within the Ghanaian context, has focused on the impact of amputation on the well‐being of amputees and their caregivers and the coping strategies they use to mitigate challenges experienced. Therefore, the present study explored the impact of amputation on the well‐being of amputees and caregivers, and the coping strategies they employ to manage distress associated with amputation and caregiving. Methods: The aim of this present study was explored using a qualitative descriptive design. Twenty (20) participants (comprising 10 amputees and 10 caregivers) responded to a semi‐structured interview guide. Results: Findings show that whereas amputees experienced phantom limb sensation and loss of job, caregivers reported economic hardship and fear. Though stress was a common experience, the source of stress was different for amputees and caregivers. Regarding coping, whereas amputees used social distancing, social reference and social support to cope with their traumatic ordeal, caregivers simply coped by encouraging themselves. Both amputees and caregivers used religious coping. Conclusion: Amputees and their caregivers experience varied stressors yet whereas the amputees get the needed support to deal with their predicament, caregivers lack adequate support. Patient or Public Contribution: The findings underscore the need for diverse support systems and psychoeducation on adaptive coping strategies for amputees and caregivers.

Source: UG
After retirement what next? A survey of postretirement resolutions of retiring university teachers in Ghana

This research examined the decisions of retiring university teachers to con tinue work after retirement in the same profession or leave for other employ ment or non-paid activities. The study used a questionnaire to collect data from 231 respondents purposively drawn from 20 Ghanaian public univer sities. Analyses of the data revealed that most respondents resolved to leave their current profession when they retired because they preferred to engage in either part-time self-employment or part-time non-paid social activities. The minority stayers were motivated to mentor inexperienced others, keep an active life, and maintain income earnings but mainly on a part-time basis. The research is impactful because workforce aging has become a global higher education issue, particularly for managers who reflect on how to fill vacancies with competent replacements.

Source: UG
After the Structural Adjustment Programme for Africa’s Economic Crisis What Next? A Look at Some Immediate African Alternative Development Strategies

In the late 1960s and early 1970s Sub-Saharan Africa experienced an unprecedented economic crisis shutting the exhilarating expectations of economic stability and development associated with independence. In response to the African abysmal economic decline, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was introduced by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a recovery economic policy for Africa. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, most Sub-Saharan African countries had implemented the programme as conditionality for aid. However, the implementation of these programmes had a massive negative impact on African economies with the problem of balance of payment deficits. With the failure of the structural adjustment programmes, Africans with the support of the United Nations began to look for other alternative economic recovery strategies to address the African economic doldrums. This paper therefore takes a critical look at three of the most immediate alternative development strategies of Africa which includes; the Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) and the Abuja Treaty for the establishment of the African Economic Community (AEC) 1980-2000; Africa’s Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986 -1990 (APPER) which later became UN Programme of Action for Africa’s Economic Recovery and Development (UN-PAAERD) (1986); and the African Alternative Framework for Structural Adjustment (AAF-SAP) 1989. The paper concludes that post-colonial governments found it very easy to seek for alternative development plans as substitutes for the IMF and World Bank imposed SAPs but such strategies suffered from actual implementations accounting for their failures.

Source: UG
Afucosylated Plasmodium falciparum-specific IgG is induced by infection but not by subunit vaccination

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
Ag2CO3-halloysite nanotubes composite with enhanced removal efficiency for water soluble dyes

The release of water soluble dyes into the environment is an utmost concern in many countries. This paper presents the effects of Ag2CO3-halloysite composites on the efficient removal of water soluble dyes. In this study, NaHCO3 solution was added dropwisely to halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) dispersed in aqueous AgNO3 to form Ag2CO3-HNTs composite. The synthesized Ag2CO3-HNTs composite was characterized with Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity and the adsorption capacity of Ag2CO3-HNTs on methylene blue and rhodamine b dyes were dependent on pH and the amount of HNTs used in the synthesis. The photodegradation efficiency of Ag2CO3 was lower when compared with that of the composite material. This observation is due to the reduction in the electron-hole recombination with the HNTs acting as electron trapping site and the enhanced aqueous dispersity of Ag2CO3-HNTs. The enhanced adsorption of water soluble dyes by the Ag2CO3-HNTs resulted from the electrostatic attraction of cationic dyes to the surface of the HNTs (negatively charged). The Ag2CO3-HNTs therefore removed dye pollutants through a combination of photocatalytic and adsorption processes. The results obtained during the study confirmed the potential application of Ag2CO3-HNTs composite in water treatment technologies.

Source: UG
Age of menarche among basic level school girls in medina, accra.

The current study was designed to determine the age at which menarche occurs among school girls in Madina, Accra. A survey was conducted among 529 girls selected using multi-stage sampling from basic schools in Madina, Accra. Respondents completed a questionnaire that recorded age-at-first menstruation by recall, household characteristics, and anthropometry. Mean age at menarche was 12.74 +/- 1.15 years; probit analysis yielded a median age of 12.09 years. Menarcheal age was significantly correlated with current age (r = 0.48; p < 0.01). Most girls (90%) had first menstruation before age 13. Their mothers' mean age at menarche was 13.6 +/- 1.08 years. In a multivariate linear regression model, household wealth (p < 0.01) and body mass index (p < 0.01) were the main modifiable independent predictors of age at onset of menarche. School girls in Madina attained menarche earlier than previously estimated. Our study suggests an influence of household level improvement in socio-economic status on menarcheal age.

Source: UG