ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Impact of the Sister Leadership Development Initiative (Sldi) Programme on the Performance of the Ministries Of Catholic Sister in Ghana

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study has been to assess how the Sister Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) programme has impacted the ministries of Catholic Sister in Ghana; and the communities which have benefited from their services and ministries. Specifically, the study sought to evaluate the relationship between the programme‘s aim and its acceptance by participants; assess whether the programme has equipped the participants with the competencies they require for the success of their ministries; and the programme‘s impact on their ministries and communities. The study sought answers to the foregoing by adopting a qualitative study approach and a case study and design. Primary data was collected from Catholic Sister who have participated in the programme. The non-probability sampling method of purposive sampling was used to select the trainee participants. The research instrument used for gathering data for the study was focus group discussion guide. Specifically, a set of focus group guide was developed to gather data from the trainee participants. It was established that trainee participants, fully accepted the programme‘s aims and objectives. The study concludes that the programme equipped participants with the leadership competencies they require to be successful in their ministries; and that the programme has had enormously positive impact on the Sister, their ministries, and their communities

Source: UCC
Impact of the University of Cape Coast distance learning programme on the professional development of basic school teachers in the Kumasi metropolis in the Ashanti region, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the UCC Distance Learning Programme on the professional development of basic school teachers in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It was a descriptive survey. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to sample 315 basic school teachers from the 10 sub-metros of the Kumasi Metropolis to serve as respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of .80 and an observation guide. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the results were summarised in tables. The study showed that basic school teachers in the Kumasi Metropolis had enhanced their understanding of their subject matter knowledge, better use and improvisation of teaching - learning materials as well as improved assessment of their students. The study also indicated that the teachers perceived UCC Distance learning programme as one of the avenues for them to have access to university education. Moreover, teachers who pursued the distance learning programme had acquired improved professional qualifications and ranks in the GES. Furthermore, the competency levels and classroom effectiveness of basic school teachers who have pursued the distance education programme were better than those who only have their initial teacher training college education. It is recommended that more basic school teachers should be encouraged to pursue the programme by offering them financial assistances in a form of scholarships and bursaries.

Source: UCC
The Impact of Tutors’ Digital Literacy on Ict Integration of Pre-Service Teachers: A Case Study of OLA College of Education

It is essential for Ghana to have teachers who are proficient in ICT as the use of ICT in classrooms grows. However, available data shows that not much attention has been given to exploring teachers’ digital literacy and the technology integration in the classroom. This study examined the effect of tutors' digital literacy on pre-service teachers' use of ICT at Ghana's colleges of education using OLA College of Education as a case study. The study specifically explored the digital literacy skills level of ICT tutors, examined the relevance of tutors’ digital literacy skills on ICT integration, and interrogated the factors which influence tutors’ digital literacy skills level. Data for this qualitative study was gathered from interviewing four (4) students and two (2) tutors of OLA College of Education. The findings revealed that tutors’ digital literacy level was high and they implemented such skills in their lesson delivery. Again, tutors’ digital literacy was imperative to prepare teacher trainees to fit into the modern digital age. Lastly, the effective integration of ICT in classroom instruction at the College of Education was challenged by students’ overconcentration on making good grades, inadequate ICT infrastructure and poor internet connectivity. The study recommends that students of the Colleges of Education in Ghana need to be oriented to appreciate and focus on the practices that can afford them ICT integration skills during their training rather than just focusing on passing examination. Also, Colleges of Education in Ghana must be stocked with adequate ICT infrastructure for student-teachers to learn with during their training.

Source: UCC
The impact of vehicular fallout on the Pra estuary of Ghana (a case study of the impact of platinum group metals (PGMs) on the marine ecosystem)

It is increasingly being recognized and environmental measurements have demonstrated that Platinum (Pt) (and potentially Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd)) is released with the ageing of catalytic converters. Platinum is a particular concern as it has a known mutagenic and toxic effect, even at exceedingly low concentrations, in urban air (affecting human health) and urban water (affecting ecosystem health). In the context given above and given the still keen lack of reliable experimental data on the levels of Pd, Pt and Rh in water and sediment, this study determined the concentration of such elements in water and sediment of the Pra estuary in the Western Region of Ghana where it is estimated that more than two thousand cars ass over the ridge under which the river flows to join the sea each day. Elevated concentrations of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and Rhodium (Rh) were found to e associated with water and soils from areas of high traffic densities (Beposo) suggesting that vehicles also contribute heavy metals (PGMs) to the environment. The result showed elevated levels of these metals in river bank, waterbed and in the water. There is therefore the tendency of possible accumulation of these metals in lant and animals along these areas

Source: UCC
Impacts Des Gestes Des Enseignants Sur La Compréhension en Classe De Fle : Le Cas De Fijai Shs2 Dans La Métropole De Sekondi-takoradi

ABSTRACT The main objective of the study is to analyze the impact of teachers’ gestures on understanding in general, in a foreign language class among learners of French. To collect the data, a questionnaire, an interview and an observation were used. The data collected during the survey revealed that the use of gestures in French as Foreign Language (FFL), is very beneficial to learners, as it helps them understand the lesson more than the absence of gestures. Gestures sustain the attention of learners during demonstrations made by the teacher. Despite the many benefits derived by learners from the use of gestures, the practice also has adverse effects on learners. Inappropriate use of gestures by the teacher, the level of learners, the use of abstract words, the language community of the learner have been identified as problems associated with the use of gestures. To solve these problems, we have recommended a number of solutions: appropriate use of gestures by the teacher, the use of images, drawings, symbols, emblems, which can facilitate the understanding in general and especially the understanding of abstract concepts and the level of the learners should be considered when choosing words and expressions for lessons

Source: UCC
Impacts of climate change and mitigation policies on malt barley supplies and associated virtual water flows in the UK

Barley is a major ingredient for the malting industry which is highly sensitive and vulnerable to malt barley supply. The United Kingdom (UK) has the second highest malting capacity in the EU and the third largest malting industry in the world, supplying malt to major global breweries. premium whisky, which has both economic and cultural significance for the UK, also makes sustainable malt barley supply critical for the UK. There is paucity of information on the sustainability of future supplies of malt barley in the UK, as much as it is in the world. This study applied a food balance approach to assess the combined effects of climate change and mitigation policies on UK malt barley balances for the 2030s, 2040 s, and 2050 s. Future yields of spring barley were simulated under the low, medium and high emissions scenarios (or LES, MES, and HES, respectively) for the three time slices. Future areas of land for barley production were obtained via land use change simulation in response to climate mitigation policies and aspirations of the UK. Future yields and land areas were combined to obtain total barley production, which served as a basis of supply. per capita malt barley consumption was combined with future population to obtain demand. the gaps between demand and supply were then assessed. the results show large deficits in malt barley supplies for all combinations of climate change, land use and population, with adverse implications for the malting industry. total malt barley supplies under current land area for barley and using the 90th percentile yield, ranged from 1899 (LES, 2030s) to 2,437 thousand tonnes (HES, 2050s). The largest supply under climate mitigation land use scenarios ranged from 1,592 (LES, 2030s) to 2,120 thousand tonnes (HES, 2050s). Deficits in supply were observed for all climate mitigation land use scenarios and time slices, ranging from 128 to 585 thousand tonnes at 90th percentile yield. However, surpluses were observed from the 2040s if current land area for barley remains unchanged. Imports to balance the observed deficits would result in large inflows of blue water to the UK, with adverse implications for global freshwater supply and environmental sustainability. It is concluded that even though spring barley yields in the UK could increase under projected climate change, reductions in croplands (due mainly to climate mitigation policies and aspirations) could combine with population growth to undermine the sustainability of malt barley supplies, both nationally and internationally

Source: UCC
Impacts of couple-oriented and group-oriented approaches on marital satisfaction of couples at the verge of divorce in Sunyani municipality, Ghana.

The study assessed the impact of couple and group-oriented approaches on marital satisfaction of couples at the verge of divorce in the Sunyani Municipality. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the 48 participants for pre-test study after which the participants were assigned into experimental and control groups. Five research questions were formulated to keep the study in focus. Similarly, seven hypotheses were also tested. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) was used in collecting pre-test and post-test responses from the married people. The study revealed that what respondents considered most as a reason for them to quit their marriages was character issues of the spouses. The finding revealed that participants who were exposed to couple oriented marital counselling approach did not differ significantly with regard to positive impact on their marriage from those that were exposed to group oriented marital counselling approach. Marital seminars to enlighten couples on factors responsible for marital dissatisfaction and how to handle these factors should be organised on regular basis by churches, mosque, and other agencies related to. marriage.

Source: UCC
Impacts of human activities on the quality of river water: a case study of river Densu in Nsawam Adoagyiri of the Akwapim South District, Eastern Region of Ghana

Activities in and around River Densu Basin poses a threat to the quality of the river. This study, therefore, assesses the impact of human activities on the water quality of River Densu from 2010 to 2015 using the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Nemerow’s Pollution Index. Twenty-five (25) physicochemical parameters were used in measuring the water quality to establish the extent of deterioration resulting from human activities. The data for the assessment was secondary data (2010-2015) obtained from the Ghana Water Company Regional laboratory in Weija Accra Ghana. The results of the study indicate that twelve out of the 25 parameters were above the guidelines set by WHO. Among the physicochemical parameters analyzed, turbidity, ammonia (NH3), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and aluminium (Al) exceeded the permissible limit in all the study years. The concentration of copper (Cu) exceeded the WHO standard for all the years except in 2011. Manganese concentration was above the WHO standard for all the years except 2010 and 2013. Nitrite exceeded the WHO standard in only 2015. Among the parameters which exceeded the WHO standard for all the years, turbidity recorded the highest increase and in the percentage range of 380% -6891.1%. According to the NPI results, five parameters namely turbidity, NH3, Fe, P, and Al were the principal pollutants from 2010 to 2015 whereas As, Mg, Zn, and Pb were found not to contribute to the pollution effect. The metal Cu did pollute the river in all the years except in 2011 whereas Mn didn’t pollute 2010 and 2013. The water quality index confirms that the water quality is fair between 2010 and 2011; marginal among 2012 to 2014 and poor in 2015. The water quality results indicate that the water quality is frequently threatened or impaired between 2010 to 2014 however, the quality of the river is almost always threatened or impaired in 2015. Generally, catchment activities such as illegal mining, farming along the banks of the river, and discharge of untreated waste are the main processes polluting the Densu river which is a serious threat to the health of inhabitants in villages which still use the water for cooking activities. The investigation recommends continuous monitoring of the above-mentioned activities which goes on in the catchment to arrest the deteriorating water quality

Source: UCC
Impacts Of Vehicular Emissions And Dust On The Respiratory Health Of Roadside Vendors

The business of roadside vendors is most lucrative at the areas of heavy vehicular traffic, which expose them to toxic vehicular emissions and roadside dust. These pollutants are known to cause and/or exacerbate respiratory illness with very little or no effort going towards protecting the vendors against the air pollutants. A cross-sectional study was done to evaluate the impacts of the air pollutants on the respiratory health and perception of roadside vendors. The level of particulate matter measuring 2.5μm or less (P.M2.5), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) were measured with a monitor equipped with sensors. A spirometer and a questionnaire were used to assess vendors’ respiratory health. Levels of Dust-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also determined with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GCMS). The 24-hour mean concentrations of PM2.5, CO and O3 were 69.21 μg/m3, 8.52 ppm and 93.95 ppb respectively. The mean concentration of PM2.5-bound PAHs ranged between 0.86 μg/kg for Anthracene to 567.68 μg/kg for Benzo[g,h,i]perylene. The concentration of PM2.5 and O3 exceeded WHO limits. The result of PAHs source identification ratios indicates that liquid fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning are the major sources of PAHs along the road. Vendors reported a high (82%) prevalence of respiratory symptoms. There was a significant difference between the pre-shift and postshift spirometry for vendors compared to controls. Vendors are exposed to higher levels of air pollutants at the roadside explaining the high prevalence (82%) of respiratory symptoms.

Source: UCC
Implementation Challenges of the Ban on Corporal Punishment in Public Basic Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis

The purpose of the study was to explore implementation challenges of the ban on corporal punishment in public basic schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis. A qualitative approach with a phenomenological research design was adopted. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 25 participants for the study comprising 15 teachers, five headteachers and five School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs). An interview guide was used to collect the data. The interview data was analysed thematically. The study revealed that teachers and headteachers viewed the ban of corporal punishment as the cause of increase in discipline among pupils while SISOs viewed it as a good initiative to stop physical, psychological, and emotional abuse on pupils. It was also found that teachers and supervisors used corporal punishment such as weeding, and fetching of water as Tools for Positive Discipline (TPD). The key challenges teachers and supervisors faced in using the Tools for Positive Discipline are: lack of parents’ cooperation and unavailability of professional school counsellors. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the Ghana Education Service should sensitise parents, teachers, and supervisors on the policy on ban of corporal punishment and the TPD through training workshops and seminars. The Ghana Education Service should recruit and post professional counsellors to schools to provide counselling services to pupils to help curb indiscipline among pupils.

Source: UCC
Implementation of compensator-based intensity modulated radiotherapy with a conventional telecobalt machine using missing tissue approach

Objectives: The present study aimed to generate intensity-modulated beams with compensators for a conventional telecobalt machine, based on dose distributions generated with a treatment planning system (TPS) performing forward planning, and cannot directly simulate a compensator. Materials and Methods: The following materials were selected for compensator construction: Brass, Copper and Perspex (PMMA). Boluses with varying thicknesses across the surface of a tissue-equivalent phantom were used to achieve beam intensity modulations during treatment planning with the TPS. Beam data measured for specific treatment parameters in a full scatter water phantom with a 0.125 cc cylindrical ionization chamber, with a particular compensator material in the path of beams from the telecobalt machine, and that without the compensator but the heights of water above the detector adjusted to get the same detector readings as before, were used to develop and propose a semi-empirical equation for converting a bolus thickness to compensator material thickness, such that any point within the phantom would receive the planned dose. Once the dimensions of a compensator had been determined, the compensator was constructed using the cubic pile method. The treatment plans generated with the TPS were replicated on the telecobalt machine with a bolus within each beam represented with its corresponding compensator mounted on the accessory holder of the telecobalt machine. Results: Dose distributions measured in the tissue-equivalent phantom with calibrated Gafchromic EBT2 films for compensators constructed based on the proposed approach, were comparable to those of the TPS with deviation less than or equal to ± 3% (mean of 2.29 ± 0.61%) of the measured doses, with resultant confidence limit value of 3.21. Conclusion: The use of the proposed approach for clinical application is recommended, and could facilitate the generation of intensity-modulated beams with limited resources using the missing tissue approach rendering encouraging results. © 2018 Samuel N. A. Tagoe et al., published by Sciendo 2018.

Source: UCC
Implementation of compensator-based intensity modulated radiotherapy with a conventional telecobalt machine using missing tissue approach

Objectives: The present study aimed to generate intensity-modulated beams with compensators for a conventional telecobalt machine, based on dose distributions generated with a treatment planning system (TPS) performing forward planning, and cannot directly simulate a compensator. Materials and Methods: The following materials were selected for compensator construction: Brass, Copper and Perspex (PMMA). Boluses with varying thicknesses across the surface of a tissue-equivalent phantom were used to achieve beam intensity modulations during treatment planning with the TPS. Beam data measured for specific treatment parameters in a full scatter water phantom with a 0.125 cc cylindrical ionization chamber, with a particular compensator material in the path of beams from the telecobalt machine, and that without the compensator but the heights of water above the detector adjusted to get the same detector readings as before, were used to develop and propose a semi empirical equation for converting a bolus thickness to compensator material thickness, such that any point within the phantom would receive the planned dose. Once the dimensions of a compensator had been determined, the compensator was constructed using the cubic pile method. The treatment plans generated with the TPS were replicated on the telecobalt machine with a bolus within each beam represented with its corresponding compensator mounted on the accessory holder of the telecobalt machine. Results: Dose distributions measured in the tissue-equivalent phantom with calibrated Gafchromic EBT2 films for compensators constructed based on the proposed approach, were comparable to those of the TPS with deviation less than or equal to ± 3% (mean of 2.29 ± 0.61%) of the measured doses, with resultant confidence limit value of 3.21. Conclusion: The use of the proposed approach for clinical application is recommended, and could facilitate the generation of intensity-modulated beams with limited resources using the missing tissue approach rendering encouraging results

Source: UCC
Implementation of Ghana’s standards-based curriculum by religious and moral education teachers in the Kwahu West Municipality

The study sought to investigate the fidelity of implementation of Ghana’s Standards-Based Curriculum (SBC)by Religious and Moral Education teachers in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region, Ghana,as well as assess the challenges to the implementation efforts by the teachers. The convergent parallel design under mixed method was adopted for the study. Using the census and purposive sampling procedure, 181 respondents consisting of 175 RME teachers and six (6) head teachers from the public primary schools in the Kwahu West Municipality were selected for the study. Questionnaire, interview guide and observation guide were used to gather the requisite data for the study. The data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation, and thematic approach. The study found out that the RME teachers were somewhat prepared for the implementation of the Standards-Based Religious and Moral Education Curriculum. Again, RME teachers were to a very large extent implementing the key features of the Standard-Based Religious and Moral Education Curriculum. Teachers were confronted with a number of challenges in the implementation of the standards-based RME curriculum including: inadequate teacher training prior to curriculum implementation,inadequate head teacher support, unavailability of ICT tools, among others. The study recommended that, the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the head teachers organise detailed and frequent in-service training programmes for the RME teachers. Again, ICT tools should be made available to teachers andit should be ensured that teachers have adequate knowledge on application of ICT tools.

Source: UCC