ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Mainstreaming A Gender Perspective in Multidimensional Peace Operations: A Study of the Ghana Armed Forces Deployments

Gender mainstreaming in the armed forces globally remains limited, although the United Nations encourages women’s engagement in all aspects of peacekeeping. Most studies on peacekeeping continue to overlook the central role women play in peacekeeping. Relying on feminist institutionalism and sociological institutionalism, this study examined the gender mainstreaming measures employed by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to improve women’s participation and the underlying factors that restrict the participation of women in peacekeeping operations. The study employed a mixed method approach. Using a qualitative research methodology, the researcher investigated the opinions of Ghanaian Armed Forces soldiers regarding the degree to which GAF deployment to UN peacekeeping operations complies with mainstreaming a gender perspective in multidimensional peace operations. With a study population of 2,321, the researcher used sample size of 100 which was estimated as, 𝑛=𝑧2×𝑝(1−𝑝)𝑒21+(𝑧2×𝑝(1−𝑝)𝑒2𝑁) (1) n= [(1.962) * 0.5(1-0.5)/0.052]/ 1 + [(1.962) * 0.5(1-0.5)/0.052*2321] n= 100. The study design that was adopted is a descriptive case study design and the data for this study were compiled using both secondary and primary sources of data. The study found gender integration within the recruitment process and pre-deployment training programs as the gender mainstreaming measures of GAF. The findings revealed that GAF had committed to international and national guidelines of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda by informally reserving 15% of the various positions for women deployment on peacekeeping missions. Also, the study found GAF’s hierarchy and structures as those formal institutions that constrain women's participation. The results showed gender that roles relating to the stereotype of women constrain women's participation in peacekeeping operations. Relating to the gender roles, the study showed that the personnel within the GAF view masculine trades as engineering, critical military functions and combat units whilst feminist trades were related to administration, cooking, nursing and clergy. The study recommended that GAF focuses on revising its recruitment and deployment strategies by giving importance to women and their roles. Also, women are encouraged to take leadership positions at GAF, especially in combat units, as it influences the number of women deployed to peacekeeping operations.

Source: UCC
Maize (zea mays L) response to intermittent water application under tropical coastal savanna condition

Tropical regions usually experience intermittent rainfall and this affects maize production in most tropical countries where irrigation facilities are inadequate. The pot experiment was conducted at the School of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, University of Cape Coast, to investigate the effect of intermittent water application on maize growth and yield parameters. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications. Four different water amounts correspondingly applied at different frequency intervals were used as treatments: 300 cm3 water at 3-day intervals, (T1); 490 cm3 water at 5-day intervals (T2); 770 cm3 water at 7-day intervals (T3); and 1150 cm3 water at 9-day intervals (T4). The results showed no significant difference (p ≤ 5%) among the treatments on the germination rate. However, the effect of the treatments on all the other maize growth and yield parameters determined followed similar trend and was in the order of T3  T2  T4  T1. In conclusion, even though maize production in the study area increased with increasing water amount at long application intervals, prolonged interval of 9-days reduced the maize performance even with increased water amount

Source: UCC
Maize farmers acceptance and willingness to pay for drone services for the control of fall Armyworm in Northern Ghana

In Ghana, maize is one of the major staple food crops. Since 2016, it has been plagued by fall armyworm, leaving production capacity below the national average. The introduction of drone technology is to assist farmers to reduce havoc caused by fall armyworm. Majority of research done in the area of drone technology has focus on the technical and mechanical aspect. This gap gives rise to this study, as the study seeks to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of maize farmers, examine preferred options by maize farmers for control of FAW, assess and compare the total perceived effect of the field usage of various spraying methods of pesticide, assess and compare the Enterprise analysis of experimental plots for the application of pesticides for the control of FAW, ascertain farmers’ willingness to pay for drone services for the control of FAW and determine factors that influence the acceptance of drone services for the control of FAW. The study adopted cross sectional survey design to ascertain the interplay of variables. The research used a multi-stage sampling technique to obtain 152 sample out of 301 population. The research used questionnaire as the data collection tool. The data was stored and analysed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS 25.0 and StataSE 13.0. The results of the study revealed synthetic control was the preferred control option. With objective two, it was revealed that drone technology had high financial effect on farmers. Whiles, on the Enterprise analysis, it was revealed that the cost of drone plot was high relatively to that of knapsack but the gains from it was better off. Majority of respondent were willing to pay for drone service but did not have enough resource. Willingness to pay was influenced by farmers’ gender, access to input and information, status in the household and contact with extension agents. Lastly, it was revealed that maize farmer’s decision to accept drone service was influenced by maize farmers’ status in the household, content and accessibility of drone services. In conclusion, maize farmers in the North-East and Northern Regions showed high level of acceptance of drone services but faced financial difficulties in accessing it. The study recommends that MoFA and NGOs into agriculture should help provide credit to maize farmers to boost their acceptance of drone services.

Source: UCC
Maize price stabilization in Ghana: an application of a continuous-time delay differential equation model with buffer stock

The paper is intended to use mathematical models for controlling fluctuations in the price of maize by employing a nonlinear continuous time delay differential equation derived from linear demand and nonlinear supply functions of price. The delay parameters reflect the realities prevailing at the local market. These models are formulated from parameters estimated from real economic data of maize price demand and production in the Ashanti Region of Ghana through the use of regression methods. The data is obtained from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Statistical Directorate Kumasi-Ghana, pertaining to years from 1994 to 2013. The results of the study are connected to the assertion that commodity price is dependent on planting time, storage time, relaxation time and total production time. If all these individual time segments are combined as one for supply delay to make up total storage time, which is the delay for the buffer, then price oscillations would be drastically reduced as shown in this paper. The study is, also, an improvement on the work done by earlier workers, whose discrete time models are limiting cases of the delay buffer stock model used in this study. The efficiency of a buffer system is proven to be dependent on delay variation suitably enough to be used by buffer stock operators. It is noted that, the farther the buffer stock delay and supply delay are reduced, the more stable the price becomes and the effects of buffer stock are felt more by stakeholders. The results of the analysis provide an average stable price of maize as GH¢ 30.49 compared to the actual average price of GH¢30.27. The equilibrium price in turn provides the average equilibrium weight of 2931.6 and 8217.6 metric tons for demand and supply respectively. The excess supply is kept in stock and when needed it is released in the next market period. The standard deviation also is reduced to 0.1602 compared to the original 29.48 before the application of buffer stock scheme. Thus, before the application of buffer stock scheme, price oscillated between two price points and could not converge. This affirms the fact that buffer stock acts as a reserve against short term shortages and dampens excessive fluctuations. We draw inferences from this study that researchers should rather use continuous time nonlinear delay models as they reflect the realities in most real-life economic problems

Source: UCC
MAJOR EXTREMITY AMPUTATION: THE KOFORIDUA EXPERIENCE

Background: Major extremity amputation is a relatively common surgical procedure but there is a paucity of local data concerning such an important part of surgical practice. This study was undertaken to unearth the demographics, the common indications, levels, revision and mortality rates of major extremity amputation in a large orthopaedic facility in Ghana. Methods: A retrospective study of 94 consecutive patients with 95 major limb amputations between September 2010 to August 2013 was conducted and the results analysed. Results: Overall, the commonest indication for amputation was trauma which was responsible for 44(46.3%) cases. Of the 95 amputations, 81(85.3%) were lower limb amputations with below knee amputations accounting for 45(47.3%) cases. The age group 21 – 40years had the highest number of amputations with 38(40%) and the commonest cause in this age group was trauma. Average duration of hospitalization was 32 days with 8 patients (8.4%) requiring re-amputation. Six patients (6.4%) died. Conclusion: Major limb amputation is drastically life altering especially in third world countries where livelihoods may depend on the ability to perform manual tasks and opportunities for changes in career paths/gainful rehabilitation do not abound. If traumatic conditions are prevented and expeditiously dealt with and chronic diseases like diabetes are carefully managed, there will be a significant reduction in limb loss following trauma or diabetic foot syndrome.

Source: UCC
Making health communication accessible: A rhetorical analysis of radio health talk

If health professionals require that people adopt the healthy behaviours and recommendations that they champion, they must communicate in plain language that people would understand (Koh, 2010). It is against this background that this paper makes an attempt at investigating the accessibility of the vocabulary choices in medical doctors’ radio health-talk offered on a local radio station at the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Using the theories of genre (Bhatia, 1993; Swales, 1990) and functional systemic grammar (Halliday, 2002; 2000), the paper examines the lexical features of health talk of medical doctors to see the accessibility of the language to the audience. The study reveals a clear attempt by the doctors to use as little technical vocabulary as possible. Out of over 22, 000 words, only about 64 were technical. In almost all the instances of technical vocabulary use, the doctors made attempts at defining or explaining what the terms meant. Among the personal pronouns examined, you was the most frequently used (34%), followed by we (22.47%) and then it (19.47%). The fourth was they (14.43%), with the least being I (9.70%). These pronouns spread across Moves/Steps within the presentation, with some pronouns occurring in some Moves/Steps more than others. The paper has implications for healthcare delivery and health/medical communication in Ghana and elsewhere

Source: UCC
MAKING MICROFINANCE WORK FOR THE POOR: EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN SLUM DWELLERS IN GHANA

Purpose: Microcredit has become a major tool for poverty alleviation. It may come in the form of either an individual loan granted to individual businesses or as a group loan granted to beneficiaries as a group. This research focuses on the factors that make group loans effective in its application and most importantly to enable the repayment of both loan and interest within the agreed timeframe for repayment Methodology: The research employed a descriptive survey design. The entire population was more than 10,000 and therefore can be regarded as infinite population. In order to locate the beneficiaries a list was obtained from microfinance organizations operating in the slum communities under study. There are 200 groups, 120 from New Takoradi and 80 from Kojokrom. Systematic sampling was conducted where every 24th group was selected from the 120 groups in New Takoradi and every 16th group from Kojokrom. This yielded 5 groups from New Takoradi and 5 groups from Kojokrom. the researcher presented verbatim quotes in order to ensure that the the main thrust of the respondents comments and the issues raised were not missed out. The interpretations of the respondents comments and views were guided by the theoretical positions of the research in order to limit researcher bias. Findings: the study found that the incorporation of mandatory financial literacy training programs as part of the loan application and granting process contributed to the effective application of loans by beneficiaries increased their productivity and thus enabled the timely repayment of loan and interest. The study also found that the principle of joint liability group lending and the timing of loan disbursement are also factors that can account for why group loans are effective. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that to sustain poverty reduction requires action and policies that will improve both the productive and the human capital of the poor. Policy interventions must be well targeted if the benefits are to reach the poor. To achieve this, group-based lending which minimizes problem of repayment must be adopted by both formal and informal lending institutions.

Source: UCC
Making Physics Appealing to Female Students: Perspectives of Female Students and Physics Lecturers

This paper describes a qualitative study of how to improve females’ involvement in the learning of physics at the tertiary level. The study was conducted at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and some select Senior High Schools (SHS) in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. Participants for the study were undergraduate female non-physics students, undergraduate female physics students, SHS final year female science students and physics lecturers and tutors. The study found that majority of female students do not pursue physics at higher levels of education because they perceived the subject as difficult, irrelevant, and one that has no or limited career opportunities. The participants, however, were optimistic that female participation in physics can be improved if necessary steps were taken to erase the widely held perceptions that have been associated with the study of the subject and its related career opportunities.

Source: UCC
Making Rural Drinking Water Supply Programmes Work: A Study of the Water and Sanitation Management Teams in the Eastern Region

The study evaluated the Water and Sanitation Management Teams in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A total of 398 respondents were used for the study. Interview guide, focus group discussions guide and questionnaires were used for data collection. SPSS version 20 was used to analyse the data. The results showed that there is an institutional framework for the management of the rural water systems. However, the relationship between the stakeholders is weak. The water and sanitation unit in the Districts could not provide the necessary administrative, financial and technical support for the Water and Sanitation Management Teams (WSMTs). Monitoring of the WSMTs by the DWSTs is weak. The study shows that initial training was done for the WSMTs; however, retraining was not adequate. The study reports on inadequate funds for the District to work effectively with the WSMTs. The study cited low women representation in the WSMTs, and area mechanics and spare parts dealers were reluctant to offer their services to the WSMTs because of unsettled debts. Financial and administrative records were not prepared and kept. The study identified unwillingness to pay for water services due to the absence of financial transparency and the WSMTs had no maintenance plan for the water systems. The study recommended that WSMTs should be given monetary motivation, the CWSA, RWSA and the DWSTs should be should well-resourced to work effectively, interference from chiefs should not be encouraged, WSMTs should be accountable to the community and WSMTs should improve revenue mobilisation to enhance replacement and development of more water systems.

Source: UCC
Making the Wheels Count: Railway Policies and Politics in the Gold Coast, 1874-1957

The development of railways played a significant role in the British colonial enterprise in the Gold Coast. Even though railways were an efficient infrastructure meant to address transportation issues in the last decade of the nineteenth century, they were also central to the economic development of the colony in the twentieth century. The development of railways did not only occasion internal and external trade, economic growth and development, and the exploitation of resources but also contributed immensely to colonial politics in the Gold Coast during this period. The construction of railways was a way of entrenching colonial rule and to further control administration in the Gold Coast. In this regard, this thesis employs relevant primary and secondary sources to examine how the construction of railways impacted the politics of the Gold Coast between 1874 and 1957. The study argues that railway policies and construction were very impactful on the establishment and consolidation of British colonial power in the Gold Coast. It helped to entrench and consolidate the government’s control over the interior of the colony. Whereas the railways initially helped to consolidate colonial rule, they later became an instrument of decolonisation after the Second World War. The thesis shows that railways were crucial to the nationalist political movements in the Gold Coast and went a long way to expedite the independence struggle of the country. The study provides significant insights into the dynamics of colonialism in the Gold Coast.

Source: UCC
Malaria infection among children under- five: the use of large-scale interventions in Ghana

Background: Despite the significant investments to control malaria infection rates over the past years, infection rates remain significant in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the association with use of large-scale malaria interventions such as: Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), Insecticide Treated bed-Nets (ITN), and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies, and the prevalence of malaria among children under-five in Ghana. Methods: Cross-sectional data on 2, 449 children aged 6 to 59 months who were tested for malaria, through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), are drawn from the recent wave of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS 2014). We use a logit model to analyse the heterogeneous association between control measures and malaria infection among under five children of different age cohorts and household poverty statuses. Results: Our estimates suggest that IRS offers much more protection than ITN use. The odds of malaria infection among children who sleep in IRS is significantly lower (odds ratio [OR] = 0.312; 95% CI -1.47 -0.81; p = 0.00) compared to those who are not protected. This association is even high (odds ratio [OR] = 0.372; 95% CI -1.76 -1.02; p = 0.00) among children in poor households protected by IRS compared to those who have no IRS protection. ITN use did not have a significant association with malaria infection among children, except among children whose mothers have at least secondary education. For such children, the odds of malaria infection are significantly lower ([OR] =0.545; 95% CI = − 0.84 -0.11; p = 0.011) compared to those who are not protected. Regarding BCC strategies, we found that malaria education through television is the best strategy to covey malaria education as it significantly reduces the odds of malaria infection ([OR] =0.715; 95% CI = − 0.55 -0.10; p = 0.005) compared to those who do not received malaria education via television. BCC strategy via print media has a significant but limited protection for children of educated mothers. Conclusion: Policy makers should direct more resources to IRS, especially in communities where the use of ITN is less likely to be effective, such as poor and rural households. The distribution of ITNs needs to be accompanied with education programs to ensure its best protection.

Source: UCC
Malaria Infection, Poor Nutrition and Indoor Air Pollution Mediate Socioeconomic Differences in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: The epidemiological evidence linking socioeconomic deprivation with adverse pregnancy outcomes has been conflicting mainly due to poor measurement of socioeconomic status (SES). Studies have also failed to evaluate the plausible pathways through which socioeconomic disadvantage impacts on pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the importance of maternal SES as determinant of birth weight and gestational duration in an urban area and evaluated main causal pathways for the influence of SES. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 559 mothers accessing postnatal services at the four main health facilities in Cape Coast, Ghana in 2011. Information on socioeconomic characteristics of the mothers was collected in a structured questionnaire. Results: In multivariate linear regression adjusting for maternal age, parity and gender of newborn, low SES resulted in 292 g (95% CI: 440–145) reduction in birth weight. Important SES-related determinants were neighborhood poverty (221 g; 95% CI: 355–87), low education (187 g; 95% CI: 355–20), studentship during pregnancy (291 g; 95% CI: 506–76) and low income (147 g; 95% CI: 277–17). In causal pathway analysis, malaria infection (6–20%), poor nutrition (2–51%) and indoor air pollution (10–62%) mediated substantial proportions of the observed effects of socioeconomic deprivation on birth weight. Generalized linear models adjusting for confounders indicated a 218% (RR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.41–7.21) risk increase of LBW and 83% (RR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.31–2.56) of PTB among low income mothers. Low and middle SES was associated with 357% (RR: 4.57; 95% CI: 1.67–12.49) and 278% (RR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.39–10.27) increased risk of LBW respectively. Malaria infection, poor nutrition and indoor air pollution respectively mediated 10–21%, 16–44% and 31–52% of the observed effects of socioeconomic disadvantage on LBW risk. Conclusion: We provide evidence of the effects of socioeconomic deprivation, substantially mediated by malaria infection, poor nutrition and indoor air pollution, on pregnancy outcomes in a developing country setting.

Source: UCC