ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Landfill sites management challenges: The perceived effect and willingness on the part of the people in the ga east and south municipalities to pay for improvement

The purpose of the study was to look at the extent of landfill sites management challenges, perceive effects and the willingness on the part of the people living in the Ga East and South Municipalities to pay for the problem to be addressed without Government intervention. The Ga East and South municipalities have a stone quarry site which has served to aid development of Accra Metropolis and the construction of Accra-Cape Coast road. These activities created a stretch of hole which later was filled with rain water which acted as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which transmit, among other diseases, such as malaria and also served as a death trap for children and people who were not familiar with the place. A sample of 380 respondents was drawn from a combined population of households from Ga East and South Municipalities for the study. The researcher employed both descriptive statistics and the contingency valuation method (CVM) to analyse the data collected from the field. The analysis of the data brought out the following findings: There is an incidence of indiscriminate dumping of refuse by both residents and drivers of private waste contractors that come to dump refuse at the landfill sites. Due to the location of the landfill sites in the communities there was high prevalence of infectious and sanitation related diseases like malaria, cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid fever among others and also un-aesthetic appearance, leachate from waste, odour, rodents and flies which make the environment unpleasant for the people living there. The findings indicate that those that are directly affected by the landfill sites were more likely to be willing to pay to address the problem posed by the landfill sites without Government intervention.

Source: KNUST
Landscape planning of four traditional and cultural areas in Kumasi and the relationship to the development of tourism

The fundamental paradox of using and saving, of enjoying and having tomorrow, has been with man for millennia. He has therefore developed ways of both exploiting and conserving the environment. One way is the idea of landscape planning, a social invention which has spread too many parts of the world and changed considerably in the course of its travels. Landscape planning is a new outlook in the general planning of land use in Ghana. Laurel (1975) refers to the landscape planning as “the qualitative and functional arrangement of parcels of land set aside in planning process for some specific purpose such as housing, education or recreation.” Hacket (1971) also defines landscape planning as “an art whose most important function is to create, preserve and protect beauty in the environment including the surrounding of human habitation.” Landscape planning is therefore generally concerned with promoting convenience, comfort and health of the population, especially urban dwellers who have little access to the natural scenery and urgently need to have their daily lives refreshed and calmed by the beauty an1 reposeful sites which nature can abundantly provide in the landscape. Landscape planning is further viewed as a concept which is continually seeking human comfort and pleasure in such areas as recreation and tourism. Therefore landscape planning of areas of historical and cultural interests is regarded as an integral part of the built environment in relation to to1irismd The study realises the importance of traditional and cultural values in the As1,nti Region and particularly to the development of tourism in (Kumasi, the capital City of the Ashanti Region. It also involves the identification of traditional and cultural areas in Kumasi. It further develops the criteria to select four outstanding traditional and cultural areas that are uniquely placed in Kumasi, which are identified as the Ghana National Cultural Centre, Manhyia Palace) Kumasi Military Museum and the Komfo Anokye Sword Area. Data collected from the inventory of existing physical features of the four selected areas including personal interviews conducted and those for specialized departments and library documents are analysed, synthesized and collated. Based on the analysis of the various data, landscape planning is applied in an attempt to enhance the traditional, cultural and aesthetic qualities of these selected areas. Th. project proposes an effective landscape maintenance programme for the selected areas. Bill of quantities or estimation is prepared covering the landscape planning of these areas. Lastly, the social aspects of the built environment of the selected areas with regard to the development and enhancement of tourism in Kumasi are fully considered in the study.

Source: KNUST
Landfill Site Selection for Solid Waste Disposal Using Geographical Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Approach in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, Ghana.

Municipal solid waste management is global environmental challenge in the urban areas, due to an increase in the quantity of municipal solid waste generated as a result of population growth and has resulted in the difficulty of locating suitable land areas to be used as landfills. The problem of environmental pollution and health hazards due to waste disposal can be overcome by selecting suitable locations for their proper disposal. Waste disposal in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality which is the study area of this research, is mainly by open space dumping which has the potential to contaminate both surface and ground water and other environmental hazards in and around these open dumps. This research combined Multi-Criteria Approach and Geographic Information System (GIS), in the selection of a landfill site in the study. The locations should meet both the economic and environmental requirements of a landfill site. The factors considered include land use, surface water bodies and distance to roads. The rest are railway line, settlements/residential area, geology and slope. The use of GIS, was a vital tool for the preparation of multi criteria map layers. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model was used for pairwise comparison of all ten criteria and relative weights of importance were generated. All the criteria were standardized to a common scale before combining them. All the criteria were combined using weighted overlay analysis tools in ArcGIS with their corresponding weights of importance. The resultant suitability index map showed areas that are suitable for siting of a landfill based on all the ten input criteria. It was realized after putting all potential site to further screening and analyses, ten (10) sites were selected for further analysis and ranked according to their suitability for a landfill. Each of these suitable sites has a minimum land size of 50 ha or 0.5 km2 enough to last for at least 15 years.

Source: KNUST
Landscape techniques for erosion control and slope stabilization

Increased population growth has led to increased demand on land resources mostly for economic activities. This has led to the destruction of resources such as vegetation cover, which protect the land surface against erosion and slope failure. Generally, slopes may become unstable and fail when they are exposed to the environment. Erosion and instability of sloppy areas have thus become a problem in both urban and rural areas. A brief is taken of erosion and unstable slopes, factors causing them and their effects on development. This is followed by a discussion of some of the conventional and indigenous methods used in stabilizing unstable slopes and controlling erosion. The discussion then considers the weaknesses and strong points of both systems of control, emphasizing on landscape methods used in solving such environmental problems. This write-up also seeks to identify the contributions I roles of the landscape practice in solving the problem of slope instability and erosion control and ends with a summary and recommendations. Although no single method could be recommended as ideal for all situations, a combination of some of them could be used as means to control erosion, stabilize slopes and enhance the environment. It is recommended that physical development on all sloping areas should be controlled and monitored by strict supervision of the District! Metropolitan assemblies in consultation with the Town and Country Planning Department, and Research Institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency, Building and Road Research Institute, and the Ghana Institute of Engineers who have direct interest in the environment.

Source: KNUST
Larvicical and anti-plasmodial constituents of Carapa Procera Dc. (Meliaceae) and Hyptis Suaveolens L. Poit (Lamiaceae)

Malaria is a serious health problem worldwide due to the emergence of parasite resistance to well established antimalarial drugs. This has heightened the need for the development of new antimalarial drugs as well as other control methods. Plant based antimalarial drugs continue to be used in many tropical areas for the treatment and control of malaria and hence the need for scientific investigation into their usefulness as alternatives to conventional treatment. The work presented in this thesis involves the scientific investigation of the traditional uses of Carapa procera and Hyptis suaveolens as insecticidal agents. Carapa procera was also investigated for its antiplasmodial activity. The petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and 70% ethanol extracts of stem bark of Carapa procera and aerial parts of Hyptis suaveolens were investigated for their larvicidal and antiplasmodial activities. The larvicidal activities of the plant extracts and isolates were investigated using the method described by WHO against third instar Anopheles gambie larvae. The larvae were exposed to various concentrations of the extracts and the percentage mortality was recorded after 24 hours. Temephos, a synthetic insecticide was used as the standard drug. All extracts exhibited dose dependent increase in larvicidal activity with the Petroleum ether extracts of both Hyptis suaveolens and Carapa procera having the highest activity (EC 50 34.96 mg/ml and 16.91 mg/ml respectively) followed by ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts. For the antiplasmodial assay, the Lactate dehydrogenase method was used against chloroquine resistance strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The ethyl acetate extract of Carapa procera showed the highest activity (EC 50 18.60 µg/ml) followed by v petroleum ether (EC 50 24.71 µg/ml ) and ethanol extracts (EC50 95.46 µg/ml) as compared to artesunate the standard drug with EC50 of 4.90 µg/ml. Carapolides A and B, evodulone and proceranolide were isolated from the bioactive petroleum ether extract of Carapa procera stem bark. They exhibited various degrees of larvicidal activities against the third instar Anopheles gambie larvae with EC50 values of 15.01mg/ml, 53.74mg/ml, 198.9mg/ml and 273.6mg/ml for Carapolide A, proceranolide, evodulone and carapolide B respectively. They also exhibited dose dependant antiplasmodial activities with EC 50 values of 23.96 µg/ml, 26.66 µg/ml, 30.52 µg/ml and 32.68 µg/ml for carapolide A, evodulone, carapolide B and proceranolide respectively. Carapolide A and B are being reported for the first time in the stem bark of Carapa procera.

Source: KNUST
A LATENT CLASS MODELLING APPROACH TO EVALUATING FARMERS’ PREFERENCES FOR PONA SEED YAM CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PAY IN GHANA

The study employed choice experiment and latent class model to assess farmers’ preferences for seed yam certification system and their willingness to pay for certified seed yam in selected yam producing Districts in Ghana. A total of 9120 choice experiments were conducted to elicit data from 380 yam farmers. The study identified three classes/ market segments of farmers regarding preferences for Pona seed yam. The results show that farmers have more utility towards fully certified seed yam and are willing to pay GH¢719.60 (US$189.4) for a bunch (100 tubers weighing about 45kg) of fully certified seed yam. However, farmers were found to have high utility towards medium-sized Pona seed yam and are willing to pay a premium of GHC¢12.5 (US$3.3) for this attribute. The study has demonstrated high potential for the commercialization of seed yam production in Ghana through a formal seed yam certification system.

Source: KNUST
Late arrival of women with pregnancy related complications to Mampong District Hospital-Ghana the underlying factors

Maternal mortality is the result of complex interaction between biological and socioeconomic factors, which should be organized in a meaningful way. An estimated 75% of maternal death result from direct causes such as haemorrhage, infection/sepsis toxemia and unsafe abortion.(WHO, 1995) Most of these deaths could have been prevented with timely medical intervention. Delay in reporting PRC emerge as the pertinent factor contributing to maternal death. This study was conducted in Sekyere West District in Ashanti region to ascertain what factors are contributing to the late reporting to the District Hospital by pregnant women with complications. In all, 150 women who have had pregnancy related complications within the last five (5) years (1999-2004) and six health personnel were interviewed. The multistage sampling approach was used in the selection of respondents. The sample methods used were convenient and simple random sampling in the communities and purposive sampling for the health professionals. Questionnaire and interviews were the main methods for data collection. Epi info was used to analyze the results. The study identified lack of knowledge on what constitute pregnancy complication as one of the causes of delayed reporting to the hospital. Most respondent (50.0%) did not know what is termed as the danger signs of pregnancy, thereby making it difficult for them to report early to the hospital. The study revealed that the mean distance from the health facility and place of residence was S.2lcm.Ancj most of the respondents used public transport as a means of transport to the hospital which delays their arrival to the hospital. They spent an average of 16.14 minutes in traveling to the hospital. The cost (70,000-150,000) of receiving treatment during pregnancy was high compared with the monthly income of the respondents. The study showed that the respondents were very much satisfied with the conduct of the staff in the hospital. From the findings of this study it was concluded that certain factors such as high illiteracy rate among pregnant women, high parity, delayed referral from peripheral clinics, unsafe abortion, poverty, gender discrimination and high cost of seeking health care were some of the reasons why most pregnant women reported late to the hospital. Recommendation was therefore made to the effect that health education given to pregnant women at ANC should be intensified.

Source: KNUST
Le concept de metissage culturel dans l’aventure ambiguë de cheikh hamidou kane et l’initie d’olympe bhely-quenum

In this dissertation, we examine the concept of cultural interdependence: the emergence and significance of “cultural hybridity”, a concept referred to in French as métissage culturel. It is the production of novel cultural forms and practices through the merging of previously separate cultural antecedents. Cheikh Hamidou Kane’s L’aventure ambiguë (1962) and Olympe Bhêly-Quénum’s L’Initié (1979) serve as a matrix for this study. The focus is on the interrelationships between the traditional African culture and what is popularly known as modernity. By this, we mean the harmonious blend of cultural values of the two worlds in the African context as means of empowering Africans. It is a dialogical relationship that we try to establish between the two cultures under whose influence Africans have been since the colonial era. Having explored the principal conceptual issues in the domain of cultural hybridization, we base the analysis of the two texts on the premiss that interrelationships are necessary factors for cultural transformation. Whereas L’aventure ambiguë illustrates the case of marginalization of indigenous culture of the Diallobé people of Senegal by the colonizer’s school, Olympe Bhêly- Quénum’s L’Initié focuses on the protagonist’s creativeness in enriching his native culture and at the same time consciously harnessing useful modern cultural values, knowledge and skills for the benefit of his people. We, therefore, conclude that the inability to overcome constraints of cultural purity constitutes a danger to cultural dynamism. This innovative but conflicting idea of culture provides the right antidote to overcoming the immobilizing effect of otherness i.e. going beyond the borders of one's cultural space in order to discover the other

Source: KNUST
Le Discours de l’Ex-Président Jerry John Rawlings prononcé le 16 janvier 2010 lors de la Conférence du Bureau Exécutif du NDC à Tamale: Une Analyse Pragmatique

Following the famous hypothesis within the area of pragmalinguistics which claims that whenever we speak, there are things that we present clearly and others are implied, we agree to some extent, that the story told of « Atta mortuary-man » has a hidden meaning. It is not surprising that this story has been criticised by a lot of Ghanaians. In order to clarify these many arguments, we research into the topic « A pragmatic analysis of Ex-President Rawlings’ speech delivered at the National Delegates Conference of the NDC at Tamale on 16 January 2010 ». This study employs the qualitative method of research through the application of the theories of presupposition, inference, and argumentative orientation, to analyse this speech that was delivered by ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, vis-a-vis the story he told of « Atta mortuary-man ». The study confirms the above mentioned hypothesis that, truly, whatever we say contains elements of the « unsaid » in the form of presuppositions and inferences, and also examines a new form of presupposition, that is, « presupposition of intention ». The study equally shows that, whenever we speak, we argue form a particular point of view.

Source: KNUST
Le feminisme dans en votre nom et au Mien D’aminata Maiga-Ka

Our work is a study of feminism through Aminata MAIGA-KA’s novel, En votre nom et au mien. Since the advent of female writers, the image of African women in African literature has had a major transformation. Female African writers have used literature in their fight to liberate the African woman from subjugation by their own African people. In Africa, men are considered more important than women. In the past, the African woman had no right to vote. She could not choose her own husband. She had no right to formal education. She had to obey orders from men. She had to keep quiet during family decision-making process. Indeed, the African woman was compared to a child, a slave, an orphan or a blind person. Often, the African woman was relegated to the background in all things. She was the one who prepared food, fetched water, searched for firewood and did the sweeping. Men did not do female duties. The reason was that men were considered the head of the family. It was men who decided what should be done and what should not be done. But since the year 1960, women writers and some male writers have made efforts to sensitize the world about the suffering of women with the aim of encouraging their emancipation. Aminata Maiga-Ka, the author of the novel, En votre nom et au mien which is the main reference of our research, is among the writers who are fighting against the bad condition of women. She is fighting for Senegalese women in particular and African women in general. Through her literary work, Aminata Maiga-Ka is calling for a change in attitude and for reforms to place men and women at par. This change of attitude is necessary considering the fast transformation of our society and the way everything is taking a different dimension. Consequently, cultural and traditional practices which perpetually make women dependent on men should be reformulated for the well-being of women.

Source: KNUST
Le mariage traditionnel asante d’apres des proverbes et des.contes

La littérature est dite orale lorsque’elle est présentée devant des spectateurs, qui y participent parfois. Elle se présente comme une des véhicules artistiques les plus vivantes pour la transmission des valeurs sociales d’une generation a l’autre. EBe reste toujours un aspect très important de Ia vie de tout peuple dans le monde, surtout dans Ia société akan. La littérature orale fournit a un people non seulement un forum bien accepté pour Ia transmission des valeurs bien respectées mais aussi celui un forum par lequel ces valeurs peuvent être modifiées ou annulées complètement. Au Ghana, on créa des chants bien avant de les écrire et c’est ainsi qu’on peut dire que Ia literature orate était connue bien avantl la literature écrite. Les pensees traditionnelles,Ies coutumes, les danses, les chants rituels qui constituaient le folklore de la société asante ont ié preserves pour des années par le processus de Ia répétition. Des chants et proverbes folkloriques expliquent le concept de la société asante de la femme et de son rôle dans la société.Ils expliquent aussi pourquoi c’est I’homme qui trouve un partenaire. Ces chants et proverbes présentent le mariage aussi comme une valeur sociale pour la femrne. Dans cette société, la femme n’a pas le droit de s’exprimer même á l’égard du mari qu’on tui impose et elle ne doit en aucun cas se mésurer á lui. C’est cette impression de Ia société asante qui sert comme point de depart du concept traditionnel a l’égard de la femme, concept que beaucoup d’écrivains ne cessent d’exposer dans leurs oeuvres. C’est toujours cette impression de Ia société asante á I’égard du manage et de la femme que cette étude cherchera á exposer dans le but de provoquer un changement mental dans tout le monde dans la société

Source: KNUST
Laterite as a material for ceramic art tile finishing

Decoration and finishing of the surfaces of ceramic products play an important role in product surface quality. Despite the abundance of local ceramic raw materials, imported foreign glazes and other related finishing materials are becoming the traditional materials for surface finishing in Ghana. Although there have been several attempts by both traditional and studio ceramists to explore new surface finishing materials and techniques for the works they produce, it appears not much has been achieved over the years. It is an undisputable fact that most locally produced ceramic products found in the Ghanaian open market are basically either finished with imported material, different colours of paints or are left in their bisque fired state. The prime motivation for this study therefore was to use laterite as a finishing material for hand-made ceramic tiles. Studio based experiment and observational approaches were used in executing the project. In order to achieve aesthetic look, the application of the laterite as a finishing material was done simultaneously with the production process. A random application of the material further gave the finished work a pleasing effect. The study has underpinned the fact that, the above mentioned material could be used as a surface finishing material for ceramic products.

Source: KNUST