ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The one hundred and twenty mass campaigners: Artistic expression in ceramic mixed media

This work sought to depict mass movements using ceramic art. The primary aim of the researcher was to develop and produce ceramic forms that can be used for a mass movement either as a social movement tool or as a campaign tool. The project was produced from refined Afari clay. In addition Acrylic paint was applied on the pieces to enhance its aesthetic qualities. The work employed materials such as iron rods, nails, sack cloth and acrylic paints to give a stronger meaning to mass movements. However, because of the number of abstract human forms to be produced, a faster means of production was explored using cylindrical pipes as moulds; which helped in producing a good number of similar forms in clay within a short space of time. In addition, there were projections such as the arms and necks on the abstract forms which were done using clay as the main material. The challenge mainly arose from the need to adjust the arms of the forms to the desired angles without breaking them. This challenge was however overcome using the iron rods. The work used cylinder for the human shapes. Again, the artist adapted the slab building technique of drape casting for the productions of all the 120 pieces. The artist adopted a new approach of merging metals (iron rod) with clay prior to firing the pieces. Expansion gaps were allowed to cater for the shrinking and expansion property of clay and the iron rods. The work achieved quality finishing through the application of acrylic paints and non-ceramic materials. The arrangement of the pieces can tell a story, used as a campaign tool either socially, economically or politically.

Source: KNUST
OPEN ACCESS INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES: A REQUIREMENT FOR ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY. A CASE STUDY OF FOUR AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

The paper highlights the importance and expectation of a global access to information, open access institutional repositories as a requirement for academic and research libraries. The paper further investigated the challenges faced by four African universities in implementing their open access repositories. A literature review method was adopted by way of questionnaire and observation using ProQuest/Serial solutions summons which was a web scale discovery tool that indexes a wide variety of databases. Population of study comprises of four selected African universities; Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; Kwame Nkrumah University of science and Technology, Ghana; Durban University of Technology (DUT) South Africa; Uganda Christian University (UCU), Uganda. The data collected were analysed using Stellenbosch’s best practices guide, “SUNScholar/practical guidelines for starting an institutional repository (IR)” (Gibson). Findings revealed that; KNUST have both institutional policy and open access policy that currently in draft form and no embargo on open access policy. DUTIR implemented their policy in 2009 without embargo on open access. ABU and UCU have drafted their policy but yet to be implemented. Only 2 KNUST space has documented a formal long term preservation policy as part of their IR policy. Based on research findings, the researchers are not willing to devote time to ensure that their research work is archived, while institutions seem unwilling to commit financially to ensure the sustainability of their repositories. It was recommended that libraries should take proactive steps to make their repositories more successful.

Source: KNUST
Open Channel Hydraulics Computer Design Software

Open channel hydraulic computations can be tedious manually considering the channel geometries involved. This work addresses the development of a conceptual model using computer MATLAB software for the design of most commonly used channel sections, with the intention of saving time and cost for the design engineer. Using the Manning’s formula, rectangular, triangular or V-shaped, parabolic, U-shaped and circular sections were considered for lined and unlined, hydraulically efficient channel sections. The software determines the state of the flow (sub-critical, critical and super-critical) and applies the maximum permissible velocity criterion in the design of the channel sections. It displays the graphical representation of the channel section with all design parameters. Compound channel sections were not, however, considered in the software design.

Source: KNUST
Open defecation along the seashore; Exploring communication and stakeholders management as tools to reduce it in Teshie- Nungua, Accra

Community with a good sanitation practice is very important to human health. Therefore open defecation along the seashore and the entirety of community is a bane to human health. This open defecation kills children less than five years in the world every second. In Ghana for instance, it costs the tourism industry millions of cedis. Ghana needs about USD79 million to control the menace. Sadly, Ghana improves its sanitation only 1% yearly and Teshie-Nungua is one of the urban communities that suffers seriously from open defecation menace especially those close to the sea. Open ended questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents and the data was analysed qualitatively. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select respondents. The research revealed among others that non availability or inadequate toilet facilities, attitudes or believes, distance/long queue, cost and filth are the components behind people decisions to use seashore to defecate openly. Majority of the respondents also agreed that the community had some interventions but some of them are not mostly used due to the filthy and smelly, while some said the facilities are not enough and some were also far from some of the residences. The study also revealed that most people agreed that communication can be used to solve the problem; they however quicken to add that communication will be more effective if the underlined intervention challenges are fixed. The study recommended that more toilet facilities needed to be constructed and kept clean, more educations for the community members needed to be intensified. A thorough consultation between community members and Ghana police service should be done before personnel are discharged to the community and also more research needed to be done to further identify more stakeholders to avoid escalating of the current open defecation conditions arising from leadership gap.

Source: KNUST
Operating Characteristics of Proton-Exchange-Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

The H2-O2 fuel cells in which solar hydrogen and oxygen supplied to the anode side and cathode side of the cell respectively were fabricated and the two sides of the cells were separated by a proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) which allowed the passage of hydrogen ions H+ but not the oxygen O2. The operating characteristics of two fuel cells, Al-C/Pt- PEM-C/Pt-Al and Al-C/Pt-PEM-C/Pt-Cu were plotted and internal resistance as well as the efficiency of these cells were computed and compared. It was found that Al-C/Pt-PEMC/ Pt-Cu cell did not clearly exhibit mass transport over-potential, while it was clearly observable for Al-C/Pt-PEM-C/Pt-Al cell.

Source: KNUST
Operational risk management in financial institutions: a Case study of access bank Ghana Limited .

Risk management has become a major strategic decision facing management of organizations in their attempt to maximize returns. One major risk facing banks and financial institutions is operational risk and central banks across nations have installed policies that would ensure that operational risk is well managed. This research thus examined operational risk management in Access Bank Ghana Limited. The research assessed the effectiveness of the ORM strategies that are been implemented by the bank. It further examined the impact of these ORM strategies on the financial stability of the bank over the past five years of establishment within the Ghanaian economy. Finally the challenges encountered by the bank in its implementation of the strategies were identified. The research work used both primary and secondary sources to collect data for the assessment. The researcher used questionnaires to collected primary data and collected secondary data from the published financial reports of the bank from 2010 to 2014. The data was run using SPSS to present the findings in tabular and graphical forms. It was found that, Access Bank employed a wellstructured and monitored ORM strategies. In terms of allocation of resources and frequency, the findings show a positive allocation and high frequency of management of these processes of managing ORM. Analysis of the financial reports also gave a relatively stable financial performance over the period reviewed. However, the difficulty in accessing appropriate data, lack of support from market facing managers and rising cost of compliance are some of the major obstacles to efficient delivery of the ORM systems. It was recommended that the Board of Directors should approve of the full implementation and compliance by all staff of the bank irrespective of the unit to ensure full compliance by all managers. Also, Operational risk management should be deployed to all levels on the organizational structure where all staff would be tasked with certain responsibilities of managing risk within the spheres of his or her duties.

Source: KNUST
Operational risk management and competitive advantage in the ghanaian banking industry: A Case Study of Ecobank Ghana Limited

The Banking industry today is characterized by intense rivalry coupled with rapid changes in customer expectations, increasing regulatory requirements, technological innovation. Failures in processing activities as a result of human errors, fraud and system failures bring significant losses to banks and these losses are key sources of operational risk. In view of the rising competition within the industry in respect of customer satisfaction and retention, corporate reputation and reward maximization, there is the need for banks to critically align business objectives with risk and control information to enhance operational performance, reduce cost in order to achieve the competitive advantage. The study focuses on how operational risk management and competitive advantage in the Ghanaian banking industry; a case study of Ecobank Ghana Limited. Interviews were conducted at various branches of Ecobank. The findings of the study indicated the components of operational risk and various strategies used to mitigate these risks, it reveals that Ecobank are realizing the significance and importance of operational risk management as a tool for gaining competitive advantage, it also reveals challenges encountered in managing operational risks and strategies utilized to curb challenges posed by operational risk. It is therefore recommended that Banks must link their operational risk management activities to their business objectives and identify the potential hurdles that hinder their competiveness; Operational risk management is the responsibility of all staff including the Board of Directors and management and as such awareness must be created on the need to identify, evaluate, monitor, control and report operational risk issues in accordance with the strategies and policies of banks in ensuring the adequacy of capital against operational risk.

Source: KNUST
Operational Risk Management Of Produce Buying Company: An Assessment

Risk is the uncertainty that the future outcome may be deviated. That is, what is expected may not be achieved. Risk is part of every human endeavour, so it is in every business operations. Risk management is the continuing process to identify, analyze, evaluate, and treat loss exposures and monitor risk control and financial resources to mitigate the adverse effects of loss. The general purpose of the study was to assess the operational risk management of Produce Buying Company (PBC Ltd). The specific objectives were; to examine the operational risks that affect PBC Ltd; to analyse the effect of operational risks on the performance of PBC Ltd; and to investigate the challenges that may affect the operations of PBC Ltd. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used as the research strategies to achieve the objectives of the study. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to District Operations Managers and Commission Marketing Clerks (CMCs) of PBC Ltd. The sample population was one hundred and thirty- seven (137), out of which eighty (80) were chosen to be the sample size. The findings of the study indicated that the operational risks of PBC Ltd were production risks, environmental risks and cash in transit risks. The production risks that were identified were attacks on cocoa trees by diseases and pests, bush fires and bad road networks that inhibit the operations of PBC Ltd. One major environmental risk that was identified was the smuggling of cocoa by some CMCs and farmers across the border lines of Ghana. Some CMCs absconding with funds advanced to them and some farmers who are pre-financed but default payments were also identified as cash in transit risks. These risks identified were seen as having adverse impact on the performance of PBC Ltd. The study recommended the management of PBC Ltd should put in place an inspection and monitoring team to ensure that all cocoa beans that are sent to the takeover points are well dried and meet the quality requirements set by the quality control company (QCC). Further recommendation was also made that the company should strengthen their internal control system so that funds advanced to CMCs are regularly monitored to avoid misapplication and diversion of funds. Since not all aspects of operational risks were exhausted, the researcher suggested that future researchers can conduct standard multiple regression to ascertain the degree of impact of operational risks on the performance of PBC Ltd.

Source: KNUST
Operationalising the Public Procurement Act: Critical Implementation Issues in the Health Entities in Adansi South District, Ghana

In the public sector, million of cedis get lost through improper procurement procedures. The government of Ghana with the assistance of the World Bank and other financing and donor agencies introduced procurement methods and procedures in the public sector. However little is known about compliance of the procedures. This study was conducted in September 2006 to examine if the Adansi South health entities were complying with the procurement act. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of questionnaires and discussions were used to collect primary and secondary data from fifty (50) health staff purposively selected from all the health facilities in the district. The study revealed that copies of the procurement act were not available (88%), lack of sensitization training programmes, low involvement of stakeholders in selection of inputs (48%), ignorance of procurement processes within smaller facilities, and non-adherence to procurement processes. Even though there were functional procurement committees, lack of professional procurement officer at posts (64%), inadequate funding (42%) to obtain continuous supply from the Regional Medical Stores, improper stores management facilities (36%) and improper evaluation process for price quotations were identified as affecting compliance of the procurement act. It is recommended that, the MOH/GHS and Procurement Professionals should organize both in-service and external training sessions for health staff in the district, especially those officers who are involved in procurement procedures to update their knowledge and skills. The Public Procurement Board could make proposal to parliament for amendments to some parts of the Public Procurement law to suit the smaller facilities in the districts in connection with purchases.

Source: KNUST
Operational risk, liquidity risk and deposit mobilization by emerging banks in ghana

Liquidity and operation risks are two of the major risks that financial institutions specifically banks are exposed to. These financial risks undermine the financial intermediation functions of emerging banks and, as a result, affect their ability to mobilize deposits. The study employs a dynamic panel data model on 15 banks from 2017 to 2021 to assess the effect of OR and LR on the deposit mobilization of emerging banks in Ghana. The results indicate that liquidity risk has a significant positive impact on the total number of deposits mobilized by the emerging banks in Ghana. The study also reports that OR reduces deposit mobilization of emerging banks in Ghana. I recommend that banks improve upon their risk management decisions and strategies to minimize the occurrence and the financial severity of these risks in banking operations.

Source: KNUST
Opportunities and barriers for using climate information for building resilient agricultural systems in Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone of north-eastern Ghana

Empirical evidence on the opportunities and barriers to the uptake of climate services by smallholder farmers for resilient agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa is limited. This paper addresses this important gap by evaluating the opportunities and barriers to the uptake of climate information (from short-term weather fore casts, through seasonal forecasts to longer-term climate change information on decadal timescales) by small holder farmers in the Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. The paper answers the following research questions: i) what kinds of weather and climate information are available and accessible to smallholder farmers for agricultural management decision-making? ii) what opportunities exist for using climate information in agricultural systems in the Sudan savannah agro-ecological zone? iii) what are the key barriers to the uptake of climate information by smallholder farmers in the Sudan savannah agro-ecological zones of Ghana? The study used participatory approaches including household surveys with 555 farmers, 3 stakeholder workshops, 15 key informant interviews and 12 focus group discussions across 6 communities in the Sudan savannah agro ecological zone. Findings show that more than a third of the study respondents (40%; n = 555) were not receiving climate information. Out of the 60% receiving climate information, the majority (91%; n = 335) indicated receiving information on rainfall with fewer respondents 21% and 26% receiving information on temperature and windstorms, respectively. Radio was the key medium for receiving weather and climate in formation. Both female and male smallholder farmers were using climate information to make critical farming decisions including time of land preparations (79%), crop variety selection (50%), changing cropping patterns (36%), planting time adjustments (31%), harvesting time (21%) and disease/pest management (10%). Increasing uptake of weather and climate information is confronted with multiple barriers including inadequate information on seasonal forecast for long-term planning, low accessibility of climate information, high levels of illiteracy, difficulties in understanding technical language used in communicating climate information and misalignment between the climate information provided and what smallholder farmers need. Climate information should be linked directly to agricultural imp

Source: KNUST
Opportunities and challenges of the textiles component of skills training and employment placement (Step) programme in Ashanti Region – Ghana.

The Qualitative research method with questionnaire, Interview guide and Observation helped to examine the nature and scope of the textiles component of the national Skills Training and Employment Placement Programme in Ashanti Region, and to identify its economic and educational opportunities and challenges significance to Ghana as well as lessons that can inform the National Youth Employment Programme. The programme have been identified and analysed based on a population of 100 Youth who have either benefited or are benefiting from the STEP and ICCES centres in Ashanti Region using the Simple random sampling techniques. The study found that the provision of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana is shared across several government departments. The Ministry of Education is the main provider of craft and technical training which is provided through the Technical Institutes within the Ghana Education Service system while Higher the National Diploma and Degree level provisions are offered at the tertiary level through the Polytechnics and Universities that operate under the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

Source: KNUST
Optimal location of fire station using absolute center model: Case study: New Juaben municipality

This thesis aims at optimally locating and also finding the optimal service coverage distance for fire station in the New Juaben municipality of Eastern region of Ghana. The method employed is the p-center heuristic. The absolute center was found to be 10,000 metres and occurred at node B of the network used. The results of the study suggested that the existing fire station of the municipality would have been located at Effiduase if scientific approach was used in making the decision and the service coverage distance was found to be 10,000 metres.

Source: KNUST
Opportunities and Constraints of fish farming in Ghana (a case study of Ashanti Region)

The study was conducted in Ashanti Region of Ghana to examine the opportunities and constraints for environmental best practices of fish farming. The study examined resources available at farm levels, farm operations, farming systems, sustainability of fish farming and roles of stakeholders. A systems approach was used as a guide for data collection. A structured questionnaire survey targeted fish farmers. Farmers‘ selection was based on their ability to provide records and information on their fish farming activities. It also involved farmers who participated in Aquafish Collaborative Research Support Programme, 2009 - an initiative of KNUST and some USA Universities. Secondary data was also collected from the Regional Fisheries Office in Kumasi. Farming systems ranging from semi-intensive to extensive systems were encountered. The farm practices included polyculture, monoculture, mono-sex culture and integration. The study showed that the fish farmers have resources and experiences in fish farming but still lack appropriate technologies for the utilization of their resources; for increased production without compromising environmental protection. Some of the opportunities include availability of land, water, feed ingredients, manure and infrastructures. Major constraints were generally lack of appropriate management techniques: water quality control, effluent control and proper record keeping. Poor site selection was linked with restriction of pond drying due to underground water trend. Therefore, farmers‘ sensitisation, technical assistance and financial support will become suggestions to develop solutions to these confrontations. The potential for fish farming to improve is enormous as the opportunities are vast. Government and non-governmental support will continue to be needed to overcome constraints imposed on the industry.

Source: KNUST