ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Introducing programming skills in children through toys (robot) to enhance their cognitive skills and critical thinking

As decade after decade passes, the world has proved extremely progressive especially in technology. As the world goes completely digital and most people become computer savvy, it is pivotal to have programming skills to avoid becoming redundant. In creating a world where programming skills is a culture, it is necessary to instil such skills right from the start with children. Therefore, teaching programming in schools is just as necessary as other core subjects. Nevertheless, in many schools in Africa, programming is a skill that many meet while in university if and only if the school in which they attend has a curriculum that forces them to do so otherwise it remains a gap in the education. Programming is core in developing critical thinking, computational thinking, and problem solving skills among children. Besides programming being taught, it is ideal that the method used to impart knowledge is fun, easier and the best in aiding understanding. This project proposes the use of the Safari (robot) developed using Arduino and Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) to teach programming concepts to children using a phone as a controller to move the robot in four main directions; right, left, forward, backwards and repetitively. This will be useful both in schools and homes to teach young children programming concepts for its ease of use and enhancing fun.

Source: Ashesi
Inventory management system for CAMFED Zimbabwe.

In this digital age, it is unanticipated that some organisations and firms still use the manual book system to keep records. Research on the reasons why some organisations are still using the manual way proved that usability is an important aspect when developing a record keeping system. Most available record keeping or inventory systems are tailored for businesses involved in buying and selling goods. Since for such businesses there will be a designated person or few people responsible for record keeping, they take some time to learn the system and become familiar with it. Resultantly, they can navigate even on seemingly sophisticated user interfaces. Due to the complexity of the inventory systems available, non-retailers prefer to use the manual system which requires no proficiency and less or no time to learn. This paper details the development of an inventory management system for Camfed (Campaign for Female Education) Zimbabwe following a request made by the organisation. With more emphasis on usability the system was developed ensuring that each interface has the minimal functionality. Frequent testing was done to ensure that the system meets the requirements of the user. It was implemented using Html, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and other web technology languages and frameworks. The system has a very usable and interactive interface which ensures a highly satisfying user experience.

Source: Ashesi
Inventory management system for Denaks Frozen Foods

Denaks Frozen Foods is a start-up in the heart of Jamestown (Accra, Ghana) which seeks to provide its customers (rich, middle-class and poor) with frozen foods. There are a variety of products it serves to the market. These products include fish, gizzard, chicken, and sausages. Dede Nakoh, the owner of the company, started the business to make profit after doing an intense study of the market. Currently, the company has four working staff excluding the owner, two salespeople and two butchers. The company aims at establishing more branches in Accra to become a well-known company in Ghana. However, the company faces a problem which is likely to prevent them from achieving their goals. The needs assessment conducted showed a poor inventory management system as the main problem the company faces. The company is unable to effectively and efficiently track and monitor its stock. Further analysis was done in through literature review to understand the problem better and gain mastery of the possible solutions to address the issue. The literature review highlights the various inventory management strategies which could be used by Small Medium Enterprises (SME) to monitor their inventory to yield maximum performance. These inventory strategies include Economic Order Quantity, ABC Analysis, Just-in-time and Enterprise Resources Planning. From the literature review, Orderly POS, an inventory management software and a Point of sale was the best solution to manage the inventory of the company. The software has relevant inventory management features which allows the user to monitor inventory, count products using a bar code scanner and signals the user when there is low inventory stock.

Source: Ashesi
Investigating How Forex Bureaus Impact The Depreciation Of The Ghanaian Cedi

This study investigates how activities of Forex Bureaus in Ghana impact the depreciation of the Ghana cedi. The research used a qualitative approach, specifically semi-structured interviews conducted with licensed Forex bureau operators in selected areas within the Greater Accra Region, including Madina, Adenta, Kwabenya, and Dome. Thematic analysis was employed for the analysis and supported by NVivo software. The Market Microstructure Theory and Institutional Theory of Exchange Rates underpin the study. The findings reveal that speculative behaviours such as currency hoarding, pricing influenced by black market rates, limited access to foreign exchange, and weak regulatory enforcement are significant contributors to currency depreciation. Additionally, many operators lack awareness of the economic impact of their actions, while institutional and policy inefficiencies such as rigid Ghana Card requirements further undermine formal operations. The study recommends stronger regulatory enforcement, public education, and limits on the volume of foreign currency holdings without constraining legitimate trading activities. This research highlights the need for targeted reforms and offers a foundation for future studies to explore consumer perspectives and regional comparisons.

Source: Ashesi
Investigating the attitudes and habits of middle-income Ghanaians to purchasing cut flowers in Accra, Ghana

The middle-income bracket in Africa is one that is growing and doing so rapidly. Ghana has been identified as having around “46.6% of the population belonging to the middle class who is gaining strength due to increased jobs, wealth, and political participation” (Grail Research, 2012). With this notion in mind, the middle-income bracket is being exposed to varying lifestyle changes as well as opportunities broadening their scope and exposing them to different cultural ideas. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes and habits of middle-income Ghanaians toward purchasing cut flowers in Accra. Unlike the western and European countries that have embraced the purchase and the use of cut flowers as a part of their culture, as Africans it is not innate quality we imbibe (International Marketing, 2012). Hence, the interest developed to understand the rationale behind Ghanaian consumers who chose to buy cut flowers and for which occasion they buy cut flowers. What motivates them to and how often they buy? A research conducted by Czinkota et al. in 2012 identified that the floral industry in Ghana is relatively young compared to other markets such as Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. However, there is evidence of growth in this market based on consumer changing preferences and the prevalence of the culture and knowledge of cut flowers unto the Ghanaian scene. This study focuses solely on the understanding the attitude and habits of the middle-income bracket to buying cut flowers and how this information could enhance potential growth within the industry here in Ghana. With just a few dominant forces in the trade, it will be highly beneficial for suppliers to know how consumers react to the product and as such know how best to market them in order to sell more and improve the culture of buying flowers here in Ghana considering there is a positive attitude to buying cut flowers and they do so regularly.

Source: Ashesi
Investigating the Impact of Accuracy on the Usability of Speech-to-Text Systems for Dyslexic Students in Ghana.

Speech-to-text (STT) technology has the potential to assist students who struggle with writing as it converts spoken words into written texts. This study examines the impact of accuracy on the usability of STT systems for Ghanaian dyslexic students. In educational institutions that teach reading and writing using traditional techniques, dyslexic students face many challenges in their academic journey. STT systems, however, offer a potentially effective way to address the difficulties dyslexic students face as they provide an alternative method of expressing their thoughts through transcribing audio into text. However, how accurately the audio is converted into text determines the usability of these technologies. This study uses mixed methods that include surveys and user testing to investigate the usability of STT systems among Ghanaian dyslexic students. The main goal of this study is to determine how STT's accuracy affects dyslexic students' educational experience if adopted in academic settings. Findings indicate a clear correlation between the high accuracy, enhanced usability, and effectiveness of STT systems. The study recommends strategies to improve usability and accuracy to satisfy dyslexic students' specific needs and highlights the challenges dyslexic students encounter while using STT systems. The gap between theory and practice is narrowed by addressing these real-world issues. After reading these results, educators, researchers, and legislators are advised to create environments that support inclusive learning. After that, dyslexic students are supported to succeed in Ghanaian educational settings.

Source: Ashesi
Investigating the Impact of Gamification and AI-Powered Reading Assistance on the Cognitive Focus and Reading Habits of Individuals With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This study explores the impact of combining gamification and AI-powered reading assistance to improve cognitive focus and reading habits in individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Traditional reading interventions often fail to dynamically respond to the fluctuating attentional needs of ADHD learners. To address this, a web-based platform integrating real-time gaze tracking and gamified elements such as XP points, badges, and leaderboards was developed. Fifteen participants with ADHD interacted with the platform over a one-week period. Both quantitative metrics (gaze tracking alerts, XP earned) and qualitative feedback were collected. Results indicated that real-time focus prompts and motivational gamification features significantly improved usersgarding mobile responsiveness and onboarding support. These findings suggest that integrating AI-driven attention support with gamification strategies holds significant promise for enhancing the reading experience of individuals with ADHD.

Source: Ashesi
IOT-Driven Precision Agriculture With Drone-Assisted Crop Monitoring And Management Using Machine Learning

Global agriculture faces mounting challenges driven by population growth, climate change, and resource inefficiencies. Traditional farming methods often lead to substantial waste and environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable practices. This study addresses these issues by designing and implementing an integrated precision agriculture system that combines IoT sensors, drone-assisted imaging, and machine learning to enable real-time crop monitoring and management, with a focus on lettuce cultivation. The system collects soil and crop data, processes it locally on a Raspberry Pi server, and delivers actionable insights through a cross-platform mobile use, enhancing early disease detection, and improving crop health while maintaining low operational costs and supporting offline functionality. Despite limitations related to semi-controlled environment for testing, the results affirm the system's potentialto contributeto sustainable agricultural practicesand inform future scalability efforts. This research advancesthe developmentof accessible, data-driven farming technologies aimedat increasing productivity, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening food security.

Source: Ashesi
IOT-Driven Precision Agriculture with Drone-Assited Crop Monitoring and Management Using Machine Learning

Global agriculture faces mounting challenges driven by population growth, climate change, and resource inefficiencies. Traditional farming methods often lead to substantial waste and environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable practices. This study addresses these issues by designing and implementing an integrated precision agriculture system that combines IoT sensors, drone-assisted imaging, and machine learning to enable real-time crop monitoring and management, with a focus on lettuce cultivation. The system collects soil and crop data, processes it locally on a Raspberry Pi server, and delivers actionable insights through a cross-platform mobile application. Field-testing demonstrated the system's effectiveness in optimizing the resource use, enhancing early disease detection, and improving crop health while maintaining low operational costs and supporting offline functionality. Despite limitations related to semi-controlled environment for testing, the results affirm the system's potential to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and inform future scalability efforts. This research advances the development of accessible, data-driven farming technologies aimed at increasing productivity, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening food security.

Source: Ashesi
Islanding detection and control in distributed generators

Despite the numerous environmental and economic benefits of the integration of renewable distributed generation (DG) into the distribution network of power systems, there are a number of technical challenges that come with it. Unintentional islanding is one of the critical issues regarding DGs integration into the distribution grid. Unintentional islanding occurs when DG suddenly becomes electrically isolated from the main grid but continues to energize the local loads it serves or portion of the power system. In the event of unintentional islanding, frequency voltage and the rest of parameters for power system may be completely out of the acceptable limits, as the island formation is unregulated. The unintentional islanding is undesirable in power system as it can severely damage loads, risk the life of utility line workers. It is, therefore, imperative to develop an islanding controls strategy that helps mitigate the unintentional islanding phenomenon in DGs. In this project work, Rate of change of voltage (ROCOV), Change in sine waveform at the output of inverter during islanding and, total harmonic distortion of voltage are the islanding detection methods designed and employed for detecting unintentional islanding. A 100- kW photovoltaic system was designed and modelled as the DG for the study, and hence the project considers only inverter-based DG. MATLAB Simulation was then carried out for the detection and control of unintentional islanding. After several iterations of the simulation, the desired results from the simulation were obtained. Based on the results from the project, certain recommendations were made, and the project design can be implemented on a live DG system.

Source: Ashesi
Islanding detection and control in wind-solar hybrid distributed generations

As electricity demand surges in most developing countries, there is a need to tap into other sources of energy. Renewable energy sources are mostly preferred due to their reduced environmental pollution compared to other sources. However, integrating the renewable sources is challenged by islanding: one of the serious issues with distributed generation (DG) integrations. Islanding occurs when a DG becomes electrically isolated from the main grid but continues to power the local loads or a portion of the power system. Voltages, frequencies, third harmonic distortions, and currents are always outside of specified limits in such situations. This poses a significant risk to utility workers as well as local loads. This project examines various anti-islanding (AI) protection relays when the islanding condition of a grid-tied wind-solar hybrid system appears at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) between the hybrid Power System and the power grid. 150 kW wind-solar hybrid distributed generation was designed and modelled in Simulink for study. Various grid fault scenarios were also simulated, and the results compared to islanding conditions. The simulation graphs and detection times during grid faults and islanding conditions are recorded in this paper. The results show that, the passive detection techniques, mainly over/under currents, and voltages as well as rate of change of frequency, could detect islanding condition in about 0.104 seconds. Upon several iterations and series of simulations, the results were found to fall within the acceptable limits provided by IEEE Std.1547-2003 of under 2 seconds. For a single-phase-ground, phase-phase, and phase-phase-ground grid faults, the detection technique detects islanding but fails to trip the circuit breaker. The inability of the detection techniques to trip the circuit breakers under grid fault conditions is desirable to avoid false tripping. Various explanations and recommendations are provided in the results section.

Source: Ashesi
Job listing application for domestic workers

In Kenya, youth unemployment rate is 80% of the unemployed population. These are people between the ages of 18 to 35 years. In most households where parents are working, it is very hectic to get a reliable and suitable household employer to take care of their homes when they are away working. Linking the unemployed population to prospective employers in the informal sector is therefore very necessary. This write up gives details of a job listing user friendly web application, created to connect the two parties (working parents & unemployed youth), easily and reliably. The application builds on techniques that have been employed in existing solutions. The uniqueness of the application is the fact that it uses google maps to locate vacancies and job seekers who are using the application. Development and user testing were conducted to evaluate the usability of the application and to make sure that the application meets the listed requirements.

Source: Ashesi
Job Role Evaluation System: A system that leverages machine learning and natural language processing.

In today's fast-evolving technological landscape, organisations must continuously evaluate the relevance and impact of various job roles to ensure alignment with strategic goals such as performance improvement, cost reduction, and revenue generation. However, traditional role-relevance assessments are often manual, time-consuming, and infrequent, leading to organisational structure and human resource planning inefficiencies. This capstone project presents the Role Relevance Evaluation System, a machine learning-based platform designed to automate and quantify the impact of different roles within an organisation. By leveraging data from the internet using web scraping and natural language processing (NLP) techniques, the system analyses job role descriptions and contextual organisational goals to compute relevance scores for each role across three key metrics: performance, cost reduction, and revenue generation. The system integrates three machine learning modelse role-relevance predictions, selecting the most accurate model for real-time use. Additionally, the NLP component, powered by BERT, enables the system to tailor predictions based on each organisation's unique context provided during registration. Organisations input their job roles and optional descriptions, which the system processes to produce dynamic, metric-based relevance scores visualised on an interactive dashboard. Developed using PHP, MySQL, Flask, and JavaScript and hosted on an AWS EC2 Ubuntu instance, the system features a secure registration and approval process. It ensures personalised and data-driven decision-making for hiring, restructuring, and performance optimization tasks. This project offers a standardised and scalable approach to job role evaluation, enhancing operational efficiency in modern organisations.

Source: Ashesi
JoshPash: An online medical assistant platform to assist doctors in their daily activities and become more efficient

Rising infant mortality rates and chronic diseases like COVID-19 are just two of the problems the Ghanaian healthcare system is facing. Ghana's infant death rate has risen from 30 per 1,000 live births in 1998 to 43 in 2003. The JoshPash Medical Assistant, an AI-powered healthcare system that uses modern technologies like machine learning and natural language processing to support medical professionals in providing personalized medical recommendations, drug dosing assistance and rare disease detection, was designed as part of this project to address these issues. In order to lower the rates of maternal and newborn mortality, the system also has a feature for calculating the gestational ages of pregnant patients. To ensure usability, stability, and functionality, the project underwent extensive testing using tools like React, Material UI, Tensorflow, and Firebase. By enhancing access to high-quality care and lowering costs, the JoshPash Medical Assistant has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in Ghana and other developing countries.

Source: Ashesi
Kayayo: An e-commerce site with recommendations and text messaging

E-commerce, as a means of transacting business, is increasingly providing Ghanaians abroad and at home with a new and more convenient way to do their shopping. Sites such as makola.com and myebayghana.com are providing retailers with a means to exhibit their products to enable them expand their reach. However, many e-commerce sites do not fully address the shopping needs of the average Ghanaian shopper, which are, a quick, easy, reliable and more contextual way to shop for products and have them delivered to their doorsteps. This project therefore proposes a convenient, intuitive and contextually relevant e-shopping system. The system uses recommendation algorithms and SMS messaging as a major means of interaction.

Source: Ashesi
Keep Ghana Clean mobile application

Over the past decades, there has been a tremendous increase in waste generation in Ghana. Waste management is a key and problematic issue in the Ghanaian environment. The aim of the project is to ensure waste management is curtailed and to reduce the number of flooding while contributing to climate change. This mobile application offers a fun and rewarding path for everyone to help clean the environment and solve climate change. The solution would help reduce waste problems in Ghana and aligns with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal 6, which emphasizes clean water and sanitation. The application makes use of the concept of gamification and incorporates the technology acceptance model (TAM). This application would be implemented to help control waste management in urban centers in Accra.

Source: Ashesi