ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The Demand for Public Health Care and the Progressivity of Health Care Services in Ghana

This paper examines the choice of health care and progressivity of health care services in Ghana. Using a combination of benefit incidence analysis and a discrete choice model and data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey, our results give clear evidence of progressivity with consistent ordering: postnatal and prenatal services are the most progressive, followed by clinic visits, and then hospital visits. Child health care services are more progressive than adult. Own price and income elasticities are higher for public health care than private health care and for adults than children. Poorer households are substantially more price responsive than wealthy ones, implying that fee increases for public health care will impact negatively on equity in health care. Simulations show the importance of opportunity costs in health care decisions and suggest that reforms that focus only on out-of-pocket expenses will have a limited ability to extend public health care to all potential users. © 2015 African Development Bank.

Source: UG
Demand- and supply-side perspectives of city branding: A qualitative investigation

City branding has become an invaluable source of differentiation for cities around the world as competition between places continues to grow. The current study addresses gaps in extant city branding literature by investigating the brand vision model on a second-tier UK city, Leeds, from the perspective of both brand steerers and brand consumers. The qualitative research approach and case study results from brand steerers and consumers reveal that a high degree of buy-in exists among leading brand steerers. Furthermore, findings indicate some significant differences between the steerers and citizens' vision for the city's brand that prevents the two sets of viewpoints from being strongly aligned; although communalities exist between stakeholder groups, the supply side is taking a more strategic direction whereas the demand side is more pragmatic. Managerial and theoretical implications provide practical recommendations for managers as well as broader suggestions for the research area in general.

Source: UG
The Demands of Academic Writings

Whilst language standardization and standard languages are common knowledge, at least, amongst those who have experienced some formal education, the notion of a standard language being a necessary evil, that the processes involved in creating one invariably entail embarrassing decisions, and that it has negative effects on behaviour, might not necessarily be so common. It is that disparity in the conceptualization of standard languages that this paper sets out to discuss. It opens with a brief orientation towards sociolinguistics, the linguistics branch that is best equipped to deal with languages as complex social phenomena. The paper will present the classic model of the processes of language standardization and proceed to discuss some of their inevitable social effects – the stigmatization of most varieties of a language and the subsequent creation of a culture whereby constant moral and aesthetic sociolinguistic value judgements become the norm. It will be reiterated that language is primarily speech and that the notion of a standard language is a myth, an imposed ideological construct. The conclusion takes up the main ideas discussed and ends on the note that standard languages are a necessary evil, but that understanding the issues surrounding them has the potential to enhance social tolerance and harmony.

Source: UG
Democracy as a Path to Peace after War: A Case Study of Sierra Leone

This study investigates the Sierra Leonean Civil War that broke out in 1991 and lasted until 2002. The study traces the causes of the war, its effect on the country and the efforts that have been made so far to practice democracy in the post-war era. The methodology that was applied in this study comprised the use of qualitative research approaches to review secondary data on the subject matter as well as the analysis of primary data obtained through interviews. The findings show that the causes of the war can be directly and indirectly linked to pre-colonial factors including development disparities between the capital, Freetown, which the British treated as a Colony and the other regions which they treated as a Protectorate. This chasm deepened into the post-independence years and divided the country along ethnic lines. Coupled with the malaise that bedeviled the country’s economy, the war inevitably broke out soon after its neighbor, Liberia, went up in flames. The study established, as per the conclusions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), that women, children and the youth were most affected by the war. The study also found that the country has made great strides in deepening democracy after the war period. And, finally, the study concludes with some recommendations including the need for the country to strengthen its pro-democracy institutions, starting with the National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (NECSL).

Source: UG
‘Democratic Consolidation in Ghana: Prospects and Challenges?

In the light of the successful and peaceful outcome of the December 2008 elections in Ghana, inclusive of the second transfer of power between political parties since the return to democratic rule in 1992, this paper considers whether Ghana can now be regarded as a consolidated democracy. To undertake this assessment, Linz and Stepan's multidimensional framework of democratic consolidation is adopted, and their three dimensions and five arenas of democratic consolidation are explored. Findings demonstrate that although significant progress has been made towards democratic consolidation in Ghana, there are aspects of consolidation that remain weak. Thus it would be premature to state that democratic consolidation has been achieved in Ghana. With regard to the prospects for sustained consolidation, the closeness that Ghana came to political violence during the fraught election period is highlighted, indicating a latent threat to future democratic stability. Additionally, a number of constraints and challenges are identified in various arenas of consolidation, inclusive of the limited policy influence of civil society organizations, the marginalization of women, excessive executive/presidential powers, the adverse impact of external actors on democratic sovereignty, and the implications for democratic sustainability of a continued failure to address gross socio-economic inequalities. Without addressing such issues, Ghana's democratic gains may turn out to be a rather hollow triumph.

Source: UG
Democratic Elections As A Determinant Of Good Governance In Africa: A Comparative Study Of The Gambia And Ghana

Democratic elections and democratic governance in Africa have been major issues of debate for scholars around the world, focusing on arguments surrounding the nature that democracy in Africa should take in terms of the western style of democracy or developing Africa’s unique democracy. As a contribution to this conversation, this study discusses the conduct and implications of democratic elections and the state of democratic governance in Africa, using Ghana and the Gambia as case studies. Within the framework of democratic governance, the study adopts a comparative approach based on an exploratory research which employs qualitative methods to achieve the objectives of the research. It relies on both primary sources of data, including interviews, and secondary sources of data, including data from institutions such as Electoral Commissions from both countries under study, to conclude that elections are a central indicator but not the only indicator of democratic governance in Africa. Based on other indicators such as the existence of rule of law, accountability, representation, pluralism and participation in governance, the study further concludes that both countries still have a long way to go in terms of its practice of democratic governance. To this end, the study identifies some challenges that should be addressed by both countries to improve upon its practice of democratic governance, including inadequate accountability, low levels of participation by the citizens in local governance, the proliferation of party-sponsored violence, ineffective law enforcement system, and ineffective representation of the people.

Source: UG
The demographic effects and public health infrastructure dearth of COVID-19 in Ghana [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]

Background: Over the last two years, the world has been experiencing a worldwide health catastrophe. The Corona Virus (COVID-19) struck at the heart of societies and is a major health-care infrastructure problem. Infrastructure has been characterised as the basic requirement for carrying out productive and relevant public health actions. Mortality has direct and indirect relationship, with the former causing short and long-term mortality, resulting in a short life expectancy. Reduced accessibility and quality of health care, isolation, loneliness, and poverty were some of the indirect repercussions. The outcomes were sad and deeply felt when the two collided with ageing and persons with co-morbidities. The fertility effect of COVID-19 in the short-term on contraception presented itself in increased difficulties in accessing services and disruptions in the supply chain. Migration was mainly affected due to travel bans and restriction of movements through stay-at-home instructions. Methods: This paper uses the qualitative paradigm of research that used corpus construction in the selection of material to represent a whole and this make it functionally equivalent to sampling but structurally different. It used secondary data to ascertain the demographic effects and the extent of health infrastructure deficit and ingenious ways to curb the challenges as exposed by the COVID - 19. Results: The study underscores how demographic factors can be disrupted by pandemics to bring about high rates of mortality. Global health function is under-funded and under-produced, as a study by the World Health Organization suggests. Conclusions: The study brings to bear that anthropogenic activities, air greenhouse gases, lifespan and hospital beds are key drivers of COVID-19 growth. The path forward to mitigate such pandemics is international harmony and alliances in the distribution of vaccines, strengthening of international health systems ability to hold back major infectious disease, addressing service quality and providing key financial injection.

Source: UG
Demographic factors affecting the commitment of medical records personnel at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana

The demographic variables of employees have been noted as important determinants of their commitment to work. This paper reports empirical research findings on the relationship between the demographic factors of medical records management personnel at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, and their commitment to work, and proposes recommendations based on the findings. The study was quantitative. One hundred and six (106) copies of a questionnaire were administered to the 106 medical records personnel in the 28 clinical departments of the KBTH, and 92 (87 percent) were obtained in complete form and used for the analysis. Regression analysis was used to investigate the extent to which the demographic variables of the respondents determined their organizational commitment. The key finding of the study was that positive relationships exist between demographic variables (age, gender, job tenure, educational level) and organizational commitment of medical records personnel at KBTH. The findings indicate the need for the management of KBTH to consider the demographic factors of the medical records staff in an attempt to improve their commitment to work.

Source: UG
Demographic factors influencing the adoption and use of social media in university libraries in Ghana: A unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) approach

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of demographics as moderators of the factors influencing library workers’ and library patrons’ behavioral intention toward the use of social media in university libraries in Ghana. The theoretical model for this study was based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The study employed a cross-sectional survey and quantitative data was collected from a total of six-hundred and five usable responses obtained from the sampled respondents using a pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical analyses were carried out using the t-test analysis (using Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances) and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Key findings were that although partial relationships were established, the media ting roles of the demographics of library workers and patrons on factors influencing the intention to use and actual use of social media in the university libraries were significant. Establishing the effect of the user demo graphics on factors influencing social media use in the context of the UTAUT is novel within the Ghanaian university library setting and thus contributes new knowledge to methodological discussions to improve practices and policies on social media adoption and use. However, since this study was largely quantitative, future research could include both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to explore any other important constructs that fit into the context and can explain adoption in further detail. Recommendations based on findings are provided in the article.

Source: UG
Demography of the Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus gambianus) in Ghana.

We provide the first estimates of survival and reproductive rates for a population of the Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomophorus gambianus in Ghana. We focused on a large colony of ca. 5,000 bats over 3 years to estimate population parameters including population size, birth rates, survival, and sex ratios for this species. Reproduction chronology was confirmed as seasonal bimodal polyestry, with births occurring in March/April and August/September each year. The estimated birth rate was 0.89 (95% CI = 0.85 to 0.92) per reproductive season. The overall sex ratio (female to male ratio) of the study population was male-dominated (0.69, 95% CI = 0.64 to 0.75), but female-biased for adults (62% female, χ2 1 = 42, P < 0.0001), and showed temporal and age-specifc variations. By radiotracking 60 bats for 10 months, we obtained the first estimates of minimum monthly survival for this species as 0.81 (95% CI = 0.74 to 0.86), but this could be an underesti mate due to possible undetected emigration of tagged bats.

Source: UG
Demons of Traditional Democracies: Politics of Insults and Acrimony in Ghana

There is a general perception that Ghana has achieved remarkable success in democratic consolidation by conducting six general elections in the Fourth Republic without widespread violence since 1992. Yet, the kind of tensions and acrimony that surround her elections are issues that cannot be glossed over. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana paved the way for free speech and expression, which has been strengthened by the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law. Most political actors tend to abuse the freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution by using abusive words and insulting their political opponents especially on the airwaves and during political campaigns. The persistent use of intemperate language affects the quality of policy discourse and also creates tension at every election year. Faced with the use of indecorous language at every election year, a common feature of elections in Ghana is the numerous appeals for peace from all sections of society. The use of indecent words by political actors thus poses a serious threat to Ghana’s democratic dispensation as it can escalate into serious conflict with social, political and economic ramifications. This article examines how the use of indecent language can be detrimental to the developmental agenda of the country. The paper adopts content analysis to examine some of the statements by some key stakeholders during the 2012 general elections. A major finding of the study is that there is excessive use of abusive words on airwaves and political campaigns. Another finding of the study is that election periods in Ghana is characterized by clarion calls for peace and calming down tensions. The article recommends that key political actors must set practical leadership example, for their supporters to emulate by using decorous words before, during and after each election.

Source: UG
Density and distribution of bongos (Tragelaphus euryceros) in a high forest zone in Ghana

This research was undertaken at Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) in the Central Region of Ghana, from October 2011 to September 2012. The main aim was to determine the population density and factors affecting distribution of bongos (Tragelaphus euryceros) for management planning and conservation of the bongo as well as tourism promotion. The methodology involved a field study of sampled plots that represented three habitat types, namely closed forest, open forest and thickets and habitat classification based on canopy coverage and locations of these habitats, whether marginal or deep inside the forest within each of the nine ranges. It was observed that encounters with bongos in KCA were more likely to be during early hours of the day, from 05.00 to 07.00 h GMT and later in the day from 17.30 to 18.00 h GMT. The usual location was in their preferred thickets at four out of the nine ranges of the KCA and their distribution was not affected by seasonality or habitat utilization. About 8.3 bongos/km2 currently occupy the KCA, which can be said to be currently under severe pressure as evidenced by the presence of hunting tools and human activities all over. The results of Pearson’s correlation coefficient regarding bongo densities and water availability suggested that sources of water affected the distribution of the bongos in the KCA since more bongos were encountered closer to water sources. This underscores the importance of sources of water in the KCA for the conservation of the bongos, and the need to ensure adequate protection of the rivers and rivulets in the KCA and off-reserve areas. These results have implications for the formulation of adaptive management plans that would protect the secretive, charismatic and largest antelopes in the KCA, thereby promoting tourism.

Source: UG
Density and regional distribution of radiologists in a low‑income country: the Ghana situation

Background This study assessed the density and distribution of radiologists across all 16 regions in Ghana to generate ref erence information for planning and policy formulation to encourage radiology specialization and in designing systems to improve the dissemination of radiological services across all the regions in Ghana. Method A cross-sectional design was used to collect secondary data on all radiologists (n=93) registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana (MDCG) as of December 2022. This information collected on the records of the MDCG was confrmed with records from the Ghana Association of Radiologists. Population and land area data were also collected from the National Statistical Service of Ghana for each region in the country. The Stata statistical software version 15 was used to analyze the data collected. Results There were 93 radiologists in the country. The majority were male (n=60, 65%) and about one-third of the radiolo gists were female. The national density of radiologists was 1.9 radiologists per 5000 km2 . Only 3 of the 16 regions in the country had a better distribution of radiologists per 5000 km2 . There were three radiologists per million people in Ghana with a skewed regional distribution. Seven out of the 16 regions lacked radiologists. The proportion of female radiologists stationed within the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions was 87.9% (29/33). The Bono, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions had one female radiologist each. Conclusions Actions are needed to improve the shortage and skewed distribution of radiologists. The outcome will help to improve radiological services across all the regions in Ghana.

Source: UG
Density Functional Theory-Based Studies Predict Carbon Nanotubes as Effective Mycolactone Inhibitors

Abstract: Fullerenes, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have all been extensively explored for biomedical purposes. This work describes the use of BNNTs and CNTs as mycolactone inhibitors. Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to investigate the chemical properties and interaction mechanisms of mycolactone with armchair BNNTs (5,5) and armchair CNTs (5,5). By examining the optimized structure and interaction energy, the intermolecular interactions between mycolactone and nanotubes were investigated. The findings indicate that mycolactone can be physically adsorbed on armchair CNTs in a stable condition, implying that armchair CNTs can be potential inhibitors of mycolactone. According to DOS plots and HOMO–LUMO orbital studies, the electronic characteristics of pure CNTs are not modified following mycolactone adsorption on the nanotubes. Because of mycolactone’s large - interactions with CNTs, the estimated interaction energies indicate that mycolactone adsorption on CNTs is preferable to that on BNNTs. CNTs can be explored as potentially excellent inhibitors of mycolactone toxins in biological systems. Keywords: mycolactone; nanotubes; density functional theory (DFT); boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs); carbon nanotubes (CNTs); HOMO–LUMO orbital; inhibitors

Source: UG
Density Functional Theory-Based Studies Predict Carbon Nanotubes as Effective Mycolactone Inhibitors

Fullerenes, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have all been extensively explored for biomedical purposes. This work describes the use of BNNTs and CNTs as mycolactone inhibitors. Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to investigate the chemical properties and interaction mechanisms of mycolactone with armchair BNNTs (5,5) and armchair CNTs (5,5). By examining the optimized structure and interaction energy, the intermolecular interactions between mycolactone and nanotubes were investigated. The findings indicate that mycolactone can be physically adsorbed on armchair CNTs in a stable condition, implying that armchair CNTs can be potential inhibitors of mycolactone. According to DOS plots and HOMO–LUMO orbital studies, the electronic characteristics of pure CNTs are not modified following mycolactone adsorption on the nanotubes. Because of mycolactone’s large π-π interactions with CNTs, the estimated interaction energies indicate that mycolactone adsorption on CNTs is preferable to that on BNNTs. CNTs can be explored as potentially excellent inhibitors of mycolactone toxins in biological systems.

Source: UG
The Density of Knobs on Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes Depends on Developmental Age and Varies among Isolates

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG