ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Energy-economic analysis of power plant carbon dioxide capture and pipeline transport in Texas Gulf coast

The total investment cost of a pipeline network to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants for enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) in oil fields in Texas Gulf Coast as CO2 mitigation has been estimated. The impact of the CO2 capture and transport on power generation cost, including the benefits of atmospheric CO2 mitigation has also been determined. 14 power plants comprising 55.7% of installed capacity in Texas Gulf Coast were selected. Geographical-informationsystem was used to optimise the pipeline network. Absorption amine technology was adopted for the CO2 capture. Bernoulli’s equation was used to model the fluid transmission. Cost escalation factors were introduced into existing pipeline models to improve their estimation capability. The analysis shows that cost of the proposed pipeline transport is highly sensitive to escalations in labour, material and right-of-way costs and would range from $1.6-4.6 billion. The percentage incremental generation cost for coal-fired plants ranges from 55-122% whilst that of gas-fired ranges from 9-13%. Some by-products from the capture could be sold to reduce elevated generation costs. The results indicate 3-7% reduction in Texas’ power plant annual emissions which could increase three to fourfold if EOR includes geologic sequestration. Overall, it has the potential to create between 7,000-10,000 new jobs.

Source: UCC
Enforcing income tax compliance among the self-employed in the Tema metropolis of Ghana

The idea that the self-employed have high income tax non-compliance behaviour is longstanding in tax compliance literature. Inappropriate application of tax enforcement strategies has been identified as one of the principal reasons for the high incidence of income tax non-compliance among the self-employed. Determining which regulatory enforcement strategy will be most effective has been a difficult task for tax authorities. There has been a longstanding debate between those who believe that taxpayers will comply with tax laws when confronted with harsh sanctions and those who believe that persuasion and cooperation work in ensuring compliance. The objective of this study is to determine which enforcement strategy will ensure compliance among the self-employed, taking into consideration the reasons for non-compliance. Three hundred and fifty (350) self-employed within the Tema metropolis were sampled from a population of 6,318 self-employed. A simple random sampling technique using the lottery method was employed in selecting the sample. In all, a total of 267 useable responses, giving a response rate of about 76% were received and used for the data analysis. The results of the study favour a combination of the deterrent and accommodative enforcement strategies with the initial use of tax education in enforcing compliance. Sanctions must however be preserved and used as a last resort for the deviant and recalcitrant non-compliers. This is in support of the ATO compliance model promulgated in Australia.

Source: UCC
Engaging in religious activities during working hours in Ghana: a case study of Berekum municipality in the Bono region

Religious beliefs influence how people perceive and practice their work; hence the blending of religion and work ethic is intertwined. The main purpose of this study was to examine use of work hours for religious activities by workers and assess its impact on their productivity, profitability, sustainability, and the survival of the institutions in which they work. The study is a purely qualitative in nature. Simple random sampling was used to select 50 research participants for the study. Semi-structured interview and observation were the tools used to gather data for the study. The study revealed workers carry religion to the workplace by engaging in various religious activities during working hours. The findings indicated that religious engagements during working hours could pose undue hardships on the business and negatively impacts work output and performance. Also, workers engage in religious activities at workplaces because of the benefits they derive from such activities. The study, in view of this, concluded that despite the negative impact associated with the use of working hours for religious activities, the Berekum workers will prefer to use their time to seek and receive the attention and blessings of the benevolent spirits so that they can always be in good health throughout their lives. The study, therefore, recommended that strict monitoring of workers is needed to regulate religious activities or engagements at the workplace. Working time and rules regulating work must be used positively in order to be in good relationship at both vertical and horizontal levels of life.

Source: UCC
Engaging with methodological issues in qualitative research: sharing personal experience to benefit novice researchers

In Ghana and many African countries, students in tertiary education institutions are less familiar with qualitative research methodologies, despite the legion literature on this subject and its popularity in western higher education institutions. In this paper, I share my experience on how I engaged with methodological issues in a qualitative study which I conducted. The paper seeks to demonstrate that despite the apparently messy nature of qualitative research, its characteristics, principles and defining canons are translatable from theory to practice, from rhetoric to reality, and from the pages of textbooks to the pragmatics of research. The paper aims to provide insights to novice researchers who have interest in qualitative research methodologies but feel hesitant to apply them. Hopefully, the fears of such researchers would be allayed and they would be emboldened to venture into this exciting and excellent area of research.

Source: UCC
Engineering Genetic Predisposition in Human Neuroepithelial Stem Cells Recapitulates Medulloblastoma Tumorigenesis

Human neural stem cell cultures provide progenitor cells that are potential cells of origin for brain cancers. However, the extent to which genetic predisposition to tumor formation can be faithfully captured in stem cell lines is uncertain. Here, we evaluated neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells, representative of cerebellar progenitors. We transduced NES cells with MYCN, observing medulloblastoma upon orthotopic implantation in mice. Significantly, transcriptomes and patterns of DNA methylation from xenograft tumors were globally more representative of human medulloblastoma compared to a MYCN-driven genetically engineered mouse model. Orthotopic transplantation of NES cells generated from Gorlin syndrome patients, who are predisposed to medulloblastoma due to germline-mutated PTCH1, also generated medulloblastoma. We engineered candidate cooperating mutations in Gorlin NES cells, with mutation of DDX3X or loss of GSE1 both accelerating tumorigenesis. These findings demonstrate that human NES cells provide a potent experimental resource for dissecting genetic causation in medulloblastoma.

Source: UCC
English Language and Sustainable Development in Ghana

The choice of English as either national or official language in English as Second Language (ESL) situations has been the subject of many academic and political discourses for a long time now. After (colonial) independence, many African nations, including Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, have had to grapple with the problem of language choice. Many people have argued for the choice and development of local languages for national and/or official purposes. However, it appears that the argument for the choice of local languages is based on language loyalty and nationalism rather than real socio politico-economic needs of the times. It is my conviction that the argument must be based on the reality of the social, political and economic needs of the 21st Century. This paper, therefore, sets out to argue for a development of right attitudes towards English; for the English language has come to stay as a communicative tool for social, political and economic development

Source: UCC
Enhanced circulating ILC2s and MDSCs may contribute to ensure maintenance of Th2 predominant in patients with lung cancer

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) were demonstrated to be involved in the initiation and coordination of type 2 T helper cell (Th2) responses. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have received a great deal of attention for their role in creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment in cancer-bearing hosts. However, the contributions of ILC2s in the occurrence and development of lung cancer, and the association between ILC2s and Th2 or MDSCs in lung cancer remain to be elucidated. In the present study, 36 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer based on the guidelines of the International Union Against Cancer Tumor Node Metastasis were included. The frequencies of ILC2s and MDSCs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined, and the mRNA expression levels of ILC2s or Th2-related transcription factors and cytokines, and MDSCs-related products were assessed. The results demonstrated that the frequencies of the circulatory ILC2s and MDSCs were enhanced in lung cancer patients, as were ILC2-related transcription factors and cytokines in peripheral blood. A positive correlation was identified between the Th2-dominated phenotype and the expression levels of ILC2s-associated cytokines or transcription factors. In addition, increased autophagy related 1 was closely associated with Th2-associated transcription factors. It was demonstrated that ILC2s and MDSCs were clearly upregulated and accompanied by a predominant Th2 phenotype in patients with lung cancer; this may lead to new immunotherapy approaches for lung cancer based on the associated metabolites and cytokines

Source: UCC
Enhanching the use of ICT among tutors of Wiawso

This study investigated the impact of ICT three initiatives as perceived by Wiawso College of Education tutors at an independent school in Sefwi Wiawso. A qualitative data was gathered for this Case Study by administering questionnaire to 43 tutors of the college and two administrative staff. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. First and foremost, evidence was found of an overall increase in the use of ICT since the three initiatives were implemented. Secondly, the provision of personal access to a desktop computer was perceived by the teachers to have had the most impact on improving the use of ICT. However, the inclusion of Ubuntu operating systems to Windows operating was perceived by the majority of teachers as having a negative influence on their use and development of ICT. On the basis of the findings, some recommendations were made; the National Council for Tertiary Education should be made to assist the college by providing more ICT equipment and its accessories. Also, all future ICT professional development program should be based on learning strategies that make a difference in daily practice. Skilled based training should be conducted informally as and when it is needed.

Source: UCC
Enhanching the use of ICT among tutors of Wiawso Colleges of Education

This study investigated the impact of ICT three initiatives as perceived by Wiawso College of Education tutors at an independent school in Sefwi Wiawso. A qualitative data was gathered for this Case Study by administering questionnaire to 43 tutors of the college and two administrative staff. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. First and foremost, evidence was found of an overall increase in the use of ICT since the three initiatives were implemented. Secondly, the provision of personal access to a desktop computer was perceived by the teachers to have had the most impact on improving the use of ICT. However, the inclusion of Ubuntu operating systems to Windows operating was perceived by the majority of teachers as having a negative influence on their use and development of ICT. On the basis of the findings, some recommendations were made; the National Council for Tertiary Education should be made to assist the college by providing more ICT equipment and its accessories. Also, all future ICT professional development program should be based on learning strategies that make a difference in daily practice. Skilled based training should be conducted informally as and when it is needed.

Source: UCC
Enhancing Access to Education for Out-of-School Children in Hard to Reach Communities in Ghana: The Ace Experience

Access to quality Basic Education for all school-age children has been the vision of governments of many developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the way to provide access to quality education for all school-age children, especially in the hard-to-reach communities has been a major challenge. This position paper looks at an innovative approach to providing access to quality education in hard-to-reach communities in Northern Ghana by the Alliance for Change in Education (ACE), through the Wing School project. The paper aims to share the good practices of the ACE Wing School model. It highlights the key characteristics of the ACE methodology, approach to access, ACE Wing School approach to quality of learning outcomes, community participation. Challenges of the ACE methodology are highlighted and aspects of the ACE methodology which could be useful for state adoption have been recommended to stakeholders of education in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Enhancing passenger safety and security in Ghana: appraising public transport operators’ recent interventions

There are increasing calls for regular monitoring and evaluation of safety and security strategies of public transport (PT) operators, especially in developing countries where PT safety and security concerns abound. In respect of this, this study examined the passenger safety and security interventions of PT operators in Ghana. Both the accident-incident theory and routine activities theory served as the theoretical framework within which the study was rooted. Guided by the convergent parallel mixed methods design, data were drawn from in-depth interviews with six major intercity PT operators as well as questionnaires administered to 273 intercity PT passengers. The field data were analysed using both thematic (qualitative data) and correlational (quantitative data) analyses in line with the study design. Varied perspectives on the state of PT passenger safety and security in the country were expressed, and operators’ interventions in this regard were appraised. The study emphasised the need for periodic review of the regulatory framework establishing public transport undertaking by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to reflect changing safety and security circumstances

Source: UCC
Enhancing post-graduate programme effectiveness through tracer studies: the reflective accounts of a Ghanaian nation-wide graduate tracer study research team

Graduate tracer studies have come to represent one of the key approaches for enhancing study programme effectiveness in contemporary higher education. This has led to a surge in graduate tracer studies by Ghanaian higher education institutions. However, reflective practices on challenges and lessons from these studies are lacking. Through focusgroup discussions and individual interviews with members of a research team that undertook a nation-wide data collection in connection with a graduate tracer study, this article distils challenges the research team struggled to surmount and lessons learnt for the conduct of future graduate tracer studies within the context of Ghana. Against the backdrop of the insights generated and discussed, it is concluded that reflective research exercises, such as the one reported in this article, are a scholarly imperative for continuous improvement in the conduct of graduate tracer studies, which is rarely undertaken in the Ghanaian higher education context.

Source: UCC
Enhancing quality of life through the lens of green spaces: A systematic review approach

Improving citizens’ quality of life is a stated priority of many governments in both the global north and south. However, efforts to achieve this often focus on socio-economic measures, with limited attention to the contributions of environmental variables such as green spaces. This paper sought to bridge this knowledge gap by tracing the linkages between green spaces and quality of life, and how these connections can inform policy development in order to assist governments to achieve positive outcomes for quality of life. The paper took a theoretical approach by utilising the systematic review method. In all, 452 publications were included in this review, and rigorous content analysis was employed to retrieve relevant data. Green spaces were found to provide various social, economic, and environmental benefits, which in turn improve physical, psychological, emotional, social, and material wellbeing of individuals and thus enhance quality of life. It is therefore strongly recommended that conservation of green spaces should be integrated into national health, environmental and socio-economic policies in order to promote effective utilisation of green spaces to enhance citizens’ overall quality of life

Source: UCC
Enhancing safety culture in the mining industry in Ghana

The paper concerns organisational safety culture and how it may be applied to reduce employee accidents in the mining industry in Ghana. A sample of 340 managerial workers of three mining companies in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality was selected using the simple random sampling technique. Data for the study was gathered using a survey questionnaire. The Structural Equation Modelling analysis technique was performed to establish the relationship between safety culture and each of the five dimensions of workplace safety (work safety, management safety practices, safety programmes, supervisor safety and co-worker safety). It was found that safety culture is a significant positive predictor of work safety (R2 = 0.039), management safety practices (R2 = 0.272), safety programmes (R2 = 0.159), co-worker safety (R2 = 0.225) and supervisor safety (R2 = 0.199). The study concluded that workplace safety can be improved by enhancing the safety culture in the mining industry in Ghana. The study recommends that in order to curb the incidence and occurrence of accidents and injuries in the mining industry in Ghana, Human Resource (HR) managers should lay more emphasis on ways that would enhance the safety culture of all employees in the industry.

Source: UCC
Enhancing Security of Automated Teller Machines Using Biometric Authentication: A Case of a Sub-Saharan University

A wide variety of systems need reliable personal recognition systems to either authorize or determine the identity of an individual demanding their services. The goal of such systems is to warrant that the rendered services are accessed only by a genuine user and no one else.In the absence of robust personal recognition schemes, these systems are vulnerable to the deceits of an impostor. The ATM has suffered a lot over the years against PIN theft and other associated ATM frauds. In this research is proposed a fingerprint and PIN based authentication arrangement to enhance the security and safety of the ATM and its users. The proposed system demonstrates a three-tier design structure. The first tier is the verification module, which concentrates on the enrollment phase, enhancement phase, feature extraction and matching of the fingerprints. The second tier is the database end which acts as a storehouse for storing the fingerprints of all ATM users preregistered as templates. The last tier presents a system platform to relate banking transactions such as balance enquiries, mini statement and withdrawal. The system is developed to run on Microsoft windows Xp or higher and all systems with .NET framework employing C# programming language, Microsoft Visio studio 2010 and SQL server 2008. The simulated results showed 96% accuracy, the simulation overlooked the absence of a cash tray. The findings of this research will be meaningful to Banks and other financial institutions.

Source: UCC
Enhancing spatial data accessibility in Ghana: Prioritization of Influencing factors using AHP∗

The need to improve access to spatial data has attracted both research and policy attention because it is considered as one of the key requirements for sustainable development. Since multiple stakeholders are involved in the spectrum from spatial data production to use, an effort to make spatial data widely accessible requires multi-stakeholder approaches to foster consensus over multiple decision criteria. The objective of this study was to explore and structure a multi-criteria decision-making problem regarding access to spatial data in Ghana from a multi-stakeholder perspective; and to prioritize (rank) spatial data accessibility components and influencing factors for policy decisions. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used as a tool to support the structuring of the multi-criteria decision problem and the multi-stakeholder process. A three-level AHP structure was constructed to examine the spatial data access problem, with a main objective, four sub-objectives and five alternatives. Spatial data accessibility was decomposed into four components (discoverability retrievability, usability and affordability) which were used as sub-objectives (criteria). More so, spatial data access is mediated by influencing factors (institutional, technical, policy/legal, socio-cultural and economic) which were used as alternatives. Fifty individuals from twenty-four organizations were interviewed and later engaged in a focus-group discussion to generate weights (priorities) for the accessibility components and the alternatives. The results provide both qualitative and quantitative information to decision makers regarding the spatial data access problem and their priorities from the perspective of enhancing access to spatial data. Regarding accessibility components (objectives), discoverability and retrievability had the highest priorities while technical and institutional issues had the highest priorities with regard to the influencing factors. Considering the overall impact on the main objective and in the face of limited resources, it is concluded that improvement in the technical and institutional environment with the view to improving discoverability and retrievability require the highest priority in order to enhance access to spatial data in Ghana

Source: UCC
Enhancing Teaching Through Innovation in the University: What Teachers should Know and Do.

Burgeoning literature in education have shown an affirmed resolve of educators to adopt modern productive teaching approaches to ensure maximum learning outcomes. There is indubitably a serious need for teachers in higher educational institutions to focus on ways of enhancing teaching and learning. However, few researchers appear to have focused on the subject. This working paper, by employing the narrative design, examined the teaching enterprise with emphasis on moving from pedagogy to andragogy as a harbinger for the creation of autonomous self-directed adults. The paper advocates for pragmatic teaching strategies for teachers at this level. It concludes that university teachers must necessarily take advantage of the-now-increasing avenues for knowledge nourishment widely provided by outstanding journals, conference, articles and scholarly books among other knowledge outlets. Teachers are urged to profiteer from the wide range of polished teaching options espoused and circulated via the media. It is the paper‘s view that implementing contemporary teaching methods is the only panacea to tackling the current phenomenon of qualification inflation that has virtually led to the reduction of the academic currency among graduates. The paper‘s firm belief is that with innovative teaching methods, teachers desire for excellence in the classroom is already a forgone conclusion.

Source: UCC