ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Promoting radio astronomy in Ghana through school visits and Astronomy Clubs

Abstract The Promoting Radio Astronomy in Ghana through School visits and Astronomy Clubs (PRAGSAC) project was an intervention to promote astronomy education in schools in Ghana. It was initiated by a group of enthusiastic students who were trained in radio astronomy and astrophysics under a Royal Society/Newton Fund UK project termed Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy. The team’s aim is to expose school children to astronomy and to increase their interest in the sciences. Approximately 800 school children from seven junior high schools were positively impacted by this project. Astronomy clubs were formed in the selected schools with practical astronomy lessons taught. The kids visited the largest single radio telescope in Africa at Kuntunse in Accra and were amazed about the engineering and the science that it undertakes. For the patrons of the clubs, a teacher training workshop was organised for them, so as to equip them to manage the clubs. The feedback from students and teachers was exceptionally positive, implying that the PRAGSAC project has helped inspire more students to pursue courses and consider careers within the sciences.

Source: UG
Promoting radio astronomy in Ghana through school visits and Astronomy Clubs

Abstract The Promoting Radio Astronomy in Ghana through School visits and Astronomy Clubs (PRAGSAC) project was an intervention to promote astronomy education in schools in Ghana. It was initiated by a group of enthusiastic students who were trained in radio astronomy and astrophysics under a Royal Society/Newton Fund UK project termed Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy. The team’s aim is to expose school children to astronomy and to increase their interest in the sciences. Approximately 800 school children from seven junior high schools were positively impacted by this project. Astronomy clubs were formed in the selected schools with practical astronomy lessons taught. The kids visited the largest single radio

Source: UG
Promoting respectful maternity care for adolescents in Ghana: a quasi-experimental study protocol

Background: Intra-partum mistreatment by healthcare providers remains a global public health and human rights challenge. Adolescents, who are typically younger, poorer and less educated have been found to be disproportionately exposed to intra-partum mistreatment. In Ghana, maternal mortality remains a leading cause of death among adolescent females, despite increasing patronage of skilled birth attendance in health facilities. In response to the the World Health Organisation Human Reproduction Programme (WHO-HRP) recommendations to address mistreatment with Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), this study aims to generate evidence on promoting respectful treatment of adolescents using an intervention that trains health providers on the concept of mistreatment, their professional roles in RMC and the rights of adolescents to RMC. Methods: This study will employ a pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design. At pre-test and post-test, quantitative surveys will be conducted among adolescents who deliver at health facilities about their labour experience with mistreatment and RMC. A total target of 392 participants will be recruited across intervention and control facilities. Qualitative interviews will also be conducted with selected adolescents and health professionals for an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. Following the pre-test, a facility-based training module will be implemented at intervention facilities for the facility midwives. The modules will be co-facilitated by the principal investigator and key resource persons from the district health directorate Quality of Care teams. Training will cover the rights of adolescents to quality healthcare, classifications of mistreatment, RMC as a concept and the role of professionals in providing RMC. No intervention will occur in the control facilities. Descriptive statistics, logistic regressions and difference in differences analyses will be computed. Qualitative data will be transcribed and thematically analysed. Discussion: This study is designed to test the success of an intervention in promoting RMC and reducing intra-partum mistreatment towards adolescents. It is expected that the findings of this study will be beneficial in adding to the body of knowledge in improving maternal healthcare and reducing maternal mortality, especially for adolescents.

Source: UG
Promoting social development through national reconciliation: The case of Ghana

This article examined the context in which Ghana's National Reconciliation programme was established and its implications for social development. This was a desk research, with data obtained from reports of the international conference and results of public opinion survey of 1000 randomly sampled Ghanaians conducted in 2001 on the national reconciliation exercise. The results are that the majority of Ghanaians supported the establishment and implementation of the national reconciliation policy. Social workers can play an important role in enhancing the implementation of national reconciliation programmes, thereby promoting social development and governments, civil society, non-government organizations and social workers in Africa should work together to achieve the goals of national reconciliation.

Source: UG
Promoting Sustainable Development Goal 4: The Role of Academic Libraries in Ghana

This study, in view of the global importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and the current under-development of public library services in Ghana, aims to examine the role of academic libraries in promoting knowledge and skills for lifelong learning opportunities among students in Ghana. The research population comprised three (3) Heads and three (3) Deputy Librarians of selected academic institutions. Participants were identified using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using one-on-one interview, non-participatory observation and documentary evidence. The study has identified some fundamental issues in relation to lifelong learning. The findings support the fact that academic institutions contribute significantly to lifelong learning by providing access to relevant information, giving trainings on research publications, as well as search strategy training, communication skills training, information literacy, and reading. This paper provides insights for academic librarians and decision makers in disseminating measures for the promotion of knowledge and skills for lifelong learning opportunities among students in Ghana. The study recommends some relevant strategies such as collaboration of academic libraries and educational associations

Source: UG
Promoting University Research Output in Ghana through Open Access Institutional Repository

The article focuses on awareness of institutional repository (IR), and visibility of research output through IR to enhance the visibility of university research output in higher education institutions in Ghana. One hundred and fifteen librarians were selected using a quantitative methodology. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and the results were generated using descriptive statistics. The study found out that universities in Ghana mostly relied on the “mediated archiving” model during uploads of research output than self-archiving approach. Strategies to promote IR for its intended benefits include mandating academics and students to deposit intellectual content, linking publication metrics to academic promotions and aggressively enhancing awareness of the IR. Our paper concludes that information specialists need to be creative in sensitising researchers and the academic community regarding the visibility of their research output by using IR.

Source: UG
The Promotion of Cultural Diplomacy Through the Use of African Print Fashion: The Case of Ghana

This study is on cultural diplomacy as a form of soft power approach to diplomacy which allows countries to advance their national interests by influencing the rest of the world and their people through their embassies, celebrities, and people in the host countries using cultural elements such as fashion, music, cuisine, sports, festivals, artefacts etc. Contemporarily, cultural diplomacy has gained international recognition in promoting the socio-cultural image and economic interests of states such as tourism. The study explored the promotion of national interest through cultural diplomacy specifically, using the African Print Fashion. The research unveiled that over the years, institutions, festivals etc. and the formulation of a Cultural Policy document in 2004 have been instituted to promote Ghana’s national interest through Ghanaian cuisine, culture, music, African Print Fashion, and so on, in the form of cultural diplomacy. As a result, plausibly, Ghana’s exports in African Print Fashion, cultural artefacts, tourism, foreign direct investment, and the affable image of Ghana have been promoted. Though the study has not put figures of cultural diplomacy’s role in promoting Ghana’s national interest; the study’s significance is in highlighting the potential of cultural diplomacy in serving Ghana’s national interest. The study concluded that cultural diplomacy is an essential tool and platform for the promotion of diplomatic relations between Ghana and other states within the international system since Ghana is endowed with a very rich culture. Though endowed with rich diverse cultures, Ghana has not immensely benefitted from it due to some challenges discussed in the subsequent chapters. The recommended steps should be taken to improve dissemination of information, remove obstacles, heighten synergy and collaboration between relevant institutions, harmonize policies and create the enabling environment for the promotion of cultural diplomacy and augmentation of the gains therein.

Source: UG
The promotion of traditional medicine as enactment of community psychology in Ghana

Traditional medicine (TRM) and traditional healers, embedded within specific thoughts about cosmology, spirituality, and community, occupy a marginal status in African societies like Ghana. Colonialism, the ongoing dominance of the biomedical orientation postindependence, and the encroaching influences of globalization continue to limit the formalization and official recognition of TRM. In this article, we trace the position of TRM from colonial to contemporary times and describe an advocacy initiative, as an enactment of community psychology. The enactment, aimed at promoting and supporting the formal integration of TRM into primary healthcare services in Ghana, resonates with community psychology's accent on social justice, empowerment, collaboration, empirical grounding, and community mobilization. By way of reflections, we elucidate on a few successes and challenges of our advocacy work, and conclude by observing the importance of vigilance and reflexivity in the enactment of community psychology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Source: UG
Pronounced seasonal changes in the movement ecology of a highly gregarious central-place forager, the african straw-coloured fruit bat (eidolon helvum)

Background Straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) migrate over vast distances across the African continent, probably following seasonal bursts of resource availability. This causes enormous fluctuations in population size, which in turn may influence the bats' impact on local ecosystems. We studied the movement ecology of this central-place forager with state-of-the- art GPS/acceleration loggers and concurrently monitored the seasonal fluctuation of the colony in Accra, Ghana. Habitat use on the landscape scale was assessed with remote sensing data as well as ground-truthing of foraging areas. Principal Findings During the wet season population low (âˆ¼ 4000 individuals), bats foraged locally (3.5-36.7 km) in urban areas with low tree cover. Major food sources during this period were fruits of introduced trees. Foraging distances almost tripled (24.1-87.9 km) during the dry season population peak (âˆ¼ 150,000 individuals), but this was not compensated for by reduced resting periods. Dry season foraging areas were random with regard to urban footprint and tree cover, and food consisted almost exclusively of nectar and pollen of native trees. Conclusions and Significance Our study suggests that straw-coloured fruit bats disperse seeds in the range of hundreds of meters up to dozens of kilometres, and pollinate trees for up to 88 km. Straw-coloured fruit bats forage over much larger distances compared to most other Old World fruit bats, thus providing vital ecosystem services across extensive landscapes. We recommend increased efforts aimed at maintaining E. helvum populations throughout Africa since their keystone role in various ecosystems is likely to increase due to the escalating loss of other seed dispersers as well as continued urbanization and habitat fragmentation.

Source: UG
Proof-Of-Principle Of A Technology Transfer Of A Dried Blood Virus Neutralisation Assay To A Gavi-Eligible Country.

Background Global health clinical research is commonly led by high-income countries (HICs) as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face barriers to participate, including lack of financial and human capacity and lack of research environment. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine development is also led by HICs, while LMICs carry the burden of life-threatening disease. Representative trials and research capacity strengthening in LMICs are needed to ensure global vaccine access and equity. This study aims to transfer an RSV neutralisation assay, which uses live cells and virus with inherent high variation, to a country eligible to receive support from the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Methods Using a train-the-trainer approach, a Ghanaian researcher was trained in the Netherlands on the dried blood-based RSV neutralisation assay. Subsequently, a Dutch researcher visited Ghana to support the process of adapting the technique to the Ghanaian setting. In a previously validated RSV neutralisation assay on dried blood, Hep-2 cells were infected with a serial dilution of sample-virus mixture to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration. Fifty-one dried blood and serum samples were tested in parallel in both countries to assess concordance. Results Training and technology transfer was deemed successful, which was defined as neutralisation measurements by the Ghana team and high concordance (Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC)>0.8). Neutralising capacity measured in identical samples in Ghana and the Netherlands correlated highly (Lin’s CCC=0.87; Spearman rho=0.89) but was systematically lower in Ghana than the Netherlands. Conclusion We show successful transfer of an RSV neutralisation assay, thereby strengthening the laboratory research capacity in a Gavi-eligible country. Reliable measurement of RSV neutralising antibodies in a Gavi-eligible country and the use of dried blood can contribute to inclusion of LMICs in RSV vaccine development and access.

Source: UG
The Propensity to Participate in Formal Training Programmes: Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that are likely to predict the likelihood of a small firm choosing to participate in formal training programmes. The objective is to inform public policy and practice with regard to what SMEs must do in order to realise the benefits of participating in formal training programmes like their counterpart large firms so as to remain competitive. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a logistic regression model to ascertain the critical factors that are likely to predict SMEs’ chances to engage in formal training programmes. The data that inform the logit model are based on a non-probability sample of 85 SMEs drawn from Accra, the capital of Ghana. Findings The major findings are that firm size and having younger owner-managers that are daring play a critical role regarding whether or not small firms in Ghana will offer themselves for formal training programmes. However, firm size, including having young and daring owner-managers reflect the internal resource capacity of a firm. The results imply that the internal resource capacity of a firm is critical in predicting whether or not a small firm will offer itself for a formal training programme, although the changing trends from the external environment are also crucial. Research limitations/implications As a result of the lack of an available sample frame, the study is based on a non-probability sample and so it must be noted that the results must be interpreted in that context. Besides, the study sampled SMEs located in Accra, the capital of Ghana, thus future research must extend the study to cover the rest of the nine regions in Ghana. A further analysis based on probability sampling is needed to strengthen the results. Practical implications Consequently for the growth and the development of SMEs in developing countries, the need for owner-managers to first focus on internal resource building is key. What this means is that owner-managers cannot ignore the conscious attempt to monitor, develop and grow their own internal resource strengths before that can be aligned to any changing trends from the outside environment. Originality/value The paper provides evidence as regards why most SMEs worldwide find it difficult to participate in formal training programmes. The findings seek to enhance the understanding of the barriers to the growth of SMEs’ line of research.

Source: UG
Properties of epitopes of pfs 48/45, a target of transmission blocking monoclonal antibodies, on gametes of different isolates of plasmodium falciparum

Summary We have studied the properties of epitopes on Plasmodium falciparum gamete surface protein Pfs 48/45, a target antigen of malaria transmission blocking antibodies. Using a two site immunoradiometric assay we have defined three spacially separate, non-repeated, epitope regions on the peptides representing this antigen. Epitope region I is a target of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) which strongly suppress infectivity of gametocytes of P. falciparum to mosquitoes; the effect is complement independent and is mediated as effectively by the monovalent Fab fragments as by intact MoAb. Epitope region II consists of two spacially close subregions, Ha and lib; variant forms of epitopes Ha and lib occurred in different isolates of P. falciparum. Epitope region III also showed slight structural modification between isolates. MoAbs against regions II or III were relatively ineffective in suppressing gametocyte infectivity compared to MoAbs against region I. However, certain combinations of MoAbs against regions II and III together acted synergistically to suppress infectivity to mosquitoes. All these epitopes failed to react with MoAb when the antigen was presented in reduced form. A fourth epitope, however, was identified which reacted strongly with MoAb when the antigen was presented in reduced form. The MoAb against this epitope had no effect on the infectivity of gametocytes of P. falciparum to mosquitoes.

Source: UG
Property rights and conflict in Gomoa Nsuaem, Ghana’s central region

This paper examines how contestation over property rights in Gomoa Nsuaem created conflict between the Twidan and Agona royal lineages in the community. The article employs archival, secondary and oral sources to critically clarify that Odikro Otenyi Kwaku of Gomoa Nsuaem reinvented tradition to satisfy his own parochial interests by selling off large tracts of Gomoa Nsuaem land popularly known as Otopaako Lands belonging to the Twidan Clan to Mankrado Kwaku Annor of the Agona clan as a result of his profligate and lecherous lifestyle. Hence the indigenous concept of land ownership beneficial for the entire clan was lost to the Twidan people.

Source: UG
Property rights and the gender distribution of wealth in Ecuador, Ghana and India

Women's ability to accumulate wealth is often attributed to whether they have property rights; i. e., a legal personality to own and manage property. In this paper we argue that basic property rights are insufficient; whether women are able to accumulate wealth also depends upon the marital and inheritance regimes in particular contexts. Drawing upon surveys which collected individual level ownership data in Ecuador, Ghana and the state of Karnataka in India, we estimate married women's share of couple wealth and relate it to how assets are owned within marriage as well as to different inheritance regimes and practices. In Ecuador, married women own 44 %, in Ghana, 19 %, and in Karnataka, 9 % of couple wealth. Ecuador is characterized by the partial community property regime in marriage while inheritance laws provide for all children, irrespective of sex, to be treated equally, norms that are largely followed in practice. In contrast, Ghana and India are characterized by the separation of property regime which does not recognize wives' contribution to the formation of marital property, and by inheritance practices that are strongly male biased. Reforming marital and inheritance regimes must remain a top priority if gender economic equality is to be attained. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Source: UG
Property verbs in Logba

Property denoting expressions can be morpho-syntactically treated as adjectives, verbs or nouns in a language. In Logba such expressions are predominantly verbs. In this paper, I argue for this position by examining their characteristic verbal properties. I demonstrate that property denoting words in Logba encode inherent properties of the entities they are predicated of; they occur in the verbal slot and take subject cross-reference markers; they express non-dynamic situations and a sub-class can even be used in a two argument clause and can participate in causative alternation. Some property verbs can occur in some kinds of serial verb constructions and can be used with the progressive and habitual aspect markers. In addition, two of the words identified in this group take the class changing suffix –yi to form derived adjectives and one of them undergoes reduplication to form a derived adjective

Source: UG
Prophylactic or therapeutic administration of Holarrhena floribunda hydro ethanol extract suppresses complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in Sprague Dawley rats

Background: A hydro ethanol extract of the stem bark of Holarrhena floribunda (HFE) has been shown to be effective in the management of acute inflammation. This study was to evaluate usefulness of the extract for the management of chronic inflammation in a murine model. Methods: Arthritis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant. Anti-arthritic effect of the extract was evaluated in prophylactic and therapeutic treatment models at doses of 50, 200 and 500 mg/kg. Parameters assessed included oedema, serology of inflammatory response, bone tissue histology and haematology. Data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons post hoc test. Results: HFE at 50–500 mg/kg dose-dependently [P ≥ 0.0354 (prophylactic) and P ≥ 0.0001 (therapeutic) inhibited swelling of the injected paw upon prophylactic [≤ 81.26% (P < 0.0001) or therapeutic [≤ 67.92% (P < 0.01) administration — and prevented spread of arthritis to the contralateral paw. The inflammation alleviation activity was further demonstrated by decrease in arthritis score, radiologic score and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. HFE at all doses significantly reduced serum interleukin (IL)-1α (P < 0.0197), and 500 mg/kg HFE reduced IL-6 (P = 0.0032). In contrast, serum concentrations of IL-10, protein kinase A and cyclic adenosine monophosphate were enhanced (P ≤ 0.0436). HFE consistently showed better prophylactic than therapeutic activity. Conclusion: HFE strongly suppressed Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-induced arthritis and modulated regulators of inflammation, including IL-1α, − 6 and − 10. Taken together, the data suggest that HFE has potential for use as an agent for modulation of the inflammatory response.

Source: UG