ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of cultural identity in children’s drawings at the Ridge and K.N.U.S.T. Primary Schools in Kumasi, Ghana.

Art was not taught at the lower Primary until the Creative Arts programme was introduced. The class teachers has no art background and have not been trained to teach art at the lower levels so they do not teach the subject at all or ask some one to draw on the board for the children to copy into their drawing books. Children sometimes copy and trace from their text books as well. Teachers do not allow children to draw from their memories to represent their cultural identities in their drawings and sometimes choose the medium for the kids to use, for instance they show the children the colours to use and suggest additions when they draw. They also do not allow the children to talk about their works to bring out the meanings within their art works. All these problems mentioned above do not allow children to identify and describe the cultural meanings within their drawings and teachers do not also benefit from understanding such drawings. So there is a need to let children present their cultural identities in their drawings for teachers to understand the drawings made by them. The researcher collected data at first hand from The Ridge and K.N.U.S.T. Primary Schools through observation, interviews, questionnaire, field notes, children’s drawings, and audio recorded personal comments from children, teachers and parents to compare information collected. It was found that, most children presented their cultural identities by drawing artefacts found indoors, their lifestyles, used geometric shapes, revealed their nationalities, male children drew the role of males and girls drew that of girls and especially about themselves and used colours based on reality whiles other kids used colours to distort reality. It is recommended that enough time be allocated for children at the lower primary to draw freely and be able to represent their own identities to re-educate teachers to have a better understanding on cultural diversity in multicultural art education.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of customer loyalty in the mobile telecommunication industry in Ghana - the case of MTN and Onetouch

The ability of mobile telecommunication operators to focus successfully on the customer has proven to be one of the most competitive issues in the 21St century. Several developments such as introduction of new technology, creative and innovative marketing strategies, new and varied products etc. embarked upon by the service providers have rendered the industry very competitive. In Ghana’s mobile telecommunication industry, customers switching from network to another or acquiring additional network(s) have become very prevalent. The phenomena brings to fore the need to investigate customers loyalty to their service providers. This research seeks to study comparatively customer loyalty issues between the two major mobile telecommunication companies (MTN and Onetouch) in Ghana. The study’s main objective was to investigate from subscribers’ perspective the issues that influence their loyalty to the service providers in the mobile telecommunication industry. The research techniques applied were both qualitative and quantitative. The main data collection instruments used was personal interviews and questionnaires. In all, a total of five hundred and forty (540) and two hundred and forty (240) customers of both MTN and Onetouch respectively were identified to answer the questionnaires. The research findings suggested that customers’ loyalty in the industry was dependent on service quality, voice call/SMS charges and cost of switching from one network to another. In line with the findings, it was recommended that service providers, especially MTN should make it charges a little affordable in order to maintain its customers. It was also recommended to Onetouch’s management to retrain its customer service officials in customer care. Further improvement in the speed of network access was also suggested to both service providers.

Source: KNUST
A Comparative Study of Daboya (Ghana) and Abeokuta (Nigeria) Local Dyeing

Ghanaians and Nigerians practice similar forms of local dyeing. Daboya local dyers of Northern Ghana among the Gonjas of North Gonja district and Yoruba indigo dyers of Abeokuta in South Western Nigeria are famous in the local dyeing industry in West Africa. Locally dyed products such as the Daboya smock (fugu), kuntunkuni and badie suffer in terms of fastness to abrasion, light and wash unlike Abeokuta locally dyed products that have good fastness to abrasion, light and wash and are internationally patronised. These deficiencies have led to the decline in patronage of local dyeing products in Ghana. The study seeks to comparatively identify fabrics, yarns, plant dyes, and methodology used in Daboya and Abeokuta local dyeing industries, and to carry out experiments on methodology derived from the studies to help improve upon Daboya local dyeing in terms of fastness to abrasion, light and washable. The scope of the study covered selected dyeing groups in Daboya and Abeokuta in Ghana and Nigeria respectively. The study adopted the qualitative research method and employed descriptive and experimental research designs. Visitations were made to Daboya and Abeokuta in Nigeria. Observations and interviews were carried out on practical activities on yarns, fabrics, plant dyes and methodologies used by both towns under study. Results from studies revealed that the methods for dyeing, dye extraction and resist techniques for both towns can be adopted interchangeably to achieve a good fastness to abrasion, light and washing to Daboya locally dyed fabrics. For the sustenance of the industry, it is recommended that Daboya local dyers incorporate various resist dyeing method of fabrics, to help bring diversity in their profession and to improve their economic status and the nation as a whole. In addition, research institutions such as Council for Scientific and Industrial Research should come together with government organizations to improve upon the cultivation of indigo plants, local dye extraction for local dyeing processes.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of different laboratory storage conditions and DNA extraction methods for enhanced forensic analysis of soil-human blood mixed sample

Crime scene investigation is an important step in the entire criminal investigation process because this is where evidence is gathered. Blood from the perpetrator or victim of a crime can be left at crime scenes or transferred to other materials such as clothing, knives and guns. Most often, this body fluid is contaminated with soil at outdoor crime scenes but this might be the only or the most important evidence in solving a crime. This study aimed at identifying the most appropriate method of storing crime scene soil-human blood mixed sample prior to analysis. The best DNA extraction method for this soil-blood mixed sample was also studied. Three commercial DNA extraction kits (PrepFiler Forensic DNA Extraction kit, Promega DNA IQ Kit, Blood Miniprep kit) that have been claimed by the manufacturers to be effective in extracting DNA from soil contaminated samples were used for the DNA extractions. Hemastix and Hexagon OBTI kits were used for the serological analysis in this study. Human blood was mixed with soil and stored at three different storage conditions (i.e., Room temperature/25℃, 4℃ and - 20℃). Hemastix and Hexagon OBTI serological tests for blood and human blood, respectively were positive for soil-blood mixed samples at all storage conditions throughout the 12 week study period. Samples stored at room temperature saw significant reduction in DNA concentration as storage time increased (P=0.001 and 0.0055 for Prepfiler and DNA IQ extractions, respectively). Samples stored at 4℃ saw a drastic decrease in DNA concentration just after two weeks of storage. By the eighth week of storage at 4℃, there was no detectable DNA (P=0.000 for all extraction methods). Samples stored at -20℃ recorded no specific pattern in decrease or increase in DNA concentration for the entire 12 week storage (P=0.324 and 0.161 for PrepFiler and DNA IQ extractions respectively). The PrepFiler kit yielded more DNA than the DNA IQ and Blood Miniprep kits at all storage conditions with no significant difference between PrepFiler and DNA IQ (P=0.603). The PrepFiler kit and DNA IQ kit were successful at removing possible PCR inhibitors from the soil during DNA extraction with no significant difference (p=0.887). The Blood Miniprep kit performed poor in terms of removing possible PCR inhibitors. There were full STR Profiles generated for room temperature stored samples and -20℃ stored samples extracted with PrepFiler and DNA IQ kits throughout the study. There were no allele recorded for room temperature stored samples and -20℃ stored samples extracted with Blood Miniprep kit. There were full, partial and null Profiles generated for 4℃ stored samples extracted with PrepFiler and DNA IQ kits depending on the sample storage duration. There were no alleles recorded for 4℃ stored samples extracted with Blood Miniprep kit. In conclusion, the -20℃ and PrepFiler Forensic DNA extraction kit were identified as the best storage condition and extraction method, respectively.

Source: KNUST
Comparative study of double-chamber microbial fuel cells (DC-MFCs) using Mfensi clay as ionexchange- partition: Effect of electrodes

An alternative answer to the vital issues of electricity production and wastewater treatment leads to the application of microbial fuel cells. This study has developed a low-cost double-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC) for electricity generation, which can also be used for simultaneous wastewater treatment. These fuel cells were constructed using cheap Mfensi clay as an ion-exchange-partition and compared two types of electrode combination that work at temperatures between 25 oC and 27 oC. The performance of the cell assemblage was affected by the type of electrodes used. Experimental results showed maximum power densities of 118 mW/m2 and 79 mW/m2 respectively for the pot-zinc/ copper pair of electrodes and pot-graphite/graphite pair of electrodes.

Source: KNUST
A Comparative Study of Early Childhood Education in Selected Public and Private Pre-Schools in Kumasi

A strong provision of pre-school education with children experiencing the same or similar training has the potency of ensuring the achievement of universal primary education for all children. This research adopted the qualitative research method to study and compare pre-school provision in public and private schools with a focus on Ayigya MA and the KNUST Nursery schools as a case study. The two schools are paradigmatic examples of typical public and private pre-schools in Kumasi because they are virtually located in the same administrative district. Primarily, the research compared curriculum and experiences provided the children in Kindergarten One within the two schools and the social and cognitive impact this makes to prepare the children for Kindergarten Two and subsequently primary school. The purposive sampling method was adopted for the study. Data gathered revealed that pupils who were able to write the full set of the 26 English alphabets in the written test conducted constituted 8% in Ayigya MA School as against 40% in KNUST Nursery School. 25% of pupils in Ayigya MA School were however able to write numbers 1 to 10 sequentially as against 44% in KNUST Nursery School. Irrespective of the scores attained, some children from both nursery schools exhibited writing challenges which is typical of children at that age and who have only began to write. Data collected and analyzed concluded that there was significant disparity in the experiences of the children, teacher expertise and experience, academic and play facilities coupled with differences in the social and economic backgrounds of children from Ayigya MA and KNUST Nursery schools. However, the findings suggest that children in both schools exhibited relatively different cognitive and iv social competencies in varied percentages. It is recommended that further research be conducted in other pre-schools to verify the findings of this research.

Source: KNUST
Comparative study of electricity storage batteries for Solar Photovoltaic home systems

The installed capacity of solar PV systems in Ghana was about 1MWp in the year 2003. This capacity is expected to increase significantly as the Strategic National Energy Plan (SNEP) seeks to enhance the role of stand-alone solar photovoltaic systems for off-grid rural communities that could not be electrified economically through grid extension. For such systems, it is now widely acknowledged that the high replacement cost and environmental impacts of chemical storage batteries constitute the key challenges to deployment and sustainability particularly in poor rural settings. On a life cycle basis, the storage batteries normally contribute about 40-45% of system cost. This thesis undertakes a comparative assessment of the technical, economic and environmental characteristics of the currently available electricity storage batteries that could be utilized in stand-alone solar PV systems. The batteries considered are Lead Acid, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium-Ion. The technical assessment was based on cycle-life, discharge and charging characteristics and charge retention. Life-cycle cost was used as the economic performance indicator, while human safety risks and ecological impacts formed the basis of the environmental assessment. The cost and other data for the batteries were obtained from literature (print and online) and survey of the retail market in Ghana. The life cycle cost of electricity storage based on online retail pricing data and 12% discount rate ranged from an average of US$0.03 cents for lead acid to US$0.15 cents /Wh for Lithium-Ion batteries. Price data obtained from local suppliers yielded storage costs of 0.17- 0.42GHp/Wh for deep-cycle solar batteries and 0.93-1.0GHp/Wh for shallow-cycle automotive batteries on a life cycle cost basis.

Source: KNUST
“A Comparative Study of Four Printing Units on U.S.T Campus

It has been observed that the four Printing Units on U.S.T. Campus namely: Design Press, Photocopy Unit, University Press (UPK) and B.R.R.Z Press (Building and Road Research Institute Press) have been plagued with certain problems which have made it difficult for them to be self-sufficient In income generation. Among a lot of others, the following have been identified as the key problems that need immediate attention: First, there is the lack of adequately qualified technical staff. Apart from the manager of the various presses who have qualifications in the different disciplines of publishing, (not necessarily up to University level) the rest of the staff does not have the necessary qualifications. This is very true for the University Press. Secondly, there is the problem related to the use of old arid obsolete machines and equipment. This delays work end reduces productivity of capital as well as labour and may finally end up in loss of profit that will come out of production. Thirdly, communication flow is expected to be clearly defined within the structures of any organisation is seen as a serious problem especially with the Design Press. The weak flow of communication slows down workers’ morale towards work and this adversely affects output. Finally, there is a general mismanagement of resources especially in the University Press due to improper keeping of records on the movement of materials within the sections and departments of the press. These and other problems will be examined in this work and solutions will be suggested for proper running of the presses.

Source: KNUST
Comparative Study of Effluent from Anaerobic Digesters for Human and Fruit Waste

The study examined comparatively the levels of macronutrients, pollution monitoring parameters, metals and pathogenic indicator organisms from effluent of two anaerobic digesters for human waste and fruit waste with respect to the influent. Both digesters were operated within mesophilic conditions at very short hydraulic retention time. Laboratory analysis of these parameters (macronutrients, pollution monitoring indicators and pathogenic indicator organisms) was therefore important to ensure that utilisation of the effluent was environmentally friendly and acceptable to farmers, the food industry, consumers, the environmental protection agency and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Results of this study found that, pH and macronutrients (NH4-N, P2O5 and K2O) were higher in the effluent than in the influent for both human and fruit waste. For instance, ammonium-N was about 25.1% higher in the effluent with respect to the influent for human waste and 19.1% higher in the effluent of fruit waste. Total Solids (TS), Volatile Solids (VS), BOD and COD were lower in the effluent than in the influent for both wastes (human and fruit wastes). Reduction of 51.6% Total Coliforms (TC), 53.4% Faecal Coliform (FC) and 58.9% E. coli were found in the digested effluent of fruit waste. 62.8% TC, 64.4% FC and 60.6% E.coli were found in the digested effluent of the human excreta. Heavy metals in the respective effluents were within tolerable limits that are acceptable to the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA). The results of this study therefore join other studies to show that the process of anaerobic digestion causes reduction in pollution indicators, destruction of pathogenic organisms and increases the availability of macronutrients. Keywords: Anaerobic digestion, Influent, Effluent, Macronutrients, Metals, Pathogens, Pollution indicators.

Source: KNUST
A comparative study of Euripides’s Alcestis, Sutherland’s Edufa and Soyinka’s death and the king’s horseman in the light of Aristotle’s definition of tragedy

Aristotle’s Poetics is a literary discourse which explores the ingredients of a good work of literature. Consequently, therefore, the Poetics did not die with its author but has lived through marked literary epochs and is still of immense importance and value to the world of literature. Aristotle’s pre-occupation in his Poetics is with drama and its sub-divisions, namely, comedy and tragedy. The Aristotelian concept of tragedy was first handed down to the Greeks, especially to renowned Greek playwrights like Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus and others. However, with time, this concept has been utilised in different ways by various generations and cultures. It must be noted, however, that in all generations and cultures, the tragic situation is attained by skillfully putting together the tragic action in order to achieve the tragic feelings of pity and fear. This thesis is an exercise in comparative literature which compares Greek and African literature; specifically Greek and African tragedy, in the light of Aristotle’s concept of tragedy. It looks at the extent to which these two traditions, namely, Greek and African, adhere to or deviate from the concept of tragedy as given by Aristotle. The thesis further throws some light on the post classical period to see to what extent the post classical tragedy conform to Aristotle’s concept of tragedy. Marlowe and Shakespeare are used for this purpose. The major finding of this comparative analysis is that whether consciously or unconsciously, tragedy of all times owes some degree of allegiance to Aristotle’s concept of tragedy. The thesis reinforces the argument that the classical idea, even though it may have undergone several mutations with time, continues to date. Various exercises in comparative literature may have been done but the plays that have been selected studied and analysed in this thesis have not been so analysed by any other author yet. Herein lies the originality of this work.

Source: KNUST
Comparative Study of Graded Cocoa Bean Quality

Cocoa product quality has been argued to be dependent on the bean size both from the marketers and some processors who attribute some processing difficulties to this observation, though some still disagree. This study was aimed to determine the yield and quality of fat as a basis for standardization of the gradation of cocoa bean. Specifically, the project sought to determine the butter characteristics of the graded beans with regards to fat yield and other biochemical properties. Five different categories of cocoa originating from the three take-over centres of Cocoa Marketing Company within the same crop year (2014/2015) were processed into liquor. The cocoa butter extracted from these categories were evaluated for their iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), saponification value (SV), unsaponification value, slip melting point value, free fatty acid (FFA), tempering cooling curves, refractive index, colour and yield fat levels. The outcome of the experiment was that cocoa bean quality was in decreasing order of; super main crop > main crop > super light crop > light crop > small beans in terms of many of the attributes that were studied. Yield-fat decreased respectively in this order 55.24%, 54.71%, 53.01%, 52.67% and 52.21% while FFA increased along the same order as 0.89%, 0.90%, 1.05%, 1.06% and 1.23%. Again the larger Q-factor values explains a good crystallization behavior for cocoa butter from the cooling curves evaluated in the Shukoff tempering studies presented similar order as 0.16, 0.14, 0.12, 0.11and 0.12. All the other parameters studied showed similar trends. The IV, PV, SV and unsaponification values were significantly (p<0.05) lower as compared to codex standards. Thus, it appears the marketers are indeed within their rights if cocoa beans are graded and marketed based on their sizes.

Source: KNUST
Comparative study of guidance and counselling at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ashesi University College

This study was carried out to compare guidance and counselling services provided by public and private Universities’ in Ghana, using Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)and Ashesi University College (AUC) as case studies. The study involved comparingthe number of counsellors andtheiragencies that play a part in students’ counselling in both universities. It also examined the objectives, policies, and approaches they adaptto counsel and guide students to maximise their potentials, how counsellors assist students to overcome the obstacles and pressures of life, the study also compared the attitudes of KNUST and AUC students to the programmes organized by their respectiveguidance and counselling units. The study adopted the qualitative research method with interview and questionnaire administration to identify the guidance and counselling units and agencies, their objectives, policies and approaches outlined to improve education and career attainment.The study was limited to undergraduate students,using320 male and female students from KNUST and 95male and female students from AUCrespectively for detailed study. SPSS 16 (2007 edition) was employed for analysing the data collected. Findings from the study indicated that both institutionshave instituted guidance and counselling units to address the immediate and future needs of their students to ensure academic excellence by their students. The study further showed that KNUST and AUCguidance and counselling units work in collaboration with other internal and external agencies to support students through. The approach by the Ashesi career department was such that it allowed Ashesi studentseasy access to their guidance and counselling services. At KNUST,the guidance and counselling approach and delivery was not motivating enough, neither did the counselling approach restrict students from fully participating in the unit’s programmes and services;this has to do with the programmeawareness, delivery time and location. It is recommended that findings from the study would improve the approaches and services of the guidance and counselling units at KNUST and otherpublic and private universities in order to guide students.

Source: KNUST