ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Contribution of the Ghana National Service Scheme and Voluntary Programme to National Development

National Youth Service has become an important activity to national development in Ghana. This has been evident with the setting up of the Ghana National Service Scheme (GNSS) by an Act of Parliament (Act 426) of 1980 with the purpose of reviving and growing the national service spirit which appeared to be waning at the time. There was therefore the need to challenge service persons and the generality of the populace to desire to know the country, and to challenge all to appreciate and understand the challenges facing the country, in order to re-orient everybody towards the development of a new nationalistic and patriotic zeal. People have different views about the relevance of national service. Scheme managers and policy makers consider it as useful, whilst some of those who enroll to take part in the programme see it differently; others consider it as a programme worth implementing. Data were collected from institutions considered to be directly involved in the operations and management of the scheme. In addition 80 staff of the Ghana National Service Scheme and 400 national service persons and volunteers were also interviewed. The selection of the respondents was done using the purposive sampling techniques. In analyzing the gathered data, it was linked with relevant concepts of National Youth Service. The study employed some graphical presentation tools like charts and pictures to illustrate some of the study findings. The results obtained from the study indicated that, there is a strong positive relationship between National Service Scheme/Voluntary Programme and national development. The study revealed that, the overall savings made by the Scheme for the country as a whole increased from 35,079,800.00 Ghana cedis for the 2006/7 service year to 5,925,600,000.00 Ghana cedis in 2007/8. The Scheme also, in its deployment of persons into the water, sanitation, and health units, has contributed in the construction of boreholes, Ventilated Improved Pits (VIPs), and cleaning up exercises towards the maintenance of a healthy environment. All aimed at improving access to water, sanitation, and health, and consequently helping reduce poverty in the country. In addition, the Scheme has been a strategic approach to “Community Action” using teams or gangs and entering into a “Change Agent” relationship directly with rural, deprived, disadvantaged or vulnerable communities and depressed urban areas. Some challenges such as finance and logistics; user agencies’ ability to acceptability; annual increases in numbers; interferences in the posting process; vulnerability of service persons; and legal constraints, were identified. The study concludes with a number of recommendations, which would help in the efficient operations and management of the scheme in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
The contribution of Tono Reservoir Fisheries to household livelihoods in selected communities in the Kassena Nankana East District of the Upper East Region of Ghana

The contribution of the Tono Reservoir fisheries to socio-economic development of Ghana has over the years been significant. An aspect of this is its contribution to food security for the country and to a large extent provision of livelihoods for communities fringing the reservoir. The ability of the reservoir to offer these benefits has been declining due to a number of factors. This study was conducted, through questionnaire survey in five villages within the Tono Irrigation Project area, in the Kassena Nankana East District, from January to April 2013 to determine the contribution of Tono Reservoir fisheries to household livelihoods in the selected communities. Results indicated that the Tono Reservoir fisheries is a major source of livelihoods for the communities improving food security and currently employing 480 households belonging to the active working age class of 20-50 years. The average per capita income of households of fishermen and fishmongers ranged between GH¢0.90 and GH¢8.60/person/day (equivalent to US$0.45 to US$4.30) with only 30%, considered poor living on less than US$1. There has occurred overfishing in recent years at alarming rates, largely as a result of the following factors: open and unrestricted access to the resource and persistence in climate change, habitat degradation, increased fishing, poor observance of closed fishing seasons and other poor management practices. Lack of effective policy interventions including weak enforcement of laws have also contributed to the current situation. The fishers and fishmongers in the communities, now conscious of the possible collapse of the Tono Reservoirs and hence their livelihoods expressed willingness to cooperate with the local accredited fisheries governance institutions to regulate exploitation of the resource to ensure sustainable production.

Source: KNUST
Contribution of Wastewater Irrigation to Soil Transmitted Helminths Infection among Vegetable Farmers in Kumasi, Ghana

Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were cal culated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indi cate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the con trol group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15–13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87–10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evi dence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season.

Source: KNUST
The Contributions of International Development partners to rural poverty reduction in Ghana: a case study of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (ifad) and small-holder farming in the Sekyere-West District, Ashanti Region

Although available statistics in recent years reveal a decline in poverty in Ghana, many people still live below the poverty line. Rural small-holder food crops farmers are the most vulnerable groups affected by poverty. They have limited access to productive assets, most especially micro-credit. Many international development organisations have emerged to help alleviate some of the problems encountered by the rural poor. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as an international development partner in Ghana, has been working with small-holder farmers in the Sekyere West District since 2000 with the aim of improving rural income, reducing vulnerability, ensuring rural household food security and generally improving the well-being of the rural poor. This thesis examines the effects of IFAD’s project on food crops production, employment as well as income levels and the general welfare of small-holder farmers in the District. A random sample size of 240 IFAD assisted farmers in the District was used to undertake the study. Cross-sectional data covering the farming years (2000 – 2004) were elicited from the farmers through structured interviews and focus group discussions. Information such as sources of financing, farm input, farm size, crop yields and income levels were sought from the farmers. The study revealed that IFAD, as enshrined in its policy statement of ensuring gender equity in the distribution of its resources/assistance (IFAD, 2000), equal number of male as that of female small-holder farmers (approximately 50-50 respectively) were selected in the District to participate in the project. The study also showed that majority of the farmers interviewed depended on farm income as their main source of subsistence. Micro-credit provision was particularly seen as the most important factor influencing food crops production in the District. The study also showed that the effective training and monitoring activities of IFAD field staff ensured that resources given out to the farmers were not misappropriated. The study showed that the project registered a high food crops production rate as well as a high loan repayment rate of the farmers. Furthermore, the study revealed that the average income of beneficiary farmers increased considerably over the project period due to the good marketing strategy introduced by the project. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the government should adopt and replicate the IFAD intervention scheme in all the other districts in Ghana since the project could have a multiplier effect on the livelihood of the rural poor especially the small-holder farmers.

Source: KNUST
Contributions of Rhizobium Inoculants and Phosphorus Fertilizer to Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Growth and Grain Yield of Three Soybean Varieties on a Fluvic Luvisol

An experiment to identify an efficient strategy to optimize biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in three soybean varieties {Jenguma (TGx1448-2E), Anidaso and Quarshie (TGx1445-2E)} was conducted in the experimental field of the CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Northern Region, Ghana. The experiment had a split-split plot design with three replications and interactions tested were inoculation rate (0, 50 and 100% inoculation) (main plot), soybean variety (sub-plot) and phosphorus rate (0, 22.5 and 45.0 kg P2O5/ha) (sub-sub plot) using maize as a reference crop. The soybean was sown at two seeds per hill at a spacing of 50 cm x 10 cm. The results showed that inoculating soybean with the commercial inoculant Legumefix (Bradyrhizobium strain 532c) had no effect on plant height, nodule number, nodule dry weight, shoot dry weight, pod number, grain yield and 100-seed weight. However, the soybean varieties showed significant differences in pod number, 100-seed weight and phosphorus uptake efficiency (PUE). The amount of N2 fixed (measured by Total Nitrogen Difference method) ranged between 52.3-71.0 kg N/ha. Phosphorus applications of 22.5 and 45.0 kg P2O5/ha increased grain yield by 35.4 and 33.9%, respectively and also increased N2 fixation by 49.39 and 69.82%, respectively over the unfertilized control. The interactions among these treatments did not significantly influence the parameters measured except PUE for which there were significant differences among the soybean varieties and the phosphorus rates. Inoculation did not therefore increase nodulation and BNF of the three soybean varieties but phosphorus application increased the growth and grain yield of the soybeans.

Source: KNUST
Controlling malaria in pregnancy: investigating the factors that influence the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment services in the Nzema-east district, Ghana

To help reduce the burden of malaria in pregnancy, the Ministry of Health introduced the intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) programme with Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for pregnant women as a national policy in 1999. Nine hundred women from fifty communities in the Nzema-East District were sampled in a cross-sectional household survey in August, 2008 in this study to determine the factors that influence the uptake of IPT services. Majority of the women, 95.1%; CI [93.6 – 96.4] had an encounter with the ANC during their last pregnancies. More than half, 52%; CI [47.7 – 54.3] of the women had their first ANC encounter in the first trimester, and 57.3%; CI [53.8 – 60.2] made four or more visits to the ANC before delivery. Even though ANC attendance was high, only 47.2%; CI [43.1 - 50.8] of the 641 women who took SP as IPT had three doses. Women who lacked formal education were more likely not to have complete IPT (OR 1.5; CI 1.23 – 1.69). Employment, marital status, educational level, number of ANC visits and gestational age at first ANC visit were significant predictors of IPT uptake (p < 0.05). Education on the benefits of IPT for the woman and the unborn child, and the negative consequences of malaria in pregnancy should be emphasised at ANC sessions. There should be conscious effects to ensure continuous supply of SP to health facilities. Community health workers should be trained to administer SP at the community level.

Source: KNUST
Conventional and non-conventional materials in conceptual textile art

In the past, the word textiles has been synonymous to weaving and the focus has been on the construction of fabrics and clothing. Textiles has broad branches or components that can be looked into rather than just construction and decoration of fabrics. The raw material (fibre) for textile goes through conventional processes either by fabric construction or decoration, and products from these processes are geared toward clothing and furnishing. Textile art implies art made with textiles as well as art made about textiles and comprises art made of fabrics, fibres, threads, yarns and mixed media, including techniques of collage, appliqué, patchwork, quilting, embroidery, tapestry, dyeing, and painting, among others. Textile art as a component of textiles has been given little or no attention in our part of the world. It is upon this that the study explores with conventional (fibre, sliver, roving, yarn, fabrics) and non-conventional (wood, cardboard, plastics, polythene) materials in conceptual textile art. The study used the descriptive survey and studio-based methods of research approach. Observation and structured questionnaire were the main instruments used for data collection. Mix-media techniques were employed in the execution of the project. The target population studied included lecturers and students from the Faculty of Art, KNUST, and art teachers in the Senior High School. It also included textile artisans and technicians. Stratified sampling technique was used to sample the accessible population for the study. The study revealed two major findings. The first set of findings revealed that printing and dyeing are the most common aspect of textiles practiced among the other components and therefore the raw material used mostly is fabric. The second set of the findings established that quite a number of respondents are not familiar with the term conceptual v art and therefore do not practice it. Indeed the research has revealed the possibility of combining conventional and non-conventional materials in conceptual textile art. The study recommends that practical lessons in tertiary institution should be designed to encourage students to utilise alternative materials within the environment to produce textile art. It suggests to the Ghana Education Service to re-design the Textiles aspect of the Visual Art programme at Senior High Schools to improve the scope of textile art at that level.

Source: KNUST
Convergence analysis of massive mimo antenna arrays using a Geometry-based stochastic channel model

In order to reap the full benefits of massive MIMO, the Base Station (BS) antennas must be significantly large to converge to favorable propagation condition or attain convergence (the state where the effect of noise and fast fading vanishes). However, increasing BS antennas results in closely spaced antenna elements which inadvertently leads to the detrimental effects of Spatial Correlation (SC) and that can affect the convergence of Massive MIMO System. So far, research works on Convergence have been investigated using Correlation-based Stochastic ( CBSCM ) channel models, which does not reflect accurate massive MIMO channel. This channel model does not take into consideration channel parameters such as the Pathloss, power delay profile as well as the characteristics of the antenna array needed for the practical massive MIMO system implementation. Therefore analysis of massive MIMO convergence regarding the Geometry-Based Stochastic Channel model (GBSCM), which reflects real practical massive MIMO channel and the effects of SC is needed. In this thesis, the convergence of massive MIMO based on GBSCM is studied. The effect of 3D SC of uniform rectangular and cylindrical array (URA and CA) based on the Maximum Power of Arrival ( MPA ) is incorporated. In the analysis, the Diagonal Dominance and Mean Absolute Deviation convergence metrics, were considered to study the effects of the SC on the asymptotic behavior of the channel matrix. The results support existing development that, increase in azimuth and elevation spreads of the angular distributions of arrival and antenna element spacing reduces the SC and thereby increases convergence rate of massive MIMO. Results also show poor performance for the Laplacian and Von Misses distributions in GBSCM, even for higher AS and ES, and angular spreads. Further it was realized that, in GBSCM, the convergence of massive MIMO was sensitive to antenna array topology regarding Gaussian and Student’s t-distributions. This contradicts previously established results that convergence is insensitive to antenna topology in CBSCM.

Source: KNUST
CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDING, OUTSIDE DIRECTORSHIP AND EARNINGS QUALITY: PRE- AND POST- IFRS ADOPTION CONSIDERATION AMONG GHANA’S LISTED FIRMS

This study examines the influence of controlling shareholders and outside directors on earnings quality (EQ) among listed firms in Ghana and compares such influence before and after the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 2007. To empirically measure EQ, the study uses earnings management (EM). Lower EM suggests higher EQ and vice versa. Using 21 listed firms covering a period from 2004 to 2013, the results of both panel-based and pooled regressions indicate that overall, IFRS adoption is significantly and negatively associated with a subsequent reduction in EM. The declined EM suggests that EQ improves for the post-IFRS period relative to the pre-IFRS period. The study also finds that firms with controlling shareholders are significantly associated with lower EM (higher EQ). This is especially true when the controlling owner is locally private investor rather than the state or foreign parents. The study however obtains evidence which suggests that having more outside directors and CEO/chairman separation result in more EM (less EQ). The study therefore shows that owner control is more effective in monitoring management than board control. The study uses interactive terms to find out whether the influence of controlling shareholders and outside directors on EQ is affected by or affects the impact of IFRS adoption and generally finds a very weak evidence that such influence changes post-IFRS in relation to EQ. However, when the outside director proportion is at least 88%, the board becomes less ineffective after the accounting standards change. With the foregoing, the study makes significant contributions to debates on whether large owners monitor or expropriate, whether board monitors effectively in the presence of large owners. Even though the study is limited to Ghana, it provides early evidence on which firms are more likely to manipulate earnings and whether IFRS matter in an emerging economy. For policy implications, findings at least, suggest that while controlling owners and IFRS do constrict agency costs of EM boards do not. This should inform regulators that the full application of Western corporate practices may be of less monitoring value to at least listed firms in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Convergence Analysis of Massive MIMO Antenna Arrays Using a Geometry-Based Stochastic Channel Model

In order to reap the full benefits of massive MIMO, the Base Station (BS) anten￾nas must be significantly large to converge to favorable propagation condition or attain convergence (the state where the effect of noise and fast fading vanishes). However, increasing BS antennas results in closely spaced antenna elements which inadvertently leads to the detrimental effects of Spatial Correlation (SC) and that can affect the convergence of Massive MIMO System. So far, research works on Convergence have been investigated using Correlation-based Stochastic (CBSCM) channel models, which does not reflect accurate massive MIMO channel. This channel model does not take into consideration channel parameters such as the Pathloss, power delay profile as well as the characteristics of the antenna ar￾ray needed for the practical massive MIMO system implementation. Therefore analysis of massive MIMO convergence regarding the Geometry-Based Stochastic Channel model (GBSCM), which reflects real practical massive MIMO channel and the effects of SC is needed. In this thesis, the convergence of massive MIMO based on GBSCM is studied. The effect of 3D SC of uniform rectangular and cylindrical array (URA and CA) based on the Maximum Power of Arrival (MPA) is incorporated. In the analysis, the Diagonal Dominance and Mean Absolute Deviation convergence metrics, were considered to study the effects of the SC on the asymptotic behavior of the channel matrix. The results support exist￾ing development that, increase in azimuth and elevation spreads of the angular distributions of arrival and antenna element spacing reduces the SC and thereby increases convergence rate of massive MIMO. Results also show poor performance for the Laplacian and Von Misses distributions in GBSCM, even for higher AS and ES, and angular spreads. Further it was realized that, in GBSCM, the con￾vergence of massive MIMO was sensitive to antenna array topology regarding Gaussian and Student’s t-distributions. This contradicts previously established results that convergence is insensitive to antenna topology in CBSCM.

Source: KNUST