ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessing filter media for purification of biogas from Anaerobic Digester

Ashanti Goldfields Company, Obuasi [A.G.C] having changed most of its septic tanks (which demanded frequent desludging) to anaerobic digesters, is now facing the problem of appropriate biogas utilization. The offensive and pungent nature of H2S and NH3 in the raw biogas is a nuisance, a threat to public health and human habitation. When released to the atmosphere could enhance the global greenhouse effect due to the presence of CO2. The corrosive nature of H2S and NH3 in the biogas, wear down the piping material and therefore renders the biogas unattractive as a source of energy. The problem was analysed from the fundamental prospective. The 1fluent and effluent characteristics of the anaerobic digester were examined for these 15 parameters: temperature, pH, DO, BOD, COD, TDS, EC, Salinity, TS, SS, P, K, TKN, Nitrate and FC. The digester performed a remarkably well showcasing removal efficiency (%) of the following: SS (78.8%), BOD (98.3%), COD (99.8%), N03N (98.7%) and FC (99.9%). The effluent mean TKN value was twice its influent value, (100%) increase. Interestingly, the biogas samples from the two biogas tanks vary in components and compositions. The first biogas tank had low CH4 concentration and no concentration for NH3, H2S and H2 whereas the second tank recorded high concentration of CH4 and low concentrations of NH3, H2S, H2. This variation was due to the transition process, from aerobic state of the influent material to anaerobic condition of the digester. Five locally available materials (Charcoal, Sawdust, Laterite, Coconut fibre, Oil palm fibre) were analysed and assessed for their respective affinity to NH3 and H2S. The absorption capacities (mg/g) were as follows. Semi-burnt oil palm fibre: NH3 (0.015 mg/g), H2S (0.0506 mg/g); Wet oil palm fibre: NH3 (0.0138 mg/g), H2S (0.0505 mg/g); Coconut: NH3 (0.0126 mg/g), H2S (0.0503 mg/g); Sawdust (0.0149 mg/g), H2S (0.0504 mg/g); Charcoal: NH3 (0.0139 mg/g), H2S (0.0508 mg/g) and laterite: NH3 (0.0148 mg/g), H2S (0.0506 mg/g). lnfact, all the five have the capacity to absorb both NH3 and H2S, semi-burnt-oil palm fibre is the best.

Source: KNUST
Assessing Fumonisin B1 Level In Maize And Maize Products From Three Major Market Centres In Kumasi

maize-flour and maize-dough. These are mostly contaminated with mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and fumonisins. Fumonisins B1 pose a major health risk for humans that consume large amounts of maize-based products and also domesticated animals. The aim of the study was to establish the incidence of fumonisin in maize and maize products. A total of 63 samples of maize, maize Maize is one of the staple cereal crops consumed in Ghana together with its products such as -dough and maize-flour of 1 kg each were randomly purchased from Asafo, Kumasi Central and Bantama markets in the Kumasi Metropolis. Percentage incidence of FB1 level in both the maize-dough and maize-flour were 100% and maize was 81.82%. In Asafo market maize-dough recorded 24.08 mg/kg which exceeds the recommended limit followed by maize-flour 9.89 mg/kg and maize 0.09 mg/kg. In Bantama, maize-flour also had high level of FB1 12.07 mg/kg followed by maize-dough and maize. Central market also recorded highest level of FB1 in maize-flour 9.67 mg/kg, maize 0.06 mg/kg and dough 2.58 mg/kg. From the results obtained maize-flour had FB1 which exceeded the recommended from all the three markets. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the FB1 levels in maize (0.62) and the other maize products. The levels of FB1 in the maize flour and dough confirm that consumers are at high risk of exposure to diseases associated with the fumonisins.

Source: KNUST
Assessing financial sustainability of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana Case Study: Mpohor Wassa East Mutual Health Insurance Scheme

The study was conducted in Mpohor Wassa East National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the western region to assess the financial sustainability of the scheme. A content validated questionnaire, interview guide and observation techniques were used to seek the needed information from the scheme management in the District, the accredited provider and the NHIS clients. The research design used in this study was descriptive research. The targeted population for the study was the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Mpohor Wassa East District, providers and clients in the Mpohor Wassa East District and the sampling technique used was simple random and quota sampling. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) through descriptive analysis and frequency distribution table. The main finding of the study indicated that about 95% of the claims payment is being financed by the government through taxes levied on the Ghanaian in the form of VAT system. The study also revealed that the scheme incurs high administrative cost which increased in an alarming rate. Again, the study showed that, the internal generated fund for the scheme is not encouraging. However, the study finally revealed that government needs to increase the NHIL so as to mitigate the low premium and registration fee being paid by the subscribers. It was concluded that, proper internal control procedures should be adhere to in the scheme to check expenditures. Again, since the internal generated funds are is not encouraging, the scheme manager should intensify education to attract more members to register. Also, government should continue its support for the scheme in whatever way possible and practicable. However Mpohor Wassa East Mutual Health Insurance Scheme cannot sustain financially without government support (subsidies). Finally capacity building and refresher courses should be organized for both providers and the scheme to minimize waste in the scheme. And the clients in the communities should be educated on the usage of the NHIS Card in accessing the health care to reduce cost per attendance.

Source: KNUST
Assessing Ghana’s initiative of increasing domestic rice production through the development of rice value chain

This paper sought to contribute to the on-going discussion on improving rice production in Ghana. The objective of the study was to analyse the effect of rice value chain development initiative on domestic rice production in the Ahafo Ano North district of Ghana. Primary data for the study gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews was complemented by desk studies. The main finding was that the rice value chain was not formalized in the district, although informal types existed. The study also showed that domestic rice producers had achieved regular annual increases due to informal rice value chains. Nevertheless, there was lack of competitiveness of domestic rice vis-à-vis imported rice due to the poor quality of milling. Therefore, the study recommended: (i) adopting sectorwide value chain strategies that would enhance development of formal rice value chain and competitiveness of local rice industry; and (ii) investing in post-harvest product-quality infrastructure to ensure product quality.

Source: KNUST
Assessing growth strategies of rapid developing construction firms in Ghana

The construction industry plays a significant role in any economy and its activities are also vital to the achievement of the socio-economic development goals of providing shelter, infrastructure and employment. The falling standard of construction firms, as a results of high risks which has led to failures coming from the sensitivity of the industry to economic cycles, the high levels of competition and reduced job opportunities. Despite this falls, many firms has manage to strengthen their capacity in the industry, and this study was directed towards investigating the strategies adopted by rapid developing construction firms within the industry. The study focuses of on, identifying growth indicators in rapid developing construction firms, the factors that lead to growth in rapid developing construction firms and to measure the strategic performance of successful construction firm based on identified growth factors, so that reasons for success and failure could be systematically identified. Thus, this will expose best practices for improvement. . A questionnaire survey was conducted among building contractors who were purposively selected to elicit information pertaining to their adopted strategies. The study was carried out along the tenets of a preliminary literature review and followed by a survey using a structured interviews and structured questionnaire. The data collected was analysed using Descriptive Statistics and Analysis, and Relative Importance Index (RII) method. The findings reviews that, rapid developing construction firms employ certain factor in their businesses to grow and enhance competitiveness in the construction industry. These factors include, management practices and the application of strategic management practices. . This study is very useful and helpful for local firms who are planning to increase their capacity and build surviving business strategy.

Source: KNUST
Assessing herzberg’s factors on project teams in a working environment (A case study of protean real Estate Ghana Limited)

Herzberg‟s two-factor theory has been popular over the past 30 years. This has been widely studied and few managers and business owners are unfamiliar with its practical factors and recommendations. For every business to be successful, there should be workers that are diligent in all work-related activities so as to boost productivity. Employees who put in much effort often make a big difference in company profits. On the other hand, an employee who only performs assigned duties and nothing more not only retards but declines and halts the progress of that company. Increasing productivity therefore is very crucial when running a business. This study was on the Herzberg‟s theory its effects on a project team. The objectives were to identify the motivational factors that are applied in the case study organization, determine the level of motivation among the project team members, identify the motivation factors that are most significant with job satisfaction of the project teams and identify those factors that act as hygiene factors. In meeting these objectives, a quantitative study was undertaken through survey approach in which a sample size of forty-five (45) workers of Real Estate Ghana limited were selected. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). After the research, these were the findings: most of recognized motivational factors were applied at the organization, most of the motivation factors were most significant with job satisfaction of the project teams and after the analysis it was discovered that fair pay, opportunity for promotion, respect towards employee, appraisal of employees, training of employees, good communication, fair profit sharing and many more were most factors that motivate members and leads to job satisfaction and also salary was identified as the factor that mostly influence job satisfaction thus had the highest score. Fair pay and opportunity for promotion followed and third was Fair distribution of responsibilities. Finally there is relationship between the motivation of project team members and productivity of employees

Source: KNUST
Assessing HIV related stigma and associated factors among antiretroviral treatment clients in the Tano North Municipality

Aims and Objectives: Several studies have identified HIV related stigma across the globe as a key factor impeding HIV identification, prevention and treatment efforts. This study was designed to determine the influence of HIV/AIDS related stigma on anti- retroviral treatment adherence among persons living with HIV assessing antiretroviral services at the St. John of God and Bomaa Government Hospital in the Tano North Municipality, Ghana. Methods: A cross sectional quantitative approach was adopted as the study design. Purposive sampling method was used to select 156 clients with the aid of a structured questionnaire as data collection tool. Data was analyzed using SPSS and STATA (regression analysis) for frequencies and Chi-square tests were calculated and p-values of less than 0.05 were accepted as being statistically significant for all associations. Results: The findings revealed that, 53% of PLWHIV agreed that HIV related stigma was high. Isolation (33%), verbal stigma (68%), loss of identity (11%) and loss of access to resources (8%) were forms of stigma experienced by PLWHIV. Inadequate information and fear of casual transmission were identified as cause of HIV related stigma. Logistic regression analysis involving Isolation from social gathering (OR: 2.985: CI: 1.06-7.67, P-value =0.0038), was significantly associated with adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Conclusion: The study concludes that HIV related stigma influence ART medication adherence among persons living with HIV at the St. John of God and Bomaa Government Hospital.

Source: KNUST
Assessing Household Practices that Influence Neonatal Survival in the Asante-Akim North District of Ashanti Region - Ghana

Improved neonatal survival depends on the provision of health care from antenatal, intranatal and postnatal periods. The type of care received during delivery is often critical for the health and survival of both newborn baby and mother. Although reductions in maternal and child mortalities by 2015 are two of the MDGs, and in spite of governments’ efforts and that of other agencies to achieve this goal, maternal as well as neonatal mortalities still remain high. The study was carried out to identify the socio-economic factors and delivery care practices in newborn care, care takers’ ability to recognize and manage newborn danger signs, and to explore the traditional practices influencing newborn care in the Asante-Akim North District. It was a community-based non-interventional study conducted over a three-month period, in which questionnaires were administered to 370 randomly selected freshly delivered mothers and 10 Traditional Birth Attendants. Findings indicated low socio-economic status. Ninety percent of respondents attested to the fact that clean child birth practices such as, hand-washing, washing of perineum (by 84 percent of respondents), and delivery on a covered surface prevailed. However, 62 percent of respondents had their babies bathed immediately after delivery. Some cord care practices such as using thread to tie the cord by community-based health care providers, TBAs and relatives prevailed, and in most cases, it is not known whether the thread used is clean. Application of substances such as wood ash, salt, tomato juice, ointment (sold to mothers by health staff) in the two major health facilities, and ground cocoyam on the cord stump were recorded. Though 86 percent of mothers gave breast milk as first feed to their newborn babies, breast feeding was mostly initiated within one hour after birth (by 68 percent of respondents). Hygiene was not adequately ensured during breastfeeding among a significant number (36 percent) of mothers, and they did not see the need to do so. However, breastfeeding on-demand was practiced by only 38 percent respondents. Seven percent of mothers bathed the newborn babies with herbal preparations and traditional soaps in order to prevent them from falling sick and contracting a disease traditionally known as ‘Asram’. Knowledge on some newborn danger signs such as high body temperature, diarrhoea and excessive crying were common but more serious danger signs such as jaundice, twitching etc were not known. Ninety-one percent of respondents would take their babies to the hospital upon recognition of the danger signs mentioned. There is the need to train all health care providers, and educate mothers more on current essential newborn care practices. Community-based mother support groups should be established at the community level.

Source: KNUST
Assessing housing accommodation challenges of health workers in Ghana: A case of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

The rationale for government intervention in the housing market, as can be gleaned from policy documents, revolves around the goal of providing all Ghanaians with a decent house in a suitable living environment. The importance of housing can hardly be exaggerated. In human terms, access to satisfactory or proper housing is vital to health, happiness and civilized living. Nonetheless, there are great many challenges in securing housing accommodation that meet the required standards - accessibility, proximity to services and availability of infrastructure, and security of tenure. The study assessed housing accommodation challenges of health workers in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The issues the study focused on were the current state of housing accommodation, challenges faced by health workers in securing housing accommodation and solutions to curb the challenges. The study used Ninety (90) health workers at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals in Kumasi. The instrument for the data collection was developed by the researcher, preceded by a pilot study. The pilot study was initially conducted in a similar teaching hospital in an urban town to ascertain its validity and the reliability. The data for the study was basically from primary source in that closed-ended questionnaire was designed and distributed to health workers in Kumasi. The data generated was analyzed using the mean score ranking. Descriptive statistics was used to test the data. The study concluded that currently housing accommodation lacks security of tenure, accessibility and proximity to services and availability of infrastructure. It was clear that health workers face great housing accommodation challenges and that the greatest challenge faced by health workers is cost of rent, specifically high demand for housing accommodation leading to exorbitant rent prices. It is therefore recommended that government increase salaries of health workers. This increase in salaries will beef up the rent and transportation cost and again help health workers secure quality housing accommodation that meet the required standards of security of tenure, accessibility and proximity to services and availability of infrastructure. Again, health policy must document strategic policy areas of building housing accommodation for health workers focusing on increasing accommodation facilities in the urban towns that are closer to health centers and hospitals

Source: KNUST
Assessing Human Resource Management Practices in District Assemblies in the Ashanti Region

Developing the human resource capacity of local assemblies to enable them formulate development policies for socio-economic growth of local communities has engaged the attention of stakeholders for some time now. Available literature on the significance of human resource development shows the important role human resource management practices and strategies play in developing the skills and competencies of employees in organizations. Such practices include recruitment, selection and placement, training and development, performance appraisal, and job rotation. Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies ought to also employ such human resource management practices and strategies to improve the capacity of their employees. However, in-spite of its impact on the performance of organizations, the available literature has not looked at how the human resource management practices at the local assemblies relate to the formulation of development policies for the communities. It is this gap in knowledge that this study sought to fill, using the Bekwai Municipal and Bosomtwe District Assemblies in the Ashanti Region as case studies. The study adopted quantitative approach; collecting data from ninety-six (96) workers from the two assemblies. The results showed that District assemblies in the Ashanti region have not been using laid down processes of employment and rather rely on partisanship and nepotism in the recruitment of staff, leading to people being placed in positions they ought not to occupy. It was also discovered that the assemblies have neither been conducting performance appraisal of their staff, nor upgraded their system to adopt and apply Information Technology (IT) in their human resource management processes. It is therefore recommended that much meaning be attached to the human resource practices in the assemblies so as to equip the staff with skills and competencies required for the formulation of appropriate community development policies.

Source: KNUST
Assessing humanitarian logistics and supply chain operation: a case of World Vision Ghana

Frequent occurrence of disasters have led to a wide spread of activities of several Humanitarian Organisations or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as World Vision Ghana, where this case study was conducted and Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management operations were assessed, using the appropriate models such as the Relief Chain Model, Thomas (2004) and the SCOR model for supply chain operations. The study employed survey based method in which some staff of World Vision Ghana were interviewed to find out the extent to which WVG's activities conform to the above models. The study revealed some deficiencies in the following: Inventory management, disaster preparedness, collaboration as well as insufficient trained logistics personnel. Following the above deficiencies identified in the study, the following recommendations were given; WVG needs to partner with other NGOs/Relief Agencies in the country to form a body guided by a Memorandum of Understanding in order to increase capacity and enhance collective response to future disaster occurrences. Inventory management should be improved by getting qualified personnel to redesign the warehouses, by creating bins and shelves for storage of relief items in anticipation of a disaster. Inventory pre-positioning and trained personnel are also required.

Source: KNUST
Assessing humanitarian logistics and supply chain operations - a case of Catholic Relief Services/Ghana

There have been public out-cries in recent times against the alleged poor performances of humanitarian relief organizations in Ghana. Slow response the relief organizations to the needs of disaster victims and non-delivery of donations meant for the victims have been cited in the allegations as some of the problems. With huge donations into the operations of the relief organizations by governments and other stakeholders, swift, efficient and effective relief responses are expected from them. With logistics activities constituting over 80% of the total expenditure of humanitarian relief operations (Wassenhove, 2006), relief organizations can significantly improve upon their performances in terms of cost « and cycle time reduction, by improving their logistics and supply chain management operations. In this study, humanitarian relief activities of Catholic Relief Services/Ghana (CRS/Ghana) were assessed using the relief chain model developed by Thomas (2004) to identify areas where time and cost efficiencies are very crucial in responding to disasters. The study identified assessment, human resource training, inefficient information gathering process as the areas where CRS/Ghana should focus more attention in order to improve upon its relief operations. Recommendations that were made in the study include; improving the logistical training, supply chain processes and collaboration with other relief organizations to save cost and reduce cycle time.

Source: KNUST