ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Feeding habits of the Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus desmarest, 1804) in Gbele resource reserve.

Knowledge on the food habits of range animals is an essential tool for rangers and other range scientists for effective and sustainable management of rangeland and its resources. Such information provides a greater opportunity to assess the diet of animals and to evaluate any potential competition for forage among herbivores. However, there is no substantive data on the food habits of herbivores in Gbele Resource Reserve. The study was therefore conducted to identify forage species consumed by the roan antelope and to assess whether seasonal changes affect the diet and feeding habits of the roan antelope in the study area. It was also intended to create a database on the epidermal structures of the different plant species to aid the identification of forage species in the faecal matter of the roan antelope in the study area. Four nested quadrats of 50m by 50m and 3m by 3m were systematically laid at an interval of 200m to sample trees/browse, grasses and forbs respectively. The scraping method was used to study the foliar epidermal characteristics of plants. Thirty (30) faecal samples were collected monthly along transect lines and were identified by the shape of pellets and nearby hoof prints. Microhistological faecal analysis technique was used to analyse the faecal matter. The adaxial epidermis of grass and browse were generally characterised by little or no stomata except forbs species. Numerous stomata ranging from low-dome to high-dome subsidiary cell shape were however found on the abaxial epidermis of all plant species. Among the plant species identified in faecal matter, Andropogon gayanus, Hyparrhenia spp, Hyperthelia dissoluta, Gardenia spp and Afzelia africana were the most dominant forage species in the diet of the roan antelope. There were inter-seasonal and intra-species differences (p > 0.05) in the consumption of plant species in all the three forages (grass, browse and forbs). The proportions of the three forage types in the diet indicated that roans are mixed-feeders. The results also suggested that, seasonal changes and forage type influence the feeding habit and diet of the roan antelope. Further research should therefore be conducted over an extended period to determine the trend of the feeding habits of the roan antelope.

Source: KNUST
Feeding behaviour of the forest elephant and logging impact on fruit production in the kakum conservation area

This thesis presents the results of a series of studies on elephants in the Kakum Conservation Area in Ghana, after twelve months (July 2001 to June 2002) of ecological and ethological monitoring. The reproductive and foliage status of elephant fruit-tree sources were monitored in the Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana, along strip transects. Phenological activity was variable among and between species. Drought conditions trigger leaf shedding while the onset of rains induce leaf flushing to be later succeeded by reproductive changes. Hence the amount of rainfall in the wet season influences the amount of fruits produced in the dry season and consequently, its diversity. However, the best climatic predictor of fruiting was minimum temperature. Elephant food included minimum plant parts of 42 species. On one level, 360 elephant dung piles were examined yielding fruit fragments representing 29 fruit species eaten by elephants, although with a higher reliance on Panda oleosa, Parinari excelsa and Tieghemella hecklii. There were seasonal differences in the quantity and diversity of fruits eaten. Fruit availability was highest in the month of October. On another level, data taken on fresh feeding signs showed an extra 13 species of plants parts recorded to be either browsed upon or barked. There was a high probability of barking activities in close canopy areas and browsing in open canopy areas. Investigations into the effect of logging on some aspects of the forest ecology showed that logging has significantly reduced the density of biggest (dbh > 0.82 m) trees and may be responsible for uneven distribution in certain highly valued timber trees. Logged species also lacked smaller and bigger size classes. An experiment on fruit production showed that bigger trees produce disproportionately more fruits than smaller ones; hence logging which removes the biggest trees may cause a disproportionately large reduction in fruit production and supply to frugivores especially elephants. Crop raids by elephants were monitored in ten permanent study sites (lxlkm2) randomly distributed on the periphery of the study area. June was the peak (2.4 raids per sq km) month of crop raiding activities whilst October experienced the least (0.1 raids per sq km). Natural factors like fruit availability within KCA greatly reduced the risk of raids in nearby farms. At the level of the farm, the maturation periods of maize farms presented the strongest risk. Environmental factors like rainfall intensity, indirectly affects crop raids by promoting the growth and maturation of maize farms around KCA.

Source: KNUST
Female Enr emale Enrolments in STEM in Higher E olments in STEM in Higher Education: T ducation: Trend Analysis end Analysis from 2003 – 2018: KNUST as a case study

Tertiary education in Ghana has experienced rapid growth in accessibility and participation. Ghana has made some positive and impressive progress towards increasing access to education and narrowing gender gaps at the pre-tertiary education levels. Yet, these developments have not translated commensurately in higher education level. This study investigates the effectiveness of the directives and the Vice-Chancellors' initiatives introduced and designed to increase female students' enrolment at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The study used enrolment data from KNUST, the university's initiatives and directives on female enrolments, KNUST recorders, online articles, publications, and ministry of higher education websites. The authors provide descriptive and critical trend analysis in females' share of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) enrolments in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana, for sixteen years. Results show that the directives and interventions geared towards the realisation of the increase in numbers of female enrolment have a positive effect on increasing enrolment of female students at the university. However, the data shows that the proportion of female students is still low in the Physical Sciences and Engineering disciplines than males though they outnumber the males in the Health Sciences.

Source: KNUST
Feminisme dans une si longue lettre de mariama bâ et dans anowa d’Ama Ata Aidoo

Our research work is a study of feminism with particular reference to two books: Une si longue lettre by Mariama Bâ and Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo. Since the emergence of African women writers in the nogro-african literature, there has been an important transformation in the image of the African woman. Literature was used to set Blacks free during the colonial days and it reveals the exploitation of Black man after independence. In the traditional set-up, men are considered more important than women. The African woman has no right to choose her life partner and to formal education. She must obey or take orders, must keep quiet during family discussions. In fact, the African woman could be compared to a child, a slave, an orphan, a deaf or a blind person. She is relegated to the back ground in everything with the kitchen reserved for her. Unlike the women, the men do not undergo such hardships. The reason is that, they are considered the heads of the families. They decide what each member of the families should do and what not to do and no one dares violate their decisions. Today some activists both men and women are trying to sensitize the world concerning the sufferings of women and the need to free them from these hardships. The two authors, Mariama Bâ and Ama Ata Aidoo who form the bases of our study, are among these groups who are fighting tooth and nail against the difficult conditions of women. They are fighting for Senegalese and Ghanaian women respectively, and above all, African women in general. It appears in our study that, though coming from different socio-cultural back ground, Mariama Bâ and Ama Ata Aidoo have a common goal, that is, to vitalize the values of these women who have being marginalized for a long time now in their societies. Mariama Bâ and Ama Ata Aidoo seem to say, through their works that both men and women are to be sensitized so that, the position of the woman in the society can be re-evaluated. This evaluation is necessary considering the fact that, our society is changing fast and that; things are taking a new dimension. Therefore, acts that put women in a perpetual unbearable condition must be abandoned for the well-being of the African woman.

Source: KNUST
Femininity in pottery: Resurrecting the feminine touch to the practice

Ghanaian pottery practices and their modern reintroduction have been rendered masculine. Feminine participation in contemporary Ghanaian pottery/ceramic practices is virtually non-existent. Pottery, the older of the two has always through history and indigenous practices been feminine with women accounting for the entire corpus of practitioners. The study explores means and bases for feminine inclusion, especially in contemporary and academic pottery practices as means of normalising an anomaly engendered by maternity. The study believes women’s participation have contributions to make to pottery practices, and hence advocate for the employment of feminine subjectivities and traditional spaces as well as indigenous pottery trade strategies and other feminine idiom within contemporary studio practices as means to rescue the stagnating practices and involve womanhood in the evolution of the art. It concludes that, pottery practices in their modernist sense had been trapped in sculpture representations and it is only through the use of feminine idioms and subjectivities that they ought to be freed to their full meanings as art.

Source: KNUST
Fertility Preference and Contraceptive Use in Rural and Urban Communities in the Asunafo North District of the Brong Ahafo Region

All over the world over the years, trends of fertility preferences have changed tremendously even though these changes differ as compared to most countries in West Africa largely due to the fact that transitions to replacement of fertility have not yet started in many parts of West Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that influence fertility preferences and contraceptive use among rural and urban communities. The study employed an analytical cross sectional design, using females aged 18 or more years. A multi stage cluster sampling method was used to select the 603 respondents who were administered with structured questionnaire and an interview guide. About 33.8% had more than three children, with about 72.4% having the intention of having more children. Finance was seen as a possible barrier to having more children. A majority, 57.3% preferred any sex. About 88.5% believed fertility preference was important in their communities. Almost 90% of respondents who had never given birth before intended to give birth, with 44.8% desiring to give more than 3 children. Giving children proper training was the main reason for desired number of children (89.7%). The fertility preference of women was influenced by their age, religion and ethnic groups (p=0.006). Mean age of first birth, number of children to have also influenced fertility preference. Majority of the women in the Asunafo North district studied intended to have more than three children. Fertility preference in the studied district varied significantly with respect to age, ethnicity, religion, age at first birth and desired children. Improving education on the importance of small family norms, male involvement and the need to diffuse the dominance of one partner in the choice of a particular gender could be helpful.

Source: KNUST
Fertility Preferences of Women Living with HIV in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

This study sought to determine fertility preferences and their predictors among women living with HIV. A survey of 295 women aged 18 to 49 years living with HIV, and attending two HIV/AIDS clinics in the Kumasi metropolis, was conducted between July and August 2012. We administered questionnaires, and retrieved records of clinical status for review. We conducted multiple logistic regressions with fertility preference as the dependent variable. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents desired to have a child. The desire to have children was associated with age > 40years (AOR 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06-1.00), parity >3 (AOR 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.78), those that responded that their HIV status did not affect fertility preference were more likely to desire a child (AOR 4.37; 95% CI: 1.28-14.95) and those whose partner’s did not desire to have children were less likely to desire to have children (AOR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.18). Most of the respondents do not discuss their fertility preferences with healthcare providers. Policy makers should protect the health of women living with HIV by putting in place counselling and support services with regular antiretroviral medications. If implemented, this has the potential to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[2]: 125-133).

Source: KNUST
Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: A success with a shadow

Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill−1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill−1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill−1, 200 g hill−1 and 300 g hill−1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill−1 and 2 g DAP hill−1, respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −34 kg K ha−1yr−1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1, and −31 kg N ha−1yr−1, −1 kg P ha−1yr−1 and −27 kg K ha−1yr−1 for 6 g NPK hill−1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1, −6.8 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −21.3 kg K ha−1 yr−1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 and 6 g NPK hill−1, respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system.

Source: KNUST
Fertilizer micro-dosing increases crop yield in the Sahelian low-input cropping system: A success with a shadow

Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill−1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill−1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill−1 , 200 g hill−1 and 300 g hill−1 ) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill−1 and 2 g DAP hill−1 , respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha−1 yr−1 , −1 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −34 kg K ha−1 yr−1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 , and −31 kg N ha−1 yr−1 , −1 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −27 kg K ha−1 yr−1 for 6 g NPK hill−1 . The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer micro dosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 , −6.8 kg P ha−1 yr−1 and −21.3 kg K ha−1 yr−1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill−1 and 6 g NPK hill−1 , respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system.

Source: KNUST
Field evaluation of levo 2.4 sl (Botanical) for the Management of Insect Pests of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Renewed interest in the use of botanical insecticides for the management of insect pests necessitated field experiments to be carried out during the major and minor cropping season at the plantation crops section of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST) in 2013 to evaluate insecticidal potency of Levo (botanical insecticide) for the management of insect pests of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). The trial comprised the following treatments: (i) Levo (a.i. Oxymatrine) at 1.68 ml /0.5 litre water, (ii) Lambda-super (a.i. Lambda-cyhalothrin) at 1.5 ml /0.5 litre water and (iii) A control (water only). Leuninodes orbonalis (Guen), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Aphis gossypii (Glover), and Eublemma olivacea (Walker) were collected on eggplant and Podagrica spp. (Jac.), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and Aphis gossypii (Glover) on okra in the study area. Significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) were observed among the treatments with respect to the abundance of A. gosspyii, L. orbonalis, B. tabaci and E. olivacea on eggplant during the major season. Similar results were obtained in the minor season. There were significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) in Podagrica spp., B. tabaci and A. gosspyii densities between insecticide-treated and the control plots of okra in both seasons. The damage caused by Podagrica species to okra leaves was significantly different (P ˂ 0.05) among treatments plots in both seasons. Significantly higher yields were obtained from the insecticide-treated eggplant plots but no significant differences were obtained between insecticide-treated and control okra plots. The study showed that Levo was as effective as Lambda super and can be recommended as a substitute in the management of insect pests of eggplant and okra.

Source: KNUST
Financial and socioeconomic assessment of the impact of NGOs on small-scale agro-processing units in Ghana: a case study of Technoserve in the Ashanti Region

TechnoServe is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), founded in 1968 and started operating in Ghana since 1971. Its organisational mission is to help entrepreneurs in poor rural areas of the developing world to build businesses that can create income, opportunity and economic growth for their families, communities and countries thereby raising the general standard of living. The activities of TechnoServe (TNS) are widespread in the Ashanti Region. The types of enterprises supported by TNS include, among others, agricultural processing enterprises which are linked to the rural economy and have the potential to alleviate poverty. TechnoServe provided technical support, built capacity and helped its clients to access institutional loans by providing collateral security. This independent study set out to assess the level of impact made by TechnoServe on its clients in the Ashanti Region. The methodology adopted for the study combined quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods within the broad framework of evaluation and impact assessment techniques. A control group was used to bring about the level of impact made by TechnoServe on her clients since there was no baseline data. The turnover of the processors rose significantly after TNS intervened from an average of Ø18.6m to an average of Ø39.75m, representing an increase of 114%. This is higher than that of their counterparts who did not benefit from TNS services; with an average from 01 2m to 019.31 m, representing an increase of 61% over the same period. There was also a significant increment in the level of machinery used for the processing activities of beneficiaries compared to their non-beneficiary counterparts. The average value of machinery of processors rose from 015 .3m following the intervention to 43.65m; representing an increase of 185%. The study revealed that the intervention of TechnoServe through capacity building and financing of agro-processors had positive impacts on small-scale businesses and on the lives of beneficiaries and their families in many ways. The areas with the most impact included improvement in the acquisition of business skills through capacity building and economic circumstances.

Source: KNUST
The Financial Administration of the Church of Pentecost - New Tafo Area

Faith based organizations are non profit making institutions that are established to advance a Religious oriented course with an objectives order than profit. Since they are not profit oriented resources that come in are used to advance the course of the organization. The Church of Pentecost is the faith based Christian organization which is headquartered in Ghana. This paper seeks to research into the financial administration of the New Tafo Area of the Church of Pentecost. With special emphasis on funds flow. Upon a research 160, respondents it was noted that though budget were prepared they were not strictly adhered to-. The finance Committee, as a board that manages the church's finances, do not meet regularly to consider the cash situation of the church. It is therefore recommended that the research that budgets should be prepared before the year starts and that a flexible budget should be adopted. Expenditure outside the budget should be avoided.

Source: KNUST