ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
JOHN 9:1-3 AND CAUSALITY OF SICKNESS AND SUFFERING: A CASE STUDY OF THREE SELECTED PRAYER CENTERS IN THE CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

This study examines John 9:1-3 and its implications for the ministry of healing and deliverance. It attempts to ascertain the proper meaning of the text and its implications for the CACI. The study contends that a lack of proper understanding of the Scriptures often leads to misapplications with serious theological consequences. The basis of this assertion stems from the understanding of the selected text which raises issues of ambiguities in relating sickness and suffering to sin. John 9:1-3, considers the question posed by the disciples of Jesus, which sought to suggest that sickness and suffering were as a result of sin. Jesus’ response reveals otherwise, yet admissible to the disciples’ perception, the implication of which is that, people may often attribute all forms of sickness and suffering to sin or supernatural causes, leading to superstition. Using the biblical apparatus of exegesis based on the historical critical method, together with the primary method of interviews and participant observation, the study revealed that Jesus’ encounter with the blind man could be synonymous to spiritual blindness towards the knowledge of God’s truth. It also came out that God is the only one who knows the cause of human predicaments at all times as against the fixated retributive perception of humanity and has power to offer the needed healing or change. The field survey findings revealed that people often link sickness, and other forms of suffering to sin. However, it is being emphasized that not all sicknesses are associated with one’s sin. Therefore, the study recommends that, sick persons should visit appropriate health centers. With the understanding of the text, the Bible should not be studied in isolation but rather to be studied with the help of people who know much about Bible

Source: KNUST
Junior Staff Participation in Decision- Making Process at KNUST

Decision making is a fundamental process in any organization because the decision process and procedure help to shape the organization. The importance of decision making in the organizations has been recognized as a key function required by administrators. In an institution like the university, quality leadership is crucial for effective staff participation in decision making. The main objective of the study is to examine junior staff and administrators' views regarding junior staff involvement in decision-making process at KNUST. The researcher has access to several sampling techniques for the study. But looking at the nature of the study a questionnaire will be appropriate. In view of that the researcher used questionnaire in his data collection. The results of the questionnaire were used in drawing conclusion for the study. The target population comprised 1584 junior staff and 231 administrators at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology (KNUST). Since it was not possible to deal with the whole of the targeted population due to accessibility, effort was made to sample a reasonable number of people, which gave a representation for the research. A sample size of 150 respondents, made up of 120 junior staff and 30 administrators were chosen for the study. Respondents were of the view that present status of junior staff involvement in University decision-making was either low or not working at some various levels. University authorities and the TEWU executive members need to consistently upgrade the level of junior staff and administrators awareness for university governance and the position of junior staff within the structure. This could be done through bulletins and for as.

Source: KNUST
Kente Centre, Bonwire

The Kente cloth is a product that is exclusive to Ghana, being fully hand woven. It attracts a high price and is internationally acknowledged to be indigenous Ghanaian. The Kente cloth is produced in many towns in Ashanti but most of it is concentrated at Bonwire a town 15km North East of Kumasi on the Ejisu-Juaben road. Although the kente cloth can be purchased in large urban centres most visitors prefer to go to Bonwire to observe the production process and bargain the purchase price in various homes where production is done. The attraction of this product to indigenes and foreign tourist provides a potential for the promotion of the tourism industry. The objective of this thesis therefore is to provide an opportunity for visitors to observe, study and appreciate at first hand facts and production processes of the kente cloth, without necessarily having to walk round the whole town to do so, but concentrated in a centre which should provide maximum options and affordable prices. The aim of this thesis therefore is to provide a wholesome centre within the village providing facilities for • Past-times and Recreation . Education and Information Observation and Demonstration • Accunmodaton • Opportunity to mix with the local people and Experience the life in the Area.

Source: KNUST
Key Causes Of Delay In Construction Projects – Views Of Ghanaian D3k3 And A3b3 Contractors

Delay is among the key challenges faced in the course of construction project implementation. Construction project delay is a globalproblem inproject delivery.Several attempts by researchers’ and project professionals to tackle this problem have not yielded sufficient positive results. This hasgreat negative impact in terms of cost and risk in construction projectswith its related effects on contracting parties.The aim of this study wasto identify the key causes of construction project delays in the view of small scale Ghanaian contractors.Hence, in achieving the aim of the study the following specific objectives were advanced, one, to identify the most important causesof delay and two, to identify solutionto the causes of delays. Thestudy adopted a quantitative structured questionnaire survey.Respondents were selected by the quota sampling technique. Out of Seventy one (71) questionnaires distributed,Sixty Four (64) wereretrieved from respondents representingNinety percent (90).Relative Importance Index and Factor Analysis were used to analyze objective one and two data respectively.The study revealed that, the main causes of delaysare:Clients inadequate financial resources, delays in honouring payment certificates for work done, underestimation of the project duration, poor communication between contracting parties and complexity for developers to access bank credit. In concluding, the following measures were espoused for effective construction delivery: initial proper planning, establishing appropriate communication media and sticking to payment schedules agreed by all the contracting parties.

Source: KNUST
Key challenges to public private partnerships as mode of procuring public infrastructure and service delivery in the roads and highway sector of Ghana

PPP is a contractual arrangement between a public entity and a private sector party, with clear agreement on shared objectives for the provision of public infrastructure and services which are traditionally provided by the public sector. The method offers a lot of benefit to the government as well as the private entity. Despite this, the use of the technique has been found to pose challenges which militate against it being used. Thus this study was designed to identify the key factors that militate against the successful implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a strategy for the delivery of projects at the Road and Highway sectors of Ghana. To do this, questionnaires were designed and administered to professionals working at the Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads, Department of Feeder Roads, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Consultants and Contractors within the Accra Metropolis (the study area). These respondents were selected using purposive sampling technique. The data collected was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientist Software Package (SPSS) version 16. The results revealed that even though PPP is been used as a procurement technique within the road and highway sector, the rate of utilization is very low. In other words, only few projects are executed using this method. In addition to the above, lack of regulatory and legal framework to back PPP, risk of private partner bankruptcy, lack of government interest as a result of change in government or political instability, lack of public administrative competence in development and control of PPP and lack of appropriate accounting treatment for project PPPs were identified as some of the key challenges. Recommendations were made in the light of the above findings which included establishing a legal and regulatory framework to back PPPs in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Key competencies for driving waste minimization at the construction stage of projects

Competency is the knowledge, skills and attributes needed in an organization or area of operation to enhance high productivity. Construction waste could also be defined as an unusable or unwanted material at the construction site. There is low level of awareness on key competencies that drive waste minimization at the construction stage of a project. The awareness and the implementation of the various competencies that drive waste minimization ensure proper collaboration among construction stakeholders as well as a positive attitude towards waste minimization to enhance high productivity. This study was designed with the aim to explore the key competencies that drive material waste minimization at the construction stage of projects. An in-depth literature review and a pilot survey were done. Through that, questionnaires were designed and administered to Public Procurement Authority (PPA) registered construction firms in the Ashanti Region with much focus on Construction Managers. Data generated from the field survey of a sample size of sixty-nine (69) respondents was subjected to Relative Importance Index, Factor Analysis, and Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance. The findings of the study revealed Awareness Competency (AC), Managerial Competency (MC), Personnel Ability Competency (PAC) and Communication Competency (CC) as the key competencies that drive construction material waste minimization. Poor Workmanship, Challenges arising from Transportation of construction materials, and Poor Supervision were highly ranked as the causes of material waste at the construction stage of projects while Increased purchased quanti0ty and price cost, Poor site organization and obstruction of movement due to excessive waste generated, and Lower business patronage were also ranked as the effect of construction material waste variable in undertaking construction projects. A future study is thereby proposed by this study to explore the role of construction professionals in material waste minimization.

Source: KNUST
Key competencies required of project managers in green construction

The need for green construction has been stimulated by global concerns about climate change and sustainability. It is necessary to ensure that green construction projects are successfully implemented with the growing demand for green building projects. Therefore, since a competent project manager is pivotal factor for the successful delivery of any given project, it is essential to identify the knowledge and critical skills that a project manager needs to effectively implement especially in a green building project. In view of this, this study aimed to examine the key competences required of project managers in the green building sector in the context of the Ghana construction industry. To achieve this goal, the following specific objectives were established, which include: evaluating the level of awareness of project managers in green building, identifying the roles of green building project managers and identifying the key competences required by project managers in green construction. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and with the help of an extensive literature review, a structured questionnaire was developed that were distributed to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII) method. Findings of the study revealed that there is a great awareness of green building in Ghana, however, clients have pay little attention because, green construction project tends to be capital intensive than the traditional construction project. In addition, five (5) key competencies were identified and required of managers in green construction projects. The order of importance of the key competence requirement includes: environmental competence, social competence, leadership competence, economic competence and interpersonal skills.

Source: KNUST
The kinetic study of the extraction of lead from assay waste materials

The kinetics of the extraction of lead from assaying waste materials (cupels, crucibles and slags) was investigated. Leaching of the waste materials was done using various acetic acid concentrations with varying temperatures and particle sizes. The results obtained indicated lead recovery was highest in the cupels. A maximum recovery of 92.5% was achieved from the cupels with reaction temperature of 27°C using 10% acetic acid concentration. Maximum recoveries from the crucibles and slags were about 31.0% and 61.0% respectively. It was also found that lead recovery decreased with increase in reaction temperature from about 27°C. Recovery from the waste cupel material was highest with the 90-125µm size fraction but decreased as the size fraction increased or decreased outside this size fraction. The kinetic studies also showed that the reaction order was one.

Source: KNUST
Key Factors in Assessing Project Managers’ Competencies in the Road Agencies in Ghana

Most inland transport in Ghana seems to occur on our roads, in view of this the eminence of roads is very vital to the country’s development. As important as this is, recently there have been many reports on the poor state of Ghana’s road network. Many stakeholders are relating the poor nature of roads to how competent projects managers are. It is therefore expedient to ensure that personnel in charge of road project acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in ensuring value for money. This study therefore sought to identify key competency factors for the assessment of project personnel within road agencies in Ghana. The objectives of the study were to identify the key factors used for the assessment of professional competencies of project managers’ in the road agencies; identify an appropriate existing framework for the assessment of professional competencies in the road agencies in Ghana and identify tools and techniques that could be used to assess project managers’ competency. A cross sectional descriptive research was used in this study. In achieving the objectives, structured questionnaires with closed ended questions were distributed to all project managers (engineers and quantity surveyors) with a minimum of 10 years working experience in the various road agencies. This was done in order to determine which competency factors were paramount and also to determine the means by which project managers can be assessed in order to ensure efficiency. Both descriptive and the relative index technique were used to analyze data gathered for the research. After the analysis some findings gathered were that 61.1% of these professionals suggested that routine examinations should be organized for personnel of the various road agencies to ensure that they were abbressed with the latest trends in their professional practice. Then 52.8 % of the participants also suggested that a 360 feedback approach was also a very expedient means of assessing project managers. 56.9% suggested that mere interviews could be used to assess project managers’ competencies. Again, 15 main technical competency factors were considered and out of these, most participants were of the view that it was very important for the project manager to understand the objectives, the risks and the what quality is required of the project. For behavioral factors, participants were apt for an assertive, effective and efficient leader. As part of qualities they would expect from a project manager, they ranked the ability of a project manager to be able to resolve and control conflicts as second. Under contextual competencies, participants ranked the need to understand developments on projects and the effects certain actions may have on the projects as paramount. It was recommended that because the various road agencies had different organizational structures a competency framework would have to be developed for each of the road agencies, tailor made to suit the organizational structure.

Source: KNUST
Key Supervision Styles and Effect on Quality Performance of Construction Projects in Ghana.

Generally, the success of completing any construction project relies massively on the quality of supervision. Nevertheless, the inability of many supervisors to organize, communicate with workers, and direct activities sufficiently is primarily connected to the quality of the construction. This study sought to determine key supervision styles adopted in the construction industry, identify those used in the Ghanaian Construction industry and their effect on quality performance of construction projects in the Ghanaian construction industry. To do this, 80 questionnaires were sent to site foremen, site managers, site engineers and clerk of works within the Ashanti region. Thirty-three (33) completed questionnaires retrieved from the survey were examined using mean score ranking. The findings revealed Encouraging Teamwork as the most common supervision style used in the Ghanaian construction industry in ensuring quality performance of construction projects. Also, Effective Communication of task to workers was regarded by respondents as the most significant supervision style that has effect on quality performance of construction projects. The findings and recommendations reveal of this study may be useful to construction professionals and policy makers who are seeking innovative ways to improve quality performance of construction projects. It would be highly remarkable if future research could investigate the key performance indices of the quality performance variables so as to evaluate how each component of supervision style affect a particular performance index.

Source: KNUST
Kink collision in the noncanonical 𝜑 6 model: A model with localized inner structures

We study collisions of kinks in the one-space and one-time dimensional noncanonical nonintegrable scalar 𝜙 6 model. We examine the energy density of the kink, and we find that, as a function of the parameters that control the curvature of the potential, a localized inner structure of the energy density emerges. We also examine the kink excitation spectrum and the dynamics of the kink collisions for a wide range of initial velocities. We find that apart from the resonance windows, the production of two to three oscillons occurs for some values of the principal parameters of the model.

Source: KNUST
Kinship in business organisations: its flaws and strengths

Business Organisations are very essential in every country. Their running basically hinges on principles which when rightly appropriated coupled with foresight and ingenuity, greatly affects national economy by promoting growth. Businesses are ventures purposed for growth, since profit optimisation is among its aims and objectives. How far the aim of profit maximisation is attained, is influenced by a number of factors. In Ghana, culture is an important institution, and usually principles, which may be wrong in business, may be right culturally, and in sacrificing business principles for culture, one will be judged generous, wise and successful. However, such do not promote growth of the enterprise, at best they stagnate the business. It is important that proper management practices are adapted in the running of businesses. In Ghana, private business has been in existence since 500BC, but this was mainly agricultural based’. It was the order of the day for households to acquire plots of lands for farming, with almost every member of the households having a part to play on the farm. The farm could therefore be seen as a family business. With time, other businesses emerged, and all these have become part of our economic system. In order parts of the world, businesses started as small units and have grown into big companies with great affluence world-wide. Apple Computers for example, began and grew into a billion dollar Company with five years.2 This success story may not be characteristic of Ghanaian private business. Quite a number of Ghanaian businesses have been in existence for well over a decade, but have not seen any expansion or growth. Several factors might have contributed to this state of affairs. They may include; illiteracy, lack of co-operative spirit, and probably more importantly our kinship system. It is not uncommon in Ghana to find a business enterprise, be it agriculture, manufacturing or commerce staffed mainly with family members. This has been so because of our extended family system, where from time immemorial, kinsmen have linked up each other in business, be it farming, buying or selling.

Source: KNUST
Knapsack algorithm a case study of garden city radio (a local radio station in Kumasi)

The knapsack or rucksack problem is a problem in combinatorial optimization. It derives its name from the maximization problem of the best choice of essentials that can fit into one bag to be carried on a trip. Given a set of items, each with a weight and a value, determine the number of each item to include in a collection so that the total weight is less than a given limit and the total value is as large as possible. The decision problem of the knapsack problem is the question "can a value of at least V be achieved without exceeding the weight W?" The problem often arises in resource allocation with constraints. The practice of selecting commercials to be played on air from a pile of commercials in most radio stations to generate the maximum revenue given a fixed time is a clear case of Knapsack Problem. In this project, we shall explore ways of effectively and efficiently selecting commercials from a pile of commercials within a fixed time to achieve optimal use of air time in order to maximize space and airtime in the FM stations in Ghana, using knapsack algorithm and also to develop a software for the knapsack algorithm using Visual Basic dot NET, which can be used by any researcher or radio station. The software will also be modeled to solve many industrial problems: capital budgeting, cargo loading, cutting stock, to mention the most classical applications. Our project will also serve as reference material in the libraries and the internet for students who wish to undertake research into the piled-up problems of commercials and programmes. The project may also serve as a guide for policy makers and the general public. In this project, different algorithm used to solve Knapsack problem is briefly discussed but the Heuristic Scheme will be used to solve the Knapsack Problem.

Source: KNUST