ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Significant Ghanaian educational innovations and landmarks and their socio-cultural impact dissertation

Whenever there is a deep dissatisfaction with existing social institutions and arrangements or a conviction of the falsity of widely current estimates of knowledge and of man, then the outcome must be an attempt at the large-scale revision of existing values and concepts. Such has been the case with education in Ghana where many innovations, reforms, and landmarks have taken place geared at perfecting the educational system. Significant among these are the introduction of school type of education which was a complete departure from the indigenous educational system, the government’s involvement in education, the introduction of University education, Visual Art education, and the current P.N.D.C. government’ educational reforms, These constitute the innovations and landmarks discussed in this dissertation. The problem that has beset the nation from the genesis of school education in the 15th Century to the present time has however been inability to fully realise the set objectives of the various innovations and reforms. What have been the major causes of these failures, and what lessons have been learnt from them? Are there any solutions to these perennial problems? It is the unravelling of these knotty issues that this dissertation attempts to do by identifying and analysing the rationale, nature, scope and impact of the significant innovations and landmarks that have occurred to unearth their inherent strengths and weaknesses in which may he found the causes preventing the achievement of total success It is hoped that the findings and the suggestions made on them will help future educational innovationists and reformers to avoid the mistakes of the past in order to achieve the success that has been so elusive.

Source: KNUST
Simple firing technique in ceramics for second cycle institution

Although most teachers teach ceramics, very few of them are able to preserve the students works as they do to the other art works. Some of the students’ works are unique and need to be preserved but surprisingly they are left in the bone dry, fragile state to break. Some of such pieces are re-cycled whilst others are swept from the art rooms into bins. The effect of this attitude of teachers is the disinterest which students show in clay-work because they see it as valueless. Most of the teachers interviewed in the preliminary enquiry about firing complained of lack of funds and technical knowhow for the construction of kilns. To them firing cannot be made possible without conventional kilns. The schools w1tb kilns do firing about once in a year, following the same firing procedure without any variation.

Source: KNUST
A simple model of the economy of Ghana

The complexities presented by today’s economies required a model approach to provide a clearer and a more reliable solution to today’s economic problems of Ghana. The research therefore approaches the above problem by constructing a simple economic model of the economy of Ghana. This was done by using the Box-Jenkins method of Time Series Analysis of system identification with data from the Bank of Ghana, Kumasi Branch, and comprising quarterly series of the main economic components of the economy of Ghana such as; Inflation, Total money supply, Interest rate, Gross Domestic Product, Capital stock, Government Expenditure, Investment, Balance of Trade and Consumption. As a result Autoregressive (AR) Models were constructed for each of the economic components. A simple economic model of the economy of Ghana in the form of a difference equation model was constructed. In addition, a homogeneous First order difference equation of the form X_(k+1)=AX_k was found to be stable at a given equilibrium. The non-homogeneous model of the economy of the form X_(k+1)=AX_k+BU_k was found to be controllable.

Source: KNUST
Simple, Rapid Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease Diagnosis from Clinical Samples by Fluorescence of Mycolactone on Thin Layer Chromatography

Mycobacterium ulcerans infection, known as Buruli ulcer, is a disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissues which is an important but neglected tropical disease with its major impact in rural parts of West and Central Africa where facilities for diagnosis and management are poorly developed. We evaluated fluorescent thin layer chromatography (f-TLC) for detection of mycolactone in the laboratory using samples from patients with Buruli ulcer and patients with similar lesions that gave a negative result on PCR for the IS2404 repeat sequence of M. ulcerans Methodology/Principal findings Mycolactone and DNA extracts from fine needle aspiration (FNA), swabs and biopsy specimen were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of f-TLC when compared with PCR for the IS2404. For 71 IS2404 PCR positive and 28 PCR negative samples the sensitivity was 73.2% and specificity of 85.7%for f-TLC. The sensitivity was similar for swabs (73%), FNAs (75%) and biopsies (70%).

Source: KNUST
Simplified procedure for estimating air conditioning cooling loads in Ghana

Undersized or oversized air conditioning equipment leads to high operational cost, frequent breakdown and accelerated wear of equipment. Wrong sizing of equipment is often the result of inaccurate procedures employed to estimate the cooling load of the air conditioned space. Air conditioning cooling load of buildings have been extensively researched. Today, computer programs are available on the market for more accurate estimation of cooling load. All the same, what appears to be the established practice among equipment suppliers and service providers in the air conditioning industry in Ghana is to size air conditioners for all applications by multiplying the net floor area by the same cooling load factor to arrive at space cooling load. Estimating the load by use of computer program or other accurate procedure is hardly the practice. Availability of cooling load factors that take into account the building glazing, orientation, ventilation requirements, usage pattern, among other factors, will be a more accurate and user-friendly tool that air conditioning service providers could employ to estimate cooling load of buildings to reasonable accuracy and thereby size or select the required equipment correctly. The transfer function method (TFM), which is a well-known cooling or heating load estimation procedure that has been adopted by ASHRAE, was programmed in this thesis to predict the hourly and daily average cooling load due to different types of walls, roofs and fenestration that are typically found in building construction in Ghana today. This has been used to develop cooling load factors that simplify load estimation using a worksheet. Sample calculations of cooling load estimated using the worksheet were compared with the result of cooling load estimated using a computer program and the agreement was found to be satisfactory.

Source: KNUST
Simulation of the shortest routes in the Accra Metropolis

The shortest path models were reviewed and Dijkstra's Algorithm was selected to simulate the shortest distances in the Accra Metropolis. The distances between 116 locations in the Metropolis were measured and their position vectors relative to the King Tackie Tawiah Overhead were formulated. A Fortran 90 program was prepared using Dijkstra's Algorithm. The distances and position vectors were used to prepare an input deck for the Fortran 90 program. The program runs actively on a Pentium IV computer. Recommendations on integrating the software into the current scheme of planning were made.

Source: KNUST
Simulating agricultural land-use adaptation under changing climate using Multi-Agent System model in the Upper East Region of Ghana

One of the operationalised tools of human-environment system (HES) modelling approach is Multi-Agent System (MAS) which has been used in a number of areas to study the dynamics and management of human and natural systems especially when facing unexpected disturbances. Therefore, increasing studies are interested in using Multi-Agent analyses for the understanding of agricultural adaptation to environmental changes. However, when it comes to the use of MAS for the operationalisation of adaptation decision making in agricultural land use based on farmers’ perception of climate variability, only very few studies empirically operationalise the concept in their simulations. Also, another challenge is how to isolate planned adaptation within a large traditional number of autonomous adaptation practices. The current research therefore focused on the implementation of a MAS approach for investigating the traditional adaptive strategies in a small scale area in the Upper East Region of Ghana by considering farmers’ perception of climate change and variability. In order to achieve the purpose of this, Land Use Dynamic Simulator (LUDAS) approach was adapted and modified by integrating the two stepdecision making sub-models. This modified version of LUDAS called SKY-LUDAS (referring to the communities where it was implemented: Sirigu-Sumbrungu-Kandiga- Yuwa) was constructed to capture the empirical heterogeneity of farm household agents and landscape agents (biophysical environment), and also to explicitly simulate interactions between these two agent types. From the results of the multivariate statistical methods, three farm household agent groups were identified. Also the factors explaining the decision of these three household agent groups on the choice of the six identified land-use types were analysed. Two submodels were developed and calibrated for implementing the two-step decision making submodels: Perception-of-Climate-Change and Adaptation Choice strategies. Simulation results of SKY-LUDAS suggested that the land-use behaviour in the study area reflects a tendency of subsistence farming. In terms of farm-households’ livelihood strategy, especially the structure of the gross income, there was a growing contribution of rice and groundnut. Also the pattern of the gross income under the scenario of perception on climate change (PCC) showed explicitly the contribution of the adaptation options in the households’ livelihood strategy. Accordingly, SKY-LUDAS has revealed a gradual shift among land-use types from traditional cereals farming to the cultivation of groundnuts, rice, maize and soybean.

Source: KNUST
Simulation and Analysis of Possible Water Balance Scenarios of Lake Bosomtwe.

The hydrology and hydrodynamics of Lake Bosomtwe has been studied but not exhausted. Thus in this study, a model is developed using the system dynamics approach to mimic hydrological processes that take place within the lake’s catchment area. The model uses rainfall data for Kumasi as input to simulate surface runoff whereas temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation data for the aforementioned is employed in simulating evaporation from the lake surface as well as evapotranspiration from the catchment land surface. Similarly population estimates for the communities within the catchment area in conjunction with the annual water demand per capita for Ghana is used in estimating water abstraction from the lake for domestic and agricultural purposes from the period of 1984 to 2013. After calibrating and validating the model, the resulting simulated lake water level from the model is compared to that which is observed. Obtaining a co-efficient of determination (R2) value of 0.93 for the model, both land use(s)/land cover and climate scenarios are developed for the assessment of possible potential impacts on the lake’s hydrodynamics. The results from the study suggest that there are two seasons (namely the rainy and dry seasons) influencing the hydrology of the lake. Rather than the absolute climatic stance as purported by earlier researchers, the lake is also affected by anthropogenic factors particularly water abstraction for domestic and agricultural activities. However the climatic component is the dominant factor responsible for the lake water dynamics. Of all the climatic components, the variability in the amount of rainfall is the major component responsible for determining the dynamic lake water level behaviour (noise) observed. Finally, whiles the magnitude of water losses is driven by both climatic and anthropogenic forces at present, it is very possible that in the near future, the lake’s water level depreciation will be by far due to anthropogenic pressures as compared to the climatic.

Source: KNUST
“Simultaneous determination of some water soluble vitamins in multivitamin preparations by high performance liquid chromatography”.

A High Performance Liquid Chromatographic method was developed to assay some water -soluble vitamins (nicofinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin and folic acid) in multicomponent pharmaceutical formulations. The method involved the use of sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate buffer solution adjusted to pH 4.0 using acetic acid. Chromatographic conditions of (-24 reverse-phase column, 15cm x 4.6mm i.d., flow rate of 1.5m1/min. and an injection volume of 20μl at a detection wavelength of 254nm. The mode of operation is isocratic and was performed at room temperature requiring about 10 minutes of elution time. The calibration curves obtained indicated linearity of peak area with concentration of vitamins over a range of 50-500μg/ml for folic acid. 5-500μg/l for nicotinamide and 50 - 500μg/ml for pyridoxine Quantitation of the vitamins in commercial preparations were accomplished using peak area ratio with external reference standard of the specified vitamins. Stability of the vitamins in the mobile phase was determined in the presence of para –N, N-dimethyl aminobenzaldehyde as an internal standard. Riboflavin was found to enhance the oxidative degradation of folic acid in a mixture of the two vitamins at pH 4.0. The results of the HPLC method were found to be specific in qualitative determination of the vitamins with retention times of 1.45 for pyridoxine. 1 .76 for nicotinamide. 3.50 for riboflavin. 4.5 for aminobenzaldehyde and .0 for folic acid. The method was also found to be accurate and precise with percentage mean of label recovery o 95 .00% - 102.00% and a relative standard error of the mean of less than 1 0% for between and within runs. Comparison of the HPLC method with UV spectrophtometric method reveals that the mean percentage claim of the HPLC method is between 99.43% - 1 01 .80% and standard deviation of 0.44 - 0.82. it is 103.70 - I 08.30 with standard deviation of 1 .42 – 6.99 for UV method indicating the lack of accuracy and precision on the part of UV spectrophotometric method. The method developed could he the required analytical technique for ascertaining the quality and quantity of vitamins in multivitamin preparations.

Source: KNUST
Single parenting in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana: the responses of Trinity Congregation Bomso and Victory Congregation Oforikrom in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The phenomenon of single parenting as a social problem has attain a global status resulting in many calling for a critical and multidisciplinary approach to the issue. This is because the issue has deprive many children of school going age the opportunity to academic excellence and contribute their quota to national development. Thou God frowns on divorce and broken homes, the study noted that God shows great concern for those affected by single parenting. His concern and love for the single parent and their children stems from the fact He is a God of love. As a church, it is very important that we do not ignore His great concern by failing to convey His love for and our love for such a large segment of the society. This study compels the church to be a servant sent forth by God to reap the great rewards by offering a great response to the needs of single parents. The study found out that most single parents faced with financial difficulties, loneliness, and inability to remarry because of trust and sometimes also some of them engage in sexual immorality. It also came out that, single parents also impacts on children, the study found out that, children growing up in single-parent households are at a greater risk of experiencing a variety of behavioral and educational problems, including extremes of hyper-activity and withdrawal; lack of attentiveness in the classroom; difficulty in accepting satisfaction; impaired academic achievement; school misbehavior, absenteeism; dropping out; involvement in socially alienated peer groups, and the so-called “teenage syndrome” of behaviors that tend to hang together smoking, drinking, early and frequent sexual experience, and in the more extreme cases, drugs, suicide, violence, and criminal acts. There is therefore the need for the church to establish a strong relationship to such a vulnerable group in their midst to help address some of the issues that come up as a result of single parenting.

Source: KNUST
Sir Charles Tourist Centre

Tourism has become one of the great growth areas in the World Trade and has, since the past three decades made phenomenal impact on the economies of developed and developing countries. It is acclaimed throughout the world as a universal industry; It is also argued by sociologists to be a good means of promoting cultural relations and international cooperation. Its importance in international trade, its dynamism and growth can be attributed to the following:- — Generates a good deal of foreign exchange at destination? through supply of services; — Encourages investment and creates investment opportunities; — Introduces new skills and creates employment; — Stimulates growth in related industries and services due to its high multiplier effect; — Reliable vehicle for the redistribution of income and capital; — Development of rural areas, reducing overcrowding in urban centres and redistribution of income; Today it is the leading foreign exchange earner in quite a number of countries, earning in excess of $80m in Ivory Coast while others such as the UK, Germany and Spain in Europe, Kenya, Tunisia, Gambia and La Cote d’Ivoire in Africa, register significant earnings from tourism. According to the IUOTO (International Union of Travel Organizations) a tourist is defined as a visitor who stays in a place for a period not less than 24 hours and not exceeding one year, the purpose of whose visit may be: 1. Leisure ii. Business (Convention, Conference) iii. Health Social, economic and technological improvements, greater affluence and increased purchasing power have increased the time people are able to devote to leisure and business and will continue to do so thus creating a continued demand for new and diverse avenues for tourists to expend their energies, time and money. Ghana though endowed with a rich culture, idyllic beaches and a majority of the slave forts and castles (26 out of 40) along the West African coast, blessed with good weather and populated by friendly people, lacks the needed infrastructure to support the industry and has for a long time lacked policies at the national level to guide the industry and attract investors and clients. Hence the need, as realised by the PNDC Government, to stimulate and vitalize the county’s tourism industry to enable it compete successfully with others already in the market.

Source: KNUST
Site‑, enantio‑ and stereo‑selectivities of the 1,3‑dipolar cycloaddition reactions of oxanorbornadiene with C,N‑disubstituted nitrones and dimethyl nitrilimines: a DFT mechanistic study

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones to oxanorbornadienes is an important method for the enantioselective synthesis of highly substituted 5-membered heterocycles such as furans and isoxazolidines, which have high utility in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The mechanism of the reaction and the effects of substituents on the (3 + 2) cycloaddition reactions (32CA) of C,N-dialkyl nitrones with a series of substituted oxanorbornadienes have been studied with focus on the site-selectivity (attack on the more substituted double bond of the oxanorbornadiene derivatives versus attack on the less substituted double bond), enantioselectivity and stereo-selectivity using density functional theory calculations at the M06/6-311++G(d,p) of theory. The results showed that the addition step to form the bicyclic isoxazolidines cycloadducts has generally low barriers compared to the cycloreversion step which converts the cycloadducts into furans and monocyclic isoxazolidines. Generally, electron-withdrawing substituents favour the nitrone attack on the highly substituted double bond, while electron-donating substituents favour the attack on less substituted double bond. The R enantiomers are generally favoured over the S enantiomers, and exo stereo-isomers are generally favoured over the endo stereo-isomers, irrespective of substituents.

Source: KNUST
The Situation of the Woman in a Patriarchal African Society: A Study of Nawal El Saadawi’s God Dies by the Nile and Woman at Point Zero

A critical review of the existing literature on Africa clearly shows that women occupy an inferior position in society. Having a voice in society is often something that women in the Western world take for granted. However, in many African countries, especially the Islamic ones, the majority of women remain silent. First World Feminists have contended that while it is true that colonial history has taken advantage of African traditions to locate the place of women in a subservient position, it is also true that the trend has not changed even after independence. As a result of this, the transfer of power to national elites merely ensured the continuation of colonial structures benefiting the male national elite. Nawal El Saadawi, an Egyptian writer, believes however that even though women occupy an inferior position in traditional society, Islamic societies manipulate the precepts of Islam in order to oppress and restrict women. Further, she seeks to highlight the deeply rooted teachings of equality in the Quran and encourage a questioning of the patriarchal interpretation of Islamic teaching based on the Quran, hadith (sayings of Muhammed), and sharia. (law) She does this with the aim of creating a more equal and just society. The study found that even though women occupy an inferior position in traditional society, Islamic societies manipulate the precepts of Islam in order to oppress and restrict women. Besides, the study concluded that patriarchy, a cultural constraint in God Dies by the Nile and Woman at Point Zero emerges as a system with political, economic, social, cultural, and psychological manifestations bound together by underlying class dynamics.

Source: KNUST
Site selection for fire station in Birim North District

This thesis seeks to identify the optimal location for sitting of a fire station in Birim North District using absolute centre heuristic method to ensure quick response to fire incidents and help fight fire outbreaks within the district thereby ensuring the future safety of people and property within the service coverage area. We focused on markets, hospitals, schools, residential facilities etc. and these were considered as the nodes or demand points. The Karis and Hakimi algorithm was used to compute the absolute centre from the distances obtained from the Floyd-Warshall’s all pairs shortest path algorithm. The absolute centre was identified as (0) zero meters from node C. In other words the absolute centre was at node C and the facility has to be sited at C. The maximum distance to be travelled from the facility to a farthest node, node O (Akokoase) shall be 4745metres. The fire station should be located at New Abirem to ensure minimum response time and travel distance in the service coverage area.

Source: KNUST