ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Integration of Calneem® oil and parasitoids to control Cadra cautella and Corcyra cephalonica in stored grain cereals

The compatibility and protectant potential of Calneem® oil derived from the neem tree Azadirachta indica and two parasitoids, Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, for the control of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored rice and wheat, were evaluated in the laboratory. Calneem® oil (= neem oil) is a biopesticide produced, registered and marketed in Ghana by AQUA AGRIC Community Projects (AACP/Caldor Ghana Ltd., Tema). It contains 0. 3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The oil was emulsified with water using 0. 07% soap. Fourth instar moth larvae were held in grain treated with neem oil only, grain treated with one of the parasitoids only, grain treated with a combination of neem and one of the parasitoids, and a control with untreated grain. Neem oil was applied at concentrations from 5,000 to 30,000 ppm. All samples were kept in growth cabinets maintained at 25°C and 65-70% r. h. Adult emergence was recorded after 4 weeks. Parasitoid or neem treatments alone reduced the emergence of C. cephalonica and C. cautella. In general, parasitoid releases were as effective as a combination of neem oil and parasitoids. At the lowest dose, 5,000 ppm, the combination of neem and parasitoid was more effective than the neem alone. The number of adults of H. hebetor and V. canescens that emerged in rice containing either parasitoids alone or in combination with neem oil was similar. This indicates minimal or no adverse effect of neem oil on the two parasitoids. It is thus possible to incorporate neem oil in a well-designed pest management program with parasitoids. © 2011 Springer Science & Business Media BV.

Source: UG
Integration of control of neglected tropical diseases into health-care systems: challenges and opportunities

Although progress has been made in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, current financial resources and global political commitments are insufficient to reach the World Health Assembly’s ambitious goals. Increased efforts are needed to expand global coverage. These efforts will involve national and international harmonisation and coordination of the activities of partnerships devoted to control or elimination of these diseases. Rational planning and integration into regular health systems is essential to scale up these interventions to achieve complete eradication of these diseases. Programmes with similar delivery strategies and interventions—such as those for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis could be managed on the same platform and together. Furthermore, better-resourced programmes—such as those for malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis—could work closely with those for neglected tropical diseases to their mutual benefi t and the benefit of the entire health system.

Source: UG
Integration of control of neglected tropical diseases into health-care systems: challenges and opportunities ( Review )

Although progress has been made in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, current financial resources and global political commitments are insufficient to reach the World Health Assembly's ambitious goals. Increased efforts are needed to expand global coverage. These efforts will involve national and international harmonisation and coordination of the activities of partnerships devoted to control or elimination of these diseases. Rational planning and integration into regular health systems is essential to scale up these interventions to achieve complete eradication of these diseases. Programmes with similar delivery strategies and interventions-such as those for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis-could be managed on the same platform and together. Furthermore, better-resourced programmes-such as those for malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis-could work closely with those for neglected tropical diseases to their mutual benefit and the benefit of the entire health system. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Integration of multiple geospatial applications and intelligence for responding to COVID-19 in Ghana

Objective: We describe the use of integrated geospatial applications for the provision of access to timely and accurate data on samples, visualisation of Spatio-temporal patterns of cases and effective communication between field sample collectors, testing laboratories, Regional Health directors and Government Decision Makers. Design: This study describes how an integrated geospatial platform based on case location and intelligence was de veloped and used for effective COVID-19 response during the initial stages of COVID-19 in Ghana. Data Source: Collector for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Survey123 Main outcome measure: successful development and deployment of integrated geospatial applications and analytics. Results: The Collector for ArcGIS app was customised to collect COVID-19 positive cases location information. Survey 123 was introduced as a COVID-19 contact tracing application to digitise the case-based forms and provide real-time results from the laboratories to GHS and other stakeholders. The laboratory backend allowed the testing laboratories access to specific information about each patient (sample) collected by the fieldworkers. The regional supervisors’ backend web application provided accessing test results for confidentiality and timely communication of results. Conclusion: Geospatial platforms were successfully established in Ghana to provide timely results to Regional Health Directors and Government decision-makers. This helped to improve the timeliness of response and contact tracing at the district level.

Source: UG
The Integration of Occupational Pension Policies: Lessons for Canada

Is the integration of occupational pension policies across the Canadian provinces feasible? In this paper, we assess the proposal for harmonization made by the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) by comparing it to the EU’s successful integration of member states’ pension regulations. We argue that CAPSA’s initiative failed both because regulatory diversity was defined as a fundamental problem and because the regulations that serve social policy goals were not protected from integration. We suggest that occupational pension integration in Canada would be feasible if provincial governments largely excluded rules on benefits and relied primarily on the mutual recognition of regulations

Source: UG
The Integration of Occupational Pension Regulations: Lessons for Canada

Is the integration of occupational pension regulations across the Canadian provinces feasible? In this paper, we assess the proposal for harmonization made by the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) by comparing it to the EU’s successful integration of member states’ pension regulations. We argue that CAPSA’s initiative failed both because regulatory diversity was defined as a fundamental problem and because the regulations that serve social policy goals were not protected from integration. We suggest that occupational pension integration in Canada would be feasible if provincial governments largely excluded rules on benefits and relied primarily on the mutual recognition of regulations

Source: UG
Integration or exclusion of Fulbe pastoralists in West Africa: A comparative analysis of interethnic relations, state and local policies in Ghana and Côte d'lvoire

This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the situation of the pastoral Fulbe in the two neighbouring West African countries of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoirc. The migration of the Fulbe into the northern parts of both countries is quite a recent phenomenon. In spite of the similar social, economic and environmental conditions in both countries, the two governments responded differently to Fulbe migrations. Generally, the Ivorian government was more receptive of the Fulbe while the Ghanaian authorities have been hostile to them. The paper also discusses interethnic relations between the Fulbe and the indigenous farming groups. Finally, responses of both governments to farmer-herder conflicts are examined and some general reflections on how West African states are dealing with the issue of pastoral migration are provided.

Source: UG
Integration versus segregation: Structural dynamics of a smallholder-dominated mosaic landscape under tree-crop expansion in Ghana

Tree crops like cocoa and oil palm have ecological and socio-economic significance in tropical landscapes. However, their expansion in tropical landscapes leaves footprints on ecosystem-based livelihoods, forests, and land for food. While policy and research have focused on productivity, markets and land-use transitions, the structural effects of expanding tree crops on landscapes have rarely been assessed. This study investigates changes in landscape structural properties associated with tree-crop expansion in a smallholder-dominated mosaic landscape. It quantifies the degree of integration/segregation in the landscape, and the direction in which the landscape evolves on an integration-segregation continuum. Landscape metrics from 1986 to 2015 land-cover maps were used to quantify landscape composition and configuration. Selected metrics were com bined into a new composite landscape structural state index (LSSI), as a measure to determine the degree of integration/segregation. The study found that landscape composition was relatively stable. However, reduced patch numbers and complexity, and increased connectivity and aggregation revealed configurational dynamics: cocoa and oil palm exhibited aggregation tendencies; while food-crop areas became fragmented; and the LSSI indicated a shift towards greater segregation in the landscape between 1986 and 2015. Regarding structure, the smallholder landscape mimics an industrial agrarian landscape with large segregated homogenous cocoa and oil palm areas, and a reserved forest area. The study thus reveals changes in structural properties due to tree-crop led landscape transitions. It suggests considering these aspects when promoting tree crops in mosaic landscapes as they imply adverse effects on food availability and ecosystem services.

Source: UG
An integrative literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health in Africa

Africa has the highest rates of maternal deaths globally which have been linked to poorly functioning health care systems. The pandemic revealed already known weaknesses in the health systems in Africa, such as workforce short ages, lack of equipment and resources. The aim of this paper is to review the published literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health in Africa. The integrative review process delineated by Whittemore and Knaf (2005) was used to meet the study aims. The literature search of Ovid Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, WHO, Google and Google scholar, Africa journals online, MIDIRS was limited to publications between March 2020 and May 2022. All the studies went through the PRISMA stages, and 179 full text papers screened for eligibility, 36 papers met inclusion criteria. Of the studies, 6 were qualitative, 25 quantitative studies, and 5 mixed methods. Thematic analysis according to the methods of Braun and Clark (2006) were used to synthesize the data. From the search the six themes that emerged include: effects of lockdown measures, COVID concerns and psychological stress, reduced attendance at antenatal care, childhood vaccination, reduced facility-based births, and increase maternal and child mortality. A review of the literature revealed the following policy issues: The need for government to develop robust response mechanism to public health emergencies that negatively affect maternal and child health issues and devise health policies to mitigate negative effects of lockdown. In times of pandemic there is need to maintain special access for both antenatal care and child delivery services and limit a shift to use of untrained birth attendants to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. These could be achieved by soliciting investments from various sectors to provide high-quality care that ensures sustainability to all layers of the population.

Source: UG
The integrity of socio-economic rights in a public law rights theory in Africa

On that account, this work argues that the essence of law in young African democracies must cohere with a theory of public law rights which respects and protects the wellbeing of the people by seeing socio-economic rights as an integral part of the rule of law. By this, rights listed in the constitutions of these states are not exhaustive of the rights intended to be enforced in these legal systems, and that theories of legal rights and moral rights should be integrated not only for a complete and comprehensive theory of rights, but also to aid judicial incorporation of rights norms that are necessary for the sustenance of values inherent in a constitutional democracy and human dignity.

Source: UG
Intellectual capital and technical efficiency of banks in an emerging market: a slack-based measure

Purpose – This paper investigates the impact of intellectual capital and its components on slack-based technical efficiency (SBM-TE) of banks. Design/methodology/approach – Data envelopment analysis is used to compute SBM-TE scores and the Value-Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC™) model is used to measure intellectual capital. An unbalanced panel of 32 banks that operated from 2000 to 2017 has been used. Findings – Overall, the efficiency scores are averaged at 79%, suggesting that an inefficient bank needs to enhance technical efficiency by 21% to be at par with the best performing banks. Beta-convergence and sigmaconvergence exist among banks with faster speed evident among listed and local banks. Intellectual capital has a positive impact on SBM-TE and human capital is the main driver of technical efficiency among banks. This result is specifically evident among non-listed banks and foreign banks. Economies of scale property are also evident among the banks. Competition and asset tangibility inhibit technical efficiency among banks. Practical implications – Banks are advised to invest in value-adding emerging technologies and their employees so as to enhance their efficiency. The study offers insights for policymakers, practitioners and researchers in emerging markets. Originality/value – The study is premier in employing the SBM-TE to explain the in

Source: UG
Intellectual capital disclosures in Ghana: the views of stakeholders

The purpose of this paper is to assess the views of stakeholders on Intellectual Capital Disclosures (ICD) in the developing economy of Ghana. This study made use of the survey approach as the method to examine perceptions of stakeholders on ICD in Corporate Annual Reports (CARs). The data were analysed using descriptive and summary statistics. The results of the study show that decisions of stakeholders concerning firms, to some extent, do depend on Intellectual Capital (IC) information disclosed in CARs. The Human Capital (HC) disclosures are relatively more important than Structural Capital (SC) and Relational Capital (RC) disclosures. The growing importance of ICDs is partly attributable to the fact that there is the need for managements to communicate knowledge of management policies and strategies to stakeholders. There is indication that IC information is useful for decision-making purposes of Ghanaian stakeholders. The study concludes that there is little evidence to support the stakeholder and legitimacy theories in Ghanaian corporate environment. The conclusions drawn from this research were rooted on a relatively small sample. The inclusion of more stakeholders in the sample in future studies would help to pinpoint other issues that are of importance on ICD in Ghana. The study sought to raise awareness of Ghanaian stakeholders regarding ICDs. The paper contributes to the extant literature on ICD, as it provides evidence of stakeholders’ perceptions on ICD in CARs.

Source: UG
Intellectual Capital Efficiency and Risk-Taking Behaviour of Insurance Companies in Ghana

Our study focused on the link between intellectual capital efficiency (ICE) and its individual components and underwriting risk. It exam ined the effect of ICE, and structural (SCE) and human capital (HCE) efficiency on the underwriting risk of Ghanaian life and non-life insurers. It used panel data of 31 insurance firms in Ghana, of which 14 and 17 were life and non-life insurers, respectively, from 2008 to 2019. A generalized least squares estimation technique was used to examine the relationship between ICE and underwriting risk in life, non-life, and the entire insurance sector. The results suggest that there is a significant negative relationship between HCE and under writing risk in the Ghanaian insurance sector. However, there was no relationship between ICE and underwriting risk and between SCE and underwriting risk. As the first to examine ICE and risk taking behavior in any African country, our study is significant in managerial decision-making and insurance policy formulation to reduce risk in the insurance industry.

Source: UG
Intellectual Capital: Relevance in Building Sustainable Human Resource Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The development of every nation depends on the strength of her human resource capacity and the intellectual prowess of her people. This paper examines the relevance of intellectual capital in sustaining the development of the human resource capacity in sub Sahara Africa (SSA). The paper critically reviews literature on intellectual capital and knowledge identifying applications relevant to tackling the human resource capacity development challenges in SSA. It concludes that intellectual capital is an important tool for sustaining growth, and SSA countries can only gain competitive advantage by developing their human capital which is the major component of the intellectual capital debate. Furthermore, it adds to the understanding that in tackling the intellectual capital challenges in SSA there should be a strong balance and emphasis on addressing the structural capital issues in tandem with human capital development.

Source: UG
Intellectual development in adulthood: some practical lesson for facilitators of Adult Education Programmes

One of the controversies in the field of adult developmental psychology which has still not produced any final answer relates to the issue of whether our intellectual capacities decline with increasing age. It has been suggested that there is a decline in intellectual functioning with advantage age (Thornlike, Jones and Conrad, Wecluster, 1972). It has also been claimed that there is little, if any, decline in cognitive abilities with increasing age. (Schutie and Willis, 1996, Oraeas, Matarazzo, 1992). This paper critically examines the results of some of these studies, bringing out for discussion some methodological flaws inherent in each of the two approaches. The position of this paper is that although efforts so far made to provide conclusive evidence on this subject matter have not been successful, research into the adult’s cognitive abilities has thrown up a number of useful information which could be applied to enhance teaching and learning. Some of these findings have been brought out and for discussion and their implications for adult teaching and learning shown.

Source: UG
Intellectual Property Right and Scientific Research in Ghana

Science research and Innovation are key to national development especially in an era of expanding global market and the growth of knowledge based resources. In Africa, one of the underlying setbacks for our development is the slow pace of innovation and technology development. However, exploitation of the Intellectual Property Right (IPR) system presents one of the greatest opportunities for scientists and researchers to create wealth for themselves and contribute to the innovation eco-system. This paper, therefore, seeks to expose the participants to IPR creation and management with emphasis on patenting and utility models

Source: UG
Intellectual Warfare, Theory and Practice: Gates, Thornton, white World Terror Domination and the War on Afrocentricity

This article provides an analysis of attempts to conceal white culpability in the enslavement of Afrikan people, in service of white world terror domination as perpetrated by Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. and John Thornton. Thus, the white terrorist/anti-Afrikan/anti-Black integrationist imperative is examined in Gates’ “Wonders of the African World” (1999) and Thornton’s Africa and Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World, 1400-1800 (1998), and in earlier historical appropriations and subversions implemented by white terrorists of various types, with or without the assistance of their anti-Afrikan/anti-Black collaborators.

Source: UG
Intelligent enterprise: wasting, valuing andre-valuing waste electrical andelectronic equipment

The common narrative on e-waste recycling in contemporary Ghana refers to a sector thatis primarily a marginalised, ‘survival entity’ involving excess workers living in poor urbanneighbourhoods. Other narratives highlight the environmental health challenges associated withe-waste recycling management practices. In this paper, we explore how such recycling in Accra,notwithstanding the health and environmental externalities, also involves a vibrant entrepreneurialpart of the urban economy. This case-study-based article was conducted through community assetmapping and 17 key informants’ interviews. The study identiﬁed within the e-waste economy anetwork of worlds of work that intersect with both formal and international industries. Based on ourﬁndings, we propose that when properly nurtured, regularised and managed, e-waste recycling canfoster economic growth and job creation. In conclusion, we highlight three foci that can enrichtheory, practice and research, all three of which are in need of broader understandings. These fociwill also support progress towards achieving a democratic account of everyday life and workcomplexities within the informal economy in Ghana.

Source: UG
Intelligent Instrument Reader Using Computer Vision and Machine Learning

A novel algorithm using computer vision and machine learning techniques have been developed in this research and applied to automate the reading of analog meters. This approach does not rely on any prior information about the meter being read or any human intervention during the process. High-level features of the meter including the graduation values and angles are extracted using a cascade of image contour filters with a series of digit classifiers. The features are refined and used to train regression models that return the reading of the analogue meter automatically. The proposed approach was tested to read a variety of offline and live-feed images of analog pointer meters automatically without any prior information about the meters. © 2018 IEEE

Source: UG
An Intelligent Instrument Reader: Using Computer Vision and Machine Learning to Automate Meter Reading

A novel algorithm using computer vision and machine learning techniques has been developed in this research and applied to automate the reading of analog meters. This approach does not rely on any prior information about the meter being read or any human intervention during the process. High-level features of the meter, including the graduation values and angles, are extracted using a cascade of image contour filters with a series of digit classifiers. The features are refined and used to train regression models that return the reading of the analog meter automatically.

Source: UG