ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Culinary Nutrition Literacy and Knowledge among Restaurant Food Production Staff in Ghana

While the ail of cooking tasty and well garnished food may be a pleasurable activity, food providers must be mindful of their role towards the wellbeing of their customers. They must, therefore, consider the nutritional aspect of the food they prepare and merge that with their culinary skills. This study assessed nutrition literacy and knowledge based on evidence from 497 food production staff in restaurants using a cross-sectional study design. It was revealed that the five leading sources of nutrition information were the internet, television, nutrition textbooks, cookbooks and the radio. The study also revealed the deficiencies in the level of culinary nutrition knowledge among the respondents. Their level of confidence in making culinary nutrition decisions was found to be generally moderate and varied significantly across the socio-demographic characteristics. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the respondents possess moderate functional literacy but high interactive and critical nutrition literacy. This suggests that not everyone proceeds in a hierarchical manner in attaining the optimal level - Critical Nutrition Literacy. It is recommended that tailored nutrition information to the respondents should take cognisance of the individual differences in their nutrition literacy skills. The language used in the dissemination of nutrition information targeting this group should also be diversified especially for the non-print sources incorporating the local dialect. Additionally, nutrition policies and interventions should be geared towards enhancing nutrition knowledge and increasing the confidence production staff in order for them to make culinary nutrition decisions for the wellbeing of their customers. Finally, this study serves as a basis for further assessment of literacy and knowledge in culinary nutrition.

Source: UCC
Cultural Adaptation of the Condom Use Self Efficacy Scale (CUSES) in Ghana

Accurate assessment of self-reports of sexual behaviours is vital to the evaluation of HIV prevention and family planning interventions. This investigation was to determine the cross-cultural suitability of the Condom Use Self Efficacy Scale (CUSES) originally developed for American adolescents and young adults by examining the structure and psychometric properties. Method: A self-administered cross-sectional survey of a convenient sample of 511 participants from a private university in Ghana with mean age 21.59 years. Result: A Principal Component Analysis with varimax rotation identified a 14 item scale with four reliable factors labelled Appropriation (Cronbach alpha = .85), Assertive (Cronbach alpha = .90), Pleasure and Intoxicant (Cronbach alpha = .83), and STDs (Cronbach alpha = .81) that altogether explained 73.72% of the total variance. The scale correlated well with a measure of condom use at past sexual encounter (r = .73), indicating evidence of construct and discriminatory validity. The factor loadings were similar to the original CUSES scale but not identical suggesting relevant cultural variations. Conclusion: The 14 item scale (CUSES-G) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing condom use self efficacy. It is culturally appropriate for use among Ghanaian youth to gauge actual condom use and to evaluate interventions meant to increase condom use. Finally, the study cautioned researchers against the use of the original CUSES without validation in African settings and contexts.

Source: UCC
Cultural Adherence, Personal Financial Behaviour and Investment Decision Making

The complexities of the global financial market have made investment decisions very critical in this fast-paced global world. As a result of these complexities, investment decisions are always affected by psychological and behavioural biases. These biases tend to affect the prices and performance of financial securities being offered for sale on the market. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of personal financial behaviour on the relationship between culture and investment decision-making. A quantitative approach was used for the study, and a systematic sampling technique was used to gather cross-sectional data from 476 respondents. The data was analysed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) technique by using SmartPLS 3 software. The analysis of the SEM proved that culture has a significant and positive impact on personal financial behaviour. It also revealed that personal financial behaviour has a positive and significant influence on investment decision-making. However, on the mediation role of personal financial behaviour on the relationship between culture and investment decision-making, only risk tolerance was found to be significant. With the exception of income, all the demographic factors which were used as moderators for the relationship between personal financial behaviour and investment decision-making were insignificant. According to the study, culture can mediate the relationship between personal financial behaviour and investment decision-making. The study recommended that government considers the individual investor’s cultural lineage when coming out with investment policies.

Source: UCC
A Cultural and Theological Study of Widowhood Rites and Their Implication for the Ghanaian Context

ABSTRACT This thesis dealt with the issues surrounding the cultural perspective of widowhood rites in the context of Christianity in Ghana. The thesis, therefore, looks at the Christian attempt to find ways of participating in widowhood rituals in the Ghanaian context. The concern or gap this thesis tries to fill is the lack of clearly structured Christian widowhood rites that is informed by the cultural context. The methodology used for this research was a sociological theory of legitimation and Theological Hermeneutics. A qualitative study was also employed in the collection and analysis of the field work and Werner Jeanrond’s theological Hermeneutical tools were adopted. It was found that it appeared most widows were very uncomfortable allowing others to witness their rites. The women were of the view that many widowhood taboos and prohibitions get confusing sometimes and difficult to observe in the traditional setup. It was also noticed that most widows end up doing both the Christian and Cultural rites and will not necessarily want to be questioned about it, but just to fulfil all obligations. In view of this, I recommended that there is a need for the Church to collaborate more with the traditional setup in dealing with the entire widowhood rites. This can be in the form of having joint meetings with influencers and traditional opinion leaders to come up with some understanding in coming up with a common harmonized system that is acceptable to both. There could also be more clear legal rights for widows in Ghana as we saw in the Athenian society which can be easily implementable, since the Ghanaian perspective at the moment, lacks clarity and sometimes making it difficult to implement

Source: UCC
Cultural congruence and unbalanced power between home and school in rural Ghana and the impact on school children

This ethnographic inquiry examines the cultural congruence between home and school in rural Ghana, exploring the cultural norms of child-rearing practices within families and the institution of schooling. The data illustrate both the agreement between home and school in regard to discipline practices and instruction in morality, while simultaneously highlighting a power differential between home and school. The authors highlight the power dynamics between home and school, and discuss the burden children bear in managing the home–school relationship in rural Ghana

Source: UCC
Cultural Origin, Green Reporting and Firm Performance of Listed Manufacturing Firms in Sub-Saharan Africa

This thesis has four empirical papers. The first two papers examine the impact of CEO and holding company cultural origins, respectively, on green reporting of listed manufacturing firms in Sub-Sahara Africa. The third and fourth papers analyze the role of cultural origins of CEOs and holding companies in the relationship between green reporting and firm performance of listed manufacturing firms in Sub-Sahara Africa. The period of the study spans from 2015 to 2021 and the study includes a total of 115 listed manufacturing firms, selected from 8 Anglophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The study employs fixed-effect panel quantile regression to achieve objectives 1&2. However, to analyze the green reporting-firm performance nexus, the study employs the Instrumental Variable-Generalized Method of Moments (IV-GMM) technique to address potential endogeneity issues. The results show that CEOs from power distance and uncertainty avoidance cultural origin have a negative impact on green reporting at the higher quantiles. In contrast, those from masculine, individualistic, and indulgent cultural backgrounds show a positive relationship. In addition, holding companies from power distance, indulgence, and uncertainty avoidance cultures exhibit a positive association with green reporting of their subsidiary companies at the higher quantiles. However, those with individualistic and Long-term orientation cultural backgrounds show a negative relationship. Furthermore, the results show that green reporting positively affects ROA and ROE. In the same vein, the relationship between green reporting and firm performance is influenced by the cultural traits of the CEO and holding company, with differing effects across different cultural dimensions. The study therefore implies that CEO and Holding company cultural origins induce green reporting in SSA. The results also imply that in SSA, manufacturing firms' green reporting induces firm performance, but its impacts vary across cultural origins. The study therefore recommends that cultural origin should be taken into consideration during CEO appointments because it influences the CEO‘s corporate decisions and affects overall firm performance. The results also highlight the need for regulators to consider the importance of the cultural disposition of people when seeking to develop a single global standard for ESGD.

Source: UCC
Culture and conflict transformation of protracted social conflicts in ghana: the case of the alavanyo-nkonya conflict

The Alavanyo--Nkonya conflict is a century old due to the failure of conflict resolution mechanisms over the years particularly, the formal court system. The protractedness has been attributed to the liberal peace mechanisms that are external to the indigenous ways of the African. This study explored the use of culture and conflict transformation mechanisms for restoring durable and sustainable peace in the Alavanyo-Nkonya case. A qualitative case study design was used involving 23 key informants purposively selected and interviewed while 30 participants were conveniently selected for five focus group discussions. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that both ethnic groups have their defined groups based on ancestry and histories that differentiate them. The two histories place the ethnic groups in the area at different times and the Alavanyo allude to the Nkonya arriving before them. The study found the conflict has transformed from a resource conflict to an ethnic conflict subsequently shifting the focus from land to deep-rooted identity-based issues and firstcomer and latecomer claims that have dominated the issues around the conflict. The mechanisms that were deployed to restore durable peace lacked context and application as they were mostly Western or hybridized with a few traditional ones which were not fully implemented. Culturally-informed, contextual and indigenous mechanisms established the longest peace period and led to some transformation of the conflict although the conflict relapsed due to inconclusive implementation of the mechanisms. The study concludes that indigenous strategies and mechanisms are sidelined and not effectively applied, therefore, requiring a conscious effort towards the use of these which need to be a sustainable part of the peace mechanisms and attempts. Nonetheless, the indigenous mechanisms have proven to be meaningful, accessible, and affordable. Deep-rooted identity issues that underlie the conflict must be considered besides the focus on land. Therefore, the National Peace Council, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the government and the traditional councils of both ethnic groups should develop comprehensive mechanisms that integrate indigenous ways and cultural practices of the parties for an effective transformation and to legitimise the culturally-informed conflict transformation processes.

Source: UCC
Culture change and organisational performance at ghana revenue authority

This study aimed at assessing the culture change and organisational performance using the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as its case study. The researcher adopted a qualitative research design where structured questionnaire was designed for the data collection. The study sampled one hundred and fifty (150) officials of Ghana Revenue Authority in the Greater Accra region. Structured questionnaires were designed and administered to the sampled officials. The statistical software programmes used to analyse the data included Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions, formally Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The study has revealed that the organisational culture at GRA is more of collectivism where both management and subordinates have a cordial relationship towards contribution to the growth of the new integrated organisation. It has been established that as a result of the integration, revenue mobilization at GRA through the adoption of a work culture where all the erstwhile agencies’ cultures are managed holistically. However, some cultural challenges encountered as a result of the integration is the evaporation of valuable operations whilst benefits programs create unpleasant feeling among workers which reduces productivity among workers and thus the organisation as a whole. The study recommends that training and workshops must be organized for all workers to educate them on the new strategies or procedures governing the organisation’s culture.

Source: UCC
CULTURE, SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

This study carried out an analysis of the rural poverty in Osun State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, headcount index and the Tobit regression model were the main tools of analysis used for this study. Data used for this study were collected from a total of one hundred and eighty rural households using a threestage random sampling technique. The study shows that the majority of the rural households are married. A majority of the heads of the plural households are older th an forty years of age and take forming as their major source of income. This study shows that rural householdshad an average monthly per capita expenditure ofNl, 600.74 which was not affordable to 45.50% of the households. With a poverty line estimated at N 1,067.00 monthly per capita expenditure, this study shows that about 33% of the rural households in the study area are poor. The major factors affecting the incidence and severity of poverty among the rural households are rural households’ major sources of occupation, monthly income, expenditure and household size. The study recommends the need for increased income generating venture among the rural households.

Source: UCC
The Curative and Prophylactic Effects of Xylopic Acid on Plasmodium berghei Infection in Mice

Efforts have been intensified to search for more effective antimalarial agents because of the observed failure of some artemisinin- based combination therapy (ACT) treatments of malaria in Ghana. Xylopic acid, a pure compound isolated from the fruits of the Xylopia aethiopica, was investigated to establish its attributable prophylactic, curative antimalarial, and antipyretic properties. The antimalarial properties were determined by employing xylopic acid (10–100 mg/kg) in ICR mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Xylopic acid exerted significant (𝑃 < 0.05) effects on P. berghei infection similar to artemether/lumefantrine, the standard drug. Furthermore, it significantly (𝑃 < 0.05) reduced the lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced fever in Sprague-Dawley rats similar to prednisolone. Xylopic acid therefore possesses prophylactic and curative antimalarial as well as antipyretic properties which makes it an ideal antimalarial agent.

Source: UCC
Current Consumption Patterns Of Energy Drinks Among University Students Of Cape Coast And Tamale

In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks has increased substantially, particularly among young people. There are possible risks and adverse effects associated with energy drink consumption that have generated concerns, especially among the youth, due to the high caffeine and sugar content of these beverages. The purpose of the study was to determine the current consumption patterns of energy drinks among university students in Cape Coast and Tamale. The study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional approach. Using a multistage sampling technique, a total sample of 754 students from the University of Cape Coast and University for Development Studies was obtained, specifically 377 students from each university. For the study, structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The prevalence of energy drink consumption was discovered to be 89% among the study participants. Storm 54% (409), Rush 33% (252) and Lucozade 32% (240) were the three most consumed energy drinks. Insomnia was the most frequently reported adverse effect (36%), while seizures were the least frequent (2%). Taste, advertising, and accessibility were identified as predictors of energy drink consumption, with taste accounting for 52% of the variation in energy drink consumption and cumulatively advertising and accessibility accounting for 27% of the variance. There was a statistically significant gender difference in energy drink consumption. t (678.4) = 15.75; p < 0.05. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in the consumption pattern of energy drinks between students of UCC and UDS t (753) = 7.926; p < 0.05.

Source: UCC
The current status of mango farming business in Ghana: a case study of mango farming in the Dangme West district

mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a crop which is assuming great economic importance in Ghana. There is limited empirical information on the current status of the mango farming business to justify the growing interest in the crop. The purpose of the study was to identify the major characteristics and the perceived constraints and prospects of the mango farming business in Ghana. based on a case study of mango farmers in the Dangme West District, it was found that mango farming business in Ghana is male dominated, and predominantly practiced as monoculture by small to medium scale holders, with Kent and keitt as the major varieties grown. The main and trustworthy sources of mango planting materials are the ministry of Food and Agriculture (moFA) and private seedling producing farms that collaborate with moFA. Fluctuating market price of the fresh fruit, pests and diseases, especially the mango fruit-flies, and inadequate funds were found as major constraints to most mango farmers. nonetheless, the mango business is perceived to have good prospects because the crop has high demand and good local and export market that can improve and, thus, with support from stakeholders, including government, NGOs and industry, the crop can become a big export produce for Ghana

Source: UCC
Current Trends in Examination Malpractices Among Senior High Schools in New Juaben Municipal Assembly, Eastern Region: Reasons and Strategies for Minimising The Menace

The study investigated the current trends of examination malpractices among senior high schools in New Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana, the persons involved, and the reasons that account for their involvement and ascertain effective strategies for curbing the menace. A descriptive survey design was used. The population of the study consisted of all senior high school teachers and students in New Juaben Municipal. Simple random sampling was used to select teachers and students for the study. A structured questionnaire was employed for data collection. The overall reliability statistic for the students’ questionnaire. The teachers’ questionnaire yielded a reliability coefficient. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that (i) obtaining questions through social media before examination is the most practiced forms of examination malpractices. Further, the results show that students, invigilators and teachers are considered as the individuals that are mostly involved in examination malpractices. Besides, (i) poor students’ attitudes towards learning, (ii) inadequate school facilities and (iii) poor teaching are the three topmost reasons that drive many persons to indulge in examination malpractice. The findings further revealed that effective teaching is the best strategy for combating examination malpractices. Also, provision of adequate facilities for teaching and learning, instant punishment to anyone who engages in examination malpractices, encouraging series of tests before final exams and rewarding honesty and excellence are the next best strategies for combating examination malpractices. Further analyses showed that gender and school type have no influence on students’ choices about the best strategies for curbing examination malpractices.

Source: UCC