ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A multi-criteria decision support system for management of coastal lagoons in Ghana – a case study of the Fosu lagoon, Cape coast

A Decision Support System (DSS) tool as an analytical advancement of multiple indicators was adapted to give a synoptic yet holistic view of issues confronting coastal lagoons in Ghana for decision making. This study developed and demonstrated multi-criteria effects of a DSS on a heavily pressured urban coastal lagoon, Fosu lagoon in the Central Region of Ghana, from November 2016 to December 2017. The study involved a review of selected in situ records and analysis of water and sediment parameters; spectrophotometric analyses of limiting nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and heavy metals; biotic assessments of the size classes of the dominant Sarotherodon melanotheron, avifaunal biodiversity, and bacterial counts; and remote sensing of land-use patterns using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. A review of relevant regulations and an institutional network analysis in support of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Ghana were done. Up to 19% of migratory birds were encountered. The resident African darter, Anhinga rufa, constituted the top piscivorous birds. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) analysis of watershed identified major point sources of pollution and 17% of human encroachment within the regulatory 30m buffer width. Infographic outputs showed ecological health state increased from about 33% to 74% and 78% on addressing priority areas of sustainable resource use and water quality restoration, respectively. It is recommended that a designated policy on Coastal Zone Management should focus on ecological health, with lead organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Coastal Development Authority (CODA) tasked to coordinate collaborative and intersectoral management.

Source: UCC
Multi-Informant Perspective on Psychological Distress among Ghanaian Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the Context of HIV/AIDS

There is little knowledge about the psychosocial distress of children affected by human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ghana, to aid the planning of services. This study investigated mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS, compared with control groups of children orphaned by other causes, and non-orphans. Method. The study employed a cross-sectional survey that interviewed 291 children and their caregivers. Both children and caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire that measured children’s psychosocial wellbeing. Verbal autopsy was used to identify whether children lost one or both parents from AIDS. Results. The results indicated that controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors, both children’s self-reports and caregivers’ reports indicate that both children living with HIV/AIDS-infected caregivers and children orphaned by AIDS were at heightened risk for mental health problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non-orphans. The findings further indicated that a significant proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children exhibited symptoms for depression and other psychiatric disorders (approximately 63%) compared with 7% among the non-orphaned group. Caregivers gave higher ratings for children on externalizing problems and lower on internalizing problems, and vice versa when the children’s self-reports were analysed. Conclusions. The findings suggest that both children and their informants have diverse yet complementary perspectives on psychological outcomes. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and urgently calls for necessary intervention programmes that target all children affected by HIV/AIDS to effectively alleviate psychological distress and enhance the mental health of these children.

Source: UCC
Multi-informant perspective on psychological distress among Ghanaian orphans and vulnerable children within the context of HIV/AIDS

Background. There is little knowledge about the psychosocial distress of children affected by human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ghana, to aid the planning of services. This study investigated mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS, compared with control groups of children orphaned by other causes, and non-orphans. Method. The study employed a cross-sectional survey that interviewed 291 children and their caregivers. Both children and caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire that measured children’s psychosocial wellbeing. Verbal autopsy was used to identify whether children lost one or both parents from AIDS. Results. The results indicated that controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors, both children’s self-reports and caregivers’ reports indicate that both children living with HIV/AIDS-infected caregivers and children orphaned by AIDS were at heightened risk for mental health problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non-orphans. The findings further indicated that a significant proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children exhibited symptoms for depression and other psychiatric disorders (approximately 63%) compared with 7% among the non-orphaned group. Caregivers gave higher ratings for children on externalizing problems and lower on internalizing problems, and vice versa when the children’s self-reports were analysed. Conclusions. The findings suggest that both children and their informants have diverse yet complementary perspectives on psychological outcomes. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and urgently calls for necessary intervention programmes that target all children affected by HIV/AIDS to effectively alleviate psychological distress and enhance the mental health of these children.

Source: UCC
Multi-Scale Analysis Of The Relationship Between Commodity Prices And Macroeconomic Fundamentals In Sub-Saharan Africa

This thesis explored the multiscale relationship between commodity prices (oil, gold, and cocoa) and macroeconomic fundamentals (inflation and exchange rate), focusing on predictability, systemic risk, information flow, and contagion. These issues are important to global investors seeking to reduce risk and maximise investment returns, as well as to policymakers who must craft appropriate policy responses even in the midst of financial turmoil. Multiscale relationships are assessed using a cross-quantilogram, complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMDAN), transfer entropy, and Barunik and Krehlik (BK18) spillover index. These techniques are robust to weaknesses in methods like vector autoregressive (VAR) and generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) used in the prior literature. The results show that commodity prices have an inconsistent prediction pattern for inflation but are more successful at the extreme quantiles than the medium ones. Systemic risk from commodities reaches different countries at different times but is higher at the upper quantiles. Also, it was observed that the information flow between commodity prices and exchange rates is asymmetric and is both time- and frequency-dependent. Again, it was revealed that, while oil and cocoa are net transmitters of spillovers, commodity exporting countries' exchange rates dominate spillover propagation. The results also show that countries differ in their responses to spillover, which are both time- and frequency-varying. It was recommended that inflation and exchange rate policies be country-specific. Again, hedging and diversification strategies should be quantile dependent, frequency-dependent, and time-varying.

Source: UCC
Multidimensional Hardy-type inequalities with general kernels

Some new multidimensional Hardy-type inequalities involving arithmetic mean operators with general positive kernels are derived. Our approach is mainly to use a convexity argument and the results obtained improve some known results in the literature and, in particular, some recent results in [S. Kaijser, L. Nikolova, L.-E. Persson, A. Wedestig, Hardy type inequalities via convexity, Math. Inequal. Appl. 8 (3) (2005) 403–417] are generalized and complemented

Source: UCC
A multifunctional bioconjugate module for versatile photoaffinity labeling and click chemistry of RNA

A multifunctional reagent based on a coumarin scaffold was developed for derivatization of naive RNA. The alkylating agent N3BC [7-azido-4-(bromomethyl)coumarin], obtained by Pechmann condensation, is selective for uridine. N3BC and its RNA conjugates are pre-fluorophores which permits controlled modular and stepwise RNA derivatization. The success of RNA alkylation by N3BC can be monitored by photolysis of the azido moiety, which generates a coumarin fluorophore that can be excited with UV light of 320 nm. The azidocoumarinmodified RNA can be flexibly employed in structure-function studies. Versatile applications include direct use in photo-crosslinking studies to cognate proteins, as demonstrated with tRNA and RNA fragments from the MS2 phage and the HIV genome. Alternatively, the azide function can be used for further derivatization by click-chemistry. This allows e.g., the introduction of an additional fluorophore for excitation with visible light

Source: UCC
Multilevel analysis of factors accounting for Mathematics achievement of students in timss 2011: A comparison of ghana and singapore

The study sought to investigate the impact of student- and classroom/schoollevel factors on eighth-grade math achievement in Ghanaian and Singaporean students. Three research questions guided the study. A comparative research design was adopted. The data was obtained from 7323 students nested within 161 schools in Ghana and 5251 students nested within 129 schools in Singapore who participated in the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). A school questionnaire, teacher questionnaire, student questionnaire, and the TIMSS math achievement test were used to collect data. Hierarchical Linear Modelling was used to analyse the data. The study showed that 40.71% and 43.49% of the total variance in math achievement were accounted for by school-level differences in Ghana and Singapore, respectively. Meanwhile, the results showed that student-level differences contributed to 59.29% and 56.51% of the total achievement of Ghanaian and Singaporean students, respectively. The results also showed that in both countries, the math achievement of eighth grade students was largely influenced by student-level characteristics. At the student level, the results showed that students' like for learning math and confidence in doing math were the strongest contributors to the math achievement of the Ghanaian and Singaporean students, respectively. At the school level, school discipline and safety, as well as school emphasis on academic success, were the most influential factors on Ghanaian and Singaporean students' mathematics achievement, respectively. This study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service critically look at students‘ characteristics, which can be developed both at the classroom and school levels, for improvement in their mathematics achievement.

Source: UCC
A Multilevel and Survival Analysis of the Ecological Factors Associated with Under-five Mortality in Ghana

Under-five mortality continues to be a major public health challenge in many sub-Saharan African countries. To assist Ghana in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal three target two of eliminating preventable infant and under-five mortality, a thorough understanding of the risk factors for death in children under five is critical for guiding targeted interventions. This study examines the ecological factors (environmental and social) associated with under-five mortality in Ghana. The study adopted the positivist research philosophy using quantitative methods to model data from four rounds of Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, Demographic and Health Survey Geospatial Covariates and Land Cover Climate Change Initiative datasets. Cox proportional hazard and multilevel logistic regression techniques were used to quantify the associations between the ecological factors and under-five mortality in Ghana, accounting for important confounders. The analysis covered 12460 (1998 GDHS= 3298 2003 GDHS = 3611, 2008 GDHS = 2742, and 2014 GDHS = 2809) children aged 0 to 59 months for whom information on survival status and complete data on other selected variables were available. The results show that the probability of dying was significantly lower for children sampled from 1998, 2003, and 2008 GDHS when compared to those surveyed in the 2014 GDHS. The results suggested that temperature, annual rainfall, and malaria incidence were significantly associated with under-five mortality regarding the ecological factors.

Source: UCC
Multimedia Instruction and Students Learning at Basic Schools for the Deaf in Eastern Region, Ghana

Impact of multimedia instruction in various educational settings has been documented globally. However, very little has been done within the context of special education in the developing countries, precisely Ghana. This research presents findings on multimedia instruction and its effects on students learning at Basic Schools for the Deaf in Eastern Region, Ghana. Three Basic schools for the deaf were analyzed in a descriptive design through a questionnaire with 104 participants from the schools sampled from a population of 142 teachers. Finding from the research revealed that teachers have positive attitude toward multimedia instruction and the use of multimedia increases the quality of students learning. However, 91.2% of the respondents do not integrate multimedia instruction in their teaching and that availability of Computer Laboratories has no significant influence on multimedia instruction because the labs were not well resourced hence, teachers prefer to have multimedia instruction in their classrooms although the classrooms do not have sufficient multimedia technologies to support multimedia instruction. Other barriers identified were a lack of school policy on use of IT, and lack of training showed that the basic school for the deaf were under resourced and thus teachers face challenges integrating multimedia instruction into their teaching. The study recommends an IT Policy in the schools for the Deaf and in general for the Special Needs Schools in Ghana with focus towards equipping each classroom with multimedia technologies with a vision of one classroom one computer, projector or smartboard and training of teachers in multimedia instruction.

Source: UCC
Multimedia Usage and Academic Performance of Students in Physics: the Case of Adisadel college, Cape coast, ghana

The study sought to assess the use of multimedia and academic performance of students in physics in Adisadel College in the Central Region of Ghana. The purpose of the research was to compare if there is significant statistical difference between the uses of computers in teaching as compare to the traditional lecture method of teaching. The mixed methodology was employed. Scores on Achievement Test 1 and Achievement Test 2 were used for pre – test and post – test where both groups were compared. Interview schedule was used to collect data from the teachers. There were also documentary analyses where the various multimedia tools were compared to the international standard which should be equivalent to four to five students per computer (ratio). The results of this investigation indicated that students can easily understand various concepts in physics and solve varied forms of problem given to them if they are taught using computers and also the use of computers has a positive impact on students’ academic performance and achievement. Therefore the use of computers and technology should be used to teach various concepts and topics in physics. More use of computers and technology by physics teachers should be employed to research into the various concepts and topics in physics so as to come out with best technological methods of teaching physics. Teachers and various curriculum designers should be educated on the benefits of using technology and computers in teaching and learning. Physics teachers should be trained efficiently by GES with software for teaching. Technology integration units should be established in regional and district education offices to relay any training and technical assistant for physics Teachers.

Source: UCC
A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of Political Cartoons in Ghana: A Focus on Ghana’s Parliamentary and Presidential Elections in 2016

Communication has, over the years, taken new trends to suit how people interact because the creation of meaning is increasingly becoming multimodal across different contexts (Ademilokun & Olateju, 2016). This study sought to investigate the ideologies of political cartoons in Ghana with Akosua, a political cartoon published in the Daily Guide, as the focus. Specifically, it explores what the artist (Akosua) projected in the (political) cartoons prior to Ghana’s December 2016 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (PPEs). The study employed a multimodal critical discourse approach (MCDA), as pioneered and championed by the works of Kress and van Leeuwen (1996, 2006), to explore the issues engraved in one hundred and fifty (150) cartoons of Akosua. This study found six (6) themes based on common issues that dominated the discourse in Ghana. Unsurprisingly, the theme of electoral process dominated since the period chosen for the study marked the peak period in the elections as several issues were published in the media that bordered on preparations and organisation toward the elections. The study revealed that some of the political actors were represented in the cartoons in a way that projected them as more appealing to win the elections over others. The study has implications for studying critical multimodal discourse analysis and political cartoons (PCs), especially, taking into consideration, the Ghanaian context.

Source: UCC
Multinational Telecommunication Companies and the International Relations of Ghana

International business has become possible because of globalisation which is the greater interdependence and interconnectedness that exist among countries and their citizens. Multinational Companies have been observed as one of the platforms to foster international relations between their countries of origin and the host country. This current study investigates the extent to which the activities of MTN and Vodafone which originate from South Africa and the United Kingdom respectively help to foster international relations between Ghana-South Africa and Ghana-United Kingdom. The study was situated within Realism theoretical framework specifically Neoclassical strand of Realism by Waltz, 1979. Using the mixed method research design for data collection and analysis, thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Quantitative data were examined using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study observes that the activities of MTN and Vodafone enhance Ghana-South Africa and Ghana-United Kingdom relations respectively. The study also observes that, MTN and Vodafone have contributed to the human resource development of the Ghanaian staff. The study recommends that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration could consider partnering with the National Communication Authority for the benefit of synergy, and come up with policies that will enhance the international collaborations between Ghana and the countries of origin of the mobile telecommunication network companies. Also, Ghana telecommunication regulations and foreign policy could be prepared with inputs from the telecommunication companies concerned.

Source: UCC
Multipatch discontinuous galerkin isogeometric analysis

Isogeometric analysis (IgA) uses the same class of basis functions for both, representing the geometry of the computational domain and approximating the solution. In practical applications, geometrical patches are used in order to get flexibility in the geometrical representation. This multi-patch representation corresponds to a decomposition of the computational domain into non-overlapping subdomains also called patches in the geometrical framework. We will present discontinuous Galerkin (dG) methods that allow for discontinuities across the subdomain (patch) boundaries. The required interface conditions are weakly imposed by the dG terms associated with the boundary of the sub-domains. The construction and the corresponding discretization error analysis of such dG multi-patch IgA schemes will be given for heterogeneous diffusion model problems in volumetric 2d and 3d domains as well as on open and closed surfaces. The theoretical results are confirmed by numerous numerical experiments which have been performed in G+SMO. The concept and the main features of the IgA library G+SMO are also described

Source: UCC
Multiple Borrowing, Over-Indebtedness and Household Consumption Expenditure in Ghana

Multiple borrowing and over-indebtedness are significant issues of the credit industry, which have attracted recent scrutiny. As a growing area of study, this thesis extends existing research from an objective perspective. The three themes addressed are: (1) the effect of institutional density on multiple borrowing, (2) the effect of loan amount on over-indebtedness, and (3) the effect of overindebtedness on household consumption expenditure. It adopts a quantitative approach using secondary data from GLSS6 and RAFiP surveys. Probit, logit and identification by heteroscedasticity estimation techniques were employed for the analyses. The results suggest that increasing the density of MFIs in rural areas may engender multiple borrowing and rural clients of FNGOs may be more likely to engage in cross-borrowing. Larger loan amounts raise the probability of over-indebtedness; however, the magnitude depends on the loan size. Over-indebtedness reduces household consumption expenditure by 20 percent, leading to a fall in living standards. Prevalence of multiple borrowing and over-indebtedness are 35 and 28.7 percent respectively. The thesis confirms existing concerns and recommends the following for stakeholders: borrowers’ financial discipline; institutions are advised to cap the critical threshold of debtburden at 15 percent; particularly, for borrowers on low incomes and share information between them to monitor rising indebtedness. The Microfinance Desk at Bank of Ghana (BOG) is advised to strengthen institutional monitoring. The Ministry of Finance could establish a Credit Advisory Bureau (CAB) in every region and the government is advised to deepen the social objective framework of credit delivery for vulnerable clients.

Source: UCC