ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Two Storage Structures for the Storage of Sweet Potato Tuberous Roots in the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana

The storage of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is confronted with a myriad of post harvest challenges resulting in heavy losses during marketing and storage in tropical Africa. In this study two storage structures were evaluated and compared for the storage of two sweet potato varieties. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used and the roots were stored for twelve (12) weeks in both storage structures. The two storage structures improved the shelf life of sweet potato over 8 weeks. However, after 10 weeks of storage, the Purpose-Built Evaporative Cooling Barn (PBECB) stored sweet potato roots better than Modified Pit Storage Structure (MPSS). The roots stored in the PBECB showed 66% wholesomeness, 53% weevil damage, 3.8% shrinkage, 30% weight loss, 58% sprouting and 52% decay compared with 60% wholesomeness, 53% weevil damage, 4.1% shrinkage, 38% weight loss, 74% sprouting and 60% decay of roots stored in the MPSS. TIS 2 sweet potato variety stored better than Ukerewe variety in both structures. TIS 2 sweet potato stored for 3 months in the PBECB with 76% wholesomeness, 12% weight loss, 29% decay and 3.4% shrinkage

Source: UCC
Comparison of waste management practices of urban and rural basic school students in Ho and Adaklu-Anyigbe district in Ghana

Waste management practices of urban and rural basic school students in the study area were compared. Generally, the study focused on the types of refuse generated, refuse management practices, the re-use of refuse as a waste management practice, human faecal disposal practices, the use of environmental related clubs for health education and waste management as well as student-toilet ratio in urban and rural basic schools in the study area. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select 190 respondents made up of 98 urban and 92 rural students drawn from 20 schools. Both student respondents and school authorities responded to structured questionnaire on students' waste management practices. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. It was revealed that only 10% of the urban-based student respondents dispose waste to be carried by non-students while rural-based students do not enjoy the facility. In terms of toilet facilities, 28% of the urban-based respondents as against 14% of the rural-based student respondents have no access to toilet facilities in their respective schools. Finally, only 20% of the urban-based and 30% of the rural-based schools meet Ghana Education Service requirement of 50 students to one toilet seat. Based on the strength of the findings, it was recommended that in the light of the abundance of biodegradable waste materials, basic schools could adopt composting as a waste

Source: UCC
Compensation and Employees’ Intention to Quit in Selected Hotels in the Central Region: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction

The main goal of this study is to investigate the effect of compensation on the intention of employees to leave and the mediating role of work satisfaction in particular hotels in the Central Region of Ghana. Specifically, the analysis sought to define the compensation packages available at the Cape Coast and Elmina hotels, evaluate the impact of monetary compensation on the intention of employees to leave, to assess the impact of non-monetary compensation on the intention of employees to leave, and assess mediating role of work satisfaction in the relationship between compensation and job satisfaction. Also, since the examined period was only measured over one year, the result is limited to a specific time period. As previous research suggests, compensation, satisfaction and turnover intention change over time. Therefore, it was suitable to perform a similar study over several years by a longitudinal study. The study provided an overview of compensation, job satisfaction and employees’ intention to leave. Their relationships were discussed in literature, analysed and presented. Key findings were made and hence provided that avenue to conclude based on the outcome. The study found that employees of hotels were happy with majority of compensation packages provided to them by management of the hotels. The study again found that among others, providing incentives, training, allowances to employees is key to reward employees than salary and fringe benefit. The study therefore, concluded that both monetary and non-monetary compensation have negative association with employee intention to leave. However, non-monetary compensation predicted high scores than the monetary compensation.

Source: UCC
Compensation and retention of junior high school teachers’ in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality, Ghana

Although there have been a number of studies on compensation and teacher retention, Nsawam Adoagyiri district has received little attention. It is against this background that the current study focused on the compensation and retention of teachers in the district. The study adopted the quantitative approach to research. The explanatory design was also employed. From a population of 355, 285 teachers were sampled from the five circuits of the district using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire was the main data instrument. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies, means, standard deviation and regression. Findings of the study revealed that several compensation packages such as pay/salary, bonuses/allowances, job security, health and safety packages, promotions, annual leave, career advancement and conducive work conditions are available to teachers in the municipality. Also, there are some notable factors such as characteristics of the student body, teachers' work experience and background characteristics, low salary and other forms of compensation accounts, lack of school administrative support, student discipline problems, lack of decentralization in classroom decision making process and poor students’ motivation account for teacher turnover in Junior High Schools in the municipality. Furthermore, there is a positive relationship between compensation packages and teacher retention in the municipality. The study therefore recommend the need to drastically review the existing packages upwards from time to time as well as instituting measures aimed at offering career advancement opportunities to teachers both locally and internationally.

Source: UCC
Compensation Practices and Employee Performance of Some Selected Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis

The main aim of the study was to assess the form of compensation practices on employee performance amongst SMEs in Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis. The research approach chosen for this study was quantitative and both descriptive research and explanatory research design were adopted for this study. Out of 1845 employees, a sample size of 320 was randomly sampled. A self-administered questionnaire was used in the data collection. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages and regression analysis were used to analyse the objectives. The study found that both direct and indirect forms of compensation are given to workers with SMEs in the Secondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Direct compensation given to employees included bonuses, commissions, wages, salaries and advanced pay. While indirect compensation included subsidised food, medical aid, social security, fringe benefits, insurance benefits and staff meals. Again, the study found that the workers perform well, and maintain professional working relationships. It was found that, both direct and indirect compensation have a strong significant influence on SME workers’ performance. The study concluded that both direct and indirect compensation had a strong influence on SME workers’ performance in within the Secondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The study recommended that, owners and managers of the SMEs should ensure that they continuously provide improved compensation packages that are satisfying to their workers even though they were found to have a low influence on performance compare to indirect compensation packages.

Source: UCC
Compensation practices and employees’ intention to quit at the Cape Coast Polytechnic

The rate at which employees in tertiary institutions in Ghana move from one institution to another is quite high and this could be as a result of compensation packages employed by different institutions to attract competent employees. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of compensation packages on employees’ intention to quit in a tertiary institution in the Central Region, Ghana, precisely Cape Coast Polytechnic. Employing a descriptive survey design, data on the variables were collected using one hundred selfadministered valid questionnaires which were completed by academic staff of Cape Coast Polytechnic. The study was censused to ensure a fair representative of the view of each respondent. The collected data was carefully analyzed using simultaneous regression techniques, supported by structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the research questions and relationships that may exist among the variables under consideration. The results showed significant relationships between the compensation practices and employees’ intention to quit. The summary of key findings is that, there was a direct positive significant correlation between the tested dependent and independent variables (i.e., salary, incentives, allowance and fringe benefits). Recommendations were made to management and decision makers to endeavour to review compensation packages at various levels in order to earn employees’ satisfaction to help prevent high labour turnover among members of staff.

Source: UCC
Compensator-based Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy With Telecobalt Machine Using Missing Tissue Approach

ABSTRACT The present study sought to generate intensity-modulated beams with compensating filter, constructed from medium density materials, for a conventional telecobalt machine, based on dose distributions generated with a treatment planning system (TPS) performing forward planning, and cannot directly simulate a compensating filter. Bolus with varying thicknesses placed on the surface of a tissue equivalent phantom were used to achieve beam intensity modulation during treatment planning with the treatment planning system, and the treatment plans replicated on the telecobalt machine with the bolus represented with compensating filters placed at certain distances from the phantom surface. A semi-empirical equation, which could account for the influences of treatment parameters, was developed for converting a bolus thickness to a compensating filter thickness such that dose at any point within the phantom would be the same as planned. The equation was established by acquiring beam data along the beam central axis in a full scatter water phantom for various irradiation geometries with and without a compensating filter within beams from the telecobalt machine, such that the heights of water within the phantom adjusted to get the same dose as before for respective measurements. Dosimetric verification of outputs of the developed approach in a solid water phantom with calibrated Gafchromic EBT2 films were found to be comparable to those of the treatment planning system with deviations less or equal to ± 3.00% (mean of ±(2.22 ± 0.68)%). The use of the proposed approach for clinical application is recommended, and could facilitate the generation of intensity-modulated beams with limited resources using the missing tissue approach rendering encouraging results

Source: UCC
Compensator-based Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy With Telecobalt Machine Using Missing Tissue Approach

ABSTRACT The present study sought to generate intensity-modulated beams with compensating filter, constructed from medium density materials, for a conventional telecobalt machine, based on dose distributions generated with a treatment planning system (TPS) performing forward planning, and cannot directly simulate a compensating filter. Bolus with varying thicknesses placed on the surface of a tissue equivalent phantom were used to achieve beam intensity modulation during treatment planning with the treatment planning system, and the treatment plans replicated on the telecobalt machine with the bolus represented with compensating filters placed at certain distances from the phantom surface. A semi-empirical equation, which could account for the influences of treatment parameters, was developed for converting a bolus thickness to a compensating filter thickness such that dose at any point within the phantom would be the same as planned. The equation was established by acquiring beam data along the beam central axis in a full scatter water phantom for various irradiation geometries with and without a compensating filter within beams from the telecobalt machine, such that the heights of water within the phantom adjusted to get the same dose as before for respective measurements. Dosimetric verification of outputs of the developed approach in a solid water phantom with calibrated Gafchromic EBT2 films were found to be comparable to those of the treatment planning system with deviations less or equal to ± 3.00% (mean of ±(2.22 ± 0.68)%). The use of the proposed approach for clinical application is recommended, and could facilitate the generation of intensity-modulated beams with limited resources using the missing tissue approach rendering encouraging results.

Source: UCC
Compensator-based intensity modulated radiotherapy with telecobalt machine using missing tissue approach.

The present study sought to generate intensity-modulated beams with compensating filter, constructed from medium density materials, for a conventional telecobalt machine, based on dose distributions generated with a treatment planning system (TPS) performing forward planning, and cannot directly simulate a compensating filter. Bolus with varying thicknesses placed on the surface of a tissue equivalent phantom were used to achieve beam intensity modulation during treatment planning with the treatment planning system, and the treatment plans replicated on the telecobalt machine with the bolus represented with compensating filters placed at certain distances from the phantom surface. A semi-empirical equation, which could account for the influences of treatment parameters, was developed for converting a bolus thickness to a compensating filter thickness such that dose at any point within the phantom would be the same as planned. The equation was established by acquiring beam data along the beam central axis in a full scatter water phantom for various irradiation geometries with and without a compensating filter within beams from the telecobalt machine, such that the heights of water within the phantom adjusted to get the same dose as before for respective measurements. Dosimetric verification of outputs of the developed approach in a solid water phantom with calibrated Gafchromic EBT2 films were found to be comparable to those of the treatment planning system with deviations less or equal to ± 3.00% (mean of ± (2.22 ± 0.68) %). The use of the proposed approach for clinical application is recommended, and could facilitate the generation of intensity-modulated beams with limited resources using the missing tissue approach rendering encouraging results.

Source: UCC
Competence in Expanded Core Curriculum Skills: Does the Level Taught Matter to the Visually Impaired?

Educating the visually impaired requires unique consideration in which they would be provided with the tools, skills, and strategies they need to develop alternative means of obtaining information. The alternative means are compensatory access, sensory efficiency, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, independent living, social interaction, recreation and leisure career education and selfdetermination skills. The study sought to investigate the expanded core curriculum skills for students with visual impairment. It compares the level at which these skills were acquired and how they influence their competence. The researchers employed descriptive cross-sectional design for the study. 93 students with visual impairment were selected using multi-stage sampling technique from University of Cape Coast and University of Education, Winneba for the study. Frequency and percentages and ANOVA were used to analyse the data to answer the research questions and the hypothesis respectively. The results of the study indicated that majority of the students with visual impairment started the study of the expanded core curriculum skills from the basic level of education. It also became clear that those who started the learning of the expanded core curriculum at the basic level proved to be very competent. It was recommended that the Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service should intensify the teaching and learning of expanded core curriculum skills at the basic school so as to continue to impact ECC competence throughout a child’s academic life.

Source: UCC
Competencies of agricultural extension agents in the use of internet for extension delivery in the Eastern Region, Ghana

Internet has been introduced by Ministry of Food and Agriculture to improve extension delivery in Ghana. However the extent to which extension agents have acquired the knowledge and skills to use it was not known in Eastern Region. The study assessed competencies of agricultural extension agents to use Internet in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study used descriptive survey design, stratified proportional sampling technique and validated questionnaire to collect data from 217 AEAs in ten districts of Eastern Region. Statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, appropriate correlation coefficients were generated to describe or identify relationships among variables of the study. The study revealed that age, educational level, marital status, rank, location, years of experience, monthly salary, duration of use, years of using Internet, and training of AEAs relate significantly to Internet competencies of AEAs. The AEAs used the Internet for extension delivery by sending and receiving e-mails, accessing pay slips, searching for information on agriculture reading agricultural news and chatting with colleagues. The overall Internet competency of AEAs was moderate. The best predictors of Internet competencies of AEAs were training, location, duration of use, age and educational level. The study recommends among others the need for MoFA to organize in-service training on Internet since AEAs have positive attitude to use Internet but low to moderate knowledge and skills. Furthermore, specialized mobile phones and tablets that can access Internet easily should be procured for AEAs.

Source: UCC
Competencies of Staff in Hospitality Service Units in University of Cape Coast and University of Ghana

The purpose of this study was to examine the profile of staff and identify the competencies perceived to be relevant for hospitality operations, in order to ascertain human resource factors that need improvement for successful service operations. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey by recruiting staff working in various hospitality units owned and operated by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the University of Ghana (UG) to explore the required competencies and identify the potential gaps between the two universities. The convenience sampling was used to draw a total of 157 hospitality employees (response rate of 69.0%, made up 63 from UCC and 94 from UG) for the study. A survey questionnaire was designed and used to collect data for the research. The quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means of means, standard deviations, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann- Whitney U test. The findings revealed that by proportion, the majority (43.3%) were aged 26-30 years and were mostly female (71.3%). Overall, the findings indicate that the employees considered knowledge in hospitality operations as most important, followed by conceptual and human resource knowledge. In terms of skills, respondents considered “soft skills” (human resource, conceptual, social and organisational skills) as more important than “hard skills” (administrative and technical skills). For attitude, there was strong inclination towards positive attitude to work, with only three significant differences between the two universities (p< .05). It is recommended that the background of employees being engaged to run hospitality service units in public universities should be critical looked at before posting or recruiting, as well as engaging these unit staff in future training and development

Source: UCC
A Competency-Based Model for Teacher Identity

The nature of teacher education curriculum determines the quality and competence of teachers churned out into the field of practice. Teacher competence is a prerequisite for the effective implementation of any curriculum proposal. This paper develops and discusses a competency-based model for teacher identity. It discusses four levels of teachers’ professional competence, namely, professional knowledge, values, skills and reflective practice. The dimensions of each rubric or level of competence, as it relates to teachers’ professional identity are also discussed. Curricular and policy implications associated with all the dimensions of teachers’ professional competence have been highlighted. These include the need for the training and retraining of pre-teachers and in-service teachers through seminars and workshops, policies that offer teachers opportunities for continuous professional development and integrating certain aspects of learning into teacher education programmes.

Source: UCC
COMPETENCY-BASED TEACHING USING SIMULATION EXERCISES

Tertiary institutions exist to train manpower to solve local, national, and international problems. Products from such institutions should not be a problem to countries as in the case of some Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana which has a high level of graduate unemployment. Among the causes of the problem is the nature of teaching or the syllabus or the programs students pursue while in such institutions. The paper discusses one of the teaching strategies used to make a course relevant for a program and for the working world. In this course, students are introduced to practice-oriented learning through simulation exercises. The project activities specifically seek to assess the students’ understanding of business formation; examine students’ understanding of sustainability, creativity and innovation of business ideas; assess their understanding of the functional areas of business including marketing & sales, finance, human resource management, operations, and accounting, among others. Feedback from students who have participated indicates the exercise gave much more exposure and meaning to the concepts they learned in class. In this exercise, students build teams, develop a product, learn to set up a business, and design organogram, business vision, mission, and core values. The exercise empowers students to learn by doing. It accords students the opportunity to review their own knowledge and skills with respect to the concepts they have learned in the course. More than 3000 students have participated in this project since its inception in the academic year 2013/2014. It is estimated that 1000 students will participate in this project in the academic year 2017/2018.

Source: UCC