ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Welfare dynamics of innovations among agricultural households in Ghana: Implication for poverty reduction

To reduce the high incidence of poverty in rural households, agricultural modernization using innovations has been pursued by governments and actors in the agricultural innovation system (AIS). This study analyzed how agricultural innovations and farmer-actor interactions in the AIS contribute to poverty outcomes among agricultural households in Ghana. Data used was the Ghana socio-economic panel survey data with 891 and 2595 observations for cocoa and maize households, respectively. The multinomial endogenous treatment effect model with instrumental variables was employed for the analysis. Adopting digital technologies in combination with other innovations, and having stronger farmer-actor interactions in the innovation system were asso ciated with non-poor outcome in maize-growing households, who were poorer compared to cocoa-growing households. Innovations that consistently increased food security in both crop systems were associated with non-poor outcomes. The findings of the study highlight the need for governments and stakeholders to prioritize agricultural digitalization, encourage the adoption of multiple innovations and focus on food security-improving interventions as strategies to addressing rural poverty reduction.

Source: UG
West Africa – Water Resources Vulnerability Using a Multidimensional Approach: Case Study of Volta Basin. Climate Vulnerability: Understanding and Addressing Threats to Essential Resources.

Changes in climatic conditions have been evident over West Africa in the past decades. Decrease in rainfall amount led to severe droughts during the 1970s and 1980s. There has been a shift of the climatic zones in a southerly direction. Consequently, most of the Volta Basin in Burkina Faso is now located in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones. As a consequence of instability in the rainfall pattern, many rivers have dried up, large tracts of land cover have been degraded, and the water table is drawing down.

Source: UG
West Africa before Europe

For thousands of years Africa has been the object of European curiosity and effort, but with results so little satisfactory to the ancients that, notwithstanding the great conquests of Rome on that continent, in spite of her overthrow of the mightiest State that ever held sway over the destinies of that land, Augustus Caesar, who reigned during the most flourishing period of the Eternal City, in his last will and testament advised the Romans never to invade Africa.

Source: UG
West Africa's Atlantic humpback dolphin (Sousa teuszii): Endemic, enigmatic and soon endangered?

Atlantic humpback dolphins (Sousa teuszii) are endemic to nearshore West African waters between Western Sahara and Angola. They are considered Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature based on restricted geographic range, low abundance and apparent decline in recent decades. We review the human activities most likely to affect the species and consider appropriate conservation actions. Bycatch (incidental capture) in gillnets is the greatest immediate threat. Deaths from entanglement have been documented in Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and the Republic of the Congo. In Namibe Province, Angola, 4.8 artisanal fishing boats and two gillnets per km were observed in some areas within 1 km of the coast and gillnets are deployed regularly inside bays used by dolphins. Other concerns include the 'marine bushmeat'- trade, habitat loss/degradation, overfishing, marine pollution, anthropogenic sound and climate change. Conservation challenges include a paucity of scientific data on the species, and widespread human poverty within most range states, resulting in high dependence on artisanal fisheries. Recommended conservation and research priorities include: (1) distribution and abundance surveys in known and potential range states, (2) bycatch monitoring programmes, (3) education/awareness schemes, and (4) protection of core areas via reduction/elimination of nearshore gillnetting.

Source: UG
The West African Commission (1938- 1939): Technical Report.

To investigate, study and report on the West African Colonies generally; the interrelationship between the Government, its officials, the traders and the natives; the status and standard of life of the native population and improvement thereof; the production of food and other materials and the increase thereof; and, in particular, certain main problems in respect of the development of agricultural, pastoral and forestry resources.

Source: UG
West African donors have high percentages of activated cytokine producing T cells that are prone to apoptosis

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
West African Ebola epidemic: lessons and a call to action

The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa is unprecedented in terms of magnitude and spread. A year after the index case had been identified in a remote village in Guinea, over 17,000 cases and 6,000 deaths were reported in Africa and beyond. Many interventions have been implemented but the outbreak rages on. This paper examines key gaps in the interventions and calls for evidence-based actions to reverse the trend and prevent future epidemics of this proportion.

Source: UG
West African Immigrants Perceptions of Advertising in General and Impact on Buying Decisions

Despite the increasing attention to African immigrants in the United States, and the pivotal role that advertising messages play in the immigrant community, examination of African immigrants’ purchasing behavior and perceptions of advertising have been overlooked by marketing scholars. The purpose of this research is to investigate West African immigrants’ perceptions of advertising in general and its impact on buying decisions. Data analyses extract five perceptual factors toward advertising in general, namely, “advertising is a pleasure and affects perceptions,” “advertising heightens vanity,” “advertising intensifies materialism,” “advertising enhances social role and image,” and “advertising is good for the economy.” With the exception of “advertising heightens vanity,” all the identified factors impact buying decisions. The overall results show that consumers rely on a broad scope of information about the impact of advertisements on standards of living and the economy. This study can be of value to marketing scholars, practitioners, and policy makers interested in the United States African immigrant community.

Source: UG
West African Islands.

The island of St. Helena was discovered in 1501 by a Portuguese explorer, who seems to be called, Indifferently, Joao de Nova Gallego, Juan de Nova Castilla, Juan de Nova, or John de Niva, according to the taste of the writer. It was then densely wooded, and it l shores abounded with seals and turtle, but he made no attempt to colonise it, and the first inhabitants of the island were some deserters, who were put on shore from a Portuguese ship, some fifteen years after its discovery These men had, in accordance with the humane custom of those good old days, been punished by mutilation, having had their noses, ears, and right hands cut off; and, so runs the story, with them was a Portuguese of –good family, named Fernandez Lopez, who, having been guilty of some misdemeanour at Bombay, had been mutilated by order of Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor, and shipped for Portugal as a prisoner. This man, not caring to face dishonour in his native country, induced the captain of the vessel to land him with the deserters; the marooned men were given some seed, cattle, and provisions, and the ship continued its voyage to Lisbon. The family of Lopez, on ascertaining his whereabouts, sent him a variety of seeds and plants and a quantity of livestock; the exiles proved industrious, and four years later, when they were all removed by the Portuguese Government, there was a good deal of land under cultivation.

Source: UG
West African Leadership

“A man known in the councils of nation, cool, and quite English, imperturbable, though apt to act with fire upon occasion."-BYRON. By men of understanding and knowledge the state (Nation) thereof shall be prolonged."- Proverbs: Chap 28. 2. IT has been a matter of serious regret, that men whose names are written in gold in the pages of the history of West Africa, have not left behind them specimens of the discourses by which their hearers were delighted and edified. Thus when our great men had fulfilled their day of public service, except perhaps men like John Mensah Sarbah, Casely Hayford, Edward Blyden, S.R.B. Attoh Ahuma and E. J. P. Brown, who have left us a fine legacy of literary - works, nothing remained to benefit their country, but the remembrance of their names and virtues. But even then where are the speeches which these aforementioned statesmen delivered during their public career on major questions of policy? Are they not buried with them? British West Africans have all along stood in need of works of this kind whereby the wisdom and methods of their eminent men could be passed on to succeeding generations. Five motives, therefore, combined to impel me to atteIl1pt the compilation of this collection of Mr. Casely Hayford's Public Speeches as follows :- (I) That it may serve as a pioneer work and an incentive to the future political student of British West Africa to undertake works of similar nature. (2) That the ornate splendour of the speeches, their homely style and their massive thought may act as an inspiration to the rising generation, and a guide to the practical statesman.

Source: UG
West African sorghum beer fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: fermentation by-products

Physicochemical quality parameters and volatile fermentation by‐products were determined in West African sour sorghum beer (pito) fermented with pure cultures of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae compared with pito prepared by traditional spontaneous fermentation. Levels of by‐products were also compared with those found in similar beer types. Similar levels of apparent extract, alcohol, pH, lactic acid and bitterness were obtained for pure culture and traditional fermentations, although differences were observed in colour and turbidity. Significant statistical differences were obtained for all of the volatile aroma compounds analysed. The pure culture approach resulted in a higher level of total volatile compounds (353 mg/L) of which higher alcohols accounted for 88%, predominately n‐propanol. The traditional approach had total volatiles of 229 mg/L with 86% higher alcohols but with iso‐amyl alcohol predominating. Ester levels were low in the pure culture beer but with a relatively high level of acetaldehyde. Fermenting pito with pure cultures yielded a product with similar physicochemical quality as traditional pito but with a suggestion of a more pronounced aroma whose impact on the overall product quality will require consumer acceptance and sensory evaluation. © 2019 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

Source: UG
West African sorghum beer fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: shelf-life and consumer acceptance

The fermentation profiles, shelf‐life and consumer acceptance of traditional West African sour sorghum beer (pito) fermented with pure commercial starter cultures of lactic acid bacteria (L. delbrueckii) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were evaluated. The beers from this ‘pure culture’ approach were compared with the spontaneous fermentation of pito wort. Lactic acid formation, pH change and extract utilisation were monitored during fermentation. Lactic acid content was used as a measure of sourness to establish the spoilage level of over‐sourness. Further, regression models relating sourness to the time the drink was kept were used to predict the shelf‐life. Consumer acceptance of the product was evaluated using a novel nine‐point hedonic scale. The pure culture and traditionally fermented beers followed similar lactic acid and fermentation profiles but strain‐specific differences were observed. Similar levels of pH, lactic acid level and extract utilisation were achieved. An improvement in shelf‐life of two days was found over traditionally fermented pito. There was no statistical difference between the two pito products for overall liking and taste. However, there was a preference for the aroma of the pure culture pito. It is suggested that the use of pure cultures will facilitate the scale‐up of pito production. © 2019 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

Source: UG
West African Stories

Lord Worseley successful expedition to the Gold Coast in 1873-4 has made everyone familiar with the River Prah. It was that river you may remember that the Ashanti army crossed at Prahsu when it first invaded the British Protectorate and it was at its mouth that Commodore Commerrell and several Officers and men were shot in the back by a party of Natives from Chama ambushed at the river Bank

Source: UG
West African Studies

Regarding a voyage on a West Coast boat, with some observations on the natural history of mariners never before published; to which is added some description of the habits and nature of the ant and other insects, to the end that the new-comer be informed concerning these things before he lands in Afrik. THERE are some people who will tell you that the labour problem is the most difficult affair that Africa presents to the student; others give the first place to the influence of civilization on native races, or to the interacting of the interests of the various white Powers on that continent, or to the successful sanitation of the said continent, or some other high-sounding thing; but I, who have an acquaintance with all these matters, and think them well enough, as intellectual exercises, yet look upon them as slight compared to the problem of the West Coast Boat.

Source: UG
West African Summer Monsoon Precipitation Variability as Represented by Reanalysis Datasets

Focusing on West Africa, a region riddled with in situ data scarcity, we evaluate the summer monsoon monthly rainfall characteristics of five global reanalysis datasets: ERA5, ERA-Interim, JRA-55, MERRA2, and NCEP-R2. Their performance in reproducing the West African monsoon (WAM) climatology, interannual variability, and long-term trends for the main monsoon months are compared to gauge-only and satellite products. We further examine their ability to reproduce teleconnections between sea surface temperatures and monsoon rainfall. All reanalyses are able to represent the average rainfall patterns and seasonal cycle; however, regional biases can be marked. ERA5, ERA-Interim, and NCEP-R2 underestimate rainfall over areas of peak rainfall, with ERA5 showing the strongest underestimation, particularly over the Guinea Highlands. The meridional northward extent of the monsoon rainband is well captured by JRA-55 and MERRA2 but is too narrow in ERA-Interim, for which rainfall stays close to the Guinea Coast. Differences in rainband displacement become particularly evident when comparing strong El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years, where all reanalyses except ERA-Interim reproduce wetter Sahelian conditions for La Niña, while overestimating dry conditions at the coast except for NCEP-R2. Precipitation trends are not coherent across reanalyses and magnitudes are generally overestimated compared to observations, with only JRA-55 and NCEP-R2 displaying the expected positive trend in the Sahel. ERA5 generally outperforms ERA-Interim, highlighting clear improvements over its predecessor. Ultimately, we find the strengths of reanalyses to strongly vary across the region

Source: UG
West-African-Monsoon-Systems-Responses-to-Global-OceanRegional-Atmosphere-Coupling

This study explores the added value (AV) of a regional Earth system model (ESM) compared to an atmosphere only regional climate model (RCM) in simulating West African monsoon (WAM) rainfall. The primary goals are to foster discussions on the suitability of coupled RCMs for WAM projections and deepen our understanding of ocean– atmosphere coupling’s influence on the WAM system. The study employs results from dynamical downscaling of the ERA-Interim reanalysis and Max Plank Institute ESM, low resolution (MPI-ESM-LR), by two RCMs, atmosphere only (REMO) and REMO coupled with Max Planck Institute Ocean Model (MPIOM) (ROM), at ;25-km horizontal resolu tion. Results show that in regions distant from coupling domain boundaries such as West Africa (WA), constraint conditions from ERA-Interim are more beneficial than coupling effects. REMO, reliant on oceanic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from observations and influenced by ERA-Interim, is biased under coupling conditions, although coupling offers potential advantages in representing heat and mass fluxes. Contrastingly, as intended, coupling improves SSTs and mon soon fluxes’ relationships under ESM-forced conditions. In this latter case, the coupling features a dipole-like spatial structure of AV, improving precipitation over the Guinea Coast but degrading precipitation over half of the Sahel. Our extensive examination of physical processes and mechanisms underpinning the WAM system supports the plausibility of AV. Additionally, we found that the monsoonal dynamics over the ocean respond to convective activity, with the Sahara– Sahel surface temperature gradient serving as the maintenance mechanism. While further efforts are needed to enhance the coupled RCM, we advocate for its use in the context of WAM rainfall forecasts and projections.

Source: UG
Wet season collection of edible wild fruits in three regions of Ghana

Edible wild fruit trees which are in fruits during the wet season were collected in three regions of Ghana. Villages and towns bordering forest reserves were targeted for the collection of edible wild fruits. Interviews, group discussions and structured questionnaires were the methods used to get information on the edible wild fruits and their locations. Sixteen accessions of edible wild fruits of which 13 were of different species were collected from the 3 Regions. Four accessions were collected from Central Region and 6 accessions each were from Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo Regions. The habit of the fruit plants was found to be mostly trees, followed by shrubs and then climbers. Most of the fruit plants were found on farmers' fields with the rest found in forests or fallow lands. The location of the fruit plants in the 3 Regions traversed latitude 05°N to 07°N and longitude 1 °W to 3°W. © 2007 Academic Journals.

Source: UG
Wetland restoration challenges and eco-volunteerism

Depending on planned behaviour theory most studies have assumed a direct effect between socio-demographics and biophilia attitudes on eco-volunteerism without considering prior eco-restoration challenges. Using the expectancy motivation theory, this study assessed the challenges eco-volunteers faced during an eco-restoration exercise within the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site (Ghana) and its effects on future eco-volunteerism. The study collected data from eco-volunteers and analysed it using a paired-sampled t-test and generalised linear model ling. Per the results, eco-volunteers face challenges including transportation difficulties, limited refreshment, inadequate equipment, and interpersonal conflict with other eco-volunteers. Ecological reasons superseded social reasons as a motivating factor for eco-volunteerism. Expectancy motivation theory influence of valence played out when the combined effect of transportation difficulties, limited refreshment, inadequate equipment, and interpersonal conflicts on social reasons negatively affected future eco-volunteerism. The study recommends that organisers of eco-restoration exercises should be more sensitive to the needs of eco-volunteers and address these challenges to help encourage future eco-volunteerism.

Source: UG
What Afrikan Names May (or May Not) Tell Us About the State of Pan-Afrikanism

Names are important to Afrikan=Black people of the continent and diaspora as, traditionally, one’s name is seen as playing a crucial role in the fulfillment (or lack thereof) of one’s life purpose. However, due to enslavement and neo-enslavement in the diaspora as well as colonialism and neo-colonialism on the continent, many Afrikan=Black people now give their children the names of their enslavers or colonial enemies. In this article, we utilize a comparative anthroponymic analysis making use of case studies from two institutions, namely, the Institute of African Studies (IAS)–University of Ghana at Legon and Abibitumi Kasa, with locations in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Accra, Ghana, in order to observe how some Afrikan=Black people adopt Eurasian names and/or reclaim Afrikan names, as well as the forms such names take. In our findings, we observe that in the case of names from Abibitumi Kasa, pulling largely from the diaspora, Afrikan=Black individuals tend to have names from all over the Afrikan world whereby the first name may be from one cultural-linguistic group while the surname is from another. There also may be a disparity whereby a preferred Afrikan=Black name may be different from one’s “legal” name, which may still be Eurasian. In the case of IAS, we find that names tend to be either from colonial enemies, a single Afrikan cultural-linguistic group, or a mixture of these two. In conclusion, we argue that these tendencies of the continent and the diaspora as represented by these two Afrikan=Black institutions may serve as a litmus test for understanding the current state of Pan-Afrikanism

Source: UG
What are the characteristics of 'sexually ready' adolescents? Exploring the sexual readiness of youth in urban poor Accra

Background: Adolescent sexual activity, especially among the urban poor, remains a challenge. Despite numerous interventions and programs to address the negative consequences arising from early and frequent sexual activity among youth in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, only slight progress has been made. A plausible explanation is that our understanding of what adolescents think about sex and about their own sexuality is poor. In that sense, examining how adolescents in urban poor communities think about their sexual readiness, and identifying characteristics associated with that sexual self-concept dimension, should deepen our understanding of this topical issue. Methods: A total of 196 male and female adolescents, ages 12 to 19, were surveyed in the 2011 RIPS Urban Health and Poverty Project in Accra, Ghana. The youth responded to three statements which determined their levels of sexual readiness. Other background characteristics were also obtained enabling the assessment of the correlates of their preparedness to engage in sex. The data were analyzed using ordered logistic regression models. Results: Overall, the majority of respondents did not consider themselves ready for sex. Multivariate analyses indicated that sexual experience, exposure to pornographic movies, gender, ethnicity and household wealth were significantly linked to their readiness for sex. Conclusion: Sexual readiness is related to sexual activity as well as other characteristics of the adolescents, suggesting the need to consider these factors in the design of programs and interventions to curb early sex. The subject of sexual readiness has to be investigated further to ensure adolescents do not identify with any negative effects of this sexual self-view.

Source: UG