ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Achieving human potential through community learning centres in Ghana: a capabilities approach to community development

This article uses Sen’s Capabilities Approach (CA), which prioritises access and equality, to critically investigate distance education (DE) programmes in the community learning centres (CLCs) as a program that sheds light on how to best promote a community’s residents’ quality of life in Ghana. According to this study, encouraging distance learning in CLCs can have an impact on community development. To investigate how DE in CLCs aids community development, this study used a qualitative case study methodology and conducted in-depth interviews with students and service providers (n = 25) from the Greater Accra CLCs. Key emerging themes included fostering equity in the community and encouraging access and opportunity for learning through DE. Studies have demonstrated that the more active and knowledgeable individuals are, the greater their independence from families and, consequently, on the resources and services of the community. Additionally, engaged-educated people contribute to the development of their communities through their knowledge, expertise, and experience they have gained. Hence, Sen’s capability approach, which seeks to comprehend issues of access and opportunities in the community, makes the connection between studies in CLCs and community development. It is, therefore, imperative to conclude that CLCs are designed to offer learning activities for adults to promote an active lifestyle that contributes to the development of of sustainable communities

Source: UG
Achieving SDG 17 in Ghana: An Assessment of Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Initiatives by the Government

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs) have been touted by the UN as a sure way for harnessing synergy to realise the 17 Global Goals. Goal 17 aims to achieve Global Partnership. Targets 17.16 to 17.17 are specifically dedicated to MSPs. They identify, public, private and civil society partnership as a means to boost critical factors, which would equip states to achieve the goals. These include, financial resource mobilisation, technology and sharing of knowledge and expertise. Given the importance of state ownership in Agenda 2030, states are mandated to facilitate these partnerships, thus acting as conveners to provide a reliable avenue for multi-stakeholder engagements. Using a qualitative methodology to acquire primary and secondary data, this study, therefore, focused on how the Government of Ghana (GoG) is enabling MSPs within its borders. The study found that, the GoG is pursuing MSPs in a decentralised and inclusive framework. While strides have been made, there are some challenges that have to be addressed.

Source: UG
Achieving SDG 3.7: An Assessment of the Contributions of International Development Partners in Ghana

Reproductive health has always been a critical factor for all spheres of development be it social, economic and even cultural. This study highlights the contributions of international development partners, particularly the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in providing reproductive health services in Ghana. Data for the study was from primary sources mainly interviews and secondary sources including journal articles, internet sources, reports, books etc. This study sheds light on the instrumental efforts of the UNFPA in reproductive health programming in Ghana. Key findings indicate that international development partners have been instrumental in increasing awareness of reproductive health and rights issues in Ghana, additionally UNFPA has been a major supplier of contraceptives in the country as well as funded a lot of reproductive health initiatives. The study identifies some challenges encountered in the provision of these services, majority of which is low funding both locally and globally as well as requisite training for health workers. This study recommends that government carefully considers domestic resource mobilization to be able to provide these services considering dwindling donor support as well increased capacity building initiatives for health workers to be able to discharge their duties efficiently. With proper planning and management, reproductive health can be of immense benefits to nations, hence it deserves all the necessary attention.

Source: UG
Achieving sustainable development in Africa: Progress, challenges and prospects,

This study analyses the achievement of sustainable development in Africa using the qualitative paradigm. Using secondary data, the study results are taken to suggest mixed indicators for the progress of Sustainable Development in Africa. It argues that whereas most African countries have significantly made progress, over the past decade, in building strong economies, strengthening democratic institutions, improving agriculture and reducing poverty, pressing challenges such as climate change, population growth, and inadequate employment opportunities continue to undermine efforts towards sustainable development. The study recommends that African governments must deepen their commitment to designing and implementing innovative policies to create jobs, tackle climate change and improve agriculture.

Source: UG
Achieving the MDG's in Ghana: Rhetorics or reality?

The original meaning of the concept sustainability or sustainable development might in an altruistic way have referred to building societies based on a sound environmental practice. This paper shows that the structural adjustments programs (SAP), Poverty Reduction Strategies and the Millennium Development goals (MDGs) compel the Ghanian government to favour economic and fiscal sustainability. This neo-liberal policy has led to increasing inequalities, widening regional disparities, migration from rural areas to quickly grown up peri-urban areas basically within a huge informal sector, and unplanned capital formation and development at large, making claims to achieve the MDGs by 2015 illusory. A way forward for Ghana should be to gradually fence off from the world market and learn from the development efforts of the Kwame Nkrumah first independent government.

Source: UG
Achieving trachoma control in Ghana after implementing the SAFE strategy

The Ghana Health Service plans to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2010 and has implemented the SAFE strategy since 2001. The programme impact was assessed in all endemic districts. A two-stage, cluster random sample of 720 households was selected in each of 18 endemic districts in Upper West and Northern Regions. All eligible residents were examined for trachoma signs. Household environmental risk factors were assessed. In total, 74 225 persons from 12 679 households were examined. Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in 1-9 year-old children was 0.84% (95% CI 0.63-1.05, range of point estimates by district 0.14-2.81%) and prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged ≥15 years was 0.31% (95% CI 0.24-0.38, range by district 0.00-1.07%). An estimated 4950 persons have trichiasis, of whom 72.6% are aged ≥60 years and 71.4% are women. Latrines were observed in 11.6% of households and 79.2% of interview respondents reported use of an improved water source. Active trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Ghana after successful implementation of the SAFE strategy. The programme should maintain health education, advocate for improved water and sanitation and focus on providing surgery. Surveillance activities are needed to ensure sustained control.

Source: UG
Achieving university libraries user loyalty through user satisfaction: the role of service quality

This study examines the influence of library service quality dimensions (i.e. service affect, information access, library as place, and personal control) on user satisfaction, as well as user satisfaction on user loyalty. Data were drawn from 349 library users from a public university library in Ghana. The hypothesized relationships were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study revealed that, with the exception of library as place, all the service quality dimensions had a positive and significant relationship with library user satisfaction. The study further established a positive and significant relationship between user satisfaction and user loyalty. The practical implication is that the attainment of library user loyalty is possible when the management of libraries improve the level of user satisfaction with services. This study is one of the few on assessing library service quality, customer satisfaction, and user loyalty in a developing country context

Source: UG
Acid mine drainage - Effect on creeks or streams in a mining community in Ghana and treatment options

Heavy metals contamination and other physicochemical changes in underground and surface water by acid mine drainage (AMD) were determined on the impact on creeks or streams. High levels of these metals have been reported in mining areas over the years; however, investigations indicates that less monitoring has been done on water discharged as effluent for effective maintenance mechanisms to be effected. Field and laboratory studies were carried out within the mining community on Latitude S 2° 35 W and Longitude N 5° 31W to investigate the levels of heavy metals (As, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cd) and physico-chemical changes (pH, temperature, E.C, D.O, alkalinity, S042-, free CN) in both underground and surface water for seven sampling sites. Results from atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) determination indicated an average concentrations of iron (6.185 mg/l) and manganese (2.271 mg/l) in both surface and underground waters which are higher than threshold limits for mmmg effluent. The physico-chemical changes were determined using standard methods. Results also indicated higher levels of electric conductivity (1435.0μs/cm) and sulphate (344.0 mg/l). Differences in pH, temperature, E.C, alkalinity, S042-, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn levels in the seven water samples were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). This may be attributed to the higher release of metals, relative to H+. Result also showed significant impact of AMD on water quality in the mining area. This effect could be attributed to the release of metals as a result of oxidation of metal-bearing sulphides in the mine dumps and pits at the selected sampling sites. The study showed that addition of lime as a treatment option has not been effective. Hence new conventional methods such as Aerobic wetland, Compost or Anaerobic Wetland, Open Limestone Channels, Diversion wells, Anoxic Limestone Drains (ALD) etc. should be considered in the treatment of acidic water (AMD) in the mining area. © 2010 IEEE.

Source: UG
Acidification and starch behaviour during co-fermentation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and soybean (Glycine max Merr) into gari, an African fermented food

Changes in acidification and starch behaviour were investigated during co-fermentation of cassava and soybean into gari, an African fermented product. Non-volatile acidity, pH and starch content were evaluated using standard analytical methods. Starch breakdown and pasting characteristics were also analysed using a Brabender viscoamylograph. Fermentation caused significant variations in the pH, non-volatile acidity and starch concentration. The pH decreased with concomitant increases in non-volatile acidity during co-fermentation of the cassava dough. Soy fortification up to 20% caused only minimal effects on the pH, titratable acidity and starch content during the fermentation period. Starch content decreased from 69.8% to 60.4% within the 48 h fermentation time in the unfortified sample, with similar trends noted at all levels of fortification. Starch pasting characteristics showed varied trends in pasting temperature, peak viscosity, viscosity at 95_C and at 50_C-hold with increasing fermentation time and soybean concentration. Cassava could be co-fermented with soybean up to 20% concentration during gari processing without significant effect on its process and product quality characteristics.

Source: UG
Acidity and Aluminum Speciation in Biochar Amended Tropical Soils

Soil acidification in the tropics has become a more pressing issue due to its associated aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity. The chemical reactive nature of biochar can alter Al speciation in soils. The study assessed the chemical properties and Al speciation in a Ultisol and an Oxisol amended with corn cob (CC) and rice husk (RH) biochars charred at 300, 450 and 650°C in an incubation study for 120 d. pH was determined periodically while organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable base cations, exchangeable acidity, and exchangeable Al3+ were measured at the end of the incubation period. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and pH were also determined in soil solution from each treatment. Throughout the incubation period CC and RH biochars significantly increased soil pH, with CC biochar showing a greater effect. Similar effects were also observed for OC, CEC, and exchangeable base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+). Soil exchangeable Al3+ and exchangeable acidity, soluble Al and Al3+ activity in soil solution decreased significantly upon biochar application; it was more significant at the 650°C. Biochars at 300–450°C exhibited a more notable increase in soil DOC. At pH ≤ 5.8, Al-DOC and free Al3+ dominated in soil solution while at pH > 5.8, Al species was mainly Al-OH ions (i.e. Al(OH)2+, Al(OH)2 +, Al(OH)3, and Al(OH)4−). Biochars at 300–450°C promoted the large formation of Al-DOC while Al-OH ions dominated in 650°C-biochar treatments. Biochar can be used to ameliorate Al phytotoxicity in tropical acid soils, particularly at 300–450°C.

Source: UG
Acoustoelectric direct current density in fluorine doped single-walled carbon nanotubes due to harmonic mixing of bichromatic fields with commensurate frequencies

Herein, we theoretically report on the acoustoelectric direct current (ADC) generation in a non-degenerate fluorine doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (FSWCNTs), due to mixing of waves with commensurate harmonics in the hypersound regime, qℓ≫1 (where q is the acoustic wavenumber and ℓ is the carrier mean free path). The only restriction of the theory on the sound intensity was that, the interaction energy between the carrier and the acoustic phonons must be small in comparison with the characteristic carrier energy. It was observed that in this situation, the higher harmonics of the effective field of the acoustic wave can be neglected; the origin of the nonlinearity was due to the distortion of the distribution function for carriers moving in phase with the phonons, as a result of interaction with the acoustic wave; the nonlinear effects can then be very important. The ADC generated was highly nonlinear and non-ohmic and depended on the amplitude of the bichromatic fields (i.e., pump and probe field), overlapping integral for jumps (Δs and Δz), carrier concentration (no), Bloch frequency (Ω), photon frequency (ω) and acoustic phonon frequency (ωq). The strong nonlinearity and non-ohmicity of the I-V characteristic of the FSWCNTs may be associated with a number of nonlinear phenomena including the non-parabolic band relation, carrier heating due to distortion in carrier distribution function, Stark component, and Bloch oscillations of intraminiband carriers. It was possible to alter the magnitude and direction of the rectified ADC by adjusting the phase of the fields, and the generation of ADC corresponded to even instability zones in the FSWCNTs. Thus, based on the high ADC obtained, we propose FSWCNTs for ADC generation under bichromatic fields with commensurate harmonics.

Source: UG
Acquisition of antibody isotypes against Plasmodium falciparum blood stage antigens in a birth cohort

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Acquisition of IGG to ICAM-1-Binding DBLΒ Domains in the plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 antigen family varies between groups A, B, and C

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
Acquisitions and collection development education in Ghana

This paper provides an evaluation of education and training for library collection development in Ghana. It presents a brief history of education in Ghana with particular reference to library education. The program of the Department of Library and Archival Studies at the University of Ghana is discussed with regard to course levels and course structure. The syllabus for the course in acquisi- tions/collection development is also discussed, and various problems faced by teachers and students of this course are highlighted. It is concluded that although students find the course interesting and valuable, problems such as lack of audi- ovisual materials for teaching and inadequate reading materials for the students must be solved in order to increase the usefulness of the course.

Source: UG
“Acting together”: How Non-State Actors shape migration policies in West Africa

The MIASA Working Paper series serves to disseminate the research results of work in progress prior to publication in order to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. The series aims to publish research findings from the work of the MIASA Interdisciplinary Fellow Groups (IFGs) and other MIASA fellows in an open-access manner. Inclusion of a paper in the MIASA Working Paper Series does not constitute publication and should not limit publication in any other venue. Copyright remains with the authors

Source: UG
Action Nominalization in Lɛtɛ (Leteh)

The primary aim of this paper is to describe the process of action nominalization as it operates in Lɛtɛ. It will furteh explore morphosyntactic properties that the action noun shares with a prototypical Lɛtɛ noun phrase. ‘An action nominalization refers to an action, usually in the abstract expressed by the verb root’ (Payne 1997: 224). Generally, the phenomenon can be formulated as: V→NACTION designated by V (Payne 1997: 224). Languages of the world employ one or more mechanisms for deriving action nouns from action verbs ‘meaning the act of that verb (Comrie and Thompson 2007: 335). Leteh uses two strategies in deriving action nouns from action verbs. One mechanism involves a tonal change; usually, underlying high tones become low, and underlying low tones become high. It has been established that the underlying tonal pattern of the Leteh verb root is that of the imperative form (Akrofi Ansah 2009). Secondly, an action noun may be formed from a verb phrase consisting of an action verb and its object by reversing the order of the verb and the object. Transitive and intransitive verbs may undergo action nominalization. The derived noun possesses some morphosyntactic properties of a prototypical noun phrase. For example, it can be focused and also function as object NP in a transitive clause. The paper makes a contribution to our knowledge of some nominalization strategies that related languages like Akan (Appah 2005) and Leteh share.

Source: UG
Action research on alternative land tenure arrangements in Wenchi, Ghana: learning from ambiguous social dynamics and self-organized institutional innovation

This study reports on action research efforts that were aimed at developing institutional arrangements beneficial for soil fertility improvement. Three stages of action research are described and analyzed. We initially began by bringing stakeholders together in a platform to engage in a collaborative design of new arrangements. However, this effort was stymied mainly because conditions conducive for learning and negotiation were lacking. We then proceeded to support experimentation with alternative arrangements initiated by individual landowners and migrant farmers. The implementation of these arrangements too ran into difficulties due to intra-family dynamics and ambiguities regarding land tenure. Further investigations to find out how ambiguities could be tackled revealed that the local actors themselves had taken initiatives towards developing institutional innovations to reduce ambiguities. However, there is still considerable scope for further development of these self-organized innovations. The article ends with a reflection on inter-disciplinary action research, where it is argued that making “mistakes” is an inherent and necessary characteristic in action research that aims to address complex social issues.

Source: UG
Actions in global nutrition initiatives to promote sustainable healthy diets

Multiple recent global nutrition initiatives have recommended actions to transform food systems to improve food environments and food choice. This study aimed to identify actions recommended by these initiatives and un derstand their similarities and differences. Twelve global nutrition initiatives were reviewed, collectively spanning 13 action themes and accompanying strategies. Action themes were analyzed according to primary focus on either food environments and their food system drivers or food choice. Representation of the 13 actions varied across initiatives. Some actions overlapped; others were infrequently represented. Strategies targeting food environments and their food system drivers were more frequently recommended than strategies targeting food choice for 11 of the 13 action themes. Although these global initiatives share a mission to improve nutrition through food systems and food environments, less attention has been allocated to individual food choice and sustainability.

Source: UG
Activated cashew carbon-manganese oxide based electrodes for supercapacitor applications

The current global energy challenge which affects most developing countries in particular, is of major source of concern today. The availability of less expensive techniques of storing excess generated energy is critical to the success of the renewable energy roadmaps implementation. In this study, hydrothermal and chemical leaching methods have been used to synthesize MnO2 nanoparticles using KMnO4 and MnSO4 as precursors at 140 °C and from natural local manganese ore. Activated Carbon (ACF) have also been produced from agricultural Cashew biomass waste, through a physical carbonization and KOH activation process using temperatures of 700 °C – 900 °C for periods between 1 and 2 h. The as-prepared materials have been characterized via XRD, Raman, FTIR, SEM. Electrochemical performance measurements (CV, EIS and GCD) were carried out on the prepared electrodes. The specific capacitance values obtained were in the range of 2.8 F/g - 6.5 F/g at different scan rates of 20 mV -50 mV respectively in a potential range of -0.4 to +0.4 V and -0.4 to +0.6 V for the various types of electrodes

Source: UG