ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES OF HEADS OF WESLEY GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL AND ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE IN CAPE COAST

The study presents a case study on the use of rhetoric in anniversary speeches of heads of Wesley Girls’ Senior High School and St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, using Halliday and Matthiessen (2004) model of transitivity and Bhatia’s (1993) genre theory. The results show that anniversary speeches of heads of public Senior High Schools have a six- move structure, with moves two and three used by the schools to persuade audience and promote the schools. It was also found that the schools used the material processes to show the audience that they are working institutions, by indicating what they have achieved, what they are doing and what they will do. This representation of the schools through the transitivity concept and the move analysis promoted the schools. The study has implications for further research on the anniversary speeches of heads of public Senior High Schools in Ghana

Source: UCC
Rhetorical analysis of introductions in an undergraduate English studies course

Recent discourse analytical studies have highlighted the importance of rhetorical moves in student writing. In this paper, I explore the rhetoric of introductions of examination essays written by second-year English students in a Ghanaian university. Drawing on a modified version of Swales’ move analysis, I consider the generic structure and linguistic features of introductions. Analysis of the textual data pointed to three key findings. Firstly, the English Studies students do, in fact, introduce their essays, using a three-move rhetorical structure consisting of contextualizing, engaging closely with the examination prompt, and previewing the essay. Secondly, a two-sequence move pattern is preferred and Move 2 (engaging closely with prompt) occupies the greatest space for most students. The third finding relates to the use of personal pronouns, discourse verbs, and purpose expressions in the last move (previewing) of the introduction. These findings have important implications for both writing pedagogy and future research in the rhetoric of disciplinary writing at undergraduate level

Source: UCC
Rheumatoid arthritis among autoimmune diagnosed patients: A pilot study at Africa’s third largest hospital

Context: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Its etiology remains a generational challenge that keeps evolving with time. Epidemiological studies on this disease have been conducted in several countries around the globe. Unfortunately, little research has been done on RA in Africa. Due to this, RA is given low priority in medical research and often neglected in Africa. Aims: This pilot study aimed at estimating RA prevalence in a representative proportion of autoimmune diagnosed patients within Ghanaian population attending the rheumatology clinic of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Setting and Design: This is a pilot and cross‑sectional study conducted at the KBTH. Methods: Patients attending the rheumatology clinic of the KBTH were the subjects for this cross‑sectional study. Data acquisition involved questionnaire usage and review of medical records. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi‑square cross tabulation on SPSS 16 and frequency charts in Microsoft Excel were used to analyze outcomes. Results: Most patients (n = 153 out of 225) were diagnosed RA. These RA diagnosed patients (n = 133/87%) were often seropositive for RF. The female gender (n = 131/85.62%) was diagnosed mostly. The disease peaked among 51–60 years age group and economically active patients (n = 118/77%). Among all the ethnic groups, the Akans were the most RA diagnosed tribe (n = 78/153). Conclusion: RA is indeed a chronic disease that has its signs and symptoms not well known among patients. It exists at a high prevalence among the Ghanaian population attending the rheumatology clinic.

Source: UCC
Rice farmers’ perception of climate change and adaptation strategies in the Ketu North district, Volta region of Ghana

This study assessed rice farmers¡¯ perception of climate change and adaptation strategies towards tackling the challenges climate change poses to the rice farmers in Ketu North District, Volta Region of Ghana. The multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 340 rice farmers from six (6) farming sections and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from the respondents. The data collected from the rice farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis. The results of the study showed that majority of the rice farmers¡¯ perceived decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature. Farmers¡¯ level of adaptation was found to be relatively high with majority of the farmers using irrigation, changing crops, changing planting dates and planting short season varieties as the major adaptation measures to decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature. The binary logistic regression analysis found household size, education level, farming experience and financial support as significant predictors of the probability to adaptation to decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature respectively. Findings of the study also indicate that the major barriers to climate change adaptation by rice farmers in the district are lack of information about climate change, lack of knowledge about adaptation, lack of credits, no access to irrigation water and poor soil fertility. The study concludes that rice farmers in the district perceived changes in climate and employ adaptation strategies. And socio economic characteristics are important in determining farmers¡¯ adaptation to climate change.

Source: UCC
Rice knowledge system towards adaptation to climate change in the northern region of Ghana

Despite the crucial role of knowledge systems in effective technology development and transfer, rice knowledge system for climate change adaptation in Ghana’s Northern Region tend to be vague. The study sought to analyze rice knowledge system towards adaptation to climate change in Ghana’s Northern Region. Explanatory sequential mixed method design was used to collect data on rice adaptation technologies to climate change from 335 farmers, 38 agricultural extension agents (AEAs) and 33 researchers. Structured interview schedules, questionnaires and interview guides were used as data collection instruments. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages), inferential statistics (Correlations, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA and Ordinary Least Squares stepwise multiple regression) and thematic analysis. The study discovered a mismatch between farmers, AEAs and researchers interactions in knowledge generation, modification, transfer and use of climate change adaptation technologies. Recommended rice varieties and weedicides were not effective in adapting to floods and wild rice respectively. Climate change effect on rice production perceived by AEAs was higher than that of farmers and researchers. In conclusion, there is great disparity in the knowledge system for adaptation of rice production technologies to climate change in the Region. It is recommended that AEAs and researchers conduct informal grass-root planning sessions and field visits to interact with farmers and assess the effectiveness of adaptable technologies. Furthermore, plant breeders at Savannah Agricultural Research Institute and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research should develop rice varieties that are resistant to floods and the pest wild rice.

Source: UCC
Rising Above Misinformation or Fake News in Africa: Another Strategy to Control COVID-19 Spread

Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic is gradually gaining much popularity and amplifying the threat facing humanity about the continuous spread of the virus regardless of one’s location. Although some of the influx of these falsehoods may be harmless, others might pose a serious threat by misleading the general population to depend on unjustified and/unsubstantiated claims for protection and show preference for them against scientifically proven guidelines. This paper provides a clear understanding on some COVID-19 misinformation, the inherent implications this poses to public health in Africa and highlights the potential strategies to curb this trend.

Source: UCC
The rising horizon: A post-colonial reading of Ayikewi Armah's osiris rising and :in the house of life

This thesis sets out to investigate how Ayi Kwei Armah, as a post-colonial African writer, in Osiris Rising and KMT: In the house of life re-tells the history of Africa as a way of “writing back” to assert the African Identity as his way of responding to Hegel’s (1957) claim that Africa prior to European colonization had no civilization of note to boast of. Thus, through a study of the setting, plot and characters in the two novels, this work reveals how Armah artistically uses the Egyptian mythology of Osiris and Isis in the texts to validate his claim to a pre-colonial African civilization. The work also discusses how the two novels build on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade experience to fictionally contextualize the Pan-African renaissance; an artistic move that results in a physical, cultural and intellectual re-unification of Africans living on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the African diaspora. In view of this, the study suggests to all Africans not to, in the era of globalization, idealize their common past but critically engage it, rise up and embrace the hybrid nature of their post-colonial cultures and in the light of lessons learnt from it, work together as a people with a common destiny to guard against a further erosion of their cultural values and identity.

Source: UCC
Risk and Operational Performance: Evidence from the Sachet Water Supply Chain in Ghana

Actors in Ghana’s sachet water supply chain are constrained by numerous risks factors from functioning properly. The study recognises the need to investigate the risks faced by actors in the sachet water supply chain and its impact on their Operational performance. Underpinned by constraints and theory, the study adopted the positivism paradigm, quantitative approach and explanatory research design due to their relevance to the research objectives. The simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of three hundred and seventy (370) actors in the sachet water supply chain from the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered which yielded a response rate of 74.32%, (275), reliable data set which was processed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Descriptive tools such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations and inferential tools like correlation and regression, the study found variations in risks’ probability, impact and threshold in sachet water supply chain. Also, financial (p = 0.006), supply-related (p = 0.001), managerial and operational (p = 0.005) and Logistics and infrastructural risks (p = 0.022) significantly affected operational performance, whiles on the contrary political (p = 0.710) and demand-related (p = 0.410) risks did not affect significantly operational performance. The study, therefore recommended that, actors in the sachet water supply chain are to consistently identify and quantify risks thresholds/impact frequently as this will aid in developing prompt actions to mitigate the high-level risk sources whiles monitoring and developing contingency plans for the medium-level risk sources.

Source: UCC
Risk Contribution: Around the World Cancer and Non-Cancer Risk Assessment from Exposure to Arsenic, Copper, and Cadmium in Borehole, Tap, and Surface Water in the Obuasi Municipality, Ghana

Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment from exposure to s, Cd, and Cu by resident adults and children from different ater sources in Obuasi Municipality, Ghana, were measured in this study in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection agency’s (USEPA’s) Human Health Risk assessment guidelines. The results of cancer health risk for resident adults in Obuasi exposed to s in their tap ater for both Central Tendency Exposure (CTE) and Reasonable Maximum Exposure (RME) parameters, respectively, are 6.6 ×10−4 and 5.5 ×10−6. For resident children in Odumasi, e obtained 4.7×10−1(CTE) and 6.7×10−1(RME). The results of the study obtained in most cases were found to exceed the USEPA’s acceptable cancer risk range of 1×10−6 to 1×10−4 (i.e., 1 case of cancer out of 1,000,000 people to 1 case of cancer out of 10,000 people). Similarly, the results of the non-cancer human health risk for both resident adults and children were also found in most cases to be greater than the USEPA’s acceptable non-cancer human health hazard index of 1

Source: UCC
Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes Mellitus among Adults in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM), one of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is increasingly becoming an important public health concern. This study examined the prevalence, control and risk factors associated with DM2 among adults in the Hohoe Municipality. Methods: This was a hospital-based case control study that involved 70 cases and 140 controls Data was collected using a face-to-face interview with structured questionnaires. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and anthropometric indices were measured with appropriate instruments following standard procedures. Differences in means were determined using t-test. The Chi-square test and the conditional logistic regression model were used to determine association and the strength of the association between independent categorical variables and DM2 respectively. Results: Uncontrolled diabetes among cases was 78.6%. Prevalence of hypertension among cases was higher (64.3%) than in controls (60.0%). Adults with overweight and obesity were 13.03 and 12.81 times more likely to develop diabetes (AOR=13.02, p=0.011) and (AOR=12.81, p=0.015) respectively. Civil servants were 0.15 times less likely to have diabetes (AOR=0.15, 0.048). Adults who recently tested their blood glucose, or current/ex-smokers were 12.03 and 12.88 times more likely to develop diabetes (OR=12.03, p<0.001) and (OR=12.88, p=0.037) respectively. Conclusion: One out of 5 diabetics could not control their blood glucose levels. Six out of 10 diabetics had hypertension. Recent testing of blood sugar, overweight and obesity, smoking and occupation were factors found to be associated with diabetes in the Hohoe Municipality.

Source: UCC
Risk factors for dysmenorrhea among Ghanaian undergraduate students

Background: Menstrual pain is one of the common gynaecological presentations of women of reproductive age to health care physicians. In Ghana, there exist a paucity of research on the risk factors of dysmenorrhea among older females. Objectives: Very few studies in Ghana have addressed the risk factors for severe dysmenorrhea among University students. This study aims to identify the common risk factors and associated symptoms of menstrual pain which have been previously not caught the attention of researchers in Ghana. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving to two hundred female undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana. Data collected and analysed using standardized and acceptable statistical tools. Verbal multidimensional scoring system for assessment of dysmenorrhoea severity was used in this study to assess the severity of dysmenorrhoea Results: More than half (57.3%) of the respondents having pain beginning within the first two days of their menses. The common risk factors that predicted severity of dysmenorrhea (p<0.05) were quantity of menstrual flow and family history of menstrual pain. The common symptoms that accompanied dysmenorrhea were tiredness, loss of appetite, backache, dizziness, diarrhoea and mood changes (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea is a serious public health problem which can be incapacitating. We advocate for more attention to reduce the burden of its negative consequences.

Source: UCC
Risk factors for meningococcal meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the meningitis belt of sub- Saharan Africa where it occurs in epidemics every 8- 12 years. Risk factors for the disease in this setting remain largely unknown. We carried out a case-control study to investigate possible risk factors among survivors of a meningitis epidemic occurring in 1997 in northern Ghana. A structured questionnaire on socio-economic factors, housing and household overcrowding, smoking and exposure to smoke and close contact with a case was administered to 505 of the survivors and 505 of age-, sex- and location-matched controls. Cooking in kitchens with firewood stoves (OR 9.00, CI 1.25-395) and sharing a bedroom with a case (OR 2.18 CI 1.43-3.4) were found to be risk factors for disease. Socio-economic factors, overcrowding, smoking and passive exposure to tobacco smoke were not found to be risk factors. Exposure to smoke from cooking fires or close contact with a case puts people at risk of contracting meningococcal meningitis. In the hot dry months, exposure to smoke from cooking fires should be minimized by encouraging alternatives to cooking over wood fires, or cooking outside. If wood-burning stoves cannot be avoided, kitchens should be made larger with improved ventilation. Meningitis cases should be nursed in well-ventilated rooms and the number of people sharing a room with a case kept at a minimum.

Source: UCC
Risk factors for pregnancy among adolescent girls in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem municipality of Ghana

Pregnancy among adolescents has become a major issue in Ghana with high prevalence in some regions in the country, including the Central Region. Using a 1:1 matched case-control study design, this study sought to find out the risk factors associated with pregnancy among adolescent girls in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality (KEEA) Municipality. A sample size of 400 was taken from the population of 7,667 female adolescents. Facility-based sampling was used to sample respondents for the study. Analysis was done by employing binary logistic regression. The results were interpreted using odds ratio and p-values. Results of the study showed that adolescents’ level of education (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.05 – 0.42], p = 0.000), mothers’ level of education (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = [0.11 – 0.62], p = 0.002) and fathers’ level of education (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = [0.15 – 0.47], p = 0.001), level of strictness of rules and regulations in family (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.07 – 0.25], p = 0.000), freedom within the family to discuss issues related to sexuality (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = [0.18 –0.59], p = 0.000), peer influence to engage in sexual intercourse (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = [1.46-4.74], p = .001) and attitude of parents towards pregnancy (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = [1.15-7.70], p = .025) had statistically significant influence on adolescents’ pregnancy in KEEA Municipality. Adolescent girls in KEEA Municipality are likely to experience continuous exposure to the risk of pregnancy once their level of education and that of their parents is low. It is recommended that the Ghana Education Service, through the Municipality Education Unit should encourage adolescent girls in KEEA Municipality to enrol in schools.

Source: UCC
The Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Stroke Patients

Background the metabolic syndrome has known as an independent risk factor of stroke. The occurrence of this syndrome is due to genetic factors and lifestyle.Methods:224 stroke patients were evaluated for this study. This was a cross-sectional study of stroke patients from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Adult enrolees were eligible for inclusion. Other criteria for inclusion were patients with stroke within twenty-four hours of onset without any medication. Fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and blood pressure were measured. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and WHO guidelines were used to determine the stroke patients. Results: Based on the NCEP criteria 46.88%were classified to have metabolic syndrome, while the WHO criteria gave 10.27% of the stroke patients to have metabolic syndrome. Beside of metabolic syndrome, prevalence of metabolic syndrome components was significantly higher in stroke patients Conclusion: Stroke patients have all the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. The general population should also be educated for primary prevention measures for all age groups and both genders.

Source: UCC
Risk Management as a Conduit of Effective Corporate Governance and Financial Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises

Previous attempts to measure the quality of corporate governance tend to focus on inputs of governance such as the separation of the CEO and the chairman’s roles and the composition of boards, largely based on the agency theory. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which risk management can be incorporated into the corporate governance framework on the backdrop of stewardship theory. After reviewing some of the key issues from literature, the paper demonstrates how relevant risk management practices are to the governance of the SME sector. It also made clear that both corporate governance and risk management have a positive relationship with financial performance. In the end, it advocates for the need for both practitioners and researchers to pay attention to issues of risk management when analyzing the extent to which corporate governance principles are being adhered to by business organizations

Source: UCC
Risk Management, Internal Audit Effectiveness and Performance of Ghanaian Universities: Views of University of Cape Coast Accounting Students

This research evaluated University accounting student’s perception of the risk management and performance of Ghanaian universities and the moderating role of internal audit practices with the focus on the University of Cape Coast. The study employed the explanatory research design to achieve the aim and the objectives of the research objectives. A population of 1200 students was used from the Department of Accounting where 291 students were chosen as the sample size of the study. However, out of the 291, 152 students accepted the invitation to participate in the research. Data were collected with a questionnaire and processed and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. According to the study findings, the University of Cape Coast ensures good risk management and internal audit effectiveness. Also, risk management (reputational and operational risk) showed a positive significant influence on performance (quality of service) of the university. Likewise, the moderating factor (internal audit) showed a positive influence on the performance (quality of service) of the university. The study, therefore, suggests that Ghanaian public universities should stress the need for risk management, incorporate them in their strategic plan and make it priority in their decision-making. This will help them to stay competitive in the African continent and the world at large. Also, this study will contribute to and help encourage the practice of sound internal audit to help reduce the risk exposed to the university and improve their performance at large.

Source: UCC