ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the image of Intra-City transport (bus) terminals in Kumasi, Ghana

In this era, the phenomenon of travel distinguishes itself as an unavoidable and inescapable component of our lives. Ghana depends on road transport to cart on the average 95% of freight and 98% of passengers annually. Majority of the population travel by mass transit therefore, there is the need to see to it that daily journeys become enjoyable and not a drudgery by the provision of good travel services. This is a study conducted on the intra-city terminals in Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city and the capital of the Ashanti Region. The study was carried out because of the existing practice of people boarding commercial vehicles at unauthorised places within the city although areas have been designated for terminals. They do not use these terminals because they are repelled by the lack of facilities, poor management and poor safety measures in place. The study examined the location and management problems at the Old Tafo Lorry Park in Kumasi. It also found out how the infrastructure and services provided there affected activities at the terminal. The study also looked at the type of public transport that the population preferred and what reasons accounted for their choices. The findings showed that majority of the people who patronise the Old Tafo terminal prefer to travel by minibuses (trotro) rather than taxis and Metro Mass Transit buses. The reasons for their choice are that they want to travel with the fastest, most convenient and most affordable means of movement at any given time. The study proposed a model terminal that addressed the identified problems with solutions including the separation of activities within the terminal and the provision of basic infrastructure such as sheltered waiting areas and washrooms. These solutions are proposed with the aim of enhancing the image of the Old Tafo Lorry Park. The model can be adjusted to suit all intra-city terminals in the country.

Source: KNUST
Enhancing the food security of the rural poor; the role of the extension services: a case study of the Asunafo South District in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

The issue of food being a very important necessity in the survival of man has been firmly established by a number of international organizations such as the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization showing commitments to sustainable food security. National governments including the Government of Ghana have all demonstrated commitment to achieving food security. It is very important to note that the Agricultural extension service, a key to improving food security dates back to early days of civilization and has played a very significant role in achieving sustainable food production and supply in the world. In Ghana, investment in the agricultural extension has been one of the biggest investment decisions of the government. Yet the ability of the services to deliver has always been constrained by a number of teething problems. The main objectives of the study are to investigate how the food security of the rural farmers can be enhanced through the support of the Extension Services Department. Other objectives include the assessment of the capacity of the extension services (both public and private) in the district to play its role effectively to meet the needs of the farmers, assess the extent of access to extension services in the study district and the effectiveness and efficiency of these services to farmers and to make recommendations based on the findings of the study to address any identified bottlenecks or difficulty. The cluster, randomized and purposive sampling techniques were used to select farmers, and extension staff for interviews. The major methods of data collection were field survey, informal discussion, personal observation and desk study. Descriptive statistical techniques were used for the analysis of the data. The results of the study affirm to the fact that the role of the extension services is very important in enhancing the capacity of farmers in production, storage, processing and marketing of food produce. However the function of the extension services cannot be left in the hands of the Department of the Extension Services alone because of the teething problems that have already been identified in this study. Besides, the role of the extension services as a catalyst in enhancing the food security of the farmers in the rural areas will be meaningful only when the problems associated with the appropriate supporting services are addressed.

Source: KNUST
Enhancing the introduction of shell mould casting technique in Ghanaian practice

The increase in demand of cast goods in Ghana including some machine and engine parts, calls urgently for the development of additional and better methods other than sand casting (especially where sand casting which is about the most widely practiced in Ghana and for casting only few simple items such as corn milling plates, cannot meet the casting standards (close tolerance and good surface finish) required). As a contribution to this development the shell mould method which gives better surface finish and close tolerances than the sand casting process was developed in this project for use in Ghana. Phenol formaldehyde (PF) resole resin and calcium stearate synthesized locally from beef tallow and calcium oxide were used instead of phenol formaldehyde (PF) novolac type. This was successful for the production of the core but collapsed during the production of the main mould. The collapsed resole precoated sand was, however, utilized by reinforcing it with sodium silicate and the hot box route slightly altered to produce the main mould. A hand operated muller and a shell mould ejector mechanism were fabricated and were utilized to produce the shell core and mould which were used to cast a machine part. Among the findings, collapsed precoated sand is not a waste. It can be used again by making a shell “pattern imitator” to go with the pattern, at a maximum allowance of 10 mm from pattern surface on an “opened–top metallic table” and then ramming onto the metal pattern before drying in furnace and then stripping from the pattern surface. This can be duplicated for mass production. Binders can be developed from local sources such as cashew nut shell oil, corn, cassava, protein/peptide materials and also from gum Arabic. All these are readily available in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Enhancing the performance of small-scale enterprises through improved capitalisation and management; selected case - studies in Kumasi

The non-availability of adequate credit for small-scale enterprises is identified as an impediment to the growth and expansion of the sector. A workshop organised by the National Board of Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) and the Consultant Management Enterprises (CME) in Accra enumerated that the lack of managerial skill, adequate capital and poor credit history has made it difficult for small-scale enterprises to access institutionalised credit. These management problems formed the basis of this study which aimed at analysing the complex nature of problems associated with small-scale enterprises access to, and utilisation of, adequate financial credit. To this effect, four small-scale enterprises selected in Kumasi were studied focusing on their production processes, capital acquisition, human resource development, budgetary and accounting practices. The study showed that access to banking credit by small-scale enterprises have been hampered by bank demands for collateral securities, business plans and relatively high interest rates. This scenario, contrasts with systems operated by non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) whose operations are mostly targeted at improving the small-scale enterprises sector. However, budgeting and bookkeeping practices were found to be lacking in terms of internal transactions recording. This has existed in the face of training programmes organised by numerous small-scale enterprises support institutions. Policy implications and recommendations, therefore, targeted the strengthening and expansion of small enterprise support institutions so as to allow for the consolidation and subsequent acceleration of gains made especially in the 1990s. Small-scale enterprises were also identified as having potentials in the export markets. It is the view of the author that the adoption of the recommendations made in this report can considerably help ameliorate the hindrances confronting the full realisation of the potentials embedded in small-scale enterprises in the country.

Source: KNUST
ENHANCING THE FERTILIZER VALUE OF CATTLE MANURE USING ORGANIC RESOURCES FOR SOIL FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT: A REVIEW

The poor quality of cow dung in Ghana resulting from the opportunistic feeding mode of cattle impedes its adoption due to high quantities needed for application. This calls for nutrient optimization of cattle manure with inexpensive locally available sources of organic inputs that could enhance its quality. Though large volumes of crop residues and other agro wastes are produced on-farm, they are underutilized and mostly a nuisance. Major food crops take approximately, 44 %, 42 % and 56 % of the total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively and are found in crop residues. There is therefore the need to develop appropriate technologies for utilizing agro-wastes by transforming them into useful “resources” with potentially available plant macro and micronutrients. Common agro-wastes in Ghana include cocoa pod husk (CPH), palm kernel cake (PKC), cattle manure (CM) and poultry manure. Hence, this review sought to explore the use of crop residues and agro minerals to improve the quality of manure and consequently its fertilizer value for soil fertility improvement and increased crop yield. The review presented an assessment of resource potentials of some crop residues and local agro-mineral as a means of enhancing the quality of CM. Using published data, the review has identified that PKC, rock phosphate (RP) and CPH have high potential for improving the N, P and K contents of CM, respectively. In conclusion, it recommends the need to extensively explore the potential of other commonly available organic resource materials for their efficacy to improve the fertilizer value of cattle manure.

Source: KNUST
Enhancing the production of non-traditional exports: the case of small and medium scale industries.

The poor performance of traditional exports on the world market has necessitated the diversification of exports; especially by developing countries like Ghana in order in face the challenges of external shocks due to price instability of these exports and also to take advantage of the ever expanding market through globalisation. To this end, the Processed and Semi-processed Products (PSPs) category of Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) holds a lot of prospects for Ghana as it provides the widest variety of products and highest export earnings among the NTEs. However, the concentration of production of these exports in the hands of Small and Medium Scale Industries (SMIs) that are saddled with a myriad of problems threatens the potential benefits that can be derived from this sub-sector. With the objective of reviewing existing policies on the promotion of NTEs and SMIs, identifying the major problems as well as possible remedies, this study used a purposive sampling technique to identify 25 (twenty five) SMIs that are into the production and exports of PSPs and located in the Accra Tema Metropolis. It was deduced from various literature that achieving growth of SMIs and export of PSPs would require a conductive environment of policies, institutions and infrastructure at the national level as well as dynamism at the firm level in order to fully utilise capacity and meet export demand conditions. Employing the Internal Profile Analyses (IPA) and External Profile Analyses (EPA), the internal and external issues of SM1s and PSPs exports were examined. From the analyses, the following findings were made: to most of the SM1s surveyed, the cost of raw materials and credit are still high in the country leading to their low price competitiveness even on the local scene; a substantial proportion (28%) of firms are still operating at low capacity though output has been increasing; there is generally poor attempts at product development; and the percentage of exported output is still low (average of’ 28% ), there is low awareness on incentives for industrial production by firms because they exhibit little or no knowledge of any; there is high intra-ECOWAS trade among firms but low among other African countries; and the supporting agencies and institutions are not well resourced to fully support the industries. From the observations made, it has been recommended that the various institutions mandated to promote export and industries should be well resourced (logistically, financially and n human resource) to enable them to perform more effectively. Firms would also have to exhibit greater ingenuity in order to be more competitive on the world scene. It is thus hoped that an effective supportive environment and dynamic SMIs sub-sector will enable Ghana tap the rich potential that the export of PSPs offer.

Source: KNUST
Enhancing the reactivity of clay Pozzolona through mechanical activation

Inadequate provision of shelter in Ghana due to the over-dependence on imported clinker has rendered about 12.5% of the population homeless. This has led to the springing up of slums, increase in communicable diseases and generally a decrease in productivity. Alternative and cheaper locally manufactured materials to Portland cement clinker such as clay pozzolana can be employed to reduce the cost of construction. The study focused on improving the reactivity of four clay deposits through mechanical activation. These deposits are at Mankranso, Mfensi, Tanoso and Mankessim. Pozzolana was produced from the clays by calcining them at 800°C. They were subjected to various degrees of milling using a hammer mill, ball mill and a Raymond type ring roll mill. After chemical analysis, the activated pozzolanas were used to replace 30-50% of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and the physical properties such as standard consistence, setting times and compressive strength at various ages of curing of mortars determined. All the pozzolanas were chemically suitable with total SiO2+Fe2O3+Al2O3 oxide contents greater than 70%, the minimum required by ASTM C 618 of natural or calcined pozzolanas. The 28-day compressive strengths of blended cements containing various amounts of the pozzolanas showed that after 36 h ball milling, most of the activated pozzolanas could be used to replace 40-50% OPC. Tanoso pozzolana attained the highest strength of 35.8 MPa followed by Mfensi (30.5 MPa); Mankranso (27.7 MPa) and Mankessim (25.6 MPa) pozzolanas at 40% cement replacement. Although lower compressive strengths were obtained at 50% cement replacement relative to strengths attained at 30-40% replacement, values were mostly above the 24.1 MPa minimum as stipulated in ASTM C 595. The lowest value at 50% replacement of 23.1 MPa was attained by Mankessim pozzolana. Roll milling gave higher 28-day compressive strengths than ball milling with Tanoso pozzolana gaining the highest of 36.9 MPa compressive strength; followed by Mfensi (32.1 MPa); Mankessim (30.3 MPa) and Mankranso (29.6 MPa) at 40% replacement. The highest 28-day compressive strength at 50% replacement was attained by Tanoso pozzolana at 34.2 MPa whereas the lowest was gained by Mankessim pozzolana at 23.9 MPa. The compressive strengths attained by 36 h ball milled and roll milled pozzolanas after 90 days curing satisfied both the ASTM C 595 and EN 197-1 requirements for all the pozzolana cement mortars evaluated. Hence the activated pozzolanas can be used to replace more than the currently recommended 30% for non-activated pozzolanas. They are suitable for up to 50% of OPC replacement for most ordinary housing construction purposes.

Source: KNUST
An enquiry into vegetable gums as dye thickening agents for fabric printing in second cycle institutions in Ghana

This research has been undertaken to evaluate the suitability of local tree gums as dye-thickening agent for fabric printing in second cycle institution in Ghana. It has been specifically designed to provide the art teacher and his student with the guideline on how to acquire and use vegetable gums as local substitutes for imported dye-thickeners. This project serves as a practical solution to some of the perpetual problems facing art teachers, especially, in senior secondary school and technical schools as well as teacher training colleges, concerning materials for fabric printing. Gums in general, have been employed in industry as thickening components for inks, paints, water-colour, drugs, food and fabric dyes. Gums form the nim, cashew, khaya and acacia trees which have been chosen for the purpose of the essay, rank high among the list. These have been chosen because they are commonly found in Ghana. To meet schools requirement, simple experiments were conducted to test the suitability if the gums as thickening agent for fabric printing bye. The results, though not the best, are indicative of the effectiveness of these gums as dye thickeners. A model lessen note on the application of the gums has provided as a guide to teachers. This exercise has been made possible through interviews with people, literary, personal observations and experiments. It is hope that this script would be of valuable help to both art teachers and student, especially, these in the second cycle institution; and too some extent, the local textile printing industry

Source: KNUST
Enrichment of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta) Peels Through Pleurotus Ostreatus Fermentation for Use As Animal Feed

Livestock feeding is quite problematic in Ghana due to the high cost of feed ingredients. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) peel is a major by-product of the cassava processing industry and in Ghana where cassava is grown and tubers processed, the peel is largely underutilized as livestock feed. The application of biotechnology can help add value to agro-wastes for use as cheap sources of animal feed. Cassava peels were collected, dried and after pretreatment, the particle size was reduced to an average area of about 0.6cm2, the peels were then composted and sterilized. The composted sterilized peels were then inoculated with the spawn of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and incubated at room temperature. Fermentation of cassava peels with the oyster mushroom over a seven week period significantly improved its nutritional value (P<0.05) when compared to the uninoculated peels. Six weeks of fermentation was found to be the optimum to produce the observed significant results. The protein content of the mushroom fermented peels more than doubled from 2.18% to 5.6% after fermentation, whereas cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents decreased significantly by 26.73%, 45.43% and 35.78% respectively. The fermented peels also had a significant increase in the calcium, potassium and phosphorous contents. The tannin content of the oyster mushroom fermented peels reduced drastically by 75.5% after six weeks of fermentation when compared with the uninoculated peels. In vitro digestibility studies revealed that, after the Pleurotus fermentation over a six week period, the peels were three times more digestible than the uninoculated peels. These results indicate the potential use of Pleurotus ostreatus for improving the feed value of cassava peels for the livestock industry in Ghana. The fermented peels can partially replace corn, the main ingredient in poultry feed formulation.

Source: KNUST
Enrollment in NHIS and access to healthcare: A case study of migrant female headporters at the Central Business District of Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to assess the female migrants‟ enrollment in NHIS and their access to healthcare in the Kumasi Metropolis using a descriptive cross sectional study design. A total of 665 migrant female headporters were selected using a snowballing sampling method from Kejetia, Adum shopping centre, Kumasi Central Market, Bantama market and Asafo market for this study. The study used questionnaire for collecting data. The data were then analyzed using SPSS (version 16.0). It was realized from the study that migrant female headporters had some level of knowledge about the NHIS and majority of them heard about NHIS through radio advertisement from various FM stations. The study found that not all migrant female headporters in the Kumasi Metropolis were enrolled in NHIS and 17.4% of the non- subscribers had made up their minds not to enroll in the scheme. Educational attainment and income levels were found to influence enrollment in NHIS. The majority of migrant female headporters did not visit health facility at their first sign of sickness and NHIS had increased access to healthcare among the migrant female headporters in the Kumasi Metropolis. The major challenge facing the migrant female headporters in accessing healthcare was financial factor. Some of the migrant female headporters went to hospitals without their NHIS cards and preferred to be treated under the “cash and carry” system. It is recommended that the NHIS should intensify educational programmes on the scheme and its benefits among the migrant female headporters. The NHIS should conduct free NHIS registration for all migrant female headporters to enable them first appreciate and accept the actual benefits of the scheme. The NHIS should work towards improving the healthcare under the scheme.

Source: KNUST
Ensuring Equitable Distribution Of Land In Ghana: Spirituality Or Policy? A Case Study From The Forest-Savanna Agroecological Zone Of Ghana

This article explores the pent-up question of equitable distribution of land in Ghana using the Forest-Savanna Agroecological Zone as a case study. It focuses on the dichotomy of policy versus indigenous spirituality in contemporary distribution of land in Ghana. After independence several attempts have been made to restructure land title holding in Ghana by way of land registration. The effectiveness of these attempts is also examined. The paper concludes that Ghana needs pragmatic steps (policies) to confront the challenges of land distribution. And in taking these pragmatic policies, the religio-cultural underpinnings (the people`s worldview) of land issues in Ghana should be factored into the policy that will result. Anything short of this will make the implementation of any land policy in Ghana ineffective.

Source: KNUST