ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Tools, methods for determining quality of construction projects in the construction industry, a study of public sector projects in Ghana

There is a growing concern with the quality of construction projects in the public sector in Ghana. The study explored the determinants of quality of construction projects in the public sub-sector of the construction industry in Ghana within the context of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ashanti region. The study was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. A total of 207 respondents out of the sampled 210 respondents took part in the study. The study identified quality performance, cost performance, time performance and beneficiaries’ satisfaction were the common approaches the various Assemblies adopted in ensuring and measuring the quality performance of construction projects. In addition, most MMDAs adopted the stakeholder role model, beneficiaries’ satisfaction as some of the strategies for measuring quality of construction projects. Internal determinants of construction project quality included design, contract, materials, labour and equipment determinants. External determinants of construction project quality included economic environment, social environment, technological environment, procurement process and the physical environment. The study identified lack of competitive bidding process, weak capacities of project management teams, bribery and corruption in the construction industry among others as the key constraints to enhancing the quality performance of construction projects. The study recommended capacity building on project management for key staff of MMDAs, strict adherence to procurement best practices, ensuring participatory project planning and implementation, leveraging on the internal determinants to minimize the effects of external determinants, utilization of realistic designs and budgets and sustaining an Effective Monitoring and Evaluation Systems as measures for enhancing the quality of construction projects within the public sub sector.

Source: UEW
Toonu nhyehy{e ho ntotoho w} akuapem twi ne asante twi ntam

Dwumadi yi hw[ toonu ho ntotoho a [da adi w] Akan nkorabata Akuapem Twi ne Asante Twi ntam. Dwumadi yi begyina sentase nhyehy[e so p]tee akyer[ sentase nhyehy[e binom a w]n toonu nhyehy[e y[ p[ ne w]n a nsonsonoe da w]n toonu nhyehy[e mu w] Akuapem ne Asante ntam w] akusteke kwan so. {no akyi no, ebegyina }tos[gyem[ntal Ti]ri so ap[ns[mp[ns[m sentase nhyehy[e ahorow a nsonsonoe da w]n toonu nhyehy[e mu no ahw[ f]n]l]gyi ne toonu mmara ahorow a [de nsonsonoe no ba no. Akusteke mp[ns[mp[ns[mu no gyina Akuapem mmea akasafo abiesa (3) ne mmarima akasafo abiesa (3) no peekye miini ahorow a w]de bob]] sentase nhyehy[e ahorow du-mmiensa (13) a metase de dii dwuma a mede totoo Asante mmea akasafo abiesa (3) ne mmarima University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh xxvii abiesa (3) no peekye miini a w]de b]] sentase nhyehy[e koro no ara so. Akasafo a mede w]n dii dwuma no mfe kyer[p[n no mfe aduonu kosi aduosia (20-60). Megyinaa sep[togrammo so de akasafo no peekye miini no kyer[[ sentase nhyehy[e ahorow a w]n toonu nhyehy[e y[ p[ ne nea nsonsonoe da w]n toonu nhyehy[e no mu w] kasa abien no ntam. Wei b[ma y[ahu sentase nhyehy[e[ ahorow binom a w]n toonu nhyehy[e y[ p[ ne w]n a nsonsonoe da w]n toonu nhyehy[e mu.}tos[gyem[ntal Ti]ri no nso gyina nsensane nsaw]so so kyer[ s[nea nsonsonoe no da adi. Ti]ri no bedi adanse s[, s[ edinnsiananmu ne SḞS, SF, ]hy[ adey[ ne KB edinnsiananmu [na afei edinnsianamu ne ngoo adey[ ne KB edin akyi sibea hyia a nsonsonoe da w]n toonu nhyehy[e mu w] kasa abien no ntam.

Source: UEW
A toponomastic study of suburb names from some Agona towns in the Central region

This study is a toponomastic study of suburb names, using the Causal theory of Names as proposed by Evans (1985) and the Frame theoretical framework as proposed by Fillmore (1985). The study investigates the morphological processes, phonological processes and syntactic structure of about seventy (70) suburb names. The suburb names for this study were collected from primary source. The researcher supported the primary data with oral structured interviews to ascertain the complete structure of the names since some of them might have undergone some phonological processes. Purposive sampling technique was employed in the selection of the sample size. The researcher also used inductive and creative synthesis approach to categorize the suburb names under the right morphological, phonological and syntactic divisions. Under the morphological analysis, the study reveals that some Agona suburb names are formed through compounding and affixation. Phonological processes such as vowel harmony, homorganic nasal assimilation and elision are important to this study were examined. The study also shows that some Agona suburb names at the sentential level can function as statements, interrogatives and imperatives and they can structurally be simple, compound and complex sentences. The study reveals that Agona people use personal names, trees or animal names, characteristics of the physical environment of the place, activities/occupation carried out at the place, events/incidents that happened at the place and names from the bible to name their suburbs. The study found that suburb names reveal the history, culture and religious beliefs of the Agona people. Lastly, referential and other cognitive meanings of some suburbs from the categories of the established naming system were identified. The Causal theory allowed for identification of the referential meanings from the community while the Frame theory explains how the meanings are cognitively retrieved from the speakers’ mental encyclopedic knowledge.

Source: UEW
Totemism, its influence on the Akan youth of Ghana

This research seeks to discuss Totemism: its influence on the Akan Youth of Ghana touching on the types of totems, the philosophical and literal meanings of the totems and conservation of biodiversity. These totems have so much hidden knowledge to be learnt but most of the youth are ignorant about them. This problem can be associated to ignorance, adulteration of culture, improper documentation and the over reliance on adulterated oral history. The research seeks to bring to bear the existing totems within the Akan Culture, elucidate and discuss the literal and philosophical meanings embedded in these archetypes. The Research is situated under the qualitative paradigm employing questionnaire, interview and observation as the main research tools to find information and the review of relevant literature. The findings were discussed as well. The research revealed that there are eight established Akan Clans with their associated totems. However, there are other peripheral totems in our communities. The names of the Clans and totems change depending on where one is geographically located. The Totems are Philosophical in nature and possess Literal meanings as well. Natural places serving as habitats for totemic elements are revered so as to conserve our flora and fauna. Such places have helped to protect these totemic elements from extinction and destruction. The aged have so much knowledge about our Customs and Institutions for which the youth must learn from since they are the custodians of our rich cultural heritage. There is a big gap between the youth and the aged culminating in alienation of the youth from their rich cultural values that are epitome of traditional knowledge. There are limited documented materials on totems and totemism in our educational institutions and indepth research into the historical aspect of totems should be conducted.

Source: UEW
Tourism security issues at the Wli waterfalls in the Wli community of the Hohoe Municipality, Volta Region, Ghana

This work explored the security issues at the Wli waterfalls using the perspectives of the tourists. It explored the security issues that may threaten the safety of tourists at the waterfalls. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach. The purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select the sample 13 participants for the study. The data was collected using interview guide and observation protocol and data collected was analysed thematically. The results showed that there were security arrangements at the Wli waterfalls. These include social security, the visitor information centre, observation of Covid-19 protocols, guide books and tour guides. However, it was also revealed that there were security issues at the Wli waterfalls. They include unprofessional conducts among some tour guides, lack of first aid and other health facilities, inadequate security personnel, poor route to the waterfalls and environmental security issues. Based on the outcome of the study, it was recommended that there should be the provision of security personnel and clear directional signs, expansion and regular maintenance of paths, the expansion and regular maintenance of foot bridges, extension of lighting system to the waterfalls, regular training for the tour guides and the provision of first aid or medic station.

Source: UEW
Toward a black psychology of leisure: An 'Akbarian' critique

There are a number of institutions posited as vestibules for maintaining and reinforcing rituals and celebrations of African consciousness (i.e., education, religion, arts, etc.). The one that does not readily come to mind, however, is leisure (i.e., organized sport and physical activity). Leisure is salient to African Americans and is the terrain by which their personal and social identities are often nurtured. Ironically, leisure also represents a cultured space where racial oppression abounds, and is therefore often a contested space for African Americans. This essay offers a critique of the emancipatory properties of leisure through the lenses ofNa 'im Akbar's African-centered paradigm, via the tenets ofself-knowledge (e.g., racial-self affirmation) and collective liberation (e.g., spiritual rhythm and racial kinship). It demonstrates how (at the individual/micro level) African Americans may engage in constitutive and regulatory leisure practices that enlarge their spiritual, experiential, and perceptual spheres offreedom, thereby allowing them some control over the nature and quality of their leisure experiences. In so doing, this essay elucidates the 'Black Psychology ' that undergirds African Americans ' leisure pursuits.

Source: UEW
Towards a 21stcentury African traditional musical drama_ Anansegorndwom

The creative aspect of art music in Ghana and Africa as a whole has focused primarily on the composition of either choral or few instrumental forms. There is, however, comparatively less compositions that combine theatrical elements to an eventual performance. This thesis then explored, established and created a nonlinear musical drama which is a culturally contextualized musical arc that integrates scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costumes and make-up to be performed on stage or filmed in a movie style. It sought to establish a conceptual model for composing a musical drama which is characteristically African – Anansegorndwom – to give directions to modern art music composers to create such works intended for wide audience. Through exploratory bibliographic, discographic, narrative analysis and creative designs, data were collected using both principal and ancillary methods, including theoretical research, interviews and document analyses. 16 Folktales were collected using non-directive interview from four participants who represented the four major linguistic communities in Ghana: Akan, Ewe, Ga and Dagomba and four of the stories were selected purposefully for the novelty. Similarly, 19 folksongs as well as some indigenous instrumentation were gathered purposefully through documentary search. The study brought into existence not only a conceptual model for composition but also a musical artifact called Hɛn Anansesɛm (our story), a musical drama of African identity that conveys our existing stories than just delivering the sound elements in our folk traditions. It is concluded that the novelty created is an explicit demonstration of how the African and Western musical idioms can be fused together in one composition without losing both musical identities. It is, therefore, envisaged that art music composers begin to use the model to add to the repertoire of African musical dramas while the film industry and institutions of performing arts assist in its production to add to the modern means of relaxation in the 21st century.

Source: UEW
Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana

Background: In the last three decades, Ghana has championed the objectives of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives to provide pregnant women and nursing mothers with the skills and support systems necessary for attaining optimal breastfeeding. Yet, little is known in literature on how these intervention regimes practically promote breastfeeding-friendly work environment in healthcare facilities and their level of effectiveness. This study explores the extent to which healthcare facilities in Ghana�s Effutu Municipality provide breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment to breastfeeding frontline health workers. Methods: A descriptive mixed-method approach was employed to collect data from fifty-four participants, comprising healthcare facility representatives and breastfeeding frontline health workers. A self-administered questionnaire with structured responses was administered to frontline health workers, followed by interview guides for representatives of hospital management. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview responses. Responses to questionnaires were processed with SPSS version 23.0 and presented using frequencies and percentages. Results: Three main themes emerged, namely, Standpoints on workplace breastfeeding support; Breastfeeding support, and Suggested future directions. Beyond this, six sub-themes emerged, including backings for workplace breastfeeding support; perceived benefits of breastfeeding support; factors of poor breastfeeding workplace support; maternity protection benefits; workplace support gaps, and awareness creation on benefits. Breastfeeding frontline health workers held that their hospitals have no breastfeeding policy (96%), no breastfeeding facility (96%), they do not go to work with baby (96%), but had 12 weeks maternity leave (96%) and worked half-day upon return to work (70%). Conclusion: Health facilities in the study do not provide a breastfeeding-friendly work environment except for the privileges provided by the Labor Act and conditions of service. Continuous advocacy on breastfeeding workplace support and stakeholder engagement to build consensus on the mix of strategies suitable to cushion breastfeeding frontline health workers is recommended for optimal breastfeeding and improved productivity. � 2021, The Author(s).

Source: UEW
Towards a concrete landscape: Assessing the efficiency of land consumption in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Most existing studies on land consumption have used a reactive approach to assess the phenomenon. However, for evidence-based policies, an initiative-taking forecast has been touted to be more appropriate. This study, therefore, assessed current trends and efficiency of land consumption in the Greater Accra Region from 1987 to 2017, and predicted a 30-year future land consumption in a �business-as-usual� scenario. The study adopted maximum likelihood image classification techniques and �combinatorial or� to model land cover change for Greater Accra from 1987 to 2017 while the UN-Habitat land efficiency index was employed to model efficiency of land consumption. In addition, Leo-Breiman Forest based regression, was used to model a future land cover by using the 30 years land cover change as a dependant variable and a series of natural and anthropogenic factors as independent variables. Results showed that artificial surfaces increased from 4.2% to 33.1%, with an annual growth rate of 22.1% in 30 years. Land consumption was highly inefficient as only 4.2% of the region had a good proportion of population per land area. Factors which influenced artificial surface growth were population, distance from water bodies, poverty index, distance from sacred groves, proportion of agriculture population with a small margin of influence from soil and geology type. Landscape prediction showed that artificial surfaces will increase to 92.6% as more places are coated with concrete. The high rate of land inefficiency provides an opportunity for re-zoning by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority of Ghana to accommodate the growing population. Copyright: � 2022 Osman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Source: UEW
Towards an instructional design model for learning environments with limited ICT resources in higher education

This paper provides grounds for creating an integrated instructional design model that can be used to guide the design of quality classroom instruction in higher education also in countries with limited resources. To achieve its purpose the paper investigates various projects on integration of ICT in education in developing countries and identifies that limited ICT resources and financial constraints are major difficulties they face. The paper further elucidates, based on the findings from the literature that limited ICT resources are considered as a major barrier to successful integration of ICT in teaching and learning. In line with the literature on instructional design and technology, the paper argues that it is the effective use of the real principles of instruction rather than ICT that makes learning effective. Based on this proposition and the deficits of the current instructional design models, the paper presents theoretical and practical justifications for testing the generalizability of the basic instructional design models in the context of higher education classrooms with limited, moderate, and adequate ICT resources.

Source: UEW
Towards implementing the standards-based curriculum exploring teachers’ experiences with developing the core competencies of pupils

Following the introduction of standards-based curriculum in Ghanaian Basic Schools, there is dearth of knowledge in the areas of teachers’ experiences with the new curriculum and how they are implementing the change. The purpose of this qualitative research was to examine teachers’ experiences with developing the core competencies in pupils. Descriptive Phenomenology was employed to interrogate this issue effectively. Nineteen participants were purposively sampled from four schools in a mid-Ghana peri-urban area. They participated through interviews and availed their classrooms for observation for a period of two months. With the aid of a qualitative data analysis software - Taguette, data generated was analysed using descriptive phenomenological analytical framework. Emerging findings suggested that teachers are developing core competencies of pupils through the adoption of emerging pedagogies. Despite challenges with teacher competence, teaching materials and time, few teachers are being innovative, but a further few are confused about the agenda of change and are stuck in their conservative ways. However, majority of the teachers were doing just enough of what they were expected, reverting to their old ways whenever they faced challenges. Notwithstanding, it was concluded the teachers had employed numerous pedagogical approaches and innovative strategies towards developing the competencies. Recommendations are made for motivation for innovative teachers, further training for all teachers, and effective supervision of laggard teachers in order to achieve the goal of developing core-competencies in learners.

Source: UEW
�Towards prevention of COVID?19 among children in Ghana: Parents� views about children wearing nose masks in public gatherings

Objectives: The authors examined parents� views about children nose-masking in public gatherings in Ghana between January and May 2021. Study design: This is exploratory sequential mixed methods study comprising qualitative and quantitative components. Methods: Four hundred and thirty-nine parents were interviewed using author-developed structured questionnaires and interview guides in a public University in Ghana. Ten respondents in the company of at least three children and of high academic status were further interviewed in-depth to obtain some qualitative information on the research topic. All interviews were conducted in English. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 whiles qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: In Ghana, various types of nose masks are use in public gatherings. Profiles of respondents show that females (89%) with higher educational attainments (69%) supported children's nose masking. Mothers (91%) affirmed the relevance of nose masking by children aged 0�15 years as against 30% of male respondents who did not know the importance of nose masking among this age group. A strong Linear female correlation (0.018) backed by positive qualitative responses by mothers supported children's nose masking. A significant positive correlation (0.042) was also observed between respondents' educational attainment and perceptions of children nose masking. The authors further observed that materials used for producing children's nose masks and duration of wearing as key parental concerns. Conclusions: There is an urgent need by public health institutions for risk communication on the safety of masks for children, their efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection as well as seeking collaborations with relevant nose mask producers to design appropriate child-friendly nose masks to ensure compliance for child safety. � 2022

Source: UEW
Towards religious literacy in South African schools: is the Life Orientation curriculum potent enough?

Owing to the mixed-bag effects of religion on society, and particularly South Africa�s history with religion as embedded in the oppression of and liberation from apartheid, a recent curricular review has seen the introduction of teaching about religion in the Life Orientation (LO) curriculum. From our standpoint as academics in Religion Education, we question whether the current curricular arrangement is potent enough to carry the mandate of the National Policy on Religion and Education (hereafter referred to as the religion policy) of promoting religious literacy. To answer this question, we subjected the LO curriculum to content analysis, assessing the underlying content and pedagogical assumptions within the frame of scholarship in religious literacy. While doing so, we make critical reference to the religion policy with the aim of reflecting on government�s intentions with RE in schools. � 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Source: UEW