ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Power generation capacity planning under budget constraint in developing countries

This paper presents a novel multi-period stochastic optimization model for studying long-term power generation capacity planning in developing countries. A stylized model is developed to achieve three objectives: (1) to serve as a tool for determining optimal mix, size and timing of power generation types in the face of budget constraint, (2) to help decision makers appreciate the consequences of capacity expansion decisions on level of unserved electricity demand and its attendant impact on the national economy, and (3) to encourage the habit of periodic savings towards new generation capacity financing. The problem is modeled using a stochastic mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) technique under demand uncertainty. The effectiveness of the model, together with valuable insights derived from considering different levels of budget constraints are demonstrated using Ghana as a case study. The results indicate that at an annual savings equivalent to 0.75% of GDP, Ghana could finance the needed generation capacity to meet approximately 95% of its annual electricity demand between 2016 and 2035. Additionally, it is observed that as financial constraint becomes tighter, decisions on the mix of new generation capacities tend to be more costly compared to when sufficient funds are available.

Source: UG
Power generation capacity planning under budget constraint in developing countries

This paper presents a novel multi-period stochastic optimization model for studying long-term powergeneration capacity planning in developing countries. A stylized model is developed to achieve threeobjectives: (1) to serve as a tool for determining optimal mix, size and timing of power generation typesin the face of budget constraint, (2) to help decision makers appreciate the consequences of capacityexpansion decisions on level of unserved electricity demand and its attendant impact on the nationaleconomy, and (3) to encourage the habit of periodic savings towards new generation capacity ﬁnancing.The problem is modeled using a stochastic mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) technique underdemand uncertainty. The effectiveness of the model, together with valuable insights derived from consid-ering different levels of budget constraints are demonstrated using Ghana as a case study. The resultsindicate that at an annual savings equivalent to 0.75% of GDP, Ghana could ﬁnance the needed generationcapacity to meet approximately 95% of its annual electricity demand between 2016 and 2035.Additionally, it is observed that as ﬁnancial constraint becomes tighter, decisions on the mix of new gen-eration capacities tend to be more costly compared to when sufﬁcient funds are available

Source: UG
Power Relations in Community Participation: Does It Really Matter

Power relations in community participation is also another concept that appears in many development discourses, but the extent to which it is hindering development practice seems to be overlooked. The purpose of this article is to examine the concept of power relations and how it has been influencing participatory practice in rural community development. It aims at looking at why people must be concerned about the use of power and finds ways of addressing the excessive use of power and power relations that seriously hinder active participatory practice. This article presents results of data gathered from community members in the western region of Ghana. Using a case study approach, the study adopted interpretivists and social constructivists philosophical perspectives. The data was gathered using focus group discussions and one-to-one informal interviews. It is argued that, while development organisations and the district assemblies are encouraging participation, they are finding it difficult to relinquish power to enhance effective participatory practice. Participation continues to reflect in most rural development programmes, but there are key barriers to effective participation and the conflict of power and power relations are still problems affecting participatory practice. Addressing issues of power relations will not only make local people very proactive, but also enhance their readiness to participate in community development activities.

Source: UG
Power sources among district health managers in Ghana: a qualitative study

Background: In Ghana district directors of health services and district hospital medical superintendents provide leadership and management within district health systems. A healthy relationship among these managers is dependent on the clarity of formal and informal rules governing their routine duties. These rules translate into the power structures within which district health managers operate. However, detailed nuanced studies of power sources among district health managers are scarce. This paper explores how, why and from where district health directors and medical superintendents derive power in their routine functions. Methods: A multiple case study was conducted in three districts; Bongo, Kintampo North and Juaboso. In each case study site, a cross-sectional design was used to explore the research question. Purposive sampling technique was used to select study sites and 61 participants for interview and focus group discussion. A total of 11 interviews (3 in each district and 2 with deputy regional directors), and 9 focus group discussions (3 in each district) were conducted. Transcriptions of the voice-recordings were done verbatim, cleaned and imported into the Nvivo version 11 software for analysis using the inductive content analysis approach. Results: The findings revealed that legitimacy provides formal power source for district health managers since they are formally appointed by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service after going through the appointment processes. These appointments serve as the primary power source for district health managers based on the existing legal and policy framework of the Ghana Health Service. Additionally, resource control especially finances and medical dominance are major informal sources of power that district health managers often employ for the management and administration of their functional areas in the health districts. Conclusions: The study concludes that district health managers derive powers primarily from their positions within the hierarchical structure (legitimacy) of the district health system. Secondary sources of power stems from resource control (medical dominance and financial dominance), and these power sources inform the way district health managers relate to each other. This paper recommends that district health managers are oriented to understand the power dynamics in the district health system.

Source: UG
Power, knowledge and the politics of gender in the Global South

Critical feminists have argued that research on women and gender is not sufficiently ‘global’ in its representation of scholars and perspectives. We draw on these works to argue that the scholarship on women, gender, and politics does not sufficiently consider the effects of the global order in the Global South. We propose the adoption of a ‘global lens’ to address this gap. We further examine the representation of South-based scholars by analyzing leading women, gender, and politics journals, and find that they are severely under-represented as authors. We propose steps to address this underrepresentation and to decolonize the scholarship.

Source: UG
Power-with and Power-to and Building Asian Studies in Africa: Insights from the Field

Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.

Source: UG
Powering communities using hybrid solar–biogas in Ghana, a feasibility study

This study ascertained the possible use of a hybrid power system as an alternative sustainable energy source through hybridization of biogas and solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, in Ghana. A simple Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) method was used in selecting the three (3) representative renewable energy (RE) businesses based on registered energy projects by the Energy Commission (EC) of Ghana. The analysis compared the 3 business sites with regard to generating power: (1) feeding to the national grid (FiT) (2) for self-consumption (prosumers) and (3) for agricultural use (through irrigation). The result showed that hybridization of solar and waste to energy systems is feasible with the use of manual change over for small and non-critical applications and smart energy control systems for community based and critical applications. It also revealed that integrating solar PV system with an existing biogas plant is both feasible in terms of technical and cost-effective wise to boost the power production for daily usage. However, the hybrid power system would be viable at an operational cost of 40% revenue and at a FiT unit price of $0.17/kWh. Further, the study found that adding a biogas plant to an existing solar PV plant would be more expensive. In all, solar– biogas hybrid power system has a great future through its operational flexibility of mitigating potential shortfall in power, both seasonally and diurnally, and assuring a more secure and efficient supply of energy for communities both grid and non-grid connected. The use of energy from renewable sources, by its efficiency and reduction of carbon footprints, will contribute to the attainment of the core objectives of some key global protection and socio-economic development initiatives/programs including Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - namely SDGs 7,13.

Source: UG
Powering the Movement to Address the Physical Inactivity Crisis

From the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD), physical inactivity ranks 4th among the top ten risk factors for non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases. The Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Report Card (RC), the Global Matrix (GM) of Physical Activity, and the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) were developed to help power the movement to address this physical inactivity crisis. These are public-facing documents reporting a synthesis of the best available evidence within a country to assign letter grades, identify research gaps and provide recommendations for improvement of physical activity participation. Methods: Data are obtained through survey of opinions of key stakeholders and peer-reviewed and grey literature. Grades are assigned independently and thereafter, a consensus meeting of the experts harmonize grades based on best available evidence. Grades: Active Transportation (C), Active Play (B). Four indicators- Sedentary Behavior, School, Government and Overall PA (D). Conclusions and Implications: Over 60% engage in inadequate amounts of PA. The grades have the potential to raise awareness and promote relevant policy and practice changes to promote physical activity.

Source: UG
Practical norms in emerging infectious disease control: lessons for transnational collaboration from a suspected newly emerging zoonosis outbreak in Ghana

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Practice of paediatric triage among nurses in human-resource constrained setting: A cross-sectional study in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana

Background: Globally, about 30 million children are said to be in need of emergency health care. Proper emergency care can help meet the Sustainable Development Goal targets (SDGs) in relation to maternal and child mortality. Triaging in emergency settings is an established effective way of reducing child mortality in health care institutions. Aims: We determined the practice of paediatric triage among nurses working in health facilities in Tamale. Methods: A cross-sectional design, was used to randomly recruit 173 nurses for the study. Using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, we collected socio-demographic information and the practice of paediatric triage among the respondents. The data was analyzed with Stata version 15.0. Results: The majority of nurses in this study were males (56.07 %). Most of the respondents had a certificate in nursing qualifications. The practice of Paediatric Triage was 78.03 % among the respondents. Paediatric triage was practiced more in the Teaching Hospital (84.52 %) as compared to 64.29 % in the District Hospitals. The practice of paediatric triage was associated with the religion of the respondents (59.12, <0.001) and the hospital of work (29.30, <0.001). The respondents identified inadequate personnel, inadequate logistics, poor understanding of triage, complexity of triage and tiresome nature as barriers to triage. Conclusion: The desire to practice paediatric triage among nurses in resource constrained settings is high even though inadequate personnel and logistics among others pose as barriers to the successful practice of paediatric triage.

Source: UG
Practising Religion across National Borders: A Study of Ghanaian Christian Churches in Amsterdam

he paper investigates the rationale behind the multiplicity of cross-border relations of Ghanaian Christian churches in Amsterdam and the involvement of Ghanaian second generations in transnational religious discourse. It contributes to filling the empirical research gap in the transnational religious practices of Sub-Saharan African Christian churches in the diaspora. This study also contributes to the empirical literature on the intergenerational transnational religious activities of Sub-Saharan Africans in Europe. The study raises three main research questions: to what extent do Ghanaian churches in Amsterdam engage in transnational religious practices? In what ways do second generation Ghanaians engage in the transnational religious field? Is mission reverse or internal among Ghanaian Christian churches in Amsterdam? The paper adopts ethnographic research methodology of in-depth interviews with fifty second generation Ghanaians and nine Ghanaian Christian churches in Amsterdam, participant observation and informal interviews which occurred in Amsterdam from January 2014 until January 2015. The research concludes that inasmuch as some Ghanaian churches in Amsterdam and some second generation Ghanaians engage in activities that strengthen their integration into mainstream Dutch society, they are also involved in transnational religious activities. The nation state poses structural constraints in the transnational religious field but some Ghanaian churches exercise agency to contest or re-define some of the restrictions. The study recommends that further research investigates gender relations in the transnational religious social field of the studied Ghanaian Christian churches in Amsterdam.

Source: UG
The pragmatics of Akan greetings

This article addresses greetings as one of the most frequent linguistic interactional routines among the Akan of Ghana. The article will look at the functions, situations, and the major forms of Akan greetings. The article will highlight the major functions of greetings such as the creation of social relationship, commitment to one another in social encounters and manifestation of an individual's communicative competence. It discusses the taxonomy of Akan greetings in terms of formality, periods, events and activities. The article further looks at the changes in greetings in the Akan modern society. The article treats greetings within the frameworks of ethnography of communication, politeness and speech act theory within anthropological linguistics. Copyright © 2008 SAGE Publication.

Source: UG
Pratylenchus speijeri n. sp. (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae), a new root-lesion nematode pest of plantain in West Africa

A new root-lesion nematode, particularly pathogenic to Musa spp. and causing important plantain losses in Ghana, is described and named Pratylenchus speijeri n. sp. The cryptic status of this species within the P. coffeae species complex has been assessed and confirmed in this study. An extensive comparison of the morphological and molecular characteristics of this new species with those of P. coffeae and other related amphimictic species did not result in an unambiguous separation of this species from P. coffeae because only a few morphological features of diagnostic value were found. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA gene, the ITS rRNA gene and a portion of the hsp90 gene of P. speijeri n. sp. and P. coffeae species complex populations from different sources generated majority consensus BI trees with three major clades: P. speijeri n. sp. from Musa spp. roots in Ghana; unidentified or putative new Pratylenchus sp. C1 from Colocasia esculenta roots in Japan and P. coffeae with non-homogeneous relationships from different hosts and distant geographical areas. These results confirmed the validity of P. speijeri n. sp. as a new taxon and indicated that P. coffeae populations from Colocasia in Japan also need to be considered as a new species. Sequence differences in the ITS were used to design group- and species-specific primers to detect P. speijeri n. sp. and other species of P. coffeae species complex. The use of these species-specific primers for the separation of P. speijeri n. sp., Pratylenchus sp. C1 and P. coffeae has important practical application in breeding programmes for agriculture in West Africa. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2012.

Source: UG
Prayer camps and biomedical care in Ghana: Is collaboration in mental health care possible?

Background Experts have suggested that intersectoral partnerships between prayer camps and biomedical care providers may be an effective strategy to address the overwhelming shortage of mental health care workers in Africa and other low-income settings. Nevertheless, previous studies have not explored whether the prayer camp and biomedical staff beliefs and practices provide sufficient common ground to enable cooperative relationships. Therefore, we sought to examine the beliefs and practices of prayer camp staff and the perspective of biomedical care providers, with the goal of characterizing interest in-and potential for-intersectoral partnership between prayer camp staff and biomedical care providers. Methods We conducted 50 open-ended, semi-structured interviews with prophets and staff at nine Christian prayer camps in Ghana, and with staff within Ghana's three public psychiatric hospitals. We used the purposive sampling method to recruit participants and the constant comparative method for qualitative data analysis. Results Prayer camp staff expressed interest in collaboration with biomedical mental health care providers, particularly if partnerships could provide technical support introducing medications in the prayer camp and address key shortcomings in their infrastructure and hygienic conditions. Nevertheless, challenges for collaboration were apparent as prayer camp staff expressed strong beliefs in a spiritual rather than biomedical explanatory model for mental illness, frequently used fasting and chained restraints in the course of treatment, and endorsed only short-termuse of medication to treat mental illness-expressing concerns that long-term medication regimens masked underlying spiritual causes of illness. Biomedical providers were skeptical about the spiritual interpretations of mental illness held by faith healers, and were concerned by the use of chains, fasting, and the lack of adequate living facilities for patients in prayer camps; many, however, expressed interest in engaging with prayer camps to expand access to clinical care for patients residing in the camps. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that biomedical care providers are interested in engaging with prayer camps. Key areas where partnerships may best improve conditions for patients at prayer camps include collaborating on creating safe and secure physical spaces and delivering medication for mental illness to patients living in prayer camps. However, while prayer camp staff are willing to engage biomedical knowledge, deeply held beliefs and routine practices of faith and biomedical healers are difficult to reconcile Additional discussion is needed to find the common ground on which the scarce resources for mental health care in Ghana can collaborate most effectively.

Source: UG
Pre- and Post-Harvest Practices and Varietal Preferences of Tomato in Ghana

Tailored interventions in the tomato sector require current information on production and marketing systems, along with the constraints faced by the stakeholders. We conducted this study to understand the current production practices, stakeholders’ varietal preferences, and tomato market trends and challenges along the crop’s value chains. A multistage sampling method coupled with a random walk was used to identify survey locations and identify 180 respondents across seven regions in Ghana. The study showed that tomato were predominantly produced by male (81%) and literate farmers (84%). Tomato farmers were smallholder farmers, generally cultivating less than five acres. Tomatoes were mainly cultivated under rainy conditions. Farmers used both bought seeds and their own saved seeds for production. Farmers in Bono, Greater Accra, and the Upper East region largely cultivated improved tomato varieties, while farmers in the Bono East region cultivated local varieties. Across the regions, being a male and having access to irrigation facilities increased the probability of using improved varieties by 19% and 51%, respectively. The most important farmer and market preference criteria included high yield, medium to large fruit size and rounded fruit shape, red color, time to maturity and disease resistance. The major production challenges of tomato production included diseases, pests, and poor access to water for irrigation. The average yield of tomato varied from 6902.26 kg/ha in the Bono Region to 16,213.98 kg/ha in Bono East. Tomato was exclusively produced for fresh market. The major marketing challenges were low producer prices, low demand for produce and competition from other farmers. This study provides key information to improve tomato value chains and guide the introduction or breeding of improved tomato varieties.

Source: UG