ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and analysis of drug-nanoparticles-based 3D scaffolds for targeted cancer treatment

The mutable nature of cancer has made it one of the toughest diseases to successfully fight against. Due to the aggressive nature of cancer, toxic drugs are administered to stop or slow down the growth of cancerous cells. However, most of the conventional treatment methods lack site targeting and specificity, therefore, affecting any rapidly dividing cells. Destruction of normal cells therefore leads to malfunctioning of body organs. A proposed solution is to use localized drug delivery, with nanocomposite-based scaffolds with tuneable biodegradation, biocompatibility, and porous structures. These drug- and nanoparticle-based scaffolds were fabricated through solvent casting method. Scaffolds containing magnetite nanoparticles were loaded with an experimental drug (Dichapetalin M), Tamoxifen (a control cancer drug) for comparison. Morphological study of the scaffolds was characterised with a scanning electron microscope. Drug release experiments and mechanisms of drug release (kinetics and order of drug release) were studied with ultraviolet visible spectrometer. Porosity of the samples were examined with ImageJ software. The inclusion of nanoparticles in the scaffold structure increased the pore size and pore diameter which also leads to the lowering the yield strength of the scaffold, while pore density and pore area enhanced drug diffusion from the scaffold matrix. Implications of the results were discussed for possible mechanical characterisation of scaffolds and cell viability studies using nanoparticles impregnated scaffolds.

Source: Ashesi
Fabrication of 3D Printed Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering: Understanding the Mechanical Stability, Degradation Mechanisms and Bio-compatibility.

Diabetes mellitus, also known as diabetes has on major effect on its patients. This is the effect of impaired wound healing. Patients thus get minor wounds such as small cuts which become non-healing and are liable to get infected. Severe cases of such occasions lead to amputations. A solution to this problem is tissue regeneration with the help of scaffolds. These scaffolds are made of biopolymers and promote cell adhesion, regeneration and minimal diffusional constraints. Computer Aided Design (CAD) software (SolidWorks), was used to design models of scaffolds.Three dimensional (3D) scaffolds were then 3D printed. Scaffolds were also casted using PLA and a mixture of PLA and PEG. The models along with its samples undergo tensile, stiffness and mass degradation tests to gain insight on whether this model is applicable.Computer simulations were used to evaluate the tensile properties under real world conditions. Furthermore, a universal testing machine was then used to validate the properties obtained from the computer simulations. There was no significant difference in the methods. Optical properties were characterised with USB poroscope imaging microscope to show that 3D printing produces much more uniform distribution of pores.Mass loss experiments were also conducted to determine mechanical stability at different pH.It was noticed that the samples degrade faster when in an acidic environment.

Source: Ashesi
Fabricl.oop: An Al Powered Textile Waste Collection Platform

Textile waste has emerged as a significant environmental challenge in Ghana, driven by the influx ofsecond-hand clothing and a growing dependence on fast fashion. Limited recycling and waste management infrastrueture means a substantial volume ofdiscarded textiles ends up in landfills, waterways, or is incinerated, contributing to pollution and public health eoneems. This study presents the design and implementation ofa digital textile waste collection platform, Fabricl.oop, that applies circular economy principles and leverages modem web technologies-including an Al-powered incentive mechaniso promote responsible disposal and recycling practices. The platform coordinates interactions among waste generators, waste collectors. and system administrators in real time, and features an automated reward prediction model to motivate proper waste handling. The system uses a React web frontend and a Node.js/Express backend with a MongoDB database, integrating secure authentication, and dynamic data processing to streamline collection logistics and improve record-keeping and reporting. Through intuitive user interfaces, transparent mobile money payout simulations, and backend analytics dashboards. the project demonstrates a replicable model oftechnology-enabled environmental management for urban contexts in Ghana and beyond. Findings and insights arc drawn from my professional experience in recycling and from secondary research on Ghana's textile waste landscape. The resulting prototype is functional, and testing indicates it meets its core requirements, laying a strong foundation for fixture enhancements such as advanced Al integrations, broader user testing, and deployment in real-world settings.

Source: Ashesi
Face Recognition under Multiple Constraints with Application to Attendance Management

This study aimed to investigate the performance of a face recognition algorithm under occlusion, illumination, and pose constraints using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and decision tree classifiers. The study also explored the effects of data augmentation on the performance of the proposed algorithm and the impact of combining augmentation with occlusion. The results showed that the introduction of occlusion led to a decrease in accuracy, highlighting the negative impact of occlusion on face recognition. Data augmentation significantly improved the accuracy of the algorithm, achieving up to 100% accuracy on some datasets. Combining augmentation with occlusion further improved the accuracy of the algorithm. The results indicate that SVM and decision tree classifiers can effectively classify images of faces under varying conditions of expression, illumination, and pose. With facial recognition technology at the helm of attendance management, the limitations of traditional methods are lifted, paving the way for a more accurate and efficient methods that meet the demands of modern-day education by using the face recognition model to build a class attendance management system as proof of concept.

Source: Ashesi
Faculty Information Management System

The emergence of technology has given rise to an era where traditional solutions such as manually creating data records have been outpaced and almost replaced by more effective digital solutions because of the increasing amounts of data. This shift toward global digitization has led many institutions, preferably Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), to adopt more effective ways of managing their data. In HEIs and around the world, data is an expensive commodity that is crucial to the affairs and operations of many institutions. It has recently become relevant that HEIs consider using information systems to handle their data and ensure continuity of work in instances where in-person or physical activities fall short. This project aims to examine the importance of digitization and how HEIs can ensure continuity and efficiency of work using management and information systems.

Source: Ashesi
Fall armyworm detection in Ghana using machine learning

The economy of many African countries depends on the agriculture sector. However, the agriculture sector is at the mercy of FAW following the arrival of the pest in 2016. The pest is more dangerous to crops than other crop pests because they attack many crops, especially cereal crops, which are the staple food in Ghana. The most widely used technique to control the pest in the country is pheromone-baited traps and manual surveillance. Although these techniques are cheap to implement, they are prone to errors. This paper explores how to use machine learning techniques to detect Fall armyworm (FAW) in Ghana. The paper discusses various data preprocessing methods such as data augmentation, transfer learning, convolutional networks for classification as well as using object detection algorithms to detect the worm.

Source: Ashesi
Farm-A-World

Farm A-World is an e-commerce platform that seeks to connect farmers with investors, companies, and individuals who depend on the produce of farmers within the agricultural sector. The platform helps farmers to engage with a bigger audience and supply quality and quantity for both production and consumption objectives by allowing them simple access to the market sector. The web-based platform facilitates online crop harvest browsing, ordering, and payment, and cultivates the use of a third-party for payment transactions. The execution of this project has contributed to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action.

Source: Ashesi
Fault Detection and Prediction in Induction Motors

Induction motors are expensive and the backbone of every industry. There would be no production when induction motors break down. It is also costly to repair them after a sudden shutdown. Industries are gradually adapting to predictive maintenance to prevent unnecessary shutdowns and reduce the cost of maintenance. The objective of this paper is to even make the predictive maintenance of inter-turn short circuit fault in induction motors more reliable by adding fault detection and deploying the entire system in an alarm and display system. In this project, secondary current data from a three-phase induction motor has been used because of the current's capabilities of detecting a higher percentage of electrical faults. This is achieved using predictive maintenance toolbox in MATLAB.

Source: Ashesi
Finalflow: A Capstone Project Management Platform

Effective communication and project management are essential for the success of capstone projects, which are pivotal in academic journeys. Current methods often involve disjointed tools like emails and chat applications, leading to inefficiencies, communication breakdowns, and delays. The Capstone Project Management System addresses these challenges by providing a centralized platform tailored for capstone projects. This web-based system facilitates seamless interaction between students, supervisors, and administrators by integrating features such as real-time messaging, project milestone tracking, document submission with feedback, meeting scheduling, and analytics dashboards. Designed with role-based access controls, it ensures each stakeholder has functionalities that meet their specific needs. This approach ensures responsiveness, scalability, and secure data handling. By offering an intuitive user interface and robust backend capabilities, the platform improves collaboration, reduces delays, and enhances the overall efficiency of capstone project management. Currently, the system only accommodates the Computer Science and Engineering Departments. It will be expanded to include other departments in the future.

Source: Ashesi
Fingerprint recognition system

Fingerprint recognition is one of the most popular biometric techniques in personal identification. The widespread use of fingerprint recognition as a biometric is because each fingerprints pattern of ridges and valleys is unique and does not vary with time and age. While there are several algorithms or methods for fingerprint recognition systems, the quest to develop a robust fingerprint recognition system remains a significant research area. One major challenge in designing a system for fingerprint recognition is its ability to perform well on both full and partial fingerprint images. Most fingerprint recognition systems developed so far use minutiae-based algorithms which tend to perform well under full fingerprint but poorly under partial occlusion. In partial occlusion, the minutiae, which are the core points of the fingerprints, get completely distorted. The distortion of minutiae makes minutiae-based algorithms perform poorly. Therefore, this study proposed a novel non-minutiae-based algorithm that adapts the Fisherface and Eigenface method from facial recognition. The proposed algorithm is insensitive to partial occlusion. The Eigenface and Fisherface methods were tested on FVC 2002 Datasets and yielded an accuracy of 86.67% and 90% respectively. These accuracy results indicates that there is a possibility of recognizing fingerprint images using non-minutiae-based algorithms from different domain.

Source: Ashesi
Fireside: Creating an immersive historical narrative through video games

The emergence of educational video games have changed the perspective of many on video games as only an entertainment tool. Video games have been beneficial in improving language skills, reading skills and cognitive abilities of children. The traditional method of teaching and learning history in the classroom has made history boring and unlikeable for students. Although, methods like films and museums attempt to engage the student, they do not fully immerse them. To create an immersive learning experience for students, video games can be used as a technological tool. This project describes a video game: Fireside, which attempts to create an immersive learning experience for students in junior high schools for learning history.

Source: Ashesi
Fitness tracking system

The project aims to create an integrated system consisting of two devices: a low-cost long-lasting pedometer and an air quality monitoring unit, intended to assist athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The pedometer accurately monitors physical parameters like step count and heart rate, allowing for exact estimation of energy expenditure (calories burnt). The air quality monitoring device measures environmental parameters like air quality, humidity, and temperature. These devices communicate seamlessly, with the pedometer sending its data to the air quality device which then uploads the combined data to a database for real-time viewing on a webpage. This system aims to improve athletes' training experiences by delivering detailed information on both physiological measurements and environmental factors. The project addresses two key challenges: the limitations of traditional calorie estimation methods that rely on step counts and the impact of air quality on exercise effectiveness. By integration heart rate data and air quality alerts, the system ensure more accurate energy expenditure tracking and helps athletes avoid adverse conditions, promoting safer and more efficient training routines and outcomes.

Source: Ashesi
Fleet management and safety system for transportation companies

It is not too hard to believe that 40% of all drivers worldwide have admitted to falling asleep behind the steering wheel at some point while driving [6]. Out of this number is the occurrence of an average of over 320,000 crashes, 100,000 injuries and 6,000 deaths per year [9]. Over the years authorities have been focused on some other obvious reasons for such occurrences as overspeeding, drunk-driving and distracted driving which has allowed drowsy driving to gradually become the "silent-killer". In the Western side of the world where people are paid by the hour, we find that drivers who work extended hours into the night increase of accident or injury by 6%. Through personal experience, I realized the driver's risk of accidents and injury is drastically reduced when he/she is engaged by his passengers. Vigilant passengers are also able to mitigate the risk altogether when they can identify that the driver is fatigued and insist that he/she takes a rest. In this project, however, we explore the reality of using the implementation of hardware and software to give the driver a companion and undistracted passenger. One that will call for help if he is in danger, remain vigilant to detect whether he is drowsy or sleepy, and would suggest actions to take after detecting sleepiness or drowsiness.

Source: Ashesi
Flood prediction system

Floods have been a problem Ghana has been facing without any kind of solution for a long time. As the years progress the consequence of an occurrence of floods has increased as the amount of infrastructure built in the country increased. In other parts of the world, ways of mitigating the damage floods cause to the citizens of the country has been researched with different methods providing different amounts of success. However most of the methods used in these countries are not applicable to developing countries such as Ghana due to the amount and type of resources they have available to them. In this project, a flood prediction system able to perform the task of predicting floods with the resources readily available is researched and designed. With the ability of knowing the possibility of a flood occurring the necessary disaster management authorities will be able to help reduce the amount of damage caused by the floods.

Source: Ashesi
Fly-Deno: A backend web framework built on the deno JS runtime

This paper presents a minimal, opinionated and security-oriented backend framework built on the Deno Js runtime. I have had the opportunity to work with some popular backend frameworks like express Js, Adonis Js, and what have you. These frameworks are very powerful and the work done within a short period. However, they compromise on user's security. They can access confidential information like environment variables, netowrk, read and write access etc., without the user's knowledge. Aside from the problems as mentioned earlier, there is a steep learning curve. Newbies have to spend a lot of time to understand some of the internal workings of the framework before they can get along. This projects presents developers, especially newbies, to build powerful but secured applications by writing less codes and leveraging their basic knowledge in programming to build applications. Also, developers can make use of existing libraries and modules in the framework as well. The framework is heavy on the model-view-controller architectural patterns.

Source: Ashesi
Food recognition and recommendation system for diabetic patients

Food recommender systems have always existed. Traditionally, they exist as meal planning for dietary requirements or body goals. The concept of healthy living has spanned a wide array of definitions and use cases. Concerning diabetes, a disease that affects the body's ability to manage the production of the hormone insulin. With diabetes, there exists one of two cases, the first being the overproduction of the hormone and the second being the underproduction of the hormone. The cure for diabetes is currently non-existent and the only way for patients of this disease to advance in their medical health is to make lifestyle-positive choices related to food and fitness. Given the rise in mobile technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, there exists the potential to find mobile health solutions for diabetes management. This project uses the available technology and research to develop a machine learning algorithm (Convolutional Neural Network) to recognize selected Ghanaian dishes and recommend ideal portions for patients. The algorithm developed would then be deployed on an ESP 32 board to create a hardware interface with a camera for functionality. The project additionally uses a web application to incorporate all these functions into a single platform. After all the work done given the project scope, the developed CNN algorithm had an accuracy of 91.7% during testing and was able to perform well for new images which indicates the model was not overfitting to the training or validation data. The web application was also able to integrate all diverse parts of the project.

Source: Ashesi
Footballer retirement planning in Ghana

Sportsmen in general and footballers in particular earn significant amounts of money during their active careers especially in Europe and America. Indeed, it is against this backdrop that they have earned notoriety of living lavish lifestyles. Unfortunately, in the Ghana Premier League, footballers struggle to make ends meet. Not only are their wages low, the conditions under which they ply their trade leaves much to be desired. To make things even more difficult, a football career does not last generally as long as traditional employment such as teaching or farming. Thus footballers more than other employees need to secure their post retirement lives with a sense of urgency. However, this is easier said than done as footballer retirement planning is typically difficult because of the uncertainties of injuries and the short duration of the career. This work is an exploration of footballer retirement planning in Ghana, taking particular interest in pension scheme structures and how social security scheme can protect footballers in their retirement. The scope of this research was Ghanaian footballers playing in the Ghana Premier League. The research is primarily qualitative in nature. Data was obtained from both primary and secondary sources and data collection was done via interviews and document study. Analysis of collected data was done using descriptive and content analysis. From the data, it was found that more attention needs to be directed towards footballer welfare in general but particularly player retirement planning. There is indeed a current process registering all the clubs of the Premier league unto Ghana’s Social Security and National Investment Trust (SSNIT). However, for a better sustainable and more impactful solution, a few recommendations were made. Education was seen to be a major differentiating factor among retired footballers. A social support system that gives direction overtly or otherwise was also found to be of great help. Player unionization and enforcement of already existing labor laws were essential for fully claiming their rights. Also, a specially administered pension and insurance fund tailored toward footballer needs and nuances was suggested. Psychologists and other consultants need to be part of mainstream football management.

Source: Ashesi
Free-riding and incidence of poverty in Ghana

Poverty levels in Ghana have largely been high among rural dwellers. The study assess the ex ante risk that if an individual is not currently below the poverty line, will slip past it, and the ex post possibility that those who are already in poverty will remain in it with increased severity. The FGT poverty class of index was first used. This showed that a proportion of 0.77 of the entire population under investigation was poor. Also, the poor trade hugely among themselves at 0.74 redistribution rate. Furthermore, to investigate the major determinants of poverty in Ghana resulting from free-riding, a dichotomous logit model was used. Most importantly, female household heads were found to be more vulnerable to poverty relative to their male counterparts. It was also observed that there has been a ‘poverty-switching’ phenomenon from the savannah zone to the coastal and forest zones of Ghana with deplorable consequences.

Source: Ashesi