ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Methane Generation Potential and Energy Production Benefits of Landfills in Ghana: a case study of the Tamale Landfill Site

As the world’s population increases, the demand for improved sanitary conditions also increases steadily. Rapid population growth and high rates of urbanisation coupled with increasing prosperity in developing countries require a serious examination of the waste management process and the role of integrated solid waste management to safeguard the environment against air and water pollution, protect public health and maximise the value added elements (energy and materials recovered). Many developing countries have resulted to the use of some form of solid waste disposal site to manage the emerging situation, with engineered landfills being the chief amongst them. Landfills provide a conducive environment for the decomposition of organic waste leading to the emission of landfill gas (composed of methane, carbon dioxide and NMOCs). The methane produced is of high environmental significance since it is a potent greenhouse gas and has a relatively shorter life span. The amount of methane generated depends on the composition, quantity and moisture content of the waste. The objective of the study was to estimate the methane generation potential of the Tamale landfill site and its corresponding energy production This was achieved by characterisation of the waste disposed at the landfill site over the wet and dry season, moisture content analysis, the use of various models to estimate the methane generation potential and the potential energy and environmental benefits from the site. The results indicate that about 77% of the total waste disposed can decompose to generate methane gas. The average moisture content of the landfill was 36.4% conducive for the production of LFG. The models showed that an average of 921.95m3/hr of methane gas will be generated during the 30year lifespan of the project. This amount of methane corresponds to an average electrical energy generation potential of 1150kW capable of supplying 688 homes with electricity daily. The project has a rate of return of 55% on investment and a payback period of 3 years making it a very profitable venture. It also reduces the yearly methane emissions by 2290.87 tons.

Source: KNUST
Method development for the simultaneous determination and quantification of artemether lumefantrine in anti malaria formulation using high performance liquid chromatography

Artemether lumefantrine has been used as a first line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Ghana since 2004. In this study, a High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) method was developed and validated. The developed method was used to simultaneously determine the quantity of artemether and lumefantrine in various fixed dose tablets obtained from pharmaceutical and chemical shops in the Kintampo North Municipality. The optimized chromatographic conditions were a Jasco HPLC system equipped with C18 reverse phase column (Ultracarb 3μ ODS (20)) with methanol and phosphate buffer (72:28) pH 2.8 as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 2.7ml/min and detection was by means of a UV detector set to 222nm. The isocratic mode of elution was employed. The retention time of lumefantrine was 5.22 ± 0.19 minutes. And that for artemether was 4.19 ± 0.22. The method was validated by evaluation of different parameters such as accuracy, precision, linearity, ruggedness and robustness. The percentage recovery for artemether and lumefantrine ranged between 99.18-100.19 and 99.96-100.07, respectively. Six brands of artemether-lumefantrine fixed-dose combination tablets (two local and four foreign) from selected chemical shops and pharmaceutical shops in the Kintampo- North Municipality were analyzed. Of the six brands of artemether lumefantrine fixed-dose combination tablets analyzed, all passed with respect to their artemether and lumefantrine content using the developed HPLC method. The percent recovery for the local brands ranges from 93.5 to 99.2% and from 91.3 to 97.2% for artemether and lumefantrine respectively. And from 92.05 to 105.0% and 95.8 99.9% for the foreign brands for artemether and lumefantrine respectively, which complies with the International Pharmacopoeia range of (90110).

Source: KNUST
Methodist Retreat Centre, Medie

The Methodist Church Ghana, with its inception two centuries ago has through hard work sought to project evangelism and the spiritual upliftment of its members. The main deciding factor which encourages the need for fellowship is the particular need for contemplation and meditation with the aim to solving problems, exchange views and aspiration on a personal level. This dissertation is an approach to set out proposal in a bid to draw a conclusion on the success fullness on future gatherings of the Methodist church Ghana. The approach to this thesis was first tackled by the Collection and analysis of relevant data, developing a design brief which was derived as the result of identifying the problems and its solution. This dissertation is thus one of the necessary studies for the development of such a facility for the Methodist Church, Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Methodist Conference Centre (and Guest House Facilities)

The main drawing factor which generates a continuing demand for meetings is the need for communication at a personalized level. The opportunity for individuals, particularly in those activities which involve problem solving and innovation to exchange ideas and views. Electronic and printed information cannot be substitute for this personal contact. The importance of a congress or conferences lies not only in what is said on the platform but the total atmosphere of the event and the stimulation which is provided as a result. However the enormous growth in conference and convention business cannot be attributed to this motivating interest alone. The uses of the Methodist Church/Ghana like all other/of Christian organizations is very special. The function of the church has taken diverse domains from its original dogmatic world of societal and communal influences. It is in connection with these functions that sections or all members of the church do meet from time to time. Each year some 600 delegates and 200 appointees are expected to meet deliberate on issues affecting the church. The various meetings are trailed by numerous problems notably that of transport, finance, and accommodation. This idea passes great threats to many in drawing a conclusion on the successfulness of future meetings within the church. There has never been a period in our history when travelling whether for business or pleasure, has been so easy, cheap and popular. An attempt to put a conference centre is therefore in the right direction. This dissertation is an attempt to set out proposals for the realization of the dream. Hence it is one if the necessary tooling-up studies for development of such facilities in Ghana. The approach in tackling this dissertation was first the initial data collection of available statistical data and documented facts analysis of this information leads to problem identification and solution. Drawn up conclusion produced on appropriate design brief with other related presentations

Source: KNUST
METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION IN CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

Objectives: Lack of ethnic diversity in trials may contribute to health disparities and to inequity in health outcomes. The primary objec tive was to investigate the experiences and perspectives of ethnically diverse populations about how to improve ethnic diversity in trials. Study Design and Setting: Qualitative data were collected via 16 focus groups with participants from 21 ethnically diverse commu nities in Australia. Data collection took place between August and September 2022 in community-based settings in six capital cities: Syd ney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Darwin, and one rural town: Bordertown (South Australia). Results: One hundred and fifty-eight purposively sampled adults (aged 18e85, 49% women) participated in groups speaking Tamil, Greek, Punjabi, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Karin, Vietnamese, Nepalese, and Arabic; or English-language groups (comprising Fijian, Filipino, African, and two multicultural groups). Only 10 participants had previously taken part in medical research including three in trials. There was support for medical research, including trials; however, most participants had never been invited to participate. To increase ethnic diversity in trial populations, participants recommended recruitment via partnering with communities, translating trial materials and making them culturally accessible using audiovisual ways, promoting retention by minimizing participant burden, establishing trust and rapport between participants and researchers, and sharing individual results. Participants were reluctant to join studies on taboo topics in their com munities (eg, sexual health) or in which physical specimens (eg, blood) were needed. Participants said these barriers could be mitigated by communicating about the topic in more culturally cognizant and safe ways, explaining how data would be securely stored, and reinforcing the benefit of medical research to humanity. Conclusion: Participants recognized the principal benefits of trials and other medical research, were prepared to take part, and offered suggestions on recruitment, consent, data collection mechanisms, and retention to enable this to occur. Researchers should consider these community insights when designing and conducting trials; and government, regulators, funders, and publishers should allow for greater innovation and flexibility in their processes to enable ethnic diversity in trials to improve.

Source: KNUST
Methods of conjugate directions without line searches

Most published minimization algorithms on conjugate direction involve exact linear searches in the generation of’ the conjugate directions. Examples of these algorithms include conjugate gradient and variable metric methods. The most expensive aspect of any conjugate direction method is the (exact) linear search part. Recently, ways have been sought to avoid these exact linear searches by replacing them with inexact or approximate linear searches. This thesis examines some conjugate direction algorithms without exact linear searches, namely those by (i) R. Fletcher (ii) L. C. W. Dixon (iii) D. Goldfarb For each of these algorithms, a FORTRAN subroutine program has been written and tested on some standard test functions on an IBM PS/2 computer system.

Source: KNUST
Methoxy-flavones identified from Ageratum conyzoides induce capase -3 and -7 activations in Jurkat cells

New therapies for leukemia are urgently needed due to adverse side effects, tumor resistance and lack of selectivity of many chemotherapeutic agents in clinical use. Ageratum conyzoides has been used in folklore medicine for managing leukemia and other cancers. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of fractions, sub-fractions and purified compounds from the ethanol leaf extracts of A. conyzoides against Jurkat cells-model for acute T cell leukemia. A two-dimensional purification process using normal phase flash, followed by reverse phase purification was necessary to isolate pure methoxy-flavones, which were further characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and MS-MS. The effect of fractions or pure compounds on cell viability was determined using either the MTT reagent or CellTiter-Blue® assay, while the caspase-3 and -7 activation was tested with Caspase-Glo® 3/7 assay. Prediction of compounds’ drug disposition profiles in vivo was measured with biomimetic affinity chromatography methodologies.

Source: KNUST
Micro credit products and services in beige capital and entrepreneurship development (an assessment)

Over last two decades, microcredit became an important tool for alleviating poverty through entrepreneurial development, mostly amongst the less privileged in society. However the overall success of microcredit program depends not only on immediate alleviation of poverty but also the long-term sustainability of the financial institutions delivering microcredit services and the accumulation of assets through value addition of entrepreneurship businesses. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of microcredit services on entrepreneurship development in Ghana; specifically, the study investigate the type of financial support services provided and its value addition on entrepreneurship businesses and challenges facing beneficiaries and microcredit service providers. The survey approach, through the use of structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data from the branches of Beige Capital Savings and loans Limited in the Ashanti Region. Descriptive analysis was done to help investigate the objective set out to assess the microcredit product and services on entrepreneurship business development. It came up from the study that the type of financial support services provided by Beige Capital such as the loan product, deposit product, investment product etc are frequently provided with technical support services, sometimes. It was also revealed that customers have easy access to credit and these facilities are provided on time to meet the business needs of customers. This has helped to improve the business cycle of customers and added value to their working capital, and has helped in entrepreneurial development in general, irrespective of the challenges such as high interest rate on borrowing and administrative charges.

Source: KNUST
Micro finance and women empowerment

Microfinance has a very important role to play in women empowerment by supporting women’s socio-economic activities. This is why Opportunity International Sinapi Aba and Savings and Loans Ltd (OISASL) has established itself as one of the most important microfinance institutions in Ghana to support women with microfinance services. The objective of this study is to examine microfinance and women empowerment in the area of socio-economic development, examine the role of micro enterprises and the extent to which they have been able to assess credit from financial market in Ghana, the effect of micro finance on micro entrepreneurs, especially women, the effect of microfinance on the empowerment of women in Ghanaian society. The work has been organised into six chapters and it is as follows: Chapter one is the review of the general introduction of microfinance. It also states the objective of the study, problem statement, and outline of the as well as the background of the study area. Chapter two examines the literature review of the study. Chapter three discusses the methodology of the study. Chapter four captures the presentation of findings. Chapter five discusses the data analysis of the study through questionnaires administered, interviews and personal observation during the field work. The final chapter discusses the summary of the major findings, conclusion of the findings and recommendation which needs to be looked at and possible action taken to benefit clients and Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd.

Source: KNUST
Micro-Biological and Physico-Chemical Quality of Well Water: A Case Study of Kasseh in the Dangme East District, Ghana

have for years depended on water from hand dug wells as the main source of drinking water. Unfortunately, water from these sources was not treated before consumption. The research sought to determine the levels of physico-chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, nitrate, iron and calcium. Levels of total coliforms, faecal coliforms and E-coli were determined as a means of checking bacteriological contamination. Water samples were collected from ten (10) different well with an average depth of eight metres (8m) from the study area. The samples were stored in an ice box and transported to the microbiological laboratory at Ghana Atomic Energy Commission for analysis for both physico-chemical parameters and microbial contamination. The data showed variation of the investigated parameters in samples as follows: pH, 6.6–7.1;phosphate 31.4mg/L-46.7mg/L; conductivity (EC), 467–699μS/cm; TDS, 364-439 mg/L; F−, 0.4–0.60 mg/L; NO3 −, 21–42 mg/L; TH 45-92 mg/L; Fe, 0.06–0.3 mg/L; Mn, <0.OOO2 mg/L. All the mean figures recorded falls within the permissible limit of the World Health Organisation except the values for total coliform , faecl coliforms and Escherichia coli that were above the minimum detection limit (MDL) of 20 MP per 100 ml in all the samples. The concentrations of most of the investigated parameters in the drinking water samples from Kasseh in the Dangme East Municipality were within the permissible limits of the Environmental Protection Agency drinking water quality guidelines. This simply means that the wells were biologically contaminated and should not be use as a source of drinking water unless is been treated.

Source: KNUST
A micro-econometric analysis of household savings in Ghana

The World Bank projected Ghana to be the fastest growing economy in Sub-Saharan Africa as Ghana witnessed 14% economic growth in 2011. Domestic savings are crucial in financing high capital formation which leads to increased productivity, sustained growth and development. Unfortunately, Ghana has never witnessed national savings rising above 20% of GDP. The study examined the determinants of household savings using Ghana Living Standards Survey Round six (GLSS-6) data, by estimating the likelihood that a given household will save with respect to household factors. The study proceeded to estimate Household level of savings following the model specification of Tobit (1958), censored from below zero. Demographic factors of region, quantile income distribution, location, gender, age, educational level and house size were found as significant determinants. The pattern of savings was found skewed towards developed regions. Household with higher education were more likely to save than those with no education. With regards to income-sources and savings relationship, marginal propensity to save out of self-employed non-agricultural income sources was no different for those with self-employed non-agricultural income and wage non-agricultural income sources. The estimated level of savings result showed that, the rich (those in higher income quantiles) save more than the poor (lowest income quantile). Those in higher income quantiles had significant marginal propensity to save more than household’s in the first (1st) quantile. The house size – savings profile was examined and found to be non-linear and statistically significant. The idea of low savings has been found to be an issue of one’s literacy status. Thus, financial literacy educational reforms should be put in place.

Source: KNUST
Microbial Analysis of Soil Samples in a Wastewater Irrigated Vegetable Production Site: Case Study at Atonsu, Kumasi

Though irrigation with wastewater has potential benefits of meeting water requirements as well as providing organic matter and nutrients to soil, it may also pose health hazards to farm workers and consumers of food products from wastewater-irrigated crop production. The soil then becomes a reservoir of enteric pathogens and has the potential to transmit many various diseases of enteric origin. The study was conducted on urban vegetable farming sites at Atonsu in Kumasi, Ghana. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of irrigation with wastewater on the microbiology of soils under vegetable cultivation by, (a) assessing the soil contamination levels in wastewater irrigated agricultural plots in urban Kumasi, and (b) detecting the presence of indicator organisms associated with agricultural plots. Soil samples from two different depths (0 – 30 cm and 30 – 45 cm) were collected from fields treated with different irrigation water sources and analysed. The treatments include plots where: (i) wastewater irrigation practice has been going on for over a decade , (ii) piped-water (PW) irrigation practice has been used for over a decade (control), and (iii) no recent cultivation has taken place (control). The irrigation water sources were also sampled for analysis. Both soil and irrigation water samples were analyzed for different physicochemical (pH, soil moisture, soil texture) and biological parameters (Total coliforms (TC), Fecal coliforms (FC), and helminth eggs) using standard methods. Soil samples from all three plots carried FC and helminth egg populations ranging between 0.03 to 9.5 x 104 per 10g for FC and 0 to 30 per 10 g for helminth. A number of different types of helminth eggs, including that of Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongiloides stercoralis, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma spp. were also identified in the soil samples. All soil samples had the following bacteria genera present in them: Escherichia, Bacillus, Staphyloccus, Pseudomonas and Clostridium. The upper soil profile had higher counts of coliforms and helminth eggs than the deeper soil profile. Wastewater irrigated plots had higher numbers of coliforms and helminth counts than those obtained from the potable water irrigated and no irrigation plots. The study concluded that pathogenic microorganisms in soils irrigated with wastewater may extend into lower profiles of the soil. However, factors such as the sieving effect of soil (influenced by soil texture), higher pathogen die-off rates, lack of substrate diversity and reduced soil moisture contributed to lower counts of coliforms and helminthes in the lower profiles of soil.

Source: KNUST
Micro-financing forest product industries in Ghana

The timber industry in Ghana has had a lot of setbacks over the years and specifically in the tertiary production sector because of lack of financial services which is a key component of economic development. This research reports on findings from a micro financing survey of 135 forest products micro-enterprises, 18 formal and 28 informal financial institutions in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi. The findings revealed that forest products micro-enterprises relied mainly on family members and friends and their own resources to finance their businesses and that there exist a financial service gap between forest products micro-enterprises and formal financial institutions. The study identified financial service gaps representing demands for credit by viable micro-enterprises that could not satisfy the information .and collateral requirements of formal financial institution and these have compelled them not to apply for credit. This has been the case because of formal financial institutions’ stringent requirements for granting loans, which is tied to collateral and proper bookkeeping which cannot be easily met by micro- entrepreneurs. Financial services available from informal financial institutions are limited to small amounts and loan grant periods are also relatively short to create any meaningful impact on production hence the sector in general. These microenterprises however need larger and longer-term loans than informal lenders could provide. Micro-enterprises suggested that repayment of loans if given should be in the form of finished products or a combination of that and cash. Sector associations of micro-enterprises have suggested organization of training and seminars and the use of consultants to help with the preparation of business plans. Based on the suggestions given by the micro-enterprises it has been recommended in this work that a special unit be formed to take care of accepting repayments in the form of finished products.

Source: KNUST