ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Starch physicochemical properties of rice accessions and their association with molecular markers

The grain quality of rice has recently attracted a lot of attention around the world, including Africa. Rice germplasm in African gene banks has not been adequately characterized for its cooking and eating qualities which are mainly controlled by starch physicochemical properties. The aim of this study was to characterize two groups of rice germplasm from Africa and the U.S. for starch properties including gelatinization temperature (GT), apparent amylose content (AAC), and paste viscosity (RVA), and to determine molecular marker associations with these traits. Wide diversity was found for all traits studied. Variation in these traits was significantly associated with molecular markers for the alk and waxy genes which encodes soluble SS II (SSIIa) and granule bound synthase (GBSS) enzymes, respectively. Based on four previously reported waxy SNP haplotypes, 93.1 and 75.9% of the variation in AAC was explained for the U.S. and African germplasm, respectively. The classification of the genotypes by their SNP haplotypes helped to clarify the relationship between AAC and peak viscosity. The characterization of individual lines using physicochemical properties and functional markers, and the determination of marker-trait associations will facilitate the breeding of rice for grain quality in Africa and elsewhere. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Source: UG
A STAT6 intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism is associated with clinical malaria in Ghanaian children

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
State Behaviour and Rebellion in West Africa: A Case Study of La Côte D’ivoire

This study appraised the impact of state behaviour on rebellion in La Côte d’Ivoire. It was occasioned by the continued recurrence of rebellion in that country, despite efforts at ensuring peace. Rebellion undermines political and socio-economic development; hence the need to investigate the extent to which state behaviour has contributed to rebellion in La Côte d’Ivoire. The research set out three objectives. First, it sought to examine the relationship between state behaviour and rebellion. Secondly, it was to identify the role of political leadership in the rebellion in La Côte d’Ivoire. Finally, it was to propose sustainable strategies to control rebellion in La Côte d’Ivoire. The scope of the study centered on La Côte d’Ivoire and focuses on rebellion as a consequence of dreadful state behaviour. The time frame was restricted to 1993 and 2011. The research adopted the content analysis method, using primary and secondary data from individuals, the internet, and libraries. Its major finding was that undemocratic behaviour of the political elites such as the introduction of “Ivoirite”, redrafting of the electoral code, election malpractices and bad governance led to the rebellion. The study looked at the peaceful and stable atmosphere the Houphouet-Boigny-led government sustained from independence to 1993. Of particular interest was his ability to maintain stability with the policy of “reconciliation” during the latter part of his reign, when the country encountered political turbulence occasioned by economic recession. The research held that the rebellion in La Côte d’Ivoire was a direct consequence of the behaviour of succeeding political leaders towards their citizens. Accordingly, the work viewed state behaviour in La Côte d’Ivoire as those tendencies or traits that generated conflict between governments and their citizens, mainly engendered by incompetent leadership. It was also discovered that, states confronted with incidents of rebellion tackled them by adopting autocratic tendencies. The study concluded that rather than adopt coercive force against aggrieved citizens, the Ivorian Government should institute policies aimed at uniting the different ethnic, religious, political, and interest groups within the country by developing politics of multicultural integration. It should also adopt enhancement strategies like conflict prevention, peace promotion, the consolidation of good behaviour, and democratic practice aimed at eliminating conflicts to facilitate socio-political and economic development. The Government of La Côte d’Ivoire should also ensure that power and resources are equitably distributed to avoid perceived marginalisation of minority ethnic or interest groups. The ECOWAS Secretariat should ensure capacity-building for early warning and conflict management strategies of the sub-region in order to eliminate conflicts and promote development. Finally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) should indict key political figures who lead atrocities against civilians to serve as deterrent to others.

Source: UG
The state of corporate social responsibility research in Ghana: A synthesis of literature

There are recent calls to pay attention to the institutional requirement or the config urations of the national business system because it eventually results in the different manifestation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in different contexts. This has led to several contestations against the suitability of transferring developed countries' CSR frameworks and ideas to developing countries. Yet literature reviews about CSR in developing countries and in Africa, in particular, are limited. This paper, therefore, contributes to this gap by systematically reviewing and synthesizing 113 CSR's stud ies from Ghana between 2006 and 2018. Altogether, this paper structures CSR research in Ghana into salient themes to provide the current state of knowledge and help scholars scope the field and explore value‐adding avenues to further our understanding about CSR research in developing countries. Based on the findings, implication on theory, public policy, and practice are suggested.

Source: UG
State Of Dietetics Practice In Ghana

Objective: The prevalence of obesity and related diseases has increased in Ghana. Dietitians have essential skills to prevent and manage dietary diseases. However, little is known about dietetic practice in Ghana. This paper describes the history and current state of dietetics practice in Ghana. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 13 die titians and six dietetic interns in February 2012. The questionnaire collected data on perceptions about die tactics practice, career progression, and challenges in dietetics practice in Ghana. Key informant interviews (KII) on the history of dietetics in Ghana were also held with four retired dietitians and two dietetics educators. Additional KII were conducted with the Chief dietitian, two officers of the Ghana Dietetic Association, and three other dietitians. Most KII were conducted face-to-face but a few were only possible via telephone. Some of the KII were audio-recorded, in addition to handwritten notes. Following the transcription of audio-recorded interviews, all data were subjected to content analysis. Results: Dietetic practice in Ghana has evolved from a low-skilled cadre (catering officers) offering hospital-based meal services to the current era of available trained dietitians providing diet therapy in diverse settings. However, 80% of the 35 dietitians identified are working in Accra. In three regions of Ghana, there are no dietitians. There remain limited opportunities for continuous learning and professional career advancement. Additionally, there are many unqualified diet tians in practice. Conclusion: A huge unmet need for dietitians exists in all regions of Ghana, except Greater Accra. Bridging this gap is essential to increase access to dietetic care throughout Ghana.

Source: UG
State of dietetics practice in Ghana

OBJECTIVE: Prevalence of obesity and related diseases has increased in Ghana. Dietitians have essential skills to prevent and manage dietary diseases. However, little is known about dietetic practice in Ghana. This paper describes the history and current state of dietetics practice in Ghana.METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 13 dietitians and six dietetic interns in February 2012. The questionnaire collected data on perceptions about dietetics practice, career progression, and challenges in dietetics practice in Ghana. Key informant interviews (KII) on history of dietetics in Ghana were also held with four retired dietitians, and two dietetics educators. Additional KII were conducted with the Chief dietitian, two officers of the Ghana Dietetic Association, and three other dietitians. Most KII were conducted face-to-face but a few were only possible via telephone. Some of the KII were audio-recorded, in addition to handwritten notes. Following transcription of audiorecorded interviews, all data were subjected to content analysis.RESULTS: Dietetic practice in Ghana has evolved from low-skilled cadre (catering officers) offering hospital-based meal services to the current era of available trained dietitians providing diet therapy in diverse settings. However, 80% of the 35 dietitians identified are working in Accra. In three regions of Ghana, there are no dietitians. There remain limited opportunities for continuous learning and professional career advancement. Additionally, there are many unqualified dietitians in practice.CONCLUSION: A huge unmet need for dietitians exists in all regions of Ghana, except Greater Accra. Bridging this gap is essential to increase access to dietetic care throughout Ghana.

Source: UG
State of Dietetics Practice in Ghana: A Nation-Wide Situational Analysis

Objective: Prevalence of obesity and related diseases has increased in Ghana. Dietitians have essential skills to prevent and manage dietary diseases. However, little is known about dietetic practice in Ghana. This paper describes the history and current state of dietetics practice in Ghana. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 13 dietitians and six dietetic interns in February 2012. The questionnaire collected data on perceptions about dietetics practice, career progression, and challenges in dietetics practice in Ghana. Key informant interviews (KII) on history of dietetics in Ghana were also held with four retired dietitians, and two dietetics educators. Additional KII were conducted with the Chief dietitian, two officers of the Ghana Dietetic Association, and three other dietitians. Most KII were conducted faceto- face but a few were only possible via telephone. Some of the KII were audio-recorded, in addition to handwritten notes. Following transcription of audiorecorded interviews, all data were subjected to content analysis. Results: Dietetic practice in Ghana has evolved from low-skilled cadre (catering officers) offering hospitalbased meal services to the current era of available trained dietitians providing diet therapy in diverse settings. However, 80% of the 35 dietitians identified are working in Accra. In three regions of Ghana, there are no dietitians. There remain limited opportunities for continuous learning and professional career advancement. Additionally, there are many unqualified dietitians in practice. Conclusion: A huge unmet need for dietitians exists in all regions of Ghana, except Greater Accra. Bridging this gap is essential to increase access to dietetic care throughout Ghana.

Source: UG
The state of digital heritage resources management in Ghana

In this paper, we discuss the state of digital heritage resources management in Ghana. The paper is based on a PhD research that explored contextual factors that were either enabling or hindering the management and preservation of digital cultural heritage resources in Ghana. The research employed an interpretive case research design. Data was drawn through semi-structured interviews with 27 key stakeholders from 23 institutions in Ghana. The term Digital Preservation Management (DPM) was used to refer to all the procedures, technologies, information infrastructure and processes involved in the general state of digital cultural heritage resources management and preservation in Ghana. Four main clusters of contextual factors; attitudinal-related, resources-related, policy-related, and management-related factors were found to be influencing DPM in Ghana. Although the DPM innovation was not fully diffused in Ghana, related activities occurring at the base, middle and higher levels of the Ghanaian Social System were inadvertently fostering the adoption process. In addition to the study contributing to theoretical understandings in information systems research in a developing country context, it provides policy developers in Ghana and related countries in African with an empirical base for accelerating DPM adoption.

Source: UG
The state of food security and its determinants in Ghana: an ordered probit analysis of the household hunger scale and household food insecurity access scale

The issue of food insecurity has been well documented to be severe in northern Ghana. Several attempts have been made to curb the situation, but the effects of these interventions are unknown. Using responses from 405 rural households, this paper estimates the determinants of food insecurity in the Upper East region. Data were analysed using de scriptive statistics and an ordered probit regression. The Household Food Security Access Scale (HFIAS) and the Household Hunger Scale (HHS) were the two measures of household food security used in the study. This paper validates and compares the two measures used to check whether determinants and status of household food security differ between the two measures. The findings show that the two measures of food security agreed on most of the significant determinants of household food security. Factors such as education of household head, households’ farm size, access to credit and access to extension services were significant determinants of household food security by both measures. Factors such as household size, access to good roads, access to formal cooperative and availability of paid jobs were found to be significant determinants of household food security with the HFIAS, while gender of household head and distance to market were significant determinants of food security in the HHS model. The study recommends improved education, social structures such as good roads and markets as well as support services such as credit and extension to combat food insecurity. These key steps should be taken as pillars to the sustainable implementation of Agenda 2063 for a food secure Africa.

Source: UG
The state of food systems worldwide in the countdown to 2030

This Analysis presents a recently developed food system indicator framework and holistic monitoring architecture to track food system transformation towards global development, health and sustainability goals. Five themes are considered: (1) diets, nutrition and health; (2) environment, natural resources and production; (3) livelihoods, poverty and equity; (4) governance; and (5) resilience. Each theme is divided into three to fve indicator domains, and indicators were selected to refect each domain through a consultative process. In total, 50 indicators were selected, with at least one indicator available for every domain. Harmonized data of these 50 indicators provide a baseline assessment of the world’s food systems. We show that every country can claim positive outcomes in some parts of food systems, but none are among the highest ranked across all domains. Furthermore, some indicators are independent of national income, and each highlights a specifc aspiration for healthy, sustainable and just food systems. The Food Systems Countdown Initiative will track food systems annually to 2030, amending the framework as new indicators or better data emerge

Source: UG
The state of monetary policy and industrial asset allocation: the Ghanaian perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether asset allocation across various industries listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) varies across different monetary policy states. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts the Markov Chain technique to split monetary policy into three different states. The authors further adopt the Markowitz portfolio optimization technique to find the minimum variance and optimum portfolio for the industries listed on the GSE. Findings The finding reveals a dynamic asset allocation, which varies the industry’s weight mix across the various monetary policy states enhance excess returns compared to the static asset allocation. Specifically, the authors find risk-return trade-off among industries listed on the GSE. Financial and Food and Beverage industries portfolios record high returns relative to the Government of Ghana 91-day Treasury bill. The Food and Beverage portfolio is the only portfolio that records relatively high excess returns across all the monetary policy states. The authors also find that, during expansionary state (high monetary policy rates) of the monetary policy, investors are to allocate about 69 and 30 percent of their investment into food and beverages and financials, respectively. Corner solution is found in the transient state where 100 percent of wealth is allocated to financial to obtain the optimum portfolio. The optimum portfolio in the contraction state assigns 52 percent to financials and 42 percent to manufacturing. In summary, the result supports the dependence of investors’ asset allocation decisions on monetary policy. Practical implications Therefore, the authors propose an investment strategy which is dynamic and takes into consideration the monetary policy states rather than static asset allocation which maintains the same industry weight mix over the investment period. Social implications In sum, the authors interpret the result as support for the dependence of investors’ asset allocation decisions on monetary policy. In Ghana, an increase in the monetary policy appears to support industries listed on the equity market. The result also gives knowledge about investors’ asset allocation decisions on the GSE, which is practical balanced source of information for investors’ risk and return choices. For a prudent monetary policy framework, the monetary policy committee should monitor industries listed on the GSE. The result from the analysis has also an implication for investors, portfolio managers and fund managers to consider the state of the monetary policy in Ghana when making investment decisions. Originality/value The study differs from earlier research on asset allocation by breaking new grounds on two levels. First of all, based on the notion that different industries have different exposures to monetary policy states, the authors extend the portfolios by grouping the equities listed on the GSE into their industrial sectors. Second, the authors examine how investors’ optimal portfolio allocation may change depending on the state of monetary policy.

Source: UG
State Policy, Depeasantization and Agrarian Change: The Effects of Presidential Special Initiative (PSI) on Cassava-Starch on Peasant Farmers’ Socio-Economic Livelihoods

This study focuses on the interface between state policy initiatives, the process of depeasantisation and agrarian change, using the Presidential Special Initiative on Cassava-Starch as a case. Employing both quantitative and qualitative data gathering techniques, primary data were collected from six farming communities in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya and Atebubu-Amantin districts of the Central and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. The analysis of primary data revealed that with the right policy initiatives by the state, it is possible to systematically incorporate peasant farmers into mainstream economy and to improve their socio-economic livelihoods. To this extent, the study recommends among others that given the importance of cassava to peasant farmers and its potential in both local and international markets, there should be consistent effort to promote its cultivation through extensive research and development with the view of introducing new varieties with high yields along with right agronomic practices.

Source: UG
State-business relations for entrepreneurial takeoff in Africa: institutional analysis

Purpose – Reports and experiences suggest that several developing African economies are faced with entrepreneurial-impeding forces such as lengthy bureaucratic processes and poor regulatory space. The study examines a general trend in “doing business performance” among selected African countries and uses the case of Ghana to explore how particular indicators or forces affect the development and deployment of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) policies. Design/methodology/approach – Comparative analysis of six African economies on their ease of doing business score. This is followed by a critical review of the literature to develop a six-point explanatory framework to explore the relative position of the six countries on the ease of doing business scores. Using Ghana as a critical case study, the authors deploy an in-depth case study analysis via in-depth interviews of relevant stakeholders to validate the information from secondary sources. Findings – The study observes that the nature of leadership, socio-cultural imperatives, economic structure and policy and the role of domestic institutional players and international players have implications for the extent to which the state creates an enabling environment for SMEs and entrepreneurial activities. The role of supportive cultural software that will help drive SME and entrepreneurial growth has been established. The study contends that different aspects of national culture do have implications for the tendency for people to be business-minded or to have the ability to take risks. The demand and supply sides are crucial in promoting SME growth. Originality/value – The study develops a framework that helps explore elements to help explain ease of doing business scores and the viability of SMEs in Africa. These elements were validated through qualitative interviews as well.

Source: UG
State-civil society partnerships for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in Ghana: Exploring factors associated with successes and challenges

Background: The past decade has seen an increased number of state-civil society partnerships in the global Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) response of many countries. However, there has been limited research carried out concerning the successes and challenges of these partnerships. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 participants from 21 different state-civil society partnerships throughout Ghana including all three major geographical zones (Northern, Middle, and Southern zones) to examine the nature of these partnerships and their positive and negative effects in responding to the national HIV/AIDS epidemic. Results: Major themes included: 1) commitment by the government and civil society organizations to work cooperatively in order to support the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS interventions in Ghana; 2) the role of civil society organizations in facilitating community mobilization; capacity building; and information, resources and skills exchange to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of these partnerships for HIV prevention and treatment; and 3) significant challenges including funding issues and other structural barriers for these partnerships that need to be addressed moving forward. Conclusions: Future research should focus on examining the impact of recommended changes on state-civil partnerships and studying the extent and nature of these partnerships in other countries in order to establish the generalizability of the findings from this study.

Source: UG