ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Virtualization of knust’s tangible heritage: an Alternative medium to enhance access

Indisputably, museums provide research, educational and recreational benefits to mankind. This has been carried out manually for centuries. But with the emergence, and spread of Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) this manual services are changing rapidly to virtual services; all because the current generation of students and researchers alike unconsciously resonate towards electronic platforms to access and utilize information. Not very mindful of this, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology attempted to establish a brick and mortar museum between 2002 -2012 to showcase her heritage but to no avail. Meanwhile huge sums of money, technical and managerial resources had gone into it. In order to salvage such investment and to be able to enjoy the benefits inherent in museum services, the idea of a virtual museum was hatched as an alternative medium to achieve the same goals. The study therefore, analyzed museum services in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), designed, developed and implemented a demonstration virtual museum (Virtual Museum of KNUST– (VIMU KNUST) and finally evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of VIMU KNUST in enhancing access to KNUST’s tangible Heritage. In advocating for the creation of such a resource, the Sequential Exploratory Design in (mixed method) was employed. Questionnaires, interviews, documentary reviews and observation were used to gather data. Initial assessment results were reinforced by a subsequent survey in order to be sure of the preference of the virtual museum by the University. Additionally, a demonstration virtual museum was designed for evaluation and the evaluated opinions were used to refine it for implementation. Analysis of Data revealed that, apart from access enhancement of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s (KNUST) heritage by the Virtual Museum (VIMU KNUST), it will also provide monetary, visibility and educational benefits. More so, it became evident that the preference of the university community was on a virtual museum where patrons could sit anywhere and access it via the internet. As a sequel to these, the study recommended among others that the University Management Committee prioritizes the creation of a virtual museum as needed by the University community while ensuring that, the resource is well advertised and that the interactivity as well as navigability features of the resource is up to task.

Source: KNUST
Visual impairment, nutritional status and glycaemic control Among diabetic outpatients attending two selected hospitals in Kumasi, Ghana

Visual impairment and blindness are among the major complications of diabetes and important public health problems to address among diabetics, especially in developing countries. Diabetes mellitus, which was once thought to be uncommon in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing rapidly in the region due to rapid urbanization, the growing population and many other factors. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c), nutritional status and incidence of visual impairment, including retinopathy in outpatient diabetics in Kumasi. A total of one hundred patients attending the diabetic clinic at Ejisu Government hospital were included in the study. Anthropometry including weight and height were measured and Body Mass Indices (BMI) were calculated from the weight and height measures using the formula Glycated haemoglobin (HBA1C), fasting plasma glucose (FBG), systolic and diastolic blood pressures were determined. Twenty-four (24) hour dietary recall was used to determine nutrient intake of participants. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular-pressure (IOP), cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) and fundoscopy were carried out. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of participants were males and 83% were females. Diabetes mellitus was defined by the WHO/IDF 2006 criteria. Average age of participants was 57.8 years, and this had no gender differences. The mean systolic blood pressure of the participants in this study was 126.9±19.06 mm Hg, diastolic 80.0±10.96 mm Hg, BMI 26.6±0.7kg/² showing most of the participants were overweight. Approximately, 43.6% of the study participants had high HBA1C. Visual impairments had a prevalence of 51%; cataracts 20%, corneal opacities 10%, mild-non proliferative retinopathy 3%, mild and moderate retinopathy were 15% and 3% respectively, glaucoma 19% and sight threatening diabetic

Source: KNUST
Water quality of some branded sachet water sold in wa municipality of the Upper West region, Ghana

The importance of water cannot be underestimated, similarly its quality. As such the World Health Organization (WHO) has come out with guidelines to monitor water quality. There is complexity and debate that water cannot be set to be pure regardless of its treatment methods unless it is tested for the concentration of contaminants. From that perspective, the study tested the water quality of six (6) branded sachet water in the Wa municipality on, physico-chemical, nutrient, heavy metals and microbial parameters. Samples of the sachet water brands were collected within a three month period, and transported on ice to the laboratory. The samples were analysed at the KNUST Chemical and microbiological laboratories respectively using a potable PC 300 Water proof Hand held meter to measure pH, conductivity and TDS. Standard EDTA titrimetric and Spectrophotometric methods were also used to measure other chemical, nutrient and heavy metal parameters such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, carbonates, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, total iron and lead. The MPN method was used to measure the microbiological parameters such as Total coliform, Faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli while Membrane Filter method was used to measure Salmonella typhi. The results showed that the brands of sachet water tested recorded high concentrations of Total and Faecal coliforms above the WHO recommended guideline of (0.00cfu/100ml) and the correlation co-efficient was very strong (co-efficient = 0.9901) between the microbiological indicators. Physico-chemical parameter results showed low concentrations well below the WHO standard except for potassium and carbonate ions. For heavy metal parameters Iron (Fe) concentration was below the 0.30mg/l standard mark, while Lead (Pb) exceeded the 0.01mg/l guideline mark proposed by WHO. In conclusion, all the sachet water analyzed recorded high microbial concentrations above the WHO recommended level and for that matter the sachet water brands may not be wholesome for domestic consumption.

Source: KNUST
Wound healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the leaf and stem bark of Entada africana Guill. & Perr.

Entada africana (Mimosaceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine as a wound healing agent. This study investigated the wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities of the leaf and stem bark of E. africana in order to scientifically validate its wound healing properties. Methanol extracts of the leaf and stem bark were formulated into creams (5 20%) and tested in the dermal excision wound model in rats. The broth dilution assay was used to determine the antimicrobial activity; DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined to assess the antioxidant activity. Significant wound healing was demonstrated by topical application of the extract creams. By the 10 th day, a total wound surface closure of 98.8%, 95.8%, 96.3% and 73.9% was observed for the 10% stem bark and leaf creams, standard drug and blank cream treated groups respectively. Histo- pathological examination of the healed tissue sections showed significant collagen production, scanty inflammatory cell infiltrates and re-epithelialization whereas tissues from the blank cream treated group dis- played focal areas of abscess and diffused inflammatory cells. The methanol stem bark extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. pyogenes with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.56 mg/mL. The stem bark and leaf had antioxidant activity and were found to contain a total phenolic con- tent of 47.25 and 133.7 mg/g Gallic acid equivalent respectively and total flavonoid content of 21.06 and 88.21 mg/g quercetin equivalent respectively. The above results indicate that the leaves and stem bark of E. africana have great potential for the treatment of open wounds.

Source: KNUST
10,000 miners, 10,000 votes: Politics and mining in Ghana

In their article‘Governing access to gold in Ghana: in-depth geopolitics onmining concessions’, Luning and Pijpers (2017) discuss important politicalissues around mining in Ghana. Using the companies Keegan and Newmont asunits of analysis, and drawing on insights from geography and anthropology,the authors call for an alternative approach to geopolitical issues in mining.They point out that mining concessions are sites of governance that involve eco-nomic players–that is, mining companies and artisanal miners/galamsey–andpolitical authorities positioned at national as well as local scales (ibid.: 761). Ofgreater interest, the authors argue, is the kind of relationship that has developedbetween established exploration or mining companies andgalamseyoperators.The authors point out that the maintenance of such a relationship, thoughuneasy, is necessary in ensuring continuous mining in the areas where thesemining companies are located.This commentary focuses on an aspect of the article that deals with the issue ofgalamsey. Drawing on historical events, I discuss some key characteristics of arti-sanal mining and miners and the issue of hybrid governance, involving traditionaland modern authorities in mining in Ghana.

Source: UG
10,000 year history of plant use at Bosumpra Cave, Ghana

Investigations of hunter-gatherer subsistence, early food production, and the development of agroforestry systems during the Later Stone Age (LSA) of West Africa have proven challenging because of limited recovery and analysis of archaeological evidence relating directly to subsistence. This paper examines changes in the use of plant resources over a 10,000 year period at Bosumpra Cave, southern Ghana. Large quantities of recovered Canarium schweinfurthii (incense tree) and Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) endocarp preserved at the site allow for the assessment of previous observations about changes in the relative importance of tree fruit resources over time. Results point to the possibility that C. schweinfurthii was a managed resource and may be useful as a marker of forager subsistence in tropical forest regions. The exploitation of C. schweinfurthii persisted in the early and middle Holocene, but was eventually overshadowed in the late Holocene by Kintampo food-producing economies based on Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) and E. guineensis. The Bosumpra deposits also yielded domesticated pearl millet and cowpea, allowing for the comparison of LSA hunter-gatherer and early food producer subsistence practices and cultural interactions in southern Ghana.

Source: UG
10-year longitudinal study of malaria in children: Insights into acquisition and maintenance of naturally acquired immunity

Studies of long-term malaria cohorts have provided essential insights into how Plasmodium falciparum interacts with humans, and influences the development of antimalarial immunity. Immunity to malaria is acquired gradually after multiple infections, some of which present with clinical symptoms. However, there is considerable variation in the number of clinical episodes experienced by children of the same age within the same cohort. Understanding this variation in clinical symptoms and how it relates to the development of naturally acquired immunity is crucial in identifying how and when some children stop experiencing further malaria episodes. Where variability in clinical episodes may result from different rates of acquisition of immunity, or from variable exposure to the parasite. Methods: Using data from a longitudinal cohort of children residing in an area of moderate P. falciparum transmission in Kilifi district, Kenya, we fitted cumulative episode curves as monotonic-increasing splines, to 56 children under surveillance for malaria from the age of 5 to 15. Results: There was large variability in the accumulation of numbers of clinical malaria episodes experienced by the children, despite being of similar age and living in the same general location. One group of children from a particular sub-region of the cohort stopped accumulating clinical malaria episodes earlier than other children in the study. Despite lack of further clinical episodes of malaria, these children had higher asymptomatic parasite densities and higher antibody titres to a panel of P. falciparum blood-stage antigens. Conclusions: This suggests development of clinical immunity rather than lack of exposure to the parasite, and supports the view that this immunity to malaria disease is maintained by a greater exposure to P. falciparum, and thus higher parasite burdens. Our study illustrates the complexity of anti-malaria immunity and underscores the need for analyses which can sufficiently reflect the heterogeneity within endemic populations.

Source: UG
18S and ITS1 genomic sequence variations in Rotylenchulus reniformis isolates from Alabama

Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., is highly susceptible to infection by reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis), which can cause over 10% reduction of cotton yields in Alabama. Detection of reniform nematode (RN) and analysis for molecular variation within its population is important for understanding its interactions with cotton and other host plant species. Restriction analysis of PCR products of ITS1 regions was achieved using four restriction enzymes, HaeIII, HhaI, MspI, and RsaI. These showed similar banding patterns for both male and female populations. However, MspI digestion of ITS1 amplification products showed variants within the combined sex and location effects primarily attributed to a 500 bp fragment that was absent in other restriction digestions. Intra-nematodal variations in 18S and ITS1 rDNA were studied in detail by sequencing a minimum of ten clones in each individual male and female RN isolates in both directions. Multiple sequence alignment of the 18S rDNA sequences showed two major types of sequences within this gene for both male and female RN clones, which could be distinguished at 27 specific sites. Two distinct ITS1 fragments of lengths (550 bp and 720 bp) were observed; referred to as ITS1S and ITS1L respectively. Neighbor-joining analysis was used in revealing the relationships and grouping characteristics between male and female RN clones, with clones grouping together irrespective of sex and isolate. Sequencing of one-third of the 18S and ITS1 rDNA regions provided clear evidence of intra-and inter-nematode variability, in addition to gene conversion events in the 18S rDNA of individual male and female RN clones. © The Cotton Foundation 2013.

Source: UG
An 18S ribosomal DNA barcode for the study of Isomermis lairdi, a parasite of the blackfly Simulium damnosum s.l.

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
20 year trends in renal disease mortality in Ghana: A review of autopsies

AIM: Data on the changing levels in renal morbidity and mortality are scant globally. We sought to assess trends in renal disease mortality and attributable causes over a 20 year period in Ghana. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 20 year autopsy records of the Pathology Departments of leading teaching hospitals in Ghana, (Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi) from January 1994 to December 2013. Data comprising autopsies from in-patients, community cases and coroners' cases were used. We defined primary cause of death as death directly due to renal disease and secondary cause of death as death in which renal disease was a comorbid or contributing factor. RESULTS: Over the period, there were a total of 94 309 deaths, of which 5608 were attributed to renal disease (5.9/100). Mortality rate remained fairly the same from 1994 to 2009 (5.0%), but doubled from 2010 to 2013 (10.8%). Similar trends were observed among males and females during the same period. However, males had slightly higher mortality rates (6.6%; 95% CI: 46.1%-6.8%) compared to females (5.6%; 95% CI: 5.4%-5.8%; P = 0.271). The major leading attributable causes of renal disease death include end stage renal disease 45.0% and acute pyelonephritis accounting for 20.9% of the cases. Hypertensive heart disease accounted for 30.0% of all secondary cause of death while congestive heart disease and septicaemia accounted for 13.0% and 12.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We observed marked increase in the renal disease mortality rate during the last few years predominantly driven by chronic and infectious related renal diseases as a main cause, and hypertensive heart disease and congestive heart failure as the main secondary causes. Measures geared towards prevention, treatment and managing such conditions may impact on the reduction of renal disease mortality rate among Ghanaian populations.

Source: UG
The 2000 general elections and presidential run-off in Ghana: An overview

The December 2000 general elections and presidential run-off in Ghana were arguably the most important since independence in 1957 and constituted a significant landmark in Ghana's democratic development. This article explains the reasons why, and offers a detailed account of the election campaign, an assessment of the quality of the electoral process and an analysis of the results. The opposition victory is explained in terms of several key factors, before concluding with regard to the positive implications for the consolidation of democracy in Ghana in the future.

Source: UG
The 2008 Political Parties’ Code of Conduct in Ghana: A Toothless Bulldog?

The idea of drafting a Code of Conduct for political parties in the run up to the December 2008 General Elections by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana) under the auspices of the Ghana Political Parties’ Programme (GPPP), was hailed by many Ghanaians and political analysts as a step in the right direction. Indeed, the establishment and inauguration of enforcement bodies under the Code was seen as a useful initiative by The IEA to give the Code “teeth to bite”. This study however reveals that the establishment and inauguration of the enforcement bodies under the Code did not make it unique after all. In more practical terms, the study revealed that the 2008 Political Parties’ Code of Conduct is not in anyway different from the ones drafted in 2000 and 2004. It is just as ineffective as a toothless bull dog that can only bark but cannot bite. The whole process of drafting the Code can therefore be described as one of the numerous Ghanaian efforts at looking for solutions to problems through workshops, retreats and symposia whose outcomes and resolutions are never implemented but left on shelves to gather dust

Source: UG
The 2020 Maize Production Failure in Ghana: A Case Study of Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality

This paper examines the causes of widespread maize production failure in Ghana during the 2020 minor growing season. A mixed-methods approach was used to study smallholder maize farmers in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality to provide a holistic understanding of the factors behind the maize production failure and to inform policy interventions. The results show that the decline in maize grain yield was caused by the failure of the minor season rains and, more importantly, the destruction of maize plants by fall armyworms. Other factors include poor soils and inadequate farm inputs contributed minimally to the observed maize failures. The agronomic practices adopted by the farmers to mitigate crop failures were undermined by their inability to master the onset and cessation of rainfall, the ineffectiveness of pesticides to control the fall armyworms and financial challenges. It is recommended that the government promote and support rainwater harvesting to address the impacts of drought and pests on food crop production. Furthermore, to ensure sustainable For food production, a combination of indigenous knowledge and scientific farm practices are crucial. accurately forecast the weather and control the fall armyworms.

Source: UG
2023: International Student Employability: Narratives of Strengths, Challenges, and Strategies from Global South Students

Studying abroad is seen as a very beneficial aspect of any study experience. And in some countries or cultures, it is expected to be a part of the path carved by any serious potential academician. With studying abroad, and the expectations of being highly employable post one's graduation, it can be quite a disappointment should one's expectations of employability, and the job market not match the reality of employment within the country of origin, or the country of sojourn. This chapter intends to examine the expectations individuals have prior to graduation, the discrepancy between that and the reality of the job market, and tentative solutions to the challenges faced. Narratives from current and former international students/study "abroaders" will be included to depict the actual experiences of these individuals and how their experiences connect to the broader issue under discussion.

Source: UG
2024 Symposium on African Digital Humanities: Digital Humanities, African Stories, and Agency

The symposium particularly welcomes graduate students and early-career faculty interested in digital humanities and will provide stipends for graduate students in the region to attend. The 2024 symposium seeks to stimulate a dialogue that addresses the intersections of the digital humanities and African stories and agency. We will explore digital storytelling and its connections to African narratives, the extractive politics of platform, AI and African agency, as well as diverse approaches and issues related to building an inclusive digital cultural record for local and global communities.

Source: UG