ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Downgrading - an overlooked reality in African cities: Reflections from an indigenous neighborhood of Accra, Ghana

African cities contain a range of low-income ethnic and cultural enclaves that defy conventional ‘slum’ typecasts and intervention guidelines. Further, new forms of urbanization (e.g. gated communities and informal settlements) have received heavy emphasis in recent urban geographic research. Such research emphases have many unintended consequences; one of which is that traditional indigenous neighborhoods in the older city are glossed over. This paper focuses on urban downgrading in Korle Gonno, a prominent and established indigenous community in Accra, Ghana. Using mixed-method data (including surveys), the results illustrate that a traditional neighborhood encounters many of the same dimensions of urban poverty as the more famed slums in the city, yet it experiences different poverty trajectories. We argue that the prevailing slum profiling techniques fall short of capturing these trajectories; more nuanced approaches that capture continuity and discontinuity with past and present socioeconomic processes are necessary. Attention must be rebalanced toward understanding the deterioration of these neighborhoods if policymakers, planners and urban theorists are to obtain a comprehensive picture of poverty dynamics and appropriate interventions in African cities

Source: UG
Downscaled climate change projections for Wa District in the Savanna zone of Ghana

The possibility of future climate change in Ghana has received much attention due to repeated droughts and floods over the last decades. The savanna zone which is described as the food basket of Ghana is highly susceptible to climate change impact. Scenarios from 20- year time slices of the near future - 2046-2065 - and the far future - 2081-2100 - climate change meant to help guide policy remain a challenge. Empirical downscaling performed at the local-scale of Wa District in the savanna zone of Ghana under the IPCC A2 SRES emissions scenario showed evidence of probable climate change with mean annual temperatures expected to increase over an estimated range of 1.5°C to 2.3°C in the near future, with number of cool nights becoming less frequent, especially during the Harmattan1 period. The dry season is expected to be warmer than the wet season, with high inter-annual variations projected in both maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures. Given an average of 1 day of Tmax &gt; 40°C per month in the control period of 1961-2000, the number of hot days is expected to increase to 12 by 2046-2065. An increase in total rainfall is projected with possible shifts in distribution toward the end of the year, with a slight increase in rainfall during the dry season and an increase of rainfall at the onset and toward the end of the wet season. However, a decrease in June rainfall is projected in the wet season. The objective of this paper is to improve the understanding of future climate as a guide to local level medium-term development plans of effective adaptation options for Wa district in the savanna zone of Ghana.

Source: UG
Downward Accountability of NGOs in Community Project Planning In Ghana

This article examines the downward accountability of NGOs in community project planning in Ghana. It is based on primary data collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with NGO officials, local government officials and representatives, chiefs, women leaders, and other community members. The findings reveal that although community members were engaged in project planning processes in many respects, these engagements were limited to endorsing pre-prepared plans, decisions, and mundane aspects of the project. The engagements were largely tokenistic, rhetorical, and to garnish legitimacy, and lacked the key elements of empowerment which promoted downward accountability.

Source: UG
Doxycycline Leads to Sterility and Enhanced Killing of Female Onchocerca volvulus Worms in an Area With Persistent Microfilaridermia After Repeated Ivermectin Treatment: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial

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
Dr. Aggrey Ambassador for Africa

Aggrey Became a Hero of mine away back in my student days when I read and was fascinated by Edwin Smith’s book, Aggrey of Africa. Later, as a missionary in different parts of Africa, I came across Aggrey's "spoor", so to speak, and discovered that Edwin Smith had by no means exaggerated the influence of Aggrey on his fellow Africans. Some months ago, the publishers asked me to write a life of Aggrey for their Torch Biographies. I leapt at the opportunity and started to work at once. It will be clear to anyone who has read Edwin Smith's book that I have based my account solidly on the foundations he has laid and I gratefully acknowledge the help his work has given me. I am glad to add my humble witness to the character and work of one of the outstandingly big men of our generation-J. E. K. Aggrey

Source: UG
Draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain CT34, isolated from a Ghanaian soil sample

Presented here is a draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain CT34, which produces a novel ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP). Analysis of the deduced open reading frame set identified the putative RiPP biosynthesis gene cluster, as well as other secondary metabolite gene clusters. © 2015 Zhai et al.

Source: UG
Dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) As Tools For Habitat Quality Assessment And Monitoring

Dragonflies have been recommended for habitat quality assessment and monitoring. The University of Ghana, Legon Campus dragonfly fauna was assessed and their conservation status evaluated. The water bodies present were assessed and found to serve as breeding sites of the dragonflies. Twenty six dragonfly species belonging to three families were recorded making up 23.6% of the country’s total dragonfly fauna. Based on these, management strategies were recommended for the area.

Source: UG
The Drama of Infertility: Reading Isa 56:1-8 from a Krobo Perspective

In most cultures in Ghana, both male and female infertility are believed to be a curse and a sign of an unfruitful life. The ability to procreate thus defines the identity of the person and his/her existential value in relation to others. Furthermore, childlessness becomes an overwhelming drama as it is perceived to depict an inferior state of being or a life of incompleteness. This type of social identity construction raises serious hermeneutical issues in its engagement with the Judeo-Christian message of inclusiveness. Against this backdrop, this study reads the drama surrounding infertility within the Krobo worldview from the horizon of Isa 56:1-8, using the Communicative hermeneutic approach. Our findings are that an engagement between the Krobo worldview and the Isaian text creates both tension and transformation. The tension comes about because of the contrast of views; and the transformation resides in the change of perspective. The text provides a rich and an alternative understanding of infertility: another way of being and not a curse.

Source: UG
Dried serum spots on pre-punched filter paper discs are ready-to-use storage and shipping devices for blood-borne antigens and antibodies

Dried serum spots that are well prepared can be attractive alternatives to frozen serum samples for shelving specimens in a medical or research center's biobank and mailing freshly prepared serum to specialized laboratories. During the pre-analytical phase, complications can arise which are often challenging to identify or are entirely overlooked. These complications can lead to reproducibility issues, which can be avoided in serum protein analysis by implementing optimized storage and transfer procedures. With a method that ensures ac curate loading of filter paper discs with donor or patient serum, a gap in dried serum spot preparation and subsequent serum analysis shall be filled. Pre-punched filter paper discs with a 3 mm diameter are loaded within seconds in a highly reproducible fashion (approximately 10% standard deviation) when fully submerged in 10 μl of serum, named the “Submerge and Dry” protocol. Such prepared dried serum spots can store several hundred micrograms of proteins and other serum components. Serum-borne antigens and antibodies are reproducibly released in 20 μl elution buffer in high yields (approximately 90%). Dried serum spot-stored and eluted antigens kept their epitopes and antibodies their antigen binding abilities as was assessed by SDS-PAGE, 2D gel electrophoresis-based proteomics, and Western blot analysis, suggesting pre-punched filter paper discs as handy solution for serological tests.

Source: UG
Drier tropical forests are susceptible to functional changes in response to a long‐term drought

Climatic changes have profound effects on the distribution of biodiversity, but untangling the links between climatic change and ecosystem functioning is challenging, particularly in high diversity systems such as tropical forests. Tropical forests may also show different responses to a changing climate, with baseline climatic conditions potentially inducing differences in the strength and timing of responses to droughts. Trait‐based approaches provide an opportunity to link functional composition, ecosystem function and environmental changes. We demonstrate the power of such approaches by presenting a novel analysis of long‐term responses of different tropical forest to climatic changes along a rainfall gradient. We explore how key ecosystem's biogeochemical properties have shifted over time as a consequence of multi‐decadal drying. Notably, we find that drier tropical forests have increased their deciduous species abundance and generally changed more functionally than forests growing in wetter conditions, suggesting an enhanced ability to adapt ecologically to a drying environment.

Source: UG
Drivers of Anaemia Reduction Among Women of Reproductive Age in the Eastern and Upper West Regions of Ghana: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys

Anaemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) increases the risk of pregnancy-related morbidity, mortality, and poor pregnancy outcomes. Globally, there is growing interest to reduce anaemia among WRA. In Ghana, anaemia among WRA declined at the national level between 2008 (59%) and 2014 (42%). There were also important declines at the sub-national level. The Eastern region (in the south) and Upper West region (in the north) provide an interesting opportunity to understand the decline. Identifying the drivers of anaemia reduction among WRA in Ghana provides important implementation science evidence for designing effective interventions. This current study examined the drivers of reduced anaemia prevalence in women of reproductive age using data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys for 2008 and 2014. Anaemia was diagnosed as haemoglobin<12.0g/dl. Data were summarized using proportions and 95% confidence intervals. A weighted binary logistic-based multivariate decomposition technique was used to identify the potential drivers of anaemia across surveys for 2003, 2008 and 2014. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to test the robustness of the results of the decomposition analysis using haemoglobin concentration. The results of the decomposition analysis were presented as endowment and coefficient effects. Statistical analysis was carried out using Stata version 15. There was an improvement in access to water and sanitation, health services, family planning, and health insurance across surveys. Drivers of anaemia reduction over time at the national level included wealth index and maternal age, education, use of hormonal contraception and body mass index (BMI). In the Eastern region, the drivers of change were household wealth index, maternal age, hormonal contraceptive use and BMI. The drivers of change in the Upper West region, were household access to water, maternal education and BMI. The findings suggest that multi-level interventions are needed across sectors to further reduce anaemia among WRA.

Source: UG
Drivers of anaemia reduction among women of reproductive age in the eastern and upper west regions of Ghana: A secondary data analysis of the Ghana demographic and health surveys

Anaemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) increases the risk of pregnancy-related morbidity, mortality, and poor pregnancy outcomes. Globally, there is growing interest in reducing anaemia among WRA. In Ghana, anaemia among WRA declined at the national level between 2008 (59%) and 2014 (42%). There were also important declines at the sub-national level. The Eastern region (in the south) and Upper West region (in the north) provide an interesting opportunity to understand the decline. Identifying the drivers of anaemia reduction among WRA in Ghana provides important implementation science evidence for designing effective interventions. This current study examined the drivers of reduced anaemia prevalence in women of reproductive age using data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys for 2008 and 2014. Anaemia was diagnosed as haemoglobin<12.0g/dl. Data were summarized using proportions and 95% confidence intervals. A weighted binary logistic-based multivariate decomposition technique was used to identify the potential drivers of anaemia across surveys for 2003, 2008 and 2014. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to test the robustness of the results of the decomposition analysis using haemoglobin concentration. The results of the decomposition analysis were presented as endowment and coefficient effects. Statistical analysis was carried out using Stata version 15. There was an improvement in access to water and sanitation, health services, family planning, and health insurance across surveys. Drivers of anaemia reduction over time at the national level included wealth index and maternal age, education, use of hormonal contraception and body mass index (BMI). In the Eastern region, the drivers of change were household wealth index, maternal age, hormonal contraceptive use and BMI. The drivers of change in the Upper West region, were household access to water, maternal education and BMI. The findings suggest that multi-level interventions are needed across sectors to further reduce anaemia among WRA.

Source: UG
Drivers of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age: insights from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

Background The two major causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana are breast cancer (BC) and cer vical cancer (CC). These types of cancers typically do not show any symptoms until they have progressed. Therefore, it is important to screen for early detection. This research aimed to investigate the rate of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening, as well as the factors associated with it, among women of reproductive age in Ghana. Methods This study analysed data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 15,014 women aged 15 to 49 years were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to analyse the data with the aid of STATA/SE, version 17. Results It was found that 18.4% and 5.0% of the women had screened for BC and CC, respectively. Women aged 45–49 years were about three times more likely (aOR=2.83, 95% CI: 1.88–4.24) to screen for BC compared to those aged 15–19 years. Women who had tested for HIV had increased odds (aOR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.56–2.25) of screening for BC compared to their counterparts. Women within the richest wealth index (aOR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.40–2.72) had increased odds of screening for BC compared to those in the poorest wealth index. Regarding CC screening, women with higher education (aOR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.53–4.29) were two times more likely to screen for CC compared to those with no formal education. Women who did not use tobacco (aOR=0.45, 95% CI: 0.21–0.96) had decreased odds of CC screening compared to their counterparts. Conclusions This study showed that the uptake of BC and CC screening services among women in Ghana was very low. The drivers of BC and CC screening included enabling, predisposing, and need factors. Stakeholders can lever age the mass media to raise awareness and educate women in reproductive age about the importance of BC and CC screening. This study provides relevant information that can inform BC and CC policies and programmes in Ghana.

Source: UG
Drivers of consumer food choices of multinational corporations’ products over local foods in Ghana: a maximum difference scaling study

Introduction The fundamental transformation of food systems and retail environments in low-income countries is influencing consumers’ food choices and dietary habits in unfavourable directions through the consumption of highly processed, energy-dense foods, predominantly manufactured by multinational food corporations. This study aims to identify the principal factors driving consumers’ preference for multinational foods over local foods in the urban Accra region of Ghana. Method This cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 200 consumers conducted in March/April 2023 using interviewer-administered questionnaires employed a maximum difference scaling approach to investigate the drivers of urban Ghanaian consumer food choices for multinational food corporations’ products over local foods. The maximum difference scaling modelling analysis utilized in this study identifies the primary drivers of multinational food corporations’ product preferences and the associated trade-offs. Result The study discovered that food quality and safe packaging, perceived healthiness, taste and flavour, and nutritional value were the most significant factors driving consumer preference for multinational food corporations’ products over local foods in Ghana. The criterion food quality and safe packaging had the significantly highest utility than all other attributes in terms of consumer preference for products/meals from multinational food corporations over local foods. Conclusion The results of this study provide significant contributions to the existing body of research, as previous studies have not identified these factors as primary drivers of multinational food products. Public health authorities and nutritionists can use the study’s findings to implement targeted quality assurance measures in local markets and to address the drivers in health education campaigns.

Source: UG
Drivers of Global Social Network Adoption: A Technology-Organisation Environment Perspective

The aim of this study is to explore the drivers of social network adoption at a global level. The focus of past research has largely been placed on social network adoption at the country level with few studies conducted at the global level. Furthermore, the mediating role of ICT access on social network adoption has been given limited attention. To fill this gap, thisstudy employsthe Technology Organization-Environment (TOE) framework to investigate factors that may influence global social network adoption. Relying on archival and cross-sectional data from 135 countries and using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling, our findings show that social network adoption at the global level, is positively influenced by ICT access of a county and that ICT regulation and the development of the human resource will not directly influence social network adoption. Though technological, organizational, and environmental factors all together accounted for 55.5% of the variance in social network adoption, the mediating role of ICT access and the effects of human resource development on social network adoption was found to be significant. Our findings provide a fresh insight into the adoption of social network sites at the global level. Our study provides some implications for research and practice.

Source: UG
Drivers of Global Social Network Adoption: A Technology-Organisation-Environment Perspective

This study aims to explore the drivers of social network adoption at a global level. Past research has largely focused on social network adoption at the country level with few studies conducted at the worldwide level. Furthermore, the mediating role of ICT access on social network adoption has been given limited attention. To fill this gap, this study employs the Technology Organization-Environment (TOE) framework to investigate factors that may influence global social network adoption. Relying on archival and cross-sectional data from 135 countries and using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling, our findings show that social network adoption at the global level, is positively influenced by ICT access of a county and that ICT regulation and the development of the human resource will not directly influence social network adoption. Although technological, organizational, and environmental factors accounted for 55.5% of the variance in social network adoption, the mediating role of ICT access and the effects of human resource development on social network adoption was found to be significant. Our findings provide a fresh insight into the adoption of social network sites at the global level. Our study provides some implications for research and practice.

Source: UG
Drivers of income diversification in credit unions: Do size, resource, liquidity, and environment matter?

Abstract This paper investigates income diversification in credit unions in Ghana. We make use of the random effect, Hausman–Taylor, and fractional regression to assess income diversification. We find empirical support that there exist differences between workplace credit union income diversification and other types of credit union. We also find that within nonfinancial income, size, liquidity, loan portfolio, net worth, and economic growth are important. For within liquid financial investment diversification, size, liquidity, resource usage, age, net interest margin, bank concentration, inflation, and economic growth matter. We recommend that with excess reserves, credit unions should pursue liquid financial investment.

Source: UG
Drivers of independent migration among adolescents from selected West African countries

Independent migration among adolescents is an issue of public concern in West Africa. Thus, drawing on the neoclassical economics, new economics of labour and social networks perspectives, this study explored the reasons for independent migration among adolescents. Employing a qualitative research design, 41 adolescents participated in the study. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and In-depth Interviews (IDIs) were conducted to gather data, which were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicated that the adolescents migrated due to diverse reasons (poverty and hardship; social support and networks; peer-pressure and escapade; and maltreatment and abuse). Also, it was found that generally, poverty and hardships drove adolescents to migrate from their countries of origin with the aim of finding and starting work in Ghana, which was perceived as an important source of economic opportunities. Furthermore, evidence showed that while some adolescents had positive experiences in Ghana, others were confronted with challenges, a push factor to their return and in tegration decisions respectively. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn.

Source: UG