ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment of media literacy in the teaching and learning of English language in basic schools in the nsawam-adoagyiri municipality

Support for media literacy education has grown significantly in recent years with teachers and students advocating for its inclusion in the curricula. However, there are manifest differences in the ways people use media in teaching and learning of school subjects as well as in the level of their competence. This study assessed media literacy in teaching and learning of English Language in Basic Schools in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a descriptive survey design was employed. A sample size of 150 comprising 45 English language teachers and 105 students was used in the quantitative phase through multistage sampling technique. The research was underpinned and guided by pragmatist paradigm. Descriptive statistics involving frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation was used to provide counts of the factors underpinning the analysis of the questionnaire data and the demographic responses. In the qualitative phase, a sample size of 8 comprising 4 students and 4 teachers was employed. Data from the teachers‟ questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistical methods involving frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and average per item rating. The qualitative data collected through the interview was analysed using thematic approach. The findings of the study revealed that students are sometimes given instruction on media and information literacy in English Language. It was also discovered that students and teachers do not feel sufficiently familiar with the electronic media commanding. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service should furnish basic schools with English Language curriculum that features media literacy so as to equip teachers with the requisite knowledge and skills to impact on the students they handle at school. It is suggested that further research be done in other basic schools in the country, as well as, in private basic institutions on the use of media literacy in teaching and learning of English Language in order to do the comparative analysis on the system prevailing in these sectors. This suggestion comes against the backdrop that the study has a limited scope thus, involving students and teachers from sampled schools in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality.

Source: UEW
Assessment of media literacy in the teaching and learning of English language in Basic Schools in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri municipality

Support for media literacy education has grown significantly in recent years with teachers and students advocating for its inclusion in the curricula. However, there are manifest differences in the ways people use media in teaching and learning of school subjects as well as in the level of their competence. This study assessed media literacy in teaching and learning of English Language in Basic Schools in the Nsawam- Adoagyiri Municipality. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a descriptive survey design was employed. A sample size of 150 comprising 45 English language teachers and 105 students was used in the quantitative phase through multistage sampling technique. The research was underpinned and guided by pragmatist paradigm. Descriptive statistics involving frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation was used to provide counts of the factors underpinning the analysis of the questionnaire data and the demographic responses. In the qualitative phase, a sample size of 8 comprising 4 students and 4 teachers was employed. Data from the teachers‟ questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistical methods involving frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation and average per item rating. The qualitative data collected through the interview was analysed using thematic approach. The findings of the study revealed that students are sometimes given instruction on media and information literacy in English Language. It was also discovered that students and teachers do not feel sufficiently familiar with the electronic media commanding. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service should furnish basic schools with English Language curriculum that features media literacy so as to equip teachers with the requisite knowledge and skills to impact on the students they handle at school. It is suggested that further research be done in other basic schools in the country, as well as, in private basic institutions on the use of media literacy in teaching and learning of English Language in order to do the comparative analysis on the system prevailing in these sectors. This suggestion comes against the backdrop that the study has a limited scope thus, involving students and teachers from sampled schools in Nsawam- Adoagyiri Municipality.

Source: UEW
An assessment of menu planning strategies of catering officers of some selected senior high schools in Bolgatanga

Menu planning is one of the important activities of food and beverages operations executed by a team comprising the restaurant manager, the executive chef and catering officers. The purpose of the study is to assess menu planning strategies of catering officers of some selected Senior High Schools in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. As well, the study sought to achieve challenges associated with menu planning of catering officers in some selected Senior High Schools in Bolgatanga, effects of menu planning on food operations and lastly appropriate strategies that will improve menu planning of catering officers. A descriptive method was used for the study. Questionnaires and observation were used as data collection instrument in obtaining information from the respondents using some selected schools within the research area. Specifically, a sample size of 50 were used for the study. The field data or responses were further analyzed using Social Package for Scientific Studies (SPSS) and Excel. The study revealed that nutritional adequacy, students’ interest and time for planning were the major challenges associated with menu planning. Again, the study revealed that dissatisfaction of individual and individual health complications were the major effects of poor menu planning on food operations. Moreover, the study recommended that, proper measures such as effective timing, individual satisfaction, individual health and wellbeing should be highly considered when planning menu because poor menu planning might eventually lead to dissatisfaction of individual which may finally lead to additional cost on the institution.

Source: UEW
Assessment of mobile money security awareness among Mtn mobile money users in Ghana

Mobile money is a process by which mobile phone subscribers use telecommunication networks or platforms to perform banking services at any point in time. Mobile money services enable the subscribers to do banking transactions directly from their mobile phones without physically being in the bank to deposit and receive money, pay bills and transact business. The main objective of the study is to assess a holistic approach to Mobile Money security in Ghana. The study was a descriptive exploratory which adopted a quantitative approach and was conducted in Patasi which is a suburb of the Kwadaso Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Deliberate convenient sampling was employed by selecting some MTN Mobile Money contact centres in the study area where a sample of 150 respondents was obtained. Data collection was done online using a questionnaire designed in Google form. The link to the questionnaire was sent to respondents via e-mail and on various social media platforms for them to complete it. The study revealed that 98.7% of the people mostly operate MTN mobile money and 98.0% of the respondents preferred MTN mobile money services to ATM and e-ZWICH services. The study also revealed that some of the measures currently put in place to enhance mobile money security include verifying the true identity of the receiver, avoiding sharing of mobile money PINs. Finally, the study revealed that awareness and avoidance of unsolicited messages (scams), checking the authenticity of payment apps before using them, among others can enhance mobile money security. The study, therefore, concludes among others that MTN mobile money service is easy to use and subscribers use the services for both domestic and international money transfers. The study recommends among others that the mobile money service providers, in this case, MTN must set up password expiring time for mobile money subscribers to change their passwords quarterly and authenticate it through answering questions regarding personal identification.

Source: UEW
Assessment of occupational health and safety of wood machining operation at a wood processing and marketing centre in Ghana

The woodworking industry is considered to be a risk-prone working environment since every working item and materials used present potential danger through accidents or health risk. Workers in the woodworking industry are also faced with potential accidents that can be caused by flying wood chips and some parts of the machines that may be broken. This study assessed the occupational health and safety hazard associated with wood machining operation in a selected wood processing and marketing centre in Ghana. The study adopted mixed approach design of observation, cross-sectional survey, experimental and interventional design. Positivism and phenomenologist philosophical paradigms as well as inductive and deductive research approaches were used. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist. Findings from the study indicate that none of the wood processing machines assessed had operator’s manual, safety code or signs on them. Most of the safety parts were absent. However, few were improvised. The mean ratings of machine operator’s adherence to practicing occupational health and safety were lower than the theoretical mean of 3.0. This implies that the machine operators do not practice occupational health and safety. The study also revealed that, there was heavy metal concentration of airborne particulate such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Manganese and Zinc in the sawdust the workers were exposed to. Metal concentration levels exposed to by the workers were above Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Agency permissible exposure limits (PEL) thresholds. On workers exposure to sawdust, the result indicates that workers do experience headache, nausea, eye and skin irritation, shortness in breathing and coughing. Again, the operation and activities of the woodworkers could significantly influence their exposure to sawdust. Additionally, the study revealed that the woodworkers were not provided with personal protective equipment during their University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh xix operations. Furthermore, the study revealed that training could significantly influence the woodworkers’ practice of occupational health and safety in the wood processing industry. The outcome of this study suggests that the management of the enclave studied need to do more to enforce practice of safety, especially the use of personal protective equipment, to reduce hazards and injuries associated with wood processing industry.

Source: UEW
Assessment of occupational health and safety practices at Sokoban wood village in the Ashanti region of Ghana

This study assessed the occupational health and safety practices of wood workers at the wood processing industry in Sokoban Wood Village. The study assessed the safety practices of the wood workers as well as the safety gargets of machines and equipment used at the wood village. The researcher adopted a descriptive survey research design. This design was used to sample opinions of workers at the Sokoban wood village. Data was collected from 247 respondents at the wood village Kumasi using a 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used for the data analysis. The results indicated that the respondents rated very high their awareness of occupational health and safety practices related to their work. The mean ratings of the respondents’ awareness of health and safety practices ranged from 3.14 to 5.92 which is higher than the theoretical mean of 3.0, and the resultant mean was 4.76. Majority of the respondents also indicated that most of the machines used at the wood village were without safety gargets. Furthermore, the educational background of the respondents has no significant influence on their rating of awareness of health and safety practices. The study concluded that the workers at the wood village are not ignorant about safety and health practice related to their work. They express their willingness to use personal safety clothing and equipment with the exception of face shield. The study recommended that further studies should be conducted to cover infection and diseases related to wood processing and the use of health and safety equipments be encouraged among wood workers to reduce hazards and injuries associated with wood processing industries. University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh

Source: UEW
Assessment of operational efficiency of internal audit of University of Education, Winneba

This study aimed at assessing the operational efficiency of Internal Audit in University of Education, Winneba (UEW) with a spotlight on the legal apparatus governing the operations of Internal Auditors. A descriptive survey method was used to carry out this work. The data were collected using structured interviews and the administration of questionnaires to a sample size of 123 respondents who were stakeholders of UEW. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 software was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed that; the Internal Auditors of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) were very much aware of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and its Regulations (LI 2387), Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (658), Internal Audit Manual for MMDA’s, the 2020 UEW Statutes and the Financial and Stores Regulation and that, the Internal Audit Agency Act 2003 is out of date. Secondly, UEW does not have a Risk Management Register to guide its operations and finally, there was inadequate budgetary allocation and professional staffing to enhance the cooperation between the Internal Audit and the governing agencies such as University Management, Audit Committee (AC), Internal Audit Agency (IAA) and Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). It was therefore concluded that there were laws governing the operations of Internal Auditing, Risk Management Register needs to be developed whiles budgetary allocation, meeting schedules, and coordination between the Internal Audit and its governing agencies be improved. It was recommended that the Internal Audit Agency Act 2003 should be updated whiles the Public Financial Management Act 2016 should be reviewed to include the power or mandate to surcharge offenders for financial misappropriation and fraud by heads of Internal Audit. Also, the Internal Audit Office in the University should take a lead role in developing, and implementing the mitigation strategies stated in the Risk Management Register. Finally, enhanced budgetary allocation from the consolidated fund and the institution’s own Internally Generated Fund could cushion the Internal Audit and its governing agencies while exploring other avenues such as study leave, conferences, and training to strengthen the professional capacity of Staff. The study suggested that future research could focus on other sampling methods apart from the purposive sampling method used in this study and other theories such as Agency theory, Lending Credibility theory, etc. could be explored to assess the operational efficiency of Internal Auditors in various universities.

Source: UEW
Assessment of optimal pathways for power generation system in Ghana

This study applied the Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS), an optimisation model for long term energy planning, which is integrated in Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) to develop optimal generation pathways and dispatch scheduling of selected generating technologies for power generation in Ghana. Simulating conventional and non-conventional energy technologies, the study examines the technological, economic and environmental implications of renewable energy policies from 2010 to 2040. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to determine the effect of varied development in non-conventional renewable energy technologies investment cost as well as fuel prices. The findings suggest that, with a comprehensive implementation of energy efficiency and other strategies, renewable energy technologies can contribute more than 70% of the generation requirement in Ghana by 2040. This will result in significant economic and environmental benefits as well as sustainability of the energy sector. � 2017 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

Source: UEW
An assessment of parents’ perception on physical education for children with disability

This study aims at assessing parents‟ perception on physical education for their disabled children. A descriptive survey research design was adapted where a total sample of 30 parents with disabled children. The primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and as well as key informant interview guides. Consequently, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Research findings revealed that majority of the parents indicated that both of the parents and the disabled children should be brainstormed on the importance of engaging in physical education to motivate the disabled children will need to participatsse in physical education. In addition, majority of the parents have negative feelings toward disabled children engaging in physical education. In addition, majority of them strongly disagreed that it is good for disabled children to participate in physical education. Based on these findings, it was recommended that government should put in place structures that will erase negative feelings toward disabled children engaging in physical education

Source: UEW
Assessment of peer pressure and sexual adventurism among adolescents in ghana: The moderating role of child-rearing practices

The rationale of this study was to examine the influence of peer pressure on sexual adventurism among adolescents in Ghana, and as well to explore the role of child-rearing practices in this relationship. The study covered adolescents in junior high schools in Ghana within the age range of 12 to 19 years. A sample of 525 adolescents was surveyed to participate in the research using the multistage sampling approach. The main instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. Data gathered were analysed using means and standard deviation, multivariate linear regression, and three-way interaction-moderation analysis. Child-rearing practices and peer pressure significantly and independently predicted sexual adventurism. Parental discipline acted as a significant moderator in the relationship between peer pressure and sexual adventurism. Again, only in the presence of discipline could monitoring and warmth moderate the relationship between peer pressure and sexual adventurism. Based on the findings, parents are encouraged to incorporate reasonable disciplinary measures in shaping their children�s behaviours against sexually deviant activities. Besides, guidance and counselling coordinators should plan and organize programs that centre on reducing the prevalence of peer pressure and sexual adventurism. Conclusions drawn from the study include bringing out a better understanding of the role that discipline and peer pressure play in influencing adolescents� sexual adventurism. � 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Source: UEW
An assessment of production practices of Hibiscus Sabdariffa drink ‘sobolo’ in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana

The main purpose of the study was to assess the production process, handling/serving practices and the personal and environmental hygiene producers observed in ‘Sobolo’ production. Specifically, the study sought to establish the production and handling practices, identify possible lapses in the production and handling practices, and develop a standardized production and handling model, guided by the HACCP to ensure a healthy ‘Sobolo’. The study adopted both observational and explanatory descriptive survey design, gathered data through interview and an observation check list. A sample size of fifteen (20) ‘Sobolo’ producers were sampled through the snowball sampling technique. The microbial load of ‘sobolo’ samples were investigated with respect to total viable count (TVC). All tested samples revealed loads of Bacillus spp, Listeria monocytogens and Escherichia coli with TVC between 105 and 106 which is very unacceptable according to food safety standards of International Commission for Microbiological Specification of Foods (ICMSF). Data was analyzed qualitatively following thematic analysis approach using Nvivo as the analytical software. Key among the study findings: ‘Sobolo’ leaves (calyx) were not properly stored, sun-dried or sorted. Most producers used cold extraction and bottles for packaging were not properly washed. Overall, it could be concluded that ‘Sobolo’ producers do not adopt HACCP to ensure a hazard-free drink. It was therefore recommended that ‘sobolo’ producers must ensure high standards of personal hygiene and food safety practices. Environmental agencies, FDA and NGOs should take up projects to educate ‘sobolo’ producers in the adoption of HACCP in their production practices to ensure food safety. It was further recommended for a future study into composition of locally prepared ‘sobolo’ in Secondi -Takoradi Municipality in Ghana.

Source: UEW
An assessment of propagation models for digital television broadcast network in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

In radio communication, signal losses are major factor in transmission. To this end, various propagation models have been used in the field of transmission engineering to minimised transmission losses. With the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) and the subsequent migration from analogue to digital transmission, it is worthwhile to define which propagation model would best fit this digital migration in any area. Using Ashanti Region of Ghana as a case study, this project examined the behaviour of digital transmission by analysing three signal propagation models – Free Space, the ITU_R P.370 propagation prediction and the Extended COST 231 HATA models. Plots of graphs showed that the ITU-R P370 prediction propagation model predicted relatively poor signal strength as compared to the ideal Free Space path loss propagation model. The study also observed that there was a large disparity between the deviations of the ITU-R P370 model and Free Space path loss model. Results obtained from the investigations, indicated that the Extended COST 231 Hata model delivers a more consistent received power and loss prediction as compared to REC ITU-R P.370. The REC ITU-R P.370 propagation prediction model had limitation since it was developed for limited kinds of land. The study therefore concluded that the Extended COST 231 HATA model performed better than the REC ITU-R P.370 model. The study recommended that for a good reception of the digital terrestrial transmission in Ashanti region, there is the need for gap-filler. This can be achieved by siting repeaters and boosters at convenient locations to maintain or improve the transmitting power. It further recommended the use of a geographical information system to store geographical locations points for every 10 m 2 and their corresponding categories.

Source: UEW