ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Internet Use Patterns amongst internationalizing Ghanaian exporters

Export firms are critical to the success of developing economies like Ghana. The Internet presents export firms with organizational improvement options and ways by which their value chain activities can be enhanced. The current study focused on the Internet use patterns amongst internationalizing Ghanaian non-traditional exporters (NTEs). Out of 150 questionnaires administered, 106 responses were obtained. We employed descriptive statistics in the presentation of results. The general pattern of Internet usage for information search varied among NTEs according to degree of internationalization. The most internationalized NTEs according to degree of internationalization. The most internationalized NTEs demonstrated a higher usage rate of the Internet for information search purposes, with about a third using the internet for Public Relations (PR) activities, compared to less than one-fifth of the least internationalized group using the Internet for PR activities. Use of the Internet as a payment medium (getting paid for exports or paying for raw material inputs they need for operations) was significantly low among all NTEs in the study.

Source: UG
Internet-Based Relationship Marketing: A Sub-Saharan African Perspective

Establishing, maintaining, and enhancing relationships over the Internet have progressively gained global attention. Nevertheless, the dawn of this modernization draws many theoretical debates and practical concerns, some of which have received little research attention, especially within the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. On this premise, we explored the contemporary practice, challenges, and benefits of Internet-based relationship marketing (RM) within the Ghanaian telecommunication industry. Expert interviews with 12 employees from four telecommunication firms elicited a wealth of experiential data analyzed thematically to understand the practice, challenges, and emerging benefits of Internet-based RM. Our findings suggest that issues of privacy concerns, erosion of face-to-face communication, and the tendency of unsolicited communication do not necessarily militate Internet-based RM within the Ghanaian telecommunication industry. We also identified emerging benefits, including online “virality,” a discovery environment, and improved firm reputation. We suggest enhancing online personalization through empathy, creating value with analytic information and managerial openness, and supporting enhanced knowledge development within the area. Directions for future studies include the possibility of comparative studies across service industries and examining the role of content marketing in Internet-based relationships. The challenge of exploring Internet-based RM was similar to hitting a moving target, as the use of the Internet for relationship marketing activities is constantly evolving. Additionally, our findings and conclusion are confined to the knowledge contribution of the experts interviewed. As one of the few studies within the Sub-Saharan region, we expand contributions from the Sub-Saharan domain. The findings of this study also bring to light new insights for establishing, maintaining, and enhancing Internet-based relationships. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
Interpersonal fairness, willingness-to-stay and organisation-based self-esteem: The mediating role of affective commitment

This study examines the direct and indirect effects of interpersonal fairness on employees’ willingness-to-stay and organisation-based self-esteem through affective commitment among manufacturing workers in Tema, Ghana. Using the survey design, 300 manufacturing workers in Tema were conveniently sampled for the study. The confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the data. Results indicated that affective commitment partially mediated the relationship between interpersonal fairness and employees’ willingness-to-stay. Affective commitment also fully mediated the interpersonal fairness-organisation-based self-esteem relationship. Results further showed that organisation-based self-esteem partially mediated the affective commitment and willingness-to-stay relationship, such that, an increase in organisation-based self-esteem leads to a decrease in employees’ willingness-to-stay. These findings emphasised the roles of interpersonal fairness and affective commitment in organisations, where affective commitment increases as a result of an increase in interpersonal fairness and makes employees have an intention-to-stay. The findings imply that employees who are very confident and have higher organisation-based self-esteem stand lower chances of staying in their current organisations. This study is the first to examine how affective commitment transfers the effects of interpersonal fairness unto employees’ intention-to-stay among manufacturing workers in Ghana.

Source: UG
The interplay between environmental exposures and COVID-19 risks in the health of children

Background: An unusual feature of SARS-Cov-2 infection and the COVID-19 pandemic is that children are less severely affected than adults. This is especially paradoxical given the epidemiological links between poor air quality and increased COVID-19 severity in adults and that children are generally more vulnerable than adults to the adverse consequences of air pollution. Objectives: To identify gaps in knowledge about the factors that protect children from severe SARS-Cov-2 infection even in the face of air pollution, and to develop a transdisciplinary research strategy to address these gaps. Methods: An international group of researchers interested in children’s environmental health was invited to identify knowledge gaps and to develop research questions to close these gaps. Discussion: Key research questions identified include: what are the effects of SAR-Cov-2 infection during pregnancy on the developing fetus and child; what is the impact of age at infection and genetic susceptibility on disease severity; why do some children with COVID-19 infection develop toxic shock and Kawasaki-like symptoms; what are the impacts of toxic environmental exposures including poor air quality, chemical and metal exposures on innate immunity, especially in the respiratory epithelium; what is the possible role of a “dirty” environment in conveying protection – an example of the “hygiene hypothesis”; and what are the long term health effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection in early life. Conclusion: A concerted research effort by a multidisciplinary team of scientists is needed to understand the links between environmental exposures, especially air pollution and COVID-19. We call for specific research funding to encourage basic and clinical research to understand if/why exposure to environmental factors is associated with more severe disease, why children appear to be protected, and how innate immune responses may be involved. Lessons learned about SARS-Cov-2 infection in our children will help us to understand and reduce disease severity in adults, the opposite of the usual scenario.

Source: UG
The Interplay Between Privacy, Trust and Self-disclosure on Social Networking Sites

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have become an essential part of the daily lives of billions of people worldwide. Because SNS service providers use a revenue model that relies on data licensing (selling of user data), they share user data with other parties such as government institutions and private businesses. Sharing of user data to third parties raises several privacy concerns. Apart from privacy issues emanating from SNSs sharing user information with third parties, privacy issues may also emanate from users sharing information with SNS members. This study is motivated by the researchers’ interest in investigating self-disclosure amongst Ghanaians especially from the perspective of privacy and trust primarily because of recent reports of revenge pornography and other self-disclosure related privacy violations on SNSs in Ghana. A survey was conducted on 523 students from three private universities in Ghana. Out of the 523 questionnaires administered, 452 were validated for analysis. Data collected from the survey was analyzed using the Partial Least Square approach to Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) performed on SmartPLS Version 3. Results of the study show that privacy awareness, privacy invasion experience, and privacy-seeking behavior have a significant effect on trust in SNS members. Privacy concern was found not to have a significant effect on trust in SNS members. Privacy awareness, privacy concerns, privacy invasion experience, and privacy-seeking behavior were found to have a significant effect on trust in the SNS service provider. Trust in SNS members and trust in the SNS service provider were found to have a significant effect on SNS self-disclosure. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are also discussed.

Source: UG
Interpretation and Constitutions in Africa: A Focused Inquiry into Comparative Constitutional Interpretation in Ghana and Nigeria

After military rule in Ghana and Nigeria, the decision was taken to return the countries to constitutional democracy. The constitutions that were promulgated in fulfilment of this objective, one may say, sought to embody or represent the 'spirit' of the people as reflected in their respective political and constitutional experiences. It would therefore be reasonable that the courts interpret these in a manner that best reflects the supreme interests of the people. But there are various theories of constitutional interpretation such as the positivist, purposive, ethical, originalist, non-originalist, literalist and mechanical brands of interpretation. Admittedly and as a matter of principle, there are good reasons for a panel of judges to follow one or more of these styles in interpreting a constitution. But the choice should not be made arbitrarily. The political as well as the constitutional experiences of the people should be the basic denominator for any preferred theory of constitutional interpretation for a country. This article attempts a discourse on the positivist and non-positivist tacks of interpreting a constitution, especially by the courts in Ghana and Nigeria. Primarily, it takes the position that judicial attempts in these two countries to conceive the constitution as 'law' are better appreciated if a non-positivist style of constitutional interpretation is adopted. Transiting from military dictatorship and its attendant violation of human rights, and the problem of exclusion in the constitution making process in these two countries, it is palpably dangerous to rely on the literal interpretation of the Constitution.

Source: UG
Interpreting rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for Plasmodium falciparum

Objective Rapid diagnostic tests have been of tremendous help in malaria control in endemic areas, helping in diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases. It is heavily relied upon in many endemic areas where microscopy cannot be obtained. However, caution should be taken in the interpretation of its result in clinical setting due to its limitations and inherent weakness. This paper seeks to present the varying malaria RDT test results, the possible interpretations and explanation of these results common in endemic regions. Published works on malaria RDT studies were identified using the following search terms “malaria RDT in endemic areas”, “Plasmodium falciparum and bacterial coinfection” “Plasmodium falciparum RDT test results in children in endemic areas” in Google Scholar and PubMed. Results The review results show that RDT positive results in febrile patients can either be true or false positive. True positive, representing either a possible single infection of Plasmodium or a co-infection of bacteria and P. falciparum. False RDT negative results can be seen in febrile patient with P. falciparum infection in prozone effect, Histidine rich protein 2 (HRP2) gene deletion and faulty RDT kits. Hence, a scale up of laboratory facilities especially expert microscopy and other diagnostic tools is imperative.

Source: UG
Interrogating the concept and practice of collective security regimes in the 21st Century

Although the end of the Cold War ushered in a period of enhanced security and development cooperation in the world, existing regimes for collective security have not been able to effectively prevent and respond to the contemporary security threats confronting the world today. Whilst the military security of states continue to constitute a significant consideration in the assurance of international security generally, the world is now confronted with non-military security threats that undermine military, social, economic and political security of states and their citizens. These new threats challenge the cooperation frameworks that have undergirded the collective security regime of the international community and expose states and regions to significant security risks. Using a literature review of existing works to profile the contemporary security challenges and documentary analysis of extant security frameworks, the paper interrogates the strengths and limitations of the current international collective security architecture and proffer options for enhancing its utility in addressing contemporary security challenges

Source: UG
An Interrogation of Administrative Processes Driving Education Reform Policies in the Secondary Education Sector in Ghana

The study focused on the challenges associated with the administrative processes in the introduction of education policies in Ghana. It was a descriptive research employing sequential mixed-methods, involving the combination of survey design and phenomenological qualitative approach. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire administered in a cross-sectional survey which was followed by in-depth face-to-face interviews. The outcomes of the two methods were triangulated during the discussion. The results showed that though the education reform policies were successfully launched, they did not complete the full policy cycle owing to political interferences. Administrative set-ups for the policy execution were also short-changed. The study also found that consultation of, and among, key players is paramount to the success of any educational policy. Based on the findings, new Policy Execution Cycle and Consultation Model were designed. The implications of the study for government policymakers and researchers were highlighted.

Source: UG
An interrogation of the dialogic potential of insurance firm websites in Ghana

This paper examines the dialogic potential of insurance firms' websites in Ghana. Research was executed via a content analysis of insurance companies' websites in Ghana using Kent and Taylor's (1998) dialogic framework. Insurance companies in Ghana have been fairly successful in utilizing the dialogic features in their corporate websites. Out of the five dialogic principles proposed by Kent and Taylor (1998); the findings of the study show a preponderant use of the dialogic loop feature by the sampled insurance companies. Also comparing local and international companies, the local insurance companies seem rather more dialogic than the international companies. However the sampled insurance companies performed rather poorly on the principle of return visit and conservation of visitors. This study contributes to the scarce literature on dialogic potential of websites from a developing country context. © The Author(s) 2013.

Source: UG
An interrogation of the dialogic potential of insurance firm websites in Ghana

This paper examines the dialogic potential of insurance firms’ websites in Ghana. Research was executed via a content analysis of insurance companies’ websites in Ghana using Kent and Taylor’s (1998) dialogic framework. Insurance companies in Ghana have been fairly successful in utilizing the dialogic features in their corporate websites. Out of the five dialogic principles proposed by Kent and Taylor (1998); the findings of the study show a preponderant use of the dialogic loop feature by the sampled insurance companies. Also comparing local and international companies, the local insurance companies seem rather more dialogic than the international companies. However the sampled insurance companies performed rather poorly on the principle of return visit and conservation of visitors. This study contributes to the scarce literature on dialogic potential of websites from a developing country context.

Source: UG
An Interrogation of the Economic Motivations of Terrorism in Africa: The Case of Boko Haram in Nigeria

For a decade now, the Boko Haram terrorist organization has continuously caused insecurity within the northeastern part of Nigeria where it emerged and other areas around the Lake Chad Basin. The motivations for the group’s uprising and persistence continuous to be a source of academic debate. Religion, politics and economics have become the main factors which many have used to explain the complex phenomenon of Boko Haram terrorism. This research specifically interrogates the economic motivations of Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria to find out how economic factors and conditions in the country’s northeast impact on the sect. The research based on the Rational Choice Theory to assess the motives of the group based on its actions and decisions. Data for the research were obtained from primary sources, mainly interviews, as well as secondary sources including books, reports, journal articles and the internet. The research finds that, while there are contending explanations for the motivations of Boko Haram, grievances of the dire economic conditions and underdevelopment of Nigeria’s northeast relative to the south, gave impetus for the emergence and persistence of the sect. Particularly, poverty was found to be the single biggest contributor to the local support for the group. Religion was however found to be only a vehicle through which leadership of the sect stoked the sentiments of the aggrieved Muslim majority. Elements of economic crimes introduced to the sect was also observed to have turned the group into a criminal organization benefiting from “war economy”. The research concludes that it will take both hard and soft approaches to deal with the threat of Boko Haram in Nigeria, but in the long-term, terrorism must be prevented from the community rather than being fought on the battlefield. Keywords: Nigeria, Boko Haram, Terrorism, Economic Motivations.

Source: UG
Interruption of poliovirus transmission in ghana: Molecular epidemiology of wild-type 1 poliovirus isolated from 1995 to 2008

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Intersectoral labor mobility and deforestation in Ghana

Abstract This paper quantifies the effects of the determinants of intersectoral labor mobility and the effect of intersectoral labor mobility on deforestation in Ghana over the period 1970-2008. A cointegration and error correction modeling approach is employed. The empirical results show that labor mobility from the agricultural to the non-agricultural sector exerts negative effects on deforestation in Ghana in the long run and short run. Relative agricultural income exerts a significant negative effect on intersectoral labor mobility in the long run. Deforestation is influenced positively by population pressure, the price of fertilizer and rainfall, whereas access to irrigation infrastructure exerts a negative effect in the long run. In the short run, real producer prices of cocoa and maize exert significant positive effects on deforestation whereas access to irrigation infrastructure exerts a negative significant effect. Fruitful policy recommendations based on the empirical magnitudes and directions of these effects are made in this paper. © Copyright Cambridge University Press 2012.

Source: UG
An Intertextual Analysis of Jími Ṣólańkẹ́'s Ọ̀̀nà Là in 'The Path' and the Multiple Star System Theory of Mutual Illumination and Interaction

The concept of mutual illumination between texts, genres, arts, and disciplines has been used in scholarly work for decades (Weisstein, 1973, 1993). Nevertheless, much of this literature lacks a firm anchor with regard to a literal source of the analogy “mutual illumination.” We argue that by observing natural phenomena that actually mutually illuminate, influence and otherwise affect each other, greater insight into how texts interact in similar ways can be achieved. Thus, drawing concepts from astrophysics, with specific reference to multiple star systems, a conceptual framework is derived in which analogous relations are proposed and interrogated. This framework couches the discussion in a stylistic analysis of our primary text, Jími Ṣólańkẹ́’s O ̣̀nạ̀ Lạ̀, which is analyzed both on its own and also with reference to other texts which are interconnected, interrelated, and serve to “mutually illuminate” each other. We find that when considered in light of other related texts, the analysis of O ̣̀nạ̀ Lạ̀ becomes much richer and, in the process, the understanding of the other texts is also enriched. Stylistic tools used in the analysis include various types of intertextual and intratextual parallelism, repetition, and silence.

Source: UG
Interval between Insulin Injection and Breakfast in Diabetes.

The relationship between the insulin-breakfast interval, postprandial increase in blood glucose, and glycaemic control was studied in 58 children with diabetes. Patients recorded insulin-breakfast intervals in a home diary over a seven day period, and during a 24 hour period at the weekend provided eight serial capillary dried blood spots for glucose analysis. The highest mean blood glucose value occurred two hours after breakfast and showed a significant correlation with fructosamine concentrations. Weekend insulin-breakfast intervals ranged from 2-30 minutes, with 70% reporting intervals of less than 15 minutes. There was a significant correlation between the weekend insulin-breakfast interval and the after breakfast increase in blood glucose with a mean increment of 0.4 mmol/l in the 30 minute group and 7.2 mmol/l in the 2 minute group. Over the whole study period, children with mean insulin-breakfast intervals of two to 12 minutes had a mean fructosamine concentration of 376 mumol/l compared with 341 mumol/l in those with intervals of 15-35 minutes. This study has shown that the interval between insulin injection and breakfast significantly influences the morning postprandial rise in blood glucose and consequently short term glycaemic control. It is therefore important that patients are encouraged to leave an interval of about 30 minutes between insulin injection and breakfast.

Source: UG
Intervention of standardized ethanol leaf extract of Annickia polycarpa, (DC.) Setten and Maas ex I.M. Turner. (Annonaceae), in Plasmodium berghei infested mice produced anti-malaria action and normalized gross hematological indices

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG