ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Identification of the major foliar fungal disease of colocasia esculenta (l.) schott. and its management in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. is a major delicacy in southern Ghana with high carbohydrate and protein contents. Recent decline in the production of C. esculenta in swampy fields has resulted from leaf blight disease, making the disease a threat to food security. A survey was conducted to assess the disease problem and also assess farmers’ knowledge. The disease occurred on every C. esculenta field surveyed and disease incidence was between 80-90%. Five potted plants were inoculated with each fungal isolate obtained from farmers’ fields and observed for symptom expression. Symptoms appeared as small dark-brown lesions which extended rapidly until death of leaves. The pathogenicity test showed that Curvularia sp. was responsible for the leaf blight disease. A study of disease progress on tagged leaves on swampy C. esculenta fields indicated that leaf blight appeared on leaves just as they unfurl and spread rapidly, debasing the leaf within 18 to 21 days. In a field trial, Topsin M 70 WP (Thiophanate methyl), Sundomil 72 WP (Metalaxyl 8% and Mancozeb 64%) both at 45 g/15l and water (control) sprayed at two-week intervals were evaluated against leaf blight disease incidence, severity, the disease progress and corm yield. The effect of the fungicides on leaf area, area of leaf infected by the disease, lesions per plant and number of leaves that died as a result of the disease, were also investigated. Fungicides-treated Colocasia plants showed significantly reduced disease incidence, disease severity and disease progress that resulted in increased corm yield. There were no differences between fungicides-treated Colocasia plants. There was a negative correlation between area of leaves infected, lesions per plant, number of leaves infected and the corm yield. The results from the field trial showed that leaf blight disease could be effectively managed with fungicides in swampy fields.

Source: KNUST
Identification of Risk Factors Involved In Road Accidents in Ghana: A Case Study of the Techiman Municipality

The problem of deaths and injury as a result of road accidents is now acknowledged to be a global phenomenon. As a result authorities in virtually all countries of the world are now concerned about the growth in the number of people killed and seriously injured on their roads including Ghana. The study objective was to identify the risk factors that mainly contribute to accident and their impact on road accident. This study applied logistic regression to accident-related data collected from MOTOR TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT UNIT of GHANA POLICE SERVICE, TECHIMAN DIVISIONAL COMMAND traffic records in order to examine the contributing factors to accident severity. A total of 494 accident data from 2007-2011 was used. The accident severity (dependent variable) in this study is a dichotomous variable with two categories, Fatal or Non-fatal. Among the variables obtained from police-accident reports, five independent variables namely; gender, time of accident, location of accident and reasons assigned for accident were found to be statistically significant.

Source: KNUST
Identification, partial characterization and some properties of a virus causing a mild mottle disease in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merril. in Nigeria, and The evaluation of local and exotic cowpea (vigna unguicalata (L.) walp.) for grain legume viruses under natural condition in Kumasi, Ghana

A filamentous slightly curved virus was isolated from naturally infected soybean, Glycine max (L) Merril at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Under greenhouse conditions, the virus induced infection that ranged between symptomless to mild mosaic and mottle on soybean. The virus was readily sap transmissible to 11 out of 14 members of the family Legnininosae, 2 members each of the families, .Chenopodiaceae and Cucurbitaceae and 4 members of the family. Solanaceae. Its assay host was Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste and Reyn., which produced chiorotic local lesions in its inoculated leaves 5 to 10 days after inoculation. It was propagated in Nicotiana clevelandii (L) and N. megalosiphon Heurck and Mueller. Sap from systemically infected plants was infective after dilution to l0 but not l0. Virus in crude sap had a thermal inactivation point of between 55°C and 60°C for 10 minutes and longevity in vitro of 8 days at 25°C. The virus could not be transmitted by the aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch and Myzus. persicae Sulz. However, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Genn was found to be an efficient vector of the virus. It could acquire the virus, in 1 hour acquisition access period and transmit the virus in a semi- persistent manner retaining the virus for 2 to 3 days. A minimum inoculation access period of 5 minutes was observed. The virus was 100% transmissible through seed of soybean Glycine max varieties ‘Malayan’ and ‘TGm 22-3’ as well as in Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. The virus had particles whose modal length was 646 nm and a width of 12 nm. Purified virus suspension had a typical ultra violet absorption curve of nucleoproteins with a maximum absorption at 264 nm and a minimum absorption at 247 nm. The E max/E mm ratio was 1 .13 while the E 260/E 280 absorption ratio was 1 .15 without correction for light scattering. The virus had a sedimentation’ coefficient of 158 S and average buoyant density of 1.31 g/cm3. It had an estimated extinction coefficient of 2.5 and percentage nucleic acid of 5%. The average molecular weight of the coat protein subunits was 32,000 daltons. Antiserum produced to the virus had a titre of 1/2048. A close serological relationship to cowpea mild mottle virus originally isolated from cowpeas in Ghana (Brunt and Kenton, 1973) could be established. The virus was also distantly related serologically to chrysanthemum virus B, but not to six other morphologically similar viruses. The virus has a Cryp gram of R/1: */5: E/E : S/AL. and is an isolate of cowpea mild mottle virus in soybeans. The virus has .Calopognium mucunoides, Centoseme pubescens. C. plumeiri, Desmodium scopirius, volunteer soybean and cowpea as alternate hosts and virus reservoirs,

Source: KNUST
Identifying and Incorporating Indigenous Concepts into Integrated Water Resources Management within the White Volta Basin in Ghana

The enactment of the Water Resources Commission (WRC) Act in Ghana in 1996 has in effect abolished the pre-1996 customary regime which allowed the ownership of water to be handled by stools, skins, society, families among others. In place of the customary regime, the state has taken over the ownership, control, and management of water by establishing the WRC. The research aimed to identify and determine effective Indigenous Forms of Water Resources Management (IFWRM) and suggest ways of incorporating them into formal Water Resources Management (WRM) within the White Volta River Basin (WVB) in Ghana. Six communities were selected for the study. Means of questionnaire administration and Focus group discussions were used to establish the perceptions and practices of community members with regards to the White Volta River, and traditional forms of WRM. The results of the study show that some community members perceive strong informal water rights held by traditional authorities in the areas of indigenous water permitting systems and conflict resolution mechanisms. Coping strategies evolved during extreme events of draughts and floods. Indigenous laws and/or practices as well as the bye products of Taboos resulted in the management and conservation of local water resources. Proposed strategies that could help incorporate IFWRM into formal systems include: Use traditional leaders to keep rec6rds with regard to every activity in or along the river banks through the issuance of water permits to small scale and peasant farmers; create awareness among indigenous communities on their past efforts in WRM and the need for more cooperation and participation from them and to adopt and implement the first most preferred indigenous forms of WRM identified in the various communities; provide alternative/sustainable livelihood supports to help reduce unsustainable evolving coping strategies to extreme environmental conditions along the river banks; create a subcommittee of the White Volta Basin Board (WVBB) on indigenous water rights and management forms to foster a more comprehensive implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) within the WVB. Keywords: Integrated Water Resources Management; Indigenous; Traditional; Water Resources Commission; White Volta River; Basin

Source: KNUST
Identification of unethical procurement practices of public entities in the Ho Municipality of Ghana

This study sought to identify unethical procurement practices of public entities in the Ho municipality of Ghana. The study researched to know the extent to which the unethical procurement practices affect the municipality and what can be done to alleviate the effect of the unethical practices on the municipality. Ho Municipality was the focus of the study due to varied number of procurement activities being carried out in the municipality as well as proximity and accessibility of data to the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select samples for the study. A Questionnaire was used as the main research instrument in collecting data. Descriptive analysis was employed to analyse data gathered from the field with the aid of computer analysis software tools such as Microsoft excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The research shown that activities that promoted good procurement practices such as keeping records of procurement activities, adopting the right tendering procedures and amicably resolving disputes and appeal cases, were adhered to by all entities. However, unethical behaviors such collision and fraud were identified. It also came to view that most procurement officials needed training and there were political interferences with the activities of the procurement officials. The study recommends that regular training should be given to all public officers involved in procurement, appropriate sanctions should be given to public officials who engage in unethical behaviors and appropriate measures should be established to check political interferences with procurement activities. Moreover, the study concludes that procurement practices in the municipality followed the legal Framework of PPA. However, Tender Boards and Review Boards should always ensure that sound procurement processes are always followed in the municipality.

Source: KNUST
Identification of white yam viruses in Ghana and their effects on yield

An experiment was conducted at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Crops Research Institute, both in Kumasi to identify white yam viruses in important white yam growing districts in Ghana and also assess their effects on yield of the crop. Ten yam-growing districts in the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions namely; Kumasi, Ejura/Mampong, Atebubu, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Wenchi, Techiman, Sunyani and Duayaw Nkwanta were surveyed. One hundred and seventy-six diseases leaf samples were randomly collected in equal representation from each district and then characterized using the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique (TAS and PAS ELISA) with four already characterized yam virus antibodies supplied by the Virology unit of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) namely: Yam mosaic potyvirus (YMV), genus potyvirus, Dioscorea alata potyvirus, (DaV or YVI-yam virus I) genus potyvirus, Dioscorea alata badnavirus, genus badnavirus and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), genus cucumovirus. None of the samples tested positive to antibodies raised against cucumber mosaic virus and Dioscorea alata badnavirus. About 39% of the samples tested positive to YMV while 20.5% tested positive to DaV. Eleven percent (11.4%) of the samples reacted to both YMV and DaV. Fourty one percent (41%) of the samples did not react to any of the antibodies tested even though they had virus-like symptoms. Mixed infection of two viruses, namely; YMV and DaV or YV1 were found on inoculated and non inoculated experimental yam test plants when detected with antibodies homologous to them. These two viruses, YMV and DaV together, depending on the time of infection were found to reduce the yields of white yam under screen house conditions by as much as 54% and 28% respectively. Symptom severity also had a direct significant effect on yield. Plants with higher disease severity score produced lower yields when compared with symptomless plant. However, it is suggested that further studies be conducted to come out with possible ways to alleviate the effect of virus infection through the production of virus-free white yam planting materials or to apply a treatment that can reduce their effects.

Source: KNUST
Identification, modelling, and adaptive control of an aluminium reduction cell

The estimation of the alumina concentration in the bath of aluminium reduction cells is a difficult task due to harsh operating conditions within the cells, the complexity of the process, and noise corrupted data. Knowledge of the concentration could significantly improve production efficiency and could be used to enhance the feed control system. In this report, an alumina concentration estimator is developed for a 140 kA prebake aluminium reduction cell. The estimation programme uses experimentally determined models of alumina concentration as a function of time and ohmic resistance as a function of alumina concentration in an extended Kalman filter algorithm with a feedback variable of ohmic resistance. The estimator was tested successfully on simulated and measured cell data. It is shown how the estimator could be incorporated into a feed control algorithm and the control strategy is applied to real and simulated input data.

Source: KNUST
Identifying employee talent for development and retention (The case of some selected fm stations in Kumasi)

The issue of developing and retaining talents in organization is paramount to its growth since talents in the media have become trading commodities. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the process employers use in identifying employee talent for development and retention in some selected FM stations in Kumasi. The study among other things seeks to examine the current talent identification and development practices, to identify challenges associated with talent development practices, to examine employers’ talent retention measures and their challenges in the selected FM stations in Kumasi. Both primary and secondary data were collected to guide the study. Primary data were obtained by interviewing and administering questionnaires which required respondents to indicate the frequency of employers use of crowdsourcing, performance appraisal, and training and development to identify and develop employee talent to the selected FM stations within Kumasi Metropolis. Secondary data were obtained from existing literature. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (pie and bar chart) and Relative Importance Index (RII) via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that methods used in identifying talent also serve as talent retention measures. It also came to light that there are no existing codes of conduct governing employees in the media, and employers also deem it unnecessary to employ Human Resource Managers with the perception that HRM do not perform any extraordinary function apart from what other functional managers do. This behaviour among others account for employee turnover. The study therefore, recommended that for effective talent management to exist the media industry should endeavor to employ HRM and establish code of conducts to guide employees to curb turnover, and ensure there are well-developed programmes in all institutions where employees can develop their talent, and develop themselves well for efficiency and effectiveness.

Source: KNUST
Identifying Pull and Push Factors of Health Workers in Rural Ghana (A Case Study- Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region)

Rural areas of Ghana are facing serious health workforce shortage, especially medical doctors. Though several policies and schemes have been implemented to improve recruitment to and retention of the rural health workforce in Ghana, health workers still find it difficult to accept posting to rural communities. This study, therefore examines the factors that mostly pull health care workers to and factors that mostly push them from rural areas of Ghana. The study relied on data gathered from a field survey conducted in Mpohor Wassa East District in Ghana. The data was collected through personal interview with the help of a structured questionnaire. Binary Logit regressions were estimated to assess the impact of financial, staff accommodation, working conditions, professional advancement and socio-economic infrastructures on willingness to remain in rural health post in Ghana and the characteristics of health care workers who would opt for these retention factors. From the result, financial incentives and Socio-economic infrastructures were significant in influencing the willingness of health workers to remain at rural health post in Ghana, whiles other explanatory variables (staff accommodation, working conditions and professional advancement) were not significant. The study found that financial hardship and poor socio-economic infrastructures are push factors and reasons for dissatisfaction at the current post for various health professionals in rural Ghana. Moreover, the findings indicate that 61% of the respondents were unsatisfied with current post and the willingness of health workers to remain at their respective health post depends on the level of satisfaction. 12 The following recommendation were made based on the findings: financial incentives is most important factor the attracts and increases the willingness to stay in rural of Ghana and it should target male health care workers more than female health care workers, Male and married health workers should be given more opportunities to pursue higher professions as a way of motivating them to remain in rural of Ghana, all health workers in rural areas in Ghana should be given befitting staff accommodation, regardless of gender, age, marital status, educational level and health profession type since they are all equally motivated by it, the government should provide more drugs, bed and equipment in all rural health post especially were males and aged dominate and finally government and other stakeholders should embark on rigorous provision of such facilities to help curb migration of health care workers from these rural communities and also to attract more health care workers to rural communities.

Source: KNUST
Identifying significant compensation events and the assessment of these events under public procurement authority’s conditions of contract for medium contracts in Ghana

The main aim of this study is identify significant Compensation events and assessment of these events under Public Procurement Authority’s (PPA) Conditions of Contract in relation to time, cost and profit. Quantitative research approach was adopted and purposive sampling was used to determine the respondents. Twenty five (25) identified compensation events were significantly tested and were ranked in order of importance using the Relative Importance Index under cost, time and profit respectively. Under cost category, variations, late response to claims and cost overruns were identified as the most significant by consultants, clients and contractors respectively. For time category, inexperience, poor communication and clients with no technical background were identified to be the most significant. Finally, late response to claim, insufficient time for claims to be notified and changes and modification in design were seen to be the most significant factors which affected the contractor’s profit. Using factor analysis, it was determined that the variables had common underlying factors. The significant factors determined after reduction were four under Profit, namely: Delays from Consultants, Extra Cost, Increase or Decrease in Project Duration and Programme of Works. Under time, the factors were Works Interruptions, Inconsistent Instructions and Late Implementation. Cost also had three main factors namely: Cost Benefit to Stakeholders, Additional works and technical errors. It was revealed that compensation events tend to increase project cost and also drag the project. In view of this, the origination of compensation events must be thoroughly assessed and best solutions to these events must be implemented for a successful project.

Source: KNUST
Idiomatic painting with adinkra duro and ahyensode

‘Adinkra duro’and symbols have basically existed as stamping medium and motifs respectively; mainly for the production of cloths for various occasions in our traditional socities. They have served this raison de’etre religiously and excellently over the centuries. Even though Adinkra ‘ahyensodee’ or symbols have been applied in various forms of expression, the textile expression far out-weighs all other forms. The researcher sought to further expand the expression and use of Adinkra symbols and ‘Adinkra duro’ by applying them to the production of Paintings for interiors. The researcher’s interest in Adinkra symbols arose in the search for an idiom that would reflect traditional and indigenous African life and art in a contemporary way. ‘Adinkra duro’ on the other hand justified its inclusion by virtue of the fact that, it is easily acquired and has also proven itself excellently in its use as a stamping medium for the production of Adinkra cloth. The prognosis for its use as a viable painting medium was hence not far-fetched. In fact, what the researcher sought to do was to make people, especially artists and art tutors, aware of a medium that exists in abundance and is cheaper to use than the imported media. The researcher also sought to reveal Adinkra symbols as an arsenal of great artistic idiom which most artists in Ghana have not yet recognised and experimented with. The researcher made a number of visits to Ntonsu a town near Kumasi in the Ashanti region, well lcnown for the production of Adinicra cloth. The purpose of these visits was to acquire first-hand information from traditional craftsmen. The knowledge gained, coupled with some materials procured made this research possible. The researcher reviewed literature related to Adinkra symbols and cloth. Also, some attempts in the direction of the research by Painting students of Dr. R. T. Ackam in the College of Art, KNUST were reviewed. The researcher also reviewed the work of one Opanyin Poku Mohamed a popular Adinkra cloth maker at Ntonsu. Armed with these pieces of information and materials, the researcher set up his studio and made some experimental works before producing the major project paintings. ‘Adinkra duro’ indeed proved to be a viable medium for painting, yielding itself to a number of techniques such as, tranparency, specklmg, splashing and scratching Adinkra symbols on the other hand provided unlimited ideas in form and composition.

Source: KNUST