ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Lived experiences of retired teachers in Effutu municipality.

Retirement is inevitable. Regardless of the overabundance of studies conducted on retirement, little can be said of qualitative investigations on lived experiences of retired teachers after long years in active service. This study aimed at understanding the psychosocial challenges that characterise the retired teachers’ lives after the active service in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region. Thus, this study seeks to take a critical study of the psychosocial challenges as well as to explore and describe how these experiences undermine the lives of retired teachers. Using phenomenological research design with qualitative data grounded in the interpretivist paradigm, the study focused on retired teachers who live at Effutu Municipality. Interview guide was the main data collection tool from a sample of 15 participants who have retired within the five years interval at the time of the study. The findings revealed that retirement benefits given to the teachers were mainly social security and tier two benefits. These benefits according to the retirees, were meagre to manage as they lived their retirement. As a result of this, teachers lived with anger, stress, self-denial, and disbelief as psychosocial challenges. To improve upon the situation, retires proposed that there should be counselling sessions for all retirees even as they lived through their retirement years, retirees ought to plan their retirement well whiles in active service, and retirees need to consider their retirement as an important and work hard towards retirement. Based on the findings, the study recommended a number of intervention strategies that could be put in place to reduce the psychosocial challenges. Among these are the cultivation of savings habit during active service, taking up other work to support monthly income and financial planning.

Source: UEW
Lived experiences of survivors of suicide in the Kasena-Nankana Municipality, Ghana

Suicide survivors in most cases develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can become chronic if not treated. The emotions survivors of suicide experience can be devastating and this situation can negatively affect the way they function. The study sought to explore lived experiences of survivors of suicide in the Kasena- Nankana Municipality (KNM), Ghana. The study adopted phenomenological design within the qualitative research approach. Ten survivors of suicide were selected using purposive sampling technique. Interviews were used to gather data. Data were analysed in themes. It was found that psychosocial problems, psychiatric problems, previous suicide attempts and access to means of suicide were the themes to suicidal thought among survivors of suicide in the KNM. Also, isolation and regression were the effects attempted suicide survivors face on their social life. Again, positive and negative coping strategies were used by survivors of suicide to cope with the aftermath of their attempted suicide. Then more so, mass education and the establishment of community counselling centres were the preventive measures that can be put in place to minimize attempted suicide among suicide survivors in the KNM. It was concluded that survivors of suicide do experience emotional distress which may degenerate and create further distress for the attempters with risks for suicide completion. Also, coping behaviours of suicidal persons are largely influenced by cultural dynamics. It was recommended that there is the need to develop a national policy on suicide prevention that examines the broader social dimensions of people’s lives and how these may lead to distress and provide support in the form of suicide helplines.

Source: UEW
Lived experiences of teachers at early childhood centres during the covid-19 pandemic in the Effutu Municipality

This study explored the lived experiences of teachers at early childhood centres in Effutu Municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is underpinned by the social constructivism paradigm. This Study adopted a qualitative research design and a phenomenological research design was employed for the study. A purposive sampling technique of homogenous type was used to select 15 respondents for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used as data collection instrument. Trustworthiness of the data was ensured using credibility, transferability, confirmability and dependability criteria. Data collected were thematically analyzed. The findings among others revealed: Protecting self and others, Income discrepancies, Cleaning and disinfecting the learning environment and delivery methods. Based on the key findings, It was recommended among others that the Ministry of Education makes ICT resources and facilities available to both teachers and learners, ensures sufficient training for teachers and learners, and digitalized curricular materials for effective implementation of virtual learning in such pandemics.

Source: UEW
Lived Experiences of Workplace Bullying at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

Bullying was traditionally associated with the playground, but it is becoming a real menace in the workplace in the new millennium. It is usually a complex problem which requires a pragmatic solution. This is because bullying as behaviour is not always obvious. It can be irrational, subtle and devious, taking place when there are no witnesses, inflicted on colleagues and subordinates to cause maximum humiliation. Bullying takes place in almost all workplaces; UEW is no exception. This research paper brings to the fore, lived experiences on “bullying in the workplace” of fifty (50) members of staff. It ends with suggestions to administrators to help reduce this behaviour at UEW. The writer has the conviction that there is no place for bullies in any well-run organization such as our university

Source: UEW
Livelihood strategies and land cover in the Ga central municipality

The work of human activities and its rapid effects on the land and the environment especially in neighbouring districts like the Ga Central Municipality close to cities like Accra cannot be overlooked. The continuous change in the land cover linked with people’s livelihood is worth examining. The sustainable livelihood and human environment system concepts were combined to study assets and livelihood strategies residents relied on for survival in the communities. The purpose of the study was to assess the livelihood strategies of residents of Ablekuma, Agape and Gonse and land cover in the Ga Central Municipality. The study ascertained the effects of livelihood strategies on the extent of land cover changes and their effects on the natural environment in the three communities. A mixed-method approach to research using the cross-sectional and case study designs was applied in the study. Three hundred and nine respondents answered questionnaires and 40 key informants, interviewed in the communities. The main findings of the study were that the dominant land cover in the three communities had gone through changes over the years; farmlands were the dominant land cover feature in 1991, grassland and shrubs in 2003 and built-up areas in the year 2018. The construction industry is the dominant economic activity or form of livelihood present in all three communities with retail activities as support. Increasing land temperature and water pollution were the major negative effects of livelihood strategies to the land cover while poor sanitation, water, air and noise pollutions were the major reciprocal effects from the natural environment to human beings. The study concluded that, the shift towards the usage of the environment for built-up as an alternative livelihood activity included livelihood strategies of investment, diversification, agricultural intensification and reciprocity. The study recommends policy should be drawn and implemented by the local assemblies to ensure residents plant in their homes a required minimum amount of trees to improve the biodiversity of the environment.

Source: UEW
Livelihoods of fringe communities and the impacts on the management of conservation area: The case of Kakum National Park in Ghana

In the developing countries most of the rural communities depend on forest resources for their livelihood. The establishment of protected areas and national parks however deprive them of having access to these resources. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study assessed the NTFPs collection situation of the fringe communities after the establishment of Kakum National Park, the extent to which the livelihood of the communities has been improved, and how the presence or absence of livelihood improvement strategies has shaped the attitudes and perceptions of the fringe communities toward the national park. The results showed that about 17% of the household leaders were unemployed. Livelihood support strategies such as livelihood alternatives and enhancement, social capital and sociological tourism were found to be absent. Opinion leaders of the communities reported that no member is involved in the management of the park. In spite of restrictions, majority (88.4%) of the household members enter the national park for NTFP collection. Hunting was found to be third highest activity. The households reported that majority of the NTFPs they collect were not processed indicating that their capacities to add value to the resource have not been developed. They believe that value addition to NTFPs could increase their income levels but did not support the theory that it could safeguard the future availability of forest resources and contribute to their sustainability. The respondents believed that once the resources are in abundance they must be exploited to meet their socio-economic needs, suggesting the nexus between illegal entry to conservation area and unsustainable exploitation of forest resources. The paper concludes that when restrictions are placed on access to forest resources and no alternative sources of income are made, illegal entry becomes the norm. The illegal NTFPs collectors would not view the resources as "their own" and would exploit them in an unsustainable way to meet their needs.

Source: UEW
Loanword adaptation in Kusaal a phonological study

This study investigates loanwords from Ghanaian English, Akan and Hausa into Kusaal, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in northeastern Ghana. The purpose of the study is to investigate how source segments are adapted into Kusaal phonology. It also seeks to investigate the syllable structure processes ongoing in Kusaal loanword adaptation within Optimality Theoretical framework. The study adopts a qualitative research approach where data was elicited from both primary and secondary sources. For the primary source, data was collected through interviews with 25 consultants, together with native speaker intuition, while data from the secondary source was collected from documents. The findings on segmental adaptation show that source segments which do not exist in Kusaal are adapted by means of a replacement with the closest native segment, such as consonant adaptation where the voiced and voiceless affricates are adapted as voiced and voiceless velar stops [g] and [k] respectively. Moreover, the study reveals that voicing assimilation, obstruent devoicing, debuccalisation and fortitioning among others contribute to consonantal changes in Kusaal loanword adaptation. With regard to vocalic adaptation, diphthongs and sequences of vowels are monophthongised by a deletion of the high vowels or coalesced into non-high vowels. On the syllable structure processes, the study finds that the epenthetic segments /u/, /ʊ/, /i/ and /ɪ/ are used to simplify consonant clusters or sequences of consonants at syllable boundaries, while consonant deletion also resolves source words with illicit syllable structures. The study concludes that phonological adaptation strategies ensure that loanwords conform to the phonology of Kusaal.

Source: UEW
Local associations and sustenance of communal living in Asamankese

In Africa, social relationships and the benefits there of are part of the established historical structures. People believe the recent copied lifestyle of individualistic living by a section of Ghanaians is the cause of gradual disintegration of the Ghanaian culture. . In the past most Ghanaians lived in compound houses where extended family members shared not only household facilities like toilet and kitchen but also saw the welfare of household members as shared responsibilities among the family members Sometimes, the welfare of people were not only shared burdens of the household members but that of the community as a whole. The assistance rendered to extended family members have dwindled over the years because of the perceived burden borne by especially, privileged family members. There is therefore, evidence that the strong cultural and social interdependent among Ghanaians family members is being threatened since communal living and fostering of social relationships were part of the everyday lifestyles of Ghanaians history. Many Ghanaians recreate such relationships through the formation of local associations. Though a vast amount of empirical work stresses the beneficial effects of social capital, recent literature has explicitly recognized the importance of distinguishing different types of social capital. Particularly, a distinction has been made between homogeneous (or bonding) and heterogeneous (or bridging) networks. The research is based on a qualitative research approach. A case study of different local associations at Asamankese in the Eastern Region of Ghana was used to represent what happens in other cities in the country. Primary data obtained through personal and focus group interviews using semi structured interview guide to solicit information from organisational members and leaders. Participants were purposefully selected from different local associations with the help of community leaders and the municipal youth coordinator. The research findings were analysed qualitatively. The study concluded that these local associations shape both men and women’s lived experiences similarly and they have intriguing effect on interdependence among their members like it used to be in the past.

Source: UEW
LOCAL DIFFERENTIATION AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN COASTAL GHANA

This study investigates the perception of the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities in the Western Region of Ghana. A mixed-method approach was employed, consisting of a survey of 400 fisherfolk households and 20 interviews with stakeholders. Changes in rainfall pattern, decreasing rainfall, stronger waves and storms that increase coastal erosion and cause persistent flooding were found to be the main effects of climate change on the livelihoods of small-scale coastal fisherfolk. Transnational fishing practices by fisherfolk in response to climate change contributed to the building of resilience of fishing households, while other adaptation strategies appeared to be insufficient in the long run. Coastal communities are not homogenous with respect to climate change impacts and corresponding adaptation strategies. Based on the empirical results, policy implications are suggested related to early warning systems and multiscalar marine planning. � Copyright � 2022 by the American Geographical Society of New York.

Source: UEW
Local food joints in the Tamale Metropolis hygiene, food safety practices and regulations

Local food joints in the Tamale Metropolis have become very popular due to the lucrative nature of this business. This notwithstanding, most of the food joints in the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly are often susceptible to unsafe abuses, in many cases from the raw material handling, through processing to the finished stage of consumption thus contaminating the food. The main objective of the study was to investigate the hygienic and food safety practices of Food Joints in the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study used a mixed research approach, and also adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 240 food vendors were randomly sampled from Six (6) communities in the Tamale Metropolis using simple random sampling. The study used the questionnaire along with observation to collect data from local food joint operators. In addition, an interview was conducted for two health inspectors. The data was entered into a statistical software for quantitative statistical analysis (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences–SPSS, 23.0). Data analysis was descriptive statistics involving computation of mean, counts, standard deviation and correlation to facilitate the interpretation of the data gathered. The major findings of the study were that the physical state of the food vending places was satisfactorily healthy; the safety of food vendors’ food handling practices was compromised; the institutional set-up was not effectively promoting conformance to the food vending controls; and most of the foods were contaminated above acceptable levels for consumption. The study again revealed that 31.2% of the respondents obtained their raw food transported to them by vehicle, 68.8% obtained their raw food by human transport, and this could compromise the safety of food vendors’ food handling practices; In addition, 68.8% of the respondents stored their raw foods through means of refrigeration and 31.2% of the respondents transports home their raw foods as a means to store them. All these practices contribute in contaminating the food. Monitoring and regulating had a statistically significant positive relations with the performance. The sanitary inspectors were able to inspect between 35 and 40 food outlets. 31.2% of the respondents have undergone cookery training whiles 68.8% have not undergone cookery training, The study concluded that: sanitary and hygienic practices among respondents are demonstrated on how the food is handled from the source to the food vendor’s place. The nature of the raw state of the food, their carriage and storage contribute to hygiene issues. The study recommended food vendors to practice proper personal hygiene and to avoid making direct skin contact with food. The Metropolitan Assembly and the Food and Drugs Authority were advised to advocate for political neutrality in their duties and to advocate for provision of logistics to facilitate inspection.

Source: UEW
Logging residues quantities, and some properties of solid and finger-jointed lumber of stem (off-cuts) and branch wood of some Ghanaian tropical hardwoods

The purpose of this study was four-fold: First, to estimate merchantable logging residues left in the forest after logging; second, to investigate the natural durability of stem and branch wood of five species; third, to compare the bending strength of solid and finger-jointed lumber; and finally to investigate the influence of anatomical properties on natural durability and mechanical properties of wood. The five wood species were Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapele), Entandrophragma angolense (edinam), Khaya ivorensis (mahogany), Terminalia superba (ofram), and Pterygota macrocarpa (koto/kyere). Forest residues were quantified with Smalian‟s equation, natural durability test was measured on percentage weight loss in accordance with EN 252-1989, whereas bending strengths of solid and finger-jointed lumber (produced with PVA adhesive) were evaluated in accordance with BS 373-1957, and the anatomical properties assessed using IAWA Committee protocol and using ImageJ software. Results showed 25% of merchantable logging residues of felled trees were left in the forest unextracted. Unlike branchwood of mahogany, ofram and koto whose natural durability were comparable to their stemwood, branchwood of sapele and edinam dried to 9±3%MC were significantly (p<0.05) better than their stemwood counterparts. Bending test showed significant (p<0.05) MOE differences from 9.4% to 23.5% higher in solid branchwood of edinam, mahogany and ofram, whereas MOR differences were from 16.5% to 23.5% higher in branchwood of edinam and mahogany compared to their stemwood counterparts with MC and wood type having significant effect (p=0.000). Branchwood finger-jointed lumber combinations produced joint efficiencies in MOE ranging from 59% to 110%, and those in MOR ranged from 30% to 68%. Expectedly, finger-joint efficiencies in MOE and MOR correlated inversely with wood density. But unlike the MOEs, MORs of all finger jointed combinations were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of stemwood of their respective species. As a characteristic of hardwoods, sizes and quantities of some wood cells were either significantly (p<0.05) more or less in stemwood than in branchwood. As expected, fibre and parenchyma proportions respectively correlated inversely and positively with percentage weight loss. Also, fibre and vessel proportions correlated positively and inversely respectively with MOE and MOR. In conclusion, wood residues are of substantial quantities, and solid wood or finger jointed lumber of branches are not inferior to those of stemwood of the same species and therefore branches could be extracted for use to supplement stemwood so as to help in addressing the challenge being posed by timber shortages to industry and also help in reducing the depletion rate of Ghana‟s forest cover.

Source: UEW
The low enrolment of technical courses at the senior hightechnical schools in the upper west region a case study of Tumu Senior High Technical School

It has become undeniable fact that most of the technical schools are virtually collapsing because people look down upon them. People have misconception that technical courses are for those with low academic performance, and for that matter they would not patronise or allow their wards to pursue any of the technical courses, therefore resulting in low enrolment in those institutions. The above challenge is the main reason why the technical institutions are collapsing and the few surviving ones had to introduce the secondary courses and within shortest possible time you see the enrollment of the secondary courses outweighing that of the technical. Meanwhile, it is technology that is going to solve the nation‟s economic challenges. The above challenge was what tickled the researcher to come out with this work. The total number of two hundred and sixtyseven (267) questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and two hundred and fiftysix (256) respondents responded. 225 (88%) respondents out of the total number disagreed with item 6 & 12 on the questionnaire and 2 (0.78%) being neutral, the remaining 28 (11%) respondents agreed. For item 7& 13, 105 (41%) respondents agreed, 17 (7%) respondents did not side and 134 (52.3%) respondents disagreed. With respect to item 8 & 14, 16 (6.3%) respondents were not having any idea, but 52 (20.3%) respondents said yes and the remaining 188 (73.4%) also said no. In respect of item 9 & 15, 66 (26) respondents agreed while 25 (10%) remained neutral and 165 (64%) disagreed. 81 (32%) respondents agreed with item 10 & 16 and 153 (60%) disagreed and in between above extreme ends are 22 (9%) respondents being in the neutral grounds. According to the above findings, it is concluded that both weak and intellectual students can be enrolled at both technical and secondary schools to read any of the technical courses or secondary courses. The technical courses are like other secondary courses and are also friendly. Also technical courses can offer self- employment.

Source: UEW