ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The aesthetics of invective: reflections on the use of verbal violence in the Suns of Independence of Ahmadou Kourouma

In recent times, one major threat to peace and sustainable democratic governance in Ghana is the upsurge of the use of invective language in public discourse. Ahmadou Kourouma’s novel, The suns of independence, which can be classified as a socio-political satire, provides a textual data for a critical analysis of this phenomenon in its aesthetic form. Considering literary products (poetry, drama and prose) as clear manifestations of social discourse, that is communication, this study seeks to examine the use and aesthetic significance of verbal violence in this novel initially published in French as “Les soleils des indépendances” in 1968. In its quest, the study, in the first place, identifies and analyses three forms of invectives considered as verbal violence in use in the novel. In the second place, it examines the causes of their use and their aesthetic or stylistic significance to socio-political discourse in the text, leading to the formulation of critical reflections on the phenomenon as a potential source of socio-political conflict and social disintegration. The study also points out how the intransigent use of vituperation resulting from egocentric pursuits eventually leads to self -destruction. In this regard, The suns of independence provides both historical and contemporary textual material for reflections on the realities of the use of invectives and its aesthetic significance in socio-political discourse in fiction. Combining a range of theoretical frameworks in stylistics and pragmatics in the study of discourse, this paper examines both the methods of textual composition and the strategies of interpretation for invectives in the novel. The significance of this study is found in the general contemporary quest for the use of sanitized language in the Ghanaian socio-political discourse for sustainable democratic development and social cohesion

Source: UCC
Affiliation policy rhetoric and reality in the Ghanaian higher education context

The present affiliation policy regime of Ghana’s higher education system has existed for more than two decades. However, empirical studies to examine the policy rhetoric and reality with regard to building quality assurance capacity in mentored institutions appear non-existent. This paper is based on an illustrative qualitative case study undertaken to examine the achievements and challenges of implementing the policy to build internal quality assurance capacities in mentored institutions. The study was guided by Institutional Theory using 12 key informant in-depth interviews and document reviews as data collection sources. The findings indicate a minimal achievement of the policy intent on internal quality assurance capacity building due to key implementation challenges such as a tripartite relationship structure; increasing cost on mentored institutions and increasing workload on mentor institutions. The study concludes that the gap between the policy rhetoric and reality in the studied mentored institutions appears undesirable and requires stakeholders’ attention.

Source: UCC
Aforestation in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district in the Central region of Ghana

This study examined afforestation in Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District (AEED). The study was cross-sectional as well as descriptive and made use of interview schedules and questionnaire to collect data. The simple random, quota and systematic sampling techniques were used for household respondents, while the purposive and simple random techniques were employed in getting responses from departmental heads and tree growers respectively. Questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and observation guide were used for data collection. The study revealed a low community participation in forest activities and management in the district. There was also low women participation in afforestation. A number of factors were given by respondents for the low level of participation. These included logistics constraints, inadequate incentives, shortage of seedlings and improper distribution of seedlings. Choice of seedlings, property rights and right of access are three main motivational factors for improving afforestation in the area according to the study. The thesis ends with some recommendations to stakeholders to promote effective afforestation in the district. Increased budgetary allocation for afforestation, coordinated approach to forest issues and the institution of motivational packages for tree growing were some of the suggestions proposed to enhance afforestaton in AEED. There is also the need to consider the documentation of forest sites in various parts of the district to determine their conservational status and the challenges facing them. The production and use of bamboo need to be encouraged as it has many advantages.

Source: UCC
Africa Digital Financial Inclusion, Banking Sector Regulations, and Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan

Law and finance theory explains how legal regime and financial development affect economic growth and poverty reduction relationship. Nonetheless, poverty remains a critical issue in sub-Saharan African economies. This thesis investigates the role of banking sector regulation dimensions on the relationship between digital financial inclusion and poverty reduction in 25 SSA economies using annual unbalanced panel data from 2014 to 2020. The analysis employed was system general method of moments and quantile method of moments with fixed effects. It emerged that digital financial inclusion and banking sector regulation separately promotes poverty reduction. Further, the findings revealed that some dimensions of banking sector regulations contribute to enhance digital financial inclusion. Also, institutional quality positively moderates between banking sector regulation and digital financial inclusion. Banking sector regulations interact significantly with digital financial inclusion to reduce poverty in SSA economies. Digital financial inclusion significantly reduces poverty level across the all quantiles of poverty distribution. Policymakers, regulators and international institutions should design and implement policies that enhance digital financial inclusions such as mobile money initiatives, and mobile cellular subscriptions, which can enhance poverty reduction at each quantile of poverty distribution. Banking regulatory frameworks should be crafted to embrace policies and sound practices that engender growth effect and inclusivity into financial system, thereby promoting digital financial inclusion and leading ultimately to alleviate poverty. It is therefore recommended that central banks in SSA should concurrently implement digital financial inclusion initiatives and banking sector regulations aimed at reducing poverty.

Source: UCC
African Diaspora Investors Experiences In Ghana‟S Hospitality And Tourism Industry

Following the global growing awareness of Diasporas as the new development players and the contribution they can make to development efforts in their home country or continent, the African Diasporas in particular have been identified as significant sources of outside financing and potential development actors in their continent of origin. Despite this growing trend of Diasporas' investment and their role as new development players, there are few empirical studies of Diasporas' investment in the hospitality and tourism industry, particularly in Ghana. The study employed a qualitative lens to examine the African Diaspora investors‟ experiences within the Ghanaian hospitality and tourism industry. Using in-depth interviews, data were collected from 17 participants in the Accra Metropolitan Area. Participants were identified through the snowball sampling technique and data was analyzed using the inductive content technique. The study found two main subsectors that attracted investment from Ghanaian Diaspora investors, the Food and Beverage (F&B) and the Lodging (accommodation) subsectors. About 65% invested in Food and Beverage (F&B) and 35% in the Lodging subsector. Additionally, two main motivating factors, push and pull were found as the motivation for investing. The challenges encountered were put into pre-investment and post-investment challenges. Again, the study found the adoption of appropriate technology, support from family and friends, intensifying marketing campaigns, seeking advice from major industry players, collaboration with stakeholders and innovation as the strategies employed to negotiate the challenges of investors. Finally, the study concluded that the African Diaspora investors preferred Food and Beverage (F&B) and the lodging subsectors and were motivated mainly by two factors push and pull. About 70.6% of the participants had positive experiences and 29.4% had mixed experiences investing.

Source: UCC
African families and AIDS: context, reactions and potential interventions

This paper reviews publications and research reports on how sub-Saharan African families have been affected by, and reacted to, the AIDS epidemic. The nature of the African family and its variation across the regions is shown to be basic to both an understanding of how the epidemic spread and of its impact. The volume of good social science research undertaken until now on the disease in Africa is shown to be extremely small relative to the need

Source: UCC
African Herbal Remedies with Antioxidant Activity: A Potential Resource Base for Wound Treatment

The use of traditional herbal remedies as alternative medicine plays an important role in Africa since it forms part of primary health care for treatment of various medical conditions, including wounds. Although physiological levels of free radicals are essential to the healing process, they are known to partly contribute to wound chronicity when in excess. Consequently, antioxidant therapy has been shown to facilitate healing of such wounds. Also, a growing body of evidence suggests that, at least, part of the therapeutic value of herbals may be explained by their antioxidant activity. This paper reviews African herbal remedies with antioxidant activity with the aim of indicating potential resources for wound treatment. Firstly, herbals with identified antioxidant compounds and, secondly, herbals with proven antioxidant activity, but where the compound(s) responsible for the activity has not yet been identified, are listed. In the latter case it has been attempted to ascribe the activity to a compound known to be present in the plant family and/or species, where related activity has previously been documented for another genus of the species. Also, the tests employed to assess antioxidant activity and the potential caveats thereof during assessment are briefly commented on.

Source: UCC
African indigenous religion in an African theological seminary: The case of St. Nicholas seminary, Cape Coast

There is no gainsaying in the importance of the need to study the religion of the indigenous African in theological institutions in Africa. The reasons are not farfetched as the trainee priests would be plying their vocation among the indigenous believers and would need to understand the beliefs of those people in order to effectively operate among them. This paper seeks to make a critical assessment of the teaching of the African Traditional Religion and African Philosophy and Values in an African theological seminary. The paper focuses on the teaching of the subject in the St. Nicholas Theological Seminary in Cape Coast. The paper traces the history of the seminary and teaching of the African indigenous religion. The paper analysis the course contents and finds its suitability for an institution such as this. Using the questionnaire and interview as the main instruments, the article found out from students, both regular and sandwich, how the study of the courses has and would impact on their practice as priests in their area of operation. The article concluded that for trainee priest to effectively operate in their area of operation, and for those who may be sent to the very remotest parts of the country where in most cases the indigenous religion of the African have a strong hold on the inhabitants, the need to have a firm knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the indigenous African is important if they are to succeed as priests

Source: UCC
African Lettuce (Launaea taraxacifolia) Displays Possible Anticancer Effects and Herb–Drug Interaction Potential by CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 Inhibition

Medicinal plants are part of the healthcare systems worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. African lettuce (Launaea taraxacifolia) is cultivated extensively in Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and Tanzania in the east, and in Southern Africa. Potential anticancer effects of L. taraxacifolia have been suggested, but little is known about putative molecular mechanisms or potential for herb–drug interactions through inhibition or induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes. We investigated the effects of crude aqueous extracts of L. taraxacifolia on growth kinetics and cell cycle progression of the WHC01 esophageal cancer cells. Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects were evaluated using the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and flow cytometry, while examining, in parallel, the genes regulating apoptosis and cell cycle in this cell culture model. In addition, we tested the inhibitory and enzyme kinetic effects of the aqueous L. taraxacifolia using recombinant human CYP450 isozyme model systems (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19). L. taraxacifolia exhibited a significant growth inhibitory effect on the WHC01 cancer cells. Most cell cycle genes were downregulated. Cell cycle analysis showed a G0-G1 cell cycle arrest in WHC01 cells in the presence of L. taraxacifolia extract, accompanied by morphological changes. L. tarax- acifolia extract treatment resulted in downregulation of expression levels of CYP1A2 ( p < 0.0005) and CYP2C19 ( p < 0.003) by 50–70%. L. taraxacifolia extract caused reversible and time-dependent inhibition of the recombinant CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. This study provides new insights on possible anticancer effects of L. taraxacifolia, a widely used medicinal plant in parts of Africa and across the world especially by patients with cancer. Further mechanistic studies expanding on these observations would be timely and con- tribute to the field of global precision medicine that requires solid understanding of drug and herb molecular mechanisms of action and drug–herb interaction potentials, given the worldwide use of medicinal plants.

Source: UCC
African resistance to colonial conquest: The case of Konkomba resistance to German occupation of Northern Togoland, 1896-1901

In spite of the evidence provided by recent studies on armed resistance, it is still widely believed that centralized societies were the only ones that resisted colonialism by the use of arms. In the narratives of local resistance to the German conquest of northern Togoland, it is still believed that only the centralized kingdoms of Nanumba and Dagomba resisted the German occupation of the region. No mention is made of the exploits of the non-centralized peoples like the Konkomba. This study shows that the Konkomba, a non-centralized society, did not also choose armed resistance against the German occupation of their territory in northern Togoland, but they also succeeded in resisting the German occupation for a longer period than their centralized neighbours. It further buttresses the argument that it is completely false to assume that only centralized societies chose armed resistance as a reaction to colonialism. The data used in this study was obtained from archival documents and oral information collected by the author between June and July of 2009 and January, 2012

Source: UCC
After-school activities and their influence on academic performance of junior high school students in Cape Coast metropolis in the central region of Ghana

study examined the after-school activities and their influence on academic performance of Junior High School students in Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. A descriptive survey design was adopted using a sample of 364 students selected from six public Junior High Schools in Cape Coast. A questionnaire was used to gather the data. The Cronbach’s alpha co-efficient for the reliability of the instrument was 0.78. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation and simple linear regression were used as statistical tools to analyse the data collected. The findings revealed that students frequently participate in a number of after-school activities (structured and unstructured) such as reading of text books, engaging in watching movies, engaging in house chores e.g., sweeping etc. On factors influencing participation in after-school activities, the results showed that students were not influenced to participate in activities. The results of the study further revealed that both structured and unstructured activities respectively do influence students’ academic performance. It was recommended that parents and guardians monitor the choices of their wards in order to be aware with the kind of activities they engage in. Again, stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), teachers, parents and other equally relevant individuals educate students about education oriented after-school activities that would yield good results in the academic performance.

Source: UCC
Agblehawo (farmers’ music): their status and impact on farming communities of Kpandu, volta region, Ghana.

An important musical type that supports farmers’ activities at Kpandu and its environs, to ensure their welfare and survival through subsistence farming is agblehawo, a term which literally means “farmers’ music”. This study sought to explain why the s4hewo (the youth), of Kpandu up to date, cling to the performance of agblehawo in the face of other varied forms of music to which they are exposed. To explain this socio-musical behaviour of the s4hewo, the conceptual framework of ‘situational change’ experienced by Mitchell (1973) and adopted by Saighoe (1988) became the underpinning theory for the study. Apart from Kpandu, the research area, field investigation was also conducted at Kudzra and Gbefi, two traditional adjoining communities of Kpandu. To a large extent, the comments and reactions of the actors helped me to understand the structural organisation, occasions for performance and the meaning of the performances. The retention and continuous performance of agblehawo by the Akpiniawo (local name for the people of Kpandu) is an indication that agblehawo continue to serve some specific needs and purposes in their day to day socio-musical behaviour and interaction.

Source: UCC
Age differences and protected first heterosexual intercourse in Ghana

Age differences between partners, where females are relatively younger than their male partners, can negatively affect power dynamics and subsequent negotiations for safe sex practices with implications on unplanned pregnancies and STIs transmission. This paper examines the effects of age differentials on condom use at first sex. Using a weighted sample of 925 women drawn from the fifth round of Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and applying complementary log-log model, the probability of first sex being protected vis-à-vis partner age differences are estimated. The results suggest that females’ being ten or more years younger than their male partners at first sex was a significant indicator of non-protection while at age intervals 1-4 and 5-9 years, the probability of protected sex inflates significantly. The results demonstrate that large age disparities between partners pose a significant barrier to protection during first sex and strategies have to be developed to altering wrong perceptions associated with intergenerational sex, particularly, in settings such as Africa where gerontocratic tendencies pervade not only social relationships but sexual as well

Source: UCC
Age-related variations in the horizontal and vertical diameters of the pedicles of the lumbar spine

The horizontal and vertical diameters of the pedicles of the lumbar vertebrae were measured from plain anteroposterior radiographs of the lumbar spines of male and female subjects aged from 10 to 65 y. The results showed that there were significant differences between the pedicle diameters of males and females. Horizontal diameters ranged from 7.4 to 13.6 mm in females and from 7.5 to 14.2 mm in males. Female vertical diameters ranged from 14.2 to 18.2 mm whilst male vertical diameters ranged from 14.8 to 20.7 mm. Generally, there was a cephalocaudal increase of diameters in both sexes. Significant age-related variations of pedicle diameters were noted at all segmental levels. Within the adolescent group (10-19.9 y), the diameters of the 10-14.9 y group and 15-19.9 y group differed significantly (P < 0.001). When the pedicle diameters of the individual age groups were compared, the pedicles of the 10-19.9, 20-29.9, 30-34.9, 40-49.9, and 50 + y groups were found to be significantly different from each other. The evidence suggests that pedicle diameters undergo continuous change throughout the age range studied. The changes are characterised by increase of diameters in some age groups and decrease in others, but there was an overall increase of both vertical and horizontal diameters as the age groups were followed from the youngest to the oldest. The pattern of variation with age differed for horizontal and vertical diameters. After the 5th decade, female horizontal and vertical diameters showed a tendency to increase while male diameters decreased.

Source: UCC
Agers of small medium enterprises at Katamanto

The study assesses the strategies that SME owners have instituted to retain their employees in Kantamanto in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Purposive and randomly sampling technique was used to select the respondents. In all ten respondents were selected for the study. Qualitative approach was employed which was underpinned by inductive logical reasoning. Interview guide was used as an instrument for the study. Conclusions from relevant related literature were captured along to authenticate the findings of the study. It can be concluded from the study that, even though most of the SME managers interviewed had a set of strategies in place to retain their employees, almost all of these strategies were sentenced on rewards, money (salaries/wages), communication, company culture and working conditions. Other strategies were not used or given less attention in generalizing the strategies used or adopted by the various SME that were included in the studies, the researcher realized that the most strategy used by the SMEs to retain their employees is good salaries and wages. The barriers hindering the retaining of employees in the institution or enterprise are how to have a cordial relationship with every worker, loosing trained and dependent staff to other companies, high salary demand from workers. It was therefore recommended that retention strategies such as good salaries and wages, effective communication and socialization should be given the needed attention. Also it is suggested that feedbacks should be given to the management of the various SMEs to help them improve upon their measures in retaining employees.

Source: UCC