ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Visual framing of June 3 flood and fire disaster- a content analysis of four Ghanaian newspapers

Photographs of disaster published in newspapers potentially help in the disaster assessment and mitigation measures. Though framing on flood disaster has been researched, visual framing of flood and fire disasters in the Ghanaian context often lacks attention. This study applied the qualitative approach, to finding out how the newspapers framed the June 3 flood and fire disaster in Accra Ghana, whether the news frames used in coverage varied with the newspapers, and how gender played out in the coverage of the disaster. Using Framing, News Judgement and Gender theories, content-analysis 240 photographs used by four Ghanaian daily- Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, Ghanaian Times and Chronicle -newspapers to report on the June 3 flood and fire disaster at Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Thematic analysis of data established that Human Interest is the most dominant frame used by the four newspapers, though Daily Graphic recorded significant frequency of Economic Interest frame. The study also discovered that new frames such as Solidarity and International Compassion were used to represent some of the photographs. State owned newspapers (Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times) gave prominence to the incumbent president in the political frame while the private newspapers (Daily Guide and The Chronicle) projected the opposition candidate. However, all newspapers largely portrayed the politicians (political frame) in a positive tone and the economic and human interest in the negative tone. Besides, most women (females) were significantly framed as ‘passive’ while men (males) were framed as ‘active’ in the disaster response and recovery process. The study recommends that disaster risk communication education must be part of newspaper publications in Ghana, in order to raise levels of awareness, on disaster risk among the general population.

Source: UEW
Vocational training programmes and employment opportunities for students Ashanti school for the deaf, Jamasi Ghana

The purpose of the study was to examine the Vocational Training Programmes and Employment Opportunities for Students at Ashanti School for the Deaf Jamasi, Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative, which adopted a case study design with semi-structured interview and observation as the data collection tools. A purposive sampling technique was used for the study. Findings revealed, vocational programmes available included leather work, tailoring and dress making and weaving. However, the study showed challenges teachers and students encountered. It was indicated, inadequate qualify teachers, material, equipment resources. It was recommended that, the vocational programmes should be expanded and furnished with materials and equipment by the school authorities.

Source: UEW
Vocational training programmes and employment opportunities for students who are deaf at Bechem school for the deaf, in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana

The study explored vocational training programmes and employment opportunities for students who are deaf at Bechem School for the Deaf in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Four research questions guided the study. A case study research design was adopted for the study. A sample size of 25 respondents comprising 12 instructors, 8 students and 5 graduates of the school were involved in the study. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the sample size for the study. An interview guide was used to gather data for the study. The interview data were analyzed thematically. Analysis of the data revealed that vocational training programmes at Bechem School for the Deaf contains numerous programmes for the vocational training of students, some of which are fashion design, building and construction, welding, carpentry, beads, batik, tie and dye. However, some students indicated that they want the programme to be expanded. Again, it was found out that teaching and learning resources for the programme were not adequate for the students in the school. Also, it was established that the instructors employ the individual teaching approach. Finally, the study revealed that students who are deaf who graduate from the programme found it difficult to find employment and there was no special scheme to provide start-up capitals for the graduates of the programme. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made to improve on programmes.

Source: UEW
Vote buying in Ghanaian elections in the fourth republic a case study of the Ablekuma Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region

Vote-buying is a contentious issue in contemporary discourse on the sustainability of democratic development in Ghana. This practice is gradually crippling electoral processes and undermining the efforts of the electoral umpire in conducting competitive, free, fair, and credible elections for the sustenance of democratic development in Ghana. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the causes, impact, and the prevention of vote buying in the Ablekuma Central Constituency elections. To achieve the set objective, the study adopted the mixed method research approach for gathering and analyzing data. In all 322 questionnaires were distributed to respondents and six interviewees were interviewed for the study. The researcher discovered that, the poorer a voter, the more likely he or she is to experience vote buying, the perception voters have about politics and politicians is closely linked to vote buying, voters sell their votes to politicians due to the perception they have about them, vote buying is seen as a business. Politicians use monetary exchange, making of huge promises, sod cutting and gifts to persuade voters to vote in a particular way. The study also revealed that vote buying is a threat to democracy, hinders the honesty of the electoral process, prevents development and promotes corruption. The researcher therefore recommended that candidates caught for offences of vote buying should be disqualified to be voted for and should also be treated as criminals as this will help prevent vote buying.

Source: UEW
Voters’ response to vote buying a case study of the Shama District

Each election year and in almost every local and institutional elections, the issue of vote buying surfaces. Vote buying has almost become part of every election in Ghana. While the menace is on the increase, it is unclear whether votes bought translate into votes for the buyer or the buying party. This work sought to investigate whether the incentives given to voters affect voters’ decisions at the polls. It also looks at whether Ghanaians are conversant with the laws and legislations on elections and for that matter vote buying. The mixed method design was used for the study. Data from questionnaire was triangulated with interviews. Non-probability sampling method was used to select the sample of district, communities and respondents for the study. The Pearson Chi-Square was used in finding significant differences. The p-value is the probability for showing differences and a critical value of alpha=.05 was adopted for sig differences in the statistical analysis. The study revealed among other things that: (a) Items that are used to buy votes include silver pans (basins), cloths, gas cylinders, laptops, money, outboard motors, and wellington boots; (b) Incentives used to buy votes influence the decisions of 27.3% of voters and (c) During vote buying, conditions are not actually attached to the incentives except where there are doubts that one wants to take the incentive without reciprocating with his/her vote. Enforcing laws on vote buying by all stakeholders including the police, the judiciary, the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) and resolving to fight corruption among leaders who also use all means to make money to engage in vote buying would go a long way to solve the menace.

Source: UEW
Vowel raising in Akan reduplication

This paper examines vowel raising in reduplication in Akan, a Niger Congo (Kwa) language, focusing on the Asante-Twi dialect. It has been generally observed in Akan that in reduplicating CV stems, the stem [+low] vowels are pre-specified with [+high] the reduplicant (RED). However, it has been claimed that raising to the mid vowel in disyllabic REDs is idiosyncratic to the Fante dialect. I show that the phenomenon is attested in Asante and that stem CV1 V2 , where V2 is [+low], raises to a corresponding [-high, -low] vowel in the RED, and not [+high]. I account for this within the Optimality Theory framework.

Source: UEW
Vulgarity on Ghanaian entertainment blogs A qualitative content analysis

This study explores the use of vulgar words and expressions on Ghanaian entertainment blogs and the rationale behind the use of such language by Ghanaian bloggers. Through the online disinhibition effect as the theory underpinning this study, the phenomenon of vulgar language on Ghanaian entertainment blogs is explored with sampled vulgar blog posts, and insights from some Ghanaian bloggers interviewed for the study. The study revealed that vulgarity on Ghanaian entertainment blogs mainly borders on obscenity, profanity and insults, which are mostly targeted at prominent personalities and institutions in the Ghanaian society. Additionally, Ghanaian bloggers who were interviewed noted their audience’s obsession with vulgarity, and economic benefits as the main reasons why vulgar language finds its way on Ghanaian entertainment blogs. The study concludes that Ghanaian entertainment blogs mostly employ words and expressions that are insulting, abusive and derogatory and have the tendency to incite violence. Again, vulgarity on Ghanaian entertainment blogs mostly deals with famous, recognized and prominent personalities in the Ghanaian society which can put the dignities of these people at stake. The study further recommends that the Ghanaian media policy makers including the Ghana National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalist Association come up with a code of ethics for bloggers in Ghana to help serve as a check on them.

Source: UEW
Washback effect of BECE and WASSCE English language tests on teaching and learning of English language in Ghana

The term, washback or backwash is used in Applied Linguistics to refer to the influence high-stakes tests have on teaching and learning of second/foreign language. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) English language tests administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are high-stakes tests which have very important consequences for the junior and senior high school leavers respectively. The English language syllabus for both junior high school and senior high school levels has listening, reading, writing, and speaking components. Unfortunately, the BECE and WASSCE English language tests do not assess students on all the language skills. Although the WASSCE English language test has oral English component (which was introduced in 1999), it assesses candidates on listening comprehension only. Since teachers and students are likely to concentrate on what is going to be assessed, there may be negative washback effect on teaching and learning of English language in junior and senior high schools in Ghana. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of BECE and WASSCE English language tests on teaching and learning of English language in junior and senior high schools in Ghana. Questionnaires, interviews, classroom observation, and document analysis were conducted with 374 students (from 3 junior high schools and 5 senior high schools) and 24 English language teachers (from 4 junior high schools and 8 senior high schools). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data revealed that although both the BECE and the WASSCE had negative washback effect on students, the BECE tended to exert a greater negative washback effect on the students than the WASSCE, and that this negative washback adversely affected students’ communicative competence in speaking. This means that the BECE/WASSCE English language test did not allow the students to concentrate on activities that would help them to speak the language fluently in real life situations.

Source: UEW
Waste disposal practices at Winneba an investigation into residents’ attitudes

The study aimed to investigate Winneba residents’ attitudes towards waste disposal. It analysed the underlying factors affecting effective solid waste disposal in the municipality and suggested possible measures to tackle the problem. The design used by the researcher for the study was a survey research design. It is a report that is concerned with findings on societal issues, phenomena or problems and trying to make some suggestions and recommendations that are aimed at improving, minimizing or halting the issue, phenomena or problem. Generally, the researcher made use of questionnaires, interviews and observation as instruments in the collection of data. During the research activity, the following key findings were established.  Inadequate skip supply for storing waste.  Lack of routine collection of waste.  The peoples’ attitudes towards waste generation and its disposal is not the best as many people throw of rubbish indiscriminately in the environment.  Inadequate resources for waste management institutions to effectively collect the waste generated. To effectively tackle the problems enumerated, the following measures are recommended: provision of adequate skips and dustbins, regular collection of waste, proper management of landfill, adequate resourcing of waste management institutions and adequate monitoring and education of residents.

Source: UEW
Waste reduction on construction sites in Ghana- case study of selected construction companies in Kwahu east district

The main objective of the study was to assess waste reduction on construction sites in Ghana- case study of selected construction companies in the Kwahu East District. The mixed research design was used for the study (quantitative and qualitative research design). The population for the study was one hundred and twenty five (125). The population of the study was made up of Managers and Supervisors of the Building construction companies in the Kwahu Municipality. Census sampling technique was used to select all the 125 Managers and Supervisors in the selected construction sites for the study. The data collection techniques used for the study involved questionnaires, interview and observation. Primary data was collected through a field survey of Managers and Site Supervisors at the selected Construction industries in the Kwahu Municipality. The questionnaire data was coded to enable the respondents to be grouped into limited number of categories. The SPSS version 18 was used to analyse data. The study findings concluded that most of the construction sites do not have waste management and recycling system in place. Moreover, 86 supervisors representing 69.9% agreed that an unskilled labourer can mismanage construction resources and create waste at the construction sites. Also, 80 supervisors representing 65% agreed that overdesign of building plans can create waste at the construction sites. Also, 84 supervisors representing 68.3% agreed that inadequate storage facilities can create waste at the construction sites. Moreover, lack of markets for recyclable materials also generated waste at the construction sites. The study concluded that to reduce waste at the construction sites there is the need to focus on quality and performance and provide safe transportation from the point of sale to the construction sites. The study recommended that the Supervisors’ of the construction companies in the Kwahu East District should reduce construction waste generation by promoting the recycling of construction waste. Again, management of the firms should employ competent and skilled labourers to work effectively and professionally to minimise the generation of construction wastes. This initiative is important because unskilled labourer can mismanage construction resources and create waste at the construction sites.

Source: UEW
Wavelet-Based Cough Signal Decomposition for Multimodal Classification

Signal classifications have benefited from the successes of ML and DNN architectures. Cough classification techniques mainly extract features such as the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients for training. Most of these works also focus on obtaining information from single data modalities. However, multimodal analysis has been shown to aggregate useful information from different modalities thereby improving the internal capacity of ML models at data analysis. In this research, we propose a multimodal cough data classification approach with scalograms images obtained by decomposing cough signals using continuous wavelet transform and clinical information of subjects obtained from the COUGHVID dataset. Our result shows improved precision as compared to expert analysis. � 2020 IEEE.

Source: UEW
Weight management practices among female Teacher-Trainees of Offinso College of Education in Ghana

Weight management poses a significant challenge for college students during their period of growth and development. As a result, this study was conducted to examine weight perception and weight management practices among female teacher-trainees at Offinso College of Education (OFCE). The study employed descriptive and correlational survey research techniques. A sample of 396 female teacher-trainees from OFCE was selected to participate in the study. Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaires. Findings indicated that majority (94.7%) of the female teacher-trainees were familiar with weight management issues. Among the various weight management behaviours identified, walking emerged as the most commonly practiced behaviour among the female teacher-trainees. There was significant difference ( 2 17.73   , p  0.038 ) between body weight satisfaction and perceived weight status of the participants. Majority of the participants (61.6%) were very satisfied with their body weight status. Among the female teacher-trainees who were very satisfied with their body weight, 13.85% perceived themselves to be underweight, 45.02% normal weight, 35.94% overweight and 5.19% obese. Significantly, positive association occurred between perceived weight and the actual weight status of OFCE teacher-trainees (Person’s correlation = 0.203, P-value < 0.01). The study emphasized the significance of introducing educational and awareness program in academic settings to foster a healthy understanding of weight and encourage students to develop appropriate body image perceptions.

Source: UEW
Welfare implications of external debt and capital flight in Sub-Saharan Africa (Evidence using panel data modelling)

The countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have experienced a positive growth rate of over five per cent per year, on average, since their transition from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in 1996 and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in 2006. Despite this growth, poverty and inequality are still very high. Employing the Driscoll - Kraay standard panel estimation method and dataset from 1990 to 2015, this paper sets out to examine the implications of external debt and capital flight on the general welfare of the people. The estimation results reveal that both external debt and capital flight have a welfare inhibiting effect, suggesting that increases in external borrowing or capital flight may lead to a reduction in the welfare of the people in the sub-region. The study, therefore, recommends to policymakers and government in the sub-region the need to tackle the revolving nature of external borrowing and capital flight and take steps to halt all channels through which deservingly acquired capital leaves the sub-region. � 2021 Akad�miai Kiad�, Budapest.

Source: UEW
What critical factors forecast student-teachers utilization of online learning system in the University of Education, Ghana during the Covid19 pandemic?

The shutdown of schools due to the Covid19 epidemic has generated a move towards online education. The operation of an electronic instructional system in many higher learning institutions was a major challenge. Online instructional system namely Moodle possesses some characteristics that are important for its operation in the era of the covid19 epidemic. Nevertheless, the effective implementation of the electronic instructional system depends on grasping the determinants that confront the modern electronic instructional system. Therefore, this inquiry aims to examine the determinants that influence learners� operation of the instructional learning system in the period of covid19. This inquiry adopted a quantitative research design. A convenient sampling approach was employed to choose a sample size of 276 students. The result of the inquiry found that all the nine determinants elucidated 53.8% of the change in utilization of the online learning system. Of the nine determinants, social influence and system quality contributed substantially to learners� utilization of online learning system. Implications for the study were also discussed. � 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Source: UEW
What drives bank lending? A closer look at bank lending types in Africa

Purpose: In this study, the authors present unique evidence on bank lending types by paying particular attention to the factors that drive the different types of bank lending in Africa using bank level data. Design/methodology/approach: In presenting such evidence, the study employs a robust fixed effect panel data with year and technological controls comprising 57 banks from 29 African economies between 2006 and 2015. Findings: The results show that different factors affect different bank lending types differently in Africa. Specifically, while the authors find that total or aggregate bank lending is positively driven by bank capitalization and spread but negatively driven by bank size, corporate and commercial bank lending is positively driven by bank size, spread, inflation, elections and extent of business disclosure but negatively driven by bank capitalization, loan loss reserves, operational cost and gross domestic product per capita. Moreover, interbank lending is both negatively and positively driven by bank capitalization and size, respectively, while other bank lending type is driven positively by financial crisis but negatively driven by bank size, inflation and extent of business disclosure. Finally, retail and consumer lending is positively driven by bank capitalization, loan loss reserves and spread while negatively driven by bank size and inflation. Practical implications: These imply that bank managers, regulators, policymakers and researchers must begin to see each bank lending category separately and independently since varying factors influence the different categories of bank lending differently. Originality/value: The study presents new insights into how different factors determine different lending types in Africa for the first time to the best of the authors� knowledge. � 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Source: UEW