ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Collaboration paradox: Scientific productivity, the Internet, and problems of research in developing areas

We examine the ways in which the research process differs in developed and developing areas by focusing on two questions. First, is collaboration associated with productivity? Second, is access to the Internet (specifically use of email) associated with reduced problems of collaboration? Recent analyses by Lee & Bozeman (2005) and Walsh & Maloney (2003) suggest affirmative answers to these questions for US scientists. Based on a comparative analysis of scientists in Ghana, Kenya, and the State of Kerala in south-western India (N 918), we find that: (1) collaboration is not associated with any general increment in productivity; and (2) while access to email does attenuate research problems, such difficulties are structured more by national and regional context than by the collaborative process itself. The interpretation of these results suggests a paradox that raises issues for future studies: those conditions that unsettle the relationship between collaboration and productivity in developing areas may undermine the collaborative benefits of new information and communication technologies. © SSS and SAGE Publications.

Source: UG
Collaborations to address barriers for people with communication disabilities in Ghana: Considering the world report on disability

The World Health Organization's World Report on Disability underscores the need to identify and address barriers that limit people with disabilities from having access to services. Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall (2013) consider the impact of that report on people with communication disabilities (PWCD). Over the past 5 years, the authors have worked together in Ghana to address the needs of PWCD. With only about 10 university-trained speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Ghana, the barriers to PWCD receiving services are quite high. The authors are working together and with others to establish the first speech-language pathology program in Ghana. The authors also work to identify ways to share with PWCD and their families knowledge and skills on how to improve the communicative function of PWCD. In doing so, the authors have learned valuable lessons about the role of an SLP, especially when considering under-served PWCD, lessons that are applicable to both Majority and Minority World countries. This commentary describes the authors' work over the past 5 years, and describes initiatives that have had some measure of success in reducing barriers to access to information and services needed by PWCD and their caregivers and communities.

Source: UG
Collection development in African libraries: the bibliography problem

Often when collection development in African libraries is under discussion, emphasis is placed on problems concerning such matters as acquisition budgets, staffing and the book industry. Little is said about problems of bibliography. The aim of this paper is to focus attention on the importance of adequate bibliographies in the development of collections in African libraries. Issues such as lack of comprehensive bibliographies, inadequate infrastructure for producing bibliographies and ineffective legal deposit laws are discussed. An attempt is made to suggest solutions to some of the problems. Among these are the setting up of regional documentation centres, the maintenance of union catalogues and the publication of current and retrospective national bibliographies

Source: UG
Collection development in university libraries in Ghana: some observations

T here are now three Universities in Gha- na with a total enrollment of about 10,000 students. The oldest and larg- est is the University of Ghana, Legon, which was established in 1948 as a University College preparing students for the de- grees of the University of London. The University of Science and Technology at Kumasi was the second to be established in the country. It started as a College of Technology in 1951 and was raised to University status in 1961. The University of Cape Coast came into being in 1962, mainly to produce graduate teachers for expanding second- ary schools and teacher-training colleges. All the universities have libraries which provide services to faculty members, scholars and students. The number of books allowed to be borrowed, howev- er, depends on the status of the user, with faculty members having more privileges than students at all the universities. In most developed countries students and lec- turers have other libraries (special, school, and public) at their disposal in addition to their univer- sity libraries, however, in Ghana the situation is different. Besides the scarcity of bookshops, stu- dents are also hampered by poor services in the public libraries 1 and inadequate facilities in the special libraries. 2 As in other African countries, students are nor- mally expected to buy the basic textbooks needed for their courses. 3 A majority of the students in Ghana are poor and cannot afford to do so. Al- though students are given loans for their text- books, the amount is too small. Consequently, the university libraries are forced to take on the re- sponsibilities of other libraries, as well as satisfy- ing the library needs of their community. Mem- bers of communities outside the university who would normally use school, special, or public libraries all have to turn to the university libraries for help. The policy of all university libraries in Ghana is to provide adequate library materials to support and reinforce new undergraduate courses, gradu- ate programs, and the teaching staff. Acquisition of library materials in university libraries has been governed by the needs of the particular university being served. This has led to a wide disparity in the volume of books for students and the rate of annual growth of library materials. Certainly, a status study of collection development in Ghana's university libraries is essential before consistent standards can be properly advocated.

Source: UG
Collection of edible wild fruits in the forest areas of Volta Region of Ghana

Edible wild fruits were collected from the forest vegetation and in different land use systems in the Volta Region of Ghana. Collection and study were done during the latter part of the dry season in 2005. Interviews and group discussions were some of the methods used to get information on the edible wild fruits. Nine accessions were collected which were of different species. Most of the fruit trees were either found in fallow lands or in home gardens. Majority of the fruit trees were of medium size. Locations of edible indigenous fruit plants from which fruits were collected are provided. © 2007 Academic Journals.

Source: UG
Collective action to improve market access for smallholder producers of agroforestry products: key lessons learned with insights from Cameroon’s experience

In recent years, there has been a consensus among development practitioners and academics that improving market access for smallholders will lead to improvement in income and food security. This notwithstanding, market failures often limit smallholders’ ability to be linked to markets. To address these challenges, market interventions such as collective action is often proposed as a strategy to reduce the risks of market participation. This review synthesizes the key lessons learned from the use of collective action as institutional arrangement to improve market access for smallholder producers of agroforestry products with insights from an experience in Cameroon. Some key lessons learned for the success of collective action include farmers’ own motivation, favorable environment and the inclusion of social activities in the implementation of group activities.

Source: UG
Collective activism: The domestic violence bill becoming law in Ghana.

This article reflects on contemporary struggles for citizenship rights through an examination of civil society’s advocacy for the passage of domestic violence legislation in Ghana. The National Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation, established in 2003 specifically to push for the passage of the legislation, at various times worked closely with, and at other times independently of, or even in conflict with, the state. These processes and engagements point to the vibrancy of civil society and suggest the need for new analyses of social movements, political power and democracy that are rooted in Africa’s contemporary realities.

Source: UG
Collective efficacy and fear of crime in urban neighbourhoods in Ghana

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between neighbourhood characteristics and fear of crime, and further explore how this relationship is mediated by collective efficacy. The background to this is that while research, mainly based on the experiences of western countries is conclusive on how collective efficacy plays a mediating role between neighbourhood structural characteristics and fear of crime, the situation in developing countries remains poorly researched. Design/methodology/approach: The study drew from a baseline survey conducted in different socio-economic neighbourhoods in four cities in Ghana. With regards to the analysis, results from a series of ordinary least square multiple regression models were used to develop a path diagram to explain the direct and indirect relationships at the various study neighbourhoods. Findings: Results from the study showed variations of the extent of neighbourhood effect on fear of crime and collective efficacy in the different socio-economic neighbourhoods. More importantly, the study revealed that collective efficacy mediated the effect of a number of neighbourhood characteristics on fear of crime in low-income neighbourhoods compared to middle- and high-income neighbourhoods. Practical implications: The conclusion of the study brings to the fore the relevance of collective efficacy as a vehicle for building safer communities in Ghana since it relies on local initiatives in addressing criminogenic problems. More importantly, it is suggested that formal crime prevention efforts should be integrated with informal crime control measures, particularly in low-income neighbourhoods. Originality/value: Using extensive survey data collected in Ghana, the study examines the applicability of collective efficacy, a western-based socio-ecological theory in a developing country context. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
Collective learning and COVID-19 mitigation in Ghana

COVID-19 has created significant uncertainty and disruption among governments and people acrossthe globe. Policy studies present various theoretical frameworks that allow scholars and practitioners to make sense of these developments in a structured and systematic fashion. In this paper, we combined the collective learning framework with documentary data and process tracing analysis to describe, first, the features of the COVID-19 collective learning setting in Ghana. Next, we explored the linkages among learning processes, learning products, and COVID-19 mitigation. We found that diverse policy actors operated at distinct levels of government and performed different functions in managing the pandemic. Furthermore, we confirmed all three phases of learning (acquisition, translation, and dissemination) in Ghana's context. Lastly, policies such as public grooming management, mandatory mask-wearing, partial lockdown, and fiscal and tax reliefs enabled the government to mitigate the pandemic's impact on people. We conclude by highlighting the implications of these findings for policy learning scholarship

Source: UG
Collective Remittance Mobilisation Strategies of Ghanaian Hometown Associations in the UK

Research into the role of diaspora and hometown associations in the development of origin countries is a growing phenomenon. However, few studies address the strategies these migrant groups actually employ to mobilise collective remittances for development purposes in their origin countries. Using a case study methodology and mixed methods, this paper examines the typologies of collective fundraising and the strategies employed by two Ghanaian hometown associations (the Kwahuman Association and the Kasena-Nankana Development League) in mobilising collective remittances for development in origin communities. Analyses in this paper are guided by the network theory and a conceptualisation of development as ‘the reduction and elimination of poverty, inequality and unemployment within a growing economy’. The results reveal differences in hometown associations’ collective remittance mobilisation strategies based on their size, longevity, socio-cultural beliefs and practices of their origin community, their transnational outlook and their collaborative abilities. The findings have implications for widening the scope of development funding sources from migrants.

Source: UG
College of education students’ attitude towards the use of online information dissemination tools for counseling in Ghana

Online counseling is widely regarded as a cost-effective and convenient means to provide basic counseling services, and it is increasingly being used in university treatment. However, it is un clear what amount of information and attitude students have about online counseling in colleges of education. This study looked at students’ views toward and likelihood of using online coun seling towards help information seeking and dissemination to see if it has the potential to increase overall service consumption. A survey was conducted and responded to by 411 students from two Ghanaian colleges of education and based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, students’ atti tudes and intentions to use online counseling were investigated. The paucity of online counseling systems in the colleges of education is shown in the study, yet 94% of participants said they would use online counseling services if given the opportunity. Based on these findings, it is recom mended that providing online counseling in parallel to face-to-face counseling could be an effective strategy for counseling units in colleges of education to boost service delivery and so better serve their students.

Source: UG
Colon bypass with a colon-flap augmentation pharyngoesophagoplasty

Extensive caustic stricture of the upper aero-digestive system (oro- and hypo-pharynx) is a severe injury with limited surgical options. We adopted augmentation of the cicatrized upper aero-digestive tract with colon as our preferred management option. The aim of this report is to describe our initial experience with the technique of colon-flap augmentation pharyngo-esophagoplasty (CFAP) for selected patients with severe pharyngo-esophageal stricture. Between October 2011 and June 2013, three male patients (aged 16, 4 and 18 years respectively) underwent CFAP following extensive pharyngo-esophageal stricture. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all three cases and all started swallowing within 7 - 10 days after surgery without significant dysphagia. Colon-flap augmentation pharyngo-esophagoplasty is an effective procedure for reconstruction of the pharynx and the hypopharynx after extensive caustic pharyngoesophageal structure in selected cases.

Source: UG
Colonial and Post-Colonial Antecedents of Minority Rights Issues in Africa

This paper contends that a comprehensive analysis of minority rights in the African context is located in the continent ’s brush with colonialism which found active support in the liberal/conservative approach to international law. At the time of independence, African leaders had the opportunity to reverse these trends, particularly as they sought to create tension within the existing international legal framework and to chart a new path for international law that foregrounds the interests of developing countries. Yet, Africa rather sought to perpetuate the policies of homogenisation, modernisation and evolution embedded in liberalism which in turn led to marginalisation, discrimination and disenfranchisement of minority groups. It is the position of the paper that unless these colonial-postcolonial antecedents are properly exposed, minority rights in Africa would not be effectively contextualised and addressed.

Source: UG
The Colonial State Lives on: Reflections on the Colonial Character of Ghana’s Police”.

Crime may not be rising but the public feels unsafe with the increasing sophistication associated with violent crimes. The fear comes not only from criminals and their sophisticated tactics but also the very people paid and clothed with tax payers’ money to protect the public and the state-the police. As in much of colonized Africa, policing in Ghana has hardly changed half a century after independence. It remains steeped in the vicious mindset that informed policing as instituted by the British colonialists.

Source: UG
Colonial-Postcolonial Antecedent of Minority Rights Issues in Africa’ in Contemporary Issues in Law and Economics II

This paper contends that a comprehensive analysis of minority rights in the African context is located in the continent ’s brush with colonialism which found active support in the liberal/conservative approach to international law. At the time of independence, African leaders had the opportunity to reverse these trends, particularly as they sought to create tension within the existing international legal framework and to chart a new path for international law that foregrounds the interests of developing countries. Yet, Africa rather sought to perpetuate the policies of homogenisation, modernisation and evolution embedded in liberalism which in turn led to marginalisation, discrimination and disenfranchisement of minority groups. It is the position of the paper that unless these colonial-postcolonial antecedents are properly exposed, minority rights in Africa would not be effectively contextualised and addressed.

Source: UG
Colonization of HIV-Infected Children with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a public health threat owing to its extensive resistance to antibiotics, association with persistent outbreaks, and markedly increased healthcare costs. Moreover, HIV-infected individuals are at a greater risk for colonization with MRSA, and may act as reservoirs for subsequent transmission to other individuals. In Ghana, little is known about MRSA in relation to at-risk populations, such as HIV-infected children. The aim of this study was to investigate nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA among HIV-infected children in Accra, including the prevalence, risk factors and antibiotic resistance. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, and involved 107 children with HIV infection and an equal number of sex- and age group- matched apparently healthy controls recruited from the Princess Marie Louis Children’s Hospital in Accra. Nasal swab specimens were collected from the study participants and cultured for bacteria. S. aureus isolates were confirmed by the coagulase test while MRSA was confirmed by PCR of the mecA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of S. aureus isolates was done by the Kirby Bauer method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic, household and clinical features of the study participants. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of S. aureus and MRSA carriage among participants of both study groups. Results: The carriage prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA were 44.9% (48) and 5.6% (6), respectively, among the HIV-infected individuals, and the corresponding values within the control group were 23.4% (25) and 0.9% (1). There was a significant association between HIV infection and S. aureus colonization (p < 0.001), but not MRSA colonization (p = 0.055). The main predictor of S. aureus colonization in both study groups was absence of colonization with coagulase negative staphylococcus (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the main predictor of MRSA colonization was regular hand washing with soap (p = 0.043); this was observed among HIV-infected individuals but not the control group. The proportion of S. aureus isolates that were multidrug resistant was 62.3% (33/53) in the HIV-infected group and 80% (20/25) in the control group (p = 0.192). Conclusions: HIV infection is a risk factor for nasal colonization of S. aureus among children in Accra but may not be for MRSA. Both the HIV-infected and uninfected children are reservoirs of multidrug resistant S. aureus. Demographic, household and clinical features appear to have little or no relationship with S. aureus and MRSA colonization in the study children.

Source: UG
Color and Democracy: Colonies and Peace

The present war has made it clear that we can no longer regard Western Europe and North America as the world for which civilization exists; nor can we look upon European culture as the norm for all peoples. Henceforth the majority of the inhabitants of earth, who happen for the most part to be colored, must be regarded as having the right and the capacity to share in human progress and to become copartners in that democracy which alone can ensure peace among men, by the abolition of poverty, the education of the masses, protection from disease, and the scientific treatment of crime. From these premises I have written this book, to ex• amine our current efforts to ensure peace through the united action of men of goodwill. I have sought to say that insofar as such efforts leave practically untouched the present imperial ownership of disfranchised colonies, and in this and other ways proceed as if the majority of men can be regarded mainly as sources of profit for Europe and North America, in just so far we are planning not peace but war, not democracy but the continued oligarchical control of civilization by the white race. I am aware that such a thesis needs to be backed by a far wider collection of facts, scientifically arranged, than are at present available. But I am convinced from long study and wide travel that the truth of what I say is fairly well attested, and at least the dangers which I seek to point out are sufficiently evident to call for action.

Source: UG
Colorectal carcinoma: An update of current trends in Accra. [Carcinome colorectal: Une mise à jour des tendances actuelles de Accra]

BACKGROUND: Clinical experience and earlier studies indicate that the number of colorectal cancer cases seen annually in the Accra metropolis is increasing. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at providing a current update on colorectal cancer in Accra, Ghana. METHODS: A prospective study of confirmed cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed from January 1997 - December 2007. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-nine colorectal cancer cases were studied. Males were 192(53.5%) and females 167(46.5%) with an annual incidence of 32.6 new cases. The crude incidence rates were 12.53, 9.87 and 11.18 per 100,000 population for males, females and overall respectively. Rectal bleeding 185(51.1%), abdominal mass 76(21.1%), intestinal obstruction 62(17.3%), intestinal perforation nine (2.5%) and iron deficiency anaemia nine (2.5%) cases were the main presentations. There were 168 (46.8%) rectal and 191(53.2%) colon tumours. Two hundred and thirty-one patients had laparotomy with 225 resections, and 128 patients for various reasons did not undergo surgery. The Astler Coller stages of the tumours at diagnosis were C 2 84(36.7%), C 1 53(22.1%), B 2 49(21.4%), D 17(7.4%), B 1 14(6.1%) and A 12(5.1%) cases. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type 321(89.4%), with the majority either well-differentiated (62.5%) or moderately well-differentiated (25.6) carcinomas. Poorly differentiated carcinomas accounted for 28 cases (7.8%). Post-operative mortality was 6.1%. Long term survival could not be assessed as the majority of patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased over the last four decades in tandem with an aging population of Accra with adenocarcinoma as the predominant histological type.

Source: UG