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UGSpace is the institutional repository of the University of Ghana. UGSpace is an open access electronic archive for the collection, preservation and distribution of digital materials.
- facilitate the deposit of digital content of a scholarly or heritage nature
- and ultimately share, preserve and promote the intellectual output of the University in a managed environment.
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- Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.
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Recent Submissions
Naked But Not Ashamed: Revealing For Good Outcomes in the Management of Genitourinary Disorders.
(University of Ghana, 2025-05-29) Kyei, M.K.Y.
Covering one’s nakedness is one of the early lessons we are given as children and uphold when
old. Though some of the dressings of our ladies are getting shorter and shorter and the side slits
are getting to the groin, there is still a deliberate attempt to keep the essential parts covered. This
up bringing with its cultural and religious re-enforcement makes exposing the Genito-urinary
system a Herculean task even when there is a need to do so.
Positive outcomes in the management of Genito-urinary disorders are hinged on revealing those
parts of the body. Indeed, exposure allows the diagnosis of the disorder and situates it within the
context of good urinary tract function and sexual pleasures as a desired outcome.
Exposure in this context not only applies to the anatomy of the Genito-urinary system but also how
it has been used and sometimes who has been the recipient or had been denied the pleasures,
therefore.
The areas under consideration in this Lecture are as follows:
i. Reveal for good outcomes
Covered cannot be cured, exposure offers a great chance of cure. Revealing makes disorders
considered uncommon to be seen with pooled publications helping to improve upon our
management and outcomes.
ii. Revisiting dogmas and embracing technology
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate. With the patients presenting with
difficulty passing urine, straining to pass urine and poor stream. In extreme cases, they are unable
to urinate at all, referred to as retention of urine. We mainly performed an open surgery, though
there were minimally invasive methods - transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The
motivation to acquire equipment for minimally invasive methods was low. This was due to the
prevailing perception that the Ghanaian, and by extension the prostates of the African was big. Our
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research revealed that 75% of our prostates were smaller than 60g, which was the cut off for
recommending and using this method. Unfortunately, we deployed this method for only 20% of
the cases. With this finding, we pushed to adopt this method for more cases with its advantages.
At the last review we currently do more cases by TURP than Open, 55% vrs 45 %.
iii. Making Genito-urinary procedures pain-free
One question patients ask when they have to undergo urology procedures is, ‘is it painful’?
Prostate biopsy is one of the common procedures we carry out. The main concern has been pain
associated with the procedure. To allay clients’ fears, we conducted a study on patients going for
prostate biopsy. The findings were that post procedure pain was minimal with scores averaging 1
to 2 / 10. We could therefore confidently assure them that there was no significant post procedure
pain. Currently a course of paracetamol for a day or so is all that is needed, and many clients
realised they did not even need it.
iv. Preventing infections in Genito-urinary procedures to avoid catastrophic outcomes
Infections associated with Genito-urinary disorders and complicated procedures have also been
explored. Many who needed prostate biopsies and their attending physicians feared this
complication. After reporting on these complications, we found ways of preventing it. We changed
our antibiotic prophylaxis in terms of the medications, dosages and duration post-procedure. The
result is that the procedure is virtually free of this dreaded complication now.
v. Flogging men to submission with the prostate cancer big stick, Is it justified?
Prostate cancer if not diagnosed early but seen in an advanced stage, can be deadly. The use of
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examinations are good ways of screening, so
one can pick it early. The discriminatory effect on prostate cancer risk and chances of cure have
been explored. What we have found is that if the PSA (normal 0-4ng/ml) is between 4ng/ml and
10ng/ml, the majority do not have prostate cancer (90%). Do keep your cool if your PSA is in this
range, pick an appointment and see your urologist or Genito-urinary surgeon at a convenient time.
vi) Rising incidence of urinary stones.
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Urinary stones, a few decades ago, thought to be uncommon among us as a people, has become a
common presentation. Is it a fall out of global warming or rising cost of high-quality water? This
is also explored.
vii) Be mindful of the hole! Choose right, hit right!
Finally, I will discuss our experiences in the management of curved penis, masturbation mishaps
and penile fractures. Surgery offers a good outcome as a management option but sometimes needs
one to think outside box.
This inaugural lecture highlights observations, care plans and research findings that have improved
outcomes in Genito-urinary surgery and medicine. It also highlights how promoting the use and
deployment of technology, allaying the fears of the population and encouraging them to reveal
without shame ensures good outcomes.
Access To Clean Energy In Africa Revisited: The Roles Of Women Empowerment, Corruption Control, FDI And Sectoral Growth.
(Plos One, 2025-02-04) Adjei-Mantey, K.; Kwakwa, P.A.; Ankrah, E.
One of the key contributors to climate change is energy consumption, with the type of
energy used having implications on the natural environment and health of users. To pro mote environmental sustainability and sustainable development, Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) 7 aims to achieve accessibility, and affordability of clean and modern forms of
energy for all. This study aims to investigate the effects of women empowerment, cor ruption control, foreign direct investment, and sectoral growth on access to clean energy
in Africa, as well as the effects of the interrelatedness of these factors on clean energy
access. Using data on 32 countries in Africa from 2002 to 2021 and rigorous econometric
techniques, the study finds that women empowerment and corruption control significantly
increase access to clean energy in Africa while sectoral analyses show varying effects of
growth in the different sectors on clean energy accessibility. Furthermore, it is found that
corruption control is not able to reverse situations of adverse effects of some variables on
access to clean energy in some cases, likely due to the low levels of corruption control in
Africa. The results suggest that African countries could enhance access to clean energy
for its citizens and harness the full potential of clean energy, to promote sustainable devel opment and improve the lives of their population, by empowering women, fighting corrup tion, and cultivating balanced economic growth.
Expression Pattern of APC And P53 Proteins in Left-Sided and Right-Sided Colorectal Cancer in Ghanaians
(University of Ghana, 2023) Asaku, B N A.
Background: The development of colorectal cancer tumours is significantly impacted by the loss
of APC and p53 protein function. The anatomical difference between the left and right colon,
significantly influence tumorigenesis of left-sided and right-sided colorectal cancers. Additionally,
because of genetic and environmental differences, there are variations in how APC and p53 affect
the tumorigenesis of left- and right-sided colorectal cancer in different racial groups. Differences
in the genetic characterization of left-sided and right-sided colorectal cancers has informed the use
of tailor-made treatment that has contributed to increased survival rate in the developed countries.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the expression pattern of APC and p53 proteins in left and
right-sided colorectal cancer in Ghanaians and compare results to expression pattern of APC and
p53 in left and right normal colon.
Methodology: Ninety formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks were subjected to semi automated immunohistochemistry staining to determine the pattern of APC and p53 protein
expression in left-sided and right-sided colorectal cancers. Two independent assessors scored the
expression levels of the APC and p53 proteins in colorectal cancer and healthy colon tissues
independently, and Cohen's Kappa was used to determine the inter-rater reliability of the results.
To determine the significance of these proteins in the development and progression of colorectal
cancer in Ghanaians, the expression of the APC and p53 proteins in left-sided and right-sided
colorectal cancer were compared to the controls.
Result: APC protein was found in 74.4% of the total number of colorectal cancer cases and 100%
of normal colons, with a p-value of 0.012. Protein p53 was found in 73.3% of colorectal cancers
compared to 94.7% of normal colon (p-value = 0.044). APC protein expression was found in 70% of left-sided colorectal cancer and 100% of left normal colon. APC protein expression was found
in 86.7% of right-sided colorectal cancers and 100% of right normal colon. The p53 protein was
expressed in 75% of left-sided colorectal cancers and 100% of left normal colons. Protein p53
expression was found in 70% of right-sided colorectal cancers and 87.5% of right normal colons.
With a p-value of 0.001, high p53 expression was significantly associated with LCRCs versus
RCRCs. There was no correlation between protein expression and tumour stage or grade.
Conclusion: The significant difference in APC expression between healthy and cancerous colons
demonstrates that loss of APC expression influences the development of colorectal cancer in a
small percentage of Ghanaians. The high proportion of APC protein expression in both left-sided
and right-sided colorectal cancers may demonstrate the majority of colorectal cancers in Ghanaians
are not caused by loss of expression of wild type APC protein, and that other molecular genetic
factors contribute to the initiation of colorectal cancer in Ghanaians.
The Socio-Cultural Impacts of Flimani Kɔku Dance and Rituals on Kadzakɔƒe - An Ethnographic Overview.
(University of Ghana, 2022) Torgboh, J.
This study documents the historical origins and significance of Flimani Kɔku, its dance, song and
ritual performances in Kadzakɔƒe, a small farming community in the Ketu South District of the
Volta Region of Ghana. Just like Yeve, Flimani Kɔku and its variants Afesa and Tu are restricted
societies whose rituals and practices are strictly kept from the public space although many people
are aware of the fascinating supernatural powers that are put in the public domain on celebratory
occasions among the Ewes. The practice of Flimani Kɔku and its variants Afesa and Tu are mainly
the preserve of the Ewe ethnic group that is spread across West Africa including Ghana, Togo,
Benin and some parts of Nigeria. Essentially, Flimani Kɔku, which is the focus of this study, is
an Aŋlɔ-Eʋe religious and cultural practice with its own music and dance patterns.
The study, therefore, presents the significance of Flimani Kɔku, by documenting its practice –
dance and music performance patterns as well as its values and rituals in Kadzakɔƒe. This study
area of study is complete virgin territory and was therefore replete with some challenges, which
but for the researcher‟s own early immersion into vodu practice, would have derailed the work.
In documenting Flimani Kɔku, the study conceptualises the practice as an embodiment of
AŋlɔEʋe indigenous Knowledge systems and is an archive of history, beliefs and culture, which
impart social values and a sense of identity by ensuring the spiritual development of its members.
The study therefore aims to preserve and protect the practice from the onslaught of foreign
religions, especially the Judeo-Christian faith, which is at the forefront of denigrating traditional
religious practices as exemplified in a similar attack on the „Trokosi‟ religious practice with the
justification that it was not a „religion‟ but an enslavement of women and girls.
Based on the data collected by this study, Flimani Kɔku practice is clearly not only an age-long
religious belief of Kadzakɔƒe of other Aŋlɔ-Eʋe communities who benefit from its spiritual protection and guidance, the inculcation of moral values, impartation of generational knowledge
while fostering social cohesion in the communities of practice.
The study relies on an ethnographic field work approach which explores and documents the
practice of Flimani Koku through participant observation and other ethnographic techniques in
the community of Kadzakope.
Finally, the study used a qualitative approach of enquiry of intensive ethnographic exploration
with its tools and mechanisms - interviews, focus group discussions, observation, participant
observation and audio-visual recordings - in documenting Flimani Kɔku, its history, dance and
socio-cultural impact on the Kadzakɔƒe
Mental Health Status of Health Care Workers in Saltpond Government Hospital in the Context of Covid-19
(University of Ghana, 2023) Ameyaw, I.
Title of study: Mental health status of health care workers in Saltpond government hospital in the
context of COVID-19.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on public mental health.
During a pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to many stresses that predispose them
to psychological disorders. To learn more about these issues, this study was conducted to assess
the mental health status of health care workers in a selected government hospital in Ghana. The
outcome of this study is expected to inform strategies to improve mental health status of health
workers in such situations.
Method: This study used a cross-sectional analytic design with a simple random sampling method
and a close-ended structured questionnaire to collect data. Chi square and fisher exact tests and
multiple logistic regression were used to identify and test the association between dependent and
independent variables. A total of 296 healthcare workers in Saltpond Government Hospital were
involved in the study.
Results: Among healthcare professionals, depression, anxiety, and stress was prevalent.
Approximately 55(20.27%) health workers were depressed, 44(15.07%) anxious, and 76(22.79%)
stressed. The study found that depression, anxiety, and stress were significantly associated with
socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status and gender. About 169(57.24%) had
“excellent knowledge” and 102(34.48%) had “good knowledge” of COVID-19 among the
participants.
Conclusion and Recommendations: A significant proportion of health workers in the study area
were found to be depressed, anxious, and stressed. Mental health services should be strengthened by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to reduce the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress
among healthcare workers. Periodic screening should be conducted among hospital staff. The
counseling and public health education units of GHS should be strengthened to enhance awareness
among healthcare workers the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and relevant
coping strategies.