Welcome to UGSpace

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 to:

  • 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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Now showing 1 - 5 of 16
  • Book Chapters  
    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.
  • Conference Proceedings and Papers  
  • Grey Literature  
    Grey literature consists of research and information produced outside conventional publishing channels, such as reports, policy briefs, working papers, and conference materials. It offers valuable insights and data that complement peer-reviewed sources, supporting research, policy, and practice.
  • Heritage Materials  
  • Institute of African Studies (IAS) J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives  
    The J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives preserve Ghanaian and African cultural heritage through music, oral traditions, photographs, and audiovisual collections. Guided by Professor Nketia’s vision that African traditional arts must be collected, preserved, practiced, and continually inspire creative expression, the Archives serve as a living resource for scholarship, teaching, and innovation

Recent Submissions

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    Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access ,
    Preliminary Genomic Characterisation And Antimicrobial Resistance Of Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Isolates From Burkina Faso Within A One Health Framework
    (Frontiers in Microbiology, 2026-07-02) Somda, N.S.; Traoré, M.A.E.; Donkor, E.S.; et al
    Purpose: Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major foodborne pathogen worldwide, especially in low and middle-income countries. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to analyze the epidemiological trends, sequence types (STs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and genome dynamics, and to assess the phylogenetic relatedness of NTS isolates in Burkina Faso.Methods: A total of 34 presumptive Salmonella enterica isolates from animal products (n = 20), environmental sources (n = 8), and diarrheal stool samples (n = 6) were analyzed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time Of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). Isolates confirmed as S. enterica by MALDI–TOF MS were subsequently sequenced, and bioinformatic analysis was performed using the Bactopia pipeline.Results: Of the 34 presumptive Salmonella isolates, 21 (61.76%) were confirmed as Salmonella enterica by MALDI–TOF MS. Of the 21 Salmonella enterica detected, 16 were from animal products, 3 were from environmental sources, and 2 were from diarrheal stool samples. The most prevalent serovars were S. Schwarzengrund (ST96) and S. Give (ST516), each accounting for four isolates (19.04%). All isolates carried the resistance genes emrR, pmrE, mdtK, cpxAR, bacA, baeSR, mdtABC, acrA, KdpE, golS, mdsABC, marA, mfd, msbA, sdiA, rob, UhpT and GlpT fosR. One S. Molade or S. Wippra isolate ST544, harbored the AMR genes fosA7-4, sul2, tet(A), dfrA14, qnrB1, and aph(3ʺ)-Ib. In addition, one S. Llandoff isolate carried catA, aac(6ʹ), and fosM. Virulence genes, including invA, avrA, iroB, iroC, and sinH, were observed in all isolates, while 72.73% of the isolates harbored the cdtB gene.Conclusion: This is the first extensive study on non-typhoidal Salmonella and their clones in Burkina Faso. Effective AMR-inclusive surveillance strategies and novel control methods are needed to improve the management and treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) NTS infections and to mitigate the burden of NTS in the African sub-region.
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    Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access ,
    Formal Security Guarantees for Blockchain-Based Patient Digital Twins in Remote Health Monitoring Systems
    (IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society, 2026-01) Amofa, S.; Adu-Manu, K.S.; Adjetey, C.; Mensah, S.
    Remote health monitoring systems can be imple mented effectively using Patient Digital Twins (PDTs) to support continuous patient monitoring, predictive analytics, personalized treatment planning, and clinical decision support. However, the large-scale aggregation, storage, and exchange of sensitive health data expose PDT systems to significant security and privacy risks, including unauthorized access, data tampering, identity forgery, and unauthorised disclosure of patient information. Although blockchain technology has been proposed as a mechanism for enhancing trust and auditability in healthcare data-sharing envi ronments, existing blockchain-based PDT frameworks primarily focus on system architecture and functionality, with limited formal security guarantees. The objective of this paper is to determine whether blockchain-based PDTs can provide formally provable guarantees of confidentiality, integrity, access control correctness, revocation security, auditability, and non-repudiation in remote health monitoring environments. To achieve this objective, we develop a blockchain-enabled PDT architecture that combines cryptographic access control, digital signatures, smart contracts, and decentralized off-chain storage within a unified security framework. The security analysis demonstrates that the proposed framework achieves the defined security prop erties against probabilistic polynomial-time adversaries under the stated cryptographic assumptions. Furthermore, an experimental implementation using Hyperledger Fabric and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) evaluates the computational overhead, trans action latency, storage efficiency, and scalability of the architec ture with experimental results indicating that the framework introduces modest cryptographic overhead while maintaining practical transaction latency and near-linear throughput scal ability under increasing workloads.
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    Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access ,
    Impact Of Pretreatment And Different Drying Methods On Nutritional And Antioxidant Properties Of Turkey Berry Fruits (Solanum Torvum)
    (Frontiers in Food Science and Technology, 2026-04-22) Essilfie, G.L.; Ankrah, A.; Adu, F.; Kumedzro-Ashiade, R.; et al.
    Turkey berry (Solanum torvum) is a nutrient-dense indigenous fruit widely consumed in Ghana, but its high moisture content makes it highly perishable. Converting fresh turkey berries into shelf-stable powders could reduce postharvest losses and support year-round availability. This study therefore evaluated drying and pretreatment combinations that best preserve the nutritional and functional quality of turkey berry. A 2 × 4 factorial design was used, involving two pretreatment conditions (unblanched and hot-water blanched) and four drying methods (solar, freeze, convection, and vacuum). Quality attributes assessed included moisture content, proximate composition, energy value, selected minerals (iron, calcium, and phosphorus), vitamin C, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Drying successfully produced shelf- stable powders, reducing moisture from 81.68% in fresh fruits to 4.19%–8.49% in dried samples, with blanched samples generally attaining lower final moisture than unblanched ones. Fresh fruits contained 3.84% protein, 65.46 kcal/100 g energy, and 2.17 mg/100 g iron, while dried powders showed higher proximate and energy values mainly due to nutrient concentration following water removal rather than absolute increases. No single drying method optimised all quality parameters, indicating that the most suitable process depends on the targeted attribute. Freeze drying and vacuum drying generally produced the best powders when nutrient retention and functional quality were prioritised. Blanched freeze- dried samples retained the highest vitamin C, while blanched vacuum-dried samples recorded the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Overall, drying offers strong potential for turkey berry value addition in Ghana when processing choices are aligned with intended nutritional or functional goals.
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    Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access ,
    Viral Diarrhea In Ghana: A Scoping Review Of Disease Burden, Epidemiology, And Control Strategies
    (Frontiers in Public Health, 2026-06-29) Ayebi, A.A.K.; Arthur, S.E.; Yeboah-Manu, M.; Jones, M.B.; Kyei, G.B.
    Viral diarrhea remains a significant public health concern in Ghana, particularly among children under 5 years of age. While rotavirus remains the leading cause, the growing impact of other viral pathogens, such as norovirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus, necessitates expanded research and intervention efforts. The introduction of the rotavirus vaccine has significantly reduced diarrhea prevalence, but persistent disparities in disease burden highlight the need for comprehensive control strategies. This scoping review maps the existing evidence on the burden, evolution, and control measures of viral diarrhea in Ghana. A systematic search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 1996 and 2025. Findings from local studies indicate that, despite improvements in sanitation, access to potable water, and vaccination programs, viral diarrhea remains widespread and unevenly distributed across populations. The review underscores the importance of enhanced diagnostic capacity, robust surveillance systems, and targeted prevention strategies to effectively combat this public health challenge. By synthesizing available evidence, this scoping review highlights knowledge gaps and priority areas for future research, policy, and intervention in Ghana's fight against viral diarrhea.
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    Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access ,
    Vaccine Equity In Africa: A Rapid Review Of Policy, Legal And Governance Frameworks To Improve Research And Development
    (Frontiers in Health Services, 2026-08-04) Sumboh, J.; Ataguba, J.E.; Muriithi, G.N.; et al.
    Background: Vaccines are instrumental in promoting preventive health and improving health outcomes globally. However, stark inequities in vaccine production, distribution, and access disproportionately burden low and middle-income countries (LMICs), which suffer significantly from these disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced these existing inequities, prompting renewed debates on scaling up Africa's research and development (R&D) capacity as a proactive approach to enhance very limited domestic vaccine production and counter persistent inequities. However, there has been no consolidated review of the policy, legal, and governance frameworks that shape this capacity and their implications for vaccine equity. This rapid review asked which policy, legal, governance, and investment frameworks influence vaccine R&D and manufacturing capacity in African countries, and how they affect the continent's ability to secure equitable access to vaccines.Methods: We conducted a PRISMA guided rapid review of peer-reviewed and grey literature. Searches were conducted in Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, EconLit, Embase, and Ovid Medline via OVID Platform, as well as Google Scholar databases. Eligible documents reported on African vaccine R&D, manufacturing, or related policy, legal, governance, or investment frameworks. Grey literature was identified from the WHO, the World Bank, the Africa CDC, government organizations, private institutions, and policy think tanks. Data was extracted using a structured template and synthesized narratively into thematic areas that aligned with the study objectives.Findings: From 18,038 records, 68 publications met the inclusion criteria. We identified twelve active vaccine manufacturers in Africa and eleven additional initiatives in development, with the majority focusing on fill-and-finish operations and relatively few investing in upstream R&D and drug substance manufacturing. Persistent under-investment in vaccine R&D, fragmented and weak regulatory systems, and dependence on external financing constrain sustainable local manufacturing. Global and regional instruments, including the TRIPS Agreement, the Doha Declaration, ACT-A/COVAX, and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, create opportunities for technology transfer and impose intellectual property and supply-chain barriers that limit expansion of African vaccine R&D.Conclusion: Africa has the capacity to produce vaccines and related health products. However, this potential is undermined by structural under-investment in R&D, constrained access to technologies and inputs, and weak coordination of policy and regulatory frameworks. Strengthening domestic R&D financing, enhancing regional regulatory and policy harmonization, and proactively engaging in IP and trade negotiations, alongside strategic public-private and product development partnerships, are critical to achieving vaccine equity for African populations.