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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.

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Book Chapters 144
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 109
Grey Literature 0
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 689
Institute of African Studies (IAS) J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives 4
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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Fulfilling the Anti-Corruption Mandate of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Under the Fourth Republic of Ghana (1993-2020): An Assessment

(University of Ghana, 2024) Yankey, A.A.T.

The anti-corruption drive attracted global attention and debate among scholars, practitioners and development partners, particularly during the 1990s aimed at promoting good governance, effective and efficient public service delivery. The effective performance of anti-corruption institutions (ACIs) has raised concerns, especially in most African countries, due to their stagnation and lower scores in various governance and corruption indexes and surveys. Ghana's stagnation in the fight against corruption continues to trigger renewed debate over the relevance of the existence of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as the first independent constitutionally mandated body created under the Fourth Republican Constitution to curb corruption. This skepticism over the performance of the CHRAJ, coupled with improving the fight against corruption and strengthening democratic governance, motivated this study. Accordingly, this study assesses how the CHRAJ has fulfilled its anti-corruption mandate since its inception under the Fourth Republic of Ghana. The study employed the principal-agent theory and the concept of accountability as its theoretical framework. It further deployed qualitative research methods, out of which semi structured interviews, documents and thematic analysis were used to undertake the empirical chapters. It interviewed forty-four (44) respondents including Commissioners of CHRAJ, directors and staff of the CHRAJ. Other respondents were purposively selected from public institutions, civil society organisations, members of the media, policy think tanks, private sector organisations and development partners. It used the CHRAJ headquarters as the case study and relied on primary and secondary data to assess CHRAJ. The study found that despite Ghana's progress at constitutional democratic governance in Africa, the country is not immune from corruption's menace leading to its stagnation in the anti-corruption fight. It also found that the country had adopted comprehensive constitutional, legislative, and institutional reforms and strategies to fight corruption under the Fourth Republic. Nevertheless, it lacks the political will and bureaucratic commitment to implement anti-corruption policies to achieve the desired outcome effectively. In addition, CHRAJ has played a critical role in preventing corruption under Ghana's Fourth Republic through constitutional, legislative and policy frameworks. Some preventive activities undertaken include the development of the National Anti-corruption Action Plan (NACAP). Others are training and education on public sector code of conduct, sexual harassment policies, public sector ethics and anti-corruption legislation. CHRAJ has implemented its original and additional functions, including investigating low and high-profile anti-corruption cases, and collaborations on anti-corruption activities. Furthermore, the anti-corruption activities by CHRAJ have increased the level of intolerance and awareness-creation on corruption in Ghana. However, the CHRAJ was ineffective in adequately addressing corruption within the political parties and prosecution of anti-corruption cases. The study concluded that CHRAJ has played a major role in the fight against corruption under Ghana's Fourth Republic through constitutional, legislative and policy frameworks. However, the effective democratic efforts in the fight against corruption in Ghana is a shared responsibility of the CHRAJ in partnership with different stakeholders, which includes the oversight responsibility of state institutions like the Parliament, the Judiciary, the Attorney General, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Police, as well as the media, CSOs, and the citizenry. Based on the findings, the study made several recommendations to improve the fight against corruption by CHRAJ. The government to enact comprehensive legislation with clear definitions of the various types of corruption. Parliament to pass the Code of Conduct for Public Officers Bill and other anti-corruption legislations, Government to ensure compliance and enforcement of anti-corruption laws and policies. Other recommendations are to increase public education and training on anti-corruption and ethics within public service, ensure CHRAJ has independent funding, strengthen collaborations among stakeholders, improve internal capacity, and implement the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) recommendations on CHRAJ. Some of the lessons learned include effective anti-corruption laws, policies and anti-corruption institutions do not effectively address corruption except a demonstrated political will and bureaucratic commitment to fight corruption. Also, an enhanced governance system and a holistic approach are central to winning the fight against corruption. The study proposes the following agenda for future research: (i) the use of mixed methods to assess the CHRAJ and similar institutions worldwide; (ii)the assessment of the CHRAJ within the regions and districts of the country; and (iii) the assessment of the contribution of independent statutory institutions to the consolidation of Ghana's democratic governance.

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Antidepressant-Like Effects Of The Leaf Extract Of Mallotus Oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) In The Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model: A Role Of The Gut-Brain Axis.

(Neuroscience, 2024-09-21) Kwofie, B.; Debrah, P.; Amoateng, P.; Adongo, D.W.; Adukpo, S.; Kukuia, K.K.E.

The gut microbiota has been posited as a target for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Herein, we investigated the effect of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mallotus oppositifolius (MOE) on the gut microbiota of mice and how this contributes to its known antidepressant-like effect. A 6-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was employed in 7 groups of mice to induce depression. From the third week, oral MOE treatments (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) and two reference drugs, fluoxetine (12 mg/kg) and minocycline (40 mg/kg), known to affect the gut microbiota, were administered. The sixth and seventh groups were the vehicle stressed (VEH-S) and non-stressed groups (VEH-NS). Changes in depressive-like behaviors were assessed using sucrose preference test while the forced swimming test (FST) was used to assess sustained antidepressant-effect after treatment discontinuation. Moreover, changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) levels were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of treatment on the profile of the gut microbiota of the groups was elucidated using 16S rRNA Oxford Nanopore sequencing. MOE and reference drugs reversed the depression-associated reduction in sucrose preference when compared to VEH-S. MOE (with peak effect at 30 mg/kg) reduced immobility while increasing swimming and climbing behaviors. MOE reversed CUMS-induced reduction of 5-HT concentration in PFC and hippocampus. The behavioral effects of MOE were associated with shifts in the gut microbiota of CUMS-exposed mice. The study has provided seminal evidence that MOE ameliorates CUMS-induced depressive symptoms by modulating gut microbiota and increasing brain 5-HT levels.

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Migration for Begging: Experiences of Nigerien Migrant Parents and their Accompanied Children in Accra, Ghana

(University of Ghana, 2023) Owusuaa, E.J.

This research explored the Phenomenon of “Migration for Begging” among Nigerien migrants. The dominant view of the migration of street beggars has so far paid attention mainly to the Organised Criminal Networks with profit motives as the major facilitators of beggars with less focus on the Personal Networks that help in facilitating the migration of this type as well as the trajectories. This study fills this gap by examining beggars from Niger by specifically looking at who qualifies to migrate for begging, why they migrate, how they migrate, what they come to do apart from begging and their migration outcome. A mixed method approach was used to study Migration for Begging among Nigerien migrants in Accra. The study techniques included mainly survey questionnaires and in-depth interviews. A total of one hundred and thirty-six (136) respondents were sampled for the quantitative study while twenty-seven (27) parents and twelve (12) children were selected for the in-depth interview after following the due ethical procedures. The findings show that to qualify for social network support, a migrant must possess some qualities which include having children to migrate with. Secondly, personal networks were found to influence migrants’ experiences regarding their journeys and access to financial resources plays a huge role in migrants’ choice of route and journey experiences. The study found that migration for begging is mainly facilitated by Personal Network support rather than Organized Criminal Networks. Again, migrant parents were identified as having control over their earnings and that of their children. The role of the personal network was largely to support and not to exploit migrants. Though the majority of respondents were found to be supported by their personal networks, a significant number migrated on their own without personal social network support. Using the Migration and Livelihood Framework, this study found that the variables age, job opportunity, housing, income/wage, personal network and remitting were statistically significant at 0.05. The Multinomial Logistic Regression model concluded that the older migrants become they are more likely to experience the same migration outcome, likewise, those who migrated for better job opportunities compared to those who did not. Again, those who reported having personal network support experiencing the same migration outcome are higher than those who did not have social support. Also, comparing the baseline (better migration outcome), it was found that as migrants grow older, they are less likely to experience worse migration outcomes, while the probability of those who own their own place of residence experiencing worse outcomes is higher than those who are squatters. Again, the probability of migrants who had personal network support experiencing worse migration outcomes is higher than those who did not have support. The Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) concerning quality education emphasises the role migration can play in providing children with access to better education. The study recommends measures towards educating migrant children in Ghana and the need for both Ghana and the government of the Republic of Niger to ensure that migrant children are off the streets to the classroom. Also, providing schools in rural communities in Niger to have children educated and providing access for those who are already here, will lead to improved standards of living for Nigeriens and ultimately, breaking the chain or stopping migration for begging among Nigeriens.

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Import Valuation and Firm-Level Entrepreneurship in Ghana: An Institutional Perspective

(University of Ghana, 2025) Twimasie, D.K.

The issue-based qualitative case study explores how isomorphic pressures from the preeminent trade governing body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its affiliate the World Customs Organisation (WCO), shape the import valuation practices of the Ghana Revenue Authority-Customs Division (GRA-Customs). The thesis aims to highlight the Customs institution’s import valuation practices and explore its attendant influences on entrepreneurial disposition and opportunity perception in Ghana. The study spotlights impediments to entrepreneurial endeavours arising from the inconsistent application of import valuation rules, amidst widespread importer-declarant under-invoicing. The single case study’s design comprised three (3) embedded units of analysis, namely, the GRA-Customs, a freight forwarder (agents) and firm enterprises (importers) groups. The mostly purposively sampled respondents totalled twenty (20) across the board: eight (8) Customs officers, four (4) freight forwarders, and seven (7) importing firm enterprises. Additionally, a stevedoring company based in the Tema port was interviewed for contextual input. Customs valuation documents were collated and analysed to supplement respondent interview transcripts. Furthermore, a conceptual framework was developed to capture the hierarchical flow of institutional influence from the WTO/WCO through to the firm-level entrepreneurship (FLE) construct. The analyses of the findings yielded recurring, overlapping themes suggesting, among others, that the “transaction value” rule of the WTO valuation agreement (WTO-ACV) presents consistent, constraining administrative challenges for GRA-Customs. These challenges manifest as institutional voids that compromise the institution’s role in impartially supporting entrepreneurship to flourish in Ghana. Through the lens of institutional theory (IT), the study highlights how the WTO valuation agreement (WTO-ACV), in tandem with the influential WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA), apply normative and coercive isomorphic pressures on the GRA-Customs to achieve optimal global trade facilitation. The Customs institution, through its practices, thus engenders common behaviours amongst importing enterprises and intermediate freight forwarder agents, in ways deterrent to entrepreneurial development. The findings also reveal instances of government policy interference with normative WTO trade protocols, which then fosters an environment of uncertainty for entrepreneurial advancement, not to mention exacerbating an already inundated Customs bureaucracy. Henceforth, practitioners and policymakers can consider addressing the widespread issue of importer-declarant under-invoicing and Customs’ professionalism, to advance firm-level entrepreneurship in Ghana. This may be achieved through deepening transparency in the import processes of GRA-Customs for greater entrepreneurial confidence in the valuation practices. The case study thesis’ contribution to knowledge unveils otherwise obscure layers of Customs practices, within a challenging regulatory environment, that stifle firm-level entrepreneurship through inconsistent import valuation in Ghana.

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Anomaly Detection Using Unsupervised Machine Learning Algorithms: A Simulation Study

(Scientific African, 2024-09-19) Agyemang, E.F.

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of five prominent unsupervised machine learning anomaly detection algorithms: One-Class Support Vector Machine (One-Class SVM), One-Class SVM with Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), Isolation Forest (iForest), Local Outlier Factor (LOF), and Robust Covariance (Elliptic Envelope). Through systematic analysis on a syn thetically simulated dataset, the study assessed each algorithm’s predictive performance using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score specifically for outlier detection. The evaluation reveals that One-Class SVM, Isolation Forest, and Robust Covariance are more effective in identifying outliers in the synthetic simulated dataset, with Isolation Forest slightly outperforming the other algorithms in terms of balancing precision and recall. One-Class SVM with SGD shows promise in precision but needs adjustment to improve recall. Local Outlier Factor may require parameter tuning or may not be as suitable for this particular dataset’s characteristics. The findings reveal significant variations in performance, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each method in identifying anomalies. This research contributes to the field of machine learning by demonstrating that the selection of an anomaly detection algorithm should be a considered decision, taking into account the specific characteristics of the data and the operational context of its application. Future work should explore parameter optimization, the impact of dataset characteristics on model performance, and the application of these models to real-world datasets to validate their efficacy in practical anomaly detection scenarios.