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Access To And Use Of Ict Infrastructure In Teaching And Learning: A Comparative Study Of Rural And Urban Public Junior High Schools In The Ga South Municipality
(University of Ghana, 2013-07) Sey, J.; Asante, E.A.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
Ghana is committed to transforming teaching and learning at all levels of education through the introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). However, the successful introduction of ICT into basic education depends largely on the availability of ICT infrastructure and the capacity of teachers and students to use them. Using rural and urban public Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Ga South Municipality as a case study, this study investigates the availability and use of ICT infrastructure among students and teachers of rural and urban schools. It was found that access to ICT infrastructure by teachers and students was inadequate. Nonetheless, there were differences in access to ICT infrastructure between students and teachers of rural and urban schools. Students of urban schools had more access to ICT infrastructure and therefore used it for studies than their rural counterparts. Also, the use of ICT infrastructure in the classroom had more positive impacts on the learning motivations of students of urban schools than those of rural schools. Teachers of urban schools were also more likely to have access to ICT infrastructure than those of rural schools. There was, however, no significant difference between rural and urban teachers in their confidence in the use of ICT infrastructure for teaching. Since ICT infrastructure had positive motivations for teaching and learning activities in basic schools, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education provides all basic schools across the country with ICT infrastructure. Also, efforts should be made to build the capacity of all teachers in order to facilitate the efficient introduction of ICT in education. The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) should be given enough funds to carry out its mandate of ensuring universal access to ICT by unserved and underserved communities in Ghana.
Access to Education for Poor Children: A Case Study of Compassion International in the Agbogba Community, Ghana
(2017-12) Darku, E.N.D.
Education has been recognized as an important tool in reducing poverty, especially due to its intergenerational effects. Thus poverty reduction efforts have often targeted the educational sector with national governments leading the way. Government interventions have however been unable to adequately ensure educational access for all. As a result, Non-Governmental Organisations such as Compassion International (CI) have stepped in to provide complementary programmes to make education attainable to poor children. The research aims to analyse the role of personal characteristics (gender, parent’s education, family size, school type) and membership to the Compassion International (CI) intervention to explain the difference in educational attainment of students in Agbogba. In order to achieve this aim, data was collected on students’ performance and personal characteristics for 162 students between the ages of 15-19 in the Agbogba community. These constitute two groups of students: one group that are beneficiaries of the CI intervention and another that did not benefit from the intervention. Regression methods are applied to identify the roles of these factors for the two groups of students. Results show that parental education and being on the intervention are important determinants of school performance, with positive and negative association, respectively, with performance on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Further analysis showed however that lower BECE scores of beneficiaries of the intervention did not impede their educational progress, and that CI actually improved the participants’ progress holistically.
Access to Education for Poor Children: A Case Study of Compassion International in the Agbogba Community, Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2017-12) Darku, E.N.D.
Education has been recognized as an important tool in reducing poverty, especially due to its intergenerational effects. Thus poverty reduction efforts have often targeted the educational sector with national governments leading the way. Government interventions have however been unable to adequately ensure educational access for all. As a result, Non-Governmental Organisations such as Compassion International (CI) have stepped in to provide complementary programmes to make education attainable to poor children. The research aims to analyse the role of personal characteristics (gender, parent’s education, family size, school type) and membership to the Compassion International (CI) intervention to explain the difference in educational attainment of students in Agbogba. In order to achieve this aim, data was collected on students’ performance and personal characteristics for 162 students between the ages of 15-19 in the Agbogba community. These constitute two groups of students: one group that are beneficiaries of the CI intervention and another that did not benefit from the intervention. Regression methods are applied to identify the roles of these factors for the two groups of students. Results show that parental education and being on the intervention are important determinants of school performance, with positive and negative association, respectively, with performance on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Further analysis showed however that lower BECE scores of beneficiaries of the intervention did not impede their educational progress, and that CI actually improved the participants’ progress holistically.
Access to Rural Water and its Effects on Girl Child Education: A Case Study of Boti Area in the Yilo Krobo District
(University of Ghana, 2013-07) Abdallah, M.B.; Aryeetey, E.B.D.
A number of factors are responsible for the basic educational progress of the girl-child in rural Ghana. Among these factors can be access to potable water by households and basic schools. Lack of potable water or its inaccessibility is likely to hinder the education of the girl-child. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of access to rural water on girl child education in the Yilo Krobo area, using 3 communities in Boti Area. The researcher tried to assess some characteristics of water supply systems in relation to girl-child school participation i.e. attendance, punctuality and completion of assignment. The study adopted a variety of sampling techniques including a systematic random sampling in selecting a sample size of 90 girls from JHS 1, 2 and 3.
Accessing capacity Building Initiatives for Caretakers of Rural Water Supply, Sena District
(University of Ghana, 2000-09) Okyere, A.K.; Aryeetey, E.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health
A much-discussed criterion for evaluating development NGO activities concerns the "sustainability of their projects - that is, their ability to remain viable after external support ceases - and their replicability - the degree to which groups not directly assisted by the NGO take up NGO projects on their own. If the benefits of NGO work cease when the resources do, the NGO is merely providing “aid”, if the benefits continue past the period of NGO involvement, “development” has been initiated (Korten 1990). This study examines the issue of sustainability of the water system through training on operation and maintenance in the Sene District. World Vision International Ghana established Ghana Rural Water Project as its branch for water activities in 1984/85 just after the long drought period in 1983. Ghana Rural Water Project was set up to provide potable water or drill boreholes for rural people (World Vision assisted communities) to combat the guinea-worm disease. The major concern of this water project is to guarantee sustainable systems in the beneficiary communities. It is against this background that World Vision Ghana Rural Water Project (WVGRWP) is incorporating a major training component in the programme. The process of sustaining projects depends on both the donor agency and the beneficiary communities. Training enhances the skills and build the capacity of selected volunteers, it has therefore, been identified as very vital to the effort towards sustainability. The general objective of the study is to find out the link between training and maintenance in the process of sustainability of the water project in the Sene District. The findings revealed that Ghana Rural Water Project between 1994 - 1996 drilled 134 boreholes in 74 communities and had conducted 1st level training for all the selected volunteers from the beneficiary communities. It is the policy of the organisation to encourage women to be part of the trainees, so almost in every community there is a female trainee. From the study it was realised that before the training programme, the communities relied on pump technicians from outside the district. The maintenance charges by these technicians and the cost of non-available spare parts were so exorbitant that most communities abandoned their faulty boreholes. Thus, the issue of sustainability ended when the boreholes broke down. After training, all the 30 selected volunteers could repair and maintain the borehole without any supervision, and this has reduced maintenance cost and also ensured regular flow of water. Analysis showed that 22 trainees have also trained one or two people to replicate the knowledge and skills acquired. The knowledge, Attitude and Practices of the trainees have changed as a result of training received. The laissez-faire attitude of the people has been neutralized, and the people have acquired the culture of maintenance to support community projects. Projects have now been seen as theirs and no more government projects and so must be taken care of. Community management and the state of the water system has not been up to expectation according to the findings. There is a recommendation that management committees must relate to each other very well in order to ensure good community participation in the crusade for the sustainability.
Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies to Perennial Urban Flooding: A Case Study of Flood-Prone Communities in La Dade-Kotopon Municipality
(2017-07) Mokwah, S.
Flooding has been a major problem over the years for cities of most developing countries across the world. In Ghana, the major cities especially Accra are noted for the prevalent occurrence of flood and its related menace. Like other districts in Accra, La Dade-Kotopon Municipality has not been spared by the phenomenon in recent times. Year by year, the municipality is hit by various degrees of floods resulting in loss of lives and destruction of hard-earned properties. Though the phenomenon is witnessed by the entire municipality, it is most prevalent in some identified communities within the municipality. This study therefore sought to look at the adaptation and mitigation measures adopted by various stakeholders to address the flood disaster phenomenon in the flood-prone communities within the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality. To analyze the problem, five flood-prone communities were randomly selected for the study and out of this a total of 191 households were sampled to participate in the study. Primarily, the mixed methods research approach was adopted; and on that basis quantitative data was gathered through face to face household survey using structured questionnaires which was supported by qualitative data gathered through key informant interviews of key officials of the municipalities; in-depth interviews of the Assemblymen and some community members from the study communities and through direct field observations. Findings of the study show that, flood events in the study communities are primarily caused by some anthropogenic factors such as lack of drains; building on waterways; defective drainage design; choked drains; congested settlements; poor solid waste disposal practices among others even though they can also be attributed to some natural factors such as impervious nature of soil, low lying nature of the land and heavy downpour. It was also found that floods have posed several negative effects on the households in the study communities including loss of lives; physical injury to people; destruction of buildings and valuable properties; destruction of households’ livelihood activities; pollution of the environment; erosion; disruption in the provision of utility services among others. The findings of the study also show that households employ several adaptation measures before, during and after floods to enhance their adaptive capacities. These include using sand bag to block water; digging flood diversion trenches; fixing pipelines to drain water out of the building; packing valuable properties on top of tables and wardrobes; leaving the building temporary to stay with neighbours; drying affected items; cleaning the rooms and compound after floods; mending roof of the building and repairing damaged items. Similarly community members collectively support adaptation by helping in evacuation of flood victims; providing temporal accommodation to some affected members; engaging in general cleaning and clearing choked gutters. The Municipal authority through NADMO also aid in adaptation by providing relief items to flood victims and providing emergency evacuation services to victims of flood. On mitigation however, the findings show that, it is predominantly done by households which are usually insufficient; on some occasions the community members also mitigate floods collectively through clean-up exercises, flood awareness campaigns, clearing choked gutters among others. Government institutions however have not really done much to mitigate the future occurrence of floods in the study communities. Also, it is established that households and other stakeholders are faced with some challenges in their efforts to adapt and mitigate floods: these include lack of funds; lack of cooperation among community members and stakeholders and reckless behavior of some community members among others. The study recommends that stakeholders, especially government should be very proactive in providing lasting solution to floods menace through the provision of storm drains; improved flood awareness campaigns, improvement in solid waste collection and management and through effective enforcement of building regulations.
Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Teenage Pregnancy in La, Greater Accra Region
(University of Ghana, 2018-12) Abdul-Hamid, I.
This study came about as a result the identification of the persisting problem of teenage pregnancy in La. The study sought to assess adolescents’ knowledge, perception and attitudes of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in the La community. To achieve this purpose, 386 teenagers (15-19 years) living in La were purposively selected from schools as well as some key informants (counsellors and peer educators) through a multi stage sampling technique. Data was gathered from the students through the use of a structured questionnaire whilst data was obtained from the key informants through the use of interviews. The data that was gathered was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Results from the study showed that majority of the respondents did not have much knowledge about modern family planning methods, how to use contraceptives and the menstrual cycle. Majority of them had begun consuming alcohol, watching pornographic films, engaging in sexual activities as well as not using contraceptives whilst having sex. Also, most of the respondents had the perception that becoming pregnant or impregnating someone was a way of proving one’s fertility. They also had the perception that their families would support them in case they either got pregnant or impregnated someone. In relation to the teenage pregnancy situation in La, it was found that there was an association between teenage pregnancy and the adolescents’ knowledge of STDs/STIs, how to prevent STDs/STIs, knowledge of contraceptives, entering into sexual relationships, engaging in sex, not using contraceptives whilst having sex and the perception that pregnancy proves one’s fertility. A probit regression that was run further showed that sex of the respondents, educational backgrounds of the respondents and living with non-relatives all had marginal effects on the teenage pregnancy situation in La. It also showed that there was a positive relationship between teenage pregnancy in La and the risky sexual behaviour exhibited by the teenagers of La.
Agricultural Information Needs and Information Seeking among Urban Vegetable Farmers in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality
(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Chime, C.C.
Farmers’ access to relevant and useful agricultural information is key to improving their productivity. Research shows that the information needs of farmers differ and that the behaviour of farmers in seeking information is as varied as their production systems. The study was conducted to identify the information needs and assess the information seeking behaviour of urban vegetable farmers whose activities supplement the food needs of an increasingly urbanised population in sub-Saharan Africa. The study employed quantitative methodology and collected secondary and primary data in the La Dade-Kotopon municipality. Secondary data was collected from the Directorate of agriculture of the municipal assembly and primary data was then elicited from 60 vegetable farmers in the municipality using face-to- face interviews on their information search activities in the previous six months. Results were analysed using means, frequencies and chi-square, and were presented using descriptive statistics. The majority of farmers (62%) reported a need for information for their agricultural activities. This need for information had no significant relationship with the farmers’ age, educational level, sex, major occupation, and their membership in farmer associations. Of the percentage that needed information, 38% needed information on disease and pest control with a third indicating this need was ‘important’ to them and 61% reporting the need only as ‘somewhat important’. Information on pest and disease control was the highest (43%) information type obtained by the farmers in the six-month period. Most respondents (75%) contacted other farmers for information with at least five such contacts in the reference period by a majority (51%) of the farmers. However, farmers’ preferences for information sources did not match their information-seeking behaviour: extension officers from the district assembly were the most preferred source of information (67% of respondents) but were second to ‘other farmers’ in terms of the frequency of contact. A large majority (85%) of farmers reported being most constrained by their inability to use the internet. The study concludes that the information needs of farmers are varied, and farmers attach different levels of importance to these needs. It also concludes that farmers prefer inter-personal information sources to other sources of information, and that farmers’ inability to use the internet is a major barrier to information seeking. Thus, the study recommends that information should be tailored to meet the needs of farmers, especially information on the control of pest and diseases. Finally, the study recommends that, since extension officers from the district officers were the most preferred source but not the most contacted, more should be done to make them more accessible by the farmers.
Antiretroviral therapy maintenance among HIV-positive women in Ghana: the influence of poverty
(AIDS Care, 2019) Poku, R.A.; Owusu, A.Y.; Mullen, P.D.; et.al
This study examines the role of poverty in the acquisition of and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prescribed clinical follow-up regimens among HIV-positive women. We conducted in-depth interviews with 40 women living with HIV (WLHIV) in Ghana and 15 stakeholders with a history of work in HIV-focused programs. Our findings indicate that financial difficulty contributed to limited ability to maintain treatment, the recommended nutrient-rich diet, and clinical follow-up schedules. However, enacted stigma and concurrent illness of family members also influenced the ability of the WLHIV to generate income; therefore, HIV infection itself contributed to poverty. To further examine the relationship between finances, ART adherence, and the maintenance of recommended clinical follow-up, we present the perspectives of several HIV-positive peer counselor volunteers in Ghana’s Models of Hope program. We recommend that programs to combat stigma continue to be implemented, as decreased stigma may reduce the financial difficulties of HIV-positive individuals. We also recommend enhancing current support programs to better assist peer counselor volunteers, as their role directly supports Ghana’s national strategic HIV/AIDS plan. Finally, additional investment in poverty-reduction across Ghana, such as broadening meal assistance beyond the currently limited food programs, would lighten the load of those struggling to combat HIV and meet basic needs.
Assessing Capacity Building Initiatives For Caretakers Of Rural Water Supply Sene District
(University of Ghana, 2000-09) Okyere, A.K.; Aryeetey, E.B.D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
A much-discussed criterion for evaluating development NGO activities concerns the "sustainability of their projects - that is, their ability to remain viable after external support ceases - and their replicability - the degree to which groups not directly assisted by the NGO take up NGO projects on their own. If the benefits of NGO work cease when the resources do, the NGO is merely providing “aid”, if the benefits continue past the period of NGO involvement, “development” has been initiated (Korten 1990). This study examines the issue of sustainability of the water system through training on operation and maintenance in the Sene District. World Vision International Ghana established Ghana Rural Water Project as its branch for water activities in 1984/85 just after the long drought period in 1983. Ghana Rural Water Project was set up to provide potable water or drill boreholes for rural people (World Vision assisted communities) to combat the guinea-worm disease. The major concern of this water project is to guarantee sustainable systems in the beneficiary communities. It is against this background that World Vision Ghana Rural Water Project (WVGRWP) is incorporating a major training component in the programme.The process of sustaining projects depends on both the donor agency and the beneficiary communities. Training enhances the skills and build the capacity of selected volunteers, it has therefore, been identified as very vital to the effort towards sustainability. The general objective of the study is to find out the link between training and maintenance in the process of sustainability of the water project in the Sene District. The findings revealed that Ghana Rural Water Project between 1994 - 1996 drilled 134 boreholes in 74 communities and had conducted 1st level training for all the selected volunteers from the beneficiary communities. It is the policy of the organisation to encourage women to be part of the trainees, so almost in every community there is a female trainee. From the study it was realised that before the training programme, the communities relied on pump technicians from outside the district. The maintenance charges by these technicians and the cost of non-available spare parts were so exorbitant that most communities abandoned their faulty boreholes. Thus, the issue of sustainability ended when the boreholes broke down. After training, all the 30 selected volunteers could repair and maintain the borehole without any supervision, and this has reduced maintenance cost and also ensured regular flow of water. Analysis showed that 22 trainees have also trained one or two people to replicate the knowledge and skills acquired. The knowledge, Attitude and Practices of the trainees have changed as a result of training received. The laissez-faire attitude of the people has been neutralized, and the people have acquired the culture of maintenance to support community projects. Projects have now been seen as theirs and no more government projects and so must be taken care of. Community management and the state of the water system has not been up to expectation according to the findings. There is a recommendation that management committees must relate to each other very well in order to ensure good community participation in the crusade for the sustainability.
Assessing Clients' Satisfaction with Health Services at Kasoa Polyclinic in Awutu Senya East Municipal, Assembly Ghana.
(University of Ghana, 2014-11) Kelly, R.L.; Fosu, A.K; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
This study was conducted to assess clients’ satisfaction with health services at Kasoa Polyclinic in Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly. The researcher employed a quantitative research methodology, where a survey was conducted to interview 80 people who had visited the polyclinic more than once. The data gathered were presented using descriptive statistical tools such as crosstab, tables, graph and charts. A SERVQUAL analysis model was used to examine the satisfaction of clients with regards to the services they receive from the Kasoa Polyclinic. The results reveal that the expectation of the clients’ exceeds their perception in all the five SERVQUAL dimensions of customer satisfaction except one. The expectation of clients on Tangibility, Responsiveness, Assurance and Empathy, exceeded what was actually experienced at the hospital. But expectation on Reliability was equal to the perception. The quantitative analysis on the level of satisfaction show that customers were dissatisfied with the Tangibility and Assurance aspect of the polyclinic but were satisfied with Responsiveness, Reliability and Empathy aspects. On the whole, clients were satisfied with the services provided at the hospital. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended for infrastructural development at the polyclinic as well as capacity building of the hospital staff on how to treat clients to enable them have assurance in the polyclinic.
Assessing Private and Government Participation in Health Service Delivery at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipal Assembly
(University Of Ghana, 2015-12) Abdul-Rahman, S.; Owusu, A. Y.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
Accessibility is very critical to health service delivery. It includes financial, geographical and cultural accessibility. These factors inform the utilization of health services. The importance of accessibility and utilization of health services have been established in various studies globally. Yet in most developing countries and Ghana for that matter, accessibility to health care is limited in one way or the other. In Ghana, the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme in 2005 increased accessibility. However, accessibility and utilization of health services still remain a challenge for the country. This study seeks to explore how accessible health care is at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality and to what extent the service is used. The study design was a cross sectional survey using both quantitative and qualitative data with the use Questionnaires and in-depth interviews respectively. The target population were health service providers on one hand and the residents of Abokobi on the other hand. A purposive sampling was employed to sample the health service providers and stratified sampling was used to sample the respondents. The researcher collected all quantitative data with the help of one trained assistant. In depth interviews were conducted by the researcher only. The taped interviews were transcribed and the resulting texts analysed by using thematic analysis. The study revealed that limited public facilities, inadequate health personnel like doctors, midwives and pharmacist at the Abokobi health center were major factors hindering accessibility and utilization of health service delivery. The income and educational status of respondents also affected accessibility and utilisation. Below are some recommendations for the study; an effective monitoring and supervision of the operations of health facilities; the improvement of the NHIS services at the health facilities in Abokobi; the improvement and upgrade of equipment and logistics to ultra-modern in the health centres ones and the improvement of performance indicators to help the DHMT define and measure progress towards achieving its goals.
Assessing the Adoption of Improved Cook Stoves in Kwabenya in the Ga East Municipality
(University of Ghana, 2018-07) Dadzie, S.S.
Governments of Ghana have endeavored over the years to promote the use of cleaner energy and stoves for domestic use, but about 70% of Ghanaian households still rely on biomass fuel for their main household energy sources. This, therefore, makes the adoption and use of improved cook stoves (ICSs) important to curtail the adverse health, economic and environmental effects associated with using biomass fuel and traditional cook stoves. The aim of the study was to assess the status of adoption and frequency of use of the energy efficient improved cook stoves in Kwabenya. The study also sought to identify potential barriers to the uptake of the ICSs in urban areas. The study employed the mixed method approach and sampled 350 households from a population of 1965 households for the quantitative interviews. The Energy Commission (EC) of Ghana and producers of ICSs were also interviewed for the qualitative data. Findings from the study indicated that 41.2% of households interviewed had adopted the improved cook stoves. Among the adopters, 50.4% used their technological stoves frequently. The findings also revealed the majority of households in Kwabenya practiced energy stacking even though Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was the main (69.8%) source of cooking fuel in the area. Perceived benefits, ownership of a separate kitchen room and household member more responsible for cooking food were factors that influenced the frequency of use of the improved cook stoves among adopters. Finally, the study showed that low public information on the benefits derived from using ICSs, the absence of the product on the market and level of education of household heads were identified as potential barriers to the adoption of improved cook stoves in urban areas. Based on these findings, it was recommended that Ministries and Institutions responsible for promoting the uptake of ICSs intensify public awareness creation, especially through the mass media (radio and television) communication channel. The government was also admonished to provide special interventions for easy access to credit for producers.
Assessing the Challenges Women Entrepreneurs Face in Balancing Work and Housework Responsibilities in Madina.
(University of Ghana, 2018-07) Adjin, S.A.
Work-life balance is an important issue in the life of women most especially married women. The study sought to assess the challenges that women entrepreneurs face in balancing their work and domestic work responsibilities using a nationally represented data obtained from the Gender and Enterprise Development Survey conducted by ISSER in 2014. The study employed a mixed method approach to analyze responses from a sample of 835 married and ever married women. The data helped to unravel the determinants of work-life balance, and the predictors of job satisfaction among female entrepreneurs. In addition to the quantitative data, 22 married and ever married women entrepreneurs were purposively sampled in the La Nkwantanang-Madina municipality and interviewed in other to ascertain the challenges and coping strategies adopted by the women to attain a balanced life. The study found a significant relationship between some socio-demographic factors such as age, level of education, household size, and region, children between 5-12 and dependents and work-life balance. Religion was however found to be insignificant in determining the work-life balance of women entrepreneurs. Economic challenges and stress were the main challenges facing women entrepreneurs as ascertained by the study. Spousal support, support from family members such as children, good time management, having a caretaker and waking up early were the methods or techniques used by the women entrepreneurs to balance their work and domestic work responsibilities. Factors that influence the job satisfaction of women entrepreneurs include age, educational level, dependents, years of work, hours spent on work, profit or cash flow into the business, the presence of a caretaker and competition in their sectors of work. An insignificant relationship was found to exist between hours spent on domestic work and job satisfaction. The women indicated economic benefits, work autonomy and the flexibility of work as the major influencers of job satisfaction.
Assessing the Comprehensiveness of Community Participation in the Planning and Implementation of Development Projects. A Case of the Women and Children’s Ward (WCW) Facility in Abokobi, Ghana.
(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Safianu, R.J.
Community development projects requires the use of participatory approaches in the formulation of plans to reflect the needs and aspiration of the people. Participatory development perceives local people as experts within their own circumstances, thus highlighting the need to draw on their strengths and indigenous capabilities. Active participation ensures that the beneficiaries of the development project are empowered to become actively involved in all stages of a project cycle. The nine-month long (October 2018 to July 2019) study, took place in Abokobi in the Ga east municipality and examined the pattern of community participation in development project in the Abokobi municipality. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigated the roles handed to different category of community members through in-depth interviews conducted amongst twenty-two (22) respondents in other to analyze the comprehensiveness of community participation within the study location. The study also examines some factors that hinder or enhance the involvement of community members or beneficiaries in the development process of the Municipality. The study found that there was active engagement of people at the initial stages of project execution by the Assembly. However active engagement of community members reduced as the project progressed to the implementation stage. The study also found that grassroot mobilization and the formation of community organizations were key social factors that enhanced the participation of people in the development process because the Assembly found it convenient engaging community organized groups. The study also found that the assembly uses incentivization and community sensitization as a strategy to raise awareness and encourage community members to attend meetings. The study therefore concludes that the Assembly continuously uses this strategy because the community members themselves condones it and sees it as a pre-requisite for their involvement in town hall meetings. The study also concludes, that the low pace at which the Assembly attends to the developmental needs of the people was a disincentive for community participation. The study recommends that the assembly establishes an effective channel of information transfer between the community and the assembly to enhance share of knowledge and information towards successful community project planning. The study also recommends the deepening of education and sensitization programs to educate the people on the need for their participation and the influence they wield over their own projects.
Assessing the Effects of Uncollected Waste Generated by Households in Tema Newtown
(University of Ghana, 2013-07) Addy, N.N.A.; Ahiadeke, C.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
The problem of waste collection and disposal has been a canker to the development of cities and towns across Ghana. Day in day out, there are reports of piles of waste left uncollected around city centres and residences. Huge tonnes of waste are seen scattered in streets and gutters and the effects are enormous especially in the face of rapid urbanization. Some of the effects include flooding, the spread of diseases as a result of cross contaminations, the aesthetic value of the community among others. The city of Tema is one fast urbanizing area with such challenges associated with waste generation. This study therefore sought to ascertain the effects of uncollected household waste generated in Tema Newtown – a community within the Tema Metropolitan Area. The study used a survey of 120 households, key informant interviews of officials within the administrative and traditional jurisdiction of Tema and observations to achieve its objectives. Additionally, the Contingent Valuation Method was used to elicit and analyze respondents’ willingness to pay. The results of the study showed that out of 11.64 tonnes of waste generated per day in Tema Newtown, 3.8 tonnes remains uncollected. The study also revealed that the respondents were aware of the problem of uncollected yet were unconcerned. However, they were aware of the effects of the waste generated and what was left uncollected which included the widespread of diseases, flooding, contamination of water bodies and devaluation of the town due to the odour in some communities within the town. According to the result of the valuation, majority of the respondents are willing to pay a fee for better and improved waste management system. The study therefore encourages the adoption of the Public Private Partnership and the various recycling of waste materials to reduce the rate of uncollected waste and efficient waste management.
Assessing the Extent of Adoption and use of Electronic Health (Ehealth) Technologies in Health Centres and Institutions in the Greater Accra Region
(University of Ghana, 2016-03) Kesse-Tachi, A; Anaman, K.A; Anyidoho, N.A; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that the benefits of technology have to be integrated in healthcare delivery in their Health-For-All Strategy which recommends that member countries incorporate health telematics into their healthcare system. The benefits of eHealth are thus underscored in this directive and a similar motivation underlies this study, which investigates the use and adoption of Electronic Health technologies in healthcare delivery in Ghana. The study was designed to achieve three objectives: to establish the extent of eHealth use and adoption, examine the factors driving eHealth use and adoption, and finally ascertain the constraints in eHealth use and adoption among health centres and institutions in the Greater Accra Region. The study was designed as a quantitative survey with questionnaire research instrument. The population of the study comprised 469 health centres and institutions in the Greater Accra Region, out of which a sample of 82 was taken. These were made up of one CHIPS compound, 50 clinics, four health centres, 50 maternity homes, 17 hospitals and one polyclinic. A sample of 1,640 questionnaires were administered to medical doctor, nurses, administrator/administrative staff, pharmacists, records/attendance staff and laboratory technicians in the selected institutions. The researcher received 810 questionnaires, representing 49.3% of the original sample size of questionnaires sent to respondents. About 50% of the institutions indicated that they have not integrated eHealth in their operations. Hence, eHealth technologies are not used to a large extent in the health centres and institutions in the Greater Accra Region. Among the institutions that use eHealth technologies, however, the multimedia devices, internet and imaging devices ranked foremost. eHealth is highly deployed in the patient records, pharmacy and laboratory diagnosis departments. Hospitals and clinics administrators ranked as the major professional groups, which use eHealth technologies. The study further concludes that the institutional characteristics and health care manager characteristics have a high influence on eHealth adoption. However, factors related to performance expectancy and effort expectancy only have low influence on the adoption of eHealth devices and systems. The study also concludes that the major constraints affecting the use and adoption of eHealth were perceived corruption involved in the procurement or the supply chain of eHealth technologies, lack of commitment of the health care managers in instituting eHealth and ignorance about ICT solutions. Accordingly, the study recommends that the Ministry of Health use a bi-partisan approach to roll out eHealth system adopting programmes into the institutions, hospitals and clinics. This can be done through proper budgetary allocation; leverage of favourable professional factors to institute eHealth in the sector; embarking on a programme that integrates software into singular operational entity that ensures that information is not held in silos or stand-alone departments as well as instituting improved monitoring and audit systems to curtail corruption in the sector.
Assessment of the Awareness Of And Factors Influencing the Use of Birth Control Methods Among Women at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region
(2014-12) Okai, A. O. J.; Anaman, A. K.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, based on the 2010 Population Housing Census, the population of Ghana increased by about 30.4% from 2000 to 2010 growing a rate of 2.5% per year. This means that the population of Ghana has been doubling every 28 years. The population of the country is expected to reach 50 million by the year 2039, just 25 years away. The rapid population growth rate and the expanding basic needs and wants of the people of Ghana arising from increasing economic growth have made population control and management of urgent importance. The need to manage the population of Ghana in line with available resources in an atmosphere of shared, inclusive and sustainable economic growth has become a paramount objective for government and non-government organisations. One mechanism that can be used to achieve effective population control and management is birth control through the use of contraceptives. Based on this underlying premise, this study was undertaken to assess the awareness of and factors influencing the use of birth control methods among women aged between 15 and 49 years, in their reproductive lifespan, at Abokobi, the capital town of the Ga East Municipality. The survey-based study was based on scientific sampling method using cluster sampling and it involved interviewing 120 women living in 99 houses within eight researcher-based clusters at Abokobi. The main objective of the study was to determine the awareness and use of birth control methods. The specific objectives were to determine extent of awareness of birth control methods, to establish the factors influencing the level of awareness of birth control methods, to ascertain the types and intensity of birth control methods and establish the factors influencing the use of birth control methods. The survey data collected were analysed using simple statistical analysis to derive frequencies and means of important variables related to awareness and use of various birth control methods. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the factors that influenced awareness of birth control methods. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing the use of birth control methods. The results of the analysis indicated that all the 120 women respondents were aware of at least one birth control method suggesting a universal awareness of birth control methods. In terms of level of awareness, the dual protection using male condom was the most familiar method of birth control followed by illegal abortion, female condom, injectable medicine, rhythm or calendar method, female pill and legal abortion. The multiple regression analysis confirmed that the age and educational attainment of the woman increased the level of awareness of birth control methods. Women who had children were also more aware of birth control methods than women without children. The logistic regression revealed that being in a current sexual relationship, the level of awareness of birth control methods and having children increased the likelihood of women using birth control methods. Women who were currently married and were between the ages of 20 and 40 years were less likely to use birth control methods possibly suggesting their demand for children. Overall, the relatively low awareness of birth control methods exhibited by relatively younger and less educated women without children suggested the need of government and non-governmental organisations to establish and/or expand programmes related to sex education and family planning in junior and senior secondary schools and technical and vocational colleges in the country to minimise unwarranted pregnancies and thus control birth rates.
Assessment of Problems Faced by Agro-Based Industries: A Case Study of Blue Skies Products Ghana Limited in Nsawam
(University of Ghana, 2014-12) Nuamah, P.D.; Fosu, A.K.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
The study was designed to assess the problems faced by agro-based businesses. It specifically examined the major constraints facing the establishment, operations and marketing of agro-business in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality. The study adopted the quantitative survey as its research design/approach, which according to Ahiadeke (2008) is a data collection method which requires asking people, referred to as respondents for information using either verbal or written questions. The study chose Blue Skies Products Ghana Limited, one of the thriving agro-based industries located in Nsawam, for the case study and consequently retrieved 85 out of the targeted 100 workers as the recovered sample size. The relative importance index (RII) was used to rank the various challenges that face agro-based industries. The study concludes that the problems associated with establishing agro-based companies include the depreciation of the Cedi and other micro-economic issues, limited access to credit, high interest rates and fluctuating exchange rates, high transportation costs, a lack of support facilities such as tax mitigation and raw materials of poor quality and unreliable supply, in a descending order of importance. Similarly, the operational challenges include the depreciation of the Cedi and other micro-economic issues, inconsistent power supply, insufficient supply of raw materials, lack of bigger market to sell produce, and port congestion/high clearing charges. The marketing challenges include depreciation of the Cedi and other micro-economic issues, and the lack of a bigger market to sell produce emerged topmost while the financial markets, failure to adapt to changes, the failure to search out for prospective market niches were the problems that needed urgent redress. The study therefore recommends that government should address the frequent power outages and the foreign exchange problems in order to position agro-based industries to be efficient in the delivery of quality products and the creation of employment for young people. Also, the local assemblies should promote integrated industrialization by ensuring that agro-industries combine a mix of employment generation and diversification of occupations together with land reforms, reorientation of the credit system and massive public investment in rural infrastructure.
Assessment of Status Disclosure and Medication Compliance among People Living with Hiv/Aids (Plwha) within the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality
(University of Ghana, 2013-12) Amartei, T.N.A; Appiah, E; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research
This study assessed the determinants of HIV status disclosure and compliance to antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication. The main objective was to explore whether background characteristics affect disclosure of HIV status and compliance to medication, and whether status disclosure affects compliance to medication. The Health Belief Model provided the framework from which various linkages between the two variables being studied and conceptual issues were examined. The study was conducted among 83 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who were on ART medication at the Nsawam Government Hospital within the Nsawam- Adoagyiri Municipality. Respondents in the study were 58 PLWHA who had disclosed their status and 25 PLWHA who had not disclosed their status. Respondents completed a questionnaire regarding status disclosure and compliance to medication. In general, respondents who had disclosed their HIV status had optimal compliance to medication more than those who had not disclosed their status. The relationship between status disclosure and compliance was found to be statistically significant at a 0.05 significant level. Apart from respondents’ gender which was found to have a significant relationship with compliance to medication, other socio-demographic variables were found not to have a significant relationship with either status disclosure or compliance. Respondents’ opinion on the importance of disclosing their HIV status and barriers preventing status disclosure were also assessed and the findings discussed with relevant literature. In summary, recommendations to improve medication compliance among PLWHA were provided: To begin with, an all- out campaign by government and stakeholders to join efforts to sensitize people on HIV/AIDS and advocate the concerns of PLWHA was proposed. Secondly, it was proposed that communication strategies of health workers must be improved to assist PLWHA struggling with compliance to ART medication. Additionally, NGO’s and all stakeholders were admonished to strengthen structures and platforms for promoting the welfare of PLWHA. Lastly, it was recommended that stricter enforcement of legal provisions regarding infractions committed against PLWHA must be upheld by administrative and government policies. The recommendations were made with the need for encouraging status disclosure emphasized as it enhances compliance to medication.

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