Journals

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An academic or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published in University of Ghana. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and discussion of research. They are usually peer-reviewed or refereed. Listed here are Journals from the University of Ghana.

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Aboakyer: A traditional festival in decline
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2019-06) Akyeampong, O.A.
Over the last two decades, events have assumed increased significance in Ghana’s tourism industry as new events are added every year. Meanwhile, centuries-old festivals such as Aboakyer, face decline even before a systematic framework for analysing events as tourism products is propounded. This study proposes the ‘festivals-as-products’ framework and applies that to investigate the underlying causes of the decline of Aboakyer and the chances of its revival, using qualitative data. Loss of habitat, protracted chieftaincy feud and demise of the asafo institution were the key causes. Two suggestions to stem the tide were either devising a new mode of appeasing the gods or using reared but still hunted game for the rituals. In either case, Aboakyer, literally, ‘animal hunt,’ loses its excitement but there still remains a festival to be celebrated.
Academic Capitalism: Globalization, Universities and the Paradox of the Neoliberal Marketplace
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2016-06) Dzisah, J.
The concept and practice of globalization have not only impacted countries in a variety of ways but have equally induced strong emotions across varying spectrums. As a concept, the fingerprint of Karl Marx and his adherents remains in their recognition of the vitality of transnational trade and the exploitative tendencies inherent in capitalism as a world system. In recent decades however, the concept of globalization has resurfaced in the capitalist toolkit of neoliberalism where it is deployed in promoting their self-centered capitalistic annihilation in all spheres. The paper assesses the connection between universities and globalization in terms of the increasing market-oriented approach to knowledge production. It argues that though the process of globalization has influenced the conduct of knowledge production in a variety of expected and unexpected ways, the transformation of aspects of the university has equally left visible imprints on the modicums of globalization
The Acquisition of Traditional Ghanaian Dance Performance Skills
(Journal of Performing Arts:University of Ghana, Legon, 2012) Sowah, O.N.
According to the recent census the population of Ghana is estimated to be twenty-four million people who belong to a number of different ethnic groups, each with its own culture. An ethnic group consists of a homogeneous community or group of people living in an area where, largely, traditional customs and practices have not been eroded by foreign culture. In Ghana, many of such societies, to a certain extent, still practice the same laws and customs as their forebears - and their traditional dance practice continues to exist. This paper suggests that the teaching of traditional dance in universities should not include just technique, but also a knowledge of the history, performance context, symbolic gestures and the local ways of learning these dances.
“Acting together”: How Non-State Actors shape migration policies in West Africa
(Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA), 2019-11) Bisong, Amanda
This paper examines how non-state actors (NSAs) leverage their role in regional migration governance in West Africa. The paper focuses on the involvement of non-state actors in the migration policy process at the regional level. It unpacks the relationships between state and non-state actors, focusing on the media, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and academia in West Africa. It examines the engagement between state and NSAs at the regional and national levels, finding that formal and informal spaces for engagement exist and linkages between these levels of governance provide avenues for transposing national solutions to the regional level and vice versa. The paper finds that NSAs leverage formal and informal mechanisms for engagement at the regional and national levels to ensure that their interests are achieved. The paper concludes that involving NSAs in regional migration governance is essential to promote the integration of migration approaches and initiatives from the ‘bottom-up’, complementing the ‘topdown’ state-centric processes in ECOWAS.
Adopting and Sustaining Green Electricity Energy Technologies in Ghana: A Review of Policy Perspectives
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2017-12) Jabik, B.B.; Bawakyillenuo, S.
As an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries need to reorient policy directions towards green approaches and initiatives including green energy initiatives. Energy from renewable sources contributes to environmental protection, security of energy supply, employment generation, promotion of sustainable development and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. Though Ghana is much endowed with renewable energy resources only 0.6% of the energy supply (excluding hydropower) is from renewable sources. This paper reviews policy options and lessons from countries which successfully promoted green energy market and how Ghana could adopt such policies to develop her green electricity energy market. The review reveals that, for effective and efficient green electricity market to be developed in a country, a wide range of policy instruments such as promoting voluntary green electricity schemes, establishing renewable energy fund, providing tax incentives, promoting green certification schemes and feed-in tariffs must be developed and implemented using participatory approaches. These policies must proceed research and development which will stimulate clear policy objectives, cost effective considerations and long term visioning. Institutions must be designated for policy implementation and must receive capacity building for effective monitoring, evaluation and provision of feedback on the implementation process. This implies that green energy production can be improved in a country when effective policies are implemented.
Adverbial Placement in Ewe: A Role and Reference Grammar Perspective”.
(Legon Journal of the Humanities, University of Ghana, 2011) Awku, A.S.
This article looks at adverbial placement and interpretation in Ewe. It takes from English adverbial placement in which several positions are possible. Implicitly, it looks at what is the same compared to English and what is different when we look at adverbials in Ewe. The study looks at Ewe adverbials from a Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) perspective.
The Africa Bible Commentary
(Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology (GJRT), 2007-07-02) Frederiks, M.T.
On July 5, 2006, the Africa Bible Commentary was officially presented to the wider public. I The ABC, as the commentary is known, is a joint project of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa and the International Mission Organisation, (Serving in Missionin) The press release states that the ABC is a one-volume, 1600 page Bible commentary, written by Africans for Africans. 3 The ABC gives a ' section-by-section exegesis and explanation of the whole Bible as seen through the eyes of African scholars,.4 Besides the Bible commentary, the ABC also includes 72 short articles on relevant social, cultural and theological issues. The book has a separate section called Guidelines for using the ABC, to aid non-academic readers in using the commentary.5 In total seventy African scholars from a variety of countries and denominations were involved in the project.
African Interpretation Of The Bible In Communicative Perspective
(Ghana Journal of Religion and Theology (GJRT), 2007-07-02) Ossom-Batsa, G.
This paper offers a panoramic view of the various approaches in African biblical hermeneutics. It discusses their basic presuppositions, contributions to the spread of Christianity in Africa, and concludes by proposing a new way of reading in communicative perspective: adherence to the biblical text, and the context of the interpreter. It is believed that this approach will restore the Word of God to its primary position and give a new dimension to African biblical interpretation.
Analysing the Dynamics of Decentralisation and the Creation of New District Assemblies in Ghana
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2020-06) Arthur, D.D.
Analysing the Traditional Dance Onstage within the University in Close Reference to Opoku‘s Legacy
(Journal of Performing Arts:University of Ghana, Legon, 2011) Quaye, D.E.A
As the topic suggests the aim of this paper is to trace the traditional dance in the university School of Performing Arts (SPA) , its place on the proscenium stage and what Mawere Opoku did with these dances. Albert Mawere Opoku was one of the canons in the Institute of African Studies (IAS) of the University of Ghana and instrumental in the formation of its School of Music and Dance in 1962. For more than three decades Opoku dedicated both his private and social life to teaching and researching dance in the university. This is not surprising when the very night he passed away; it was reported that the professor had been dancing earlier in the day. His strong background as a dancer was because he hails from a ―family of dancers‖. However, Opoku was a professional artist before he entered the field of dance and had been teaching art and painting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST). The traditional dance for many years prior to its introduction to the university was mainly seen and performed in village squares, lorry parks and market places or any open space within the society or the community. The performance in the communities involved a lot of performers and also audiences who could join the performance if they so wished. In Adinku‘s 2002 article in the ―Dance Chronicle‖, he states that ―role playing is very easy to practice within the traditional system. One seldom finds a performer exhibiting one particular role, rather due to the interrelations between music and dance, one finds that the dancer is also a music–maker‖. It is therefore very easy to see a musician changing roles to become a dancer, while an audience or an onlooker can easily become a musician or a dancer.
An Analysis of Kwame Gyekye’s Conception of ‘Sunsum’ in Akan Philosophy
(Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana, 2017) Majeed, H.M.
The concept of sunsum has been a subject of disagreement among Akan philosophers. Gyekye criticizes the views of Akan writers such as Kofi Busia, Joseph Danquah and Kwasi Wiredu despite his acceptance of their position that sunsum is the basis of an individual’s personality. This paper examines Gyekye’s critique of these authors (especially Busia) and shows how Gyekye’s arguments are not only sometimes inaccurate, but also how they do generate a major problem of attribution that hampers a good understanding of his thesis.
Application of the Hypergeometric Model in Electoral Disputes Settlement
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2016) Somaayin, N.H.; Tibie, K.; Doku-Amponsah, K.
Judges or members of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of many less developed democracies are often faced with reviewing electoral complaints and coming out with a decision that is acceptable to all parties involved. Some judges have ruled for complete cancellation of all votes in the affected polling stations. Where the electoral irregularities are widespread, it is very difficult to declare a winner without incurring the additional cost of a re-run. In this article, we use the hypergeometric model to provide an alternative method to direct cancellation or proportional deduction approach used by many EMBs in the settlement of electoral disputes. To be specific, we provide a bound on the margin of victory when either a re-run or fresh election is not necessary to determine the winner of the polls, i.e., the non-overturn condition. We use this method to investigate whether or not the decision by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to declare the NDC candidate the winner of the presidential run-off of 2008 is statistically correct given the data available to the Commission on the day to declare the winner. Using this approach in the review of electoral complaints could help developing nations to save some money for development that would otherwise have been spent on election re-runs
Archaeological Indications of Past Lifeways on the Krobo Mountain, Ghana
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2008) Gblerkpor, W.N.
Data from a recent archaeological survey and excavations conducted on the Krobo Mountain confirm claims that the settlement was the main religious and political centre for the Krobo people of south-eastern Ghana. Despite the physical separation of the settlement into Yilo and Manya sections, there is a remarkable similarity in the cultural landscape of the two groups. The ruins of shrines, houses, palaces, as well as the advanced nature of the set-tlement pattern suggest that the communities had attained a high level of socio-cultural and landscape development before their expulsion in 1892. The typical association of schnapps bottles, with palm-wine tap-ping/storage vessels, mumui indicates the twin utility of imported and local liquor during traditional rites and festivals in the past. The identification of iron anklets and bells, cowries, and glass beads in contexts similar to those found in communities in present-day Krobo suggests retention of some as-pects of ancient customs and religious rites
Archaeological Perspectives of the Danish-Dangbe Encounter along the Eastern Coastal Belt of Ghana and their Implications for Understanding Dangbe Culture
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2016-06) Biveridge, F.
This research presents results of historical archaeological investigations undertaken along the eastern coastal belt of Ghana on how the Danish- Dangbe encounter which spanned circa, 1650–1800, shaped the socioeconomic history of the indigenous Dangbe who occupied the area. Data for the study was derived primarily from archaeological, historical and ethno-historical investigations conducted at Kpone, Prampram, Sega and Ningo. The study revealed that European cuisines, dress codes, weaponry and architecture constituted some major material culture embraced by the ancestors of the Dangbe. The large quantum and wide array of European trade goods recovered from the excavations is also evident of the importance of commercial relations that developed between the two groups during the period
Are the poor getting worse off? A decomposition of inequality in under-five malnutrition over time and space in Ghana
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2018-12) Abekah-Nkrumah, G.
The study used two rounds of Demographic and Health Survey data from Ghana (2003 and 2014) to estimate levels and changes in inequality in under-five malnutrition, and examine factors that explain levels and changes in inequality. The results suggest that though under-five malnutrition reduced by 24%, with household assets (household wealth) increasing by over 200% between 2003 and 2014, inequality in under-five malnutrition increased by 19.2%. Consistent with prior studies, the results also suggest that socioeconomic welfare, regional-related resource disparities, women and their partners’ education, household size and access to and availability of health services are key factors explaining the levels and changes in under-five malnutrition inequality over time, both at the national and sub-national levels. The study suggests the need for policy on inclusive cross-sectoral interventions that can lead to fairer distribution of opportunities and consequently access to social services in other to reduce inequality in under-five malnutrition. In this regard, existing social protection programmes in Ghana that have implications for the nutrition of children (e.g. LEAP, School Feeding Programme, National Health Insurance) should be tweaked to target poorer households for the purposes of reducing inequality in under-five malnutrition
Assessing the Image of Female Gender as Characters in Nollywood Video Films
(School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon,, 2015) Nwabuzor, M. N.
The study assesses the image of the female gender as characters in Nollywood home video films. Nollywood is chosen for investigation because it is currently the second largest producer after Bollywood and above Hollywood in the global film industry rating. The study is conducted in Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria. The city is conducive for the investigation because it is a vibrant centre of culture and film production. Using the content analysis design as methodology, scenes from twenty (20) home video films are purposively sampled to test the four generic frames – dressing, source of sustenance, purpose and occupation - constructed as basis for assessing how the image of the female gender is portrayed in Nollywood productions. Content analysis is appropriate as design because the objective is to investigate the manifest content of media messages. Holsti’s Inter Coder Reliability Formula is used to ascertain inter coder reliability, while the Chi-square goodness of fit is calculated with the aid of SPSS 16.0. Findings reveal that in 74.6% of the scenes x-rayed, the female gender is presented as characters dressed indecently or in semi-nude appearances. Other findings reveal that 90.1% of the scenes present the female gender as characters dependent on the male gender for survival and consequently stereotyped as pleasers of men (85.4%). A final finding reveal that in 90.1% of scenes x-rayed, the female gender is portrayed in domestic worker roles. The study recommends, among others, that regulatory agencies should provide effective policy guidelines for movie producers in respect of storyline, plot construction, characterization and thematic content. In this way the dignity of womanhood and the image of the female gender can be promoted, while at the same time projecting Nigerian and indeed African tradition and cultural values.
Attainment of the Millennium Development Goal of Poverty Reduction in Nigeria - An Appraisal
(Ghana Social Science Journal, 2016-06) Emediegwu, L.E.; Monye-Emina, A.
Fifteen years ago, the largest-ever gathering of heads of State and Government, under the aegis of the United Nations (UN), adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of the fundamental objectives of the MDGs is to free countries, especially developing countries, from the poverty trap. Despite the enormous resources and efforts expended by the Nigerian government for the purpose of achieving the MDG1 of halving the proportion of poor persons by 2015, statistics show that no progress has been made. The authors use descriptive analysis to examine how and why Nigeria has been unable to achieve this fundamental goal of poverty eradication. This challenge is connected with the uncoordinated policy actions in areas that MDGs aim to address as well as the problems of poverty, corruption, and focus on election issues etc. The paper recommends that the country will attain the goal of poverty reduction if the government develops and implements pro-people poverty reduction programmes and policies.
Attitudes of Educated Yoruba Bilinguals to Codeswitching
(Legon Journal of the Humanities, University of Ghana, 2011) Akande, A.T.; Akinwale, O.T.
This paper investigates the attitudes of some university and tertiary institution students to codeswitching. Respondents were drawn from four tertiary institutions located in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to the informants whose ages ranged between sixteen and fifty-five years. The social variables tested included qualifications/programmes and schools. The study revealed that the overall attitude of Nigerian students to codeswitching is largely positive. It also showed, among other things, that students on degree programmes are more positively inclined to use codeswitching than those on other programmes.
Automatic Satellite Dish Positioning for Line of Sight Communication using Bluetooth Technology
(Science and Development (A Journal of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS), University of Ghana), 2017-12) Sowah, R.A.; Mills, G.A.; Nortey, J.Y.; Armoo, S.K.; Fiawoo, S.Y.
Satellite dishes are used to receive beams of signals from satellites and other broadcasting sources which are then focused onto an antenna. The dish needs to be adjusted to get the desired azimuth and elevation for maximum signal reception. To overcome the difficulty of adjusting it manually, it would be beneficial to have a system that aligns the satellite receiver by mechanical means while allowing the user to interact with the system remotely to achieve a line of sight communication with the satellite source of interest. This paper proposes the design and development of a system which receives user specifications from an Android application via Bluetooth by either specifying the direction of orientation of the dish or selecting a satellite of interest. A control system interacting with the developed user interface achieves this. It employs a microcontroller, a GPS device, a compass and two servo motors to manage the orientation of the dish on its horizontal and vertical axes. The Smartphone utilizes its Bluetooth socket to communicate with the Bluetooth module interfaced to the microcontroller. A database containing information on available satellites is included in the Android application which is transferred to the microcontroller for computation of azimuth and elevation angles when the GPS coordinates and compass headings are obtained from their respective devices. Tests carried out showed positive results for control of the orientation of the satellite dish in various directions over a 50m radius. The automatic adjustment functionality provided precise direction for line of sight communication when users chose their satellite of focus.
‘Back-to-Africa’, ‘Double Consciousness’ and the African Diaspora: Confronting the Myth and the Reality in Ghanaian Fiction
(Legon Journal of the Humanities, University of Ghana, 2012) Adjei, M.
One of the most persistent debates about Black consciousness and Pan-Africanism has been on the attitudes of diasporans to Africa and of Africans to (returning) diasporans. This article critically examines the issue of the eternal connections between the continent of Africa and people of African descent in three Ghanaian works of fiction—Kofi Awoonor’s Comes the Voyager at Last, David Oddoye’s The Return and Ayi Kwei Armah’s Osiris Rising—and comes to the conclusion that the (re)connection between continental Africa and the African Diaspora is beset and mediated by formidable geo-political, cultural and historical barriers and, therefore, still in a state of flux.