Theses
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A long essay or dissertation or thesis involving personal research, written by postgraduates of University of Ghana for a university degree.
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Item Implementation of a project-based comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire: Key lessons(African Evaluation Journal, 2019) Chachu, D.O.Background: The quest for an appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) design that delivers accountability, supports management and facilitates learning is one that many organisations grapple with. Over the years, experiences in project and/or programme development and delivery led the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour of the International Labour Organization (ILO-IPEC) to consolidate M&E efforts towards the development of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy. Objectives: This article aims to present lessons from the design and implementation of a theory of change-driven comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy in a child labour project rolled out in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The 5-year project was implemented during 2011–2015 by ILO-IPEC with support from the United States Department of Labour (USDOL). Methods: This article critically analyses project documents (including evaluations) and captures the reflections and experiences of key project staff involved in the project. Results: Timeless lessons are distilled, along with key phases of the project cycle. Critical markers include the importance of stakeholders’ involvement in the design and development of a M&E strategy as a pre-requisite for buy-in and uptake. We find capacity building not just as a box to be ticked but an iterative process to improve knowledge, transfer skills and support learning. In addition to paying attention to technical elements, the soft issues of patience, flexibility and simplicity are discussed as invaluable ingredients for realising M&E goals. Conclusion: While not exhaustive, it is hoped that these lessons would contribute to a minimum set of guidelines for improving M&E practice within projects and programmes.Item Moderate Communitarianism And The Idea Of Political Morality In African Democratic Practice(Diametros, 2018) Majeed, H.M.This paper explores how moderate communitarianism could bring about a greater sense of political morality in the practice of democracy in contemporary Africa. Moderate communitarian nism is a thesis traceable to Kwame Gyekye, the Akan philosopher. This thesis is a moderation of the influence of the community in the Akan, an African social structure. In ensuring good political morality in the Akan, and therefore the African community, Gyekye proposes moral revolution over the enforcement of the law. I perform two main tasks in this article: (i) I reinforce the view that in a democratic framework (such as the framework within which many African states now find themselves), moderate communitarianism offers lessons on political morality, and (ii) I challenge the notion that moral revolution has greater prospects for bringing about political morality than law enforcement.Item The physico-mechanical influence of dehydroxylized activated local kaolin: A supplementary cementitious material for construction applications(Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2019) Marfo, K.K.; Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Agyei-Tuffou, B.; et al.This work presents the effect of partially replacing metakaolin with Portland limestone cement to produce mortars for construction. Teleku Bokazo kaolin was explored as an SCM for the production of mortars. The hydration product between Portland limestone and metakaolin was studied. The kaolin was heat treated to form metakaolin and partially used to replace Portland limestone cement (PLC) in mortars to explore the optimum replacement and its mechanical and durability effect. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phases and crystallinity of the kaolin. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) gave information on the functional groups formed during the hydration and structure and surface morphology respectively. The pastes and mortars produced were subjected to setting time, water absorption, flexure, and compression strength tests. The mechanical properties were observed to increase with increasing metakaolin replacements. Therefore, from the results obtained, it is suggested that a 20 % replacement of Portland limestone cement with Teleku Bokazzo metakaolin can be very suitable for construction applications.Item Synthesis andApplication of Fe-Doped TiO2-Halloysite Nanotubes Composite and Their Potential Application in Water Treatment(Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2019) Nyankson, E.; Agyei-Tuffour, B.; Adjasoo, J.; et al.In this work, the potential application of TiO2-Fe-HNT photocatalyst-adsorbent composite in water treatment technologies was confirmed. ,e photocatalyst-adsorbent composite (TiO2-Fe-HNTs) was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron mi croscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. ,e adsorption and photocatalysis mechanism by the TiO2-Fe-HNT composite were examined on methylene blue dye, rhodamine blue dye, naproxen sodium (pharmaceutical drug waste), and imidacloprid (pesticide). ,e TiO2-Fe-HNT composite was active in UV and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. ,e adsorption and photocatalytic efficiency increased with increasing amounts of HNTs. ,e photocatalyst-adsorbent composite exhibited excellent removal efficiency for pharmaceutical waste (naproxen sodium) and pesticides (imidacloprid). An adsorption equilibrium data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetics for both methylene blue and rhodamine blue dyes with the intraparticle model describing its rate-controlling steps. ,e Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models further described the adsorption of methylene blue and rhodamine blue molecules, respectively.Item Effects of Purity on the Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Polymer Nanocomposites(British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 2013) Yaya, A.; Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Onwona-Agyeman, B.; et al.This study investigated the superior mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and its polymer nanocomposites using 0.5% and 1% loading of raw and purified SWCNTs in an epoxy matrix and the degree of dispersion. The extent of load transfer between the nanotubes and the matrix was studied by analyzing the second order G’-band ( 2550 cm-1) of Raman Spectroscopy. The samples have been characterized by structural (Raman spectroscopy), mechanical (tensile test), physical, and microstructural (SEM) point of view. Purified SWCNTs give a better-reinforcing potential compared to raw SWCNTs. We found an increase in Young’s Modulus (3780 MPa-4263 MPa) and toughness (62 MPa-68.8 MPa) for the nanocomposites prepared from purified SWCNTs.Item Fabrication and Characterisation of Ghanaian Bauxite Red Mud-Clay Composite Bricks for Construction Applications(American Journal of Materials Science, 2013) Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Konadu, D.S.; Annan, E.; et al.The behavior of Ghanaian-based bauxite red mud-Tetegbu clay composites has been investigated for their applicability in the ceramic brick construction industry as a means of recycling bauxite waste. The initial raw samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (Tg-DTA). The red mud-clay composites have been formulated as 80%-20%, 70%-30%, 60%-40%, 50%-50% and fired at sintering temperatures of 800ºC, 900ºC and 1100ºC. Generally, mechanical strengths (modulus of rupture) increased with higher sintering temperatures. The results obtained for various characterization analyses such as bulk densities of 1.59 g/cm3 and 1.51 g/cm3 compare very well with literature and hold potential in bauxite residue eco-friendly application for low-cost recyclable constructional materials.Item Comparison Of Stochastic Frontier Approaches For Estimating National Efficiency: An Application To Sub-Saharan African Countries(Journal Of Economic Development, 2018) Danquah, M.; Ouattara, B.In this paper, we attempt to estimate pure national (technical) efficiency for 19 SSA countries over the 1960-2010 period. In doing this, we compare conventional stochastic frontier models for panel data with several recently developed models that seek to control for unobserved heterogeneity in the inefficiency component. We find that the ‘true’ random effects model that treats unobserved heterogeneity in our national dataset generates more reasonable efficiency estimates. Moreover, the results confirm that most SSA countries operate far from the efficient frontier.Item Deliberation for Development: Ghana ’s First Deliberative Poll(Journal of Deliberative Democracy, 2019) Chirawurah, D.; Bawah, A.; Fishkin, J.; et al.This article poses the problem of public consultation in developing countries and applies a solution in Ghana as a test case. It describes the theoretical rationale for deliberative consultation with random samples, describes specific criteria for success, and then assesses an application under the challenging conditions of a developing country. It builds on notions of “deliberative democracy,” and shows how they can be practically realized in an African context through “Deliberative Polling” (DP). The challenge is that the context is one of the poorest parts of one of the poorest countries in Africa. Rather than consulting just stakeholders, or self-selected populations, or using conventional surveys, DP’s have the advantage of consulting random samples with deliberation in depth in confidential surveys so that the opinion changes can be evaluated at the individual level, free of social pressures for consensus. Is this practical in this context? A DP was conducted in Tamale, Ghana on issues of water, sanitation, hygiene, and food security. Criteria for success for DPs that have been applied in highly developed countries are discussed and then applied in Ghana under challenging conditions.Item Assessing Quality Assurance Practices in Institutions of Higher Learnings(International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 2019) Dei, D.G.J.In the effort to globalize higher education services and embark on innovative knowledge production and dissemination aimed at fitting into the global scheme, quality assurance becomes the sine qua non. Quality assurance (QA) provides the tools and direction to improve the quality of knowledge created, stored, and shared at institutions of higher learning. This study assesses the development and practice of QA in institutions of higher learning (IHLs) in Ghana. The mixed research method was used to collect data from staff and officers of institutions of higher learning who are directly involved in ensuring quality in the institutions. Six (6) IHLs participated in this study. The results indicated a generally higher degree of awareness and understanding of the concept of QA at the institutions as all of them have a QA department. The institutions are putting in more effort to ensure quality by carrying out internal assessments as there are available policies and strategies aimed at ensuring quality at the institutions. This led to high service quality at the institutions except for the College of Health. Besides, the focused areas quality at the institutions: stated vision, mission; governance structure; statutes and conditions of service; academic and programs; clean and siren environment; staffing; and library, technology, and information services. Despite these, the study established that the quality assurance units of the institutions lacked the necessary resources (technology, library, staff, laboratories, etc) for effective quality assurance activities.Item Women, Metaphors and the Legitimisation of Gender Bias in Spanish Proverbs(Journal of International Women's Studies, 2019) Lomotey, B.A.This paper aims to analyze the role of proverbs in the sustenance of gender violence within the Spanish context. As demonstrated by feminist linguistic activities, one of the avenues through which the status quo of both men and women is enacted and sustained is through language. However, given the complex nature of the relationship between gender and language, speakers often overlook the role of discourse on gender relations. The author investigates this interconnection using a multidimensional approach which includes insights from Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) theory of metaphor and Austin’s (1965) Speech Act theory. This study confirms that quite several Spanish proverbs contain violent metaphors that can unconsciously shape speakers’ perceptions and actions. Misogynous ideologies in Spanish proverbs should therefore continue to be exposed, criticized, and eliminated through conscientization to sustain the campaign for gender equality.