Research Articles
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A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The faculty publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community
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Item “After Cutting It, Things Have Never Remained the Same”: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Amputees and Their Caregivers.(Health Expectations, 2024-12-27) Yendork, J.S.; Ohenewa, E.; Amponsah, B.; et al.Introduction: Physical and emotional loss from amputation and associated physical disability are associated with adverse physical and psychological experiences. However, little research, within the Ghanaian context, has focused on the impact of amputation on the well‐being of amputees and their caregivers and the coping strategies they use to mitigate challenges experienced. Therefore, the present study explored the impact of amputation on the well‐being of amputees and caregivers, and the coping strategies they employ to manage distress associated with amputation and caregiving. Methods: The aim of this present study was explored using a qualitative descriptive design. Twenty (20) participants (comprising 10 amputees and 10 caregivers) responded to a semi‐structured interview guide. Results: Findings show that whereas amputees experienced phantom limb sensation and loss of job, caregivers reported economic hardship and fear. Though stress was a common experience, the source of stress was different for amputees and caregivers. Regarding coping, whereas amputees used social distancing, social reference and social support to cope with their traumatic ordeal, caregivers simply coped by encouraging themselves. Both amputees and caregivers used religious coping. Conclusion: Amputees and their caregivers experience varied stressors yet whereas the amputees get the needed support to deal with their predicament, caregivers lack adequate support. Patient or Public Contribution: The findings underscore the need for diverse support systems and psychoeducation on adaptive coping strategies for amputees and caregivers.Item Examining The Risk Mitigation Strategies Of Farm Households In Ghana: The Role Of Community Water Resources.(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-12-31) Martey, E.; Asante-Addo, C.; Suraj, M.M.; et alAgricultural water is indispensable for fostering resilient and sustainable agricultural practices. However, empirical evidence regarding the relationship between community water resources (CWR) and risk mitigation behaviours among farm households remains scant. Utilising nationally-representative household survey data and geospatial information on household locations, we investigate how access to CWR influences crop diversification and sharecropping. By employing instrumental variable techniques and conducting various robustness checks to address potential endogeneity concerns, our results consistently show that communities with access to water resources experience greater crop diversification and reduced sharecropping compared to those with limited access. This effect is particularly pronounced among male-headed, youth-headed, and smallholder farm households in the northern zone. While CWR may not be the sole determinant of crop diversification and sharecropping, it plays a significant role in shaping adaptive strategies amid drought challenges. Moreover, we identify committed time as a critical mechanism through which CWR influences these outcomes. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to allocate resources effectively, especially for vulnerable populations, in enhancing resilience to climate change-induced water scarcity.Item Ghana Needs a Comprehensive Blueprint for Pandemic Management.(Texila International Journal of Public Health, 2024-12-10) N’Guessan, B.B.; Wutor, V.C.This major study aimed to determine Ghanaian physicians, pharmacists, and nurses' knowledge, perception, and preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19. The cross-sectional study, comprising 55 questions about COVID-19 knowledge, 29 about perception, and 21 about preparedness, was conducted between May and July 2023. The questionnaire was distributed through various social media platforms, ensuring a national reach. Participation from all 16 regions of Ghana was recorded for all three professionals. The inclusion criteria, a key aspect, are based on the healthcare professionals directly linked with hospitals and facilities who had direct contact with patients. Three thousand three hundred and twenty-three healthcare professionals responded to the survey, giving a 97% response rate. Seven hundred seventy-seven physicians, 1199 pharmacists, and 1347 nurses responded to the study, showcasing the extensive expertise of Ghanaian healthcare professionals. The findings reveal that Ghanaian physicians ranked high regarding their knowledge of COVID-19. Our study further shows that 98% of the pharmacist participants provided positive feedback about knowledge-related questions and an adequate understanding of attitudes toward coronavirus symptoms, transmission, disease severity, and preventive measures. The study also reveals that Ghanaian nurses were knowledgeable, had a good perception, and were prepared for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19. However, the study also highlights a concerning trend where the level of preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID 19 was low in all instances. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical role of knowledge in shaping the actions of Ghanaian healthcare professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic threats. It also emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive blueprint for pandemic management in Ghana to address this gap.Item An Institute of Residual Studies? Nkrumah and the “Afroepistemic” Origins of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana(Cambridge University Press, 2024-12-21) Adotey, E.This paper examines the development of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies (IAS), arguing that the landscape of decolonial epistemology is more complex than is often assumed. Drawing on new archival documents it maps out the different landscape of ideas regarding its decolonial origins — phase one (1948–50), phase two (1954–61), and phase three (1960–63) — not only to elucidate problems of defining what decolonial work should entail but also as a historical study of how people associated with the IAS contributed to defining and activating a decolonial project. It shows Nkrumah’s specific instrumentality to its emergence through an African-centred or “Afroepistemic” approach to African Studies. It also highlights how the decolonial imperative was shaped by different historical moments.Item A Bioactive Fraction From The Leaves Of Ceiba Pentandra (L.) Gaertn. Exhibits Antiproliferative Activity Via Cell Cycle Arrest At The G1/S Checkpoint And Initiation Of Apoptosis Via Poly [ADP-Ribose] Polymerase 1 (PARP1) Cleavage In Hela Cells.(Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025-01-13) Addy, B.S.; Nyarko, E.N.Y.; Firempong, C.K.Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Malvaceae) has been used in Africa traditionally to manage a variety of illnesses, including cancer. The hydroethanolic extract of the leaves of C. pentandra has been shown to possess antiproliferative activity. However, the fractionation of antiproliferative bioactive constituents from the leaves of C. pentandra and the determination of the mechanisms of action of such bioactive constituents remain unexplored. Aim of the study: This work sought to fractionate the extract of C. pentandra leaves, establish the antiproliferative activity of the fractionated constituents, and determine the active constituents’ possible mechanisms of action. Material and methods: Chromatographic techniques were used to fractionate bioactive constituents from C. pentandra leaves. The fractionated constituents were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against four cancer cell lines (viz hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, cervical carcinoma, and mammary adenocarcinoma) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT)-based assay. The possible mechanisms of action of the active constituent, Fraction A (IsoA), were also determined via western blot analysis. Results: Six constituents were fractionated from the leaves of C. pentandra. Among the six constituents, IsoA stood out for its remarkable antiproliferative activity across the four cancer cell lines, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells being the most affected. With half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 6.4 ±1.2 μg/mL to 19.2±3.4 μg/mL, IsoA demonstrated great potential in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Notably, IsoA’s mechanisms of action involve critical molecular targets associated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. It significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2 pTyr15), a key regulator of cell cycle arrest, and cleaved poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1), a hallmark of apoptosis initiation. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of IsoA in cancer treatment. Conclusions: IsoA demonstrated highly promising in vitro antiproliferative activity by effectively arresting the cell cycle at the G1/S checkpoint, halting cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, IsoA induced programmed cell death (apoptosis) through mechanisms such as PARP1 cleavage, highlighting its potential as a candidate for cancer therapy.Item Firsthand Report On Solid Waste Management Practice In The Major Town Of Addis Ababa-Adama Economic Corridor, Ethiopia.(Elsevier Inc., 2025-01-03) Kassahun, S.K.; Oteng-Ababio. M.; et alRapid population growth and economic development in Ethiopia have led to increased solid waste generation due to heightened consumption and a throwaway mentality. This has resulted in overcrowding, informal settlements, poor waste management, public health concerns, and envi ronmental issues. Collecting accurate data on solid waste generation and composition in Ethiopia is challenging because of its limited scope and inconsistencies across the country. This assessment focuses on evaluating solid waste generation and composition in households, commercial es tablishments, and institutions located in the Addis Ababa-Adama corridor in the Oromia province. The research adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data the solid waste generation rates and composition from major sectors such as households, institutions, and commercial activities. The average generation rates of solid waste per household in the three towns were estimated to be 0.21 ± 0.10, 0.31 ± 0.19, and 0.19 ± 0.13 kg/day/person for Dukem, Bishoftu, and Mojo, respectively. Individuals with higher income levels produced higher amounts of solid waste per person. The average daily waste generation rate in the commercial sector was estimated to be 4.97 kg/day for Dukem, 38.34 kg/day for Bishoftu, and 3.29 kg/day for Mojo. Waste composition analyses revealed that the majority of waste generated was organic waste, with 65 %–69.5 %. A high fraction of organics in municipal solid waste (MSW) offers several advantages, including the production of biogas and compost. Small and medium enterprises are primarily responsible for waste collection, with collection efficiencies estimated at 70 %, 46 %, and 63.2 % for Bishoftu, Dukem, and Mojo, respectively. Uncollected waste ends up in open dumps or is burned.Item New Information And Communication Technologies For Climate Services: Evidence From Farmers In Ada East District, Ghana.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-31) Sarku, R.; Addi, F.; Attoh, M.N.A.N.E.How people respond to climate information service (CIS) depends on how information is designed and communicated. While the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has improved the delivery of CIS, there are persistent usability challenges, especially among smallholder farmers. This study examined the usability of new ICTs in delivering CIS for farming in Ada East District, Ghana. The research addressed the question, how do smallholder farmers respond to CIS delivered through new ICTs, and what are the usability challenges of these technologies. Using data from document reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions, findings show that farmers predominantly rely on local or indigenous knowledge and traditional ICTs like radio and television for CIS, 7 New ICTs including: Website on weather information, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS), Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps were identified, providing daily, weekly and seasonal forecasts outlooks. However, the utilisation of these new ICTs is relatively limited. Only a few farmers were aware of the delivery of CIS through these new ICTs. Farmers with smartphones are mainly those who access daily and seasonal forecast outlooks using new ICTs, while face-to-face interactions remain the common mode for disseminating information among farmers. Although new ICTs offer forecasts, usability is influenced by the relevance and comprehension of the content, location success and time, typography, symbols and graphics, language clarity, feedback and interactivity and ability to use the new ICT tools. The findings of the study have implications for CIS developers and providers to incorporate design principles such as revision of text structure, font style and size, symbols, wording pattern and word counts. It shed light on the evolving landscape of CIS delivery in farming communities, where traditional methods coexist with emerging digital platforms and provided knowledge on the need to raise awareness on the use of new ICTs with CIS among farmers. Practical Implications of the research for policy makers and practitioners: The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Climate Information Services (CIS) offers a transformative approach to agricultural decision-making for farmers. This research identifies various new ICT platforms including Websites, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS, Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps, as key tools for delivering weather and climate forecasts to farmers. The findings have crucial implications for policymakers, businesses, and agricultural extension services, emphasising the role of ICTs in enhancing access to vital climate information for improved farming practices. Implications for Policy Makers: Policymakers should work towards standardising content and delivery methods of CIS across various ICT platforms to ensure consistency and reliability. This includes setting guidelines for accuracy, clarity, and comprehensibility of weather information. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks should be established to monitor and evaluate the performance of new ICT-based CIS providers, ensuring they meet the required standards and addressing issues of misinformation. Policies should encourage the development of user-friendly ICT platforms that cater to the diverse needs of farmers. This involves promoting the design of intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate and available in local languages. Policy support for user-centred design can enhance the effectiveness of ICT-based CIS by making them more accessible and practical for end-users. Enabling feedback mechanisms within new ICT-based CIS can enhance their relevance and usability. Policy initiatives should support integrating interactive features in CIS platforms that allow farmers to provide feedback, ask questions, and seek clarifications. This could involve the development of mobile apps or platforms where farmers can communicate directly with meteorologists or agricultural experts. The varied use of platforms such as websites, social media, and mobile apps allows for tailored dissemination of CIS to different segments of the farming population. Policy interventions should ensure equitable access to these technologies across all regions, especially targeting under-served and rural areas. This could involve subsidising data costs or providing ICT training to farmers to bridge the digital divide. Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support the effective delivery of CIS. This includes enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas, promoting the adoption of smartphones, and improving mobile network coverage. Such infrastructural developments will facilitate farmers’ access to real-time weather updates and ensure the sustainability of new ICT-based CIS. Implications for Businesses: The emergence of new ICT-based CIS presents significant business opportunities for ICT, telecommunications, and software development companies. Businesses can innovate by developing and marketing new applications, platforms, and services tailored to the needs of farmers. For instance, creating localised weather apps or integrating CIS with agricultural management systems can provide value-added services to the farming community. Businesses can explore partnerships with CIS providers to sponsor or subsidise the delivery of weather information services to farmers. This can enhance brand visibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR) while supporting the agricultural sector. For instance, telecommunications companies can offer discounted data plans for accessing CIS or collaborate with the Ghana Meteorological Agency to disseminate free weather updates via short message service (SMS). The adoption of new ICTs in agriculture opens up new markets for businesses. Companies can target rural and farming communities with customised products and services such as affordable smartphones, data plans, or specialised apps for agricultural purposes. Market research and segmentation strategies can help businesses identify and cater to the specific needs of different farming segments. Implications for Agricultural Extension Services: Agricultural extension services should focus on training and capacity building to help farmers effectively use new ICTs to access CIS. This includes training sessions, workshops, and tutorials on using smartphones, navigating websites, subscribing to SMS services, and understanding weather forecasts. Building farmers’ digital literacy is crucial for maximising the benefits of ICT-based CIS. Agricultural extension services can modernise their practices by integrating new ICT-based CIS into their outreach programs. Extension agents can use mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms to disseminate weather information, offer real-time advice, and engage with farmers more effectively. This approach can enhance the reach and impact of extension services, making them more responsive to the needs of farmers. To enhance the usability of CIS, agricultural extension services should ensure that weather information is localised and presented in a context relevant to farmers. This involves translating weather updates into local languages, using culturally appropriate symbols, and providing practical advice that farmers can apply directly to their agricultural activities. Agriculture extension services can facilitate the formation of community networks or groups that share weather information and CIS updates via ICT platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook. These networks can serve as support systems where farmers exchange information, share experiences, and discuss the implications of weather fore casts on their farming practices. Establishing a feedback loop is essential for the continuous improvement of new ICT-based CIS. Extension agents can collect feedback from farmers on the usability, accuracy, and relevance of the information provided through various ICT platforms. This feedback can be used to refine and enhance CIS, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of the farming community. Conclusion: By recognising and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented in our research findings, stakeholders can enhance the accessibility, usability, and impact of weather information on farming practices. Together, these efforts can contribute to a more resilient and informed agricultural sector that is better equipped to navigate the complexities of climate variability and change.Item Does Free Secondary Education Mitigate The Impact Of Teen Births On Educational Outcomes? Evidence From Ghana.(Elsevier Ltd., 2025-01-24) Tabiri, K.G.; Novignon, J.; Atakorah, Y.B.; et al.Teenage pregnancy and early childbirth have potential implications for human capital development that can transcend the teen mothers to their children. Using data from the latest demographic and health survey data from Ghana, this study set out to understand how teen births affect the educational attainment of the mother, and how a policy that reduces the financial cost of senior high school education could moderate this effect. We used instrumental variables to account for endogeneity of teen births. Our results show that teen birth has a negative impact on the educational attainment of the mother. Furthermore, a program that reduced the financial cost of senior secondary education helped attenuate this negative impact for girls in urban areas but had no such effect for girls in rural areas. Our findings emphasize the need to intensify efforts to provide support systems for teen mothers that will enable their reintegration into school after childbirth. They also point out the importance of targeting such interventions to ensure that they address groups of people with peculiar challenges including relatively poor infrastructure, economic conditions and cultural practices/beliefs that facilitate risky sexual behavior.Item How Lifelong Learning Shapes The Professional Development Of Staff In Higher Education Institutions.(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2024-06-13) Owusu-Agyeman, Y.Purpose – As universities find new ways to implement professional development programmes (PDPs), very few scholarly studies have focused on how lifelong learning could serve as a tool to enhance the professional development of staff. To address this knowledge gap, this study aims to examine how the integration of lifelong learning modes into PDPs in a university setting in South Africa could enable professional staff to advance their knowledge and skills. Additionally, the study explores how the different PDPs could be conceptualised by way of lifelong learning to enhance the professional knowledge and competences of staff. Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered from 41 professional staff in three campuses of the university. The narrative data gathered were evaluated using thematic analysis that consisted of a detailed process of identifying, analysing, organising, describing and reporting the themes that were generated from the data. Findings – Findings suggest that when the university integrates lifelong learning approaches into its professional development programmes, it allows staff to develop their knowledge and skills through diverse learning approaches. When institutions adopt these diverse learning approaches, it enable staff to situate their learning needs along the different lifelong learning modes, negotiate suitable learning modes and flexible schedules with their heads of department, and learn the accepted norms and values of the university. These findings among others lead to further questions about how PDPs could be designed using the three lifelong learning modes to enable staff to prepare adequately for the future of work in higher education. Originality/value – This study contributes to the scholarly discourse on lifelong learning by showing how higher education institutions could design PDPs along formal, informal and non-formal learning approaches to enhance the knowledge and skills of staff.Item Halloysite Nanotubes As Delivery Mechanism For Feather Protein-Based Multi-Surfactant Systems In Crude Oil Dispersion Application.(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-01-16) Nyankson, E.; Agyei-Tuffour, B.; Adofo, Y.K.; et al.Chicken feather protein (CFP), and lecithin (L), Tween 80 (T), and DOSS (D) surfactant systems were loaded onto halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), a natural clay aluminosilicate product to form particulate dispersants at different surfactant concentrations and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDS. For 24 wt% surfactants concentrations loaded HNTs; 100 wt%CFP-HNTs, 60 wt%CFP- 40 wt%L-HNTs, 20 wt%CFP- 80 wt%T-HNTs, 50 wt%CFP- 25 wt%T-25 wt%L-HNTs and 25 wt %CFP- 25 wt%T-50 wt%D-HNTs showed good interfacial tension lowering abilities by recording 6.39, 2.82, 2.43, 1.68, and 1.55 mN/m at 60s respectively. The CFP-based surfactant HNTs dispersants formed very stable o/w emulsions against droplet coalescence and showed an increase in interfacial viscosity which contributed to the stability of their respective o/w emul sions. In this study, the US EPA’s baffled flask test was deployed to probe the prospects of the CFP based surfactants-HNTs dispersants in crude oil dispersion at different surfactant concentrations. 100 wt%CFP-HNTs, 60 wt %CFP- 40 wt %L-HNTs, 20 wt %CFP- 80 wt %T-HNTs, 50 wt %CFP- 25 wt%T-25 wt%L-HNTs and 25 wt%CFP- 25 wt%T-50 wt%D-HNTs recorded dispersion effective ness of 33.9, 74.8, 65.4, 78.6 and 88.2 vol% respectively at 24 wt% surfactant concentration. It can be deduced that an increase in the surfactant concentrations loaded onto HNTs improved the dispersion effectiveness of the produced particulate dispersants. Largely, the 24 wt% CFP-based surfactant-HNTs dispersants showed considerable promise in crude oil dispersion in seawater.