Welcome to UGSpace
UGSpace is the institutional repository of the University of Ghana. UGSpace is an open access electronic archive for the collection, preservation and distribution of digital materials.
- facilitate the deposit of digital content of a scholarly or heritage nature
- and ultimately share, preserve and promote the intellectual output of the University in a managed environment.
Communities in UGSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
- Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.
- Grey literature consists of research and information produced outside conventional publishing channels, such as reports, policy briefs, working papers, and conference materials. It offers valuable insights and data that complement peer-reviewed sources, supporting research, policy, and practice.
- The J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives preserve Ghanaian and African cultural heritage through music, oral traditions, photographs, and audiovisual collections. Guided by Professor Nketia’s vision that African traditional arts must be collected, preserved, practiced, and continually inspire creative expression, the Archives serve as a living resource for scholarship, teaching, and innovation
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »
Recent Submissions
Does The Environmental Phillips Curve Hypothesis Hold Within The Ghanaian Context?
(Scientific African, 2024-09-19) Addison, R.; Akutcha, E.; Debrah, G.
This study examines the relationship between environmental quality and unemployment in
Ghana using annual data spanning the period from 1990 to 2019. It also assesses the impact of
gender-segregated unemployment rate on environmental quality. The study employed the
Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) error correction model to estimate the relationship
among the variables. In addition, the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and the
Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimation procedures were employed to check for
robustness of the ARDL results. Findings indicate a positive effect of total unemployment rate on
environmental quality in Ghana in the long-run and also in the short-run. In the case of the
gender-segregated unemployment, the findings reveal that in both short-run and long-run, a rise
in female unemployment causes a deterioration in environmental quality in Ghana. The results
also validated the Environmental Phillips Curve (EPC) hypothesis in the case of male unemployment. Thus, given that there is no general pattern in the findings, the study concludes that the
Environmental Phillips Curve (EPC) hypothesis does not hold within the Ghanaian context.
Community Psychiatric Nursing Services and Suicide Resilience in Selected Communities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2023) Buertey, A.A.
Background: Annually, 703,000 individuals end their own lives, with countless others
attempting suicide. Each instance is a heart-breaking loss that deeply impacts families,
communities, and nations, leaving lasting repercussions for those left behind. Several
strategies can be implemented at the societal, sub-group, and individual levels to mitigate the
occurrence of suicide and suicide attempts. Community resilience has been known and
endorsed as a strategy for the management of suicide. However, not much is known about the
use of community psychiatric nursing services as a strategy to promote community resilience
against suicide. The aim of this study is to explore how to promote resilience against suicide
in selected communities in the Greater Accra Region through community psychiatric nursing
services.
Methodology: The study employed a qualitative descriptive exploratory design in five (5)
districts; Ningo Prampram, Ledzokuku, Ga East, Weija Gbawe and Ga South in the Greater
Accra region. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from eighty-nine
(89) purposively selected participants. A purposive sampling technique was used to select
eighteen (18) Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN), thirteen (13) suicide attempters', seven
(7) attempters' family members, four (4) family members of completed suicide cases, five (5)
Focus Group Discussions with 46 participants and 1 Key Informant Interviews for the study.
The data were transcribed verbatim after it has been audio recorded digitally. The data was
analyzed using thematic analysis with MAXQDA 20. Data triangulation strategy was used to
present the qualitative findings of the study.
Results: The results showed that individuals who have attempted suicide in relation to
precipitating factors included childhood experiences, psychiatric issues, mistrust, shame and
disgrace, parental pressure, emotional breakdown, wasted resources, domestic violence,
infidelity and difficult life pursuits. It was found that the response of suicide attempters’ families in relation to the general effects of the attempt on the family was Anger, shock,
concern and solidarity. Also, the results showed that neutralizing the poison, inducing
vomiting with the use of palm oil and crude oil, stoppage of bleeding, cutting down of noose,
employing the services of skilled swimmers and calling of the police to be the means by which
community members who almost lost/lost a member to suicide handled such cases. The results
showed that Community Psychiatric Nurses have no laid down or specific guideline or policy
in handling suicide cases. However, some of the strategies used by CPNs in the management
of individuals and families of attempted and completed suicide cases were assessment,
counselling and psychotherapy, medication, engaging the person/client in the area of interest,
separating the person from the stressors, removing harmful items, physical monitoring and
referral of cases that were beyond them to other health facilities. Furthermore, the results
showed that the coping strategies used by families of suicide victims were through experience
sharing and encouragement, relocating, social bonds, psyching oneself, acknowledging that
tragedy may come to anyone, Word of God, Prayer and reliance upon God.
Conclusions: Suicide is a very complex problem in the society, and there is general ignorance
about the triggers, signs and appropriate help seeking strategies. Inadequate knowledge
therefore tends to make individuals and communities less resilient to suicide.
Community resilience to suicide can be significantly promoted if CPNs are provided with
specific guidelines and retraining for the handling of suicide ideation and attempt. These
guidelines and training coupled with provision of adequate funding and logistics, will enable
the CPNs deliver high quality services to the suicide attempters, suicide attempter’s family,
suicide bereaved families and also to intensify the general public education on the proper
handling of all suicide related matters. A substantial number of community members are not
aware of the existence of CPNs and therefore do not utilize their services. It is therefore imperative to create awareness about the existence and availability of CPNs through health
education.
Management Of Possible Serious Bacterial Infections In Young Infants Where Referral Is Not Possible In The Context Of Existing Health System Structure In Mbeya, Tanzania: Experience And Lessons From The End Line Assessment
(Plos One, 2024-12-05) Ngadaya, E.; Manu, A.; Mmweteni, M.; Burengelo, D.; Philbert, D.
Severe bacterial infections (SBIs) are a leading cause of neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) guideline for outpatient management of danger signs indicating possible serious bacterial infections (PSBI) when
referral is not possible was adopted by three pilot district councils in Mbeya Region, in Tanzania (Busekelo, Kyela and Mbarali Districts) in 2018 (the PSBI project). This study documented changes in practice during the PSBI project, and lessons learned. A cross-sectional
study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods
between July 2021 and January 2022, post-implementation. The study participants comprised stakeholders, health workers, community health workers, and mothers/fathers/caregivers who had a young infant with PSBI. Study tools included record review, quantitative,
in-depth, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA version 15 (STATACorp Inc., TX, USA), whereas qualitative data were analysed using a framework analysis approach. Our assessment showed that 2,228 young infants (0–59 days old)
from the three districts were classified as having PSBI. The majority, 1,607 (72.1%) had fast
breathing as the only danger sign, while 621 (27.9%) were classified as having severe ill ness. All 621 young infants with severe illness were counselled and offered referral to a
higher-level health facility; however, only 174 of them (28%) accepted the referral. The
remaining 447 severely ill infants, for whom referral was not possible, were treated at the primary health facilities with gentamicin injection and amoxicillin dispersible tablets (DT).
When referral is not feasible, outpatient treatment for young infants with signs of PSBI is
possible within existing health system in Tanzania, based on experience after this pilot project. However, successful scale-up of outpatient management for PSBI will require commitments from government and key stakeholders to strengthen healthcare systems
Community resilience and adaptation strategies during the COVID‑19 pandemic in sub‑Saharan Africa: a comparative analysis of Ghana and South Africa
(Discover Health Systems, 2025) Conduah, A.K.; Ofoe, S.H,
Background The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges globally, revealing disparities in health prepared
ness and resilience across regions. Sub-Saharan Africa faced unique hurdles due to its existing socioeconomic and health
inequities. Despite these challenges, local communities in countries like Ghana and South Africa demonstrated remark
able resilience by implementing community-led initiatives and adaptation strategies deeply rooted in their local contexts.
Objectives This study compared community resilience and adaptation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in
Ghana and South Africa. The primary objectives were to understand the effectiveness of local community responses,
identify critical strategies employed to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, and derive policy implications for future
public health preparedness and resilience building.
Results The analysis revealed diverse strategies tailored to the socio-political and economic landscapes of Ghana and
South Africa. In Ghana, efforts centered around government relief programs, community health education campaigns,
and digital communication platforms to disseminate public health information. South Africa focused on mobilising
community health volunteers, strengthening local governance structures, and integrating community-led food security
and mental health support initiatives. These strategies bolstered community resilience and mitigated the pandemic’s
economic and health impacts in different settings.
Unique contribution This paper provides a nuanced understanding of community resilience and adaptation strategies in
Ghana and South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores the critical role of community-driven initiatives
and local knowledge in pandemic response. It offers valuable insights into global health governance and the significance
of context-specific strategies in building resilient health systems in resource-constrained settings.
Future research directions Future research should explore the long-term impacts of these strategies, assess the scal
ability of successful community-led initiatives, and investigate the role of technological innovations in enhancing com
munity resilience. Longitudinal studies tracking community resilience and adaptation over time will further refine these
approaches, providing valuable insights for better preparedness and response to future health crises.
Limited Short-Term Benefits Of Glacial Rock Flour For Enhancing The Physical Quality Of Tropical Arable Soils
(Soil Science, 2024-11-21) Obour, P.B.; Dietzen, C.; Danso, E.O.; Arthur, E.; Adu, M.O.; Rosing, M.T.
There is increasing recognition that the application of fine-grained silicate rock
granulates can improve soil productivity by increasing its fertility and amelio rating its physical properties. Although the former has been extensively stud ied, empirical information on the latter is scarce. Pot and field experiments
were conducted at the University of Ghana's Forest and Horticultural Crops
Research Centre (FOHCREC), Kade, Ghana, from May 2020 to December
2021 to quantify the short-term effect of the application of Greenlandic glacial
rock flour (GRF) on the physical properties of three benchmark arable soils in
Ghana, namely an Acrisol (sandy clay loam), a Haplic Ferralsol (sandy loam),
and an Arenosol (sand). The pot experiment included three GRF treatments
(0, 10, and 20 t ha 1
) and the three soil types, while the field experiment was
conducted on only the sandy clay loam soil where GRF rates of 10 and
50 t ha 1 were compared to the control. Intact 100 cm3 soil cores were sam pled from the soil surface in the field and pot experiments to assess the soil
bulk density. We also quantified soil water retention, air and gas transport,
and pore morphological characteristics over a range of matric potentials. Both
the pot and field experiments showed that adding GRF did not improve soil
water retention. Still, the response of gas transport and pore characteristics to
changing matric potential was significantly (p < 0.05) modified by GRF in
some soil types. The results suggested that the effectiveness of the use of GRF
to ameliorate soil physical conditions for plant growth may depend on soil type
and the soil water matric potential. We concluded that the application of GRF
cannot be relied upon as a short-term strategy to significantly improve the
structural quality of the tropical soils studied. Rather, GRF should be consid ered for application to the soils for its other beneficial effects. We recommend
that the effects of repeated applications and further build-up of the material in
the soil should be investigated to determine the effect of higher relative GRF
concentrations on soil hydro-physical properties.