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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 to:
- 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.
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- 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
Recent Submissions
Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Nutritional Composition of African Catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) in Ghana: Effects of Culture Conditions, Feed and Processing(Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 2026-07-23) Atter, A.; Taye, N.; Tutu, C.O.; et al.The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is central to Ghana's aquaculture sector due to its robustness, fast growth and reliable yields. Its nutritional composition, however, varies widely and is shaped by factors before and after harvest. This review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) framework to ensure a systematic and transparent synthesis of available evidence, with the PRISMA guidelines providing the structural framework for study selection, data extraction and quality assessment. This review summarizes available information on the species’ chemical makeup, emphasizing Ghanaian contexts. C. gariepinus offers 15%–19% high‐quality protein with a full essential amino acid profile and a highly variable lipid content (2.5%–15%) rich in oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids, though it contains relatively low levels of long‐chain omega‐3s compared with marine fish. It also supplies important minerals, such as phosphorus, iron and zinc, and vitamins A, E and B‐complex, although detailed local vitamin data remain limited. These nutrients are strongly influenced by feed quality, culture conditions and processing methods. Diet shapes growth and fatty acid composition, whereas environmental conditions affect metabolism and stress responses. Traditional smoking, widely used in Ghana, can reduce heat‐sensitive vitamins and promote lipid oxidation. Key gaps include the lack of Ghana‐specific nutrient profiles, limited evidence on nutrient retention during local processing and the absence of standardized composition data. Maximizing the species’ contribution to food security requires nutrition‐sensitive strategies, improved processing and targeted research.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Systematic Quantitative Data Synthesis Of Dietary Aflatoxin-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Ghana And Nigeria(Food Safety and Risk, 2026-05-06) Adam, M.N.; Essumang, C.O.; Quartey, N.K.A.; Ofosu, C.A.; Saalia, F.K.; Ellis, W.O.; Ofosu, I.W.Aflatoxin B1 is a recognized dietary carcinogen linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its quantitative burden estimates remain limited in West Africa. This study aimed to estimate the burden of HCC attributable to dietary aflatoxin exposure in Ghana and Nigeria using the Integrated Hazard and Health Impact Assessment Model (IHHIAM). A systematic review of 65 studies (2010–2024) provided aflatoxin concentration data, which were integrated with WHO/GEMS food consumption patterns, body weight data, and probabilistic exposure modeling. Monte Carlo simulations at 105 iterations were used to propagate uncertainty and estimate attributable Years of Life Lost (YLL), Years Lived with Disability (YLD), and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The analysis revealed substantial differences in aflatoxin-attributable HCC burden between the two countries. Median five-year attributable DALYs were 503.67 per 105 persons in Ghana and 4,382 per 105 persons in Nigeria. These estimates reflect numerical differences in modeled exposure distributions and health outcome parameters but do not infer causation beyond the variables included in the assessment. The study provides a comparative, evidence-based quantification of aflatoxin-related HCC burden and demonstrates the utility of probabilistic modeling for dietary carcinogen risk assessment in high-exposure settings. These findings offer robust burden estimates that can support national food safety planning and guide future evaluations of aflatoxin mitigation strategies.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Comparative Study of the Nutritional, Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] from Burkina Faso(Legume Research- An International Journal, 2026-03-23) Tondé, M.; Boro, O.; Sombié, P.A.E.D.; et al.Background: The soybean crop plays a crucial role in Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector and contributes significantly to food security and nutrition. The study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition and antioxidant potential of soybean cultivated in Burkina Faso. Methods: A total of 40 soybean varieties cultivated in 2022 at two sites in Burkina Faso were analyzed using standard methods for six parameters, including total phenolic, total flavonoid, total protein, soluble sugars, phytic acid, DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Total phenolic ranged from 1.769 to 2.923 µg GAE/100 mg, total flavonoid from 0.008 to 0.031 µg QE/100 mg, total protein from 1.526 to 2.021 mg/100 mg, soluble sugar from 107.6 to 228.1 µg GE/100 mg and phytic acid concentration from 130.9 to 378.0 µg APE/100 mg. Antioxidant activity varied from 0.786 to 2.282 µg AAE/100 mg for DPPH and from 0.019 to 0.079 µg AAE/100 mg dw for FRAP. Result: Four soybean varieties, GPV12, GPV17, GPV22 and GMV19 are characterized by high nutrient content, particularly total protein and soluble sugars. The GPV3, GPV6 and GPV8 lines are distinguished by their high concentration of bioactive compounds, such as total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids. In contrast, the GPV4 and GPV5 varieties have relatively high levels of antinutrients. The varieties with high nutritional potential could help strengthen the resilience of poor households against food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Plant Crude Extracts for the Management of Major Insect Vectors on Different Okra Varieties in Ghana(Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 2026-02-10) Akama, C.K.; Appiah, A.S.; Afful, N.T.; Kutufam, J.T.; Coffie, S.A.; Ayeh, K.O.; Amiteye, S.Background: Okra production is constrained by whiteflies and flea beetles attack and the associated respective Okra yellow vein mosaic virus [OYMV] and Okra mosaic virus [OMV] diseases. The predominant control of pests and diseases using synthetic agrochemicals poses health and environmental risks. Methods: The efficacy of leaf extracts from Neem, Jathropha and Lemon grass as safer biopesticides in the control of whitefly and flea beetle populations was evaluated by insect count. The incidence and severity of OMV and OYVMV in the three okra varieties, F1 Kirene, F1 Sahari and Asuntem, were also assessed and confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Neem extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced the mean incidence (21.84%) of the viral diseases than Lemon grass extract (25.28%), Jathropha extract (25.44%) and the control (28.89%). In vitro confirmation using ELISA revealed that majority (86.67%) of the treatment combinations showed single infection of OMV while 13.33% was mixed-infection of OMV and OYVMV. In terms of yield levels, Neem extract treatment (144.81 kg/ha) yielded significantly higher than Jathropha extract (139.06 kg/ha), Lemon grass extract (115.75 kg/ha) and the Control (94.02 kg/ha).Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Host Genetics Influences HIV Reservoir Persistence, Treatment Outcomes And CCR5 Expression In Patients On Long-Term Antiretroviral Therapy In Ghana(Frontiers in Immunology, 2026-07-22) Hanson, M.E.; Effah, A.; Appiah, P.K.; et al.Objective: This study investigated influence of cysteine-cysteine chemokines (CCR5, CCR5-59029A/G, CCR2), and stoma cell derived factor 1 (SDF1); as AIDS restriction genes (ARGs), on treatment outcomes among people with HIV (PWH) on long term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Ghana.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 167 PWH and receiving ART in Accra, Ghana. Genomic DNA from PBMCs was used to genotype CCR5-Δ32, CCR2-V64I, CCR5 A59029G, and SDF1-3′A variants using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, CCR5 expression was estimated by RT-qPCR.Results: All participants carried the wild-type CCR5 genotype. No AIDS Restriction Genes was associated with virologic or immunological outcomes (p>0.05). However, individuals with the CCR5 A59029G GG genotype exhibited significantly higher proviral DNA levels than those with the AA genotype (p < 0.05), and the GG genotype independently predicted higher proviral DNA burden in multivariable analysis (β = 0.840, p = 0.011).Conclusion: No ARG variant was significantly associated with virologic or immunological outcomes. However, CCR5 A59029G was associated with differences in proviral DNA burden and CCR5 mRNA expression, suggesting a potential role in HIV reservoir dynamics during suppressive ART.