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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 , The Role of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre in Attracting and Facilitating Diaspora Investments in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2024) Asiedu, S. A.This study examined the role of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) in attracting and facilitating Diaspora investments in Ghana. Specifically, it sought to examined the strategies currently employed by the GIPC to engage the Ghanaian Diaspora in investment activities, analyzed the challenges faced by the GIPC in attracting and facilitating Diaspora investments, evaluated the impact of Diaspora investments facilitated by the GIPC on Ghana’s economic development and identified strategies for enhancing the GIPC’s capacity, initiatives, and policies to effectively leverage diaspora resources for national development. The qualitative research approach and research design utilized was exploratory design. The purposive sampling technique was used to select twenty (20) participants. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed with thematic analysis. The study found that GIPC’s Diaspora Investment Desk operates within a well-structured, comprehensive, and coordinated policy framework. In the first half of 2022, the desk facilitated approximately 122 investments valued at about US$874.01 million, surpassing the US$829.29 million recorded in 2021, an indication of increasing investor confidence in Ghana’s business environment. Additionally, in 2022, the World Bank recognized the GIPC as the best government agency in Ghana for investment promotion. The study recommends that GIPC encourage partnerships between Ghanaian businesses and Diaspora investors, as such collaboration can spur increased investment and open opportunities in local reserved sectors such as the sale of goods and provision of services to support sustainable economic growth.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Assessment of Sargassum Beaching and It’s Effect on Communities Along the Western Coast of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2024) Adu, P.Sargassum, a genus of the brown macroalgae, plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems but has become an increasing concern due to its massive beaching events globally, particularly along the coastlines of Ghana. This study focuses on assessing the trends in Sargassum beaching and its effects on the livelihoods of selected coastal communities in the Western Region of Ghana. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining simple random sampling and purposive sampling to select a representative sample of 400 participants, including fishermen, fishmongers, and coastal residents from Beyin, Esiama, and Sanzule. Data were collected through transect walks, field observations, photography, focus groups, and face-to-face interviews, with audio recordings in Nzema dialect transcribed for analysis. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used to monitor and evaluate the incidence and distribution of Sargassum along the beach. The UAV data collection was conducted in September and October 2021 and 2023, using a DJI Phantom and processed using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) and Multi-View Stereo (MVS) algorithms in Agisoft Photoscan software. The resulting orthophotos were converted to Normalized Green-Red Difference Index (NGRDI) values using QGIS to detect sargassum on the beach. These images were further segmented and classified using eCognition and ArcMap, allowing for the estimation of Sargassum extent and volumes. The research highlights the temporal variability in Sargassum accumulation from 2021 to 2023, revealing a decline in average beach coverage from 17,153 m² in 2021 to complete a near-zero range (0–5 m²) in 2023, indicating complete disappearance in 2023. The estimated Sargassum volume also decreased from 11,387 m³ in 2021 to near-zero levels in 2023, indicating a significant reduction in beaching over the period studied. Fluctuations in accumulation were found to affect local livelihoods with 80.5% of respondents reporting a negative impact on fishing and income, while 49.2% indicated that tourism activities declined during heavy influx periods. Environmental degradation was observed through reduced water quality and shoreline contamination, reported by 72% of participants. Health concerns were also evident, with 18% reporting skin irritation and 7% respiratory discomfort associated with decomposing Sargassum. Despite these challenges, 63% of community members adopted sweeping and burning as management practices, while 37% buried Sargassum to reduce odor and beach obstruction. Furthermore, only 16% of respondents were aware of its alternative uses, such as composting and fertilizer production, showing untapped potential for sustainable management. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the socio-economic and environmental implications of Sargassum beaching in Ghana, providing evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance resilience and sustainability in the region.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Cow Dung and Rice Husk Biochar Types as Phosphorus Sources for Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculatal.) Production in a Calciustert.(University of Ghana, 2024) Siakwah, P. A.Production of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Ghana has relied heavily on inorganic sources of phosphorus. However, with dwindling sources of the apatite rock worldwide, the high cost and associated contamination of inorganic P fertilized soils, it has become necessary to explore more sustainable sources of P for cowpea production. Traditionally, most P fertilizer trials have been concentrated on soils with low activity clays with little work done with heavy soils. A study was therefore carried out to explore the potential of using cow dung and rice husk biochar types, as a sustainable P amendment for improved cowpea growth and yield in a Calciustert. The study evaluated the effects of cow dung biochar (CDB) and rice husk biochar (RHB) in comparison with triple superphosphate (TSP) on cowpea growth parameters and yield in Akuse Series. Twenty-four ridges were formed on the Akuse Series after determination of the soil’s standard phosphorus requirement (SPR). The CDB and RHB prepared on site at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC) of the University of Ghana, Kpong was then applied to 16 of the ridges; four each at the full SPR of the soil and another four each at half the SPR. There were four ridges with no amendment and another four ridges with TSP application at the SPR of the soil. All the treatments were in a randomized complete block design. The cowpea variety California Black Eye was sown on the 24 ridges at a spacing of 60 cm x 40 cm. Two weeks after sowing, the TSP at the full SPR treatment was imposed. Cultural practices were undertaken and data including average plant height to maturity, days to 50% flowering, number and weight of nodules, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and yield per hectare, biomass per plant at harvest, root length and mass, root and shoot P and N uptake, were taken. The experiment was repeated for another season to validate the results of the first. Cowpea plants grown in soil amended with CDB at the full SPR had the highest yield of 2.75 and 2.14 tons/ha for the two seasons compared to 2.1 and 1.86 tons/ha for the TSP fertilized crops. All the crop parameters determined were generally higher in the CDB amended ridges at the SPR of the soil than from the other treatments. Crop parameters including yield of cowpea in the other amended ridges did not significantly differ from those in the un-amended ridges. The study concludes that biochar produced from cow dung has the potential of improving growth and yield of cowpea grown on ridges in a Calciustert at SIREC when applied at the SPR of the soil. It also concludes that the soils at SIREC should not be fertilized with TSP for cowpea production as there will be no response. Further research is recommended to determine the profitability or otherwise of using CDB applied at the SPR of the soil in growing cowpea for increased yield on the Calciustert at SIREC.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Application of Remote Sensing and GIS to Mass Wasting Susceptibility Mapping of the Akwapim South District(University of Ghana, 2024) Toklo, E.This thesis presents a comprehensive study on mass wasting susceptibility mapping in the Akwapim South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. This study therefore used GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis to model mass wasting susceptibility of the district by considering factors such as land use/land cover, slope, elevation, geology, soil depth and road distance. The study again investigated the causes, socio-economic and environmental impacts of mass wasting in the district. The study collected data from satellite images, google earth images, digital elevation models and field surveys for the mapping of the prone the prone areas. Factor weights were determined through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the factor class ratings were assigned through logical judgment. Mass susceptibility indices were determined based on a continuous numerical scale developed for this purpose by Saaty (1998) and the pairwise comparison matrix yielded a consistency ratio of 6.4% or 0.064, validating the robustness of the AHP method for this study. High and medium susceptibility zones were found to spread in 67.24 km2 and 56.03 km2 respectively in the study area while the low susceptible covers about 100.85 km2 of the total land area of the district. The study again revealed that various mass wasting types occur such as rockfall, rockslide, debris slide, landslide scars and soil creep occurs in the district. Furthermore, interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data for the social survey. The study unequivocally establishes that high elevation, weak rock formation and human-induced factors, notably poor construction practices and slope excavation for buildings are the principal drivers behind the mass wasting processes in the Akwapim South District, particularly in the Aburi enclave. Also, an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic and environmental impacts arising from mass wasting events in the study area has unearthed critical concerns. The far-reaching impacts encompass property damage, disruption of livelihoods and damage to the environment.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Distinct Systemic Cytokine Signatures Define Symptomatic Malaria In Children: Insights From A Longitudinal Study In Togo(BMC Infectious Diseases, 2026-01-07) Bara, F.D.; Simfele, H.C.; Koudema, T.; Amenga-Etego, L.N.; et al.Background Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly among children, where immune responses and clinical manifestations to Plasmodium falciparum infection vary widely. Understanding the interplay between parasitemia, immune responses, and clinical outcomes is essential to improving case management. This study aimed to identify systemic cytokine signatures that define symptomatic malaria in children, by analyzing cytokine dynamics over time and their association with parasite burden and clinical status in children aged 6–10 years in Togo. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in the Prefecture d’Agoè, Togo, from November 2023 to February 2024. Sixty children were enrolled and treated with artemether-lumefantrine and albendazole. Weekly monitoring was performed over 12 weeks using microscopy and qPCR for P. falciparum detection. Systemic cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-17 A, IL-5, and IL-10, were measured by Sandwich ELISA. Associations between cytokine concentrations, parasite densities, and cycle threshold (Ct) values were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Results Of the 60 children, 25% (n = 15) tested positive for P. falciparum by qPCR, while 15% (n = 9) had microscopy confirmed infections. Overall, 33.3% (n = 5) progressed to symptomatic malaria; the remainder were asymptomatic carriers. Symptomatic cases exhibited significantly elevated IL-6 (vs. non-infected, p = 0.0004; vs. asymptomatic, p = 0.0003; vs. recovered, p = 0.0037), IFN-γ (vs. non-infected, p < 0.0001; vs. asymptomatic, p = 0.0048), and IL-10 levels (vs. non-infected, p < 0.0001; vs. recovered, p = 0.0004). IL-10 levels were also higher in asymptomatic children compared to non-infected (p = 0.0013), while IFN-γ was elevated in recovered cases (vs. non-infected, p = 0.0309). In symptomatic children, IL-10 levels showed a strong negative correlation with Ct values (r = -0.973, p = 0.001) and a strong positive correlation with parasite density (r = 0.911, p = 0.001). IFN-γ exhibited moderate correlations with both, Ct values (r = -0.442, p = 0.037) and parasite density (r = 0.518, p = 0.027). Conclusion This study identifies distinct cytokine signatures, particularly elevated IL-10 and IFN-γ, that characterize symptomatic malaria in children and correlate with parasite burden. These cytokines may serve as prognostic biomarkers and offer insights for targeted interventions in paediatric malaria.