LOOKING FOR FUNDING? UNIVERSITY June 2019
OF GHANA
V 1.2
Turn to *   Research Professional
ü Thousands of open calls for all disciplines and 
from over 8,000 funders
ü Authoritative news, analysis and comment
ü Fast and user-friendly search options TM
ü Customisable email alerts
ü Tools to help you share information and stay 
ahead of funding deadlines Insp r n g UG
You can use *Research Professional from any 
computer on the University network. Or register for 
free to set up your own account so that you can use the 
service off campus. For further enquiries contact:
As a registered user you’ll also enjoy an array of other  orid-ppa@ug.edu.gh
benefits that help you save time and share information 
with your colleagues.
University of Ghana has a subscription to 
*   Research Professional    researchprofessional.com
To access the Research Professional porta l, send a request to orid-info@ug.edu.gh 
FRONT PAGE
School of Engineering
ORID	-	Annex
Office	of	Research,	Innovation	&	
Development	(ORID)	-	Annex
GA-521-3066
Photo	credit	EPA	GHANA
Office of Research, Innovation Phone: +233 303 930436 ORID
& Development (ORID) Email: orid@ug.edu.gh OFFICE OF RESEARCH, 
P.O. Box LG 571, University of Ghana, Legon Website: www.orid.ug.edu.gh INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Print: University of Ghana Printing Press, Tel: 030 293 4987
RESEARCH	GRANTS	AWARDED	TH ROUGH	ORID
The University of Ghana's goal to become a research-int ensive University by 2024, is progressing steadily 
with an upward trajectory in revenues accruing from funded projects.  The Office of	 Research, Innovation 
and Development (ORID), UG's office of sponsored research has restructured over the last two and a half 
years into six teams, the Pre-and Post-Award Services, Research Performance Services, Technology 
Transfer and Intellectual Property Services, Publication, Dissemination and Translation Services, 
Capacity Development Services and Human and Animal Research Ethics Services. 
The Pre- and Post-Award Services (PPA) team comprises about half of the research administration staff of 
ORID and handles grants and contract management, working closely with the brilliant academics at the 
University of Ghana.
Grant revenues processed through ORID have grown sharply by over 1000% in the last three academic 
years from a level of $3.4 million in 2015/2016 academic year to $42.5million in the 2018/2019 academic 
year . (figure 1)
 
Table	1:	Research	Grants	&	Contracts	reported	through	ORID	(Academic	Year)  
 
Academic	Year	 No.	of	Grant	Agreements	 US$	Value	of	Grant	
2015-2016 16 3,414,212	
(A student-led initiative under the auspices of the VC’s Green Project) 2016-2017 44 6,249,417	
2017-2018 84 15,322,980	
2018-2019  96  42,558,915**	
** Includes 4 committed Awards of US$ 21.6 million  
 
Fi gure	1:	Research	Grants	&	Contracts	reported	through	ORID	(Academic	Year)  
feteria
Central Ca
US$ Value of Received Awards US$ Value of Committed Awards No. of Grants
 
AWARDS/APPOINTMENTS
EDITORIAL 
 Dr.	 Kwaku	 Kyeremeh of the  The Director of the Institute for This second issue of 'Inspiring	UG' features a compilation of articles that reflect the diversity and 
Department of Chemistry has been Environment and Sanitation scope of research underway at the University of Ghana (UG). The publication characterizes UG's 
awarded the prestigious Medical Studies (IESS), Professor	 Kwasi	 quest to intensify research and build capacity across all spheres of scientific endeavour. 
Research Council (MRC)/UK Appeaning	 Addo  has  been 
Department for International appointed a member of the Expert The selection of research in this issue encompasses the humanities, applied sciences and medicine, 
Development (DFID) African Group of the High Level Panel for a and demonstrates the impact of adding value to basic resources, the benefits of engaging local 
Research  Leader  Award  2018  for Sustainable Ocean Economy.  communities for solutions to health care challenges and the rooting of religious and behavioural 
his project 'Development of Novel Therapeutics for  The Panel is supported by the United Nations Special Envoy practices in poetry among others.
Parasite Infections and Cancer by Multi-step Microbial for the Ocean, and is made up of 14 Heads of Government. 
Biodiscovery Processes and iChip'. The Panel's recommendations on the Blue Economy, an Our scientists have identified health interventions that remedy the adverse effects of livelihood 
The African Research Leadership Award is jointly run and emerging concept that advocates improvements in  practices to empower and safeguard the fisheries value chain. In the engineering sciences, solutions 
funded by the MRC and DFID. The Award Scheme aims to management of the ocean, will make the case for change have been proffered to the menace of plastic pollution of water bodies, while agricultural produce is 
strengthen research leadership across Sub-Saharan Africa and call for international action for the short, medium and being transformed into a therapeutic agent in the biological sciences.
(SSA) by attracting and retaining exceptional individuals long term.
who will lead high quality research programmes on crucial As competition for research funding intensifies, emphasis on the impact of research outcomes is key 
global health issues relevant to SSA.
Professor Appeaning-Addo will co-author a chapter for the to sustain funding. We seek therefore to present scholarly work in practical ways that speak to 
Blue Papers that will  play a central role in the production of communities and make positive impacts on livelihoods. 
 The West African College of the Panel's Summary of Recommendations on the Blue 
Physicians and Surgeons has Economy. Publication, Dissemination and Translation (PDT) Team
elected Dr.	 Albert	 Akpalu of the 
Department of Medicine and 
Therapeutics, School of Medicine 
T he First Lady of the Republic of 
and Dentistry as its Secretary-
Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs Rebecca 
General. The College, established in 
Akufo Addo has presented the First 
1976, is an association of medical 
Lady's Excellence Award for 
the fields of Community Health, Family Medicine, Internal 
Medicine/Health Care Delivery to 
Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Chemical Pathology, Professor	 Lorna	 Awo	 Renner of 
Haematology, Medical Microbiology, Paediatrics and the Department of Child Health, 
Psychiatry that aims to promote professional training of HE	Mrs.	Rebecca	Akufo	Addo	(left)	
presenting	the	award	to	Prof.	Renner School of Medicine and Dentistry, 
physicians and healthcare specialists in West Africa.
on International Women's Day. The award is in recognition 
of her dedication to the diagnosis and treatment of children 
 Professor	 Dorothy	 Yeboah-Manu with cancer and the mobilisation of resources to support 
of the Department of Bacteriology, the care of childhood cancers in Ghana. 
Noguchi Memorial Institute for 
Medical Research has received the 
Royal Society Africa Prize 2018 for 
her contributions and innovative 
approaches to understanding 
Mycobacterium ulcerous and Mycobacterium arcanum 
microbiology, genetic studies and epidemiology in the 
areas of her work. The Royal Society Africa Prize, 
previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award, recognises 
research scientists in Africa who are making innovative 
contributions to the biological sciences, including basic 
medical science, which contribute significantly to capacity 
building in Africa.
16 Inspir ing Inspir ing 1
C
O
BUDGET
FUNDER UG	LEAD ORIGINATING PROJECT	TITLE ALLOCATED
UNIT TO	UG
Social Sciences and 
3 10 Humanities Research Prof. Kodzo Gavua Department of Improving African Futures CAD 59,500.00Council (SSHRC) through Dr. Wazi Ray Apoh Archaeology and Using Lessons from the Past
N Heritage StudiesCassava	as	a	Biomaterial	 University of VictoriaGarbage-in,	Energy-out:Valorising	Plastic	Waste	in	Ghana Reinforcement	for	Tissue	Engineering Institute of 
Prof. Dzodzi Other Universals: Theorizing from The Andrew Mellon W.  African Studies R 1,603,436.93
Tsikata Post-colonial Locations on Politics 
Foundation and Aesthetics
Legon Centre for Women and Political Participation in Africa: 
The Andrew Mellon W.  Dr. Jennifer 
International Affairs A Comparative Study of the Representation USD 500,000.00
Foundation Amanda Coffie
T and Diplomacy and Roles of Female Chiefs
The Cambridge A Clash of Kingdoms: Isolation of Indigenous 
Dr. Winfred-Peck Department of
Africa-ALBORADA Entomopathogenic Fungi against the Fall 
Dorleku Biochemistry, Cell and 
USD 8,787.00
Research Fund Armyworm and Unravlling the Molecular Molecular Biology
Signature of Insect-fungus Interactions
E The Regents of the Prof. Augustine Department of Strengthening population size estimates USD 40,605.00University of California Ankomah Population, Family and for key populations in Ghana4 Reproduction HealthConventional	Drugs,	Plant	Medicines 8 A	Social	Affliction:	A	Social	Media	 The Secretary of State 
for Health, UK through Prof. Gordon West Africa Centre and	Foods:	A	Complementary Intervention	 Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) GBP 244,650.00the University Court of the for Cell Biology of Awandare
Combination? Infectious Pathogens University of Edinburgh, UK (Amendment 3)
(WACCBIP)
N UK Research and Innovation GCRF South-South Migration, Inequality and through Coventry University Prof. Joseph Teye Centre for Migration GBP 823,024.006 Literature,	Music	and	Prayer: 12 Antimicrobial	Resistance:	 Studies Development HubRepositories	of	African	Values,	 Addressing	an	Emerged	Global
Spirituality	and	Theology Problem	with	Local	Solutions Societal Transformation and Climate 
Universities Canada through Change: Training the next generation of Prof. Yaa Centre for African CAD 3,564.00
7 Empowering	Women	by	Creating 13 An	Impact	Assessment	of	Social Carleton University Ntiamoa-Baidu scholars in sub-Saharan Africa and Canada Wetlands (NextGen Climate Change Advanced Scholars) 
Safeguards	against	Anemia Marketing	in	Ghana	(IASMG)
T 11 Reducing	Incidence	of	Harmful	 14 Funding	News Institute for World Resources Prof. Kwasi Environment and Managing resilience, restoration USD 50,000.00Organisms	in	Ghana’s	Vegetable	 Institute Appeaning Addo Sanitation Studies & infrastructure of coastlines.
Export	Market 16 (IESS)Awards/Appointments
West Africa Centre 
National Institute of Health Prof. Gordon Hearing Impairment Genetic USD 39,443.00
for Cell Biology of 
S through the University of  Awandare Infectious Pathogens Studies in Africa (HI-GENES Africa)Cape Town (WACCBIP)
2 Inspir ing Inspir ing 15
FUNDING NEWS
GARBAGE-IN, ENERGY-OUT:
ST	 ST	
1		FEBRUARY	TO	31		MAY	2019 VALORISING PLASTIC
WASTE IN GHANA
ORIGINATING
UNIT
Plastics, which are basically long hydrocarbon-
Department of chained compounds synthesized from petroleum 
Crop Science
products, have become very popular because of their 
unmatched usability, wide range of application, non-
degradable nature and low cost. In Ghana, the 
Department of 
Population, Family and estimation is that over 1.7 million tonnes of plastics 
Reproduction Health
are used annually. The ever-increasing demand has 
also resulted in a huge amount of plastic waste, and 
due to disposal challenges, pose a serious threat to These issues are precisely what preoccupy 
Department of 
Marketing and the environment, waterways, water bodies and Dr.	David	Dodoo-Arhin of the Department of 
Entrepreneurship farmlands. The greater risk of plastic pollution to Materials Science and Engineering and his 
general human health has become a major global colleagues, as they explore the conversion of 
concern. plastic waste into liquid fuel and gas, as well 
as their potential utilization in light-duty 
As a result, the implementation of prudent plastic engines. Their early studies, supported by 
waste management and valorisation systems is the University of Ghana BANGA-Africa seed 
Department of 
Economics imperative to minimize these adverse environmental grant fellowship, in collaboration with CNRS 
impacts. Recycling, reusing, incineration and energy Centré RAPSODEE of Ecole de Mines d'Albi-
recovery are the main techniques of plastic waste Carmaux, France, are already yielding very 
School of Nursing management. Energy recovery is a promising route promising results, as they explore further 
Midwifery for converting waste material into useful energy funding opportunities to scale up their 
products; the most commonly used method of research and engage trans-disciplinary 
energy recovery is thermal cracking (Pyrolysis), approaches to valorising plastic waste in 
Department of
Psychology which produces liquid and gaseous fuel products Ghana.
with high energy values. 
Department of With the exponential growth in industries as well as 
Economics
in population, the demand for energy, which is 
mostly petroleum-fuel based has likewise increased. 
Department of Coupled with the ever-increasing world price of 
Population, Family and 
Reproduction Health crude oil, the resultant search for alternate energy 
resources can be mitigated by the recycling and 
conversion of the infinitely growing plastic waste 
Office of Research, into energy to diversify the energy resource. 
Innovation and 
Development
Department of 
Biological, Environmental
and Occupational Health
14 Inspir ing Inspir ing 3
CONVENTIONAL DRUGS, PLANT MEDICINES AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF	
AND FOODS: SOCIAL	MARKETING	IN GHANA (IASMG)  
The deleterious effects of smoking are widely known; with Africa the greatest laggard of all world regions and 
with arguably the lowest level of medical technology to address the associated problems, the question of how to 
temper the spread of the problem is urgent. Particularly among adolescents, whose life habits are now being 
shaped and who are susceptible to peer-influence to make choices that are frequently contrary to their own best 
A Complementary Combination?  interests, the problem is immediately salient. Dr.	Naa	Dodua	Dodoo and Dr.	Adriana	Biney, at the Regional Institute of Population Studies (RIPS), are leading a team at the University of Ghana to partner with collaborators 
at Tulane University in the USA, on a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) funded project to investigate 
how social marketing can help dissuade adolescents from smoking. 
Plant medicines are patronized by about 80% of Africans and are generally considered safe remedies 
that may be ingested over long periods of time. For many people, plant medicines are first-line The BMGF Tobacco Control Programme incorporates social marketing as a core activity to highlight policy 
remedies. Scientific investigations have revealed, however that the concurrent intake of some plant changes and improve Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to youth smoking. One initiative of the 
medicines and conventional drugs can result in therapeutic failure or drug toxicity. A classic example programme is a SKY Girls campaign implemented in Botswana, Uganda and Ghana. This initiative is based on the 
regards the intake of ginseng, which has been reported to increase physical stamina and alertness, understanding that although girls are aware of the health harms of tobacco, social inclusion is everything to them 
and is linked to a complex process of finding their identity. The project in Ghana therefore centers its principles 
when taken with several conventional drugs for example, those substrates of a particular catalyst, such 
around activities that are important to young girls (music and fashion, for example), and on ideals that will keep 
as Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Examples of drugs metabolised by CYP3A4 include cyclosporin 
them grounded and able to make the right choices concerning life in general and smoking in particular. 
and acetaminophen (paracetamol). When such conventional drugs are taken together with CYP3A4 
substrates, it appears to cause a rapid breakdown of the drugs which, in turn, generally translates into The IASMG evaluated the SKY Girls Campaign in Ghana with the following objectives:
the therapeutic failure or ineffectiveness of these conventional drugs. This can also result in further         Measuring the effectiveness of the combined and individual media interventions of SKY Girls on smoking 
adverse effects if the broken-down products or newly formed ones are harmful.         attitudes, norms, intentions, tobacco use and prevention of smoking uptake 
        Calculating the cost-effectiveness of the different media interventions of SKY Girls relative to other  
Similarly, consumption of some foods while taking conventional drugs has the potential to also result         smoking 
in adverse outcomes. For instance, eating of cruciferous vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and         prevention and cessation interventions, such as multi-component, community-based interventions, other 
broccoli, increases the breakdown or biotransformation of acetaminophen; thus, effectiveness of the         forms of mass media (e.g., public health messaging, billboards, advertisements), or school-based 
drug is reduced by eating such foods.         interventions, and
Enhancing understanding of the links between exposure to communication and behaviour change by
clarifying the mechanisms through which the specific health communication activities affect tobacco
outcomes.
“Advertising	campaignshighlight	smoking	
as	a	sign	of	affluence.
Dr.	Naa	Dodua	Dodoo (third	from	right) and Dr.	Adriana	Biney	(third	from	left)
Based on an experimental design with a panel of follow-up phone interviews of a sub-sample of the 
adolescents in areas around the Ayawaso West survey respondents. 
Wuogon Constituency of Accra (treatment area), 
Kumasi and Teshie (partial treatment area) and Finally, an endline survey was conducted between 
Sunyani (control), a baseline survey of 7000 November 2018 and January 2019. Preliminary 
adolescents was conducted between March and findings indicate that most of the girls who were 
May, 2017. Subsequently, the various components exposed to the intervention indicated that SKY had 
of the SKY Girls Campaign were rolled out by a helped them to feel more empowered, aspirational, 
partner advertising company. This included a bi- socially connected and have a greater sense of future 
monthly magazine distributed in schools, two orientation. In addition, greater exposure to SKY 
movies available for free, visits to schools by interventions increased perceptions that smoking 
various role models popular with young people, shisha is not 'cool' and increased knowledge of the 
SKY clubs instituted in some schools, a SKY theme health consequences of shisha and tobacco.
song, SKY social media channels, a SKY WhatsApp 
group, a weekly radio programme, a SKY truck that Further analyses of the initiative is continuing in 
visited various neighborhoods and schools, text order to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of the 
Prof. Regina Appiah-Opong messages to adolescents, a Vlog, and occasional different media interventions, and promises to 
SKY parties at various malls. During the campaign, evolve into a scaled-up study of young women's 
which lasted 18 months, there were bi-monthly empowerment, that clarifies links between 
communication and behavior change.
4 Inspir ing Inspir ing 13
“
Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is highly 
regulated with approval regimes for drug 
therapies subjected to extensive pre-clinical and 
clinical trials. While the rigorous nature of clinical 
trials provides a safety net for end users, the use of 
approved drugs in a particular jurisdiction does 
not necessarily translate into safe use in other 
populations. According to Professor Appiah-
Opong, these dynamics raise questions about the 
generalized applicability of drugs approved by 
authorities in other parts of the world. 
Morinda	Lucida She is also collaborating with colleagues at the 
University of Ghana and the University of 
Washington, Bothell, in research on genes of 
Although the interaction potential of drugs is CYP3A4 drug metabolising enzymes to identify 
assessed during pre-clinical studies in developed differences in Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms 
countries, for instance by the Food and Drug (SNPs) between Caucasian and Ghanaian 
Administration in the USA, this is not typical in many ethnicities, and is seeking funding to extend her 
developing countries. Neither is the evaluation of the work to different ethnic groups in West Africa with 
drug-food interaction potential a conventional study the goal of determining:
norm of regulatory bodies. It would appear that 
reports on the drug interaction potential with i. The effect of drugs approved and tested   in
natural products are hardly requirements of safety        other countries on Ghanaians
assessments of drug manufacturers.  ii. Plant-based medicines and foods that
       interact with conventional medicines 
Professor	 Regina	 Appiah-Opong, Head of the 
Department of Clinical Pathology at the Noguchi Ultimately, her goal is to create awareness and 
Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), is establish in Ghana, the means of screening drugs, 
extremely passionate about this subject and has drug candidates, plant medicines and food for 
devoted much of her working life to biomedical drug interaction potential. This is to safeguard 
r e s e a r c h .  W o r k i n g  i n  t h e  f i e l d  o f  public health and support the efforts of 
toxicology/pharmacology, where drug-metabolizing pharmaceutical industries.  She seeks to develop 
enzymes are employed in evaluating drug candidates appropriate medical protocols for imported drugs 
and provide education to maximise the effects of 
as part of pre-clinical studies on these drug 
drugs and other therapies through nutrition. 
candidates, Professor Appiah-Opong is exploring the 
interactions between conventional drugs, herbs and 
foods. Her particular interest in drug-drug/drug-
herb/drug-food interactions, pharmacokinetics, 
pharmacogenomics, drug discovery, antioxidants 
and environmental contaminants (heavy metals, 
aflatoxins), has seen her collaborate extensively with 
domestic and international partners. Professor 
Appiah-Opong's current work has focused on anti-
cancer and anti-malarial agents,  and her 
collaboration with colleagues in Japan and Ghana has 
resulted in a filed patent on an anti-typanosomiasis 
agent. She has played a major role in the construction 
of a DNA cassette vector that is useful for drug Moringa	Oliefera
susceptibility testing of anti-HIV protease inhibitor 
drugs. 
12 Inspir ing Inspir ing 5
REDUCING INCIDENCE OF HARMFUL ORGANISMS 
LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND PRAYER REPERTOIRES AS IN GHANA'S VEGETABLE EXPORT MARKET 
SOURCES OF AFRICAN VALUES,
SPIRITUALITY AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Ghana's vegetable exports experienced several interception 
notifications between 2012 and 2015, largely due to the 
presence of harmful organisms, specifically quarantine 
The argument that Christian faith is not a matter of Thus, literature, music and prayer repertoires are pests; mostly thrips, whiteflies, fruit flies, false codling moth False Moth White Fly
opinion, but “a	community-building	or	community- not just tools or avenues for African Christians at (FCM) and eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) in 
consignments destined for export to the European Union 
transformative	 appropriation	 of	 the	 very	 deepest	 the grassroots to theologise, but also, sources of (EU).  
poetic	 truth” runs deep in many communities, social mobilisation (religious and/ or social capital) 
provoking the question of how these traditional for community development. Fruit Fly Thrip
spiritual traits and values have survived and  These pests are associated with such vegetables as Capsicum 
modulated within contemporary African (chilli pepper), Solanum (eggplant and aubergine), and the 
It is therefore important to note that such reflective gourds (luffa, bitter and bottle gourds,	i.e,	Luffa,	Momordica,	 The pest management protocols involve the use of farm Christianity.
or grassroots theology is neither a replacement nor and	 Lagenaria, respectively). These organisms, although sanitation, mass trapping of pests using appropriate lures 
and sticky traps for the different species, use of bio-rational 
competitor for academic theology. Rather, when the they do not pose a threat to human health, can cause severe 
With a unique focus on the critical role of poetic economic damage by affecting crop yields. Thus, such insecticides (botanicals and microbials) as well as other two function together, theology acquires an 
elements such as language, literature and oral vegetable produce is banned for export to countries where physically-acting insecticides and less persistent binary authentic character in which scholars and believers 
forms as repositories and vehicles for such these pests are absent or are present but not widespread and synthetic pesticides. 
work together within the same context.
spirituality and values, Dr.	 Rose	 Mary	 Amenga- are under official control.    A survey of existing pest management practices among 
 
Etego and colleagues from the University of Ghana vegetable exporters and their cohort of out-growers 
Within the scope of this project, and as a community engaged in the production value chain was also undertaken, 
(Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye), Ebonyi State 
of theological scholar-practitioners ourselves, Dr. Scientists from the African Regional Postgraduate with two goals:
University (Dr. Ngozi Emeka-Nwobia), Canada (Dr 
Amenga-Etego and her collaborators endeavour to Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) have been engaged in 
Sara Fretheim), and USA (Dr. Paul Onovoh) are 
elucidate the myriad ways in which African writers, a project titled 'Reducing	Incidences	of	Harmful	Pests	 in	
i.     to develop scientific protocols for the management 
examining ‘Literature, Music, and Prayer Ghana's	 Export	 Vegetable	 Sector' with the goal of        of these pests of quarantine importance; and
singers, historians, and lay church people 
Repertoires as Sources of African Values, addressing the ban on export of vegetables to the EU market. ii.   to develop a roadmap for pest reduction in exported
theologise.  
Spirituality, and Christian Theology’ with a grant A team of Entomologists, led by Dr	Ken	Okwae	Fening	of the        vegetables from Ghana to the UK in order to reverse 
Soil and Irrigation Research Centre	and	Dr	Maxwell	Kelvin	
from the African Theological Advance programme.    the ban.     
Billah	 of the Department of Animal Biology and     
Conservation Science,	 in partnership with the GhanaVeg The outcomes of this research provided baseline data for 
Their work bridges theology, social sciences, and Project, the Ghana Association of Vegetable Exporters policy interventions adopted by Ghana's National Plant 
the arts and seeks to make a creative contribution (GAVEX), and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Protection Organization (NPPO), which is the Plant 
have  developed interventions to manage these pests of 
by analyzing selected literary works, gospel songs, Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of 
quarantine importance associated with vegetables from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). It has 
prayers, archival and oral histories, as well as praise Ghana. With funding from the Centre for Development successfully led to the establishment of a roadmap for pest 
poetry from selected societies and individuals in Innovation (CDI), Wageningen, Netherlands, the United reduction in vegetables for export, which is the NPPO's 
Ghana and Nigeria, so as to discern ways in which States Agency for International Development (USAID), the 
approved set of protocols for producing vegetables for 
African Christian spirituality and values are Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) 
export with endorsement from the EU authorities. These 
perceived and expressed by members of these and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale 
communities. Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the project aimed to reduce 
interventions contributed significantly to the lifting of the 
the incidence of harmful pest tainting vegetable produce, ban on the selected vegetables by the EU, and holds promise 
which lead to their rejection or interception during export.   for the vegetable export sector, and indeed for an overall 
increase in the volume of agricultural produce from Ghana.
The literary, liturgical, musical, archival and 
historical works that are being analysed in The research team conducted participatory trials in selected 
combination with interviews, participant exporter out-grower farms in three agro-ecological zones, 
observation and archival studies raise issues of (i.e., the forest, coastal savanna and forest-savanna transition 
gender,  ethnic i ty,  ident i ty,  agency,  and zones), where most vegetables for export are cultivated, and 
colonialism/post-colonialism. The team seeks to high pest pressure exists. These are areas designated as hot 
spots. The research demonstrated that the interventions 
demonstrate the ways in which these linguistic 
which they have developed could offer 100% protection 
works are sources of 'reflective theology' in and of against most of the key pests of quarantine importance 
themselves, while also elucidating the importance encountered in the field. The Integrated Pest Management 
of these oral and written forms as resources for protocols, which involved preventive, monitoring and 
wider theological scholarship. Dr. Sara Fretheim, Dr. Abraham Kwakye & Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego control interventions, were adopted in trials conducted for 
the most commonly intercepted pests (thrips, whiteflies, 
fruit flies, FCM and EFSB) on the three critical commodities 
(eggplant, chillies and gourds). Dr.	Fening	(right)	and	Dr.	Billah	(left)	inspecting	catches	of	FCM	in	
a	delta	trap	in	a	chilli	field
6 Inspir ing Inspir ing 11
Cassava as a Biomaterial Reinforcement EMPOWERING WOMEN BY 
for TISSUE ENGINEERING CREATING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST
Anemia 
Dr. Esi Colecraft
Anemia among reproductive-age women persists as a public health problem, putting many of them at risk of adverse 
health, pregnancy and delivery complications, poor birth outcomes and even death. These outcomes have unfortunate 
implications for their livelihoods and ability to support their families. With complex and multifaceted causes, resolving 
the problem requires multi-disciplinary actions, particularly involving the agriculture, infectious disease control and 
Dr. Elsie Kaufmann nutrition sectors. Since 2016, Dr	Esi	Colecraft, of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, has been collaborating 
with colleagues at the University of Michigan, to address the various and interlocking mechanisms associated with 
anemia prevention. The Pathways to Anemia Prevention project explored agricultural, nutritional, and infectious disease 
Tissue Engineering (TE) is the specialized discipline that combines cells, biomaterials, and suitable biochemical pathways to addressing anemia among women, with a focus on the regions with the highest burden of anemia in Ghana: 
factors to form functional biological substitutes for the restoration, maintenance, or enhancement of tissue the Northern, Volta and Central regions. 
function. One major component in many TE processes is the use of scaffolds developed from natural or synthetic 
biomaterials to serve as support for cells as they promote cellular activity and tissue growth. A required critical In 2018, the Pathways project team with collaborators from the University of Michigan, Innovations for Poverty Action 
property of tissue engineering scaffolds is their ability to provide mechanical strength and structural support for (IPA), Netherlands Development Agency (SNV), and Viamo received additional funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates 
cells during tissue development. In recent times, natural fibres have become interesting targets as novel 
Foundation (BMGF) and the Department for International Development (DFID) for a follow-up study titled: The	Invisible	
biomaterials for the development of tissue engineered fibre-reinforced scaffolds due to their low cost, availability, 
Fishers:	Empowering	and	Safeguarding	Women	in	Fisheries	Value	Chains	in	Ghana	to	Reduce	Anemia.	
eco-friendliness, good mechanical strength, and potential ability to safely degrade inside a living host.
This latter study builds on specific key insights from the Pathways project, including the fact that the fisheries value chain 
Cassava bagasse is a waste by-product of industrial cassava starch extraction. Despite being waste, the bagasse 
contains a considerable amount of natural cellulose fibres that are a potential novel biomaterial for developing (post-fish landing) in Ghana is dominated by women, although they 
tissue engineering scaffolds. Before a novel material can be successfully introduced in tissue engineering, however, remain largely invisible. The biomass-based fish-smoking livelihoods 
it must be characterized to understand, among other things, its mechanical, physicochemical, thermal, and predisposes women to anemia due to changes in iron metabolism 
microstructural properties. This is one of the objectives of Dr.	Elsie	Effah	Kaufmann's research in the Department associated with chronic smoke inhalation, and that anemia-related 
of Biomedical Engineering, where she seeks to develop novel biomaterials from waste products, and to social behaviour change education is needed to address knowledge and 
characterize the fibres in cassava bagasse in order to provide the necessary material properties needed for the cultural barriers to anemia prevention. 
exploitation of the fibres for use in the fabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering.
The Invisible Fishers project is piloting the feasibility of intervention 
Dr. Kaufmann and her colleagues have isolated and characterized some material properties (mechanical, thermal, strategies for addressing anemia among women engaged in fish-
physicochemical and microstructure) of cassava cellulose fibres and demonstrated the use of these fibres as smoking livelihoods in the Volta and Central regions of Ghana. In each 
reinforcement in gelatin composite scaffolds. Their recent work has indicated that cassava fibre has reasonable region, six fishing communities were selected, and ten women with 
mechanical strength and resilience comparable to other natural fibres and further demonstrated an improvement small- to medium-scale fish-smoking enterprises have been chosen 
in mechanical properties over pure gelatin scaffolds when cassava cellulose microfibres are used as reinforcing (from each of these communities) to participate in the study. 
biomaterial. 
For the 120 women fish smokers in the twelve communities, three 
Their research provides critical data for consideration in the evaluation of new biomaterials to enable biomedical 
intervention strategies (packages) are being tested, over a nine-month 
engineers develop mathematical models and biomechanical simulations to predict the behaviour of the cassava 
cellulose fibres for in	vivo applications. The research therefore bridges a knowledge gap regarding the material period: 
properties of cassava fibres and promotes cassava fibre as a potential biomaterial for applications in biomedical A)  anemia-based social behaviour change education delivered via         
engineering. mobile voice messages; 
B)  discounted micro-loans with entrepreneurship training; and; 
Given the large quantities of cassava bagasse that typically go to waste in industrial starch manufacturing and the 
low cost of cassava, this work has potentially significant commercial and economic impact. Dr. Effah Kaufmann’s C)   introduction  of improved smoking oven technology                                      
research also proffers strategies for the use of cassava fibre in wound healing and tissue culture applications. (Ahotor oven) and associated practices.                                   
The experimental study randomly assigns the following three 
package sets to two communities in each region:
Group	1: Package A ONLY (education only)  
Group	2: Package A PLUS Package B (education plus micro- loans with entrepreneurship training)                                      
Group	3: Package A PLUS Package C (education plus smoking over technology)   
The findings from this pilot work are intended to inform a national level study, refining intervention strategies and 
Cassava Tubers Cassava Fibres Cassava Cellulose-gelatin
Composite Scaffold design/implementation of data collection processes for a future full-scale study.
10 Inspir ing Inspir ing 7
A SOCIAL AFFLICTION: A SOCIAL MEDIA INTERVENTION -   
IMPROVING EARLY CASE DETECTION OF  BURULI ULCER IN GHANA AND COTE D'IVOIRE
Images of Buruli ulcer sufferers, seen on both local This novel method was presented by the team at the The main research project aims to determine 
and international media, reveal the devastating March 2019 biennial conference on Buruli ulcer in these unique Buruli ulcer metabolites, which can 
effects of a disease that affects already vulnerable Geneva. The World Health Organization's (WHO) then be further developed into efficient, field 
societies. Despite the social stigma attached to the Technical Advisory Committee has made early applicable and easy to use diagnostic tools. 
disease, interventions to arrest its spread and cure detection and antibiotic treatment a core strategy for 
patients have been challenged by lack of access and tackling the disease. To confirm the status of the disease from a 
information for early detection and treatment. suspected Buruli ulcer patient, involves a tedious 
The work of Dr. Mosi and her colleagues in the two sampling process, followed by the transfer of the 
Buruli ulcer is caused by a bacterium called most affected countries in West Africa, Ghana and samples to a reference facility. Appropriate 
Mycobacterium	 ulcerans and manifests either as a Cote d'Ivoire, received funding from a GCRF-MRC facilities for testing samples are generally absent 
boil-like lesion called a nodule, or with parts of the grant, with support from the National Buruli ulcer from the communities where patients reside. Less 
skin being discolored and firm (referred to as control programmes in both Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. than 50% of samples taken actually reach a 
plaque). Other manifestations are a non-pitting Dr. Lydia Mosi reference laboratory, and an even lower 
oedema (i.e., a swelling of mostly the lower or upper During Buruli ulcer infections, it is expected that the proportion of the results from tested samples 
limbs) that leaves a clear impression when interaction of the pathogen and skin cells will reach a rural health facility to trigger treatment. 
depressed, and open undermined lesions referred to facilitate the production of specific metabolites.     
as ulcers. This bacterium uniquely produces a lipid The number of suspected and confirmed cases of 
toxin (mycolactone) that is responsible for the Buruli ulcer identified in the active case district of 
progression and extensive destruction of the skin the study showed the prevalence of Buruli ulcer in 
and soft tissues. In some cases, these ulcers invade up the Amansie Central District in Ghana to be high, 
to a third of the total body surface of affected but the lack of effective case identification and 
individuals.  confirmation has hampered the identification of 
these cases. Use of the WhatsApp® group 
Most Buruli ulcer cases in Ghana are found in remote platform demonstrated that it is possible to 
and rural parts of the country where appropriate establish a case identification and surveillance 
care is limited due to an overstretched health system in real time, which can also be used for 
delivery service. The challenges of health care monitoring case confirmation, treatment and 
delivery in many developing countries mean that treatment outcomes.
interventions to effectively estimate the burden of 
the disease for measured deployment is lacking. Poor The use of technology will enable health care 
understanding of the mode of transmission of the providers to reach wider audiences to offer low-
pathogen from endemic aquatic environments to cost opportunities to connect through social 
humans and other mammals in affected communities media platforms with populations on a large scale. 
compounds the Buruli ulcer menace. Other functional benefits of the use of smart 
phones include the potential for real-time 
Dr.	 Lydia	 Mosi, Head of the Department of monitoring of the disease, identification and 
Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology has, for over a feedback of health indicators, real-time usage, and 
decade, been at the forefront of the charge to data being automatically generated within most 
understand the epidemiology and biology of this technology platforms all  of  which are 
debilitating skin infection. Working with a team of advantageous for evaluation purposes. 
scientists, on the transmission, pathogenesis and 
diagnosis of the pathogen and its infections, her goal The	use	of	the	WhatsApp	
is to achieve early laboratory confirmation of the 
infection in order to facilitate the use of efficient platform	on	smart	phones
antibiotics for treatment. Dr. Mosi and her colleagues “ has	provided	an	easy	
have identified a novel, yet easy and efficient method and	efficient	method	to	
to detect cases in rural communities using the 
WhatsApp platform on smart phones.  detect	cases	in	rural	
Sharing	and	coding	of	patient	lesions	on	WhatsApp®	platforms	(Ghana	and	Cote	d'Ivoire) communities.	
8 Inspir ing Inspir ing 9
“
A SOCIAL AFFLICTION: A SOCIAL MEDIA INTERVENTION -   
IMPROVING EARLY CASE DETECTION OF  BURULI ULCER IN GHANA AND COTE D'IVOIRE
Images of Buruli ulcer sufferers, seen on both local This novel method was presented by the team at the The main research project aims to determine 
and international media, reveal the devastating March 2019 biennial conference on Buruli ulcer in these unique Buruli ulcer metabolites, which can 
effects of a disease that affects already vulnerable Geneva. The World Health Organization's (WHO) then be further developed into efficient, field 
societies. Despite the social stigma attached to the Technical Advisory Committee has made early applicable and easy to use diagnostic tools. 
disease, interventions to arrest its spread and cure detection and antibiotic treatment a core strategy for 
patients have been challenged by lack of access and tackling the disease. To confirm the status of the disease from a 
information for early detection and treatment. suspected Buruli ulcer patient, involves a tedious 
The work of Dr. Mosi and her colleagues in the two sampling process, followed by the transfer of the 
Buruli ulcer is caused by a bacterium called most affected countries in West Africa, Ghana and samples to a reference facility. Appropriate 
Mycobacterium	 ulcerans and manifests either as a Cote d'Ivoire, received funding from a GCRF-MRC facilities for testing samples are generally absent 
boil-like lesion called a nodule, or with parts of the grant, with support from the National Buruli ulcer from the communities where patients reside. Less 
skin being discolored and firm (referred to as control programmes in both Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. than 50% of samples taken actually reach a 
plaque). Other manifestations are a non-pitting Dr. Lydia Mosi reference laboratory, and an even lower 
oedema (i.e., a swelling of mostly the lower or upper During Buruli ulcer infections, it is expected that the proportion of the results from tested samples 
limbs) that leaves a clear impression when interaction of the pathogen and skin cells will reach a rural health facility to trigger treatment. 
depressed, and open undermined lesions referred to facilitate the production of specific metabolites.     
as ulcers. This bacterium uniquely produces a lipid The number of suspected and confirmed cases of 
toxin (mycolactone) that is responsible for the Buruli ulcer identified in the active case district of 
progression and extensive destruction of the skin the study showed the prevalence of Buruli ulcer in 
and soft tissues. In some cases, these ulcers invade up the Amansie Central District in Ghana to be high, 
to a third of the total body surface of affected but the lack of effective case identification and 
individuals.  confirmation has hampered the identification of 
these cases. Use of the WhatsApp® group 
Most Buruli ulcer cases in Ghana are found in remote platform demonstrated that it is possible to 
and rural parts of the country where appropriate establish a case identification and surveillance 
care is limited due to an overstretched health system in real time, which can also be used for 
delivery service. The challenges of health care monitoring case confirmation, treatment and 
delivery in many developing countries mean that treatment outcomes.
interventions to effectively estimate the burden of 
the disease for measured deployment is lacking. Poor The use of technology will enable health care 
understanding of the mode of transmission of the providers to reach wider audiences to offer low-
pathogen from endemic aquatic environments to cost opportunities to connect through social 
humans and other mammals in affected communities media platforms with populations on a large scale. 
compounds the Buruli ulcer menace. Other functional benefits of the use of smart 
phones include the potential for real-time 
Dr.	 Lydia	 Mosi, Head of the Department of monitoring of the disease, identification and 
Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology has, for over a feedback of health indicators, real-time usage, and 
decade, been at the forefront of the charge to data being automatically generated within most 
understand the epidemiology and biology of this technology platforms all  of  which are 
debilitating skin infection. Working with a team of advantageous for evaluation purposes. 
scientists, on the transmission, pathogenesis and 
diagnosis of the pathogen and its infections, her goal The	use	of	the	WhatsApp	
is to achieve early laboratory confirmation of the 
infection in order to facilitate the use of efficient platform	on	smart	phones
antibiotics for treatment. Dr. Mosi and her colleagues “ has	provided	an	easy	
have identified a novel, yet easy and efficient method and	efficient	method	to	
to detect cases in rural communities using the 
WhatsApp platform on smart phones.  detect	cases	in	rural	
Sharing	and	coding	of	patient	lesions	on	WhatsApp®	platforms	(Ghana	and	Cote	d'Ivoire) communities.	
8 Inspir ing Inspir ing 9
“
Cassava as a Biomaterial Reinforcement EMPOWERING WOMEN BY 
for TISSUE ENGINEERING CREATING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST
Anemia 
Dr. Esi Colecraft
Anemia among reproductive-age women persists as a public health problem, putting many of them at risk of adverse 
health, pregnancy and delivery complications, poor birth outcomes and even death. These outcomes have unfortunate 
implications for their livelihoods and ability to support their families. With complex and multifaceted causes, resolving 
the problem requires multi-disciplinary actions, particularly involving the agriculture, infectious disease control and 
Dr. Elsie Kaufmann nutrition sectors. Since 2016, Dr	Esi	Colecraft, of the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, has been collaborating 
with colleagues at the University of Michigan, to address the various and interlocking mechanisms associated with 
anemia prevention. The Pathways to Anemia Prevention project explored agricultural, nutritional, and infectious disease 
Tissue Engineering (TE) is the specialized discipline that combines cells, biomaterials, and suitable biochemical pathways to addressing anemia among women, with a focus on the regions with the highest burden of anemia in Ghana: 
factors to form functional biological substitutes for the restoration, maintenance, or enhancement of tissue the Northern, Volta and Central regions. 
function. One major component in many TE processes is the use of scaffolds developed from natural or synthetic 
biomaterials to serve as support for cells as they promote cellular activity and tissue growth. A required critical In 2018, the Pathways project team with collaborators from the University of Michigan, Innovations for Poverty Action 
property of tissue engineering scaffolds is their ability to provide mechanical strength and structural support for (IPA), Netherlands Development Agency (SNV), and Viamo received additional funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates 
cells during tissue development. In recent times, natural fibres have become interesting targets as novel 
Foundation (BMGF) and the Department for International Development (DFID) for a follow-up study titled: The	Invisible	
biomaterials for the development of tissue engineered fibre-reinforced scaffolds due to their low cost, availability, 
Fishers:	Empowering	and	Safeguarding	Women	in	Fisheries	Value	Chains	in	Ghana	to	Reduce	Anemia.	
eco-friendliness, good mechanical strength, and potential ability to safely degrade inside a living host.
This latter study builds on specific key insights from the Pathways project, including the fact that the fisheries value chain 
Cassava bagasse is a waste by-product of industrial cassava starch extraction. Despite being waste, the bagasse 
contains a considerable amount of natural cellulose fibres that are a potential novel biomaterial for developing (post-fish landing) in Ghana is dominated by women, although they 
tissue engineering scaffolds. Before a novel material can be successfully introduced in tissue engineering, however, remain largely invisible. The biomass-based fish-smoking livelihoods 
it must be characterized to understand, among other things, its mechanical, physicochemical, thermal, and predisposes women to anemia due to changes in iron metabolism 
microstructural properties. This is one of the objectives of Dr.	Elsie	Effah	Kaufmann's research in the Department associated with chronic smoke inhalation, and that anemia-related 
of Biomedical Engineering, where she seeks to develop novel biomaterials from waste products, and to social behaviour change education is needed to address knowledge and 
characterize the fibres in cassava bagasse in order to provide the necessary material properties needed for the cultural barriers to anemia prevention. 
exploitation of the fibres for use in the fabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering.
The Invisible Fishers project is piloting the feasibility of intervention 
Dr. Kaufmann and her colleagues have isolated and characterized some material properties (mechanical, thermal, strategies for addressing anemia among women engaged in fish-
physicochemical and microstructure) of cassava cellulose fibres and demonstrated the use of these fibres as smoking livelihoods in the Volta and Central regions of Ghana. In each 
reinforcement in gelatin composite scaffolds. Their recent work has indicated that cassava fibre has reasonable region, six fishing communities were selected, and ten women with 
mechanical strength and resilience comparable to other natural fibres and further demonstrated an improvement small- to medium-scale fish-smoking enterprises have been chosen 
in mechanical properties over pure gelatin scaffolds when cassava cellulose microfibres are used as reinforcing (from each of these communities) to participate in the study. 
biomaterial. 
For the 120 women fish smokers in the twelve communities, three 
Their research provides critical data for consideration in the evaluation of new biomaterials to enable biomedical 
intervention strategies (packages) are being tested, over a nine-month 
engineers develop mathematical models and biomechanical simulations to predict the behaviour of the cassava 
cellulose fibres for in	vivo applications. The research therefore bridges a knowledge gap regarding the material period: 
properties of cassava fibres and promotes cassava fibre as a potential biomaterial for applications in biomedical A)  anemia-based social behaviour change education delivered via         
engineering. mobile voice messages; 
B)  discounted micro-loans with entrepreneurship training; and; 
Given the large quantities of cassava bagasse that typically go to waste in industrial starch manufacturing and the 
low cost of cassava, this work has potentially significant commercial and economic impact. Dr. Effah Kaufmann’s C)   introduction  of improved smoking oven technology                                      
research also proffers strategies for the use of cassava fibre in wound healing and tissue culture applications. (Ahotor oven) and associated practices.                                   
The experimental study randomly assigns the following three 
package sets to two communities in each region:
Group	1: Package A ONLY (education only)  
Group	2: Package A PLUS Package B (education plus micro- loans with entrepreneurship training)                                      
Group	3: Package A PLUS Package C (education plus smoking over technology)   
The findings from this pilot work are intended to inform a national level study, refining intervention strategies and 
Cassava Tubers Cassava Fibres Cassava Cellulose-gelatin
Composite Scaffold design/implementation of data collection processes for a future full-scale study.
10 Inspir ing Inspir ing 7
REDUCING INCIDENCE OF HARMFUL ORGANISMS 
LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND PRAYER REPERTOIRES AS IN GHANA'S VEGETABLE EXPORT MARKET 
SOURCES OF AFRICAN VALUES,
SPIRITUALITY AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Ghana's vegetable exports experienced several interception 
notifications between 2012 and 2015, largely due to the 
presence of harmful organisms, specifically quarantine 
The argument that Christian faith is not a matter of Thus, literature, music and prayer repertoires are pests; mostly thrips, whiteflies, fruit flies, false codling moth False Moth White Fly
opinion, but “a	community-building	or	community- not just tools or avenues for African Christians at (FCM) and eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) in 
consignments destined for export to the European Union 
transformative	 appropriation	 of	 the	 very	 deepest	 the grassroots to theologise, but also, sources of (EU).  
poetic	 truth” runs deep in many communities, social mobilisation (religious and/ or social capital) 
provoking the question of how these traditional for community development. Fruit Fly Thrip
spiritual traits and values have survived and  These pests are associated with such vegetables as Capsicum 
modulated within contemporary African (chilli pepper), Solanum (eggplant and aubergine), and the 
It is therefore important to note that such reflective gourds (luffa, bitter and bottle gourds,	i.e,	Luffa,	Momordica,	 The pest management protocols involve the use of farm Christianity.
or grassroots theology is neither a replacement nor and	 Lagenaria, respectively). These organisms, although sanitation, mass trapping of pests using appropriate lures 
and sticky traps for the different species, use of bio-rational 
competitor for academic theology. Rather, when the they do not pose a threat to human health, can cause severe 
With a unique focus on the critical role of poetic economic damage by affecting crop yields. Thus, such insecticides (botanicals and microbials) as well as other two function together, theology acquires an 
elements such as language, literature and oral vegetable produce is banned for export to countries where physically-acting insecticides and less persistent binary authentic character in which scholars and believers 
forms as repositories and vehicles for such these pests are absent or are present but not widespread and synthetic pesticides. 
work together within the same context.
spirituality and values, Dr.	 Rose	 Mary	 Amenga- are under official control.    A survey of existing pest management practices among 
 
Etego and colleagues from the University of Ghana vegetable exporters and their cohort of out-growers 
Within the scope of this project, and as a community engaged in the production value chain was also undertaken, 
(Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye), Ebonyi State 
of theological scholar-practitioners ourselves, Dr. Scientists from the African Regional Postgraduate with two goals:
University (Dr. Ngozi Emeka-Nwobia), Canada (Dr 
Amenga-Etego and her collaborators endeavour to Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) have been engaged in 
Sara Fretheim), and USA (Dr. Paul Onovoh) are 
elucidate the myriad ways in which African writers, a project titled 'Reducing	Incidences	of	Harmful	Pests	 in	
i.     to develop scientific protocols for the management 
examining ‘Literature, Music, and Prayer Ghana's	 Export	 Vegetable	 Sector' with the goal of        of these pests of quarantine importance; and
singers, historians, and lay church people 
Repertoires as Sources of African Values, addressing the ban on export of vegetables to the EU market. ii.   to develop a roadmap for pest reduction in exported
theologise.  
Spirituality, and Christian Theology’ with a grant A team of Entomologists, led by Dr	Ken	Okwae	Fening	of the        vegetables from Ghana to the UK in order to reverse 
Soil and Irrigation Research Centre	and	Dr	Maxwell	Kelvin	
from the African Theological Advance programme.    the ban.     
Billah	 of the Department of Animal Biology and     
Conservation Science,	 in partnership with the GhanaVeg The outcomes of this research provided baseline data for 
Their work bridges theology, social sciences, and Project, the Ghana Association of Vegetable Exporters policy interventions adopted by Ghana's National Plant 
the arts and seeks to make a creative contribution (GAVEX), and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Protection Organization (NPPO), which is the Plant 
have  developed interventions to manage these pests of 
by analyzing selected literary works, gospel songs, Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of 
quarantine importance associated with vegetables from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). It has 
prayers, archival and oral histories, as well as praise Ghana. With funding from the Centre for Development successfully led to the establishment of a roadmap for pest 
poetry from selected societies and individuals in Innovation (CDI), Wageningen, Netherlands, the United reduction in vegetables for export, which is the NPPO's 
Ghana and Nigeria, so as to discern ways in which States Agency for International Development (USAID), the 
approved set of protocols for producing vegetables for 
African Christian spirituality and values are Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) 
export with endorsement from the EU authorities. These 
perceived and expressed by members of these and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale 
communities. Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the project aimed to reduce 
interventions contributed significantly to the lifting of the 
the incidence of harmful pest tainting vegetable produce, ban on the selected vegetables by the EU, and holds promise 
which lead to their rejection or interception during export.   for the vegetable export sector, and indeed for an overall 
increase in the volume of agricultural produce from Ghana.
The literary, liturgical, musical, archival and 
historical works that are being analysed in The research team conducted participatory trials in selected 
combination with interviews, participant exporter out-grower farms in three agro-ecological zones, 
observation and archival studies raise issues of (i.e., the forest, coastal savanna and forest-savanna transition 
gender,  ethnic i ty,  ident i ty,  agency,  and zones), where most vegetables for export are cultivated, and 
colonialism/post-colonialism. The team seeks to high pest pressure exists. These are areas designated as hot 
spots. The research demonstrated that the interventions 
demonstrate the ways in which these linguistic 
which they have developed could offer 100% protection 
works are sources of 'reflective theology' in and of against most of the key pests of quarantine importance 
themselves, while also elucidating the importance encountered in the field. The Integrated Pest Management 
of these oral and written forms as resources for protocols, which involved preventive, monitoring and 
wider theological scholarship. Dr. Sara Fretheim, Dr. Abraham Kwakye & Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego control interventions, were adopted in trials conducted for 
the most commonly intercepted pests (thrips, whiteflies, 
fruit flies, FCM and EFSB) on the three critical commodities 
(eggplant, chillies and gourds). Dr.	Fening	(right)	and	Dr.	Billah	(left)	inspecting	catches	of	FCM	in	
a	delta	trap	in	a	chilli	field
6 Inspir ing Inspir ing 11
Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is highly 
regulated with approval regimes for drug 
therapies subjected to extensive pre-clinical and 
clinical trials. While the rigorous nature of clinical 
trials provides a safety net for end users, the use of 
approved drugs in a particular jurisdiction does 
not necessarily translate into safe use in other 
populations. According to Professor Appiah-
Opong, these dynamics raise questions about the 
generalized applicability of drugs approved by 
authorities in other parts of the world. 
Morinda	Lucida She is also collaborating with colleagues at the 
University of Ghana and the University of 
Washington, Bothell, in research on genes of 
Although the interaction potential of drugs is CYP3A4 drug metabolising enzymes to identify 
assessed during pre-clinical studies in developed differences in Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms 
countries, for instance by the Food and Drug (SNPs) between Caucasian and Ghanaian 
Administration in the USA, this is not typical in many ethnicities, and is seeking funding to extend her 
developing countries. Neither is the evaluation of the work to different ethnic groups in West Africa with 
drug-food interaction potential a conventional study the goal of determining:
norm of regulatory bodies. It would appear that 
reports on the drug interaction potential with i. The effect of drugs approved and tested   in
natural products are hardly requirements of safety        other countries on Ghanaians
assessments of drug manufacturers.  ii. Plant-based medicines and foods that
       interact with conventional medicines 
Professor	 Regina	 Appiah-Opong, Head of the 
Department of Clinical Pathology at the Noguchi Ultimately, her goal is to create awareness and 
Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), is establish in Ghana, the means of screening drugs, 
extremely passionate about this subject and has drug candidates, plant medicines and food for 
devoted much of her working life to biomedical drug interaction potential. This is to safeguard 
r e s e a r c h .  W o r k i n g  i n  t h e  f i e l d  o f  public health and support the efforts of 
toxicology/pharmacology, where drug-metabolizing pharmaceutical industries.  She seeks to develop 
enzymes are employed in evaluating drug candidates appropriate medical protocols for imported drugs 
and provide education to maximise the effects of 
as part of pre-clinical studies on these drug 
drugs and other therapies through nutrition. 
candidates, Professor Appiah-Opong is exploring the 
interactions between conventional drugs, herbs and 
foods. Her particular interest in drug-drug/drug-
herb/drug-food interactions, pharmacokinetics, 
pharmacogenomics, drug discovery, antioxidants 
and environmental contaminants (heavy metals, 
aflatoxins), has seen her collaborate extensively with 
domestic and international partners. Professor 
Appiah-Opong's current work has focused on anti-
cancer and anti-malarial agents,  and her 
collaboration with colleagues in Japan and Ghana has 
resulted in a filed patent on an anti-typanosomiasis 
agent. She has played a major role in the construction 
of a DNA cassette vector that is useful for drug Moringa	Oliefera
susceptibility testing of anti-HIV protease inhibitor 
drugs. 
12 Inspir ing Inspir ing 5
CONVENTIONAL DRUGS, PLANT MEDICINES AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF	
AND FOODS: SOCIAL	MARKETING	IN GHANA (IASMG)  
The deleterious effects of smoking are widely known; with Africa the greatest laggard of all world regions and 
with arguably the lowest level of medical technology to address the associated problems, the question of how to 
temper the spread of the problem is urgent. Particularly among adolescents, whose life habits are now being 
shaped and who are susceptible to peer-influence to make choices that are frequently contrary to their own best 
A Complementary Combination?  interests, the problem is immediately salient. Dr.	Naa	Dodua	Dodoo and Dr.	Adriana	Biney, at the Regional Institute of Population Studies (RIPS), are leading a team at the University of Ghana to partner with collaborators 
at Tulane University in the USA, on a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) funded project to investigate 
how social marketing can help dissuade adolescents from smoking. 
Plant medicines are patronized by about 80% of Africans and are generally considered safe remedies 
that may be ingested over long periods of time. For many people, plant medicines are first-line The BMGF Tobacco Control Programme incorporates social marketing as a core activity to highlight policy 
remedies. Scientific investigations have revealed, however that the concurrent intake of some plant changes and improve Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to youth smoking. One initiative of the 
medicines and conventional drugs can result in therapeutic failure or drug toxicity. A classic example programme is a SKY Girls campaign implemented in Botswana, Uganda and Ghana. This initiative is based on the 
regards the intake of ginseng, which has been reported to increase physical stamina and alertness, understanding that although girls are aware of the health harms of tobacco, social inclusion is everything to them 
and is linked to a complex process of finding their identity. The project in Ghana therefore centers its principles 
when taken with several conventional drugs for example, those substrates of a particular catalyst, such 
around activities that are important to young girls (music and fashion, for example), and on ideals that will keep 
as Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Examples of drugs metabolised by CYP3A4 include cyclosporin 
them grounded and able to make the right choices concerning life in general and smoking in particular. 
and acetaminophen (paracetamol). When such conventional drugs are taken together with CYP3A4 
substrates, it appears to cause a rapid breakdown of the drugs which, in turn, generally translates into The IASMG evaluated the SKY Girls Campaign in Ghana with the following objectives:
the therapeutic failure or ineffectiveness of these conventional drugs. This can also result in further         Measuring the effectiveness of the combined and individual media interventions of SKY Girls on smoking 
adverse effects if the broken-down products or newly formed ones are harmful.         attitudes, norms, intentions, tobacco use and prevention of smoking uptake 
        Calculating the cost-effectiveness of the different media interventions of SKY Girls relative to other  
Similarly, consumption of some foods while taking conventional drugs has the potential to also result         smoking 
in adverse outcomes. For instance, eating of cruciferous vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage and         prevention and cessation interventions, such as multi-component, community-based interventions, other 
broccoli, increases the breakdown or biotransformation of acetaminophen; thus, effectiveness of the         forms of mass media (e.g., public health messaging, billboards, advertisements), or school-based 
drug is reduced by eating such foods.         interventions, and
Enhancing understanding of the links between exposure to communication and behaviour change by
clarifying the mechanisms through which the specific health communication activities affect tobacco
outcomes.
“Advertising	campaignshighlight	smoking	
as	a	sign	of	affluence.
Dr.	Naa	Dodua	Dodoo (third	from	right) and Dr.	Adriana	Biney	(third	from	left)
Based on an experimental design with a panel of follow-up phone interviews of a sub-sample of the 
adolescents in areas around the Ayawaso West survey respondents. 
Wuogon Constituency of Accra (treatment area), 
Kumasi and Teshie (partial treatment area) and Finally, an endline survey was conducted between 
Sunyani (control), a baseline survey of 7000 November 2018 and January 2019. Preliminary 
adolescents was conducted between March and findings indicate that most of the girls who were 
May, 2017. Subsequently, the various components exposed to the intervention indicated that SKY had 
of the SKY Girls Campaign were rolled out by a helped them to feel more empowered, aspirational, 
partner advertising company. This included a bi- socially connected and have a greater sense of future 
monthly magazine distributed in schools, two orientation. In addition, greater exposure to SKY 
movies available for free, visits to schools by interventions increased perceptions that smoking 
various role models popular with young people, shisha is not 'cool' and increased knowledge of the 
SKY clubs instituted in some schools, a SKY theme health consequences of shisha and tobacco.
song, SKY social media channels, a SKY WhatsApp 
group, a weekly radio programme, a SKY truck that Further analyses of the initiative is continuing in 
visited various neighborhoods and schools, text order to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of the 
Prof. Regina Appiah-Opong messages to adolescents, a Vlog, and occasional different media interventions, and promises to 
SKY parties at various malls. During the campaign, evolve into a scaled-up study of young women's 
which lasted 18 months, there were bi-monthly empowerment, that clarifies links between 
communication and behavior change.
4 Inspir ing Inspir ing 13
“
FUNDING NEWS
GARBAGE-IN, ENERGY-OUT:
ST	 ST	
1		FEBRUARY	TO	31		MAY	2019 VALORISING PLASTIC
WASTE IN GHANA
ORIGINATING
UNIT
Plastics, which are basically long hydrocarbon-
Department of chained compounds synthesized from petroleum 
Crop Science
products, have become very popular because of their 
unmatched usability, wide range of application, non-
degradable nature and low cost. In Ghana, the 
Department of 
Population, Family and estimation is that over 1.7 million tonnes of plastics 
Reproduction Health
are used annually. The ever-increasing demand has 
also resulted in a huge amount of plastic waste, and 
due to disposal challenges, pose a serious threat to These issues are precisely what preoccupy 
Department of 
Marketing and the environment, waterways, water bodies and Dr.	David	Dodoo-Arhin of the Department of 
Entrepreneurship farmlands. The greater risk of plastic pollution to Materials Science and Engineering and his 
general human health has become a major global colleagues, as they explore the conversion of 
concern. plastic waste into liquid fuel and gas, as well 
as their potential utilization in light-duty 
As a result, the implementation of prudent plastic engines. Their early studies, supported by 
waste management and valorisation systems is the University of Ghana BANGA-Africa seed 
Department of 
Economics imperative to minimize these adverse environmental grant fellowship, in collaboration with CNRS 
impacts. Recycling, reusing, incineration and energy Centré RAPSODEE of Ecole de Mines d'Albi-
recovery are the main techniques of plastic waste Carmaux, France, are already yielding very 
School of Nursing management. Energy recovery is a promising route promising results, as they explore further 
Midwifery for converting waste material into useful energy funding opportunities to scale up their 
products; the most commonly used method of research and engage trans-disciplinary 
energy recovery is thermal cracking (Pyrolysis), approaches to valorising plastic waste in 
Department of
Psychology which produces liquid and gaseous fuel products Ghana.
with high energy values. 
Department of With the exponential growth in industries as well as 
Economics
in population, the demand for energy, which is 
mostly petroleum-fuel based has likewise increased. 
Department of Coupled with the ever-increasing world price of 
Population, Family and 
Reproduction Health crude oil, the resultant search for alternate energy 
resources can be mitigated by the recycling and 
conversion of the infinitely growing plastic waste 
Office of Research, into energy to diversify the energy resource. 
Innovation and 
Development
Department of 
Biological, Environmental
and Occupational Health
14 Inspir ing Inspir ing 3
C
O
BUDGET
FUNDER UG	LEAD ORIGINATING PROJECT	TITLE ALLOCATED
UNIT TO	UG
Social Sciences and 
3 10 Humanities Research Prof. Kodzo Gavua Department of Improving African Futures CAD 59,500.00Council (SSHRC) through Dr. Wazi Ray Apoh Archaeology and Using Lessons from the Past
N Heritage StudiesCassava	as	a	Biomaterial	 University of VictoriaGarbage-in,	Energy-out:Valorising	Plastic	Waste	in	Ghana Reinforcement	for	Tissue	Engineering Institute of 
Prof. Dzodzi Other Universals: Theorizing from The Andrew Mellon W.  African Studies R 1,603,436.93
Tsikata Post-colonial Locations on Politics 
Foundation and Aesthetics
Legon Centre for Women and Political Participation in Africa: 
The Andrew Mellon W.  Dr. Jennifer 
International Affairs A Comparative Study of the Representation USD 500,000.00
Foundation Amanda Coffie
T and Diplomacy and Roles of Female Chiefs
The Cambridge A Clash of Kingdoms: Isolation of Indigenous 
Dr. Winfred-Peck Department of
Africa-ALBORADA Entomopathogenic Fungi against the Fall 
Dorleku Biochemistry, Cell and 
USD 8,787.00
Research Fund Armyworm and Unravlling the Molecular Molecular Biology
Signature of Insect-fungus Interactions
E The Regents of the Prof. Augustine Department of Strengthening population size estimates USD 40,605.00University of California Ankomah Population, Family and for key populations in Ghana4 Reproduction HealthConventional	Drugs,	Plant	Medicines 8 A	Social	Affliction:	A	Social	Media	 The Secretary of State 
for Health, UK through Prof. Gordon West Africa Centre and	Foods:	A	Complementary Intervention	 Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) GBP 244,650.00the University Court of the for Cell Biology of Awandare
Combination? Infectious Pathogens University of Edinburgh, UK (Amendment 3)
(WACCBIP)
N UK Research and Innovation GCRF South-South Migration, Inequality and through Coventry University Prof. Joseph Teye Centre for Migration GBP 823,024.006 Literature,	Music	and	Prayer: 12 Antimicrobial	Resistance:	 Studies Development HubRepositories	of	African	Values,	 Addressing	an	Emerged	Global
Spirituality	and	Theology Problem	with	Local	Solutions Societal Transformation and Climate 
Universities Canada through Change: Training the next generation of Prof. Yaa Centre for African CAD 3,564.00
7 Empowering	Women	by	Creating 13 An	Impact	Assessment	of	Social Carleton University Ntiamoa-Baidu scholars in sub-Saharan Africa and Canada Wetlands (NextGen Climate Change Advanced Scholars) 
Safeguards	against	Anemia Marketing	in	Ghana	(IASMG)
T 11 Reducing	Incidence	of	Harmful	 14 Funding	News Institute for World Resources Prof. Kwasi Environment and Managing resilience, restoration USD 50,000.00Organisms	in	Ghana’s	Vegetable	 Institute Appeaning Addo Sanitation Studies & infrastructure of coastlines.
Export	Market 16 (IESS)Awards/Appointments
West Africa Centre 
National Institute of Health Prof. Gordon Hearing Impairment Genetic USD 39,443.00
for Cell Biology of 
S through the University of  Awandare Infectious Pathogens Studies in Africa (HI-GENES Africa)Cape Town (WACCBIP)
2 Inspir ing Inspir ing 15
AWARDS/APPOINTMENTS
EDITORIAL 
 Dr.	 Kwaku	 Kyeremeh of the  The Director of the Institute for This second issue of 'Inspiring	UG' features a compilation of articles that reflect the diversity and 
Department of Chemistry has been Environment and Sanitation scope of research underway at the University of Ghana (UG). The publication characterizes UG's 
awarded the prestigious Medical Studies (IESS), Professor	 Kwasi	 quest to intensify research and build capacity across all spheres of scientific endeavour. 
Research Council (MRC)/UK Appeaning	 Addo  has  been 
Department for International appointed a member of the Expert The selection of research in this issue encompasses the humanities, applied sciences and medicine, 
Development (DFID) African Group of the High Level Panel for a and demonstrates the impact of adding value to basic resources, the benefits of engaging local 
Research  Leader  Award  2018  for Sustainable Ocean Economy.  communities for solutions to health care challenges and the rooting of religious and behavioural 
his project 'Development of Novel Therapeutics for  The Panel is supported by the United Nations Special Envoy practices in poetry among others.
Parasite Infections and Cancer by Multi-step Microbial for the Ocean, and is made up of 14 Heads of Government. 
Biodiscovery Processes and iChip'. The Panel's recommendations on the Blue Economy, an Our scientists have identified health interventions that remedy the adverse effects of livelihood 
The African Research Leadership Award is jointly run and emerging concept that advocates improvements in  practices to empower and safeguard the fisheries value chain. In the engineering sciences, solutions 
funded by the MRC and DFID. The Award Scheme aims to management of the ocean, will make the case for change have been proffered to the menace of plastic pollution of water bodies, while agricultural produce is 
strengthen research leadership across Sub-Saharan Africa and call for international action for the short, medium and being transformed into a therapeutic agent in the biological sciences.
(SSA) by attracting and retaining exceptional individuals long term.
who will lead high quality research programmes on crucial As competition for research funding intensifies, emphasis on the impact of research outcomes is key 
global health issues relevant to SSA.
Professor Appeaning-Addo will co-author a chapter for the to sustain funding. We seek therefore to present scholarly work in practical ways that speak to 
Blue Papers that will  play a central role in the production of communities and make positive impacts on livelihoods. 
 The West African College of the Panel's Summary of Recommendations on the Blue 
Physicians and Surgeons has Economy. Publication, Dissemination and Translation (PDT) Team
elected Dr.	 Albert	 Akpalu of the 
Department of Medicine and 
Therapeutics, School of Medicine 
T he First Lady of the Republic of 
and Dentistry as its Secretary-
Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs Rebecca 
General. The College, established in 
Akufo Addo has presented the First 
1976, is an association of medical 
Lady's Excellence Award for 
the fields of Community Health, Family Medicine, Internal 
Medicine/Health Care Delivery to 
Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Chemical Pathology, Professor	 Lorna	 Awo	 Renner of 
Haematology, Medical Microbiology, Paediatrics and the Department of Child Health, 
Psychiatry that aims to promote professional training of HE	Mrs.	Rebecca	Akufo	Addo	(left)	
presenting	the	award	to	Prof.	Renner School of Medicine and Dentistry, 
physicians and healthcare specialists in West Africa.
on International Women's Day. The award is in recognition 
of her dedication to the diagnosis and treatment of children 
 Professor	 Dorothy	 Yeboah-Manu with cancer and the mobilisation of resources to support 
of the Department of Bacteriology, the care of childhood cancers in Ghana. 
Noguchi Memorial Institute for 
Medical Research has received the 
Royal Society Africa Prize 2018 for 
her contributions and innovative 
approaches to understanding 
Mycobacterium ulcerous and Mycobacterium arcanum 
microbiology, genetic studies and epidemiology in the 
areas of her work. The Royal Society Africa Prize, 
previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award, recognises 
research scientists in Africa who are making innovative 
contributions to the biological sciences, including basic 
medical science, which contribute significantly to capacity 
building in Africa.
16 Inspir ing Inspir ing 1
RESEARCH	GRANTS	AWARDED	TH ROUGH	ORID
The University of Ghana's goal to become a research-int ensive University by 2024, is progressing steadily 
with an upward trajectory in revenues accruing from funded projects.  The Office of	 Research, Innovation 
and Development (ORID), UG's office of sponsored research has restructured over the last two and a half 
years into six teams, the Pre-and Post-Award Services, Research Performance Services, Technology 
Transfer and Intellectual Property Services, Publication, Dissemination and Translation Services, 
Capacity Development Services and Human and Animal Research Ethics Services. 
The Pre- and Post-Award Services (PPA) team comprises about half of the research administration staff of 
ORID and handles grants and contract management, working closely with the brilliant academics at the 
University of Ghana.
Grant revenues processed through ORID have grown sharply by over 1000% in the last three academic 
years from a level of $3.4 million in 2015/2016 academic year to $42.5million in the 2018/2019 academic 
year . (figure 1)
 
Table	1:	Research	Grants	&	Contracts	reported	through	ORID	(Academic	Year)  
 
Academic	Year	 No.	of	Grant	Agreements	 US$	Value	of	Grant	
2015-2016 16 3,414,212	
(A student-led initiative under the auspices of the VC’s Green Project) 2016-2017 44 6,249,417	
2017-2018 84 15,322,980	
2018-2019  96  42,558,915**	
** Includes 4 committed Awards of US$ 21.6 million  
 
Fi gure	1:	Research	Grants	&	Contracts	reported	through	ORID	(Academic	Year)  
feteria
Central Ca
US$ Value of Received Awards US$ Value of Committed Awards No. of Grants
 
LOOKING FOR FUNDING? UNIVERSITY June 2019
OF GHANA
V 1.2
Turn to *   Research Professional
ü Thousands of open calls for all disciplines and 
from over 8,000 funders
ü Authoritative news, analysis and comment
ü Fast and user-friendly search options TM
ü Customisable email alerts
ü Tools to help you share information and stay 
ahead of funding deadlines Insp r n g UG
You can use *Research Professional from any 
computer on the University network. Or register for 
free to set up your own account so that you can use the 
service off campus. For further enquiries contact:
As a registered user you’ll also enjoy an array of other  orid-ppa@ug.edu.gh
benefits that help you save time and share information 
with your colleagues.
University of Ghana has a subscription to 
*   Research Professional    researchprofessional.com
To access the Research Professional porta l, send a request to orid-info@ug.edu.gh 
FRONT PAGE
School of Engineering
ORID	-	Annex
Office	of	Research,	Innovation	&	
Development	(ORID)	-	Annex
GA-521-3066
Photo	credit	EPA	GHANA
Office of Research, Innovation Phone: +233 303 930436 ORID
& Development (ORID) Email: orid@ug.edu.gh OFFICE OF RESEARCH, 
P.O. Box LG 571, University of Ghana, Legon Website: www.orid.ug.edu.gh INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Print: University of Ghana Printing Press, Tel: 030 293 4987