2015/2016 UNIVERSITY OF GHANA RESEARCH REPORT ORID The University of Ghana was founded in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast. Between 1948 and 1961, the University entered into a special relationship with the University of London to offer limited programmes of study. By an Act of Parliament on 1st October 1961, the University attained sovereign status with the authority to offer more comprehensive programmes and award its own degrees. The sovereign status together with the aspirations of the new independent state of Ghana formed a catalyst for its rapid growth in the 1960’s and the emergence of its distinctive identity as a world-class centre of academic excellence and a leader in career training and professional development. Over the last sixty-five years, the University of Ghana has evolved into one of Africa’s leading universities, recognized worldwide for the academic and research excellence of its faculty, student body and for the professional success of its alumni. Our Vision Our vision is to become a “World Class research intensive University” over the next decade. Our Mission We will create an enabling environment that makes University of Ghana increasingly relevant to national and global development through cutting-edge research as well as high quality teaching and learning. UNIVERSITY OF GHANA CONTENTS Foreword 3 University of Ghana Research Performance Index 4 Snapshot of Research Activities 5 Summary of Research Funding per College 6 Dominant Research Areas Funded with Competitive External Grants 6 Major Funders of UG Research and Recipient UG Units 7 Vice Chancellor’s Message 8 Pro-Vice Chancellor’s (Research, Innovation & Development) Message 9 Offi ce of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) 10 Research and Grants Management Services 11 University of Ghana Research Grants 11 Facilitation of External Grants Submissions 12 Spotlights 13 UG promotes International Mobility through Research Affi liation 14 Fox International Fellowship Programme 15 Capacity Building 16 Conference Grants 16 Spotlight on BSU PhD Scholarships Awardees 17 Spotlight on University of Ghana Doctoral Students Conference 23 Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer 27 Ethics and Research Dissemination 28 Extenal Funds 28 University of Ghana Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Activities 30 Institutional Research and Planning Offi ce (IRPO) 31 Fellowship 32 Awards and Achievements 35 Public Lectures 37 Research Centres of Excellence 43 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 45 Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) 47 Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) 49 West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) 51 West African Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) 52 School of Agriculture 52 Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC) 53 Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre 54 School of Veterinary Medicine 55 School of Biological Sciences 56 ECOWAS Coastal and Marine Resources Management Centre 59 School of Engineering Sciences 60 School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences 64 College of Education 67 School of Information and Communication Studies 68 School of Continuing and Distance Education 71 School of Education and Leadership 73 College of Health Science (CHS) 74 Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) 78 Profi le of Early Career Research Fellows 81 School of Medicine and Dentistry 83 School of Public Health 87 School of Pharmacy 88 School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences 90 College of Humanities 91 Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) 95 Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) 97 Institute of African Studies (IAS) 100 Legon Centre for International Aff airs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) 102 Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) 103 Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) 104 Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) 105 Foreword School of Social Sciences 105 School of Arts 109 School of Languages 112 The 2015–2016 academic year marks another milestone of research activities at the School of Performing Arts 116 University of Ghana (UG). As we advance to consolidate our eff orts as one of the best University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) 116 School of Law 118 research intensive institutions in Africa, the University has made huge investments in School of Graduate Studies 118 both infrastructure and human resource development. In this regard, the University of Balme Library 123 Ghana acknowledges the need for its faculty to produce cutting-edge research and at the same time foster strategic alliances with both local and international partners and donors to ensure a productive development of our country and that of the world. In this manner, the University also recognises the signifi cance of enhancing the skills and knowledge of both the academic and non-academic staff in order to contribute to the developmental agenda of the nation. This research report therefore highlights some of the key research activities conducted at the University of Ghana during the 2015-2016 academic year. 3 UNIVERSITY OF GHANA RESEARCH SNAPSHOT OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES FOR 2015/2016 PERFORMANCE INDEX Cross-cutting Research Areas Funded by Competitive External Grants: Climate Change, Food n by Security and Safety, Gender and Women’s Studies, Afri ca n 6 h in catio Policy Research, Mining, Impact of Dams ked 7t du er E 16 Ran Hig h il 20r Tim es in A p ing Ran k Research Intensive UG Centres, Institutes and 8 Schools Based on Reported Budgets of at least $500,000:ISSER, NMIMR, WACCBIP, WACCI, Schoolof Agriculture, School of Public Health, School of cations increas ed by Medicine and Dentristy, School of Biological Sciences Publi 83.3% from 20 11-2015 Major University Partners and Collaborators include: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), The International Institute 4 of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Yale University, Kwame UNIVERSITY OF GHANA Citation impact was above Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)world average of 1.05 Countries in Africa, Europe and Asia in which UG has a 16 Research Presence Through Multi-country Collaborative B Research Studies and Partnerships: Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, etween Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Belgium, colla 2b 0o 11-2 Netherlands, Germany, China, India, Australia, Canada, ins r 0t ai ted 1tu w 5 UG United Kingdomtion is th 1 ,025 Major Donors Providing Funding to Multiple UG Units: National Science Foundation, Volkswagen, 5 National Institutes of Health, World Health6 c .2 Organisation (WHO), Bill and Melinda Gateso- %a U Foundation, Department of International 10 uth Go pu Development (DFID), USAID, International Growthred blic Centre, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), EU in ate tir on na st i won ea relly Development Partners, Industry and Civil Society Collaborators: Ministry of Finance, Ghana Health 9 Service, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Agogo Hospital Research Centre, FAO, UNICEF, Ark Foundation Source: Elsevier Scival Data 4 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 5 Summary of Research Funding per College for 2015/16 Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy X X Academic Year Centre for Migration Studies X School of Arts X School of Law X X Colleges US Dollars Cedis (Equivalent) School of Social Sciences X X College of Basic and Applied Sciences 6,222,343.31, 24,516,032.64, College of Health Science 11,870,229.56 46,768,704.46 Major Funders of UG Research and Recipient UG College of Humanities 13,998,408,37 55,153,728.98 Units Total 32,090,981.24 126,438,466.08 Dominant Research Areas Funded with Competitive External Grants College of Basic and Applied Sciences School of Biological Sciences X X 2 School of Agriculture X 1 West African Centre for Crop Improvement X X 2 Soil and Irrigation Research Centre X X 1 College of Basic and Applied Sciences West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infections X X 2 Soil and Irrigation Research Centre X X Pathogens Institute of Environment and Sanitation X X School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences X 1 Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre X X College of Health Science West African Centre for Crop Improvement X X School of Medicine and Dentistry X 1 School of Biological Sciences X School of Public Health X X X 3 School of Agriculture X X School of Pharmacy X 1 West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infections Pathogens X NMIMR X X X 3 School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences X College of Humanities College of Health Science Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research X X X X X X 6 School of Medicine and Dentistry X Institute of African Studies X X 2 School of Public Health X Regional Institute for Population Studies X X 3 School of Pharmacy X University of Ghana Business School X X X 3 NMIMR X X X X Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy X X 2 College of Education Centre for Migration Studies X X 2 School of Information and Communication Studies X X School of Arts X 1 School of Continuing and Distance Education X School of Social Sciences X X 2 School of Education and Leadership X 3 3 1 3 2 2 3 3 6 4 1 3 3 College of Humanities Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research X X Institute of African Studies X X Regional Institute for Population Studies X X University of Ghana Business School X 6 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 7 Climate Change Impact of Dams Food Se- curity and Safety Gender and Women’s Studies Mining Policy re- search Health NSF VW WT NIH WHO Bill & Melinda Gates IDRC UNICEF DFID USAID IITA IGC EU Vice Chancellor’s Message Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Message The vibrant academic research we have embarked upon over the Research, Innovation and Development (RID)last few decades clearly shows the diversity of research activity going e are proud that the University of on at our various research centres and Ghana research report has received institutes. The University is increasingly Wa strong and sustained support being acknowledged worldwide and this is from all our faculty members. The research evident in recent university rankings. The report has now become an important latest university rankings compiled by the reference for our research and development Times Higher Education in April 2016, places (R&D) activities and also provided a platform the University of Ghana 7th in Africa. I will to share our story with the outside world therefore encourage faculty members and students to consolidate these gains. With Our aim is to strive to create an enabling respect to funding, at the close of 2015-2016 environment and opportunities that allow academic year, our research funding had UG faculty, staff and students to have the amounted to USD 32,090,981.24. greatest impact in their fi elds of research through the conduct of outstanding research In spite of the challenges we face as a and creative activities that fuel discovery University, there has been a deliberate and advance knowledge. As part of eff orts eff ort to create an enabling environment for to achieve this, the University of Ghana research, by investing signifi cantly in human through its Offi ce of Research, Innovation capital and high-end science equipment. and Development (ORID) provides a number Let me hasten to add that our research of funding opportunities as well as research partners have increased over the last few support services. In addition, the University years, as many academic institutions fi nd of Ghana has procured the InfoEd Grants University of Ghana a suitable destination Management software as part of its eff orts PROFESSOR ERNEST ARYEETEY to conduct cutting-edge research. The at streamlining grants management at the PROFESSOR JOHN GYAPONG number of foreign applicants applying University. for PhD and post-doctoral fellowships has increased signifi cantly as a result of The Technology Development and Transfer massive investment and restructuring of our Centre recently introduced the Technology graduate programmes. Development Research Grant which aimed at enabling researchers to develop and I am grateful to the University management repackage their technologies for private for their unwavering support and guidance. use. It has also awarded 16 grants to faculty I take this opportunity to express my members from various colleges. All these are gratitude to all our stakeholders, who have measures put in place to make University of reposed trust in us and extended their Ghana technologies visible to the outside constant support to the University. world. We are therefore grateful to our donors for their support and contribution. 8 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 9 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION RESEARCH AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) University of Ghana Research Grants ORID provides research support services to the University Setting the right research environment is part a competitive process) grants to undertake multi- community by creating an enabling environment for of the University of Ghana’s eff ort to promote disciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. This investigators to address local and global issues. Our research activities in its quest to achieve high scheme which is now in its 8th year has announced commitment to promote creativity and innovation led impact research results and to continually remain 9 Calls for proposals and has awarded a total of to the establishment of College Research Boards and the relevant both at the national and international 182 grants with a value of about GHS 5 million over development of policies to guide and support research levels. UG therefore strives to provide a platform the 8 year period – all funded from the University’s activities. on which its research activities thrive. The Internally Generated Funds (IGF). Figure 1 below University of Ghana’s fl agship research grants shows the submission and award trends since the Training and development of academic staff /researchers scheme provides a platform for our researchers at inception of the scheme to date: through doctoral and post-doctoral programmes have various stages in their career to apply for (through been identifi ed as an important approach for supporting UG research strategy as well as strengthening its research Figure 1: Submission, Award and Funding Trends for the UGRF Calls for Proposals (2008 – 2015) capacity. Our quest to support and build the capacities of PhD students received another boost through periodic training workshops under the auspices of Pan- African Doctoral Academy (PADA), (German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Department for International Development (DFiD), Carnegie, and the Danish government initiative Building Stronger Universities (BSU) in Developing Countries project. Recently with support from the Danish Government under the BSU Programme, the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, the Department of Economics, the University of Ghana Business School and ORID organised a PhD Conference in November 2015 which attracted over 300 participants from public and private universities in Ghana and some Danish Universities. Also under the programme, a new state- of-the-Art PhD conference facility was constructed and commissioned at the School of Graduate Studies in January Professor Andrew Anthony Adjei 2016 to facilitate PhD work at the university of Ghana. Director of Research As part of eff orts to promote networking and collaboration, and increase the University’s visibility, the University of Ghana joined the Worldwide Universities In October 2015 the 9th Call for proposals was research grants with a value of GHS 901, 526 was Network (WUN), a leading global higher education and announced which yielded 47 applications. In awarded with summarised details (by College) as research network made up of 18 research intensive February 2016, a total of twenty-seven (27) shown in table 1. universities, spanning 11 countries on fi ve continents. 10 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 11 Table 1: Distribution of Awards by College European Union (EU) * COLLEGE GRANT CATEGORY TOTAL TOTAL VALUE OF AWARDS GRANTS (GHS) Seed Grants Investigator-led Large Multidisci- http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/ Grants plinary Grants desktop/en/home.html By Principal Investigator College of Basic and Applied WIPO Re:Search * Sciences 4 3 2 9 299,404 College of Education - 2 - 2 63,995 http://www.wipo.int/research/en/ College of Health Sciences 1 7 2 10 379,458 College of Humanities 2 4 - 6 158,669 The Leverhulme Trust TOTAL 7 16 4 27 GHS 901,526 By Institutional Approver https://grants.leverhulme.ac.uk/Login.aspx Facilitation of External Grants Submissions Spotlight ORID facilitates the submission of grant applications to external donors such as the Wellcome Trust, PROF. JULIUS FOBIL AND COLLEAGUES AWARDED National Institutes of Health (NIH), the UK Research Councils, European Union (EU), National Science leveraging numerous existing strengths among NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH/FOGARTY Foundation (NSF) and others and as such, ensures that the University of Ghana’s registration in all these consortium partners, including the University of INTERNATIONAL CENTER (NIH/FIC) GRANT databases are active to enable our faculty members have constant access to various grant opportunities. Ghana, lead of linked U01 application, the Kwame ORID aims at providing support to faculty members at diff erent stages of the grant application process Professor Julius Fobil of the School of Public Health Nkrumah University of Science and Technology through its Research Development Offi cers and through services provided from the Central Offi ce. and colleagues at the University of Michigan School (KNUST), the Ghana Ministry of Health/Ghana of Public Health (Prof. Thomas G. Robins) and Health Service (MOH/GHS), and the University of DONOR/ SPONSOR WEB ADDRESS SUBMISSION/ McGill University (Prof. Niladri Basu) were awarded Michigan (UM), to create a dynamic regional hub in APPROVAL STRUCTURE a grant of USD 3 Million by the National Institutes environmental and occupational health. National Institutes of Health (NIH) of Health/Fogarty International Center (NIH/FIC), a US Federal Agency in partnership with Canada’s (through Grants.gov, eRA commons and SAM) International Development Research Centre (IDRC) By Authorized Organizational to implement the project titled “1/2-The West Representative (AOR) http://www.nih.gov/ Africa-Michigan CHARTER II for GEOHealth- Ghana”. Wellcome Trust The project aims to build upon the long-standing, http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/ By Organizational Authorized Department (OAD) extensive Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) research and training collaborations National Science Foundation (through Fastlane) between academic and government partner institutions in West and Central Africa regions. www.nsf.gov By institutional Contact Person The key impact that this project seeks to achieve UK Research Councils is to sustainably enhance capacity for world-class scientifi c research and research training which (through the Joint Electronic Submission System) address and inform key national and regional By institutional Submitter occupational and environmental health priorities Professor Julius Fobil https://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk/JeS2WebLoginSite/Login.aspx and policies. This will be delivered mainly through 12 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 13 UG Promotes International Mobility through Research Affi liation The University of Ghana formally hosted two IN FOCUS: The Perspective of a Mentor Visiting Research Students from the University of Professor Benjamin Kankpeyeng of the Manchester, UK and University of Cergy-Pontoise, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies France, at the Departments of Archaeology & served as a mentor to Ms. Holly Jane Atkinson, a Heritage Studies and Political Science respectively. PhD student from the University of Manchester, These visits fall under the UG Research whose research focused on the analysis of pottery Affi liation Programme, a programme that off ers excavated in the years 2010 and 2011 from a low mentorship, research networking and collaborative mound at Yikpabongo in the Northern Region of opportunities. Applications to be a visiting research Ghana. student at UG are received all year round and normally take about a month to process. The fee which is approved by the University is pro-rated against the duration of stay in 3 month blocks. Professor Benjamin Kankpeyeng A key component of this programme is the role of Through the UG Research Affi liation Programme the mentor in the affi liation process. Successful Professor Kankpeyeng and Dr. Samuel N. applicants are assigned a mentor who will provide Nkumbaan of the Department of Archaeology them guidance and support for their research work and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana jointly or the duration of their stay at UG. carry out excavations on the mound with Professor Timothy Insoll of the University of Manchester Faculty members in any subject area/ discipline and Dr. Natalie Swanepoel of the University of Fox International Fellowship Programme interested in serving as mentors to visiting research South Africa. It also off ered students from both students may contact ORID by email at orid- the University of Ghana and the University of The Fox International Fellowship Program is a Fellow from Yale University, Ms Dana Baker, who researchadmin@ug.edu.gh Manchester the opportunity to participate as direct two-way student exchange partnership was attached to the Institute for Environment participants in Field School under the project. between Yale University and thirteen of the world’s and Sanitation Studies (IESS). During the period leading universities including the University of of her fellowship at UG, Ms. Baker conducted Don’t be left out! Get research experience in Ghana Ghana. The Fellowship has been established to semi-structured interviews with offi cials from the by applying to the University of Ghana as a Visiting identify and nurture graduate students who are Forestry Commission and Wildlife Division and also Research Student. interested in harnessing scholarly knowledge to had the privilege to visit natural resource reserves respond to the world’s most pressing challenges. in various regions of Ghana and specifi cally, the The program which primarily focuses on the Kyabobo national park. These visits allowed her Humanities and Public Health is tenable at the Yale to gain a clear understanding and view of stated University and allows selected doctoral candidates policies, policy implementation as well their to spend one academic year at Yale University as enforcement title of research. part of their programme. UG also hosted a Fox 14 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 15 CAPACITY BUILDING Spotlight on BSU PhD Scholarship Awardees Conference Grants Out of 53 grants awarded to individuals for Successful completion of PhD Programmes A key objective in the 2015/2016 academic year attending conferences, 70% was awarded to early was to bring the international community to the career faculty members, while 13% was awarded Enock Dankyi University of Ghana and therefore special focus to Senior Members in Administration. Additionally, Title of PhD thesis: Motivation for choosing topic: was given to Departments, Schools or Colleges 37% of grants went to female academic and non- Exposure and Fate of Neonicotinoid Insecticides organising international conferences, seminars academic staff . Despite the huge volumes of insecticides, in Cocoa plantations in Ghana. and workshops. An unprecedented 15 grants particularly neonicotinoids introduced into the were awarded to faculty members for organising Ghanaian environment through the “free cocoa Figure 4: Conference Grants Awarded by Position conferences out of 68 total grants awarded in mass spraying” exercise each year, knowledge the year. This formed 26% of the GHS 341,608.85 of exposure of fate of these chemicals in the awarded in the academic year. environment and food has been lacking. The choice of this PhD project was to address Figure 2: Types of Conference Grants Awarded this knowledge gap and contribute to better food and environmental sustainability by increasing the awareness of pesticide fate in the Ghanaian environment. What has been your PhD journey: My PhD journey was as challenging as fulfi lling. I can recount the numerous nights I had to spend in the laboratory for less satisfactory results. In the end, it was less about the destination and more about the experience. Supervisors: Figure 3: 4-year Trend of Grants for Organising Conferences • Professor Derick Carboo, Views concerning the BSU scholarship: Department of Chemistry, University The BSU scholarship provided the platform for of Ghana (Principal Supervisor). this great and fulfi lling experience. Through this • Professor Chris Gordon, Institute for scholarship, I have had the opportunity to work Environment and Sanitation Studies, and interact with some of the best experts in University of Ghana. diff erent fi elds of chemistry who have had great • Professor Inge S. Fomsgaard, impact in my career in academia. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark. 16 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 17 Helena Lamptey an important stage in human/vector malaria Emilia Asuquo Udofi a However, solid medical waste in households has Title of PhD thesis: transmission cycle and a very important target to Title of PhD thesis: not been widely studied in Africa and guidance The impact of naturally acquired immunity and disrupt transmission. It is largely unknown what A study of solid medical waste at the community hardly exists at household or community level. anti-malarial drugs on Plasmodium falciparum infl uences the carriage of gametocytes which level: Generation and collection in Households, Treatment processes found in healthcare facilities gametocytes in a malaria endemic area in Ghana. forms the infectious reservoir, though several among Traditional Birth Attendants and Chemical cannot be conducted safely in households; and factors have been proposed. Therefore, to be Shop Vendors and Impacts on Health. there is currently no system in place for separate eff ective in the control and eventual elimination collection of solid medical waste. If communities of malaria, there is the need to generate immuno- should plan to manage the waste from non- epidemiological data on the factors that infl uence traditional sources, the quantities generated and gametocyte carriage in a community. This will help existing disposal practices need to be known. By to understand the important role these infectious addressing this research gap, future policy on reservoirs play in malaria transmission, even at the healthcare waste management can be enhanced submicroscopic level in asymptomatic infections. to take into account contributions from the Knowledge of these factors would be important community. and provide basis for strategies aimed at blocking transmission by targeting gametocyte reservoirs What has been your PhD journey: within endemic communities to contribute to The PhD program in Public Health took 4 years to malaria control. complete beginning in August, 2012. Six months of course work were spent at the University of Supervisors: What has been your PhD journey: Southern Denmark (SDU), while the rest of the The PhD journey has exposed me to various course work was concluded at the University of Supervisors: • Professor Isabella A. Quakyi, Department training in proposal development, project Ghana (UG) - School of Public Health. The fi eld of Biological, Environmental and management and implementation as well as work was based on an exploratory, descriptive, • Professor Julius N. Fobil, Department of Occupational Health Sciences, School new laboratory techniques in molecular biology, mixed methods study. It spanned a full year, Biological, Environmental and Occupational of Public Health, University of Ghana immunology and parasite cultures. Although involving a questionnaire survey, a waste stream Health Sciences, School of Public Health, (Principal Supervisor). the entire process was not devoid of challenges, analysis, interviews and focus group discussions, University of Ghana. (Principal Supervisor). • Dr. Michael Ofori, Department of the overall experience was phenomenal and as well as supervisory meetings with my academic Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute it has contributed in equipping me with broad • Dr Gabriel Gulis, Unit for Health Promotion supervisors. It was an intensive period that for Medical Research, University of Ghana. knowledge in public health and expertise in Research, University of Southern Denmark, included several presentations of the research and • Dr. Michael Alifrangis, Centre for Medical biomedical research. Denmark. receiving feedback, tool design and development, Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, and use of some statistical software. There were Denmark Views concerning the BSU scholarship: Motivation for choosing topic: also seminars which lay the foundation for the . The BSU scholarship was very helpful in the The transition of healthcare to the home and research process from proposal development, Motivation for choosing topic: entire PhD process, it would have been diffi cult community strongly suggests that solid medical data collection and analysis to communication of Although malaria has declined over the years to complete successfully without the support. It waste is no longer a ‘hospital aff air’. Many results. The seminars were a collaborative eff ort approximately 88% of all malaria morbidity and off ered both international and local opportunities, families contribute to the healthcare of their between the Danish consortium of universities and 90% of mortality occurred in Sub Saharan Africa to learn newer techniques and to conduct part of members and in doing so, waste is generated. The the University of Ghana. especially among children under 5 years of age my research in Denmark through its collaborative hazardous properties of the waste require specifi c and pregnant women. The transmission of malaria component. I hope the BSU scholarship concept management before fi nal disposal. which involves the gametocyte stage of the is sustained to off er such great opportunities to Plasmodium falciparum represents prospective PhD students. 18 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 19 Views concerning the BSU scholarship: Supervisors: multiple dosage forms using high performance This would ensure that students are not left The BSU scholarship funded two trips (and stay) • Professor Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumi, liquid chromatography (hplc). This work was stranded and without funds to complete their in Denmark, my research and the publication School of Biomedical and Allied carried out in Aarhus University Hospital’s projects when they have to take an extension of of a review paper on Solid Medical Waste Health Sciences, University of Ghana Department of Clinical biochemistry, Skejby in the study period. Management in Africa. Travel was fl awlessly (Principal Supervisor). Denmark. The validated method was used to facilitated by DANIDA and the Offi ce of • Dr. Henry Nettey, Department of evaluate the quality of AL products sampled Research, Innovation and Development which Pharmaceutics and Microbiology, from the market in Accra, Ghana and the fi ndings Jemima Yakah played the key role in ensuring the smooth School of Pharmacy, University of have been published in the American Journal of Title of PhD thesis: running of the entire PhD program between Ghana. Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Mechanisms and Pathways for Climate-Sensitive Denmark and Ghana. The academic supervisors • Dr. Samuel Adjei, Department of A second visit to Aarhus University’s Transformational Change of Smallholder were helpful with planning my course work Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center Agriculture in Ghana and providing guidance during the fi eldwork. Memorial Institute for Medical (iNano), Aarhus, Denmark, was for training . Integration into the Danish culture and Research, University of Ghana. in nanomaterials and polymers, as well as environment was facilitated by my supervisor, • Professor Eskild Petersen, production of nano-formulations of AL for Dr. Gabriel Gulis, colleagues at the Unit for Department of Infectious Diseases, testing in Animal models. The AL nanoparticles Health Promotion Research and the Offi ce for Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus were used in animal studies carried out at International Students at SDU. The seminars University, Denmark. the Mampong Center for Research into Plant on Proposal Development/Grant writing and Medicine, Mampong – Ghana. Research Communication were useful in the Motivation for choosing topic: design of my research and manuscript writing. Interactions with some clinicians who had Overall, the objectives of the PhD were realised The libraries at UG and SDU were very useful in treatment failures with use of artemether- and nano-formulations of AL were shown to compiling literature used for my review paper lumefantrine (AL) in treating malaria prompted have signifi cant gastrointestinal absorption in and thesis. thoughts of the possible causes of these fasting models compared to the conventional treatment failures. Ruling out non-compliance tablet dosage form of AL. with medication and recrudescence left the Philip Debrah option of poor gastrointestinal absorption of the Views concerning the BSU scholarship: Supervisors: Title of PhD thesis: drugs when taken without food as the possible The BSU scholarship has been a very useful • Dr. Seth D. Boateng, Department Improving Malaria Chemotherapy By Optimizing culprit of the treatment failure. Exploration source of funding for me in this project, and of Agricultural Extension, School of Drug Formulation And Assessing Drug Quality. of literature confi rmed this suspicion, and the I would advocate for its continuation so as to Agriculture, University of Ghana. project was conceived to produce dosage forms help others access funds and particularly Danish (Principal Supervisor). of artemether-lumefantrine that yield optimum research equipment, environment and faculty in • Professor Chris Gordon, Institute for gastrointestinal absorption even when they are the pursuit of post graduate studies. Environment and Sanitation Studies, administered without food. I would however recommend that access to University of Ghana. the approved PhD funds for students should be • Professor Carsten Nico Portefée What has been your PhD journey: spread to cover the entire duration of studies, Hjortsø, Institute of Food and The PhD journey has been a big learning including extension periods if approved by the Resource Economics, University of experience though fraught with challenges. It student’s parent university. Copenhagen, Denmark. started with the development of an analytical method for the simultaneous identifi cation and quantifi cation of Artemether-lumefantrine in 20 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 21 Motivation for choosing topic: What has been your PhD journey: SPOTLIGHT ON UNIVERSITY OF GHANA DOCTORAL STUDENTS It is well recognised that smallholders form the It has been a very interesting experience CONFERENCE backbone of agriculture in most developing academically, professionally and personally. The countries, and in Ghana. Yet, their output has coursework, fi eld research, and inter-cultural The Doctoral Students Research Conference was • Thesis Examiners: Who Are They? How remained relatively low. Climate change could interactions have broadened my perspectives organised by the University of Ghana under the Are They Selected? What Do They worsen yields in the coming decades. This calls and capabilities to contribute to national auspices of the Building Stronger Universities Expect From PhD Students? for rapid transformation to protect smallholder development not only as a researcher but also as Phase II project funded by DANIDA. The • Authorship Issues Arising From livelihoods and improve the agricultural sector. an educator and potential policy maker. conference was held from 5th to 6th November, Publishing Your PhD Thesis; However, how to achieve transformation is 2015, to off er PhD Students in both public and • How To Publish From Your PhD Thesis. contested. What do Agricultural Extension Views concerning the BSU scholarship: private universities in Ghana the opportunity to professionals need to understand about the I am indebted to the generosity of the DANIDA engage in academic dialogue with peers within Oral and Poster presentations were from students transformation process and how do we help BSU programme team at the University of conference settings, to hone the skills and ability in all disciplines. smallholders transform? These are the nagging Ghana and University of Copenhagen for the of participants to write and publish academic questions that ignited my passion in pursuing opportunity to pursue this PhD. I hope that papers in recognised international journals and for Important points emanating from the conference this PhD topic. The research fi ndings contribute the programme objectives, management and networking. include the following; to debates on the smallholder transformational support will continue to evolve in building behavioural change phenomenon in the and strengthening African Universities and in • Investing in PhD Education: The need context of climate change adaptation, from the fostering research collaborations that benefi t the The theme of the conference was “Promoting to invest in PhD research as a country. Agricultural Extension perspective. students and institutions involved. PhD Research Excellence” Universities in Ghana should take As the fi rst conference of its kind by University of advantage of the development of the Ghana, the conference attracted 312 registered national forty (40) year plan and ensure participants from public and private Universities research is prominent in the agenda. in Ghana. There were 45 oral and 34 poster • Research Ethics: PhD students must presentations at the conference. The conference ensure that ethical standards (including also attracted offi cials from other universities issues of Plagiarism) are adhered to in in Ghana, including the Vice Chancellors, Deans the conduct of their research. of Graduate Schools, Provosts, Professors, PhD • Authorship: The need for PhD students Supervisors and the general academic community. to discuss authorship issues with their supervisors from the onset of the Topics treated at the conference, delivered by both research. Local and international speakers include: • Dedication to work: Participants were inspired to be dedicated to their • The PhD Journey: What Does It Entail studies and research to achieve the (Ghana Experience); desired results and become excellent • The PhD Journey: What Does It Entail researchers in future. (Danish Experience); • Collegiality: The need for faculty to be • Welcoming and taking good care of the collegial with their PhD Students. new PhD student - experiences from • Research Relevance: The need for PhD the PhD programme; research to add to existing body of • PhD Student and Supervisor- a good knowledge is the study fi eld/discipline cooperation will be fruitful for the and be relevant to society. output; 22 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 23 Awards for best oral presentation and best poster Faculty Development Grant External Grants Report presentation were given to Mr Ernest Agyemang and Mr Francis Hasford, respectively, both from the The University of Ghana Faculty Development University of Ghana. Grant for PhD research has come of age. Since its inception, the Faculty Development Grant has The very fruitful and successful conference awarded over GHS 800,000 to 96 faculty members Climate Impacts Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement (CIRCLE) ended with calls from both participants and to enable them complete their PhD programmes. TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT GBP 4.85 million the University offi cials such as the Pro-Vice Out of this number, 50% have successfully CURRENT STATUS The University of Ghana in the reporting hosted four (4) new Visiting Chancellor (RID), University of Ghana and other completed their programmes. Figure 5 below Fellows under the CIRCLE project, an initiative of the Department participating universities, for institutionalisation shows the trend of grants awarded to build the for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom aimed of the conference. Considering the importance of capacity of faculty members over an 8-year period at developing the skills and research output of early career African this conference, the universities were to consider . researchers in the fi eld of climate change and its local impacts on raising funds to have the conference organised There has been a steady decline in applications, development. at least every other year to equip PhD students which has resulted in fewer awards. Out of the two with the requisite knowledge and skills to enable grants awarded in the 2015/ 2016 academic year them carryout cutting edge research in order to be only one has been accessed. Nana Yaa Nyarko of competitive worldwide. the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences was awarded a grant of GHS 35,000 for her research work titled ‘An Assessment of predictors of teacher-child interactions in early-childhood institutions in Ghana’. Figure 5: Faculty Development Grants Awarded by Academic Year 24 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 25 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER The training workshop of IP series were aimed at aimed at intensifying awareness on intellectual property TDR International Postgraduate Training Scheme (2015 – 2019) rights to promote intellectual property generating activities, innovation and technology transfer by CURRENT STATUS The University of Ghana is hosting 5 PhD and 9 Masters students from diff erent researchers at the University of Ghana. countries under the TDR International Postgraduate Training Scheme which Training Workshop on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer focuses on the implementation research which, supports the identifi cation of The TDTC with support from the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), organised a health system bottlenecks and provides approaches to address them. four-day training workshop on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer for researchers and research This Scheme is being implemented with funding from World Health support staff in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and the College of Health Sciences. Participants Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. were introduced to various forms of intellectual property rights, patent databases, university industry collaborations, patent application and grant processes, amongst others. TABLE 5: Students hosted in the 2015/2016 academic year № Name Nationality Programme of Study Ms. Ruth Tenkoramaa Nyarko Ghana Master of Public Health Ms Selina Ansah-Koi Ghana Master of Public Health Dr. Vincent Ganu Ghana Master of Public Health Dr. Nouhoum Diallo Mali Master of Public Health Dr. Kingsley Ojeikere Nigeria Master of Public Health Dr. Yves Lucien Hakorimana Rwanda Master of Public Health Dr. Daniel Kiptoo Kenya Master of Public Health Dr. Frances Magdalene Tinna Sierra Leone Master of Public Health Sesay Mr. Alfred Kayira Malawi Master of Public Health Mr. Richard Akuff o Ghana PhD Public Health Mr. Gideon Kye-Duodu Ghana PhD Public Health Mr Isaac Fwemba Zambia PhD Public Health Mr Agumasie Semahegn Demisie Ethiopia PhD Public Health A section of participants at the workshop Ms Chinenye Afonne Nigeria PhD Public Health Intellectual Property Series series was well attended by researchers, research The TDTC continued its awareness creation on support staff and students. intellectual property with a programme dubbed “Intellectual Property Series”. This focused on the University of Ghana’s Intellectual Property Policy; Promoting Technology Transfer to the Private Patents and Utility Models; Industrial Designs and Sector Trademarks; Copyrights and Related Rights. The The TDTC awarded grants to researchers to facilitate the transfer of technologies to the private sector. Funding for this initiative was provided 26 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 27 by the Skills Development Fund through the This was to enable researchers understand the Table 2: External funds to ORID Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology technological needs or challenges of the private and Innovation. The grants supported demand- sector and to off er solutions in a practice oriented Project Title Principal Invesitigator GRANT AMOUNT Total BUD- driven projects that involved the identifi cation manner. Four researchers received grants GET(USD) of a business or scientifi c problem / need and a amounting to forty-six thousand, nine hundred demonstration of how the technology-based and fi fty-nine Ghana Cedis and fi fty pesewas Implementation of fl ouroscent thin layer chromotherapy solution addressed this problem/ need either for a (GHS46,959.50). Two of these collaborations method of diagosis of Buruli Ulcer. Dr. Richard Amewu USD 29,879.00 29,879.00 specifi c fi rm, group or association. included a round table discussion and training programme organised by the TDTC in partnership Building Capacity to Tackle Food Security Climate Industry Engagement Grants Change Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu USD 417,270.00 417,270.00with the Institute of Applied Science and The TDTC awarded grants to researchers to Technology (IAST) of the University of Ghana. promote collaboration with the private sector. African Doctoral Academy Stelenbosch University Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa Baidu USD 83,245.00 83,245.00 PMIL Project Prof. Agnes Budu USD 18,150.00 18,150.00 Evident Case Study Ghana Dr. Esi Colecraft EUR 36,821.95 41,285.90 ETHICS AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION Exploiting the Pathogen box Dr. Richard Amewu USD 30,000.00 30,000.00 UG inaugurates Ethics Committee for Utilisation Action Plan, two consultative meetings College of Health Sciences Awandare RS-Pfi zer Award Dr. Gordon Awandare GBP14,000.00 17,826.90were held at ORID; the fi rst one was organised The University of Ghana inaugurated the Ethical for some selected faculty members and Research Reoptimisattion and Reoperatioon of Study of Akosombo and Kpong Dams Dr. Daniel Nukpezah EUR 8,694.47 9,748.50and Protocol Review Committee (EPRC) for the Development Offi cers while the fi nal one was for College of Health Sciences which is located at Deans and Director. The aim for the meetings was Optimisation and operation of Dams Dr. Daniel Nukpezah EUR 45,000 50,455.30 Korle-bu campus of the University of Ghana. The to seek buy-in from the University community Committee will be responsible for the ethical before the launch of the action plan. This action UNON Conference and Interpreting and Translation Programmes Prof. Nana Aba A. Amfo USD 417,331 417,331.00 and scientifi c review of all research protocols of plan forms part of the DRUSSA project which graduate students and faculty members based aimed at promoting sustainable research uptake Sustainable Market Actors Responsible for Trade Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio EUR 11,756.00 13,181.20 at the College of Health Sciences (CHS) in Korle- in 24 universities across sub-Saharan Africa. Bu. its role among other things is to ensure that Currently, evidence abound that researchers are Climate Smart Cocoa System for Ghana Dr. Kwadwo Owusu DKK 9,990,278.00 1,505,210.00 ethical and scientifi c research is in conformity gradually moving away from the usual cliché Is Contemporary Christianity Promoting or Hindering with local and international principles. The EPRC of publish or perish to increasing community Mental Health in Ghana Dr. Joana Salifu Yendork USD 36,000.00 36,000.00 follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with engagement to enable their research have direct Building Academic Freedom and democracy Dr. Kwadwo Appiagyei - Atua EUR15,000.00 16,818.40 clearly spelt out terms of reference, membership, impact on society meetings and criteria for protocol reviews. Menstrual Hygiene Management Dr. Edward Nanbigne USD 89,282 89,282.00 EXTERNAL FUNDS Higher Education and Advocacy Network in Africa Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia USD 9,450 9,450.00 UG Research Uptake and Utilisation During the year under review, a total of 18 research Knowledge Transfer from one Generation of Experts to Action Plan the Next Generation Dr. Ewurama Dedea Ampadu Owusu USD 49,982.00 49,982.00projects with a sum of USD 2, 883, 115.20 were As part of a preparative work towards the received through the Offi ce of Research, Innovation Predicting and Validating the Consequences of implementation of UG’s Research Uptake and and Development. The table 2 shows a breakdown Insecticide Resistance on Malaria Transmission Dr. Yaw Afranie USD 48,000.00 48,000.00 of projects. GRAND TOTAL 2,883,115.20 28 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 29 UNIVERSITY OF GHANA research on areas including malaria, nutrition, higher INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH highly satisfi ed with course design, instruction WORLDWIDE UNIVERSITIES education and climate change. This has enabled UG faculty to contribute to major global and local AND PLANNING OFFICE (IRPO) methodologies as well as the quality of interaction with other students. Student’s satisfaction with NETWORK (WUN) ACTIVITIES development challenges using the collective skills of the quality of interactions with the academic some of the world’s best researchers. The Institutional Research & Planning Offi ce (IRPO) faculty and staff , quality of libraries, classrooms is in charge of institutional research and analysis and IT infrastructure was rated average. However, Prof. Anthony Andrew Adjei of the Offi ce of as well as providing strategic planning services students’ satisfaction with the quality of students Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) to senior management. Its core activities include support services was very low. Overall, students is the University of Ghana’s Coordinator on the analysing internal data on teaching, research were highly willing to recommend the University of network. UG is represented on two of the major and administration. It also collects and analyses Ghana to graduating senior high school Students. research groups of WUN; the WUN Global Africa external data to inform strategic direction of the The results of the Tracer study and Exit survey are Group by Dr. Ibrahim Bedi (Department of university. The offi ce responds to requests for data currently being fi nalized. The University of Ghana, in August 2015, joined Accounting, UGBS) and WUN Web Observatory from researchers and various stakeholders including the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) as Group by Professor Richard Boateng (Department regulatory, accreditation, ranking and research Policy and Planning part of eff orts to promote research collaborations of OMIS, UGBS). institutions. The offi ce is structured into three In February 2016, the unit coordinated a Strategic and increase the University’s visibility in the units, namely institutional research, institutional Planning Implementation Workshop under the research enterprise. WUN is a leading global Partnering on the network off ers UG faculty with assessment and policy planning. auspices of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar higher education and research network made the following: to build capacity and sensitise the university up of 19 universities, spanning 11 countries i. Linking faculty to other researchers in the Institutional Research community towards performance for achieving on fi ve continents. It is the most active global network; In the year under review, the Institutional Research research targets in line with the university’s higher education and research network with 100 ii. The opportunity for faculty members to Unit generated and submitted annual statistical strategic plan and the world-class research intensive active research initiatives, engaging over 2,000 apply for the University of Ghana Large reports about the university to public institutions vision. The workshop was well attended by 150 researchers and students collaborating on a diverse Multi-disciplinary Grant to collaborate with including the Ministry of Education, National members of the University community in senior range of projects. WUN has a mission to stretch other members in the network; Council for Tertiary Education, and National management in charge of research, management ambitions and develop the next generation of iii. Provision of advisory services; as well as Accreditation Board. The unit in collaboration with and administration. leaders through partnerships with government, iv. Dissemination of research and research ORID responded to three international ranking international organisations and industry and aims to interest to the network. institutions, namely Times Higher Education fi nd solutions to some of society’s most signifi cant in the USA, and the QS Ranking in UK. These challenges to improve quality of life WUN Meetings statistics contributed to university of Ghana’s In April 2016, the University of Ghana represented rankings. Within the year, the unit also responded WUN’s research is focussed on four Global by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Ernest Aryeetey, to statistical data request from individual faculty Challenges the then in-coming Vice-chancellor Professor and researchers for proposal writing and academic i. Responding to Climate Change; Ebenezer Oduro Owusu and the UG-WUN research. ii. Public Health (Non-communicable Disease); Coordinator, Professor Anthony Andrew Adjei iii. Global Higher Education and Research; and participated in the WUN Annual General Meeting Institutional Assessment Unit iv. Understanding Cultures (AGM) at Maastricht University. The Unit conducted three studies namely Students’ Satisfaction Survey, Tracer study and Exit survey. The University of Ghana is considered a key partner Following UG’s membership in the network, two The purpose of the Students’ Satisfaction for research on Africa. UG’s partnership in this WUN Coordinators from University of Southampton Survey was to help understand the experience network has off ered several unique opportunities for and Bristol in May 2016, visited the University of of University of Ghana students. The random academics at the University of Ghana to work with Ghana to explore the possibility of establishing survey received responses from a total of 3,494 faculty in other institutions within the network to research collaborations. students. The research revealed that students were 30 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 31 Table 3: Cambridge Africa Partnership for Research Excellence (CAPREx) Recipients Name of Benefi ciary Department Project Title Dr. Beverly Egyir Bacteriology, NMIMR Whole genome sequence profi ling of antibiotic resistant S. aureus isolates from livestock in Ghana Novel marine derived actinomycetes from Ghana’s Western and Volta Dr. Kwaku Kyeremeh Chemistry Regional Wetlands: Genetic sequences, chemistry and biological activity profi ling Dr. Agyeman Danquah Crop Science Development of heat tolerant, high yielding and consumer-acceptable tomato varieties for all year-round production in Ghana’ Dr. Mary Anti Chama Chemistry Characterization of anti-parasitic and structural activity relationship of isolates from dichapetalum albidum and two millettia species Dr. Angela Parry-Hanson Kunadu Nutrition and Food Investigating the prevalence and pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes Science strains isolated from ready-to-eat streets vended foods in Accra, Ghana Dr. Kwabena Kan-Dapaah Biomedical Engineering Nanocomposite materials for theranostic biomedical applications: Fabrication, characterization and intro-vitro testing FELLOWSHIP Dr. Japheth A. Opintan Medical Microbiology Origin and evolution of epidemic Cholera in Ghana Noguchi postdoctoral fellowships Postdoctoral research fellowships under the One of the major focus areas of the project is The Noguchi Memorial Instutite for Medical Cambridge Africa Partnership for Research the strengthening of faculty research capacity Research (NMIMR) hosted four postdoctoral Excellence (Caprex) Programme through the provision of post-doctoral research research fellows during the period. In 2012, the University of Cambridge received fellowships for early and mid-career researchers Table 4: Noguchi Postdoctoral Fellowships funding from the Carnegie Corporation and the at both the University of Ghana and Makerere. Isaac Newton Trust to implement the Cambridge Selected Fellows spend up to 6 months at the Name of Benefi ciary Unit Project Title Africa Partnership for Research Excellence University of Cambridge to work with their Dr. Protus A. Tarkang NMIMR Application of multi-target phytotherapeutic concept in malaria drugh (CAPREx) programme. The CAPREx programme is Cambridge collaborators on a research topic which discovery: HPLC-based activity profi ling of a polyherbal product a partnership programme between the University is relevant to building the research capacity of their Dr. Emmanuel Mouafo Tekwu NMIMR Anti-schistosomal evaluation of selected Ghanaian medicinal plants of Cambridge UK, University of Ghana, Legon and departments at the University of Ghana. Fellows Makerere University, Uganda and aims at building also engage in a variety of training, seminars and The effect of allelic polymorphism on malaria parasite specifi c ex vivo research capacity in the two African Institutions of networking opportunities to enhance their research Dr. Nfor Omarine Nlinwe NMIMR IFN-Gamma responses to apical membrane antigene1 in a malaria exposed population the partnership. links and skills. Dr. Evelyn Yayra Bonney NMIMR Impact of host factors on HIV infection, disease progression and response to antiretroviral therapy The project which is currently in its second phase The 4th call for applications for the postdoctoral (2015-2018), provides support for the development research fellowships yielded 21 applications out of of African academic research excellence through which 11 were shortlisted and 7 awards were made WACCBIP-DELTAS postdoctoral fellows the three-way partnership aimed at promoting to the following UG faculty members to undertake WACCBIP has introduced a new postdoctoral the fellows the foundation to develop their the recruitment and retention of the brightest specifi c research projects with their Cambridge- fellowship programme as part of the Wellcome independent research careers. After the fi rst call for academic staff at these regional hubs. based collaborators. Trust Developing Excellence in Leadership Training applications, eight postdoctoral fellowships were and Science (DELTAS) project. This fellowship is awarded to successful applicants. Each fellow will aimed at recruiting young early career scientists receive grant support of up to $150,000.00 over (1-3 years post-PhD) to support the training and three years to cover a monthly salary, research research activities at the Centre, while giving costs, and other research-related expenses. 32 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 33 Table 5: Recipients of the WACCBIP-DELTAS Postdoctoral Fellowship Name of Benefi ciary and Nation- Department Project Title ality Dr. Yaw Aniweh; Ghana Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Unravelling the molecular players during Plasmodium Biology falciparum invasion of erythrocytes The role of dominant midgut bacteria isolated from Dr. Jewelna Akorli; Ghana Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Anopheles mosquitoes in Ghana in larval development and susceptibility to Plasmodium infection Dr. Adwoa Asante-Poku Wiredu; Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Ghana Biology Host susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in Ghana Dr. Kolapo Oyebola; Nigeria Medical Research Unit, Fajara, the Genetic variations and differential immunological response Gambia to malaria chemotherapy in variably exposed West African populations Malaria Research and Training AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Dr. Modibo Sangare; Mali Centre at the University of Science, Epidemiology, clinical neurophysiology, and molecular Techniques, and Technology, genetic studies of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mali Bamako, Mali Dr. Samuel Aniegye Ntewusu, a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies (IAS) Malaria Research and Training Dr. Seidina A.S. Diakite; Mali Centre at the University of Science, Genomic variation in P. falciparum and pharmacogenomics of the University of Ghana won the 2016 Royal Techniques, and Technology, of antimalarial drugs in Mali Bamako, Mali Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Fellowship. The award is intended for top-notch Dr. Valentina J. Ngo Bitoungui; University of Cape Town, South Genetic factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in Cameroon Africa Cameroonian sickle cell disease patients researchers working outside The Netherlands to share their knowledge and experience with Kenya Medical Research Institute, Validation of candidate mutations in Plasmodium for Dr. Daniel Muthui Kiboi; Kenya resistance to the antimalarial drugs Piperaquine and researchers in Dutch institutes and universities.Kilifi , Kenya Lumefantrine Dr. Ntewusu was selected as a recipient this year Table 6: Recipients of other postdoctoral fellowships for his keen interest in the reinterpretation of African history. With research promoting new Dr. Samuel Aniegyei Ntewusu Fellowship Name of Benefi ciary Department Project Title/Purpose views on themes in his fi eld of culture, chieftaincy American Council of Learned and history. His book, “Settling in and Holding on: Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo was awarded Societies (ACLS) African Humanities Dr. Reginald Akuoko Duah School of Languages Causatives in Kwa: Form, Structure Program and Meaning A socio-economic history of northern traders and a Senior Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence and Visiting transporters in Accra’s Tudu, 1908-2008” made him a Professor at Concordia University, Irvine (CUI), CA. All Africa House Postdoctoral Course and Syllabus development Fellowship Dr. Juliana Appiah LECIAD working with Prof. John Akokpari, contender for the award. Concordia’s undergraduate program is distinctive University of Cape Town because of its nationally recognized Core Curriculum, His research interests are the reformulation of the comprised of classical liberal arts courses off ered fi eld of African studies, in particular African history, in small learning communities in linked pairs on a global scale. such as biology with theology, mathematics with philosophy, and history with literature. Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo joined Concordia’s faculty to help internationalize and add course content related to cultural diversity and global perspectives, specifi cally, to enrich the culture of the campus by increasing the African component in several core courses. In addition to guest lectures, she taught 34 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 35 one undergraduate course, Culture and Self, and supported the development of the Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) Africa program, and its fi rst cohort of students, who spent January to June 2016 in Ghana. The year also provided her the opportunity to travel across the US and around the world as a keynote speaker, sharing her research on Black Lives and Knowledge Production. Dr. Ọb ád él é Kambon The Director of the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, has been elected as PUBLIC LECTURES the President of the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS) for the period 2016-2019. The event took place during the closing ceremony of the 7th Africa Population Inaugural Lectures In his lecture, he remarked that insects are quite Conference in Pretoria, South Africa. Professor Codjoe, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu of the remarkable creatures with about 1 million species who was the Vice President of the Union, succeeded Department of Animal Biology and Conservation rightly identifi ed, while about 8 million are yet to be Professor Jean Francois Kobiane of the University of Science on 14th July, 2016 delivered his inaugural identifi ed. He further explained that insects attack Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. lecture on the topic ‘Entomophobia: Are insects crops on the fi eld and in storage and may also dictating the pace of world food insecurity?’ transmit diseases to plants. Some insects, especially Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo the stored product pests, contaminate food with Dr. Ọb ád él é Kambon, a Research Fellow at the their body parts, faecal matter and webbings. Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana These activities reduce the quality and quantity of was selected as the overall winner of the 2016 UG food. Damage to crops by insects (fi eld and stored) College of Humanities Provost Publications Award world-wide can be up to hundred percent in some (Early Career). The award is based on his Paper titled: cases. This raises serious concerns about the extent “Theory of Endogenous and Exogenous Motivation of food insecurity in the world and its associated in L2 Migration” which was published in Per Linguam, consequences. 31(2) 2015. Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe Elected President of In his concluding remarks, he noted that insects are It was mentioned that his article has been noted to the Union for African Population Studies truly dictating the pace of world food insecurity, be a great input in the area of language teaching and UAPS is a pan-African non-profi t organization leaving humans with very little options to learning and the work will be used by many researchers established through the initiative of the United counteract their ruthless upsurge on agricultural and foreign language teachers. Dr. Kambon has Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) crops. authored many publications and is currently working by the Third General Conference of African on an article entitled “Serial Verb Nominalization in Demographers, Statisticians and Planners held in Akan: The Question of Intervening Elements” with Dr. Addis Ababa in March 1984, in order to promote Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu Reginald Duah and Dr. Clement Appah in which Dr. the scientifi c study of population and application of Kambon is the lead author. research evidence in development planning in Africa. 36 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 37 Professor Ama de-Graft Aikins of the Regional chronic diseases. For each Ghanaian living with a Professor Kwadwo Ansah Koram of the Noguchi Malaria control in Ghana has its origins in the Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) delivered a specifi c condition, at least two more Ghanaians Memorial Institute for Medical Research delivered colonial administration’s eff orts to reduce the lecture on the topic ‘Curing our ills: The psychology are at risk. The Ghanaian situation is mirrored in his inaugural lecture on ‘Malaria elimination in morbidity and mortality of its serving offi cers. Initial of chronic disease, risk, experience and care in many African countries. Currently, chronic non- Ghana: Reality or pipe dream?’ eff orts were attempts to target all aspects of the life Africa’. communicable disease (NCD) deaths in adult men cycle and included improvement in housing such and women are higher in sub-Saharan Africa than as screening, use of nets, drainage of swamps and in other regions of the world. It is estimated that distribution quinine among others. These measures African NCD prevalence, morbidity and mortality were intensifi ed during the Second World War to rates will rise faster than rates in Asia and Latin minimize the loss of manpower and equipment America over the coming decades. The long term among the allied forces stationed in Accra. and costly nature of NCDs has major implications for individuals, communities, health systems and The task of malaria elimination is not going to be governments. an easy one. However, it must be undertaken in order that we are fully prepared to face the looming In her lecture, Prof. Ama de-Graft Aikins discussed epidemic of non-communicable diseases such as the psychology of chronic disease risk, experience diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The and care in Africa. She off ered practical solutions resultant benefi ts that will accrue from malaria for reducing chronic disease risk and improving the elimination will far outweigh the costs and therefore quality of long-term experience and care, drawing Professor Kwadwo Ansah Koram eff orts must be made to make malaria elimination a Professor Ama de-Graft Aikins from concrete responses within Ghana and from reality and not a pipe dream. countries within and outside Africa that have Millions of Ghanaians live with diabetes, implemented successful NCD interventions. hypertension, stroke, cancers and other major Professor John Ofosu-Anim of the Department of Crop Science delivered his inaugural lecture on the Professor Edward K. Quashigah of the School topic ‘Feeding millions of Ghanaians: Is organic crop of Law on May 12, 2016 delivered his inaugural production answer?’ lecture on the topic ‘Constitution building, constitutionalism and national values: Wither The science of growing crops has been refi ned and Ghana? perfected over time to accommodate the ever- ’ increasing human population. In the early days of The constitutional history of Ghana is replete with agriculture, crops were mostly grown organically, evidence of executive behaviour and individual however with the growth in population; lesser area actions that do not exhibit any indication of some of land became available for crop production. Food acceptable values in conformity with the inherent insecurity caused by rapid population growth has principles of the particular constitutions. resulted in the use of many synthetic chemicals and gene manipulation techniques to maximize the It is the proposal that there is the need for a potential of plants. In his lecture, Prof. Ofosu-Anim national conference to develop a national charter discussed organic crop production and examined on national values and how to inculcate them into whether it can produce enough food to meet future our political and social psyche. Professor Edward K. Quashigah demand of Ghana. Professor John Ofosu-Anim 38 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 39 Rev. Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo of the The lecture traversed a Eurocentric approach to Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu of the Department for the Study of Religions, on March 3, African historiography, the tenacity of post-colonial Department of Organisation and Human Resource 2016 delivered a lecture on ‘Contemporary African African Christianity, African Christian Spirituality Management, on 28th January, 2016 delivere d Christianity’. and African initiated Christianity, Pentecostal/ a lecture on the topic ‘Towards an organisationl Charismatic renewal, and the recent demographic revolution in Africa – calibrated culture, engaged shift of the centre of gravity of Christianity to the leadership and structured health – musings of global South, particularly Africa. an organizational psychologist’. He argued that organisations are purposive entities that go On the way forward, Prof. Omenyo suggested that where they are directed or steered to go. Whether training should not be confi ned to the acquisition organisations meet their objectives, perform or are of academic knowledge alone, but both academic dysfunctional is a direct consequence of the human and vocational, as well as developing vernacular to behavioural action or inaction. Prof. Puplampu be used as the medium of instruction. focused on three key within-organisation variables: leadership, culture and structured health as tools of revolution. Professor Bill Buenar Puplampu Rev. Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo On 5th November 2015, Professor Samuel Agyei- Mensah of the Department of Geography and Professor Samuel Kwame Off ei, Pro-Vice- Resource Development, delivered his inaugural Chancellor for Academic and Student Aff airs at the lecture on the topic ‘Finding space for African University of Ghana delivered his inaugural lecture population health’. In this lecture, Prof. Agyei- on ‘Managing the enemies of plants to enhance food Mensah indicated that the concept of space in security: Genetic improvement as a counter off ensive its multiple forms is central to the theoretical strategy’. In his lecture, Prof. Off ei advocated and methodological foundations of health and increased investments in agricultural research and population geography. The lecture examined how development by African governments. space has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of population and health issues in Professor Off ei described models for understanding Africa and explored the unique contribution to be the mechanisms of viral infections, as well as derived from closer linkages between population how crops can be genetically modifi ed through health and spatial analysis. Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah traditional breeding, mutagenesis, and transgenic procedures. Professor Samuel Kwame Off ei 40 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 41 Alumni Lecture The alumni lecture was given by Dr. Anarfi Asamoa- Baah, Deputy Director-General, World Health Organization. He contrasted the proven impact and remarkable record of vaccines with the recent rise of public anxiety and misgivings worldwide. For example, for vaccines against epidemic meningitis, measles, and polio, attitudes vary from eager RESEARCH CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE acceptance to serious doubts and outright refusals. The lecture explored how the potential of vaccines The objective of the proposed project is to to do greater good can be freed from public Trans-Disciplinary Research into Climate Change generate knowledge on how to enhance climate suspicions of harm. Adaptation change adaptation by improving the resilience of The Working Group of the Trans-Disciplinary the social and biophysical environments. Research into Climate Change Adaptation Centre Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah of Excellence of the University of Ghana held Enhancing Food Production and Processing a proposal development workshop in Ada as a The Centre of Excellence for Enhancing Food step towards fulfi lling its research agenda. The Production and Processing planned the following workshop aimed to develop several proposals for activities under its key areas of crop production and Vice-Chancellor’s Occasional Lecture Professor Manuel Elkin Patarroyo, a Professor research funding in climate change adaptation and processing improvement, livestock production and of Molecular Pathology from the Universidad mitigation and also provided an opportunity to processing systems, technologies to address post- The Vice-Chancellor’s occasional lectures was Nacional de Colombia and the current Director discuss progress in the development of a book on harvest losses and food safety processes: delivered by Professor Manuel Elkin Patarroyo of Fundación Instituto de Inmunologia de climate change in Ghana. Members of the group • Organization of a one-day workshop Murillo on Thursday, 31st March, 2016 at the School Colombia asserted that physicochemical rules include Professor Samuel Adiku, Julius Fobil, Paul focusing on Enhancing Food Production of Public Health Auditorium on the topic “Immune must be followed for the development of fully- W. K. Yankson, Samuel N. A. Codjoe and Drs. Elias and Processing Issues; Protection Inducing Synthetic Protein Structures protective, chemically-synthesized vaccines. Ayuk, Kwadwo Owusu, Christiana Amoatey and Mr. • Safe and Healthy Vegetable Production (IMPIPS): The New Vaccines Development”. Most of these principles or rules for the prototype Ezekiel Acquaah. Project - Utilization of Control disease (malaria) have been indentifi ed and Environment Agriculture (EnviroDome used to develop a panel of functionally-relevant, The working group developed two proposals during Greenhouse Technology) for specifi cally modifi ed, high activity binding peptides the workshop: The fi rst proposal on ‘Mitigating Sustainable Food Security; (mHABPs) attaching to host cells, thereby inducing climate change and improving the livelihoods of • Integrated Research and Development sterile protective immunity in the experimental vulnerable communities in two agro-ecological zones System for Pig Breeding, Production Aotus monkey model. These principles or rules of Ghana: The use of green technologies’ focused and Processing; and, have led to developing long-lasting, protection- on developing structures for sustainable land use, • Set up Information and inducing multi-epitope, multistage, minimal reduction of carbon emissions in communities and Communications Technology Systems subunit-based, chemically-synthesized vaccines or access to carbon credits for improved livelihood as to showcase/highlight activities of the eff ective immune protection-inducing, synthetic well as sensitization of communities on the eff ects Centre. protein structures. of climate change on the environment. The second proposal titled ‘Social and biosphere enhancement Three committees were set up to coordinate the for climate change adaptation in Ghana (SBECHAM)’ implementation of these planned activities. These has among its targets, smallholder farmers, policy committees developed and submitted specifi c Professor Manuel Elkin Patarroyo makers, development partners and researchers. activities to be undertaken, identifi ed persons 42 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ORID) 43 responsible for the diff erent activities and the analysis using STATA for PhD. students. Workshops resources required. were organised for two out of the fi ve priority sub- thematic areas, namely: (i) Poverty analysis and (ii) Development Policy, Poverty Monitoring and health and social wellbeing. Evaluation In the year under review, the Working Group organised training on managing large datasets and College of Basic and Applied Sciences Snapshot of Research Activities 6 Development Partners, Industry and Countries in Africa, Europe and Asia in Civil Society collaborators: Ministry of which the College has a Research Presence 14 Members of the UG Climate Change Working Group Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries Through Multi-country Collaborative Research and Aquaculture Development, Ghana Studies and Partnerships: Benin, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Meteorological Agency, Cocoa Research Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cape Verde, Poverty analysis economic groups; (ii) determine the social protection Institute of Ghana, FAO, Compassion Ghana Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Sao Tome e Principe A half day workshop was organized on the 29th gap based on global social protection fl oor standards February, 2016 by members of the poverty analysis and Ghana’s social protection policy standards and sub-thematic areas of the working group to discuss a (iii) build the capacity of PhD students. 4 Research Intensive Centres, Institutes Research Areas funded by competitive 3and Schools in the College based external grants: Climate Change, Food research proposal on poverty dynamics, vulnerability on reported budgets of at least CBAS Security and Safety, New Technologies and social protection. Two faculty members at Health and social wellbeing $500,000: WACCBIP, WACCI, School of Agriculture, School of Biological CSPS, Professor Abena D. Oduro and Prof. Ellen A workshop was organised to validate bibliography Sciences Bortei-Doku Aryeetey who are members of the on health and social wellbeing research conducted Working group embarked on the project Poverty by University of Ghana researchers. Additionally, Dynamics, Vulnerability and Social Protection Gaps the workshop discussed and confi rmed a plan of under the Poverty Analysis thematic area. The action on a proposed collaborative (implementation project is intended to be a longitudinal study on research) project on health and social wellbeing in University Partners and Collaborators include:ICRISAT, IITA, Technical University, Delft livelihoods, poverty dynamics and vulnerability Ghana. The workshop was facilitated by Professor Ghent University, Belgium 6 status of Ghanaians across socio-economic groups, Moses Aikins (School of Public Health) and University of New HampshireInternational Research Institute for Climate and Society with special reference to selected vulnerable groups Professor Ama de-Graft Aikins (Regional Institute of European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological within each income or expenditure quintile. The Satellites (EUMETSAT) and Mecartor-Ocean, Toulouse, FrancePopulation Studies), both, members of the Working three objectives of the project are to (i) undertake Group on Development Policy, Poverty Monitoring analysis of poverty and vulnerability dynamics and to and Evaluation (DPPME) and leaders of the sub- construct a vulnerability index for diff erent socio- thematic group. 44 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 45 Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies The College continued with its aim of achieving Building substainable mountain the University’s vision of becoming a research- Professor Chris systems in sub-sahara Africa: WUN Research Gordon between communities ecosystem BP 7,400 Development Fund intensive university through the intensifi cation services, environment and health of research, by holding public lectures in the West African Centre for Crop Improvement university and establishing an Annual Science and University of New Hampshire Development Platform (known as College of Basic and Applied Sciences–Science and Development Dr. Agyeman Danquah World Agroforestry Centre Sequence the Genome of Shea $565,000 National Science Foundation, USA Platform, CBAS-SDP) for faculty to showcase research fi ndings and a forum to interact and Cocoa Research Institute Ghana initiate collaborative ventures with industry. Department of Nutrition and Food Science We recognise and appreciate the quality of Council for Technical Dr. Maame Yaakwah Enhancing quality dairy production USD and Vocational research carried out by our exceptional faculty Blay and processing in Ghana 1000,000.00 Education and Training (COTVET) members. Our faculty focus on intellectual issues Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences and research challenges of national importance Netherlands and we are extremely proud of their research Technical University Delft Integrated sustainable port Organisation for achievements within the period under review. and other universities in the development in Ghana within an EUR700,000 Scientifi c Research Prof. Kwasi Netherlands African context (NW) WOTRO Appeaning Addo Science for global development Monitoring Ghanaian coastal water Volkswagen quality using biological indicators EUR100,000 Germany Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences During the period under review the Institute made • Capacity building workshop for Ghana Table 7: Research Developments in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences signifi cant achievements in its fi ve key operational Association of Pig Farmers. areas which are highlighted below: • Dairy Technology Project Principal Investiga- Partner Institutions Title Amount Funding Organi- tor sation • Interaction with Fuji Oil Group, Japan, Prof. J. Ofosu-Anim USAID Agriculture Institutional through the Institute’s maiden Industry Capacity Building Project $2,900,000 USAID-Ghana Food Processing, Packaging and Agri- Interaction Series. Department of Crop Science ICRISAT-Mali Business • Engagement with artisanal palm oil Climate change on West African producers in Akyem Abodom. Dr. Dilys S. MacCarthy agriculture: A regional assessment $89,430 DFID The Institute held eight (8) major interactions • Commercialization of rice and tilapia IPAR-Senegal baseline study which impacted the research and development activities at the Soil and Irrigation Agrhymet-Niger activities of over 400 internal and external Research Centre in partnership with International Research Institute Capacitating African smallholders with climate advisories and Climate Change, for Climate and Society, Columbia stakeholders. Some of the specifi c activities that JICA. Dr. Dilys S. MacCarthy University, USA insurance development: Weather $30,300 Agriculture and Food Security were undertaken include: • Skills training for women in food index-based crop insurance ICRISAT-Mali services to smallholders (CCFAS) • Research needs assessment for Organic processing. International Vegetable Farmers in Ghana. • Food value chain workshop. International Institute for Tropical Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Support to agricultural research for Agriculture (IITA) Dr. Dilys S. MacCarthy development of strategic crops in $36,000 Africa African Development Bank African Development Bank 46 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 47 Health and Traditional Medicine they would be required to supply for an entire Development and Manufacture academic year, while the University places orders with authorization from Heads of Departments to The specifi c research outcomes focused on the suppliers when the chemicals are needed by conservation protocols of some medicinal plants Departments. that are going extinct due to lack of conservation by Dr. Naalamle Amissah from the Department Institute of Environment and of Crop Science. Particular emphasis was placed Sanitation Studies on the conservation of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, which is a local medicine used for the treatment Promoting Research into Use through of malaria. Participants were educated on the Networking and Engagement (PRUNE) best way of propagating this plant to achieve high yields. The Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) aims at exploring barriers Participants were also educated on the uses and and enablers of eff ective adaptation strategies Institute of Applied Science and Technology holds an interactive meeting with National Board for Small Scale extraction of active ingredients in medicinal plant in climate change ‘hot spots’. Among the key Industries species including the diachapetalum species by objectives of CARIAA is the need to ensure that Dr. Mary Chama from the Chemistry Department. results from the consortia inform and infl uence Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation public lectures. Major recommendations that The engagement targeted members of the Ghana relevant adaptation plans, strategies, practices and were articulated during these interactions are Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners policies at the national level. The CARIAA initiative In the area of Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, documented below: Associations (GHAFTRAM) and the Ghana has two of its four consortia in Ghana. These are the Institute undertook a preliminary study Traditional Medicine Foundation. Experts from the the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions on water plants on the Lower Volta and their • Industry participation in the teaching of School of Pharmacy, Noguchi Memorial Institute (ASSAR) and Deltas, Vulnerability and Climate alternative uses. The study was commissioned courses related to oil and gas to ensure for Medical Research and the Department of Plant Change, Migration and Adaptation (DECCMA), by the Hitachi Group, Japan and executed with local industry experience is integrated and Environmental Biology were also present. hosted by the Institute for Environment and collaborators from the Institute of Environment in case studies. Sanitation Studies (IESS) and the Regional Institute and Sanitation Studies and the Department of • Development of curricula targeted at for Population Studies (RIPS). The project is being Agricultural Engineering. the oil and gas sector with industry Vendor-Managed System conducted in two districts -Nandom and Lawra - in insights from practitioners. the Upper West Region and within the Volta delta. • Increase the number and frequency The Institute in collaboration with the Procurement Energy, Climate Change, Natural of short programmes and courses in Unit, the Finance Directorate, the University of The Promoting Research into Use through Resource Management and Sustainable Applied Sciences that can build the Ghana Computing Systems and the Computer Networking and Engagement (PRUNE) project Exploitation capacity of human resource in the oil Science Department developed a Vendor Managed is being undertaken as an additional project and gas sector. Particularly courses System to ensure prompt procurement of activity of the Country Table of the CARIAA Ghana In the 2015/2016 academic year, the Institute from the Schools of Physical and Chemicals, Reagents and Glassware for teaching consortia using science-based communication as engaged with the Petroleum Commission, Ghana Mathematical Sciences, the School of and research a way of increasing research impact in achieving National Petroleum Corporation, Ghana Oil and Gas Engineering Sciences and the Business sustained adaptation to climate change. PRUNE for Inclusive Growth, Kosmos Energy and Strategic School. he advantage of this new system is that has a holistic approach for strategic networking, Power Solutions from the Oil and Gas and Energy • Supporting the faculty to attend Departments would have the requisite supplies for knowledge sharing and dissemination of research Sectors. The outcome of these engagements conferences and engaging in dialogues research and teaching just in time without having results from the consortia to a wide range of includes the potential for future contract research, on emerging global trends in these to worry about storage modalities. Suppliers would stakeholders to impact policy decisions and scheduled roundtable discussions and areas. be given a list of chemicals, reagents and glassware adaptation options at national and regional levels. 48 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 49 PRUNE will help in meeting the overall objective of Akosombo and Kpong Dams reoperation West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens CARIAA in achieving an eff ective, widespread and and reoptimisation study project: sustained adaptation to climate change leading Development of medicinal herbal topical (WACCBIP) to improved wellbeing and adaptive capacities of formulation with anti-Schistosoma vulnerable populations in the semi-arid and deltaic cercarial penetration properties regions. The construction of the Akosombo and Kpong In its fi rst phase of research activities, baseline dams have impacted signifi cantly on communities studies by the ASSAR and DECCMA projects downstream in terms of their health and identifi ed local level adaptation activities, national livelihood. A key aspect of this research project level policies and plans, as well as interlinking is the development of medicinal herbal topical barriers and enablers for implementation. formulation with anti-Schistosoma cercarial penetration properties aimed at improving the The PRUNE initiative is funded by the UK health and well-being of the aff ected communities. Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the International The project team comprises Professor Chris Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada Gordon, Dr. Daniel Nukpezah, Dr. Dzidzo Yirenyah through the CARIAA initiative. Tawiah and colleagues from other institutions within and outside the University of Ghana (Professor Kwabena Bosompem and Dr. Daniel Boamah). Group picture of Wellcome Trust visiting team with the Vice-Chancelloer, Pro-VC (RID), Provost (CBAS), Dean (Biological Sciences), WACCBIP team and other senior University offi cials during the site evaluation visit that preceded the award of the DELTAS grants to WACCBIP Wellcome Trust DELTAS Africa Programme to include non-communicable diseases, extend the regional network beyond West Africa to WACCBIP in collaboration with its strong partner include East and Southern Africa, develop a post- network, submitted a successful bid in 2014 in doctoral programme for leadership development response to a call for applications by Wellcome and sustaining research momentum in newly Trust’s new capacity building initiative known qualifi ed PhD graduates, provide PhD fellowships as the Developing Excellence in Leadership and for research in human genetics and host-pathogen Training in Science (DELTAS) Africa programme. interactions and increase quality of supervision and The initiative provides funding to support training mentorship through a student visitor programme Training of Field surveyors for DECCMA Work package and health research by research consortia. where students spend 6-months in UK or US 3 Survey (May 2016) institutions for experiential learning. Project team on its way to Aloekpeme Island for In September 2015, the Centre was awarded Schistosoma snail survey a grant over a fi ve year period (2016-2020) to strengthen research in the areas of human genetics and host-pathogen. This fund is meant to create interactions leading to innovations in molecular diagnosis and drug development, expand research 50 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 51 West African Centre for Crop WACCI collaborates with international of targeted Ghanaian institutions for improving Soil and Irrigation Research Improvement (WACCI) partners to sequence the genome of shea service delivery to enhance economic growth. Centre (SIREC) Tomato breeding project In May, 2016 WACCI and its partners comprising Effi cacy of locally produced materials as Climate change impact on West African the University of New Hampshire, the World edible coating on mangoes agriculture: A regional assessment The University of Ghana, West African Centre Agroforestry Centre and the Cocoa Research baseline study for Crop Improvement (WACCI) in collaboration Institute of Ghana were awarded a three-year Dr. Gloria Essilfi e of the Department of Crop with WIENCO and SYNGENTA initiated the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Research Science, in collaboration with the Department The project is being conducted by Dr. (Mrs.) tomato breeding project which is funded (BREAD) - National Science Foundation (NSF), USA of Nutrition and Food Science, received a grant Dilys Sefakor MacCarthy in collaboration with by GhanaVeg. The project aims to evaluate grant of USD 565,000 to develop the foundational to undertake research on the Effi cacy of Locally ICRISAT - Mali, IPAR - Senegal and Agrhymet - yield and fruit quality performance of some resources necessary to support the strategic, Produced Materials as Edible Coating on Mangoes. Niger. The objectives of the project are to assess determinate Syngenta hybrid tomatoes along with long-term genome-enabled improvement of the sensitivity of current agricultural production popularly grown tomato varieties in three agro- the shea crop plant. The partners on this project Mushroom growing for sustainable systems to climate change, assess the benefi ts of ecological zones (Coastal Savanna, Transitional will use cutting-edge technologies to sequence adaptation in current agricultural systems, assess Zone and Guinea Savannah) in Ghana. The and annotate the genome of shea and develop the impact of climate change on future agricultural best hybrid varieties will be recommended to the other genomic and genetic resources needed for development production systems and assess the benefi ts of National Variety and Technical Release Committee accelerated improvement of shea. A Ghanaian climate change adaptations. of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), for PhD student will be trained on this project in a release. split-site programme with Dr. Agyemang Danquah, the WACCI lead scientist on this project as the in- country supervisor. Table 8: Funding for PhD Training (WACCI) Donor Purpose Amount USAID Scholarships to train fi ve PhD students in plant breeding $668,438 ECONET Foundation To train PhD students in plant breeding $600,000 German Academic Exchange Service DAAD Award to 13 students for PhD training. $577,304 School of Agriculture Agriculture institutional capacity building Improvements (WACCI), selected departments support project within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences Farmers Harvesting Mushroom and Department of Economics. The School of Agriculture and the West Africa This research project which is led by Dr. Justice Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) received The overall goal of the project is to improve Owusu-Bempah of the Department of Family USD 2.9 million from USAID-Ghana to improve sustainable agriculture productivity and food and Consumer Sciences, in collaboration with higher education in agricultural research and security through the training of scientists in plant Compassion Ghana, introduced members of the innovation. The ‘Agriculture Institutional Capacity breeding, biotechnology, crop and soil science, Adamrobe Community to the diff erent methods Building Support Project (SOA-CaBP)’ is a fi ve-year economic policy management and business of growing and preserving mushrooms, their Dr. (Mrs.) Dilys Sefakor MacCarthy and Dr. USAID funded-activity from 2015 to 2020 which is capacity building in response to the need for health benefi ts and income generation potential. Sika Gbegbelebge a socio-economist with IITA being implemented by the School of Agriculture augmenting the human and institutional capacities Participants were introduced to bookkeeping and (COLLABORATOR) and the West African Centre for Crop basic business management. 52 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 53 Preliminary results indicates that the sensitivity of Forest and Horticultural Crops Pelleted protein leaf meal (PLM) for sheep and goats current production systems vary across farmers Research Centre and depend on the type of farm management practices and soil type. Envirodome greenhouse technology (envirodome ventilation series – greenhouse system) African adaptive irrigated Sawah rice farming system in collaboration with the Professor George Oduro Nkansah of the Forest and Ministry of Food and Agriculture Horticultural Crops Research Centre embarked on a project to train farmers or exporters in innovative Dr. Joseph Ofori, a Research Fellow at the Soil techniques that will increase yields, productivity and Irrigation Research Centre, Kpong, received and profi ts; avoid pest and diseases as occurs in a grant to provide farmers with hands-on training the open fi eld; extend shelf life of produce; provide to develop lowland ecologies for sustainable safe and healthy food for the consumer and production of rice. Small-holder farmers will be transfer the technology to other members of their trained to manage their rice farming as a business. association. Dr. Tsatsu Adogla-Bessa at the LIPREC farm This project is being conducted by Dr. Tsatsu School of Veterinary Medicine Adogla-Bessa, a Senior Research Fellow of Livestock and Poultry Research Centre (LIPREC), Inauguration of small animal teaching in collaboration with Dr. Eric Timpong-Jones and hospital Dr. Leonard Adjorlolo all from the same Centre. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, The objectives of this project are to enable easy Professor Ernest Aryeetey, inaugurated the utilisation of fodder trees: PLM brings high quality physical structures of the Small Animal Teaching fodder trees to the doorstep of sheep and goat Hospital at the University of Ghana. The hospital farmers all year round. building, which was completed in 2014, has consulting rooms, records, pharmacy, laboratory, The introduction of PLM is expected to reduce dry and weighing and treatment areas. The Small season weight-loss, reduce reproductive losses Animal Teaching Hospital, the fi rst to be built in and increase overall productivity in sheep and Ghana, will accommodate and cater for domestic goats and dry season feed challenges result in up animals that are ill, diseased or injured and need to 15% weight-loss and 40-60% reduction in milk special treatment and attention. Services to production. be provided at the hospital include emergency Dr. Joseph Ofori providing hands-on traning to smallholder farmers on the caltivation of rice services, vaccine services, and surgery - castration, 54 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 55 spaying, tumour removal and other surgical for animal owners and veterinarians, advance Enhancing quality dairy production and operations. veterinary education and develop innovative processing in Ghana solutions to the health problems of animals in the The Hospital is dedicated to provision of country. The Council for Technical and Vocational exceptional patient care, serve as a referral centre Education and Training (COTVET) through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and the University of Ghana have provided funding to Dr. Maame School of Biological Sciences Yaakwah Blay Adjei and her team comprising Dr. Biofortifi cation to produce yellow fl esh cassava and related products to reduce hidden Eric Cofi e Timpong-Jones, Dr. Niilante Amissah, hunger and improve nutrition Dr. Angela Parry-Hanson Kunadu, Dr. Naalamle Amissah, Dr. Kofi Ajorlolo, Mrs. Mammie Hutchful Nortey and Mr. Ezekiel Acquaah to establish a Technology Centre for Quality Dairy Production and Processing at the University of Ghana. The project has taken a multidisciplinary approach in tackling the needs of the dairy industry in Ghana Newly established sensory laboratory by tapping into expert skills of researchers from the Departments of Food Science, Crop Science, Family and Consumer Science and the Livestock and Poultry Research Centre at the University of Ghana. Work has been undertaken directly with enterprising farmers and processors to develop and establish lucrative model farms based on modern technologies and improved skills through training to demonstrate the sustainability and productiveness of the dairy industry in Ghana. An ultra-modern microbiology laboratory has Professor Matilda Steiner-Asiedu engages Dr. Elizabeth Parkes, Dr. Joyce Haleelogah and Ms. Sophia Dickmann been established at the Department of Nutrition in a talk on nutritional benefi ts of proVitamin A Cassava and Food Science to develop a preservation Millions of people suff er from defi ciencies in use of cassava and its related foods through the technology that can be applied by farmers for raw micronutrients, such as vitamin A, folic acid, process of biofortifi cation to produce yellow fl esh milk preservation. New feed supplements for dairy iodine, zinc and iron, which if absent in diet cassava and other related food products. The cattle have also been developed by the LIPREC causes hidden hunger. In an attempt to surmount biofortifi cation is one of the strategies to reduce team and a Centre for pelleted feed is underway to these micronutrients challenges and make micronutrient defi ciency and may be a sustainable be completed at the LIPREC site. available nutritiously enriched food accessible long-term approach for providing millions of poor Newly established microbiology laboratory to all, the International Institute of Tropical people in developing countries with at least a part Agriculture (IITA) and the University of Ghana of their micronutrient requirements. This is a new led by Professor Matilda Steiner-Asiedu of the approach to reducing hidden hunger and is an Department of Nutrition and Food Science and agricultural investment for improving nutrition. her team conducted a research intended to make 56 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 57 Fish smoking systems project: the shift are balanced to meet current global needs and spectrophotometry, measure polychlorinated The research project aims to bridge knowledge from traditional to FTT fi sh smoking in goals for sustainable development. The project biphenyls (water, sediment, bivalve tissue and gaps in biodiversity of benthic invertebrates from Ghana incorporates an integrated approach to port design plastic rein pellets) using gas chromatography with West Africa, Ghana and develop a water quality that is stakeholder-inclusive and encompasses an electron capture detector and increase science model for ecological restoration and policy engineering, ecological, economic and governance literacy pertaining to environmental quality issues. development. aspects. The research project aims at developing ‘Best practice guidelines for implementing Ecowas Coastal and Marine Resources Management Centre – integrated and sustainable port development in Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) Project Africa’ and an international ‘Green ports Africa network’, a community of researchers and private Saving lives of fi shermen through SMS daily forecasts of ocean conditions in the form of sector practitioners. serivce on ocean weather conditions numerical indices. Monitoring Ghanaian coastal water Eff orts to mitigate accidents at sea have led to The ECOWAS Marine Centre is implementing quality using biological indicators dissemination of ocean conditions to fi shermen the SMS service as part of a regional project on in West Africa via SMS alerts. The service is being Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa provided by the ECOWAS Coastal and Marine (MESA) with funding from the European Union. Resources Management Centre located in the After a successful pilot of the service in September, University of Ghana, for fi shermen in 14 countries, 2015 in collaboration with the Ministry for Fisheries from Mauritania down to Nigeria, including and Aquaculture Development of Ghana and Ghana This project is being led by Professor Emmanuel the island states of Cape Verde and São Tomé e Meteorological Agency, the product was rolled out Ohene Afoakwa of the Department of Nutrition Príncipe. The benefi ciaries of the service receive to all the 14 countries participating in the MESA and Food Science in collaboration with researchers project. from Ghent University, Belgium and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project seeks to investigate the diff erent fi sh smoking systems used in Ghana to assess food safety and nutrition implications, and make suitable recommendations for meeting food safety and food security objectives of the United Nations . Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo and Dr. Lailah Integrated and sustainable port Gifty Akita a post-doctoral researcher, have been development in Ghana within an African monitoring Ghanaian coastal water quality using context biological indicators. The research uses benthic species as indicators of water quality due to their This three-year project is being implemented by specifi c ecological tolerances in particular as well the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences as their potential to archive events over long period in collaboration with the Technical University of time. The research project aims to describe the of Delft (TU Delft) and other institutions in the seasonal composition and distribution of benthic Netherlands. The researchers will develop a assemblages in the Ghanaian coastal waters framework and tools for designing integrated using community analytical methods, evaluate and sustainable ports in Africa in which historical trends in heavy metals (cadmium, environmental, economic and public benefi ts copper, mercy, zinc) using fl ame atomic absorption A fl yer used to sensitize marine artisanal fi shermen 58 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 59 The Centre is working in close collaboration with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and Mecartor-Ocean based in Toulouse, France. The Home Electric Power Management and Control System An opinion leader educating fellow fi shermen at Kedzikorpe, Keta District, Ghana This research project off ers the platform for users to provide demand-side management solutions in their homes via mobile interface software by School of Engineering Sciences monitoring, controlling and regulating power and Paying less electricity bills through Department have developed a remotely energy usage in an effi cient way. This translates the use of effi cient electric power controllable system for home electric power and into cost savings to the consumers, the electric management and control system energy monitoring, management and control power distributing company, as well as the power to enable consumers eff ectively manage their generators since this will lower the overall demand Power Fluctuations Monitor consumption and power usage to avoid high cost and the cost of investment on infrastructure. Based on the tests, it is possible for end-users to of electricity bills. remotely monitor and measure the power quality of their power supply using the mobile device and Device for monitoring power fl uctuations help take precautionary measures. The device has to avoid damage of electrical gadgets the potential of providing information to electric power utilities with feedback on the quality of Power quality has always been very important, the power supplied to consumers. It also has the but in recent times it has become more critical to benefi t of providing power regulatory bodies that consumers because modern electronic equipment need reliable data for the mediation of issues and devices used in homes and industry are very relating to power quality. sensitive to the quality of the power supplied. Dr. Godfrey Mills and Mr. David Tamakloe have Synthesis and characterisation of tin developed a device that allows end-users to oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles for energy monitor and measure the quality of electric power storage applications supplied at the low voltage (220V-240V) level. Dr. Godfrey Mills, Ms. Vanessa Barnes and Mr. This is the fi rst of two projects embarked on by Dr. Thomas Collins of the Computer Engineering David Dodoo-Arhin of the Department of Material 60 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 61 Science and Engineering which were supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the IAS Regional Initiative in Science and Education through the African Materials Science and Engineering Network (AMSEN). Electrochemical capacitors (ECs) or supercapacitors (SCs) are energy saving devices which have excellent properties that include high power density, long cycle life, low temperature sensitivity and low maintenance cost. However, Electrochemical charge-discharge testing these devices have lower energy densities Recycling Processes at the Laboratory than conventional batteries. To improve on its Nanostructured titanium-dioxide energy density, SnO2 which is a metal oxide was (TiO2): Synthesis, characterization and considered as an electrode material because of its photoactive applications Dr. David Dodoo-Arhin Development of a uterine contraction chemical inertness and thermal stability. monitoring system and a Bluetooth- Dye pollutants contaminate water bodies when based wireless digital stethoscope with The results suggest that sodium borohydride is improperly disposed into the ecosystem. Eff ects Studies and design of waste paper mobile integration a better reducing agent in the synthesis of SnO2 caused by the disposal of these dye pollutants recycling method in University of Ghana nanoparticles. Also, although the crystallite size include aesthetic pollution, eutrophication and using natural resource additives (Legon Dr. Elsie Eff ah Kaufmann of the Department of of the SnO2 particles was small, they exhibited perturbations in aquatic life. paper) Biomedical Engineering, in collaboration with Dr. very low pseudo capacitance as a result of the low Godfrey Mills of the Department of Computer conductivity of the nanoparticles and the lack of In this project, the synthesis of porous TiO2 The key solution to the menace of waste Engineering, have worked on the development of a electrochemical active sites. To improve on the nanostructured powders is explored by Dr. generated from the high consumption of paper in system to monitor uterine contractions in resource- capacitance of the SnO2 nanoparticles, conductive David Dodoo-Arhin via chemical means such as the university community and the environment limited settings. The project sought to develop a carbon can be added and composite SnO2 the Sol gel and hydrothermal techniques. The in general is recycling. By way of tackling this low-cost monitoring device that independently composite materials with carbonaceous materials SEM micrographs obtained showed that nearly menace, Dr. Johnson Efavi, Dr. Bernard Adjei indicates the frequency and duration of uterine can also be an alternative. spherical TiO2 nanoparticles were produced. The Anang and Dr. Abu Yaya have designed a fl otation contractions in a ten-minute period and present results obtained showed that mesoporous cell and fabricated it for waste paper recycling temporarily stores the data to be accessed later spherical anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with high using local raw materials such as kaolin and cassava without the need for the physical presence of photocatalytic activity and high surface area starch as additives. This research project when fully a midwife. The system also sounds an alert were synthesised. They were highly crystalline completed will make it possible to recycle paper on when there are anomalies in uterine contraction with grain size ranging from 2nm to 30nm. These UG campus into useful paper, thereby saving the readings. synthesised TiO2 nanoparticles can be applied in environment from waste generation of virgin paper the degradation of wide range of dye pollutants. usage. It will also reduce the cost of money spent They also worked on the design of a digital wireless by the university community on virgin paper. stethoscope with mobile integration to facilitate transmission of monitored signals through Bluetooth wireless medium to a mobile phone for evaluation and analysis by medical personnel. SEM of the SnO2 Nanoparticles The integration of the mobile device allows for the storage of recorded patient data, supports teaching and learning in medical schools, and 62 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 63 provides visual analysis of heart sounds. Physicians Pesticide contaminants in food materials inspired Prof. Robert Kingsford-Adaboh may not necessarily have to be in close proximity to commodities of plant origin in Accra and his research team, with funding from the patients during auscultation, thus the device may Metropolis Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa and the University help to prevent disease transmission, especially of Ghana, Carnegie Next Generation of Academics during periods of quarantine or isolation. The control of pesticide residues in food materials grant, to explore simple chemical structures and in Ghana is not properly monitored resulting in environmentally friendly techniques to synthesise paucity of data on the dietary intake of pesticides and characterise novel photoactive low bandgap among the Ghanaian population. This study semiconducting organic molecules for application reports, for the fi rst time in Ghana, a three- in organic solar cells. year (2010 – 2012) surveillance on pesticide contamination of fruits and vegetables and their The major fi ndings suggest that, these molecules health implications. This research has resulted are suitable for application in binary bulk- in an improved knowledge in pesticide residue heterojunction organic solar cells. In addition, their Dr. Elvis Tiburu levels in fruits and vegetables through the theoretically optimised planar geometry indicates generation of comprehensive and reliable data. a potential to orderly pack in solid state, and The data generated is expected to be drafted into relevance for application in ternary organic solar School of Physical and appropriate policies pertaining to the environment, cell. Mathematical Sciences as well as pesticide regulation. Dr. A. Donkor of the Department of Chemistry led the multi-disciplinary Stochastic modelling of stock prices on Some of the international collaborative researches research team comprising researchers from the the Ghana stock exchange on-going are the ‘Implementation of fl uorescent thin University of Ghana (Prof. I. Asante, Prof. Robert layer chromatography method for the diagnosis of Kingsford-Adaboh and Dr. Paul Osei-Fosu) and Financial models today rely on assumptions that Buruli ulcer’ project sponsored by the World Health Prof. Brajesh Dubey of the Indian Institute of make them suffi cient in many cases. Dr. Anani Dr. Elsie Eff ah Kaufmann Organization (WHO), a collaborative research with Technology, Kharagpur. Llotsi of the Department of Statistics and his Medicines for Malaria Venture (a Swiss foundation team conducted a study that examined whether Fabricated nanomaterials inhibit cancer engaged in the development of aff ordable Investigating the effi cient conversion of the behaviour of weekly and monthly returns cells and pathogenic fungal cells growth new drugs) to accelerate drug development photon energy to electricity by newly series of some selected equities listed on Ghana in-vitro in addressing diseases of poverty by way of synthesised low bandgap semiconducting Stock Exchange (GSE) can be modelled with the discovering new leads for innovative drugs against organic molecules Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM). Dr. Elvis Tiburu, Dr. Patrick Arthur, Dr. Ali A Salifu, neglected tropical diseases as well as building The study showed that only the monthly returns of Dr. Michael Anim Agyei, Dr. Rebecca Yeboah, capacity for researchers in developing countries, Current records show that an hour’s sunshine GCB and BOPP satisfi ed all the three assumptions and Dr. Thomas J. Webster have researched into and also a project to investigate the effi cient carries enough energy to power the whole of the GBM. However, the Hurst exponent inhibitory eff ects of two low silica nanomaterials conversion of photon energy to electricity by newly world for twenty years. Amongst the numerous estimates showed that seven returns series can against three cervical cancer cells and two synthesized low bandgap semiconducting organic technologies being utilised in harvesting this be modelled by the GBM. The study indicated that microbes (C. albicans and S. cerevisiae). They found molecules sponsored by the Leverhulme-Royal energy are solar cells of photoactive silicon, the expected price of the equities modelled is close that the materials possess dual applications by Society Africa award and the University of Ghana perovskites, dyes, organic and inorganic molecules to the actual stock price realized on the Exchange inhibiting cancer cell growth, as well as inferring Carnegie Next Generation of Academics grant. and quantum dots. Current complex structure even though some deviated slightly. antifungal activity against C. albicans thereby and synthesis techniques of photoactive organic having the potential to prevent treatment interruptions, which is a major challenge for developing cancer treatment with clinical relevance. 64 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 65 The study team concluded that the monthly returns and even though most of the returns returns of the GSE is a better data set to be used exhibit long range dependency, the Geometric for statistical inference as compared to the weekly Brownian Motion can be used for some equities on the GSE. College of Education Snapshot of Research Activities Boniface Yeboah Antwi AMRSC (PhD student of Professor R. Kingsford-Adaboh), purifying synthesised semiconducting organic molecules in a fume hood. Major College Partners and Collaborators include: Institute of Development Studies; 7 Sussex Norwegian Business School;Green College, Oxford; Yat -Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Berlin Freie University; University of Nairobi; Daystar University, Kenya. Countries in Africa, Europe and Asia in which the College has a research presence through multi-country collaborative research studies and partnerships: Kenya, China, Germany and the UK 4 66 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Basic and Applied Sciences 67 and political/civic participation, application of The study recommended that the libraries should recommending remedial measures. The main e-learning in distance education as well as adult have up-to-date strategic plans, which include a objective of the study was to assist healthcare and primary school education. specifi c mission and vision with regards to digital facilities to manage their medical records We hope to create a conducive environment to libraries and digitalised resources. This is one of the throughout the three stages of creation and attract the needed foreign and local research few articles which examine digitisation from a cross identifi cation, storage and retrieval, and retention grants for the development and promotion of section of university libraries in Ghana. and disposition. Using the barcode technology, the research and community engagement. researchers streamlined and simplifi ed the records Exploiting the benefi ts of barcode management practices in health facilities in six of technology in medical records the ten administrative regions in Ghana. management School of Information and Digital media in Sub-Saharan Africa Communication Studies project Planning for digitisation of university libraries in Ghana: Challenges and prospects Professor Dadzie in collaboration with Professor Thomas Van Der Walt of the Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, South Africa, investigated the availability of Rev. Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo strategic plans or policies for the development of digital libraries in three selected universities in Provost, College of Education. Ghana. The fi ndings reveal that all three university libraries have strategic plans, though some are The College of Education is striving to become a outdated, and therefore, rely on policies to ensure home to intellectually curious faculty and students that digitisation activities are enhanced. Dr. Margaret Ivy Amoakohene is collaborating whose research focus is on the use of Information Dr. Emmanuel Adjei with partners at Berlin’s Freie University and Dekra Communication Technology in improving learning Horschule as well as at the University of Nairobi outcomes through teaching and educational In response to challenges faced by hospitals and Daystar University in Kenya on a Digital Media research. in managing health records of patients, Dr. in Sub-Saharan Africa Project. The project aims to Emmanuel Adjei of the Department of Information conduct a representative survey of political (and In our quest to become a world-class ICT driven Studies and Mr Prince Dela Boniand conducted civic) participation over digital media with a special research–oriented College by 2021, we launched research to review medical records management reference to mobile communication in Germany, our strategic plan during the academic year under practices in some healthcare facilities with a Ghana and Kenya. review. Thus, our fi rst strategic objective in the view to identifying pitfalls to effi ciency and strategic plan is enhancement of faculty research output. Faculty research during the period covers a wide Professor Perpetua Sekyiwa Dadzie range of themes such as the use of ICT education in health, food production, climate change, disease 68 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Education 69 The dark-side of multiplatform advertising challenges and high costs. Critically, the study also research) and Ghanaian women’s historiography Findings suggest that although women participate in an emerging economy context fi nds that, in the context of Ghana’s developing by documenting women’s contributions to the in voting during district assembly elections and economy, multi-platform advertising is also plagued development of radio broadcasting in Ghana; are very active in voluntary associations where by diffi culties in evaluating the relative contributions the history of women radio programmes – the majority of them exhibit their leadership skills, of the various media deployed. Recommendations “Women’s Radio Magazines” and the trajectory of they are marginalised in local governance politics. include the use of brand manuals to harmonise women’s employment in broadcasting showing key Their leadership qualities have not been translated message properties across media platforms, and female pioneers in diverse areas of radio work. into leadership opportunities in local governance the deployment of advertiser-owned systems of because of factors such as patriarchy, poverty, lack campaign-to-campaign evaluation. of access to fi nancial resources, and illiteracy. The School of Continuing and study recommends that more attention should be Women’s radio history in Ghana Distance Education paid to providing training at the grassroots level using women’s voluntary associations to improve Issues of women’s political participation women’s agency in contesting for, and participating and decision-making in local governance: in local governance elections. Perspectives from the Central Region of Ghana Implementation strategies of the University of Ghana Distance Education Dr. Abena A. Yeboah-Banin and Dr. Margaret Ivy Professor Michael Tagoe and Ms. Ellen Abakah use programme Amoakohene collaborated in this research exploring feminist theory of the marginalisation of women possibly ignored challenges inherent in multi- in politics in general and local government in Dr. Samuel Kofi Badu-Nyarko, Dr. Clara O. platform advertising (advertising which is deployed particular to explain why rural women continue to Benneh and Dr. Samuel Amponsah explore across multiple media platforms and media be marginalised in local government in Ghana. the implementation strategies that were used vehicles). On the premise of the received wisdom to establish the University of Ghana Distance that advertising in a pluralist media environment Education Programme. Findings from the study should necessarily be multi-platform to boost reveal a span of twelve years between planning audience reach, the study questions whether and implementation of the programme. Despite practitioners and researchers may not be acting the delays, good communication with stakeholders oblivious of its “dark sides”. The study engages the Sarah Akrofi -Quarcoo’s research explored and establishment of appropriate structures experiences of advertisers, advertising practitioners the historical trajectory of Ghanaian women’s created conditions for successful implementation and audiences to understand the challenges they relationship with radio. The study argued that of the programme and its evolution over time.The have encountered in the past when developing post-colonial Ghanaian women appropriated radio, programme is now moving into the use of web tools and implementing multi-platform advertising a primary tool of domesticity and transformed to meet the expectations of the current cohort of campaigns. Importantly, the study also explores it into a resource to negotiate more equitable prospective university students. remedies to these challenges as a means to being gender relationships and women’s integration in able to proff er relevant suggestions to the industry. the “modern” state, Ghana. The research makes Findings suggest that multi-platform advertising three original inputs to media and communication Ms. Ellen Abakah and Professor Tagoe Michael Ayitey suff ers from cross platform message integration history (an otherwise unexplored area of media 70 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Education 71 It was found that, although there was a fair degree Studies (IDS), Sussex, UK, are working on a new interested in how the media framed issues relating of understanding of the benefi ts of TQM for records article which deals with public health and bat to policy, action and public attitudes on bats during management service delivery, the existing values conservation policy in Ghana following the Ebola the Ebola pandemic. for TQM did not meet the framework of good TQM outbreak. This new line of enquiry is particularly practice, principles and standards. Comparing media framings of climate School of Education and Leadership change in developed, rapid growth and developing countries: Findings from The main research project undertaken by the school to distinguish between multiplication and division Norway, China and Ghana during the academic year was a collaborative concepts; b) understanding of multiplication; and c) research by Professor Jonathan Fletcher, Dean understanding of division. It is recommended that Dr. Samuel Kofi Badu-Nyarko, Dr. Clara O. Benneh and Dr. Samuel Amponsah Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, in collaboration with of the School with Stephen Rowland Baidoo of basic school classrooms should be turned into rich Atle Midttun of the Norwegian Business School, OLA College of Education, Cape Coast. The study learning environments through the use of posters Optimising instructor-learner interaction Oslo, Norway, Paddy Coulter of Green College, is titled ‘Pupils’ understanding of multiplication showing practical applications of key mathematical times for eff ective online teaching and Oxford, United Kingdom and Jin Wang of Sun and division in multiple contexts’. The research concepts and operations including multiplication learning Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China, undertook reports on a month-long quasi-experimental study and division. School-based continuing professional a systematic study of press articles on climate carried out in four primary schools in the Cape development programmes should develop teachers’ This three-year ORID-funded study undertaken change in the rich West (Norway), the emerging Coast Metropolis. The results indicate a signifi cant skills in making connections between key concepts by Dr. John Boateng examines the experiences of East (China) and the developing South (Ghana). The diff erence in the performance of pupils in the and operations in basic school mathematics. e-learning integration into a centre-based distance aim of the research was to explore the cognitive experimental and control groups in their: a) ability education programme. The target population is basis for collective climate policy action. Findings male and female adult learners aged 25 and above relating to Ghana suggest a shift in newspaper from Ghana and other countries. The project will narratives over the years from a focus on climate- involve undergraduate students in their second victimhood towards framings suggestive of more Corporal punishment, academic however, there was no signifi cant variation in self- year (level 200) and follow them through to their active climate policy for development. In the study, performance and self-esteem among esteem across gender. third year in the University of Ghana’s School of China fi gures as spearheading energy effi ciency junior high school students in Ghana Continuing and Distance Education. and clean technologies for growth, while Norway is characterised as exporting its climate action. Dr. Kingsley Nyarko examined the eff ect of corporal Adopting total quality management The research also highlights diff erences in sources punishment on the academic performance and to enhance service delivery in medical and story types: Norway demonstrates a more self-esteem of adolescent students. A total of 188 records: Exploring the case of the Korle- enterprising style of journalism, and features junior high school students from diverse socio- Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana academics as dominant sources of information economic backgrounds were purposively selected compared to China and Ghana where most articles to participate in the study. The Williams (2000) Brief The purpose of this study was to determine the emanate from routinized news, mostly reporting Self Esteem Inventory was used to collect data on extent to which total quality management (TQM) on what public offi cials and political sources say. the self-esteem and academic performance was initiatives can improve the quality of service measured using the average score of four core delivery at the medical records unit of the Korle- Responding to uncertainty: Bats and the subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to help meet the construction of disease risk in Ghana Integrated Science and Social Studies. No expectations and aspirations of patients and signifi cant relationship was found between corporal customers of the hospital. Professor Gadzekpo in collaboration with punishment and either academic performance two colleagues – Linda Waldman and Hayley or self-esteem. Self-esteem and academic Dr. Kingsley Nyarko MacGregor – from the Institute of Development performance were found to be positively related, 72 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Education 73 US), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. Members of faculty also won fellowships and conference grants to attend international and national conferences where they made presentations. This year also saw the organisation of our Biennial Public Lecture where we disseminated research output on childhood stroke and its management. The research board has also been fully functional and facilitating research activities in the College. At CHS, we believe that scientifi c breakthroughs do not happen in a vacuum but through a combination of innovation and collaboration. The College College of Health Science (CHS) is therefore in the process of forming and strengthening already existing research groups Snapshot of Research Activities and networks to be able to engage in more multidisciplinary research and to win larger 9 research grants. Through strengthened multilateral cooperation in research, our staff s at the CHS continue to make giant strides in addressing the 4 Major University Partners and Professor Yao Tettey health needs of people in Ghana and beyond. Collaborators include: University of Provost, College of Health Science Research Intensive Colleges, Below is a list of research grants and an overview of Florida, Medical University of South Carolina, Centres, Institutes and University of Ibadan, Ben-Gurion University Researchers at the College continued to win research activities taking place in our constituent Schools based on reported of the Negev, University of North Carolina research grants from several funding agencies Schools. budgets of at least $500,000: NMIMR, at Chapel Hill, Postgraduate Institute including the National Institutes of Health (NIH, School of Medicine and Dentistry, of Medical Sciences, India New York School of Public Health, School University, University of Michigan, of Biological Sciences McGill University Table 9: College of Health Science Research Funds 8 Principal Investigator Partner Institutions Project Title Amount Funding Organisation Countries in Africa, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics in which UG has a ) research presence through Prof. M. Lartey and University of Florida UG-Brown academic partnership for National Institutes of Prof. R. Adanu training in TB/HIV research in Ghana $1,400,000 Health (NIH) Fogarty multi-country collaborative Grant research studies and partnerships: Prof. Margaret Lartey AITRP Training Grant $19,914.00 Brown University Sierra Leone, Guinea, Benin, Prof. Margaret Lartey Pharmacokinetics in pregnant women $ 7,394.00 Mariam Hospital Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Prof. Margaret Lartey UG-Brown Fogarty training in HIV&TB research $49,950.00 Brown University Senegal 02 Medical University of South Carolina 4 Development Partners, SIREN stroke investigative research Industry and Civil Society Dr. Albert Akpalu University of Ibadan network SIBS stroke in Blacks study $47,920 per NIH Major Donors providing phenomics annumcollaborators: funding to multiple College Ghana Health Service, units: National Institutes of Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Komfo Anokye Yale University Bill & Melinda HospitalTeaching Hospital Gates Foundation Wellcome Trust 74 College of Health Science (CHS) 75 GHS29,969 ORID INSERM Dr. T. Archampong University of Leicester Helicobacter pylori gastro-duodenal disease in Ghana GHS7,500 BSU-PHH Foundation of France University of Cincinnati $35,000 CFAR Developmental Hepatitis B viral resistance to 3TC Grant Dr. Kwame B. Evaluation of quantitative and qualitative European Union Dr. T. Archampong (Lamivudine) in Hepatitis B-HIV co- Nguessan Banga aspects of mitochondrial function and EUR 250,000 University of Florida infected Ghana its regulation. School of Medicine $5,000 International Olympic ORID Committee Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Foundation for Medical Research Rome Foundation global survey of Dr. T. Archampong University of North NGO PRORESMATCarolina at Chapel Hill the epidemiology of the Functional GI $100,000 Rome Foundation Inc.Disorders (FGIDs) Valuation of African traditional medicine: Dr. Kwame B. Pharmacological and toxicological Postgraduate Institute of Nguessan Banga evaluatiomn of medicinal plants used in EUR35,000 NGO Adequation- Medical Sciences, India the management of non-communicable Germany diseases Arterial dysfunction related to interferon in carriers of apolipoprotein 1 in Rheumatology Fonds A. BACHAUDr. I. Dey New York University systemic lupus erythematosus patients $ 62,975 Research Foundation, of African origin (Ghana) Scientist Development Impact of insecticide resistance on the Prof. Yaw Afrane behaviour and fi tness of malaria vectors $50,000.00 NIH ORID project GHS25,000 Prof. Edward Donkor Genetic epidemiology of prostate Yeboah cancer in Africa $63,674.00 Stanford University Yale University Prof. Angela Ofori- Integrating psychotropic medications VA Connecticut Prof. Ernestina Research and Donkor Grand Challenges saving brains project $63,890.59 Hospital for Sick Children, Canada Atta in the care of people with mental $20,000disorders in prayer camps in Ghana Education Fund Ghana Health Service Prof. Edward Donkor Yeboah Moorefi eld eye project $2,400.00 Moorfi eld Hospital GHS9,000 Enterprise Insurance Prof. Biritwum Global ageing and adult health (SAGE) $15,000.00 Wollongong University Ghana (Ltd.) Prof. Lorna Renner IeDEA West Africa-Paediatric HIV $9,731.20 ADERA Prof. Angela Ofori- Alcohol education programme for Atta drivers in lorry parks GHS8,443.00 Guinness Ghana NIH-Federal Reserve, Brewery Limited Prof. Clegg-Lamptey Ghana breast health study $69,643.00 New York, USA A phase three, double-blind, Dr. Dwomoa Adu H3Africa $235,778.50 NIH through NMIMR randomized effi cacy and safety Dr. C. Segbefi a Agogo Hospital Research Centre comparison of prasugrel and placebo $200,000 Eli Lilly and Company Prof. Alexander Pharmacovigilance $130,358.84 WHO/Bayer/ SANOFI in paediatric patients with sickle cell Dodoo etc disease Dr. Sandra Hewlette Oral health calibration and hypertension $7,794.00 New York University Dr. C. Segbefi a Double blind randomized effi cacy and $52,873.36 Quintiles Clinderpharm Study safety Pty Dr. Samuel A. Washington University, COPEH-WA Oppong Sickle cell disease in pregnancy $10,000.00 St. Louis/Vanderbilt NIH/FIC University, USA Prof. Julius Fobil The West Africa-Michigan CHARTER II Dr. Charlotte Osafo GRF-ETI Study (under H3Africa Project) $80,000.00 NIH thru’ NMIMR University of Michigan for GEOHealth-Ghana $3,000,000 Yale School of IDRC, Canada Prof. Lorna Renner SANKOFA $39,879.00 Medicine McGill University Prof. Lorna Renner Tumour project $9,495.00 Stitching Kidney Yale School of Public Prof. Albert G. B. Amoah Diabetes management centre- External $14,000.00 Howard UniversityHealth Dr. R. Aryeetey Yale University Breastfeeding friendly country index Stroke investigation research and College of Medicine, project- In country pre-testing (Ghana) $15,000 Dr. Albert Akpalu education $35,335.00 University of Ibadan Family Larsson Rosenquist Foundation 76 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 77 Noguchi Memorial Institute for Institute plans to initiate more collaboration with Dr. D. Arhinful GLOBALMED $55,283.42 GLOBALMED Medical Research (NMIMR) foreign agencies, strengthen existing relations and Dr. J.A.M. Brandful H3 AFRICA Bionet $29,439.99 University of Cape Town submit more grants to increase its revenue. Dr. D. Adu H3AFRICA $998,400.00 NIH Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research One of the major projections of the Institute Prof. K.M. Bosompem Home grown sch. Feeding- $30,054.59 ISSER (NMIMR) with its high calibre scientists and is to acquire additional infrastructure and new impact facilities is the leading research centre in the technology to address current and emerging Prof. K.M. Bosompem Homegrown $162,182.49 Imperial College College of Health Science. The period 2015-2016 health threats. Plans are underway to initiate the Prof. M.D. Wilson Hookworm $16,000.00 NIH recorded a signifi cant increase in infl ows, grant construction of an advanced research centre for Prof. W. Ampofo IAEA workshop $5,299.00 UNDP submission and contracts. Total infl ows received infectious diseases at NMIMR under the auspices of Dr. Anita Ghansah Impact of distinct eco impact of seasonality and vector $70,000.00 NIH in cedis and dollars were GHC3,855,445 and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). $5,053,630.9 respectively. Looking ahead, the Prof. K.A Koram Impact of distinct eco impact of seasonality and vector $109,100.60 Univ. of. Chicago Table 10: Research Projects and Funding, NMIMR Dr. Anita Ghansah Impact of distinct ecology $70,000.00 NIH Prof. K.M. Bosompem Improving mushroom production $6,716.00 Mushroom Growers & Export Principal Investigator Project Title AMOUNT Sponsor/Donor Prof. K.M. Bosompem Integrated primary prevention & chemotherapy $10,043.38 Trustees of Tufts College Prof. W. Ampofo Abanas Scholarship $9,750.00 Knowledge Point 360 Group Ltd Prof. D.A. Boakye Leishmaniasis $63,328.02 CSM Intramural Dr. Irene Ayi AccessBio $2,099.00 Access Bio Inc. Prof. M.D. Wilson LFSCA workshop $33,262.00 Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Prof. M. Armah-Klemesu Affordable nutrition for women $703,000.00 Deutche Gesellchat Fuer Int Dr Dziedzom De Souza Liverpool cntd/lab renovation $91,354.69 Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Prof. K.K. Addo Afric One $37,917.24 CSRS Dr. B ABUAKU Malaria disease prevalence2 $4,864.49 National Malaria Control Dr. S. Dadzie Bayer 2 $45,935.00 Bayer Crop Science Dr. B ABUAKU Malaria disease prevalence std 3 GHS278,860.00 Ghana Health Service Dr. C. Ahorlu Bennet - electric fun $7,500.00 Green World Health Net Prof. K Bosompem Malaria in pregnancy GHS78,000.00 SPH Dr. M. Ofori Bioinformatics workshop GHS 5,540.00 French Embassy Dr. M Ofori Mavareca $155,949.00 Regional Hovedstaden Prof P G Addo Bu diagnosis $5,855.50 UG Prof. William Ampofo MIL -MIL $37,715.01 Us Naval Med. Prof. M.D. Wilson Bui blackfl y GHS46,300.00 Bui Power Authority Prof. M. D. Wilson More house g&j $39,915.00 Morehouse Sch. Med Nana Oye Aniapam Cancer workshop $12,874.57 Health Research Dr. Asamoah Kusi NAMRU 3 $2,870.00 US Naval Med. Prof. W.K Ampofo CDC $500,000.00 NIH Dr. D. Arhinful New born care $94,576.90 General Hospital Corporation Dr. D. Arhinful CHIG $25,464.71 Stitching Amsterdam Institute Prof. M. D. Wilson Nih hokworm $140,000.00 NIH Dr. C. Ahorlu Climate change vulnerability GHS155,510.00 WHO Dr. S. Dadzie NIRMOP GHS216,365.03 Abt Associates Dr. Anita Ghansah Delgeme $66,256.30 Cms-Delgeme Dr. S. DADZIE NIRMOP $700.00 Vestergaard Prof. K.A. Koram & Prof. Ampofo DHS - 7 $2,551.00 ICF International Dr. S. Dadzie NIRMOP $3,132.00 Bayer Dr. Boney & Prof. Ampofo Ebola resilience programme $5,684.00 Royal Netherland Embassy Prof. D. A. Boakye Noval point of care $29,710.35 The Henry M Jackson Fnd Prof. M.D. Wilson ELAAGIPIS stipend $4,775.00 UNESCO Prof. K. Bosompem PARAF RELACS $2,150.20 Relacs Prof D.A Boakye Elimination of LF $50.000.00 WHO Dr. Michael Ofori Peers ird GHS4,906.25 W/A Centre for Cell Dr. J. Odoom Environmental surveillance GHS57,800 WHO Dr. L. Amoah PFS48/45-MTBI $2,538.04 Lolaya University Prof. Ben Gyan EPC MAL $101,078.00 The Joan and Sanford Well Med. College Dr. Linda E Amoah Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogen $40,000 The Henry M Jackson Fnd Prof W. Ampofo FHI 360 GHS6,429.00 Family Heath Int. Ghana Offi ce Plasmodium falciparum Prof. D. Dodoo Functional immunogenetic $246,475.92 Danida Fellowship Dr. L. Amoah gametocytogenesis $39,212.00 Loyola University Prof. Armar-Klemesu GAIN $40,348.00 The Global Alliance Dr. S. Dadzie PMI/RTI 2 GHS146,475.59 Abt Associates Dr. G. Egbi GEGBI Nestle Foundation $5,011.00 Nestle Etude Prof. Daniel Boakye Point of care $9,903.65 The Henry M Jackson Fnd Dr. G. Awandare GENINVADE $ 9,439.50 London School of Hygiene Dr. J.S. Barnor Polio GHS314,600.81 WHO Prof. K. Nyarko Genomic centre $ 45,000.00 H3 Africa Kidney Prof. K. Koram Post Ebola resilience $365,746.23 KIT 78 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 79 Prof. K. Koram Postdoc $516,484.00 Bill & Melinda Gates on six susceptible communities in six districts focus in prevention and managing of infectious Nana Oye Aniapam Regional biosafety workshop $13,957.96 ASl Miro bordering the Jubilee oil fi eld in the Western Region diseases with outbreak potentials (ii) improve Dr. D. Arhinful RMMTBDR $53,956.00 The John Hopkins University of Ghana. Some of the collaborating units on the laboratory testing facilities and iii) improve medical Dr. G. Awandare Role of CR1 $48,630.00 NIH project are School of Pharmacy, Department of health service provision through RBF. Prof. G.E. Armah Rotavirus $145,584.25 WHO Marine and Fisheries Sciences and Institute of Prof. F. Nkrumah Sickle cell foundation GHS10,054.60 Sickle Cell Foundation Environmental and Sanitation Studies. PROFILE OF EARLY CAREER RESEARCH Dr. Regina Appiah-Opong Sickle cell project $1,141.00 The Children’s Hospital The results will support the Environmental FELLOWS Prof. D Yeboah-Manu Sight Savers $ 30,396.00 Sight Savers Protection Agency (EPA) not only in monitoring Prof. D. Yeboah-Manu Stop buruli ubs optimus $89,175.00 UBS Optimus Foundation the impact of the jubilee oil fi elds surrounding Prof. G. Armah TACMAN $50,000.00 National Foundation for the CTRS communities, but will also provide a basis for Dr. G. Awandare Targets patterns of invasion similar studies in mining areas prior to the mining immunity $45,855.00 London School of Hygiene activity. Prof. D.A. Boakye Task force for global health $62,376.45 The Task Force Global Health Prof. W. Ampofo Training workshop for Ebola GHS70,320.00 WHO Prof. G.E. Armah Vaccine effectiveness $9,750.00 NIH Preparedness against Ebola and other Prof. G. E. Armah Vaccine effi cacy GHS26,752.50 WHO emerging infectious diseases in Sierra Prof G.E. Armah Vaccine effectiveness $164,620.75 National Foundation for The Ctrs Leone and Guinea Prof. M.D. Wilson WARIMA workshop $7,299.00 Prudential Bank Ltd. This project is led by Professor William Ampofo of Prof M.D. Wilson WARIMA workshop GHS5,400.00 Huge Limited the Department of Virology and is fi nanced by the Prof. D. Yeboah-Manu Welcome Trust $137,821.00 Wellcome Trust Dutch Government through the Royal Netherlands Director WHO - postdoc $486,200.00 WHO Dr. Dziedzom de Souza Embassy (RNE) in Accra with an amount of Dr. S. Dadzie WHO phase 3 $21,603.00 WHO $5684. This study intends to support Sierra Leone Dr. Dziedzom de Souza is a young Research Fellow and Guinea through a trilateral cooperation, in in the Parasitology. His research interests are strengthening their resilience and preparedness for in Lymphatic fi lariasis (LF), Neglected Tropical Aff ordable nutritious foods for women Crude oil drilling: onshore environmental future outbreaks. Diseases, molecular biology of disease vectors and assessment of the Jubilee oil fi eld of the parasites and climate change impact on vector- The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) Western Region of Ghana conducted an evaluation on product availability borne diseases. Currently, his main research and consumption in Ghana. This study focuses focuses on understanding the transmission on fortifi ed foods targeted at pregnant women dynamics of LF in disease endemic communities. and women of reproductive age. The products He has published more than 30 articles in are being developed, promoted and distributed international peer reviewed journals. as part of the Aff ordable Nutritious Foods for Women (ANF4W) programme. This is a two-phase qualitative study that will be executed within a two-year period amongst pregnant women and girls and NPNL women aged 15-25 years in selected urban and rural communities in two districts in the Brong Ahafo Region and Northern Professor William Ampofo Region. Dr. Armah-Klemesu is the Principal The aim of the study led by Dr. Regina Appiah Investigator. Oppong is to conduct a baseline onshore The following three key priority areas were environmental assessment of crude oil pollutants identifi ed to increase preparedness: (i) community 80 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 81 School of Medicine and (KABP) of Africans on stroke, stroke risk factors Dentistry and genetic testing for stroke. SIREN Stroke Investigative Research Examination of co-morbid diabetes Network SIBS stroke in Blacks study and psychological health among newly phenomics diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Ghana This National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded The burden of both tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes project led by Dr. Albert Akpalu and Professor mellitus (DM) in developing countries including Bruce Oviable, Dr. Mayowa Owolabi, Dr. Kwamena Ghana is high; and often, the two co-exist and Sagoe and Dr. Steve Sarfo is the largest study of impact on each other. Dr. Ernest Yorke and his stroke in Sub Saharan Africa to date. team set out to determine the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose, glucose intolerance and diabetes as well as the burden of psychological problems among newly diagnosed smear positive tuberculosis patients and to determine whether Dr. Francis Ekow Dennis there are any diff erences in sputum conversion Dr. Francis Dennis is a Research Fellow in is collaborating with the National Institute of rate between smear positive TB patients with the Department of Electron Microscopy and Infectious Diseases, Japan, in a study that will dysglycaemia and those without. The study also set Histopathology. He has a keen interest in molecular completely describe the molecular epidemiology out to determine whether there are any diff erences diagnostics and the epidemiology of diarrhoea- of viral agents of diarrhoeal disease in Ghanaian in the pattern and severity of psychological and causing pathogens, especially viruses in humans children under 5 years old, an AMED (Japan) cognitive problems at the end of intensive phase and animals. His research focuses on the use of funded grant awarded in 2015 for fi ve years that (2 months) and at completion of treatment (6 genomic epidemiological tools to answer questions will signifi cantly contribute to post rotavirus months) compared to baseline (diagnosis). of public health importance in diarrhoeal diseases, vaccine monitoring eff orts in Ghana. He is also including the infl uences of pathogen genetic working on a multicentre study that expands the Dr. Albert Akpalu diversity on intervention strategies. current diagnostic capacity for diarrhoeal disease pathogens using a customized enteric Taqman The objectives of the study are to evaluate the He is currently involved in a study investigating the Array Card, in collaboration with Professor Eric contributions of known vascular risk factors to relationship between histo-blood group antigens, Houpt and his team at University of Virginia, stroke occurrence and patterns in black Africans rotavirus infection and serum antibody responses and partners at CDC, and funded by the Bill and using a case-control study in Africa and compare to rotavirus vaccine in Ghanaian children. He Melinda Gates Foundation. environmental risk factors for stroke among black Africans to a sub-cohort of black Americans from the REGARDS study, Evans County and Charleston Heart Study. The study also set out to generate comprehensive and accurate phenomic data on stroke patients and the controls in the SIREN study that can be used in the genomic project which studies the genetic risk factors for stroke (and Dr. Vincent Boima stroke subtypes) and also to survey and elucidate The research will provide information on whether the knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices routine screening for diabetes and assessment for psychological problems should be done for 82 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 83 all newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. The Hepatitis B viral resistance to 3TC Arterial dysfunction related to interferon Public perception of kidney collaborators on the project are Dr. Vincent Boima, (Lamivudine) in hepatitis B-HIV co- in carriers of apolipoprotein 1 in systemic transplantation Dr. Yacoba Atiase, Dr. Josephine Akpalu, Dr. Audrey infected Ghana lupus erythematosus patients of African Forson, Dr. Dzifa Dey, Prof. Charles Mate-Kole and origin (Ghana) Kidney transplantation is the most effi cacious Dr. Alfred Yawson. This study is investigating primary and acquired treatment modality for patients with End Stage drug resistance in HBV-HIV co-infected Ghanaian Dr. Ida Dey is leading this research which aims at Renal Disease (ESRD). The burden of ESRD is Helicobacter pylori gastro-duodenal patients treated with 3TC containing therapy. defi ning the relationship between the candidate higher among people of African ancestry globally. disease in Ghana It will also determine the predictors for 3TC- genotype and clinical/laboratory variables Yet, Africans in general, are less likely to donate resistant mutations in treatment-naïve and associated with endothelial dysfunction including a kidney and less likely to receive a transplant Dr. Timothy Archampong is leading a group of experienced HBV-HIV co-infected Ghanaian hypertension (HTN), pulse pressure (PP), and compared to other racial/ethnic groups in researchers: Richard H. Asmah, Professor Edwin K. patients. Dr. Timothy Archampong is leading the serum biomarkers [von Willebrand factor (vWf), western countries. The aim of the study led by Dr. Wiredu, Prof. Richard K. Gyasi, Dr. Sandra Beleza team comprising Professor Margaret Lartey, Dr. sE-selectin, soluble endothelial protein C receptor Vincent Boina is to determine knowledge base and Dr. Christopher Bayliss to analyse the range Kwamena Sagoe, Dr. J. Blackard, Dr. Awe Kwara (sEPCR)]. This project will speak to the mechanism and perception of Ghanaians concerning kidney of molecular strains (vacA s/m/i and cagA) and and Dr. T. Flanigan. by which the APOL1 variant alleles cause human transplantation. The study will inform future genetic sub-types of Helicobacter pylori prevalent disease which will be a step forward in aff ecting interventions aimed at improving knowledge on in Ghanaian patients undergoing upper gastro- Rome Foundation global survey of patient outcomes. organ transplant, re-enforcing positive perceptions intestinal endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms. This the epidemiology of the Functional GI and aborting negative ones. The study will provide study will determine the relationship between H. Disorders (FGIDs) information for policy formulation towards pylori intra-host strain diversity and the degree of establishment of future transplant program gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in Ghana. The aim of the project was to assess the local, and help institute measures to educate the regional, and global prevalence rates for the public on the importance and benefi ts of organ FGIDs, assess co-morbidity rates among the FGIDs, transplantation. The co-investigators are Professor e.g., IBS and functional dyspepsia, and assess Margaret Lartey, Dr. Dzifa Dey, Dr. Ernest Yorke, socio-demographic, socio-cultural, psychological, Miss Stella Nartey, Prof. Charles Mate-Kole, Dr. psychosocial and biological factors associated Vincent Ganu, Dr. Yvonne Okyere and Dr. Alfred with the prevalence and severity of the FGIDs. It Yawson. is expected that at the end of the project it will be possible to categorize and risk stratify FGIDs based on socio-demographic, socio-cultural, psychological, psychosocial and biological Dr. Ida Dey factors. The project leader in Ghana is Dr. Timothy Archampong. Co-Investigators are Dr. Ami D. The long-standing history of poorer prognosis Sperber, Olafur S. Palsson, Shrikant I. Bangdiwala, in African SLE patients makes risk stratifi cation Uday C. Ghoshal and Sanjay Gandhi. in this group critically important. The project will not only provide opportunities for early risk Dr. Timothy Archampong stratifi cation and candidate biomarkers to be followed in aff ected patients, but may shed critical light on interpretation of the current SLE nephritis literature for patients of African ancestry. Dr. Ashira Blazer is the co-investigator. Professor Margaret Lartey 84 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 85 Integrating psychotropic medications into cohort study conducted at the Korle-Bu Teaching (CURhE). The lead investigators for the project A phase three, double-blind, randomized the care of people with mental disorders Hospital. The study has provided the fi rst leptin are Professor Samuel A. Obed and Professor effi cacy and safety comparison of in prayer camps in Ghana report on Ghanaian mothers and their babies at Bamenla Q. Goka, while the co-investigators prasugrel and placebo in paediatric the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. It also suggests include: Dr. Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma, Dr. patients with sickle cell disease The researcher led by Professor Angela L. Ofori- the possibility of using mid-gestational maternal Isaac O. Koranteng, Dr. Samuel A. Oppong, Atta conducted a randomized control trial (RCT) plasma leptin concentration to predict time of Margaret Torto and Dr. Mercy A. Nuamah. The The main objective of this multi-centre clinical trial in a prayer camp, which compared standard faith- parturition and birth weight. This could serve as a project is investigator driven with funding from was to assess the effi cacy of prasugrel compared based care only with a bundled intervention of guide to clinicians in the management of pregnant the investigators with support from CURhE and to placebo in paediatric patients with sickle cell appropriate psychotropic medications, regular women. Dr. Mercy Anna Nuamah was the Principal EldonCard. disease as measured by the rate of vaso-occlusive contact with a community mental health offi cer Investigator. Ms. Magdalene Torto, Mr. Emmanuel crises, including acute chest syndrome. and prescribing resident in psychiatry as well Korankye, Prof. Samuel A. Obed, Ms. Gloria K. as standard faith-based care. The attitudes of Zodanu, Prof. Henry Asare-Anane, Ms. Sophia Child obesity and oral health in school prayer camp staff toward people with mental Kitcher, Dr. K. Adu-Bonsaff oh, Dr. Kwaku Asah- children study in Accra illness and toward conventional medicine over the Opoku and Dr. Margaret Atuahene were members course of the intervention was also assessed. The of the research team. The study was aimed at identifying the association study showed that participants on the bundled between dietary habits and oral hygiene intervention saw signifi cantly greater mental practices with child obesity in Accra. It was also health improvements than those on only standard to determine the association between child faith-based care. Prayer camp staff attitudes obesity and Streptococcus mutans infection in gradually changed to an acceptance of the use of school children. The study results have shown no medication at the prayer camp. The results led to signifi cant associations between child obesity the conclusion that psychiatric medication can be and dental caries and gum diseases. There was Dr. Catherine Segbefi a safely and correctly used in faith-based centres however signifi cant association observed between with visiting doctors and supportive trained health streptococcal mutans and child obesity. Dr. Thomas The study showed no signifi cant diff erences personnel. The study recommends the adoption A. Ndanu is the leader of the team comprising Dr. in the rate of vaso-occlusive crises between of a collaborative model involving district health Richmond Aryeetey, Professor Anna Lartey and Dr. prasugrel and placebo groups and no signifi cant management teams (DHMTs) and faith-based Josephine Sackeyfi o diff erence between prasugrel and placebo healing centres. Other members of the research . regarding safety end points. This is the fi rst team were Prof. R. Rosenheck, Ms. H. Jack, Dr. F. Dr. Mercy Anna Nuamah multinational, interventional trial of children with Baning, Dr. L. Gyima, Dr. S. Addom, Dr. K. Obeng, sickle cell anaemia. Dr. Catherine Segbefi a led the Dr. S. Ohene, Dr. A. Sefa-Dedeh, Mrs. B. Williams, implementation of this project.Steps in eliminating Rhesus disease in Mr. S. Asafo, Mr. E. Boachie-Yiadom and Prof. Ghana: Training workshop for frontline Charles C. Mate-Kole. health workers at Korle-Bu Teaching School of Public Health Hospital. Leptin links in pregnancy and foetal This study is part of a multi departmental The West Africa-Michigan CHARTER II for outcome collaborative project involving the Departments GEOHealth-Ghana of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child Health, The aim of this study was to compare plasma Haematology and Community Health as part of The project aims at building upon the long-standing, leptin concentration of obese and non-obese an international eff ort to eliminate hemolytic extensive occupational and environmental health pregnant Ghanaian women and to match it with disease of the foetus and new born, organised by Dr. Thomas A. Ndanu research and training collaborations between gestational outcome. This was a prospective the Consortium of Universal Rh disease Elimination academic and government partner institutions in 86 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 87 the West and Central Africa region. The key impact The primary aims of the BFCI project are to: Valuation of African traditional medicine: that this project seeks to achieve is to sustainably develop an evidence-based metric that can help Pharmacological and toxicological enhance capacity for world-class scientifi c research country decision makers understand the current evaluation of medicinal plants used in and research training which address and inform status of their breastfeeding programmes and the management of non-communicable key national and regional occupational and provide them with step-by-step criteria and diseases environmental health priorities and policies. A examples to guide them in scaling up their critical element for a truly regional strategy is to breastfeeding programs. Funding of USD 15,000 Dr. Benoit Banga Nguessan of the Department strengthen partnerships across Francophone and was secured from the Yale School of Public Health/ of Pharmacology and Toxicology led a project Anglophone countries in West Africa. This is being Family Larsson/Rosenquist foundation by Dr. that researched the effi cacy and safety of achieved by strategically linking with the existing Richmond Aryeetey. some medicinal plants used to manage non- West African francophone-based Community of communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, Practice in Eco-Health for West and Central Africa hypertension, diabetes, asthma and cancer. The (COPEH-WCA) through their Eco health Chair School of Pharmacy results were positive for the pharmacological based at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) activities investigated and could justify the folkloric Dr. Kennedy Kwami Edem Kukuia in Benin (also involved are Burkina Faso, Côte Evaluation of quantitative and qualitative use of these medicinal plants. d’Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria and Sénégal). Prof. Julius Fobil aspects of mitochondrial function and its (UGSPH), Thomas G. Robins (University of Michigan regulation. In vitro and in vivo eff ect of School of Public Health) and Niladri Basu (McGill Dr. Kwame Benoit Nguessan Banga of the In search of rapid-onset antidepressant nanoparticulate formulations of University) are the investigators on the project with Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and compounds from plant sources antimicrobials on intracellular USD 3 million funding from NIH/FIC and Canada’s Dr. Renee Ventura-Clapier, Dr. Jean Lonsdorfer, leishmaniasis donovani. International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Bertrand Mettauer, Dr. Eliane Lampert and Dr. This research project is a continuation of a seed Xavier Bigard developed methods and protocols for grant received from the University of Ghana Dr. Henry Nettey of the Department of Breastfeeding friendly country index investigation into the mitochondrial function, its Research Fund to screen a Ghanaian herb for Pharmaceutics and Microbiology and Professor project- In-country pre-testing (Ghana) regulation by factors such as exercise training and antidepressant eff ects. The research, led by Dr. Alexander Nyarko, Dr. Nguessan Kwame Banga, The University of Ghana School of Public Health its alteration by pathophysiological mechanisms or Kennedy Kwami Edem Kukuia (Department of Dr. Afrane and Grace Lovia Allotey-Babington all of in partnership with Yale University is working by drugs in human skeletal and cardiac muscles, as Pharmacology & Toxicology) found that the plant the School of Pharmacy received funding of GHS with the Ghana Health Service to implement the well as in animal models. possesses antidepressant potential. The total 79,800 from the University of Ghana Research Fund “Breastfeeding Friendly Country Index Project alkaloids from the plant extracts had a more to: determine the in vitro anti-microbial eff ect of (BFCI) in Ghana. rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant eff ect selected anti-infectives alone or in combination than fl uoxetine and bupropion. This fi nding is on Leishmania donovani amastigotes, select and highly signifi cant in that delay in improvement microencapsulate selected anti-infective agents of depression symptomatology is positively in appropriate matrix, determine the in vitro correlated with high suicidal rates. antimicrobial eff ect of encapsulated anti-infectives on intracellular L. donovani, determine the kinetic parameters of encapsulated anti-infectives in mice and evaluate the eff ect of anti-infective micro/ nanoparticulate formulations on leishmaniasis rat models. Investigations into the two drugs that were selected- Amodiaquine and Quinine Sulfate -suggest that they could provide alternative and inexpensive alternatives for treatment against Leishmaniasis. Dr. Richmond Aryeetey. Dr. Kwame Benoit Nguessan Banga 88 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Health Science (CHS) 89 Yawson, Dr. Ivy Ekem and Dr. Yacoba Atiase on this project. The objective of the project was to determine the prevalence of steroid-induced dysglycaemia (diabetes and pre-diabetes) and its associated risk factors in haematological patients on steroid based treatment at the Korle- Bu Teaching hospital. The study revealed a high incidence of steroid induced dysglycaemia (SID) among Ghanaian patients with haematological disorders on steroid based regimes. Results of this study highlight the need for routine monitoring Dr. Henry Nettey of such patients to facilitate early detection and treatment of SID to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with SID. The researchers funded the College of Humanities School 0f Biomedical and Allied project using their own resources. Health Sciences Snapshot of Research Activities Being and becoming an occupational therapist: perception of student OTs in Major University Partners and Collaborators include: University of Western Australia, University of Auckland, University of Leeds, University of Cape Town, Monash Ghana University, University of Melbourne, Pennsylvania State University, University of Sussex, 21 University of Witwatersrand, Singapore National University, University of Dhaka, African Migration and Development Policy Centre, ILO, OECD, Internatioal Center for Living This was a three-year longitudinal study that Aquatic Reserources Management, Virgina Commonwealth University, University of Johannesburg, SOAS University of London, Loughborough University, University of used qualitative research methods to ascertain Nottinghan, Universite Laval how occupational therapy students in Ghana develop their professional identity. Students were interviewed at the end of each year in their program. This study has had an infl uence on students’ career decisions and their emotions and self-actualization as they mature into Major Donors providing funding to multiple College units professionals. The study generated useful inputs UNICEF, IDRC-Canada, DFID, Volkswagen 04 for curriculum design and implementation. The principal investigator of the project is Peter O. Ndaa of the Department of Occupational Therapy. Dr. Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh Steroid-induced dysglycaemia in patients with haematological disorders - A ten year review in a tertiary hospital Research Intensive Centres, Institutes and Schools 04 based on reported budgets of at least $500,000:Dr. Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh (Department ISSER, RIPS, UGBS, School of Social Sciences of Haematology) led a team of researchers comprising Dr. Josephine Akpalu, Dr. Alfred 90 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 91 (ORID) and UniBank, Ghana. During the The College has established an endowment fund conference, awards were presented to outstanding for the purpose of raising funds for faculty, student, Development Partners, Industry and Civil Society collaborators: 04 faculty members of the College in three categories: and staff development.Ark Foundation, Ministry of Finance, IFAD, African Economic Research Consortium PhD students; Early Career; and Mid-career Faculty. Table 11: Research Projects and Funding in the College of Humanities Countries in Africa and Asia in which UG Principal Investigator Title Amount Funding Organisation has a research presence through multi-country collaborative research studies and partnerships: Centre for Social Policy Studies 13 Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Prof. A.D. Oduro Child marriage in Ghana $55,028.6 World Vision, GhanaKenya, Mali, Niger, Cambodia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Libya, South Africa, Thailand, Australia Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research Bill & Melinda Gates/ Center Prof. Felix A. Asante Agriculture and sanitation nexus EUR43,200.00 for Development Research, Univ. of Bonn Cross-cutting Research Areas funded by competitive external grants Scaling up postharvest management Climate Change, Gender and Women’s Studies, Policy Research 03 Prof. Robert Darko Osei innovations for grain legumes in Burkina $120,000.00 AGRAFaso Ghana home grown school feeding Bill & Melinda Gates Prof. Felix Asante programme: Impact evaluation end line $197,693.09 Foundation and Dubai survey Cares. Three new research centres were established during the 2015/16 academic year: the Centre for Land commercialization, gendered Graduate Institute Ageing Studies, Centre for European Studies and Prof. D. Tsikata agrarian transformation and the right to $449,897.00 of International and Development Studies, Centre for Latin American Studies. The Centre food Switzerland for Urban Studies was renamed the Centre for Mapping incentives and investment in the Urban Management Studies. These centres are to Dr. Simon Bawakyillenou agricultural sector in Ghana £4,800.00 ODI promote collaborative research, establish foreign partnerships and conduct focused research. Establishment of progress against baseline Prof. P. Quartey indicators to support private sector DKK 248,120.00 Danish Embassy development II (SPSD II) During the period, the second international Multi-country baseline study for the research conference of the College of Humanities Prof. R. Darko Osei Innovation Centre for the Agricultural and $37,001.25 GSA Consulting Group, Germany was held on the theme Promoting Humanities Food Sector (CIAE) Research for Development in Africa. The keynote An evaluation of the Livelihood Speaker was Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong Prof. R. Darko Osei Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) GHS1,098,269.50 UNICEF Programme of the Department of History, Harvard University. The conference brought together researchers from Assessing the role of hybrid seed across the globe to share knowledge and fi nd new Dr. I. Osei-Akoto technology and out-grower schemes in $124,089.60 IFPRI partnerships and collaborations. The American transforming the maize sector in Ghana Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) through their African Humanities Programme (AHP) Prof. F. Asante Baseline telephony consumer satisfaction GHS750,000.00 National Communication survey Authority Professor Samuel Adjei Mensah provided travel grants for eight of the conference participants. Funding was also received from the Provost, College of Humanities Offi ce of Research, Innovation and Development 92 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 93 Academy of Finland, Prof. R. Darko Osei Designing and funding social protection EUR60,000 University of Tampare, Investigating ‘pockets of effectiveness’ Finland Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai in developing countries: a new route to £500,000.00 ESRC and DFID building state capacity for development Assessing unmet needs of small Dr. Clement Adamba merchants in adopting digital payment $17,227.00 University of California systems in Ghana Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai The political economy of progressive export taxation in Africa and Latin America $10,000.00 UNU-WIDER, Helsinki Dr. Simon Bawakyillenou Check: Climate change budget and fi nancial tracking tools – Ghana $29,750.00 ODI Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai To write three (3) thematic papers on social protection in Ghana GHS49,014.00 UNICEF Analysing the extent and sources of Dr. P. Asiming productivity loses from shortages foe small £50,226.00 International Growth Centre and medium sized enterprises Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai Political economy of urban governance and service delivery in Ghanaian cities $10,500.00 Cities Alliance Prof. F. Asante AGRA baseline: Ghana, Burkina Faso and $1,322,235.5 Medical Research Council, Mali UK Research for Shakespeare lives in Ghana The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER)Dr. Nana Akua Anyidoho Project GHS85,914.43 British Council, Ghana Women matter: Are social health The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research continues to play its role as a leading research Prof. F. Asante protection programmes responsive to £141,000.00 Medical Research Council, UK think tank in Ghana. A total of 41 research projects comprising 18 new and 23 ongoing projects were women’s healthcare needs? undertaken during the academic year under review. Scaling up post-harvest management Relationships with donor partners were deepened during the year. In particular, the Alliance for a Prof. F. Asante innovations for grain / legumes in Burkina $120,000.00 AGRA Faso Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has provided the Institute the opportunity to continue to undertake international research in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. Regional Institute for Popula- tion Studies Dr. Delali Dovie Managing socio-demographic change $720,000.00 IDRC, Canada AGRA baseline studies in Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso and climate induced fl ood risks in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area information gathered from these studies were School of Social Sciences expected to be used to: (i) assist in setting appropriate targets for future interventions, and Dr. Micheal Danquah Informality and the tax gap: A case of non- International Growth Centre farm enterprises in Ghana £9,960.00 (IGC)/ London School of (ii) inform the strategic decisions on the design and Economics implementation of future interventions. Improving Food Security and Reducing International Center for Mr. Theodore Antwi Asare Poverty through intra-regional fi sh trade in $43,304.00 Living Aquatic Resources The project is managed by Prof. Felix A. Asante, sub-Saharan Africa Management (ICLARM) Prof. Robert Darko Osei and Dr. Isaac Osei-Akoto as Principal Investigators. Prof. M. Oteng-Ababio Sustainable market actors for responsible trade EUR2,491,210.00 European Commission, Horizon 2020 Professor Felix Asante Institute of Development Ghana home grown school feeding Dr. Seidu Alidu Strengthening evidence-based policy $2,500.00 Studies ISSER in July 2016, won a competitive bid to programme: Impact evaluation end line University of Ghana Business School conduct baseline studies for AGRA in Ghana, Mali survey and Burkina Faso. The overall purpose of these Economic and Social studies was to collect and analyse data on various This is a three-year impact evaluation study to Prof. J. Abor Delivering inclusive fi nancial development $2,930,000.00 Research Council (ESRC) /and growth Department for International outcome indicators to inform AGRA’s management assess the impact of school feeding sourced from Development (DFID) and partners on the reference situation in the small-holder farmers on the wellbeing of school intervention areas of these countries. Specifi cally, children; their nutrition; health and education; 94 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 95 and the communities in which the school feeding Land Concentration, Gendered Agrarian Shakespeare lives in Ghana: Women in Dr. Adobea Owusu, Dr. Ernest Appiah, Dr. Cynthia is taking place in Ghana. This is so far, the fi rst Transformation, and the Right to Food contemporary Ghanaian society Addoquaye Tagoe, Dr. Aba Crentsil, Dr. Mawuli rigorous impact evaluation conducted on the Adjei, Ms. Abena Yeboah Banin, Ms. Dzifa Torvikey Ghana School Feeding (GSF) programme. The project applies a right to food and gender To commemorate the 400th anniversary of William and Dr. Joseph Frimpong. equality perspective to examining changes in food Shakespeare death—and as part of a worldwide The impact evaluation used data collected in panel security in the wake of land commercialization celebration of the Bard dubbed “Shakespeare surveys of selected schools and households in the in two case countries, Cambodia and Ghana. It Lives”- the British Council in Ghana commissioned selected districts. The baseline survey was led by seeks to answer three research questions: (i) a research report on the roles, representations and NMIMR and conducted in June 2013. The end line What gendered changes in livelihoods arise from perceptions of women in contemporary Ghanaian survey completed in February 2016 was led by contemporary processes of land commercialization Society. ISSER. The ISSER project team members are Prof. and how do these aff ect food security? (ii) How do Felix Asante, Dr. Isaac Osei-Akoto and Dr. Clement local, national and international gendered power The objective of the study was to examine Adamba. constellations and policies infl uence changes the representation of women in literature, the in food security? (iii) How does the promotion media, the visual arts and popular discourses. of gender equality and the right to food aff ect The changing roles and participation of women in Check: Climate change budget and changes in food security? various spheres of public and private life, including fi nancial tracking tools – Ghana project in governance, business, science and education were also examined. The study relied on existing The Ministry of Finance, Ghana, established the research, national statistics and newspaper reports Natural Resources, Environment and Climate alongside primary data from a survey and focus Change (NRECC) Unit in 2010 to oversee, group discussions. Project team members were Dr. Nana Akua Anyidoho coordinate and manage the fi nancing of climate Dr. Nana Akua Anyidoho (Principal investigator), change activities. However, the Unit lacks the mechanism to track the fi nancial resources originating within the country or from external Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) sources geared. Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and ISSER were tasked to design a national RIPS expanded its three research sites located in Managing socio-demographic change and tracking tool for climate fi nance (including climate Ga – Mashie in Accra (Jamestown, Ussher Town climate induced fl ood risks in the Greater change budget code) that can capture relevant Professor Dzodzi Tsikata and Agbogbloshie) under the Ashiedu-Keteke Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) end-of-year outturn expenditures; develop Sub-Metro district, to include seven new districts The overarching goal is to strengthen knowledge, economic and budget analysis tools for climate- defi ning the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Dr Delali Dovie is the lead researcher for the awareness and debates about the relationship related decision-making and budgetary allocation; (GAMA). In a similar vein, RIPS has expanded ‘Managing socio-demographic change and climate between food security, the right to food and gender develop the manual for the tools designed under the number of institutional partnerships across induced fl ood risks in the Greater Accra Metropolitan equality with an eye towards empowering women and provide a strategy to operationalize them its research focus to offi cially include industry Area (GAMA)’ project which is designed to and men to claim their rights and encouraging within the public fi nancial management system partners, inter-governmental organizations, civil improve the management of fl ood risks in the governments to create the conditions to facilitate of Ghana; and conduct at least one training on society groups and NGOs, private sector and public city of Accra towards resilience building through their realization. The project will provide evidence the developed tools for key government staff s / government institutions including government an integrated climate smart fl ood management highlighting the importance of the right to food identifi ed. ministries. These are refl ected in the major framework and catalyse evidence-based policy and gender equality for food security and examine research activities undertaken within the period action. The project fi ndings will support Ghana’s the challenges to implementing these principles. under the following research themes: medium term development planning, national Professor Dzodzi Tsikata is the principal investigator Climate Change Policy and adaptation options on and Dr. Fred Dzanku and Dr. Martha Awo are co- resilient infrastructure of the Intended Nationally investigators on the project. 96 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 97 Determined Contributions (INDCs) of the UN Paris project is funded from the University of Ghana Worldwide Universities Network University were successful with an application Climate agreement. Research Fund and is led by Dr. Adriana A. E. Biney. collaboration on ‘Non-market valuation of to the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Loss and Damage under climate change’ Research Development Fund 2015 titled ‘Non- market valuation of Loss and Damage under The University of Ghana in collaboration with climate change’ (NMLD). The team is exploring the University of Western Australia, University possible frameworks for NMLD “valuation” that of Auckland, University of Leeds, University are consistent with recent thinking about limits to of Cape Town, Monash University, University adaptation, tolerable and intolerable losses. of Melbourne and the Pennsylvania State Dr. Delali Dovie on the fi eld Dr. Adriana A. E. Biney Adolescent sexual activity in Accra: Exploring circumstances surrounding fi rst Gender-based climate smart integrated sex and societal norms fl ood management Early sexual activity may place physical and RIPS is currently implementing a one-year project mental health and socio-economic burdens titled ‘Gender-Based Climate Smart Integrated Flood on adolescents, with most of this ascribed to Management’ within the catchments of the Odaw girls. Studies have shown that it is the urban River in Accra, an area with one of the highest poor that face exacerbated challenges in this population concentration in the city and hub of arena. Therefore, this study sought to gain new many socio-economic activities. The Making All insights into urban poor adolescents’ fi rst sexual Voices Count (MAVC) project is sponsored by a Dr. Mumuni Abu (3rd from left) and Mr. Reuben Tete Larbi (2nd from right) in a picture with the L&D team experiences and the circumstances leading to consortium which comprises the United States sexual debut as well as their defi nitions of sexual Agency for International Development (USAID), readiness and sexual coercion. It sought to UK-AID, Swedish International Development understand past and present socio-sexual norms Agency (SIDA) and the Omidyar Network. The that exist in these communities. It is expected project will among other things seek to use ICT to that the fi ndings from the study will provide a deploy yearly fl ood warning systems to mitigate better understanding of the circumstances that fl ooding disasters within the catchments of the lead to adolescents’ fi rst sexual encounters, yield Odaw River. This will reduce the time between information about adolescents’ thoughts on fl ood information and action by the populations sexual readiness as well as their own defi nitions at risk, whilst minimizing impacts on vulnerable of sexual readiness in the community and reveal groups such as women and the elderly. the diff erent forms of sexual coercion in the community and adolescents’ struggles with it. The 98 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 99 Institute of African Studies Menstrual hygiene management research ignorance about their reproductive system means dynamics. This research conducted by Prof. Akosua in Zabzugu and North Dayi districts in girls are shy about their menstruation. Adomako Ampofo which is set within the context Architecture and planning in the tropics: Ghana of the Black Lives movements, asks how diff erent From imperial Gold Coast to tropical groups construct their identities as social groups Ghana UNICEF signed a Partnership Cooperation Husbands care of terminally ill wives within the academy and in relation to each other. Agreement with the University of Ghana The research maps the protests and examines the to undertake a study on menstrual hygiene Professor Adomako Ampofo with Deborah demands for a de-colonized university in Africa and management in six schools each in the Zabzugu Atobrah conducted a research on “Husbands the Diaspora. District in the Northern Region and North care of terminally ill wives”. They explored the Dayi District in the Volta Region. Menstruation care that husbands in Accra, Ghana, provide for is a complex issue that involves not just the wives who have been diagnosed with cancer. Language barriers in psychiatric health management of the menstrual period but the need An inductive, qualitative approach was used care in Ghana to address societal beliefs and taboos surrounding and the study analysed observations of, and in- the issue. The research was conducted by Drs. depth ethnographic interviews conducted with This research project led by Dr Mercy Akrofi Ansah, Edward Nanbigne (Principal Investigator), Osman married female cancer patients and their husbands aims at ascertaining how the Accra, Pantang and Alhassan, Benjamin Kwansa and Prof. Albert K. over a ten-month period. The results suggest a Ankaful psychiatric hospitals manage to overcome Dr. Irene Appeaning Addo is collaborating Awedoba, all of the Institute. strong association among husbands’ care, wives’ language barriers in the course of off ering care to with Dr. Iain Jackson (University of Liverpool, responses to husbands’ care and cultural ideals clients who speak diff erent languages. Principal investigator), Prof. Rexford Assasie of femininity and masculinity. The fi ndings also Oppong (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science suggest that husbands’ selective and often limited and Technology, Co-PI) and Dr. Ola Uduku (The gender-based investments in unpaid care work University of Edinburgh) to conduct this three-year make ill wives exceedingly vulnerable in a context study funded by the British Academy. They will in which care for the terminally ill takes place investigate how architecture and planning were predominately in familial settings. developed, designed and procured in Ghana during the ‘long 20th Century’. This project will chart and catalogue the architecture works produced Black Lives Matter, de-colonizing the in Ghana after the Second World War in order to Academy produce a substantial repository/gazetteer of modern Ghanaian architecture and planning. The Members of diverse minority groups, whether project also aims at examining the built fabric Dr. Edward Nanbigne interacting with UNICEF Offi cial they face oppression or experience privilege, have as well as consider the networks of architects, interconnected elements that cannot be divorced planners, engineers and ‘experts’ involved in The study fi nds that girls in both districts obtain from local and global socio-political structures and Dr Mercy Akrofi Ansah the production of these plans and buildings. The knowledge of menstruation through interaction project will consider how these networks were with peers and from lessons taught in the connected to the political agendas of the time classroom. Other sources of information about and how the Colonial Offi ce and later Ghanaian menstruation are through girls’ membership policy directly informed and shaped the built of school health and social clubs where general environment. hygiene and reproductive health issues are discussed. In most instances, girls were ill prepared for menarche. The general secrecy surrounding menstruation in the communities and the general 100 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 101 Legon Centre for International End Violence against Women in Liberia’. The book The Centre for Migration Studies Assessing the economic contribution of Aff airs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) manuscript completion grants are intended to labour migration in developing countries support researchers and practitioners who are A major feature of the research activities carried as countries of destination The African Peacebuilding Network (APN) former recipients of an APN grant or fellowship and out during the period under review includes the of the Social Science Research Council have completed their APN projects. investigation of areas of migration research that Interest in the contribution of migrants to (SSRC) have been neglected. Innovative methodologies development has increased considerably Engaging in peacebuilding from outside: have been used by some of the research projects. among policy makers, development planners The case of Liberian refugee diaspora in Furthermore, dissemination of research fi ndings and practitioners. The focus of both policy and North America was a major component of the research activities. research has been on migrants’ remittances to The activities of fi ve major research projects are their countries of origin with little attention to their Dr. Amanda Coffi e is conducting a study on covered in this report. contribution to their host countries. The European Refugee Diaspora’s engagement in post-confl ict Commission is funding the Economic Contribution peacebuilding. This study hopes to open for of Labour Migration (ECLM) project which will consideration how third country resettlement Migrating out of poverty research project assess the economic contribution of international experience and integration shapes refugee migrant workers in 10 low and middle-income diaspora’s peacebuilding engagement in their The ‘Migrating out of Poverty’ Research Programme destination countries, including Ghana. The Centre country of origin. The study explores Liberian Consortium (RPC) is a seven-year research for Migration Studies is partnering with researchers refugee diaspora in USA and Canada and their programme (2010 to 2017) funded by the UK’s from the International Labour Offi ce (ILO) and engagement in Liberia’s peacebuilding activities. Department for International Development the Development Centre of the Organization for The study is funded by the Individual Research (DFID). The RPC co-ordinated by the University Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Dr. Peace Medie has been awarded an APN Book Grant from the African Peacebuilding Network of Sussex, undertakes research in fi ve regions to implement this project in Ghana. The Centre is Manuscript Grant to complete her book on: ‘Global (APN) of the Social Science Research Council. across Asia and Africa, examining the relationship implementing the qualitative research component Norms and Local Action: The Campaigns to between internal and intra-regional migration of the project in the trade and mining sectors of and poverty, and producing research which aims Ghana. The research team comprises Delali Badasu to shed light on the circumstances under which (Principal Investigator), Joseph Teye, John Anarfi migration can most eff ectively reduce poverty. Stephen Kwankye, Leander Kandilige and Mary Partner institutions include the University of Setrana. Witwatersrand, South Africa, The African Migration and Development Policy Centre, Kenya, Singapore National University and the University of Dhaka, Migrants in countries in crisis: Supporting Bangladesh. In Ghana, the RPC is co-ordinated by an evidence-based approach for eff ective Prof Mariama Awumbila. and cooperative state action Three research sub-projects were completed This study is part of the Research Component of during the year under review. These are ‘Migration the European Union-funded project titled ‘Migrants to cities in Ghana: An analysis of the counterfactual’ in Countries in Crisis: Supporting an Evidence- led by Dr. Joseph Teye, ‘Migration Industry in Ghana’ based Approach for Eff ective and Cooperative led by Prof. Mariama Awumbila and ‘Migration, State Action’ which aimed at providing accessible, intra-household dynamics and youth aspirations in methodologically robust and policy relevant data Ghana’ led by Dr. Delali Badasu. on the migration implications of crisis situations Dr. Amanda Coffi e, the second female from the left) sharing her research ideas with other African Peacebuilding Network 2016 grantees in Kampala in host countries. The project seeks to improve the capacity of states and other stakeholders to 102 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 103 assist and provide protection to migrants who Centre for Gender Studies and roughly one hundred participants from around the fi nd themselves in countries aff ected by crisis and Advocacy (CEGENSA) world to discuss protective services for survivors to address the long-term implications of such of domestic violence around the world. The Centre situations. The Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy also collaborated with the Ark Foundation to run a (CEGENSA) continued work on two major research webinar on the subject. It investigates the availability of relevant grants to conduct research on the gendered mechanisms ensuring the protection of migrants implications of large scale land acquisitions and a before, during and after crisis in countries of origin, comparative evaluation of the implementation of School of Social Sciences transit and destination. It seeks to understand domestic violence laws. the long-term impacts of crises on migrants and Faculty members were successful in winning aff ected countries (countries of residence, origin, grants from both domestic and international transit). Out of six case studies [Libya, Côte Interrogating large scale land acquisitions funders. The School also organized an international d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Lebanon, South and its implications for women in sub- conference on the theme ‘Social Sciences, Good Africa and Thailand], the Ghana fi eldwork focuses Saharan Africa Governance and Sustainable Development Goals’ on Ghanaian returnees from Libya (due to the 2011 Professor Abena D. Oduro. with international participants from Nigeria, civil unrest) and Ivory Coast (due to the 2002/3 and This grant of CAD230,000 awarded by the South Africa, USA and Canada. Sponsorship 2010/11 civil unrest). The main objectives of this research project are International Development Research Centre of for the conference was received from United (i) to examine and document the prevalence and Canada was for the period February 2014-August Nations Development Agency (UNDP), Konrad root causes of child marriage; (ii) identify the most 2016. During the fi nal year of the project, Adenauer Stiftung, Offi ce of Research Innovation Centre for Social Policy Studies vulnerable groups susceptible to child marriage; local and international non-governmental and Development and International Federation (CSPS) (iii) examine the impact of child marriage on the organizations were interviewed to ascertain the for Science (IFS). Two special issues of the Ghana girls and women who were child brides with special various mechanisms they had adopted to ensure Social Science Journal, based on the theme, are In the year under review the Centre marked the focus on issues of domestic violence and maternal transparency and accountability in land acquisition being published as conference proceedings. twentieth anniversary of its establishment. It health; (iv) examine the sexual and reproductive processes in various communities across the collaborated with researchers from other units in rights of child brides and their access to sexual country. An end of project dissemination exercise Informality and the tax gap: A case of the College of Humanities and with practitioners and reproductive health services; (v) identify and was held during the latter part of August 2016 to non-farm enterprises in Ghana from outside the University of Ghana to undertake assess community-led actions to reduce child share fi ndings of the study with a cross-section of research in volunteerism in Ghana. In addition, marriage and evaluate the legal framework on child stakeholders. it received funding from World Vision, Ghana to marriage. The project team comprises Dr. Stephen conduct a study on child marriage in Ghana. Afranie, Dr. George Domfe, Dr. Ernestina Dankyi, Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko and Dr. Sylvia Djan Evidence and Lessons from Latin America and is led by Professor Abena D. Oduro. Phase II project Child marriage in Ghana The Centre received a grant of GBP 130,000 National and international communities have grant from the Department for International come to recognize child marriage as a violation Development (DFID) to assess the nature of of girls’ human rights and a hindrance to key protection services for survivors of domestic developmental outcomes. violence in Ghana as well as conduct a comparative analysis of the implementing trajectories with respect to domestic violence laws in Ghana and Dr. Michael Danquah (principal investigator) Mexico. Over a three-month period in 2016, the and Dr. Eric Osei-Assibey of the Department of Centre hosted a learning exchange alliance with Economics investigated the size of the tax gap 104 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 105 (the diff erence between the potential tax revenue The socio-economic impacts of Bui Dam on and the actual tax payments) in Ghana’s informal downstream non-resettled communities sector using data from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey.They identifi ed factors Dr. Kwadwo Owusu’s research project focusses contributing to the tax gap and the propensity to on the socio-economic impacts of the Bui dam on pay taxes among non-farm informal enterprises. downstream non-resettled communities. It is expected that the fi ndings of the study will inform the design of tax reforms. Improving food security and reducing poverty through intra-regional fi sh trade in sub-Saharan Africa Small scale gold mining in the riverbed of the Black Volta made possible after dam construction which could pose The Department of Economics is collaborating with health risks to communities that depend on the river for household needs. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), also known as WorldFish, Christianity and Mental Health anticipate using the research fi ndings to propose on this research project. Mr. Theodore Oboo Antwi- interventions that will promote the mental health Asare is the principal investigator and he is working of congregants and discourage practices that are with Dr John Kofi Mensah Kuwornu, Department of Dr. Kwadwo Owusu harmful to their mental health. Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. This 18-month project funded by the Offi ce of Research Innovation and Development sought Four graduate students have been assisted with to highlight the competing resource use and The Forgiveness research in Africa research grants and stipends on this project which livelihood challenges that downstream non- ends in December 2016. resettled communities face after the construction The University of Ghana is one of two regional of the Bui dam. The study found that downstream centres in Africa that is implementing a research communities have not benefi ted from the project on forgiveness in Africa. The project, ‘Can Under-fi ve mortality in Ghana by Districts resettlement and compensation package managed Forgiveness Research be strengthened in West and by the Bui Power Authority. The communities have South Africa?’ is funded by the Templeton World Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah is the principal not been adequately provided with amenities nor Charity Foundation Incorporated and hosted by investigator of the research project titled ‘Poverty, have residents received job training. Fishing and Dr. Joana Salifu Yendork in collaboration with Ms. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, energy use, and air pollution in Ghana: A spatial farming activities have been adversely aff ected Lily Kpobi and Ms. Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo at Virginia, USA. Dr. Annabella Osei-Tutu of the analysis’which estimated under-fi ve mortality rates by the decline in the fi sh catch and reduction in the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Department of Psychology is the Regional Director in Ghana’s districts in 2000 and 2010 and explored farm sizes. There is an emerging resource use Psychology respectively is conducting research of the project in West Africa, whilst the Principal whether air pollution exposure is a risk factor for confl ict and weak state control of the exploitation titled ‘Is contemporary Christianity hindering or Investigator and Project Consultant at the host low birth weight in Accra. Findings from the study of natural resources post-construction which could promoting mental health in Africa: A qualitative university are Prof. Everett Worthington Jr. and are that under-fi ve mortality has declined in all potentially lead to a future health emergency for study of selected charismatic churches in Ghana?’ Prof. Shawn Utsey, respectively. Ghana’s districts, however, cross-district inequality local communities that depend on the river for in mortality has increased. Funding for the project household water needs. The irrigation component The aim of the research is to identify the activities The Forgiveness Research in Africa project aims was obtained from the University of Ghana ORID of the dam project which was expected to improve of selected Charismatic churches in Ghana and to: (1) train emerging investigators to conduct Research Fund. agriculture has not been implemented adding to understand the impact these activities have on the forgiveness research that is grounded in African the livelihood challenge in the dam aff ected areas. mental health of congregants. The research team theories and African worldview and integrate it into 106 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 107 mainstream research and (2) encourage regional Van Breda and Dr. Lisa Dickens (University and Social Work at Queen’s University, Belfast (UK) collaborations for forgiveness research in West of Johannesburg) on a research project titled to research on child traffi cking in Ghana. Africa and South Africa. Researchers from ten ‘Exploring the contribution of resilience to the institutions across West Africa are participating in 12-month outcomes of care leavers in South Africa, The aim of the study is to explore how the Human the project. The team from the University of Ghana Ghana and Nigeria’. The aim of the study is to Traffi cking Act, 2005 (Act 694) as amended in 2010 includes Dr. Ernestina Dankyi, Dr. Antoinette determine the resilience constructs that predict conceptualizes child traffi cking and how intra- Tsiboe-Darko, Dr. Joana Salifu Yendork, Mrs. better outcomes for care-leavers as they move out country child traffi cking is constructed by the Charlotte O. Kwakye-Nuako, Ms. Judith Osae-Larbi, of care over 12 months. A prospective longitudinal various agencies working within Ghana to eradicate Ms. Mary Ampomah, Ms. Selina Owusu-Boadu and rolling cohort approach will be used to obtain data traffi cking in persons. They fi nd that anti-traffi cking Mr. Anakwah Nkansah. from youth exiting six residential child care centres agencies within Ghana hold contradictory views in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Baseline data on what child traffi cking is. While the International will be collected at the time of their disengagement Organization Migration (IOM) identifi es the need and then follow-up data will be collected one year to pay particular attention to children as a separate later. category, the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the law enforcement agency, does not see the need for The study will help residential homes to such categorization. The study helped to identify identify the relationship factors, in-care factors, the inconsistencies in child traffi cking defi nitions environmental factors and personal factors that of anti-traffi cking agencies and proposed a further Dr. Rabiu Kwaku Boakye Asante facilitate improved outcomes. amendment of the Act. This study explores the relationship between the culture of smartphone use during lectures and the The emerging Forgiveness researchers in a group Understanding child traffi cking within Access to ICT and resource output of photo at a workshop held at the Coconut Grove overall academic performance of tertiary students. Regency Hotel, Elmina from January 11-15, 2016. Ghana: Stakeholders’ perspective agriculture researchers The fi ndings of the study will inform the design of teaching pedagogies that can manage in-lecture Exploring the contribution of resilience to Dr. Dan-Bright Dzorgbo of the Department of smartphone use. There are two waves of data the 12-month outcomes of care leavers in Sociology is the principal investigator in Ghana on collection. The fi rst wave was in 2014 and the fi nal South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria a collaborative project being undertaken between wave is planned for May 2017. Ghana, Kenya, India, and South Africa. Funding for the project is from the National Science Findings from the fi rst wave of data collection Foundation, USA. The objectives of the project are show that students actively use their smartphones to examine prevailing trends over time and the during lectures mainly for chatting. Women relationship between institutional type, ICT access comprise the majority of students who use and use, professional activities and productivity. smartphones during lectures. There is evidence of a possible relationship between smartphone use In-lecture smartphone use and academic during lectures and academic performance performance of tertiary students Dr. Rabiu Kwaku Boakye Asante and Dr. Rosemond School of Arts Dr. Emma Hamenoo of the Department of Akpene Hiadzi, both from the Department of Social Work is collaborating with Prof. Geraldine Sociology are currently undertaking research The University of Ghana and the University of Dr. Kwabena Frimpong Manso of the Department Macdonald of the School of Sociology, Social Policy titled ‘In-Lecture smartphone use and academic Rome, Tor Vergata have signed a Memorandum of of Social Work is collaborating with Prof. Adrian performance of tertiary students’. Understanding for collaboration in research, 108 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 109 teaching and student exchange at a ceremony MOU. The broad agreement covers collaboration in Extractive capitalism and its social The study focuses on three texts: the two accounts in Rome. The collaboration was initiated by Prof. diff erent fi elds, with the fi rst area of collaboration benefi ts of creation (Gen 1:27; 2:7-10) and Leviticus 25. Kodzo Gavua, Dean of the School of Arts, the host being a proposed research project in Sustainable Dr. Emmanuel Ofosu-Mensah Ababio of the Starting from a synchronic reading of the two school for the programmes in Tourism and Dr. Tourism and the introduction of an MA in Tourism Department of History, continued his research on creation accounts, Gatti states that the creation Caesar Atuire, a Lecturer at the Department of and Heritage Studies at the University of Ghana. extractive capitalism and its social benefi ts. The narratives off er a theological lens to evaluate our Philosophy and Classics and the facilitator of the objectives of the research was to add to the body of relationship with the world: they do not give space knowledge on mining by exploring in some depth to a dualistic attitude toward nature but affi rm the history of the impact of mining in the Akyem that the world is home to humans and they are to Abuakwa state. Its fi ndings challenge those scholars collaborate with God in transforming ‘our common who doubt the transformative, developmental and home’ in a blessing for all the creatures living in poverty alleviation roles of the mining industry in her. Finally, they emphasize the interrelatedness Ghana. with the world and all forms of life and humans’ smallness in the world, an aspect further developed by Leviticus 25. Setting the agenda for an inclusive development: Biblical texts for ecological Analysis of these texts leads the researcher to crisis recognize that problems of human ecological destruction of the Earth are so monumental and Dr. Nicoletta Gatti of the department of the study all-pervasive that it is hard to see any avenue of of religions undertook a research titled ‘Setting the hope. It is the challenge of theology to shape ‘a new Agenda for an Inclusive Development: Biblical Texts social imagination’ not only making the ecologically for Ecological Crisis.” Against the backdrop of the destructive way of life unacceptable, but also Desilencing the archaeology of German Dr. Wazi Apoh, of the Department of Archaeology relevance of religion in contemporary Ghanaian helping people imagine alternative possibilities, colonial shared heritage sites in Ghana and Heritage Studies won an extension to his society, the study explores the answers the Tanak generating concrete practices of alternative living and Togo Senior Volkswagen Humanities postdoctoral off ers to ‘the cry of creation and the cry of the that might constitute a practice of hope. fellowship titled ‘The archaeology of German poor’ caused by environmental degradation and colonial heritages in Ghana: Repackaging shared economic oppression. relics for strategic Ghana-German partnership in Religion and sustainable development in development’ for another two years . The research Ghana component of the extension phase will focus on fi nal archaeological excavations at the German Dr. Rabiatu Deinyo Ammah’s research titled colonial sites and the preparation of excavated ‘Religion and Sustainable Development in Ghana’ fi nds for exhibition at the University of Ghana explores the participation of the Ghanaian Muslim Museum of Archaeology, Ho Regional Museum and community in harnessing religious resources at the University of Lome. In the fi rst phase of the to address issues of sustainable development. project a large assemblage of fi nds was discovered. It gives an overview of their involvement in the Some of the key fi nds include local indigenous development process as a religious imperative. Final year students of Archaeology involved in the technology, imported trade goods, architectural It highlights the various means by which the archaeological excavation of an early Bremen Mission remains as well as remains of fl ora and fauna Muslim community is endeavouring, particularly Site at Ho-Kpodzi, Volta Region of Ghana Dr. Nicoletta Gatti exploited at the sites for food. through the provision of educational institutions and propagation (dawah) to bring development to Ghana and the community in particular. The 110 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 111 researcher argued that in Islam, development The researchers found that Akan lyric singing institutions in the country as well as twelve other Professor Helen Yitah of the Department of English is holistic and encompasses the material, provides the context for people to engage the countries in various parts of Africa, Europe and collaborated with Dr. Delali Badasu of the Centre spiritual and ethical. Sustainable development realities of human existence, for example, sickness North America. for Migration Studies, Aloysius Denkabe and is therefore rooted in the proper appreciation and diff erence in a holistic manner. For many Dr. Wanjiru Gichuhi of the University of Nairobi, of the interrelatedness between human beings, people, the lyrics are inspirational and motivational Kenya on ‘The rural-urban interface: Gender and the environment and economics to achieve tools that transform their lives towards the ultimate Accounting for non-compositional poverty in Ghana and Kenya, statistics and stories’ harmony and balance; Islamically this promotes reality. properties of complex words project. Other researchers on this project which peace. Subsequently, God anticipates the was facilitated by Prof. Gayatri Spivak are from operationalization of the Qur’an and Sunna as the University of Nairobi, Columbia University, guidance for the accomplishment of sustainable Barnard College and Princeton University. The development. project was funded by the Columbia Centre for the Study of Social Diff erence and is a project in an interdisciplinary, inter-regional, consortia, Africa-led research endeavour that looks at the rural-urban interface in Ghana and in Kenya, concentrating on the experience of women, youth and men who inhabit this social and physical space. The study pays particular attention to gender relations and to In this research, Dr. Clement Appah of the the feminization of poverty in migrant populations. The study concludes by affi rming that religious Department of Linguistics studied the properties worldviews and agencies such as Akan sacred lyrics, of complex words that are not attributable to their Professor Helen Yitah of the Department of English formerly categorized as hindrances to development, constituents (generally called holistic properties of is one of eight editors for a project on Norton Dr. Rabiatu Deinyo Ammah are assets for sustainable, participatory and self- morphological constructions). He focuses mainly Anthology of Contemporary African Poetry. This reliant modes of development. on compounds - complex words that are formed by project was funded by the Ford Foundation. The combining already existing words. General Editor is Kwame Dawes. The Anthology The contribution of Akan sacred lyrics to is identifying exciting trends and developments development School of Languages in world literature with a focus on the impact that The Rural-urban interface project a genre of poetry is currently seen happening Rev. Dr. George Ossom-Batsa and Rev. Felicity The School of Languages International Research the world. While there has been a great deal of Ampah are undertaking a research titled ‘The Conference - The School of Languages, under the attention already given to the emergence of a Contribution of Akan Sacred Lyrics to Development leadership of the Dean, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah dynamic African fi ction movement, this anthology in Ampiah-Adjumako Area in the Central Region of Amfo, in collaboration with the Language Centre will demonstrate that an equally dynamic and Ghana’. The aim of the study is to examine how and the Central University College held a three- emerging force in poetry is taking place in Africa performance and re-interpretation of Akan sacred day international conference in October 2015 at that is marked by aesthetic variation, diverse and lyrics have deepened the sense of belongingness the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic complex themes, and the rise of an exciting cadre of and the humanity of the people and thus has Aff airs, University of Ghana on Multilingualism. gifted women poets who have long been neglected advanced their discourse on development. The conference, which was under the theme in past anthologies. Selected lyrics and narratives of lived experiences Multilingualism in the African Context: Resource are analysed using a literary critical approach in or Challenge? featured a colloquium on the use pragmatic perspective. of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in schools in contemporary Ghana. It brought together over 200 language scholars from many tertiary 112 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 113 La Peste or the optimism of man This research highlights, on the one hand, man’s compositional styles, socio-cultural issues; impact communities in Ghana. He employed thirty-minute confronted with destiny fanatic attitude regarding destiny and proposes, on of personal and generational ideologies and dramatic performances in eleven local languages to the other hand, an awaking consciousness of the idiosyncrasies on composers’ creativity as well educate fi ve communities each in seven of the ten Dr. Kofi Agbefl e worked with Dr. Koffi on “La Peste diverse origins of destiny other than God. as audience reception of their works, and argued regions of Ghana on the benefi ts of proper fi nancial or the optimism of man confronted with destiny”. that although Western choral music composition behaviour and agricultural insurance. This was a tradition with its fi xed canons has infl uenced much Ministry of Finance, RAFIP and International Fund Table 12: Selected Publications from the School of Languages of Ghanaian art music, generational modifi cations for Agriculture and Development (IFAD) funded Author Department Co-authors Title of Publication and re-interpretations which are refl ective of project. W. Roodney changing socio-historical and cultural realities of the Ghanaian society cannot be undermined. Prof. K. Agyekum Linguistics A. Sackey English Akan Science Dictionary. Accra: Adwinsa Publications E.W. Affol Creative Processes in Osoode Music Prof. K. Agyekum Linguistics Metaphoric expressions of Akan body parts Performances among the Larteh of Ghana Dr. Reginald A. Duah Linguistics Mira Grubic The focus, exhaustivity and existence in Akan, Ga and Ngamo Mr. Michael Ohene Okantah Jnr. of the Department Dr. Reginald A. Duah Linguistics Susanne Genzel H-tone insertion in subordinate clauses in Akan of Music, through this self-funded project, Prof. R. Yennah French Dr. Ayitey The palingenesis of the sun in Albert Camus examined the creative processes in Osoode music “The Stranger” performances of the people of Larteh in the Eastern Prof. R. Yennah French Dr. Ayitey Stylistics of the rhetoric of liberty in an excerpt of Candide Region of Ghana. He also examined Osoode music in the context of performances where a coherent body of aesthetic values and expressive behaviours School of Performing Arts The ‘Ephraim Amu to Newlove Annan’ come together to be appreciated as a musical Music Project event. He concluded that through Osoode music Dr. Agyeman Ossei The School of Performing Arts has had various performances, an avenue is created among the research collaborations in the period under people of Larteh, where performers and community consideration. Due to the very nature of our members creatively express their sentiments and Nudity as Clothing and Cloth programmes, research work has combined both teach community values which helps strengthen practical and academic work. The School has in their consciousness as a people. Dr. Regina Kwakye-Opong of the Department recent years increased the scope and depth of its of Theatre Arts examined nudity as clothing in research activities. The interdisciplinary quality of the socio-cultural traditions of the Ga naming the performing arts is clearly seen in our scope of The Popular Theatre and Rural Agricultural ceremony. She examines why nudity can be research areas which included radio drama, theatre Finance Programme: An educational classifi ed as clothing and also discusses the in education, costume design and construction, awareness campaign metaphysics of clothing with regards to the Ga recording of stage performances on site, naming ceremony. compilation of varoius musical pieces and songs as Dr. Joshua Amuah of the Department of Music, Dr. Agyeman Ossei of the Department of Theatre well as the anthropological investigation of dance through this self-funded project, traced the history Arts researched and directed this production for as a complex cultural phenomenon. Some of the of Ghanaian art choral music tradition from Ephraim development intervention among rural agricultural research activities in the School are noteworthy. Amu until the present. It examined generational factors in the development of Ghanaian art music; an aspect that has consistently been ignored in Ghanaian musicology. The study focused on 114 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 115 University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) those principles may convey some useful ideas to examines the possible legal response to these assist in developing and reforming the regulatory issues and concludes by stating that the success of a The School’s journal, African Journal of Management nstitutions including SOAS University of London, relationship between mining and water in Ghana. democratic system is more a refl ection of principally Research began being listed in the African Journals Institute of Development Studies at the University the determination of political attitude rather than Online (AJOL) this year. This will improve visibility of Sussex, Loughborough University, the Prof. Kofi Quashigah, together with a carefully a matter of law or the constitution per se. The and global recognition of the journal and attract Overseas Development Institute, the University selected group of outstanding African and experience in Ghana confi rms the belief in the need good quality scholarly interests. of Nottingham, the University of Groningen, non-African constitutional law scholars and for a complement between the political attitude Netherlands, Université Laval in Québec, Canada practitioners contributed chapters to the book and the constitutional and statutory aspects and Faculty at UGBS continue to collaborate with peers and Columbia in the US, and the African Economic Separation of powers in African constitutionalism that the electoral process could benefi t from in leading universities across the world. Professor Research Consortium (AERC) won a $2.93 million edited by Charles M. Fombad and published by some conscious re-engineering of the timetable Joshua Yindenba Abor and Dr. Mohammed Amidu research grant on inclusive fi nance. The Project the Oxford University Press. This book is the fi rst for elections as well as a statutorily regulated together with other researchers from University of is funded under the DFID-ESRC Growth Research in the series of Stellenbosch Handbooks in African transitional process as has been the case in the Birmingham and other collaborating i program (DEGRP) Call 3 (2015/16). The research is to Constitutional Law. Prof. Quashigah wrote on the American system. be delivered over a four-year period (2016-2020). topic ‘Defying assumptions about the nature of power relations between the executive and judiciary’. The In ‘Justice in the Traditional African Society within School of Law chapter examined the relationship between the the Modern Constitutional set-up’, Prof. Quashigah executive and the judiciary since independence. traces the history of various philosophical and In the 2015-16 academic year, six faculty members of the University of Ghana Law Journal. Prof. Nii A correlation was found between the nature political concepts such as natural rights, human and one visiting scholar published in the 28th volume Ashie Kotey is the Editor-in- Chief. of constitutional protection accorded to the rights, rule of law, separation of Powers and judicial Below are the authors and the titles published. judiciary, the executive’s acceptance of democratic review. He observes that even though formulation Table 17: Selected Publications from the School of Law values and the judiciary’s own demonstration of of these concepts was highly specifi c to Europe, the commitment to protecting its independence. The spirit behind these concepts are fundamental to all Author Title Published relationship between the judiciary and executive mankind- both in its traditional and modern epochs. Henrietta J.A.N. Mensa-Bonsu O, The difference that a word makes! – Remaking the Laws of Ghana by the Statute Law Revision Process has not been a straightforward one. However, the Mr. Kissi Agyebeng co-edited a book titled ‘A Refi ning nuclear safety using an integrative concentric paradigm for 1992 constitution provides adequate constitutional commitment to law, development and public policy: Samuel Obeng Manteaw effective nuclear power regulation protection to the judiciary making it constitutionally A Festschrift in honour of Nana Dr. S.K.B Asante. Rose Rameau The battle between consent and the principle of competence-competence and politically unwise for any ill-intentioned The book was put together by a distinguished list in Investment arbitration executive to exhibit dictatorial tendencies in of forty-seven authors comprising justices of the George A. Sarpong & Emmanuel Yaw Benneh The doctrine of sovereign immunity in international law: The “ARA LIBERTAD” Case (Argentina V. Ghana) relation to the judiciary. superior courts of Ghana, England and Wales, the In their name and for their welfare: Rethinking Ghana’s constitutional founder of Transparency International, academics Thomas Kojo Stephens provisions for the natural resource sector in the Light of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry. Prof. Quashigah published a chapter titled in Ghana, the United Kingdom and the United Double taxation agreements in Ghana: Domestic law and international law ‘Ghana’s 2008 Elections, the constitution and the States of America, distinguished legal practitioners, Kwame Adjei-Djan perspectives unexpected: Lessons for the future’ in Issues in arbitrators and policy makers. The book comprises Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua Positioning academic freedom in the discourse on the revitalization of higher education in Africa Ghana’s electoral politics. This was distributed in forty-two chapters and encompasses the academic Africa by CODESRIA. In it he argues that the 2008 and professional interests of Nana Dr. Asante. The Regulating mining water use and impacts a collaborative and comparative study of the key elections exposed a number of legal weaknesses book was published by Wildy, Simmonds and Hills in in Ghana: Comparing Australian and materials that regulate mining industry use of and inherent in both the constitutional provisions on 2016 in London. Ghanaian law for reform ideas. (IM4DC impacts on water resources in Australia and Ghana. elections and the ordinary legislation. The chapter Action Report, July 2015) It has sought to derive some key principles of the relevant Australian regulation (based mainly on This research by Alex Gardner, Nick Duff , Kweku Western Australian law) and to ask whether Ainuson and Samuel Manteaw is the product of 116 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 College of Humanities 117 Abstract of Selected PhD high elevations reduces households’ susceptibility Dissertations Produced Across to property damage or loss from urban fl oods. the Colleges Development of high-yielding and stable Adaptation to urban fl oods among the maize (zea mays l.) hybrids tolerant to low poor in the Accra Metropolitan Area soil nitrogen The School of Graduate Studies continues to our own students who we usually refer to as the play its role as the coordinating Unit for graduate ambassadors of the School. The School attracted programmes for the entire University. The School 5,699 applications out of which 3,764 were admitted Dr. Emmanuel Anyang Abeka Dr. Priscilla Adofo Boateng has gained quite an appreciable level of visibility and 3,073 registered in the 2015/2016 academic over the years particularly during the 2015/2016 year . The School also attracted 847 international There are very few studies on public and private Low soil nitrogen (N) impedes maize production academic year. This was through the activities of applications out of which 352 (42%) were admitted. adaptation to fl oods that centre on the urban poor in the small-scale farming sector in Ghana. in Africa. This study departs from the top-down Development of improved maize varieties that approach as it explores household and public are tolerant to low soil nitrogen will reduce the adaptation to urban fl oods among the poor in Accra need for nitrogen inputs and enhance production. from an actor-oriented perspective. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess maize production constraints of Ghanaian maize The study found that the level of agreement on the farmers and their perceptions and knowledge on perceived causes of fl ooding among actors involved soil fertility, (2) determine heterotic patterns and in fl ood adaptation in Accra is low. The diff erences combining ability of grain yield for intermediate in opinions are infl uenced by externalisation of maturing maize inbred lines under low and high soil blame and responsibility among actors as well nitrogen environments, (3) determine the mode as diff erent actor interests. At the household of gene action conditioning grain yield under low level, the predictors of fl ood adaptation choices nitrogen, (4) evaluate the testcrosses (single cross are tenancy status, home elevation, type of wall hybrids) for high yield, stability and tolerance to material, perceptions about future occurrence of low and high soil nitrogen and (5) identify and map Figure 6: Applications, Admission and Registration, School of Graduate Studies fl oods and perceived adaptation cost as well as Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for grain yield (GY) and perceived adaptation effi cacy and availability of secondary traits under high N and low N. The School introduced seven new programmes Educational Leadership and Management and bonding social capital. The study found that taking in Organisational Leadership and Governance, GeoInformation Science. All these are sandwich precautionary measures ahead of fl oods and living Low soil fertility, drought, pests and diseases Financial Risk Management, Accounting and programmes mounted during the third semester in sandcrete houses away from water bodies and at were found to be the major constraints on maize Finance, Information Studies, Migration Studies, every academic year (between June and August). production. Most farmers grow improved varieties, 118 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 The Scool of Graduate Studies 119 but have very little knowledge about hybrids. Neonates with suspected sepsis and requiring pneumoniae among clinical and gut colonization African cultural values and psychological Farmers preferred low N and drought tolerant amikacin or amikacin with aminophylline treatment strains from hospital patients and community health of adults with sickle cell disease in varieties with good storability that are disease and were recruited within 24 hours of delivery, at the residents. Particular focus was placed on Ghana insect resistant and require low inputs. The research Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching genotypes of plasmid mediated AmpCs, ESBLs and identifi ed hybrids that are high yielding and low Hospital. Serum levels of the acute phase reactants, carbapenemases; E.coli phylogeny and O25b:ST131 Although spirituality has been found to reduce nitrogen tolerant. These are recommended for C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin isolates; treatment outcomes; as well as risk factors psychological symptoms, the factors that intervene further testing for potential release to farmers in (PCT), blood culture and sensitivity, selected for colonization and infection with these organisms. in the relationship remain unclear. The present low soil N environments. Seven were among the haematological and biochemical parameters, as Study isolates were collected consecutively from study aimed at determining whether African cultural 20 best yielding hybrids across environments and well as brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), clinical and faecal specimens in Korle-Bu Teaching values would moderate the relationship between were identifi ed as candidates for further testing were taken before treatment. Serum amikacin Hospital and from selected community residents. spirituality and psychological health and whether for commercialization. Two hybrids were identifi ed concentration was measured at specifi ed times this observation was unique to Sickle Cell Disease as the highest yielding and stable hybrids. These before and after treatment initiation and analysed (SCD) participants. hybrids should also be further tested in multi- by means of a non-linear mixed eff ects based, location trials and promoted for release. population PK modelling approach. Amikacin treatment with or without aminophylline in neonates with suspected sepsis at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital: A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study Neonatal sepsis still represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The symptoms Dr. Noah Obeng-Nkrumah of sepsis are often non-specifi c and diagnosis Dr. Michael T. Anim requires a high index of suspicion. Thus, the role AmpC, ESBL, and carbapenemase genes were of additional diagnostic markers is important. Dr. Seth Kwabena Amponsah analysed by PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic Additionally, the study explored reasons for the Amikacin is used as fi rst-line treatment of neonatal groups were determined and the O25b-ST131 E. coli use of African cultural values in coping. Finally, the sepsis and it is usually co-administered with The results showed PCT as a more sensitive marker clones identifi ed. ESBL-producing E.coli, mostly study aimed at developing a model of coping with aminophylline in preterm neonates in Ghana. for early onset neonatal sepsis diagnosis and those with CTX-M-15 enzymes, are prevalent in SCD. It was found that SCD participants diff ered Amikacin dosing is well-established; however, suggested increased drug dose and prolonged Ghana and remain a principal source of multidrug signifi cantly from comparison groups on specifi c optimal eff ect requires specifi c dose titration and dosing interval as an eff ective strategy for resistance and inappropriate antibiotic treatment African cultural values subscales and on specifi c individualized maintenance therapy especially in optimizing amikacin dosing in this cohort of in infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae. psychological symptoms. The results implied that preterm neonates. However, information on the neonates. Carbapenem therapy remain the most eff ective there were signifi cant diff erences between SCD and pharmacokinetics (PK) of amikacin in neonates of option against these isolates, however, the presence diabetic or healthy participants on endorsement African origin is limited. The aim of the study was to of NDM-1 in the hospital and in gut fl ora of healthy of specifi c African cultural values and their eff ects describe the PK of amikacin and evaluate aspects of Epidemiology of Bata-Lactamase community persons remains a serious public health on psychological health. The results suggested the pharmacodynamics (PD) of amikacin, including Producing Escherichia Coli and Klesiella concern. that SCD individuals used other strategies to aminophylline co-administration, in neonates with Pneumonia Ghana complement African cultural values to promote suspected sepsis. This study was conducted in Ghana to determine psychological health. the occurrence and clinical signifi cance of beta- lactamases in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella 120 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 The Scool of Graduate Studies 121 Design of additional safety rod in conjunction with reactor core conversion studies of Ghana Research Reactor – 1 The feasibility study of core conversion of Ghana Research Reactor-1 was carried out using neutronics, thermal hydraulics and burnup codes. This study is informed by the recommendation to incorporate a safety rod to the reactor safety system as well as the intention to replace the reactor fuel with Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) made by the Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission. Conversion from one fuel type to another requires a complete re- Dr. Henry Cecil Odoi evaluation of the safety analysis. Changes to the reactivity worth, shutdown margin, power density Neutronics analysis including burnup was studied and material properties must be considered and followed by thermal hydraulics analyses which appropriate modifi cations must be made. comprise steady state and transients. Based on Balme Library the results, it is concluded that the conversion of the GHARR-1 to LEU core is not likely to present any new potential accidents nor increase the Digitization and Institutional Repository In addition, the University Alumni Association consequences of any of the postulated design basis donated nine books to the Balme Library. The books accidents identifi ed in the current approved SAR. The Balme Library has been consistent in the included biographies of the late Dr. Hilla Limann. digitization and uploading of scholarly publications The books were written by a former Vice Chancellor onto the University of Ghana Space. For the 2015- of the University of Ghana, Professor Emeritus Ivan 2016 academic year, 2,203 academic materials were Addae-Mensah. uploaded unto the UGSpace. Out of these materials, 1,105 were theses and 822 were journal articles. The fi gure for the theses in the 2015-2016 academic year Acquisitions is a 33% increase over the fi gure for the 2014-2015 period. This has been demonstrated by the Ranking During the 2015-2016 academic year, the Balme Web of Institutional Repositories for 2015 and 2016 Library added 1,463 books to its collection. Out of respectively. this number, 914 were purchased while 282 were donations. The Balme Library has also liaised with some colleges to acquire relevant titles to promote Book Donations teaching and learning. A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Emeritus George Benneh, donated 273 books on Geography and Population Studies, and Parliamentary Proceedings to the Balme Library. 122 University of Ghana Research Report 2015/2016 Balme Library 123 CREDITS EDITORIAL TEAM Professor Francis Dodoo Professor Andrew Anthony Adjei Professor George Obeng Adjei Professor Abena Oduro Mr John Anoku Mrs Dorcas Opai-Tetteh Mr David Appiah PUBLISHED BY SUB-SAHARAN PUBLISHERS P.O.Box 358, Legon Accra-Ghana Tel: +233-302-2333371 +233-302-234251 Email: saharanp@africaonline.com.gh GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: F ranklny Darko, Samuel A. Ahenkorah PHOTOGRAPHIC TEAM: Micheal Nortei Loko University of Ghana P.O.Box LG 25, Legon, Accra Phone: +233 302 500381/ +233 302 500263 Fax: 233 302514745 Email: pad@ug.edu.gh Office Of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) P.O.Box LG 571 University of Ghana Legon, Accra Phone: + 233 303 930436 Email: orid@ug.edu.gh orid-researchadmin@ug.edu.gh orid-info@ug.edu.gh orid-ip@ug.edu.gh PUBLISHED BY SUB-SAHARAN PUBLISHERS 2015/2016 UNIVERSITY OF GHANA RESEARCH REPORT ORID