KNUSTSpace

Institutional Repository of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

On this portal we showcase the intellectual output of the university..

 

Communities in DSpace

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 8

Recent Submissions

No Thumbnail Available
Item
A Framework for the Implementation of Green Certification of Buildings in Ghana
(KNUST, 2018-06) Ampratwum, Godslove
Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of global energy use and one third of global greenhouse gas emissions both in developed and developing countries. A number of buildings are constructed every year but only a small number of them can be identified as “green buildings.” Despite the well-known benefits of green certification of buildings, it still remains in the state of infancy in Ghana, and adequate diffusion and implementation strategies should be put in place to ensure that they become more established. This study therefore sought to propose a framework which has guidelines which are practical steps that can aid the certifying body in making decisions in relation to implementing the green certification of buildings. Roger’s diffusion of innovation theory and Hartman’s theory were adopted to aid in proposing a framework. The study adopted a qualitative method of enquiry with semi-structured interviews to gather data from professional bodies in the built environment. Findings from the study revealed that some of the professional bodies have used their influences to sensitize their members on green certification of buildings while others are yet to do the same. The key barriers to the adoption of green certification of buildings were identified to include lack of legal backing, cost and financing, inadequate awareness of the benefits of green certification of buildings, inadequate human resources, lack of active government participation, and the conservative nature of Ghanaians. Furthermore, the main drivers for the adoption of green certification of buildings were also identified to include lack of observability of the benefits of green certified buildings, commitment of government, incorporating it into the code of practice for professional bodies, public acknowledgement, policies and regulations, effective communication and source of information. To ensure that green certification of building is implemented in Ghana, it is recommended that the guidelines in the iiiiv proposed framework must be adopted by the certifying body which would help increase the awareness and adoption of green certification of buildings in Ghana
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Influence of Safety Climate on Safety Behavior in the Construction Industry
(KNUST, 2018-06) Achina, Agyemang Eunice
Occupational safety problems continue to remain prevalent in the construction industry despite considerable efforts to ensure safer operations. Massive economic and personnel costs are currently being incurred by the construction industry especially those in developing countries as a result of work-related injuries. Research posits that these accidents are worsen by human factors and climatic factors around work. The human factors which are seen in unsafe practices have been noted to account for quite a greater percentage of occupational safety incidents. Thus, if construction workers can be influenced to engage in safe rather than at-risk work behaviours, then a possible decrease in the rate of work-related injuries shall be achieved. As a result of the problem at stake, this study sought to find out how safety climate factors influenced safe behaviour on construction projects. The study employed the quantitative research design and used purposive sampling in choosing construction companies for data collection. Descriptive analysis, mean score ranking and partial least square (structural equation modeling) were used to report on the data. Two hundred and ten (210) questionnaires were received out of 250 distributed for analysis. The results from the data revealed that, four (4) out of five (5) safety climate factors which are; management communication and commitment, safety training, safety supervision and safety promotion significantly supported the hypothesis developed. However, awareness and competence did not support the research hypothesis having a negative relationship with safety behaviour, therefore, rejecting the earlier set hypothesis of the study. The study had limitations such as data solely collected from one region of Ghana, the use of only quantitative method making the study constrictive. It was therefore recommended that, Management must provide continuing safety program development for its workers to improve worker safety behaviour. Finally, future research should be done to include other geographical areas in Ghana to obtain a more solid conclusion.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Impact of Educational Leadership on Teacher Performance: A Case of Public Primary Schools in Asem Circuit of Kumas Metropolis
(KNUST, 2018-11) Appiah Otabil, Francis
Practitioners of education have acknowledged leadership as a very significant tool for educational institutions, in view of the fact that it is the backbone for the success of every institution. Leadership reflects in every aspect of the school, that is, pupils and teachers‘performance. Poor leadership has several negative effects on an institution such as low morale and turnover, whereas effective leadership builds coalitions between stakeholders for better performance. The key to produce a conducive atmosphere in the school is an answer to the question what really enhances teachers‘ performance. This study sought to describe the impact of educational leadership on how teachers perform in public primary schools at Asem Circuit in the Kumasi Metropolis, by identifying the leadership styles adopted to manage teacher performance, the factors that influence headteachers‘ adoption of leadership styles and impact of the adopted leadership styles on the performance of public primary school teachers at Asem Circuit. The study employed qualitative research design with descriptive method and case study approach,with questionnaire, interview and document analysis to gather data from a purposive sampling of teachers and headteachers in the study area. The study sought data from 10 headteachers and 53 teachers who worked directly under the supervision of the headteachers at the 10 public primary schools at Asem Circuit in the Kumasi Metropolis. The findings of the study show that, headteachers adopt four different types of leadership styles, with Democratic being the highest, followed by Autocratic, then Laisse-faire and Transformational leadership styles. Majority (90%) of the headteachers have fair understanding of the leadership style they employ. The study reveals that, 80% of the headteachers have never attended leadership training. The study further revealed that, Autocratic leadership style is adopted by headteachers when teachers failed to perform their duties, such as, lesson notes preparation, inappropriate classroom management approach, not being punctual and failing to perform other duties assigned by headteachers. Democratic leadership style is adopted when headteachers want the views of teachers in decision-making, this is done at staff meetings, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings and In-Service Education and Training (INSET). Laissez faire is adopted when teachers do what is expected of them, that is, performing their duties as expected of them and Transformational leadership style is adopted when teachers are willing to perform their duties. The study also revealed that Democratic leadership style makes teachers put up good performance, Autocratic leadership create apathy and discipline among teachers, Laissez-faire breed laziness and indiscipline among teachers, whereas Transformational leadership motivate teachers to give of their best performance. The study concluded thatheadteachers lacked full understanding of the leadership styles and that affected its usage on the teachers to effect good performance. Again, headteachers adopted leadership styles were influenced by their own intuition through the level of cooperation and dedication to duty by teachers. It was recommended that as a matter of policy and to enhance full appreciation of the various leadership styles, GES should have a policy on leadership training or conferences for headteachers, most especially newly appointed headteachers. Again, headteachers must practice a multi-faceted leadership approach so as to adequately manage varied behavioural trait of teachers with the view to bringing the best out of them. Finally, there should be periodic assessment conducted by headteachers to verify the impact a leadership style has made, as a result of its application to ascertain its efficacy.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Training Student-Teachers on Tlms Design and Production at St. Ambrose College of Education – Dormaa Akwamu, Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana
(KNUST, 2018) Kyeremeh, Fred
Education is very crucial in the development of every nation, and TLMs play critical role in the teaching and learning processes globally. The study focused on uncovering deficiencies and inefficiencies on the use of TLMs by student-teachers of St. Ambrose College of Education; and equipping them with requisite knowledge and skills for TLMs selection, design, production and utilization. The research design used was qualitative, and the method employed in conducting the study was action research. The target population for the study was 360 student-teachers, which is the entire students’ population of St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa-Akwamu. The accessible population was 90 student-teachers, consisting of 60 second year visual art student-teachers and 30 final year student-teachers on practicum, who were sampled using convenience and purposive sampling techniques respectively. Personal observations and one-on-one interview were the research instruments used, and the result revealed lack of knowledge and skills on the part of student-teachers regarding TLMs design and production. Student-teachers were then equipped with the needed knowledge and skills for TLMs selection, design and production through training. The outcome of this training was massive, and six new TLMs were produced and tested in real classroom lessons. The test-results of all the six TLMs were positive as they were appropriate and effective for the lessons. The level of improvement attained by the student-teachers at the end of the training was very huge when the new TLMs produced were compared to the old ones used by their colleagues on the practicum. The study recommends that, skills development in TLMs selection, design, production and utilization should be integrated into the curriculum of colleges of education in Ghana, to make teachers more resourceful and efficient.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
The Fusion of an Ikat Yarn Dyeing with Asante Traditional Kente Weaving
(KNUST, 2018-03) Gyasi, Isaac
This subject tries to investigate the extent to which an integration of an Ikat patchy yarn dyeing decoration technique introduced into Ashanti Kente weaving tradition to effect an innovative Kente cloth production. This concept provides an opportunity to help the Kente weaver learn yarn-dyeing embellishment prior to weaving to minimize the shortage of specific colours needed any desired production. The study reviews existing work on Ikat yarn dyeing techniques, practices in the ancient countries like Indonesia, India, Japan, to mention a few and traditional Kente weaving practices in Ghana. For how the two aforementioned traditional weaving practices, examined wee integrated and how these two techniques can blend effectively to produce a unique cloth. The approach of the study was qualitative in nature and the instrument used to collect data were mainly interviewed (one-to-one) and participant observation with players in the traditional Kente weaving industry, dyers of cloth, yarns in addition to any secondary data. The scope of the study covered selected indigenous textile centres in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The population of the study was limited to five dyers, in which Bepoase (3), Ntonso (1) and Tewobabi (1). Forty-five weavers mostly from Adawomase (12), Bonwire (17),Onno (7), and dyers from Bepoase (1), Ntonso (5) and Tewobabi (3). The concepts under investigation included the dyeing affinity of rayon yarns with vat dyes and its ability to withstand abrasion resistance and tensile strength during the weaving processes. The patchy dyed effect on the warp and weft yarn had a strong impact on the traditional Kente weaves and this suggest that the fusion of Ikat yarn dyeing technique into traditional Kente weaving introduces a profound new face of Kente in Ghana. It became evident from the study that the traditional weavers previewed to the good practice of dyeing yarns into any preferred colours without any difficulties like bleeding or poor yarn dye affinity were eager to introduce the new concept.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Eradicating Poverty in the Age of Sustainable Development: The Basic Means Approach
(KNUST, 2026-02) Osei-Wusu, Prince Adjei; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4033-5687
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Problèmes de traduction le cas des étudiants à Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
(KNUST, 2019-10) Azasu, Cornelius Yaw
The focus of this work was to take an inventory of translation problems through an evaluation of translation skills of undergraduate students learning French at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. Basically, the underlying hypotheses stem from the following: firstly, the translator's translation of an utterance is dependent on relevant choices of information made in the context; secondly, when the translator translates by taking into account only lexical information, the result is literal translation if the meaning of the utterance is left out; thirdly, translation is a hypothetical process where comprehension is important. A model of skills grouped into six sub-skills skills and abilities. subject learnt. was used. These sub-skills constituted the know-how, the body of knowledge, In addition, each touches on the main areas that the translator should master in his work. It has to do with knowledge universally acquired and the Two questionnaires with forty-one variables were coded and entries made into the statistical package for Social Sciences, SPSS 20.0 Then, frequency distribution tables were generated according to levels of study for two consecutive academic years, i.e. the first semester of both the 2015/2016 and the 2016/2017 academic years. Analyses from our findings have enabled us to validate all our hypotheses. We have also discovered that regarding computer assisted translations, computers are not capable of making contextual inferences and this fact marks off the translator from the machine. After completing this study, we are of the opinion that there is still a very wide field in research to be covered in the didactics of translation.