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    Estimating the transaction cost indices of public private partnership infrastructure in Ghana (Case study of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly)
    Donkor, Eric Jimifoster
    Public Private Partnership infrastructure projects have existed in the field of procurement for some time now however, it implementation in Ghana is at its early stages implying that transaction cost estimation of PPP projects are yet to be explored. The study focused on estimating Transaction Cost Indices for PPP projects undertaken in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly which happens to be the first of its kind in the Ashanti Region. Two supporting objectives were set to address the aim of the study, they are: firstly, identify areas that substantially contribute to transaction cost of PPP projects and secondly, estimation of transaction cost indices of PPP infrastructure projects. The study relied on data from the works department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly on PPP projects concurrently on-going in four of their Sub Metropolitan Assemblies namely Subin, Tafo, Bantama and Kwadaso. They are five (5) projects in all, with most of them being shopping facilities and complexity of the projects varies. Feasibility studies cost tend to be the cost area that substantially contribute higher quota to the Transaction cost of PPP projects in the KMA. Furthermore, the study was able to come out with cost index for all the five (5) projects studied, therefore future projects can rely on the cost index as a guide on transaction cost expenses. Finally, transaction cost threshold was estimated in order to provide a ceiling of estimating the transaction cost index for projects. Therefore, it is recommended that, though private investors pay for the actual cost of the projects MMDAs can also reduce the transaction costs which are incurred during the initial stages of the project. It is recommended that further studies will consider all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly separately to come out with a transaction cost indices for the respective types of Assemblies.
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    Hazard Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Tema Municipal Water Supply
    Nakotey, Ebenezer
    The study was undertaken to assess the quality status of drinking water in Tema municipal area. The concentrations of some selected toxic heavy metals (copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, iron, and manganese) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Among the nine selected heavy metals nickel and lead show higher concentration than the WHO recommended limits. This is an indication of pollution however their hazard quotients (HQ) of 0.04875 and 0.034938 is far less than 1. Besides, hazard index and incremental lifetime risk were calculated to be 0.0866 and 4.499 x 109 respectively. Since hazard quotient is far less than 1, and the risk value of 4.499 x 10-9 is also far less than 1 x 10-6 it implies no health risk is associated with the water and therefore their presence had no significant health effect on human life.
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    National Art Gallery, Accra
    (1986-06-26) Hayford, Joseph E.
    This resort constitutes an essential complement to the design thesis providing the essential verbal support for the thesis development from concept to design solution. The first chapter introduced the subject of designing an art gallery, establishing the need and social role-of such a facility and the service it renders to the community. The scope of the design thesis was established here. The second and third chapters of the report dealt with the state of Ghanaian art today, an assessment of existing gallery facilities and the existing structures for the administration, finance and promulgation of the arts in Ghana. The fourth chapter discussed systems of financing artistic activity and the practical element of financing a national art gallery, its brief, what its functions, and activities will be etc. Matters of site selection and chosen site properties are presented in the fifth chapter. In chapter six, the approach for evolving an organising principle by which some conscious form can be arrived at for the art gallery is presented. This involved a detailed study of art expression in African sculpture and how this might be suitably harnessed for the purpose. Three examples of art galleries were treated as case studies in chapter seven these being preceded by a historical assessment of arg art galleries. The rest of the report was then devoted to presenting all aspects of the design solutions proposed for the national art gallery.
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    Aesthetic appreciation for beginning artists
    (1993) Akotia, Robert Kwadaso
    The essay provides an approach to aesthetic appreciation for the adolescent, who wants to take art as a profession. It focuses readership on Senior Secondary School. Others who want to enjoy art out of love will also find it useful. The need for this piece of investigate on has arisen due to the neglect and ambivalent attitude towards matters of aesthetic appreciation in beginners. The essay suggests that aesthetic problems cannot be solved in isolation but the total self perceptual, intellectual and emotional are mobilised to respond to the artwork. The discussion presents aesthetic appreciation as a skill, and needs be cultivated, to perceive and enjoy works of art. The youngster is recommended to start cultivating aesthetic flair by beautifying his environment, personally interact with natural objects and. finally appreciate a finished work of art. A pedagogic approach to judgment and criticism is suggested. Some colour symbolism, and prevailing concepts of beauty have also been hinted on.
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    Socio-economic analysis of wood fuel production and utilization- case study of the Upper Denkyira District
    (1998-08-05) Amoh-Anguh, Lawrence
    This thesis looks at the socio-economic analysis of wood fuel (charcoal & fire wood) production and utilization in the Upper Denkyira District in the Central Region. The main objective of the study was to determine the contribution of the wood fuel industry to sustainable livelihood in the study area. The study was premised on the central theme that producers of wood fuel do not produce their own wood lot aimed at producing their own wood for fuel. The study mainly draws its materials from the survey undertaken in the study area. In the study, 33 producers and 115 users of wood fuel were sampled from five (5) communities in the district. Distributors/ marketers and woodlot practitioners were also selected for the survey. A combination of structured questionnaire, focal group discussion (FGD), personal observations and wood fuel measurements were employed as data collection methods. Data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively to arrive at the results and findings. The major findings of the study were that the raw materials for the processing and production of wood fuel found in almost all the five (5) communities selected for the study came from the natural forest: people did not plant their own wood (trees) to use them as fuel for both domestic and/or commercial purposes. The study identified that processors and producers of wood fuel faced tenure problems, forest laws (in some cases) and other economic constraints. This situation occasionally resulted in the demand for the product exceeding supply resulting in price increases. Proper measures should be put in place to ensure efficient and sustainable production of the product if any future shortages were to be avoided. This finding has substantiated the hypothesis of the study that producers of wood fuel do not produce their own wood lot. In some instances, alternative means of providing wood for wood fuel (woodlot production) were found to be on going among some individuals in the selected communities but whose main motive was for timber and pole production. Some educational institutions had woodlot that occasionally fell some for wood fuel. The research found that most of the wood fuel actors have indigenous ideas about Agro-forestry, and could be a starting point for the introduction of the scientific wood planting. Most of the preferred tree species were in scarce supply due to their gradual extinction through identified factors such as farming, mining, logging and wood fuel sourcing. The quantity and the cost of production of wood fuel depended on factors such as availability of wood (trees), land and tree tenure system in the area, the effectiveness of forestry laws and the location of the producing area with regard to the area of demand (i.e., transportation cost). Labor cost was not a critical factor in determining the cost of wood fuel production in the study area because of the existence of reliance on family hands by most of the producers. Charcoal was produced by the earth mound method more than the other modern methods like the kiln. The study again identified that women and children were the dominant labor force for the production of wood fuel, with male counterparts performing a smaller proportion of felling of trees. Species of trees preferred for wood fuel included, Khaya spp (mahogany),Miliciaexcelsa (Odoum), Seltis spp (Esa), Cylicodiscus gabonensis (Denya) and Piptadeniastrum africanum (Dahoma). The distribution/ marketing of the product were done with various modes. Most domestic users gathered and conveyed it by head loading. Commercially, truck and other vehicles were used as a popular mode. Commercial production needs permits from district Forestry Department and this attracted a fee per tree in a defined concession. The research found that some supply of wood fuel came from a neighboring district other than the Upper Denkyira District. Majority of the products are sent to the capital town, Dunkwa where the demand and prices are very high. Occasionally, wood fuel is also supplied to a neighboring town like Obuasi. Consumption of wood fuel in the study area is very high as compared with other sources of energy. The demand for firewood for domestic cooking and heating was very high in all the five (5) communities the survey took place. The preference for firewood begins to give way to charcoal and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the geographical size and the income levels of the residents’ increase. Commercial use of wood fuel included, bakery, local gin distillery and food vendors.
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    A markup determination for building contractors in Ghana
    (1999) Amoah, Peter
    As builders’ estimated costs are similar the main variable in bids is the markup. But deciding on the right markup to add to an estimate is not an easy task for a contractor. The markup must be small enough to ensure a good chance of winning the contract, yet big enough to realize a reasonable profit. Studies have identified some thirty-six factors that affect markup decision in Ghana. Optimum markup determination entails the evaluation of these factors, and in Ghana building contractors are found to consider and evaluate the factors subjectively when they set markup for projects. This research sought to identify the most important factors needed for the markup determination in the competitive bidding environment and provided a suitable model for computing the optimum markup. The research comprised a questionnaire survey, supplemented with interviews, among all class Dl and a random sample of class D2 building construction firms in Ghana with the aim of identifying problems associated with the markup decision and the importance that the contractors attached to the factors that affect the markup decision. The research revealed that project cash flow, risk involved in investment and competition are the most important factors that affect markup decision and the FaRM Pricing Model is a suitable tool for the determination of the optimum markup by Ghanaian contractors.
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    Herbage yield and nutritive value of ten varieties of elephant grass, pennisetum purpureum, in Ashanti Region of Ghana
    (2000) Dzimale, Gabriel Jepson Kwadzo
    Six experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of nine hybrid Pennisetum and a local Pennisetum purpureum grown in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The hybrid varieties were: 15743, 16786, 16791, 16798, 16834, 16835, 16837, 16838 and 16840 obtained from International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI.), Ethiopia. In the first experiment, agronomic characteristics of these varieties were measured at 56 days of regrowth. Parameters measured were plant height, bunch diameter, leafiness, stem diameter, tiller number, herbage yield and persistence. In the second experiment (intake studies), one hundred West African Dwarf Sheep (WADS) weighing between 9kg — 20kg were randomly allocated to ten treatments balancing for weight and sex. Grasses harvested each morning and chopped into short lengths were fed to each animal and feed refusals weighed back the following morning to determine intake. Adaptation period of 14 days was followed by 22 days of data collection for each animal. In the third trial (metabolism studies), eight WADS weighing 12 — 19 kg were used in a change over experiment. Feed intake, faecal output and urine volume was measured to determine apparent digestibility coefficient and nitrogen balance. Ten days adaptation was allowed followed by seven days collection period for each round. Degradability studies were conducted in the fourth experiment. Four rumen-fistulated rams were used in a completely randomised design. Grass samples collected during intake and metabolism studies were used for incubation at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hrs. In the fifth experiment grass samples collected during intake and metabolism studies were used for gas production. About 200 mg of each sample and 30 ml of rumen fluid media mixture was injected into syringes (incubation tubes) and incubated in lots of four in water-bath. Gas produced was recorded at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hrs respectively. Each of the Pennisetum varieties and their fractions were anyalysed for their content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Urine and faecal nitrogen were also determined Measurements of agronomic characteristics indicated that the DM yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in variety 16840 had 1948.55kgha1 while variety 15743 had the lowest, 496.06 kg/ha. The bunch diameter was significantly (P<0.05) greater for the local variety than the rest, which ranged from 20.3 to 50.7 cm. Tiller numbers ranged from 12 to 25 and variety 16838 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in tiller number than the local. Varieties 16791 and 16835 were significantly (P<0.05) taller than both the local and variety 16840. The plant height ranged from 57.57 cm for variety 15743 to 189.98 cm for variety, 16791 which were significantly (P<0.05) different. The leaf fractions were significantly (P<0.05) greater in varieties 15743, local, 16837 and 16786 than the rest. There were significant differences with respect to persistence. The local variety ranked highest and was significantly (P<0.05) better than 16840 and the rest. The chemical composition of the grasses showed that the CP levels in the whole plant ranged from a low of 7.7% in variety 16791 to a maximum of 13.2% in variety 15743. The NDF concentrations were between 64.3% for variety 15743 to 73% for variety 16786, while ADF concentrations did not show wide variations. The values ranged from 37.3% to 45.3% for varieties 16798 and local respectively. The ADL concentrations in the whole plant were least in varieties 16838, 15743 and 16837 (0.85, 0.87 and 0.87%) respectively. ADL concentrations in the leaf and stem fractions also varied. The dry matter intake per metabolic body size ranged from 62.78 to 80.41g kg-1 per day. Dry matter intake of varieties 16838 and 16786 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than varieties 16840, local, 16837 and 16798 while variety 16791 was least consumed. The apparent DM digestibilities of the local variety and varieties 15743, 16840 and 16838 (69.53%) were also significantly (P<0.05) higher than the rest. Rumen degradation often varieties using samples from intake studies did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the varieties at 48 and 72 hours of incubation. Differences, however, existed among the treatments during the rest of the incubation periods. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between degradation constants for samples used during intake studies. Dry matter loss from 3 hours to 120 hours ranged from 181g kg-1 to 600g kg-1 Rumen dry matter degradation using digestibility samples ranged from 90g kg-1 (3 hrs) to 736g kg-1 (120 hrs) for varieties 16798 and 15743 respectively. Dry matter losses were significantly (P<0.05) affected by incubation time periods, except at 48 and 72 hrs for digestibility and intake samples. Significant (P<0.05) differences were obtained for degradation constants (a, b, (a+b)) for samples used during digestibility studies. In vitro gas produced at 3, 6, 12 and 48 hrs was not significantly (P>0.05) different using samples from digestibility studies. The volume of gas produced did not differ significantly (P>0.05) for each of the incubation periods when samples of intake studies were used. Similar non-significant relationship was’ obtained for samples used during intake studies except for the potential gas production (P<0.05). In the metabolism studies, dry matter in take per metabolic body size was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the type of grass fed to the sheep. Varieties 16837 and 16786 were significantly (P<0.05) higher in dry matter intake than the rest. The least consumed were varieties 16791, 15743 and 16835. The nitrogen intake ranged from 3.89g kg-1 for variety 16835 to 10.57g kg-1 for variety 16837. Faecal nitrogen excreted ranged from 1.79g kg-1 for variety 15743 to 3.14g kg-1 for variety 16837 while urinary-N ranged from 1.18g kg-1 for variety 16791 to 3.34g kg-1 for variety 16786. The nitrogen balance was positive for all the varieties with the lowest from 0.60 for variety 16835 to 5.29 for variety 16837. The relationship between feed intake and apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter was not significant (r = 0.292). The correlation between feed intake and dry matter degradability from 3 to 120h incubation were not significant (P>0.05) at all incubation hours except at 6h (r= -0.320; P>0.05). However, the correlation between apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and dry matter degradability was significant at 96 and I20h (r = 0.371; r = 0.440; P<0.05) but not the rest. At 3h of incubation, significant (P<0.05) relationship was obtained between apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and in vitro gas production and not the rest of incubation hours. There was significant correlation between in vitro gas production and dry matter degradation using intake samples at 24h (r = 0.321; P<0.05). Significant relationship (P<0.05) was obtained between yield and other agronomic characteristics measured. Relationship between feed intake and chemical composition were not significant (P>0.05) while apparent digestibility and ADF were related (r = -0.660).
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    Effects of District Assemblies Common Fund on revenue mobilisation and expenditure patterns in the District Assemblies
    (2000) Boribah, Simon Yaw
    The current decentralisation policy was introduced in 1988 under the PNDCL 207, principally to address the imbalances in development between rural and urban areas of the country. The whole concept of the decentralisation policy is grounded on the idea of popular participation in the decision making process. The policy saw the establishment of one hundred and ten districts. Within the framework of the policy, each district capital is expected to serve as a focal point for socio economic development of the entire district. Central government has therefore made available several sources of revenue to the district assemblies. The statutory basis for the district assemblies’ revenues is provided for under Acts of parliament including the 1992 constitution (sections 245 - 252), the Local Government Act 462 of 1993 and the District Assembly Common Fund Act 455, also of 1993. The introduction of the DACF has had some effects on the activities of the district assemblies. The aim of this study is to establish, empirically, the effects of the DACF on revenue mobilisation and expenditure patterns in the district assemblies. Amansie East and Atwima districts in Ashanti Region were randomly selected for the study. Revenue and expenditure data were collected from the sample districts to facilitate quantitative analysis of the study. Results of the study show that after the introduction of the DACF, there has been an increase in total local revenue arising mainly from lands and investment income. However, there has been a reduction in income from some important traditional sources such as rates and licences. The study also indicates that the DACF has necessitated an increase in capital / development expenditure over recurrent expenditure with greater proportion of the capital / development expenditure directed at social sector development. It was also observed that with the increasing demand for social and economic facilities or infrastructure from almost every town or village, available revenues to the district assemblies are inadequate. It was therefore recommended that the central government should increase the DACF while district assemblies also intensify their revenue mobilisation effort.
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    Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus on early growth and nodulation of indigenous albizia species
    (2001) Twumasi, Stephen
    This study was conducted to determine the response of four (4) species of arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus clarum, Glomus iritraradices, Glomus etunicatum, Gigaspora rosea) on early growth and nodulation of Albizia species (A. adianthifolia, A. ferruginea, and A. zygia), and to evaluate the interaction of phosphorus-fertilizer in the form of tripple superphosphate (TSP) with arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus clarum). Albizia seedlings were grown in pots under nursery conditions and treatments applied to both sterilised and unsterilised soil conditions. Arbuscular- mycorrhizal fungi differed in their effectiveness in enhancing early growth, dry matter accumulation, nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) uptake and root colonization in all the three Albizia species. Glomus intraradices was the most preferred fungus in A. adianthifolia, Glomus clarum in A. ferruginea and Glomus etunicatum in A. zygia. In general, Glomus clarum proved to be the most efficient fungus in almost all the parameters considered. Moreover, A. ferruginea gave the most promising initial growth characteristics as well as nutrient uptake and root colonization. However, sterilised uninoculated soil treatment showed superiority in almost all the three Albizia species in terms of the growth measurements taken which was contrary to earlier reports made by some authors but recorded significantly low root colonization. -Phosphorus addition in the form of TSP markedly stimulated nodulation (nodule number and nodule dry weight), increased plant growth, nutrient uptake and mycorrhizal infection in both uninoculated and inoculated seedlings of A. ferruginea but more pronounced in the inoculated seedlings. Phosphorus fertilizer application at 50kg/ha (l00mgTSP) gave significantly higher plant growth and arbuscular- mycorrhizal fungal infection whilst these parameters declined above l00kg/ha(200mgTSP). The outcome of this study indicates that arbuscular- mycorrhizal fungi differ in their effectiveness on indigenous Albizia species. In P-deficient soils it is possible to reduce the phosphorus fertilizer application with AM fungal inoculation and still maintain high productivity. Therefore in most tropical soils AM fungi strains may help plant growth and establishment on degraded soil or plants that cannot adequately meet their nutrient requirements.
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    The effect of bitumen emulsion on selected engineering properties of lateritic gravel and the potential for reducing erosion of unpaved roads
    (2001) Ahiamadi, Samuel Kofi
    In Ghana the road network accounts for the overwhelming proportion of both passenger and freight traffic. The network is about 40,000km long and is divided into three functional classes of feeder roads, trunk roads and urban roads. Over 82% of the network is unpaved and unpaved roads can be found in all functional classes of roads and distributed in all the regions of the country. One of the characteristics of unpaved roads is that they tend to deteriorate faster than paved roads. Like in many developing countries, the funds available for maintenance in Ghana is far below that required to keep the roads at the minimum level of service. The unpaved roads are also mostly low volume roads with average daily traffic levels not exceeding 100 even on trunk roads. Given the rather high rainfall in the southern parts of the country, it appears that the major cause of deterioration of unpaved roads in these parts of the country is rainfall-induced erosion. Any financially affordable effort that leads to a delay in the deterioration of these unpaved roads will therefore contribute towards an improvement of the road network. Stabilization is known to be a simple and often affordable method of improving the resistance of unpaved roads to erosion. This project therefore seeks to investigate first how stabilization of lateritic gravel using bitumen emulsion can affect certain engineering properties of lateritic gravel and then secondly to investigate the potential for using this material to reduce rainfall induced erosion on unpaved roads. The study first reviews the factors that affect the deterioration of unpaved roads, the effect of rainfall characteristics on erosion, the rainfall patterns and zones in the country and their effect on the formation of the different types of lateritic gravel. It also reviews the experience of the effects of cement, lime and bitumen emulsion on different lateritic gravel. An anionic bitumen emulsion produced locally was used in the laboratory investigation. The laboratory work consisted of an investigation of the effect of different percentages of the bitumen on the index properties, compaction characteristics, CBR and permeability of samples of lateritic gravel obtained from five borrow pits in two agro-ecological zones of the country The results established an optimal nominal bitumen content of about 2% for improved compaction and strength characteristics. A model pavement prepared with this optimum bitumen content was constructed and the rate of erosion of material from the pavement was compared with a non-stabilized model pavement in the H313 hydrological (rainfall simulation chamber) apparatus. The results showed a four-fold reduction in the amount of material eroded from the model pavement compared with the unsterilized material.
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    Financial sector restructuring policy and savings mobilization: a study of the Banking Sector in Ghana.
    (2001) Owusu, Victor Lord
    The study provided an analysis of savings mobilized by banks in Ghana during the repressed and liberalized financial periods. Specifically, the study considered overall private and public deposits mobilized by banks, dealing with demand, savings and time deposits .The percentage change during and after liberalization was calculated aimed at showing the trend in savings mobilization by banks .The percentage of public and private savings to overall savings and the percentages of demand, savings and time deposits to overall deposits were calculated. The periods of analysis were divided into three; before, during and after the implementation of the financial reforms, starting from 1981 and ending in 1999. Low savings characterized the banking sector for years before the Structural Adjustment Program, which began in 1983. Whilst foreign inflows and savings were on the increase, domestic savings mobilization continued to fall. FINSAP which began in 1987 as a component of the ERP/SAP was aimed at restructuring the financial system and eventually leading to an increase in savings in the economy in general and the banking sector in particular. Observations of real deposit rates indicate that they were negative or extremely low for most years before the implementation of the reforms. The low and fluctuating trend in savings mobilized by banks could partly be attributed to the negative deposit rates. The unorthodox monetary measures used during the repressed period affected negatively savings mobilization by banks. It was also observed that the general characteristic of savings after financial liberalization did not differ significantly from the repressed period, thus indicating the inability of the reforms in itself to increase savings mobilization without regard to other macro-economic indicators. Literature on the negative effects of financial repression particularly the works of McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) were analysed. Literature on interest rates and savings behaviour led to various explanations in which there appeared no clear relationship between the two as advocated by McKinnon and Shaw in their early work on financial repression. Empirical studies were also cited to examine the impact of financial repression on savings. Other factors that affect savings, income, taxation, demographic conditions were also examined. The growth and development of the formal banking sector in Ghana was examined. Banking diffusion and the current distribution of bank branches throughout the country showed that in terms of number and institutional structure, the banking sector is relatively diverse and apparently adequate. The contribution of the informal sector in savings mobilization came under examination. An overview of the economy in general and the financial system in particular before the ERP and FINSAP was carried out. The study examined the various objectives and structure put in place for FINASP and matched these against the overall broad objectives of reforms of financial system set out by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
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    A comparative study of public and private schools in the provision of quality education at the basic level in urban centres in Ghana
    (2002) Asiedu, Samuel
    In spite of the considerable state funding and donor support to public basic schools in Ghana, trends in academic performances indicate a low level of performance in public schools. Private schools with little or no assistance from the state performed better academically than the public schools between 1996 and 2000. The study compared the private schools with the public schools with the view of finding the factors that contribute to the poor academic performances in public schools. The educational process was analyzed as a system composed of educational inputs, process, and output. Eight public and five private schools selected from two urban centres namely Sunyani and Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region were compared. The results of the study indicated that parents’ investments and support in their children’s education were higher in the private schools than the public schools. The study also found that the parents’ investments and support were influenced by the socio-economic background of parents namely income, education, occupation and status. The physical infrastructure of the public schools especially the buildings and classrooms had deteriorated due to neglect and lack of maintenance. Teaching and learning materials in the public schools were inadequate because they depended on government free supplies. The private schools, on the other hand, had adequate textbooks and stationery as well as the teaching materials and equipment. This was due to the fact that parents bought the textbooks and stationery for their children. The proprietors also bought teaching materials and equipment for their schools In conclusion, the study suggested among other things that awareness be created for parents, chiefs and their elders, Churches, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the general public to support the public schools in the provision of their needs. Pupils, in public schools should be supplied with textbooks and be allowed to send them home for use The instructional time for students must be increased by increasing the length of the school term. The public school buildings should be rehabilitated to make them attractive. Parent- Teacher Association should be strengthened in the public schools to ensure parents support for the schools development.
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    Time of harvesting and its effect on the quality of gari and flour from four cassava varieties
    (2003) Apea Bah, Franklin Brian
    Four varieties of cassava (Afisiafi, Tek bankye, Abasafltaa and Gblemoduade) were each harvested at 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 months after planting and processed into gari and flour. The yields of gari and flour obtained from processing 100kg of fresh, whole roots were determined. Selected physicochemical properties of the gari and flour samples at different ages were also studied. The properties of gari studied were moisture, ash, pH, total titratable acidity, swelling capacity and crude fibre, while that of flour were moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, pH, swelling power, solubility, starch yield, amylose content and pasting characteristics. The data obtained were statistically analyzed to determine whether age and variety each affected the yields and physicochemical properties of the gari and flour. Age and variety both had significant effects (p<0.05) on flour yield, but gari yield was not significantly affected by either age or variety. Moisture, pH and bulk density of gari were significantly affected by age while crude fibre of gari was affected significantly by variety. Also, age significantly affected moisture, ash and crude protein of flour, while solubility and all pasting characteristics of the flour were affected significantly by variety. Afisiafi and Tek bankye had optimum flour yields at 13 months after planting while Abasafitaa and Gblemoduade had their optimum flour yields at 12 months after planting. However, Afisiafi and Tek bankye had optimum gari yields at 14 months after planting while Abasafitaa and Gblemoduade had optimum gari yields at 13 and 12 months after planting respectively.
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    The poetry of Ghanaian hip-life music
    (2003) Baffour-Awuah, Felicia
    Ghanaians songs, like all other folk songs, must be studied in the broader context of culture. This is because the meaning of a song can be derived from the world view of those who create, perform and listen to it and from the function of the song in that culture. Hence, there must be a relation between the verbal content of the songs and other areas of the culture. In Ghana, there are songs for nearly every occasion or circumstance, including ceremonial and work songs, occupational songs, contest and victory songs sung by athletes, gospel music, highlife music and, currently, hip-life music. “Hip-life” is a term that does not yield itself to easy definition. This is because, Hip-life is not just music; it is a combination of music, body expression and manner of expression. At the musical level, Hip-life is a derivation from Highlife, Hip-hop and Rap. Hip-life emerged as a fusion of other forms of music at the close of the twentieth century. The form has features characteristic of the century. These are features which cannot be ignored because of the vehemence with which they attract attention to themselves, especially through the vehemence of expression, the extremity of the body language and of the “dress code” that cannot be derived from the music of high-life. Hip-life music was coined with the aim of familiarizing the people of Ghana with Hip-hop which was then the choice of the masses. In other words, it intended to use the local dialect to break the barriers for the youth that were into Hip-hop but could not understand English. Hip-life is therefore a fusion of the Hip-hop music of Europe and America and the Highlife music of Africa. It is worth nothing that Hip-life portrays both the culture of Africa and that of Europe and America. Hip-life musician always try to portray their culture by using codified and pedantic language (alliteration, imagery, rhythm, lyrics and so on) and reaching out to the youth and should be looked at critically. Again, the departure from the grand themes of highlife, which is at the base of Hip-life, to the banal themes of daily existence that have been a dominant feature of the twentieth century is so marked and so significant that it is worth studying. Such a study is expected to provide answers to such questions as: what gave rise to such a dramatic change or development? What is the new direction? What significant is that the western world witnessed this development more than half a century earlier. The radical changes of all the arts went on in Europe and America in the early twentieth century that is now referred to as “modernism” sported some salient characteristics that included the following: nothing can be taken for granted in the arts; our perception of reality is necessarily uncertain and provisional; the unparalleled complexity of modern urban life must be reflected in literary form; supposedly primitive myths can help us to grasp and order the chaos of contemporary experience; and so on. At the very surface, it appears that the paradigm shift which is similar to that which occurred in the early years of modernism in Europe and America is now occurring in Ghana in a form that may be quite different from how it manifested itself elsewhere. The objective of this study is to trace the genesis of Hip-life lyrics as well as determine what influences the traditional oral poetry, the contemporary written poetry of Ghana, Africa and foreign poetry, have had on form and content of Hip-life poetry. The significance of the study lies in the fact that it is a whole new way of life and being the dominant literary mouthpiece of this country, it is at least necessary to listen to what they are saying, why they are saying so, the way they are. Some Africans (Ghanaians) see it as a brother listen to Hip-life music because of the kind of language used, especially the choice of words. But Hip-life music, unlike Highlife, is a medium of expression that incorporates traditional folklore materials into a modern song form by including foreign elements. It fuses traditional Akan rhythms and melodies with European instrumentation and harmony, the reason being that Africans are products of the impact of foreign influences upon the society. Moreover, Hip-life is the dominant avenue through which much of the creative talents of the youth of Ghana today find their expression. This is an attempt analyse and place in the proper perspective the literary creativity of the times and thereby determine the direction of the creative expression of the youth. Much of this creativity is in the Avant Garde vein and this suggests a link with the Avant Garde in Europe and elsewhere. It is always important that society has an idea of the direction of it creative expression and this study is meant to fill a vacuum as it intended to supply new information on this trend and therefore, it is meant to add new knowledge to the existing stock. Different methods were employed in collecting data and the song. With the data collection, a face-to-face interview method was used to collate data on the evolution and future of Hip-life music from artistes, composers and studio engineers. The collection of the songs was two folds: transcription of the songs and some written songs at the cover of the albums. This study will have an introduction and four main chapters and a conclusion. Chapter one will trace the historical evolution of Hip-life music. Chapter two will focus on the thematic and stylistic elements of selected text of Hip-life music. Chapter three will discuss in detail the analyses of some selected text of Hip-life songs. The final part will study the influence, both thematic and stylistic, on Hip-life music by means of a comparative study of the poetry of Hip-life, and the conclusion will be a brief review of the work. It will also highlight the transformation the Hip-life undergone and the effect of Hip-life on the society.
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    Assessing the maternal death audit management system at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital using the National (MOH) audit guidelines as reference
    (2004) Agyemang, John Kwaku
    Maternal death is defined as the death of a woman pregnant or within 42 days following termination of pregnancy, irrespective of duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes. (Suleiman,1999). Medical Death Audit is an integral part of modem medicine (Irish Medical Journal, 2001). Audit is of Latin derivation, which means hearing (Arnold et al, 1992). Clinical audit is systematic and critical analysis of quality of clinical care, including the procedures used for diagnosis and treatment, the associated use of resources and the effect of care on the outcome and quality of life for the patient. Even though, maternal death is very high especially in the developing countries including Ghana, information on maternal death audits and its impact in the overall quality of health care. This study examined the Management System of Maternal Death Audit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi. The objective of the study included examining the structure, process and outcome of maternal death audit at KATH so as to give recommendation to improving maternal death thereby reducing maternal mortality. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design, a total of fifty management/staff was interviewed with a questionnaire. Also a checklist was designed to review one hundred and eighty nine (189) cases of maternal deaths that occurred from 2001-2003. The findings showed the average maternal mortality ratio at KATH is 9.5 1/1000 live births. There is no Maternal Audit Committee at KATH that reviews maternal deaths. In fact, it was found that meeting termed “maternal conference” are rarely organized. Such meeting was held only once. Proceedings of such meeting are not recorded neither are standard forms used to review maternal deaths. From the study, it was evident that there were no dissemination of findings of such meetings and therefore no feedback. This is at the peril of improving maternal health. ‘The practice at KATH was found to be at variance with what has been prescribed by the Ministry of Health as enshrined in the Maternal Death Audit Guidelines document, 2002. Appropriate recommendations have been made to Management, Staff and other stakeholders at KATH to improve the practice of auditing maternal death so as to reduce the high maternal mortality at the hospital.
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    The health of the elderly at Kpeshie Sub-Metro, Accra
    (2004-11-17) Obbu, Cynthia Charity
    This study was undertaken to assess the health status of the elderly in the Kpeshie Sub-Metro of the Greater Accra Region. The study was a descriptive one. The sample was made up of one hundred elderly, fifty caretakers and five Key Informants. There was however one Key Informant from Accra Metro Health Directorate. The questionnaire was designed using close and open -ended questions, using mostly face-to-face interview. The respondents were selected using both convenience and purposive sampling methods. Data was analysed and presented using percentages, pie and bar charts. The data that were not easy to quantify were described. Findings revealed that majority of the elderly (60%) and their caretakers (84%) have some form of knowledge in nutrition with some of the elderly (32%) explaining it to be “foods which when eaten in their right quantities will make them healthy”. 74% of the elderly agreed that knowledge in nutrition can go a long way in helping the aged to lead a normal life once again. The study also revealed that majority of the elderly is not affected by food accessibility (geographical). 74% explained that the food they took when they were children happened to still be their favourite foods after attaining 60 years and over because it was their delicacy, thus, giving them satisfaction (38%). Even-though, they appreciate their delicacy, 49% complained of difficulty in eating (dental decay or tooth removal), which was taken into consideration during food preparation (61%). It was confirmed when four options were questioned and chewing (36%) happened to be the worst problem experienced. The findings on their health seeking behaviour showed that 66% use the government health facility mostly because of financial difficulties. As to the drugs prescribed, 35% said they wait and go back to the doctor after 2-3 days for the necessary help. 86% also stated that they regularly take their medications, which was confirmed, by 88% of caretakers who stated the same thing. Hypertension was the most rated chronic disease (45%). The research also revealed that majority (46%) lived with family members who happened to meet their food needs (39%). Almost half of the caretakers (50%) explained that they took the elderly for sightseeing and I or when the need arises. Findings revealed that policies and programs outlined by those involved in this area were: • Working out new modalities to enhance the smooth implementation of the exemption policy. • To initiate education for both the elderly and their families towards retirement • To approve the introduction of the health insurance scheme. • The sector Ministries (MOH and Mm. of Manpower Development and Employment) advocacy for lands to construct various recreational parks for the aged throughout the country. From the above findings, the researcher concluded that the managing of the health of the elderly was on the average. The researcher therefore recommended that national health programs on ageing in order to educate the general public in the future as well as conduct more scientific research on the development of sound policies for the aged.
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    Health sector preparedness for motor traffic emergencies:- a case study of selected health institutions in the Accra Metropolis
    (2005) Damalie, Evelyn Sromawuda
    Road traffic accidents are becoming rampant in the Accra metropolis. The after effect rests mainly on the health sector. According to Lt.Col. Dzansi, head of the Accidents and Emergency Unit of 37 Military Hospital, (personal communication 2005), about 70% of cases reported at the Unit are usually RTA related. The main objective is to assess the preparedness of the health sector to take care of these increasing incidences of RTAs within Accra Metropolis. The study was descriptive cross- sectional. It was carried out in the emergency unit of four selected health institutions in the Metropolis namely; Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ridge Hospital, Mamobi Polyclinic and 37 Military Hospital. A structured questionnaire and an interview schedule were used to elicit information from respondents. Observation was also carried out to support response. The questionnaire, containing eighteen questions, were given out to sixteen care providers in each facility, and thirty road accident victims interviewed in each facility. The researcher also observed the in inflow of RTAs into the selected facilities during the study period and how these were handled. A key finding is that personnel at the facilities are usually over stressed during RTAs emergencies; however, in many cases they are able to cope and maintain a cordial relationship with the victims and their relations. The study revealed that nurses’ lack specialized training when it comes to handling road accident emergencies. Even though, the facilities do not have adequate equipment for handling RTAs, they are able to improvise when necessary. Ambulance services, in particular, are inadequate. Findings revealed that all the facilities are prepared to handle RTAs emergencies; however, there are few things to put in place to make the facilities’ care delivery better. It is recommended that more nurses should be trained. Infrastructure should also be expanded at the emergency units to make handling of victims of RTAs effective
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