Tesi sul tema "Research Ghana"

This study aimed to explore researchers' and policy stakeholders' perceptions of the usefulness of public health research for policy, using the example of maternal health in Ghana. Sixty-nine government decisionmakers, maternal health policy stakeholders and researchers were interviewed. Concepts of research were broad. Research was dichotomised into `big', formal research and 'small', applied research such as operations research. 'Small research' was highly valued, due to its speedy completion and its focus on topics pertinent to service delivery; big research was not always considered necessary. Effectiveness research, one type of `big research', was not highly valued. Interviewees tended to feel that 'effective' policies and programmes could be designed once there was a thorough understanding of the situation. There was an implicit assumption that as long as these interventions were implemented well, they would be effective. Six dimensionso f local applicability/transferabilitwye re identified.T he most influential factors were the ease with which the intervention could be implemented, the study's congruence with interviewees' previous experiences and the perceived need for the intervention. Little attention was paid to study findings. Judgements of an intervention's potential effectiveness tended to be based on the ease of implementation or knowledge of similar projects. Adaptation was considered to be crucial, although often conceptualised not as a factor within local applicability/transferability assessments, but rather a distinct, essential step in the research use process. This study suggests that the factors of local applicability/transferability frequently cited in the literature do not reflect those considered to be most important by stakeholders in Ghana.

The Akosombo Dam on the Volta River in Ghana was built in 1963 to provide cheap energy to fuel industry and to accelerate the economic growth of the country. It provides hydroelectric power, enhanced fishing and water transportation upstream, and improved opportunities for irrigated farming, especially in the lower reaches, and their attendant economic multiplier effects. A few years after the construction of this major dam, a rapid expansion of industrialization took place in Ghana. This brought about an exponential increase in demand for more electrical power. This led to the construction of a smaller dam at Akuse, downstream of the Akosomho Dam in 1981 and the formation of a headpond at Kpong. The impoundment of the river at the two sites (Akosombo and Kpong) caused an alteration in the existing ecological and biophysical processes in the river basin, including a slowing of the flow of the river, upstream and downstream. Changes in the natural processes, such as a reduction in the flow of the river and an increase in nutrient status of the water, resulted in an invasion of aquatic weeds, increasing the density of aquatic snails (intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis), silting and closure of the estuary, as well as other more subtle effects. The invasion of the river's main course and the dams by aquatic plants led to a corresponding reduction of navigable water both upstream and downstream. The aim of this thesis was to quantify the impact and control of waterweeds, especially water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms-Laubach (Pontederiaceae), in Ghana. A floral survey on the Kpong Headpond recorded 49 emergent, 12 free floating and I submerged aquatic plant species, many of which were indigenous, but the exotic or introduced water hyacinth was recorded at most of the sampling sites, and was the most abundant and had the biggest impact on the utilization of the water resource. Mats of water hyacinth served as substrates for other, indigenous species to grow out into the main channel of the headpond, including the intake point of the Kpong head works of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and landing sites for boats. These mats resulted in a reduction of the fish (fin and shell) harvest, reducing the annual production to far below demand. Water hyacinth was also shown to have severe health implications. A survey of the Ministry of Health records showed that the prevalence of both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis had risen significantly over time as the abundance of waterweeds, most notably water hyacinth, increased, and ranged between 70% and 75% but up to 100% in some lakeside communities. Based on the work done by an NGO on board the medical boat ("Onipa Nua "), losses in terms of money due to the effect on health of the aquatic weed infestations on the Volta River in 2006 amounted to US$ 620,000. Economic losses due to invasive alien aquatic weeds were also calculated on the Oti River Arm of Lake Volta. It was estimated that about US$2.3 million per annum would be lost to the Volta Lake Transport Company and individual boat transport operators if this section of the river were 100% covered by aquatic weeds (water hyacinth and Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell (Salviniaceae)). It was also estimated that US$327,038 was spent annually in monitoring and managing the weeds in the Oti River. Control interventions for aquatic weeds have been implemented in river systems in Ghana. The biological control agents Neochetina bruchi Hustache (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and Neochetina eichhorniae Warner (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) have been used on water hyacinth infestations in the Oti River Arm of Lake Volta, the Tano River and the Lagoon complex in the south-western part of the country. Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been used to control salvinia, and Neohydronomous affinis Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to control water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes Lilmaeus (Araceae) in the Tano River and Lagoon complex. Although these projects have been regarded as successful, they have relied on research from elsewhere in the world and no postrelease quantification has been conducted. In evaluating the impact of the biological control agents Neochetina bruchi and Neochetina eichhorniae weevils on water hyacinth infestations in the Tano River, fresh adult feeding scars were recorded as well as the numbers of adult weevils on each water hyacinth plant sampled at six sites. Despite being released in 1994, weevil numbers and resultant damage to plants in the Tano Lagoon was low in comparison to other regions of the world where these agents have been used. The main reason for this is that this lagoon floods seasonally, washing weevil-infested plants out to sea. Water hyacinth then re-infests the lagoon from seed and the weevil populations are low. To resolve this situation, two courses of action are proposed. The first is to mass rear the weevils along the shore of the lagoon and release them when the first seedlings recruit. The second proposal is that additional agents that have shorter lifecycies and are more mobile than the weevils should be released. To this end, the water hyacinth mirid, Eccritotarsus catarinensis (Carvalho) (Hemiptera: Miridae) was imported from South Africa and released onto the Tano Lagoon in 2009. Retrospective laboratory host specificity trials were conducted on Neachetina eichharniae and Neachetina bruchi weevils 15 years after their release into Ghana to see if any variation in their host ranges had occurred. Considerable damage was inflicted on the E. crassipes leaves by the Neachetina weevils, while little feeding damage was recorded on both Heteranthera callifalia Kunth. (Pontederiaceae) and Eichharnia natans (P.Beauv.) Solms (Pontederiaceae). All the weevils introduced on H callifalia and E. natans died after the first week. This study served to confirm the host specificity and thereby the safety of these agents. Invasive alien aquatic macrophytes have negative impacts on the environment and economy of Ghana. The control of these weeds is essential to socioeconomic development and improved human health standards in riparian communities. Biological control offers a safe and sustainable control option, but requires diligent implementation. However, aquatic weed invasion is more typically a result of the anthropogenically induced eutrophication of water bodies, and this is the main issue that has to be addressed.

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Human Nutrition
Delores H. Chambers
Although consumer emotions have recently become a popular research area in the sensory and consumer sciences, there remains a need for an approach designed to evaluate children’s food emotion experience. The objective of this research was to understand U.S. and Ghanaian children’s emotion responses to food, using words and emojis. In the first part of the research, focus groups were conducted to understand children’s use of emotion words and emojis in response to an array of food consumption experiences, both real and recalled. Through this study, a narrowed list of appropriate words and emojis was identified for further testing with children. This study also revealed that children readily use both emotion words and emojis to characterize their food experiences. The next phase of the research was conducted in three parts, which each included emotion assessments of children’s favorite and disliked foods, as well a common set of eight products selected to elicit a broad range of emotions. First, the emotion set identified in focus group testing was used by children in the United States to assess pictures of foods. The responses from this study were used to further narrow the list of appropriate emojis and emotion words. Second, the reduced emotion set was used by children in the U.S. to assess appearance and post-taste emotions for the products. Finally, a food image test with the reduced emotion set was conducted in Accra, Ghana with schoolchildren. Fielding in Ghana allowed for an exploration of the considerations sensory researchers must make when conducting cross-cultural research with children. Emotion word and emoji usage was similar between U.S. and Ghanaian participants, although some differences were observed. The U.S. studies were compared, revealing the influence of stimulus type on children’s reported emotions. Results from the actual food experiences (appearance, taste) were more positive compared to the evaluation of images. Finally, among Ghanaian and U.S. children, high frequencies of selection for positive emotion words and emojis aligned with a favorite food experience. Overall, this research introduces a new approach to consumer emotion research with children for use both domestically and abroad.

The current global and data intensive outlook of research provides new opportunities and challenges for HEIs including effective and sustainable RDM. As a growing area of interest in the global research arena, experiences from developed countries have dominated the body of literature on RDM. This study is in part, to fill this gap by assessing the state of the art of RDM and institutional preparedness at the University of Ghana (through existing data management activities and capabilities) in order to develop a plan for implementation. The study used a qualitative case study method and gathered data using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data collected. A total of seven respondents (five service providers and two senior researchers) were selected purposively using two sampling techniques ("priori criteria sampling" and snowball sampling). Criteria were set for their inclusion and each respondent provided information about institutional support, capabilities, policies and expectations on RDM. The findings of the study revealed a number of RDM related activities, these include support for collaborative research, support for data analysis and computational science, guidance on RDM and grant applications as well as support for storage and high-speed connectivity to facility the research enterprise at UG. In terms of capabilities, no specific RDM policy was identified, existing infrastructure identified include an HPC cluster, a private cloud facility (HP Cloud Matrix), an Institutional repository (UGSpace), an institutional Google Drive platform, data analysis packages (NVivo and SPSS) and a robust network and security infrastructure. These were not necessarily provisioned for RDM purposes. Also, the findings show that staff do not possess the necessary skills or adequate knowledge to fully support RDM at UG. In terms of the specific objectives of the study, the results of the semi-structured interviews and document analysis provided an understanding of the current situation (i.e. requirements, current activities and capabilities at the UG) which is the first objective of the study. These findings were then benchmarked against the EPSRC policy framework following the outline of the DCC CARDIO Matrix and using the optimal desirable expectation or level of development as the standard for comparison. This was useful in identifying gaps in RDM awareness, support and capabilities at UG which is the second objective of the study. To achieve the third objective, which was identifying priority areas for RDM development, the researcher examined both initial findings (i.e. findings on requirements, current activities and capabilities identified under the first objective as well as the gaps identified in the second objective) and proposed six broad areas where UG must focus its RDM development agenda. Finally, the six broad areas proposed in objective three were further cascaded into a number of specific initiatives and tasks to be implemented. This was done taking cognisance of the potential of current infrastructure, gaps identified in institutional awareness and capabilities as well as essentials for a cultural changed. The study concluded that RDM at the University of Ghana is currently underdeveloped but with immense potential for growth. While a few RDM related activities were identified, existing capabilities were generally found to be inchoate, uncoordinated and not formally instituted. The study recommended six main areas where the UG should focus RDM development, these include: constituting a steering group to spearhead and coordinate RDM development at the UG, developing a coordinated policy framework for RDM at UG, streamlining existing technical infrastructure to support data management requirements, creating opportunities for RDM training and capacity development for professional staff, researchers and students, developing services to support requirements, and exploring internal funding strategies to facilitate RDM development and support at the UG. The study also recommends that the academic community at the UG should be actively engaged throughout the RDM development process as this is critical to ensure that the eventual solutions are fit for purpose and acceptable.
Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Information Science
MIT
Unrestricted

Social science research pinpoints groups at high risk of poverty and illuminates the impact of persistent poverty. However, a perceived lack of commitment by government and other agencies to research, and, neglect of its findings has confounded many social scientists. This study explores anti-poverty policies in a developing country, asking the question: To what extent is research used to inform anti-poverty policy in Ghana? Three further questions inform the answer: • Which factors hinder or facilitate the use of poverty research by policy makers? • How do policy networks facilitate or constrain policy-making? • To what extent has policy transfer influenced anti-poverty policies? Answers to these questions explain the dynamics of the interaction between social scientists and policy makers. The methods used include: • A literature review of the effectiveness or otherwise of evidence based policymaking, policy-making frameworks and anti-poverty policies in Ghana. • In-depth interviews of researchers and policy makers. • Analysis of poverty research in Ghana. The study settled on Ghana because it focuses on poverty through academic and policy research. Social scientists also know little about how researchers and policy makers work together, the barriers to knowledge exchange or factors that might increase researchers ' engagement with policy makers. There was also an opportunity to assess the contribution of researchers to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. The study found evidence of the direct use of research to develop policies in the health, agricultural and technological sectors. There was considerable evidence of the conceptual use of research to enlighten policy makers, facilitated by a network of specialists across government and international agencies. Analysis proved that policy networks helped to spread and exchange knowledge and resources, which contributed to the development of anti-poverty policies in Ghana. However, there was some evidence that International Finance and International Development Agencies imposed anti-poverty policies on the government of Ghana.

Continuous assessment is a major national curriculum innovation in Ghana but has been subject to limited research. Current literature has shown that diagnostic and formative assessments which can be purposes for continuous assessment are powerful in improving student learning and learning outcomes. This study sampled 158 junior secondary science teachers in two education districts in Ghana and surveyed them to determine the status, purpose and quality of continuous assessment in junior secondary science. Interviews with students, teacher educators and education officers, and students' focus group meetings were used to corroborate findings from the teacher survey. A professional learning intervention was then trialled with 97 of the teachers from one education district to improve their assessment practice. Thc intervention comprised an initial one-day workshop followed by school visits by the Researcher to support teachers implement new practices and a further one-day workshop.

Background: Many factors affect whether women will insist that their sexual partners use a condom. This research project will identify some of the predictors of condom use among unmarried women in Ghana, Africa. Methods: This research project evaluated data from the 2008 DHS of women in Ghana, Africa for predictors of condom use among unmarried women. A total of 4,916 women completed the surveys. Of these, 1,966 women were unmarried. The research project employed multiple logistic regression analysis to determine condom use predictors at the time of the last sexual encounter for these 1,966 unmarried women. Results: Women with a secondary education or beyond were 3.2 (95% CI=2-5.2) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women with a primary education or less. Women ages 15-24 were 5.3 (95% CI=2.5-11.3) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women ages 35-49. Women ages 25-34 were not significantly different than the women ages 35-49. Women living in an urban area were 1.8 (95% CI=1.3-2.5) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women living in a rural area. Women with a higher level of literacy (could read a full sentence) were 3.6 (95% CI=2.5-5.1) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women with a lower level of literacy (were unable to read a full sentence). And in concert, women who read a newspaper or a magazine once a week or more were 2.4 (95% CI=1.6-3.5) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women who read a news paper or a magazine less than once a week. Similarly, women who watched television once a week or more were 2.9 (95%CI= 1.9-4.3) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women who watched less than once a week. Women who were determined to have “excellent” knowledge about HIV were 5.8 (95% CI=1.5-22.3) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women who were determined to have “fair or poor” knowledge. The results for women with a “good” knowledge were not significantly different than for those with “fair or poor” knowledge. Women who were determined, through a series of questions about wife beating, to have a low tolerance for abuse towards women (“strong” attitude about domestic violence/women’s rights) were 1.8 (95% CI=1.2-2.7) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom than women who were determined to have a high tolerance for abuse towards women (“poor” attitude about domestic violence/women’s rights). Results for women with a “fair” attitude were not significantly different from those with a “poor” attitude. Total life time sexual partners, frequency of listening to the radio, and interestingly, access to condoms did not significantly affect condom use. After multivariate adjustment, the significant predictors of condom use at the time of last sexual encounter were age, literacy, and amount of television watched. The results were: women age 15-24 (compared to women ages 35-49), women who could read a full sentence, and women who watched television once a week or more were 3.7 (95% CI=1.7-8.1), 2.1 (95% CI=1.4-3.3), and 1.8 (95% CI=1.2-2.8) times more likely to have insisted on the use of a condom during their last sexual encounter, respectively. Conclusion: Education, age, locality, literacy, media exposure (through reading the news paper or a magazine and watching television), knowledge about HIV, and attitude about domestic were predictors of condom use by the sexual partner of unmarried Ghanaian women at the time of last sexual encounter. After multivariate adjustment, only age, literacy, and amount of television watched were significant predictors of condom use at the time of the last sexual encounter.

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-174).
In an era where knowledge is increasingly seen as an organization’s most valuable asset, many firms have implemented knowledge-management systems in an effort to capture, store, and disseminate knowledge across the firm. The creation and transfer of knowledge in an organization has become a critical factor in an organization’s success and competitiveness.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana was introduced to alleviate the problem of citizens having to pay for healthcare at the point of delivery, given that many did not have the financial resources needed to do so, and as such were unable to adequately access healthcare services. The scheme is managed from the national headquarters in the capital Accra, through satellite offices located in districts right across the length and breadth of the country. It is the job of these offices to oversee the operations of the scheme within that particular district. Current literature however shows us that there is a digital divide that exists between the rural and urban areas of the country which has led to differences in the management of information within urban-based and rural-based districts. This thesis reviews the variables affecting the management of information within the scheme, and proposes an information management model to eliminate identified bottlenecks in the current information management model. The thesis begins by reviewing the theory of health insurance, information management and then finally the rural-urban digital divide. In addition to semi-structured interviews with key personnel within the scheme and observation, a survey questionnaire was also handed out to staff in nine different district schemes to obtain the raw data for this study. In identifying any issues with the current information management system, a comparative analysis was made between the current information management model and the real-world system in place to determine the changes needed to improve the current information management system in the NHIS. The changes discovered formed an input into developing the proposed information management system with the assistance of Natural Conceptual Modelling Language (NCML). The use of a mixed methodology in conducting the study, in addition to the employment of NCML was an innovation, and is the first of its kind in studying the NHIS in Ghana. This study is also the first to look at the differences in information management within the NHIS given the rural-urban digital divide.

The objective of this qualitative longitudinal study was to assess stakeholder perceptions after one year of a new school feeding program to contrast and compare to pre-program expectations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using questions reviewed by an in-country collaborator for cultural sensitivity and appropriateness. Follow up questions were determined from participant response. The interviews were analyzed by performing content analysis using open and axial coding to find key concepts in the data. The results showed the school feeding program met stakeholder expectations regarding reduction in absenteeism and truancy, improving classroom behavior and increasing enrollment as well as relieving short term hunger. The stakeholders also reported unexpected improvements in behavior of the child at home, increased disposable income, and extra meals being served at home.

This study undertook a critical examination of developing countries’ experiences of infrastructure-related construction dispute resolution using Ghana as a case study. It investigated the dispute resolution processes and procedures which parties to infrastructure construction disputes employed to address such disputes. To gain a better understanding of the dispute resolution processes, the study also assessed the legal framework for procurement and contract formation and other contextual issues which influenced parties’ dispute resolution choices. Consequently, strategies for efficient and effective dispute resolution were developed. The main rationale for the study was the need for effective and efficient dispute resolution processes in the context of infrastructure projects in developing countries. The literature indicated that disputes often occurred on such projects in developing countries that were resolved at great cost mainly by arbitral tribunals in the developed world. However, there was limited information on the extent to which other dispute resolution mechanisms were utilised prior to resort to international arbitration. The study adopted a qualitative research approach informed by the interpretivist philosophical paradigm. Data was collected from fifty-six interviewees from the State as the Employer and foreign contractors through semi-structured interviews and documents and analysed using qualitative data analysis procedures associated with grounded theory research such as coding, constant comparison, memoing and diagramming, and doctrinal legal analysis. It was found that engineer’s determination, negotiation and international arbitration were the most used dispute resolution mechanisms. Others such as mediation were rarely used. The dispute resolution processes were characterised by high cost, low satisfaction with outcomes and negative effect on relationships. It was also found that the extant dispute resolution processes were the product of the nature of the parties, the context in which they operated and their responses to the context. Factors such as lack of coordination among the Employer’s sub-units, human resource constraints and political interference had varying negative impacts on dispute occurrence, dispute resolution system design and the dispute resolution processes. To deal with these challenges and achieve efficient and effective dispute resolution processes, four sets of remedial strategies (condensed into a model called the Dispute Resolution Efficiency Cycle (DREC)) were proposed. The study has provided empirical evidence which has addressed some of the gaps identified in the literature on issues such as absence of information on pre-international arbitration dispute processes. The study has also highlighted the impact of context and dispute system design on dispute resolution. Contributions to practice included diagnosing challenges with the extant dispute resolution processes and proposing possible remedial strategies.

At present, in Adansi and Daboase, two rural communities in Western Ghana, changes are both internally and externally driven. Combined with ongoing negotiations of authority, landownership, history, tradition and culture, the interconnectedness of these areas shapes the realities of these communities. This thesis investigates these land-related conflicts and authority negotiations from a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Inspired by action-oriented research, the lives of local residents are investigated and attempted to be understood through their own explanations.  Four months of internship with an oil palm and rubber plantation company, focus groups and semi-structured interviews in two local communities to the plantation, lay the foundation of this thesis. It shows an intimate connection between landownership and resource rights, and history, heritage and traditional authority.Land is key to power or a secured future for one’s family, which makes it an inflamed topic. Landownership and the underlying negotiations are crucial to the understanding of what occupies many local residents in a setting of globalised markets. The thesis points to gaps of understanding and varying interests in-between government, external actors, chieftaincy and community members. Thorough consultation process procedures prior to projects in rural communities are proposed. The project adds to a larger discussion on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, local knowledge and experiences on land conflicts, and post-colonial settings in Ghana.

Background: The importance of tackling economic, social and health-related inequities is increasingly accepted as a core concern for the post-Millennium Development Goal framework. However, there is a global dearth of high-quality, policy-relevant and actionable data on inequities within populations, which means that development solutions seldom focus on the people who need them most. INTREC (INDEPTH Training and Research Centres of Excellence) was established with this concern in mind. It aims to provide training for researchers from the INDEPTH network on associations between health inequities, the social determinants of health (SDH), and health outcomes, and on presenting their findings in a usable form to policy makers. Objective: As part of a baseline situation analysis for INTREC, this paper assesses the current status of SDH training in three of the African INTREC countries - Ghana, Tanzania, and South Africa - as well as the gaps, barriers, and opportunities for training. Methods: SDH-related courses from the three countries were identified through personal knowledge of the researchers, supplemented by snowballing and online searches. Interviews were also conducted with, among others, academics engaged in SDH and public health training in order to provide context and complementary material. Information regarding access to the Internet, as a possible INTREC teaching medium, was gathered in each country through online searches. Results: SDH-relevant training is available, but 1) the number of places available for students is limited; 2) the training tends to be public-health-oriented rather than inclusive of the broader, multi-sectoral issues associated with SDH; and 3) insufficient funding places limitations on both students and on the training institutions themselves, thereby affecting participation and quality. We also identified rapidly expanding Internet connectivity in all three countries, which opens up opportunities for e-learning on SDH, though the current quality of the Internet services remains mixed. Conclusions: SDH training is currently in short supply, and there is a clear role for INTREC to contribute to the training of a critical mass of African researchers on the topic. This work will be accomplished most effectively by building on pre-existing networks, institutions, and methods.

This thesis has two main objectives. First, it investigates how social support relationships - embedded within kinship systems, friendship networks and associational groups - contribute to the wellbeing of cash transfer beneficiaries in two urban districts in Ghana. Second, it explores how a formal social protection programme affects the wellbeing of beneficiaries both directly and indirectly via its effect on these other support relationships. The thesis takes the Ghana Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme as a case study, examining how it is implemented in practice within an urban setting, and how social support relationships influence its effect on the wellbeing of cash recipients. Throughout this thesis wellbeing is used as a discursive space for looking at the often neglected non-material dimensions of wellbeing. In particular, it takes a relational wellbeing approach which emphasises how material, emotional and cognitive dimensions of wellbeing are embedded in social relationships. It uses a Qualitative Longitudinal Research (QLR) approach, complemented by a qualitative social network analysis to map the constellation of relationships on which urban recipients of LEAP transfers rely, and to explore the motivations and rationalities underpinning them. The findings of the thesis add to existing research on social relationships and cash transfers in Africa by extending the analysis to a contemporary urban context. They challenge the assumption that urban residents can draw upon a vibrant support system, by finding that such relationships can be unreliable, provide inadequate support and can be associated with exclusion and marginalization. In addition, the thesis finds that norms underpinning support relationships are constantly being reshaped and challenged. The thesis also highlights the important but diverse effects that formal social protection programmes can have on material, emotional and cognitive wellbeing of recipients, both directly and indirectly via their effect on other significant social relationships of beneficiaries.

Because of an increase in food insecurity over the past decade, the U.S. and many developing countries are focusing efforts on issues relating to child hunger. School feeding programs have been in existence for roughly 220 years but modifications have been made over the years to improve the quality of food they serve. Little research has been conducted about adult perceptions of school feeding programs and the impact it has on the community in the U.S. as well as developing countries such as Ghana, West Africa. Because of the gap in literature on school feeding programs and adult perceptions about school feeding programs, the purpose of this study was to examine adult perspectives on school feeding programs in the U.S. and Ghana rural, mountainous communities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in two communities with similar community characteristics. Semi-structured interviews examined adult perceptions regarding school feeding impact on kindergarten student attendance, learning, behavior and community impact. The sample size for this study was N=41. Grounded theory provided the framework for data analysis from which a paradigm model was developed. This paradigm model provides a visual representation of the relationships among causal conditions, phenomenon, context, intervening conditions, action/interaction strategies and consequences.

Ghana, a low-income developing country in sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing low maternal health service utilization and high rates of maternal mortality, especially in the rural areas. The Talensi-Nabdam District is one of the poorest and most remote districts in Ghana. The reproductive health status of women in the most remote communities in this District is poor. Dialogue about women’s reproductive health care needs in Ghana have been influenced by health care authorities, professionals, researchers and experts’ perceptions. The purpose of this ethnographic research was to explore rural Ghanaian women’s experiences of seeking reproductive health care from their own perspectives. The study was based on data collected from participant observations, unstructured face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 27 women of varying socio-demographic backgrounds participated in the study. Interviews were conducted at locations of the women’s choice and in women’s local dialect. Data were translated and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Four major themes emerged from the findings: submitting to the voices of family, women’s experiences of receiving nursing care, the community of gossip, and gaining voice. The findings of this study have implications for nursing practice, education and nursing inquiry. Awareness of barriers that rural women encounter in meeting their reproductive health care needs among health care providers is important in facilitating positive health care seeking behaviours. Nurse educators should orient themselves to the challenges to meeting women’s health care needs, and include in culturally sensitive approaches in nursing education programs. Further research is needed to investigate strategies that will enhance women’s reproductive health care seeking behaviours in rural settings and to focus on women’s perspectives in particular. In addition, research is needed to examine nurses’ perspectives on factors that influence quality care delivery to address women’s reproductive health issues.

Yes
Research ethics review by ethics committees has grown in importance since the end of the Nuremberg trials in 1949. However, ethics committees have come under increasing criticisms either for been ‘toothless or too fierce’ (Fistein & Quilligan, 2012:224). This paper presents a personal account of my experience in obtaining ethical approval for my PhD study from a UK university and the ethical dilemmas encountered in the fieldwork in Ghana. In this paper I question whether strict adherence to ethical guidelines developed from western perspectives is useful in conducting research in non-western societies. As more academics are increasingly been mandated to undertake international research, the paper argues for more flexibility in the ethical approval process to accommodate cultural differences.

The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of nurses regarding ethico-legal training in Ghana. The study further determined whether there were any discrepancies regarding ethico-legal training of nurses in Ghana, using six hospitals in the Upper West Region (Province). Data were collected through a quantitative, cross sectional research design. Out of 150 people constituting the study population, a sample size of 110 respondents was drawn. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data. Nurses who have been in practice for at least five years answered the questionnaires. The convenience sampling technique was found to be appropriate for this study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The findings revealed that although ethico-legal topics were contained in the nursing training curriculum, majority of nurses did not receive teaching/training on them, making nurses vulnerable to litigation.
Health Studies
M. A. (Nursing Science)

This thesis consists of two parts. The first is a children's book titled "Son Of Two Tribes". The second part is this document which traces the two and a half year research journey taken by the author and subject in writing this book. This work is a marriage of images and text. "Son Of Two Tribes" and the accompanying research journey focus on the cultural heritage of one small child, Luther Tettevi. Luther is a member of two tribes, the Dakelh' ne First Nations in Northern British Columbia and the Anlo Ewe in Southern Ghana. The book and journey explore the untouched heritages of both tribes, when Luther's ancestors on both continents were living in harmony with nature. The European invasion of each tribal homeland is uncovered and issues such as slavery, residential schools and the Sixties' Scoop are explored as they directly impacted this child's family history. Images of First Nations and African people portrayed in the media are discussed and exposed visually. This work concludes with a discussion about the process of rebuilding, after a troubled past and the strength within this family to endure and survive.

This study explores the interactive process between decentralized structures and traditional authorities in Wenchi district, with a view to generating lessons and insights that can guide the recommendation of a more appropriate decentralization framework to tap the strengths of traditional authorities towards accelerated rural development. Within the framework of action research methodology, mixed-methods were used to triangulate findings and enhance research rigour. Specific methods employed were focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), and observation, complemented by context analyses of relevant documents. It was found that the interactive processes between traditional authorities and decentralized structures are characterized mainly by competition for power and legitimacy, leading to mistrust and an inability to take advantage of the synergy effect between the two systems of local governance in accomplishing accelerated rural development. Key recommendations are that traditional authorities should not be fused with the decentralized structures, but should remain as countervailing institutions to check the misuse of power by the decentralized structures. However, traditional authorities should be given the ceremonial role of the right to address meetings of the District Assembly and the Area Councils. Additionally, chiefs should be given the chance to nominate at least two people onto the Unit Committees.
Development Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

Financial exclusion is a major developmental problem. Perception has it that financial exclusion emanates from the lack of access to banking and financial services, and the general understanding is that ICT-based access to such services is the solution. In this research, which was undertaken in Ghana, Critical Realism (CR) revealed deeper causes (generative mechanisms) that underlie financial exclusion. The research followed a mixed-method approach. The CR approach guided the research to create an initial model from which hypotheses were deduced and tested; the design science approach, guided the research to create the design theory and an instantiation of an application that uses the design theory; and the quantitative method, was used to evaluate the hypotheses. CR revealed how, in a credit economy, people have a need for credit to pursue business or education opportunities. The generative mechanisms identified have revealed how the credit market for the unbanked includes the reality that a wellfunctioning credit market is self-sustaining with two mechanisms: signalling and adoption. The signalling mechanism facilitates users’ access to credit, which they in turn are able to spend on more services. On the other hand, the adoption mechanism enables the development of more services making the market more valuable, thus attracting more users in a self-feeding loop. The key findings suggest that being banked does not necessarily lead to financial inclusion and financial wellbeing. Transactional banking only serves as an "enrichment agenda for the banks", with minimal benefit to the people. There are also other non-financial technologies such as sharing and social technologies that have an effect on the provision of credit; in addition to their main purpose of saving and/or earning income, for the unbanked, by sharing resources. In Ghana, despite having bank accounts, most of the banked do not use them, because of cost and inappropriate services. This research reveals that the unexamined notion of being banked as a fundamental requirement for financial inclusion may require further investigation. The research has found that the unbanked keeping to themselves and the use of cash creates anonymity and makes them invisible to formal financial institutions, who prefer identity over anonymity, thus contributing to their financial exclusion. The following design needs were identified: inexpensive credit and value-added services such as saving groups, financial accounting services, service to report delinquent customers and education. The research offers a conceptualization of a financial inclusion ICT artefact to draw attention to the multifaceted and complex environment financial inclusion effort is immersed. This calls for an integrated approach since the issues with financial exclusion extend beyond financials and have an effect on the broader society. The research, therefore, proposes a substantive framework for improving the design and development of financial inclusive systems, which helps build trust using obligation transactions. It offers an approach to computing an individual’s financial inclusiveness, which also helps safeguard his/her financial wellbeing. The thesis makes a contribution to Information Systems theory in proposing a framework on financial inclusion using ICT. The contribution to practice is the design of an ICT artefact.
School of Computing
Ph. D. (Computer Science)

Libraries, particularly academic libraries implement technologies to enhance their services to promote teaching, learning and research. In this thesis the impact of information technologies (library technologies) on delivery of services at the Balme Library of the University of Ghana was evaluated. The researcher adopted the multi-methods approach to the research by using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from users (students) of the library and para-professional staff of the Balme Library of the University of Ghana who formed one group of the study. The interview was used to collect data form professional staff of the library who on the other hand formed the second group of the study. Responses of the data collected from the two groups formed the components of the study and data collected quantitatively were analysed using univariate analysis method and interpreted by the descriptive and inferential statistics method. The qualitative data, on the other hand, was analysed using the narrative analysis approach. The findings of the study reveal that a variety of IT facilities such as computers, internet, photocopiers, scanners, braille embossers, magnifiers for reading, reference management software, video conference facility, electronic theses, electronic databases, automated library system, electronic past questions and the library website are available at the library and are very accessible to all users (students) and staff of the library. Students and staff of the library have good IT skills to utilise those resources. The findings also reveal that the IT infrastructure had positive impacts on the delivery of library services ensuring that users received the appropriate services they needed at the right times and places The study found challenges of slow internet connectivity, unstable power supply, lack of IT skills, inadequate IT infrastructure among others and these hinder the maximum utilisation of IT in and out of the library and recommends periodic training of staff and users, proper maintenance of facilities, increase of internet bandwidth and better marketing of library services
Information Science
M. Inf. (Information Science)

Abstract is in English, Zulu and Xhosa
In Ghanaian primary schools, music is a compulsory study area which is taught by generalist teachers. However, information is deficient on the strategies teachers use to implement the music curriculum. The aim of this study was to determine how teachers organise musical learning experiences in terms of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) for lower primary school pupils. DAP is an educational concept which refers to teaching strategies that consider children’s age, abilities, interests and experiences, to help them achieve challenging and achievable goals. The study was underpinned by the concept of teaching within the context of constructivist theory. Qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and ethnographic research methods were used to find answers to the research questions. Data were collected by means of observations, interviews and document analysis. Singing, movements and the playing of improvised instruments (although they constitute only a part of the planned music curriculum in the Creative Arts syllabus) dominate the music activities provided in the schools. In fact, unplanned music activities dominate planned music lessons due to teachers’ perceived lack of adequate training to teach music, the non-application of ICT in teaching, a lack of teaching and learning materials, unsuitable physical conditions for teaching, lack of motivation and support to teach, and lack of time to teach music because of the emphasis on meeting the targets of teaching and assessment in core subjects. Strategies the teachers adopt to overcome the challenges they encounter in teaching music include collaboration with their colleagues in planning, teaching and integrating music into most classroom activities and drawing on pupils’ expertise in teaching and learning. It is recommended that teachers be given in-service training, that specialist teachers be used, and that adequate teaching and learning materials be provided, as well as support for teachers to integrate ICT in teaching music. Limitations associated with the study make generalisation of the findings impossible. A larger sample from various primary schools within the Ashanti region of Ghana should be considered for further research. Functional integration of music in the other subject areas within the Ghanaian context should also be explored and further studies should be conducted about the application of developmentally appropriate practice in teaching music in the lower-primary classroom.
Ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi zaseGhana, umculo uyindawo eyimpoqo yokufunda efundiswa ngothisha abajwayelekile. Kodwa-ke, ulwazi alwanele ngamasu othisha abawasebenzisayo ukwenza izifundo zomculo. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuthola ukuthi othisha bahlela kanjani amava okufunda omculo ngokwendlela efanelekile yokuthuthuka (NET) yabafundi bezikole zamabanga aphansi. NET ingumqondo wezemfundo obhekisa kumasu okufundisa abheka iminyaka yezingane, amakhono, izintshisekelo kanye nezipiliyoni ezithile, ukuzisiza ukuthi zifeze izinhloso eziyinselele futhi ezingafinyeleleka.Ucwaningo lwalusekelwa ngumqondo wokufundisa ngokwengqikithi yethiyori yokwakha. Ukuhlaziywa Okufanelekile Kokuhunyushelwa Kokubukeka Kwabantu nezindlela zokucwaninga ngobuzwe zisetshenzisiwe ukuthola izimpendulo zemibuzo yocwaningo. Kuye kwaqoqwa imininingwane yolwazi ngokubheka okwenzekayo, izinhlolokhono kanye nokuhlaziywa kwemibhalo. Ukucula, ukunyakaza nokudlalwa kwezinsimbi ezithuthukisiwe (yize ziyingxenye nje kuphela zekharikhulamu yomculo ehleliwe kusilabhasi Yezobuciko Bokuzenzela) kulawula imisebenzi yomculo enikezwe ezikoleni. Empeleni, imisebenzi yomculo engahlelwanga ilawula izifundo zomculo ezihleliwe ngenxa yokungabi bikho kothisha abaqeqeshwe ngokwanele ukufundisa umculo, ukungasetshenziswa kwe- ICT/Ezobuchwepheshe ekufundiseni, ukuntuleka kwezinto zokufundisa nokufunda, izimo ezzibambekayo ezingafanelekile zokufundisa, ukungabi nogqozi nokusekelwa ekufundiseni, nokungabi nesikhathi sokufundisa umculo ngenxa yokugcizelelwa ekuhlangabezaneni nezinhloso zokufundisa nokuhlola ezifundweni ezibalulekile. Amasu othisha abawasebenzisayo ukunqoba izinselelo abahlangabezana nazo ekufundiseni umculo kufaka phakathi ukusebenzisana nozakwabo ekuhleleni, ukufundisa nokuhlanganisa umculo emisebenzini eminingi yasekilasini nokudweba ubuchwepheshe babafundi ekufundiseni nasekufundeni. Kunconywa ukuthi othisha banikezwe ukuqeqeshwa emsebenzini, ukuthi kusetshenziswe othisha abangochwepheshe, nokuthi kuhlinzekwe ngezinto ezanele zokufundisa nokufunda, kanye nokuxhaswa kothisha ukuze bahlanganise i-ICT/Ezobuchwepheshe ekufundiseni umculo. Ukulinganiselwa okuhambisana nesifundo kwenza ukuthi okwenziwa jikelele kokutholakale kungenzeki. Isampula elikhudlwana elivela ezikoleni ezahlukahlukene zamabanga aphansi esifundeni sase-Ashanti eGhana kufanele licatshangwe ukuqhubeka nocwaningo. Ukuhlanganiswa kokusebenza komculo kwezinye izindawo ezingaphansi komongo waseGhana nakho kufanele kuhlolwe futhi kufanele kuqhutshekwe nezifundo ezimayelana nokusetshenziswa kwenqubo efanelekile yentuthuko ekufundiseni umculo ekilasini lamabanga aphansi.
Kwizikolo zaseGhana zamabanga asezantsi, kusisinyanzelo ukufundisa umculo, kwaye oku kwenziwa ngabafundisi ntsapho okanye ootitshala abafundisa yonke into. Noxa kunjalo, akukho lwazi lwaneleyo ngamacebo asetyenziswa ziititshala ekufundiseni ikharityhulam yomculo. Injongo yesi sifundo kukuqwalasela ukuba iititshala zikulungiselela njani ukufundisa ngendlela yophuhliso olufanelekileyo (iDAP) kumabanga asezantsi. Le DAP nesisishunqulelo sesiNgesi sebinza elithi developmentally appropriate practice, yingcinga yezemfundo emalunga namacebo okufundisa athathela ingqalelo ubudala bomntwana, izinto akwaziyo ukuzenza, umdla namava akhe, ukuze ancedwe ekufezekiseni iinjongo ezicela umngeni nezinokufikeleleka. Esi sifundo sisekelwe yingcinga yokufundisa ephuma kwimeko yengcingane yokuzakhela ulwazi. Iimpendulo zophando zifunyenwe ngokusebenzisa iindlela zophando ngokuxoxa nokutolika iimeko ezahlukeneyo (Qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) kunye nokuqwalasela inkcubeko. Iinkcukacha zolwazi okanye idatha, ziqokelelwe ngokujonga okuqhubekayo, udliwano ndlebe nokuphengulula imibhalo ekhoyo. Ukucula, ukushukuma nokudlala izixhobo zomculo ezingoozenzele (nangona ziyinxalenye yekharityhulam ecetywayo yobuGcisa Bokuzenzela) kudlala indima eyongameleyo kwimisebenzi yomculo eyenziwa ezikolweni. Xa sithetha inyaniso, into eyenzekayo ekufundiseni umculo yimisebenzi engacetywanga ezifundweni ngenxa yokuba ootitshala abaqeqeshekanga kakuhle ekufundiseni umculo, abusetyenziswa ubuchwepheshe ekufundiseni umculo, azikho izixhobo zokufundisa nokufunda umculo, iindawo ekufundiselwa kuzo azifanelekanga, inkxaso nenkuthazo yokufundisa umculo iyasilela kwaye lincinci ixesha lokufundisa umculo ngenxa yokuleqa ukufezekisa imiqathango yokufundisa nokuhlola kwizifundo ezingoondoqo. Ekulweni nemingeni yokufundisa umculo, ootitshala babhenela ekusebenzisaneni nabanye ekwenzeni amacebo okufundisa nokubandakanya umculo kwimisebenzi yeklasi nasekusebenziseni ulwazi lwabafundi. Kucetyiswa ukuba ootitshala bafumane uqeqesho lo gama besebenza, kusetyenziswe ootitshala abaziingcali zomculo kwaye kufumaneke izixhobo ezifanelekileyo zokufundisa nokufunda, kuxhaswe ootitshala ekusebenziseni ubuchwepheshe xa befundisa umculo. Ukunqaba kolwazi okungqonge esi sifundo kwenza kube nzima ukugqiba jikelele ngokufunyanisiweyo. Mhlawumbi kunokuthathwa isampulu yophando enkulu kwingingqi yaseAshanti eGhana ukuze kwandiswe olu phando. Okunye okunokwenziwa kukuhlanganisa umculo nezinye izifundo ngokwemeko yaseGhana, kwaye kufuneka kuqhutywe izifundo ezithe chatha malunga nokusebenzisa iindlela zokufundisa ezinophuhliso olufanelekileyo ekufundiseni umculo kwiklasi yamabanga asezantsi.
Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology
Ph D. (Music)

The pressure on the public agricultural extension organisation in Ghana to improve its responsiveness to meet the needs of farmers has increased since the globalisation of trade in the early 1990s. To improve agricultural productivity and the livelihood security of farm households, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana decentralised its extension service in 1997. Although this was a critical change in agricultural policy, the extension service has struggled to implement this policy effectively. Further improvement in the situation is hampered because there has been little research published in this area. To provide this understanding, a single-case study of a successful decentralised district level extension organisation in Ghana was used to identify the factors, processes and outcomes that contribute to its performance. The case organisation is an example of a district agricultural extension organisation that operates under a decentralisation system at the level of deconcentration, with a high farmer-to-extension agent ratio and limited and uncertain levels of Government funding. The results of the study emphasised the importance of the effects of both external and internal (or organisational) factors on the performance of the case organisation. The external factors included: (1) the political will to decentralise, (2) the level of decentralisation of other government departments, (3) the provision of a clear legal framework for decentralisation and (4) the existence of established institutions that are willing to support the decentralisation process. New external factors that were identified in this study were (1) the type and drivers of decentralisation, (2) stakeholders' willingness and commitment to support the decentralisation process and (3) the community characteristics in terms of land tenure arrangements and gender roles. The results confirmed the importance of the organisational factors prescribed in the literature: (1) stakeholder participation, (2) managerial and technical capacity, (3) operational funding and (4) accountability. However, the study also identified five other interrelated organisational factors that influenced the success of the case organisation that had not been previously reported in the literature. These included the needs to: (1) develop a needs-based extension programme, (2) expand the extension service focus and roles, (3) foster a cross-sector pluralistic extension approach (4) use needs-based groups for service delivery, and (5) extension staff attitudinal change. Multistakeholder (farmer and other organisations) participation was critical for the development of a needs-based extension programme. The case organisation had modified the traditional extension programme planning process to involve stakeholders at different levels of participation. Similarly, the case organisation involved stakeholders in its multilevel monitoring and evaluation processes. Stakeholder participation in planning and evaluation, although aimed ultimately at efficient and effective programme implementation and improvement, did enhance accountability. Because the case organisation had taken on a broader livelihood security focus to extension, the definition of farmer needs was extended to encompass on-farm and off-farm needs that have impact on the contribution agriculture makes to the livelihood security of farm households in the district. This broader livelihood security focus to extension required the case organisation to take on additional roles from those it traditionally held. In the study, a typology of such roles was developed and a role selection process used by the case organisation during its programme planning process was described. Similarly, because of this broader focus, the case organisation had to work both across sectors and with other extension providers from within the sector to meet the needs of farmers. Again, the multistakeholder programme planning process was central to fostering coordination and collaboration amongst the various extension providers in the district. Decentralisation has placed greater managerial responsibility on management staff of the case organisation. In addition, the livelihood security focus has required technical staff and attitudinal changes to develop and seek for a much broader range of skills and knowledge - meaning that the development of both managerial and technical capacity was important for the case organisation. Needs-based training, the development of a learning environment and the enhancement of staff motivation were critical for the development of staff capacity. As with other extension organisations in developing countries, the funding for the case organisation was limited and uncertain. To overcome these constraints, the case organisation had in place mechanisms to ensure its resources were used efficiently and that it could mobilise additional resources from outside the organisation. Resource efficiency was improved through an intensive monitoring system and the use of stable needs-based groups. Additional resources were mobilised by lobbying government and international donors for funds for projects that would meet the needs of farmers. Further resources were obtained through collaboration with other stakeholder organisations. Again, the multistakeholder planning process provided a platform for collaboration. Networking and special issue forums also provided mechanisms for enhancing collaboration within the district. Decentralisation was introduced into Ghana in 1997 with the aim of eventually developing a demand-driven extension system. Although viewed as successful, the case organisation has yet to achieve the level of farmer participation (i.e. self-mobilisation) that is required for a demand-driven extension system. Currently, after six years of decentralisation, the level of farmer participation can be classified as somewhere between consultation and collaboration. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the transition from a top-down to a demand-driven extension system will take considerable time and resources.

碩士
國立臺南大學
台灣文化研究所
94
The Research on Civilian Faith in Ghara Bodhisattva in Taiwan Instructor: Pro. Tai, Wen-Feng Student: Hsu, Hung-Chuan Abstract Based on the experience from field surveys, this thesis mainly discusses the features of civilian faith in Ghara Bodhisattva, and clarifies the implication of this traditional worship through splendid temple fairs and rituals. The word “Ghara”, derived from Buddhism, is the shortened form of “Samgharama” in Sanskrit and meant “Chung Yuan” or “Sen Yuan” in Chinese. It originally refers to the houses or courtyards where the Buddhist monks live, and then comes to all the temples comprising lands and buildings, a nickname for temples of Buddhism. Therefore, the god guarding the temple is known as Ghara Bodhisattva. According to the Buddhist Scriptures, there are 18 Ghara Bodhisattvas. But in China, the local god of land is seen as Ghara Bodhisattva by some temples, or the image of a specific human soul is seen as Ghara Bodhisattva by a certain temple. In this case, Kuan Yu is so popular that most of the temples in Taiwan take his image as the Ghara Bodhisattva. However, instead of Kuan Yu, the Ghara Bodhisattvas worshiped by the civilian population in Taiwan are some gods of civilian worship, who can be classified as city god, accounting god, land guardian and temple guardian according to their functions. Now, in Taiwan, there are only five temples worshiping Ghara Bodhisattva as the main deity. Built in the Ching dynasty, the five temples are respectively located at Yanshuei Township of Tainan County, Pizihtou of Baihe Township, Piliao and Tiesianciao of Sinying City as well as Siluo Township of Yunlin County. Except the Ghara Bodhisattva of Tiesianciao, who comes from the Temple of City God in Tainan, all the Ghara Bodhisattvas come from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou of Fujian, China. In addition to those, another Ghara Bodhisattva feted in turn by Jiaosiou, Wushantou, Duzihtou, Sinjhong of Guantian Township, Tainan County and Jhouzih of Siaying Township is said to have been sculptured from the charm brought overseas from Zhangzhou by the five brothers with the surname of “Hu”. Held annually in the first month of the lunar calendar since 1956, the parade of the five-village itinerant ritual is the most dynamic activity of the civilian faith in Ghara Bodhisattva and the microcosmic object of this research. The results of this research show that the Ghara Bodhisattva in Taiwan can illustrate a deity who is neither Kuan Yu nor Buddhist Samgharama protective god, but a god worshiped only by the civilian population, through their differences in originations, names, images, birthday celebrations and functions. Although the word “Ghara” is derived from Buddhism and there are 18 Ghara Bodhisattvas, some ancient saints, wise men, scholars and Confucians are apotheosized in China. Consequently, the Ghara Bodhisattvas in some specific temples are of Confucianism, while the actual worship and rituals are carried out according to the Taoist patterns. Therefore, the Ghara Bodhisattva in Taiwan has Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist features at one time. This thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter I is the introduction, presenting research motivation, purpose, scope and method. Chapter II is the elaboration on “Ghara”, mainly discussing the origination and evolution of the word “Ghara”. Chapter III focuses on the Temple of Ghara Bodhisattva, mainly discussing its history and rituals as well as Ghara Bodhisattva’s divinity and function. Chapter IV analyzes and compares the characteristics of the civilian faith in Ghara Bodhisattva. And Chapter V draws conclusions from the findings above. Keywords: Ghara Bodhisattva, five-village itinerant ritual, proactive god

Herbal medicines remain integral part of indigenous health care system in Ghana. Most conventional health medicines are directly or indirectly derived from plants or herbs. Despite its significant role in modern medicine indigenous herbal practices has been on the low light for some time due to perceived antagonistic relationship that exists between practitioners of herbal medicine and their counterpart in the conventional system. Using an indigenous knowledge discursive framework, the thesis examined the relevance of herbal medicine to the contemporary Ghanaian society. The thesis also examined the tension between the indigenous herbal practitioners and their orthodox counterparts. The thesis noted that for health care system in Ghana to be effective, there is a need for collaborate relations between these two practitioners. Also, it was noted that for health care system to be effective in Ghana, spirituality has to be central in the works of the herbal practitioners.