Academic literature on the topic 'Music in education – Ghana – Ashanti Region'

In this study, the authors explored the level of awareness and views on the activity-based approach to teaching and learning (ABTLA) in enhancing skills, competency, and academic performance among students and other stakeholders from Senior High Schools (SHS) and Colleges of Education (COE) in Barekese District of Ashanti Region of Ghana. A survey involving 510 various stakeholders was conducted within the Barekese District of Ashanti Region of Ghana, using sets of a self-administered structured questionnaire. The study revealed that the Ghanaian stakeholders of the second cycle and COEs are highly aware of ABTLA and its potency for enhancing skills, competency, and academic performance among students. Policy implications and further future research directions were provided.

Education reform has led to the replacement of public senior high schools by the governing council, which is responsible for handling and managing the flow of resources in Ghana. Notwithstanding these lawful necessities and government financial provision for schools, it is unfortunate that poor facilities, poor performance and low morale among both teaching and non-teaching staff continue to impede the academic achievement of most Ghanaian public Senior high schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Board of Management (BOM) in financial and human resource management in Ashanti region of Ghana. This research adopted descriptive survey design. Thirty-five headmasters and 215 BOM participants from 35 public senior high schools in Ashanti region, Ghana contributed in the study. Using representative survey questionnaire, data were gathered. The study established that, in supervising and managing financial activities in the sampled schools, the BOM was not up to task. Nevertheless, it was observed that, BOM were efficient in managing human resources and its related activities. The study proposes that, the Ministry of Education develop a strategy or framework that obligates the government to provide BOM members with functional training as required by the basic law of education.

In recent times, the significance of Accrual-based Public Sector Accounting Standards (AIPSAS) in financial reporting is gaining momentum and current debates are moving in the trend of full AIPSAS reporting. Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are not let off in this instance. The move to new reporting standards results in numerous challenges for diverse interest groups such accounting practitioners. The main objective of the study was to establish the AIPSAS implementation challenges facing MMDAs in the Ashanti region of Ghana. This quantitative study was conducted to gravely study the factors that could influence the implementation of AIPSAS. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select the departments whilst convenience sampling procedure was also used to select the sample size. A sample of 480 accounting practitioners was selected from all the 30 MMDAs in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Self administered questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. The Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to test the significance level of the AIPSAS implementation factors. The results of the hypotheses tested revealed that with the exception of cultural practices, the level of accounting education and training, different levels of costs and the existing laws have significant effects on the implementation of AIPSAS in the MMDAs in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

AIDS is the late stage of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Even though the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) for the management of HIV/ AIDS has been in existence in Ghana since 2003, there is still limited data on their effectiveness. This study therefore sort to ascertain the effectiveness of HAART used at Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) Centres in the Ashanti region of Ghana by assessing its effects on immunological and haematological markers as well as some significant indicators such as body temperature and blood pressure changes. The study was a retrospective cross sectional study which reviewed medical record folders of 156 HIV infected patients who had attended the selected ART centres in the Ashanti region of Ghana between 2010 and 2014. About 49% of the study population had a significant rise in their CD4 counts after six months strict adherence to specific HAART regimen. HAART effectively reduced viral loads and increased CD4 counts in most of the patients whose medical record folders were reviewed. Socioeconomic factors, formal education and lack of health literacy had a significant effect on adherence to the HAART regimen, however; marital status of patients did not have any significant effect on adherence, CD4 counts and the haemoglobin concentration of patients. Based on results obtained from this study, HAART could be considered as effective in the adult population in the Ashanti region of Ghana provided there is a high level of adherence. Immunological and haematological markers for the assessment of effectiveness could also improve with high adherence recommended HAART regimen

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is affected by the type of antibiotics used and how they are handled. The types of antibiotics used by 110 pig farms in the Ashanti region and the handling practices of the farmers during disease management were assessed. Injectable tetracycline, sulphadimidine, benzylpenicillin, and dihydrostreptomycin containing antibiotics were overly used by the farmers especially in the management of diarrhea, rashes, and coughs. Unsafe storage and disposal practices observed among the farms reflected the abysmal knowledge on appropriate use of antibiotics. Misdiagnosis and inadequate protection during antibiotic handling in the farms increased the risk of antibiotic resistance development and spread. The factors affecting antibiotic resistance development and spread are rife in pig farms in Ashanti region and appropriate education and veterinary interventions are needed to prevent resistant bacteria from becoming endemic in pork and pig farm communities.

Background. Neonatal mortality continues to be a public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to assess the maternal, neonatal, and health system related factors that influence neonatal deaths in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Methods. 222 mothers and their babies who were within the first 28 days of life on admission at Mother and Baby unit (MBU) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana, were recruited through systematic random sampling. Data was collected by face to face interviewing using open and closed ended questions. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the influence of proximal and facility related factors on the odds of neonatal death. Results. Out of the 222 mothers, there were 115 (51.8%) whose babies did not survive. Majority, 53.9%, of babies died within 1–4 days, 31.3% within 5–14 days, and 14.8% within 15–28 days. The cause of death included asphyxia, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, infections, and respiratory distress syndrome. Neonatal deaths were influenced by proximal factors (parity, duration of pregnancy, and disease of the mother such as HIV/AIDS), neonatal factors (birth weight, gestational period, sex of baby, and Apgar score), and health related factors (health staff attitude, supervision of delivery, and hours spent at labour ward). Conclusion. This study shows a high level of neonatal deaths in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. This finding suggests the need for health education programmes to improve on awareness of the dangers that can militate against neonatal survival as well as strengthening the health system to support mothers and their babies through pregnancy and delivery and postpartum to help improve child survival.

Coming from Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Kenya, the papers in this Special Issue on Music Education in Africa cannot portray a definitive story of music education in all 54 sovereign states in the Continent, but as a first step towards understanding what matters in this region of the world, the range of topics in this issue provides us with a focal point for dialogue.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the perception and willingness to contribute towards food banking in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.Design/methodology/approachStructured questionnaire was used to elicit primary data for the study from 385 respondents via the multistage sampling approach. The quantile regression model was used to analyse the factors that influence the willingness to contribute towards food banks across quantiles of contribution. Factor analysis was further used to examine the perception of food banking.FindingsGender, education and awareness influence the quantiles of contribution. Gender positively influences contribution at the 0.50 quantile. Education negatively affects contribution at the 0.25 and 0.50 quantiles whereas awareness influences contribution at the 0.75 quantiles. The benefit perception of the user and the social status perception of receiving food from food banks convey a sense of positive knowledge concerning what food banking should entail.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides insights on the determinants affecting the contribution towards food banking across quantiles of contribution. However, it worth noting that, the study uses cross-sectional data which fail to account for the changes over time. A Longitudinal study would therefore be imperative concerning the implementation of food banking.Practical implicationsThe perceived positive knowledge of food banking is suggestive that, the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) should strengthen measures directed towards the implementation of food banking. Moving forward, non-governmental organisations on the verge of conducting a pilot implementation of food banks should give critical focus to the given area of study as the inhabitants are most likely to be attuned to such a course. Finally, to champion contribution amongst the inhabitants, leaders of food banking initiatives and other stakeholders should work in conjunction with residents that are aware of food banks at the high-income class. This procedure would aid in reducing the chances of low contributions to the implementation of food banking.Social implicationsThis paper provides empirical implications for the development of food banks in Ghana. The findings emanating from this study has substantial social implications, because it serves as an instrumental guide to the implementation of food banks by the MOFA, and when implemented would assuage the poor living conditions of individuals that do not meet a three-square meal per day.Originality/valueIn this research, the authors add to the body of knowledge by employing a quantitative approach. Moreover, the authors extend the frontiers of the methodological approach by using the quantile regression model to understand the factors that influence the contribution towards food banking across quantiles of contribution. Furthermore, several studies in the developed world have been geographically limited to UK, USA, Canada and Germany with few studies in Ghana. Besides, there is limited rigorous empirical study of the perception and willingness to contribute towards food banking in Ghana.

Poultry farming is a common practice in Ghana. Antibiotics are used, particularly in commercial poultry farming, as growth promoters and to prevent and cure infections. However, there is little information on antimicrobial usage in domestic poultry farming in Ghana. This study aimed to describe antimicrobial usage in commercial and domestic poultry farming. A cross-sectional survey was conducted within the Ashanti region of Ghana including 33 commercial farms and 130 households with domestic poultry farming. The median poultry population on commercial farms was 1500 (IQR: 300–3000) compared with 18 (IQR: 10–25) on domestic farms. The majority (97%, n = 32) of commercial farms used antimicrobials, compared with 43% (n = 56) of the domestic farms. Commercial farmers were 6.1 (CI: 3.2–11.8) times more likely to read and follow instructions on antimicrobials in comparison with domestic poultry keepers. About 11% of domestic and 34% of commercial farmers had received education on antimicrobial usage. None of the commercial farmers used herbal remedies; however, 40% (n/N = 52/130) of domestic farmers administered herbs. The misuse of antimicrobials in domestic poultry production calls for stricter regulations and training to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among poultry.

The Ghana Demographic Health Survey indicates that the major nutritional challenges in Ghana among school children are protein-energy malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. School Feeding Programmes are one of the main interventions addressing malnutrition and its related effects on children’s health and education. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of Ghana School Feeding Programme on nutritional status of school children in Atwima-Nwabiagya District of Ashanti Region, Ghana. A total of 234 pupils between 9 and 17 years of age, comprising 114 participants and 120 non-participants from three participating and three non-participating schools, respectively, with similar characteristics, took part in the study. It was hypothesized that the nutritional status of participants was better than that of non-participants. Results did not indicate any association between the school lunch and nutritional status. There was no statistically significant difference in the nutritional status of participants and non-participants. The programme did not impact the nutritional status of participants.