Promoting Financial and Spiritual Growth in the Seventh-day Adventist Churches in the South Ghana Conference Through Stewardship Workshops

Problem The task of this dissertation was to discover the reasons for the poor financial strength and to develop stewardship workshops to promote spiritual growth and sound financial performance in the churches of the South Ghana Conference. Since its organization in 1988, the South Ghana Conference has not experienced consistent growth in giving. By year-end 2001 it had a baptized membership of 41,747 with 101 organized churches and 235 companies. During the same period, the annual tithe was US$479,674 with a tithe per capita of US$12.18. However, there is wide spread suspicion that many return a partial tithe. In spite o f these challenges, no preliminary research was undertaken to determine factors that hinder financial growth in the South Ghana Conference. Therefore, a study of giving patterns is necessary to determine factors that hinder growth in giving, followed by the designing of a strategy to meet the challenges. Method In an attempt to find a way in which the South Ghana Conference could be helped to experience growth , this study looked carefully at two things: (1) Ghana’s historical background, and (2) Ghana’s giving patterns, as well as the relationship between spiritual growth and giving. A questionnaire was administered to fifty-six members of eighteen selected churches. The results of the field survey were organized into tables giving frequencies and percentages of the responses. The data were analyzed and conclusions drawn based on the responses. The final results of the field survey showed that the following issues hinder growth in giving and must be attended to if the South Ghana Conference is to experience healthy growth in giving: poor giving of tithes and offerings, and lack of consistent church attendance. Based on the analysis of the field surveys, a stewardship seminar on spirituality and giving is suggested to enable the church to address factors hindering growth in giving. Conclusion The dissertation concludes with specific recommendations to the leaders of the union, conferences, Valley View University, districts, and the local churches

Psychosocial predictors of marital satisfaction in British and Ghanaian cultural settings

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis seeks to shed light on the cultural construction of marriage and the relative psychosocial predictors of marital satisfaction across British and Ghanaian settings. The main argument is that, Britain and Ghana stand apart in socio-cultural standing: Britain is a developed Western European country whereas Ghana is a developing West African Country. Consequently local realities and social constructions would differ across these two settings and engender different constructions and experience of marriage. The project examined the relative contributions of self-construal, self-disclosure, material support, relationship beliefs, marriage role expectation and demographic variables to marital satisfaction among British and Ghanaian married couples. These objectives were pursued through the implementation of quantitative (n=400) and qualitative (n=117) paradigms in studies of couples from London and Accra. Various multivariate analytic strategies were employed to test hypotheses about differential constructions of marriage and the predictors of marital satisfaction across the two contexts. As hypothesized, responses of British couples suggested constructions of marriage that resonate with individualist patterns (e.g., less emphasis on "traditional" marital roles), and responses of Ghanaian couples suggested constructions of marriage that resonate with collectivist patterns (e.g., relative emphasis on instrumental support). Additional analyses revealed the hypothesized role of cultural grounding indicators in mediating the relationship between predictors and marital satisfaction. Specifically, interdependent self-construal mediated the relationship between material support and satisfaction, but independent self-construal mediated the relationship between self-disclosure and marital satisfaction. Qualitative analyses of the interview data aid in the interpretation of these results. The expected and counterintuitive findings that emerged are discussed against the backdrop of individualism-collectivism descriptions of prevalent cultural patterns that implicitly and explicitly shape and determine personal relationship behaviour. Implications of the findings as well as recommendations for future studies of marriage across cultural settings are offered

Sanitary and Hygiene Conditions of Slaughterhouses and Its Effect on the Health of Residents (A Case Study of Amasaman Slaughterhouse in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana).

This study specifically looked at the sanitary and hygiene conditions of the slaughterhouse and its effect on the health of residents in the community. The sanitary and hygiene conditions of Slaughterhouses are  of important due to the fact most of it are located within the community, which can have effect on the health of the residents. A descriptive survey design was used for this study.  The target population were staff of the slaughterhouse and residents of the community (Amasaman), irrespective of position, age or gender. The sample size consisted of 150 respondents, comprising; twenty (20) workers of the slaughterhouse, and hundred thirty (130) residents from the community. Questionnaires, consisting of opened and closed ended questions, and interview guide, were the main data collection instruments used to carry out the study. The collected data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, charts and tables. The study revealed that the operations of the slaughterhouse do have effect on the health of the residents of the community because wastewater was disposed off into the streams and rivers which serve a source of drinking water. The workers of the slaughterhouse also attested to it. 74.2% of the residents representing majority answered no when they were asked if the operations of the slaughterhouse were inspected. This was expected because most (70%) the residents indicated in a follow up question that they have never seen an inspector before. The study recommends that government must compel the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), to stop the operators of slaughterhouses and abattoir from construction at unauthorized places. Keywords: Slaughterhouse, Wastewater, Hygien

Factors Influencing Food Service Quality in Ghanaian Polytechnics

The aim of the study was to assess factors influencing food service quality in Ghanaian polytechnics. Service quality and customer satisfaction have been identified as key elements of the service-profit chain. A mixture of an exploratory and descriptive research designs were employed to study 250 respondents. Data was analysed using statistical tools such as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that all the service quality variables (tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) were positively related to customer satisfaction which indicates the higher the service quality, the higher customer satisfaction. The analysis of respondents’ expectations scores suggested that the most important expectations items were “accurate bill (3.18)”, “clean rest rooms (2.94)”, “clean, neat and appropriately dressed staff (2.46)” and “clean dining areas (3.34)”, which fall under the dimensions reliability and tangibles. In conclusion, customers were not sure whether the physical facilities, equipment and appearance of the personnel of the restaurants (Tangibles) were attractive. The study recommends that improving service quality in restaurant settings will not only increase customer satisfaction and strengthen customer loyalty, but also improve the restaurant’s reputation and generate greater revenue. Keywords: Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Restaurants, Polytechni

Psychosocial predictors of marital satisfaction in British and Ghanaian cultural settings

This thesis seeks to shed light on the cultural construction of marriage and the relative psychosocial predictors of marital satisfaction across British and Ghanaian settings. The main argument is that, Britain and Ghana stand apart in socio-cultural standing: Britain is a developed Western European country whereas Ghana is a developing West African Country. Consequently local realities and social constructions would differ across these two settings and engender different constructions and experience of marriage. The project examined the relative contributions of self-construal, self-disclosure, material support, relationship beliefs, marriage role expectation and demographic variables to marital satisfaction among British and Ghanaian married couples. These objectives were pursued through the implementation of quantitative (n=400) and qualitative (n=117) paradigms in studies of couples from London and Accra. Various multivariate analytic strategies were employed to test hypotheses about differential constructions of marriage and the predictors of marital satisfaction across the two contexts. As hypothesized, responses of British couples suggested constructions of marriage that resonate with individualist patterns (e.g., less emphasis on "traditional" marital roles), and responses of Ghanaian couples suggested constructions of marriage that resonate with collectivist patterns (e.g., relative emphasis on instrumental support). Additional analyses revealed the hypothesized role of cultural grounding indicators in mediating the relationship between predictors and marital satisfaction. Specifically, interdependent self-construal mediated the relationship between material support and satisfaction, but independent self-construal mediated the relationship between self-disclosure and marital satisfaction. Qualitative analyses of the interview data aid in the interpretation of these results. The expected and counterintuitive findings that emerged are discussed against the backdrop of individualism-collectivism descriptions of prevalent cultural patterns that implicitly and explicitly shape and determine personal relationship behaviour. Implications of the findings as well as recommendations for future studies of marriage across cultural settings are offered.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Venonia amygdalina leaf extract - mediated redox synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Characterization and antimicrobial activity

The synthetic process, type of precursor material, and the phytochemical materials involved in the biological synthesis of metal nanoparticles influence the properties of the resulting nanoparticles. The physicochemical attributes of synthesized nanoparticles, in turn, influence their applicability for various purposes, hence the need to standardize synthetic processes and characterize nanoparticle outputs for reproducibility and optimal utility. The objective of this study was to utilize bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), characterize the nanoparticles, and then evaluate the same for antimicrobial activities. The V. amygdalina extract was produced by the soxhlet extraction process after the leaves were subjected to standard pre-extraction treatments using methanol as the extraction solvent. The solid extract was separated by rotary evaporation, and a predetermined quantity was mixed with 0.1 M silver nitrate solution under controlled concentration, temperature, and pressure. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized for morphological, optical, spectroscopic, and other physicochemical properties and then evaluated for antibacterial activities. The mean particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of the nanoparticles were 74.231 ± 0.43 nm, 0. 645 ± 0.04, and 32.045 ± 0.054 mV, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared analysis suggested an association between the silver nanoparticles and the extract biomolecules, while x-ray diffraction showed particle crystallinity. The nanoparticles were effective against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It was concluded that the procedure and materials used resulted in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the silver nitrate salt through a biogenic reduction process

Effect of STEM Problem-Based Learning on Achievement in Basic Science among Secondary School Students

This study was carried out to examine the effect of STEM Problem Based Learning on students’ achievement in Basic Science. This is in consideration of the fact that the Nigerian National Policy on Education provides that for a student to study any of the core science subjects at the Senior secondary school level, he must have to score a credit pass in Basic Science at Junior Secondary School level. Without a credit pass in any of the science subjects that make up Basic Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), a student cannot study any of the course in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the tertiary education level. Unfortunately, literatures show that there is massive failure of students in Basic Science especially at the Basic      Education Certificate Examination. This study is guided by three research questions and three research hypotheses. The population for this study is junior secondary school form 2 students of Nsukka local government area of Enugu State in Nigeria. The study used random sampling technique to sample schools and employed pre-experimental research design. The sample was sub-divided into two: low ability learners and high ability learners. Data was collected at two different periods (pretest and post-test) using an achievement test constructed by the researchers. The analysis was carried out using ANCOVA, Independent Sample T-test and Paired Sample T-test using IBM SPSS version 23. The results of the analysis showed that STEM PBL is a good strategy that can be used to increase students’ achievement in Basic Science