Fictional Characters and Toponyms in Kwabena Adi’s “Brako”

This paper examines the creation and use of fictional characters and fictional toponyms in Akan literature, both written and oral. The emphasis is however on a book entitled Brako in Akuapem Twi by Kwabena Adi (1973). The paper looks at the characters and places created by the author and the fictional names given to them.  We will analyse the morphology and semantics of these names looking at what they connote, their appropriateness, precision and socio-cultural functions within the Akan society.  The paper will then be able to evaluate the creativity of the author and his in-depth knowledge of the Akan language and culture. The paper is based on the theory of onomastics that looks at names and what they connote

The Role of Pragmatics in Social Cohesion and Nation Building in Africa

This paper navigates into some areas covered under pragmatics as one of the newest areas in linguistic studies in African universities. We will first have a survey of the theories and practices paying attention to speech acts, pragmatic acts, impoliteness/politeness and face, and socio-pragmatics. The other areas to be covered include lexical pragmatics, discourse markers. The next section will cover the application of the theories and discuss pragmatics and politics, looking at political discourse, pragmatics and the media, pragmatics and pedagogy, and pragmatics and culture with emphasis on ethnopragmatics. The final section will pay attention to pragmatics and literature, intercultural communication, health, agriculture, trade, religion, performing arts, pragmatics, and all forms of speeches and interactional contexts. The method for investigation is purely based on secondary data from works by African pragmaticists. We have suggested some recommendations for the expansion of teaching, research, and publication of pragmatics in Africa

Proverbs and stylistic devices of Akwasi Ampofo Agyei’s Akan highlife lyrics

This paper examines the stylistic features and proverbs in ɔba nyansafo wɔbu no bɛ na wɔnka no asɛm, ‘A wise child is spoken to in proverbs’ a popular Ghanaian highlife song by the late Akwasi Ampofo Agyei. This is an area which is still grey in the study of highlife music. The paper basically adopted qualitative methodology through interviews and recordings. The paper combines the theories of language ideology and ethnomusicology, and looks at the indispensable, didactic and communicative functions of stylistic devices and proverbs in Akan highlife. These tropes as forms of indirection help the musicians to comment on very delicate issues. They depict the musician’s communicative competence in the Akan language, cultural beliefs, worldview and social structures. The paper further reflects on the relative absence of proverbs in current Ghanaian highlife. The stylistic devices and proverbs in the song are subjected to ethnomusicological, stylistic and pragmatic analysis

Perceptions of Building Occupants on Effectiveness of Practiced Damp Remediation Measures in Ghana

This study sought to assess the perceptions of building occupants on the level of effectiveness of some practiced damp remediation measures in Ghana through a questionnaire survey of 5,100 inhabitants living in buildings in eleven major towns in Ghana. The study employed the average weighted model where the average effective scores of all the damp remediation measures studied were considered by the inhabitants as highly ineffective. However, the rankings of these measures by their Effective Index Values based on the level of effectiveness attached to each measure by the respondents showed that using damp proof courses and membranes and construction of aprons at the base of walls showed some level of effectiveness in their application to address the problem of dampness in residential buildings in Ghana. These findings call for the urgent need for all stakeholders in Ghana and other tropical countries to educate building occupants on the need to satisfactorily address the problem of dampness in buildings. Keywords: dampness, Effectiveness, inhabitants, measures

An Ethno-Pragmatic Analysis of Humour in Akan Draughts Games

Humour is an important aspect of human behaviour and communication. However, it is one of the least studied phenomena in Akan linguistics. This paper, therefore, offers an ethno-pragmatic analysis of humour in the Akan draughts game called Dame. It focuses on the types of humour, the linguistic strategies used in creating humour and the functions of humour in the game. Data were gathered through non-participant observations of the game and semi-structured interviews. The paper shows that participants of the game generally resort to teasing in the form of jocular mockery and jocular abuse. This is done through the use of stylistic devices like metaphor, allusion, sarcasm and simile, as well as other linguistic strategies like rhetorical questions and songs. Contextual cues such as laughter and giggles are employed to signal the evocation of a humorous frame, and as such, insults and ridicule should be perceived as ‘this is play’. Through the application of the Superiority Theory, we argue that participants often use insults and ridicule, which generate humour, to demoralize and spread fear in a losing contestant while boosting the confidence, competence and importance of the winning contestant. Rather than generating tension and conflict, this language use engenders bonding and strengthens group cohesion

Challenges to Fire Safety Management in Multi-Storey Students’ Hostels

Fire safety management plays an important role in enhancing the safety of buildings against fire outbreaks. The persistent increase in fire related issues amongst students’ hostel accommodations calls to mind the role hostel management and occupants play in order to ensure complete safety of lives and properties. Controlling fire outbreaks is associated with a lot of challenges. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey which sought to assess the perceptions of students on challenges to fire safety management in multi-storey students’ hostels around the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology campus. The findings from the study revealed that, problems with electrical wiring and installations, inadequate water distribution systems, inadequacies in the fire departments, passive attitudes of owners/management towards housekeeping and maintenance, and passive attitudes towards personal fire protection are the five critical challenges to effective fire safety management in the hostels. The results further showed that, fire insurance policies, fire evacuation plans, and regular maintenance and housekeeping, are all measures which when put in place can mitigate the outbreak of fire. Identifying the challenges to effective fire safety management and implementing measures to control such challenges should assist in the control of fire outbreaks in students’ hostels and other buildings

Environmental Considerations in Procurement Decisions: A Literature Review

Public organizations have the potential influence of procuring environmentally preferable products because such organizations are often the biggest customers within a country. Public organizations are required to take environmental considerations in all phases of the procurement process. The need to improve organizational efficiency, reduce waste, overcome supply chain risk, and achieve competitive positions have made companies to start considering environmental issues from a competitive point of view. Procuring organizations are more seriously involved in designing and implementing sustainable procurement policies by focusing on how environmental issues can be integrated in the procurement process activities. However, a clear understanding of environmental considerations and how it can be applied to the procurement process is still lacking, especially in a developing country like Ghana. This paper is a literature review which seeks to examine the environmental requirements applied in the procurement of goods in order to enhance sustainable public procurement in a developing country like Ghana

Factors influencing the performance of safety programmes in the Ghanaian construction industry

Although proper safety management in construction is of prime importance, evidence from literature suggests that many developing countries do not consider safety adequately. This article examines the factors that influence the performance of safety management programmes in the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The objectives set to achieve this aim include identifying the safety elements incorporated in the safety programmes of construction firms, and determining the factors that negatively influence the performance of such elements. For objectivity, a quantitative survey was conducted among safety managers of 60 D1 building construction firms located in the Kumasi and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. The questionnaire was structured into three parts, which sought the respondents’ profile, identified the safety elements incorporated in the firms’ safety programmes, and identified the factors that negatively influence the performance of the safety elements. Following a detailed literature review, the respondents were asked to rate 13 elements and 17 factors on a Likert scale. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22. In addition to determining the reliability of the various constructs, the MSs, modes and standard deviations were obtained. The findings revealed that all of the 13 elements were incorporated in the firms’ safety programmes. The key elements identified include ‘providing safety managers on site’; ‘providing written and comprehensive safety and health plans’; ‘introducing project-specific training and regular safety meetings’; ‘providing safety and health orientation training’, and ‘involving employees in safety and evaluation’. The findings further revealed that 16 of the 17 factors negatively influence the performance of the firms’ safety programmes. The identified factors were, among others, ‘insufficient communication of safety programmes’; ‘lack of workers’ self-protection and awareness’; ‘contractors ignoring safety, due to the time pressures of the project schedule’; ‘poor personal attitudes towards safety’, and ‘ineffective laws and lack of enforcement’. Findings from this study should be useful to construction practitioners seeking to improve the safety records of their firms.&nbsp

Regeneration of Sub-Saharan Africa’s open market places: a case for Guileless stakeholder participation

Sub-Saharan Africa’s urban culture makes open marketplaces an essential part of life in their cities. What goes on in these markets undoubtedly opens them up to threats of adversity, tragedy, and other significant sources of stress. How can these open marketplaces be regenerated into resiliently sustainable places? From a case study of the regeneration redevelopment of the largest open-air market in West Africa i.e. Kumasi Central Market, the need for stakeholder participation in the entire regeneration process is emphasised. The determination of the most important stakeholders during the regeneration of the market is followed by a comparison of the regeneration process regeneration with the literature on urban regeneration, sustainable development, participation, and project management. Lessons learned, and the concerns raised by major stakeholders in the process creates certain project management approaches essential for achieving resilient urban regeneration. Identification of all important stakeholders by the consideration of their attributes of power, legitimacy and urgency and distrustfully engaging all stakeholders is vital to the success of any urban regeneration project

Level of Knowledge of Building Occupants on Dampness in Walls of Residential Buildings in Ghana

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey of inhabitants of 5,800 buildings in four climatic zones in Ghana which sought to assess and document the level of knowledge of these inhabitants on the problem of dampness in walls of buildings. A quantitative approach to data analysis was employed, using percentages and mean score rankings of the factors studied. The results showed some existence of knowledge on the problem of dampness among the building occupants. The results also showed that dampness is often seen on the walls of residential buildings in Ghana and its level of appearance varied from one climatic zone to the other. The symptoms associated with damp walls are ‘surface efflorescence just above skirting/floor’, ‘dampness at the base of walls up to 1.5m in horizontal band’, ‘stains, especially in horizontal band, noticeably damp in humid conditions’ and ‘mold growth (on cold surfaces, windows, etc.)’. The findings from this study should create an awareness of how dampness as a problem is on the rise in Ghanaian residential buildings and this should lead to collective responsibility of all stakeholders to find solutions to the problem