“I am speaking French but I am thinking in English”: An analysis of errors by students of the French language at the University of Ghana.

This paper is in the domain of language acquisition and more particularly foreign language learning using the theoretical framework of Error Analysis but also taking into account the concept of the development of Interlanguage during the learning of a foreign language. We consider how learners of French as a Foreign Language in the University of Ghana seem to fall, either consciously or unconsciously, on the English Language during their oral and written productions. For this study, first and second year students of French from the University of Ghana were given a series of images and asked either to describe what they saw and/or to use the images to tell a story or form a dialogue. It was observed that there was evidence of English structures, transpositions, transliterations, etc. in their productions. We consider that these interferences are part of the development of the Interlanguage of the learners and we examine some of the types of errors identified in the production of the students. We conclude that this is a natural process for the learner of a foreign language in a multilingual context and we consider how the teacher of a foreign language class can take advantage of these productions to improve his teaching and also improve learning by his/her students.Key Words: Error analysis, transference, Foreign Language Learning, Interlanguage, English, FrenchL’article appartient au domaine de l’acquisition linguistique et plus particulièrement l’apprentissage de langue étrangère en se basant sur le cadre théorique de l’Analyse des Erreurs mais prenant aussi en compte le concept du développement de l’Interlangue pendant l’apprentissage d’une langue étrangère. Nous examinons de comment les apprenants du Français Langue Étrangère à l’Université du Ghana semblent avoir recours, soit consciemment soit inconsciemment, à la langue anglaise pendant leur production orale et écrite. Pour cette étude, on a donné aux apprenants en première et deuxième années de licence des images et on leur a demandé de raconteur une histoire ou de former des dialogues à partir des images. On a observé qu’il y’avait des éléments structuraux de l’anglais, des transpositions, des translitérations, etc. dans leurs productions. Nous estimons que ces interférences font partie du développement de l’Interlangue des apprenants et nous examinons quelques uns des types d’erreurs identifiées dans la production des apprenants. Nous concluons que l’Interlangue et les erreurs font partie du processus d’apprentissage d’une langue étrangère et nous considérons comment l’enseignant dans une classe de langue étrangère pourrait profiter de ces productions pour améliorer son enseignement et l’apprentissage de la langue par ces étudiants.Mots clés: Analyse des Erreurs, transfert linguistique, Apprentissage d’une langue étrangère, Interlangue, Anglais, Françai

Explaining Food Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Governance and Institutions

The burgeoning literature on global food (in)security suggests that sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is lagging behind the rest of the world despite a period of decline in the prevalence of severe undernourishment. Using panel data covering 34 countries in the region for the period 2000 to 2015, this study examined the correlates and causes of food insecurity in SSA with emphasis on the role of domestic food production, governance, and institutions. The paper also provides evidence on the mediating role of governance by examining how the quality of governance and institutions influence the effectiveness of domestic food production on food insecurity in the region. The paper uses an instrumental variable strategy. The findings suggest that domestic food production and improvements in governance quality, measured by economic freedom and government effectiveness, are fundamental drivers of food security in SSA. We also found that improving the quality of governance would enable countries to better translate domestic food production into reductions in the depth of food deficit and the prevalence of undernourishment. Nonetheless, in the absence of adequate domestic food production, governance reforms alone would be impotent in fostering food security in SSA

Subnational governance in Ghana: a comparative assessment of data and performance

In this chapter, we conceptualise an ideal framework that captures three reinforcing levers for measuring local government performance in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana, namely policy pronouncement, political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation. Given data limitations we employ a ‘next best’ approach to apply this framework and measure local government performance by combining a weighted ‘quality of reporting’ measure with selected available measures on political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation, so as to construct a composite index for local government performance (LGI). We also look at the relationship between our performance indices and other indices of local government performance in Ghana, as well as poverty headcounts. We find that, on average, urban districts perform better than their rural counterparts and also districts located in the southern half of Ghana perform better. Our constructed composite index is positively correlated with indices from Ghana’s district league tables. It has a negative relationship with poverty headcount in districts, indicating that districts with lower poverty incidence are more effective and responsive to their citizens. The findings provide a snapshot of institutional performance across Ghana’s districts, and offer a more comprehensive basis for considering variations in subnational institutional performance, including the effects of decentralisation than previous studies of Ghana – or indeed African countries more broadly

Effectiveness of self instructional module on knowledge and practice of managing common discomforts during pregnancy among primigravida mothers

Effectiveness of self instructional module on knowledge and practice of managing common discomforts during pregnancy among primigravida mothers OBJECTIVES: To assess the pre-test and post-test knowledge level of primigravida mothers on managing common discomforts during pregnancy. To assess the pre-test and post-test practice of primigravida mothers on managing common discomforts during pregnancy. To associate the level of knowledge and practice on managing common discomforts among primigravida mothers with their selected demographic characteristics. ASSUMPTIONS: Education will help to enhance the knowledge and practice of primigravida mothers regarding managing common discomforts of pregnancy. Primi mothers have lack of knowledge on managing common discomforts of pregnancy

Subnational governance in Ghana: a comparative assessment of data and performance

In this chapter, we conceptualise an ideal framework that captures three reinforcing levers for measuring local government performance in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana, namely policy pronouncement, political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation. Given data limitations we employ a ‘next best’ approach to apply this framework and measure local government performance by combining a weighted ‘quality of reporting’ measure with selected available measures on political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation, so as to construct a composite index for local government performance (LGI). We also look at the relationship between our performance indices and other indices of local government performance in Ghana, as well as poverty headcounts. We find that, on average, urban districts perform better than their rural counterparts and also districts located in the southern half of Ghana perform better. Our constructed composite index is positively correlated with indices from Ghana’s district league tables. It has a negative relationship with poverty headcount in districts, indicating that districts with lower poverty incidence are more effective and responsive to their citizens. The findings provide a snapshot of institutional performance across Ghana’s districts, and offer a more comprehensive basis for considering variations in subnational institutional performance, including the effects of decentralisation than previous studies of Ghana – or indeed African countries more broadly

Subnational governance in Ghana: a comparative assessment of data and performance

In this chapter, we conceptualise an ideal framework that captures three reinforcing levers for measuring local government performance in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ghana, namely policy pronouncement, political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation. Given data limitations we employ a ‘next best’ approach to apply this framework and measure local government performance by combining a weighted ‘quality of reporting’ measure with selected available measures on political processes and internal operations, and policy implementation, so as to construct a composite index for local government performance (LGI). We also look at the relationship between our performance indices and other indices of local government performance in Ghana, as well as poverty headcounts. We find that, on average, urban districts perform better than their rural counterparts and also districts located in the southern half of Ghana perform better. Our constructed composite index is positively correlated with indices from Ghana’s district league tables. It has a negative relationship with poverty headcount in districts, indicating that districts with lower poverty incidence are more effective and responsive to their citizens. The findings provide a snapshot of institutional performance across Ghana’s districts, and offer a more comprehensive basis for considering variations in subnational institutional performance, including the effects of decentralisation than previous studies of Ghana – or indeed African countries more broadly.

L'importance de la concordance linguistique dans les soins médicaux : le cas des patients francophones au Ghana

This article presents the importance of language concordance on healthcare received by Francophone patients in Ghanaian health centres. To do this, we present the effects of language barriers on patient management and the communication strategies used by the said patients. Based on results of interviews of 25 Francophone students (out of 32) who had visited health centres in Ghana, we discover that communication difficulties can have negative effects on healthcare access. Such effects include delayed consultation, extra cost due to poor diagnosis, and the risk of serious medical errors which could lead to the loss of life. To fill the communication gaps during medical consultations, most of the respondents resort to strategies such as using gestures and ad hoc interpreters. We suggest some recommendations for better management of minority language speakers in the Ghana healthcare system.Cet article présente l’importance de la concordance linguistique sur les soins médicaux que reçoivent les patients francophones dans les centres de santé ghanéens. Pour ce faire, nous présentons les effets des barrières linguistiques sur la prise en charge des patients francophones et les stratégies de communication utilisées par ceux-ci. En nous basant sur les résultats des entretiens de 25 étudiants francophones (d’entre 32) qui ont accédé aux centres de santé ghanéens, nous découvrons que les difficultés de communication peuvent avoir des effets négatifs sur l’accès aux soins tels que la prolongation de la durée des consultations, des dépenses supplémentaires à cause des mauvais diagnostics et le risque d’erreurs graves pouvant leur coûter la vie. Pour combler les lacunes de la communication lors des consultations médicales, la plupart des répondants recourent à des stratégies telles que l’utilisation des gestes et des interprètes ad hoc. Nous proposons quelques recommandations pour une meilleure prise en compte des minorités linguistiques dans le système de santé au Ghana

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL PROFILE OF STROKE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of the work was to study the clinical profile of stroke in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective observational study on stroke was carried out for a period of 6-month (May 2015 to October 2015). A total of 241 inpatientsfrom Shri Preethi Hospital were incorporated in the study. The data were collected and evaluated by reviewing case files and patient interview.Result and Conclusion: Out of 241 patients, an incidence of ischemic stroke was found to be higher. The occurrence of stroke steeply rises with agewith male predominance. The burden of stroke tends to be more in rural, illiterate, and low socioeconomic status population. The study reveals riskfactors such as sedentary lifestyle, previous and family history of stroke, underlying disease like hypertension, diabetes. The circadian pattern in onsetshowed a significant peak in morning (6 am-12 pm) for Ischemic and afternoon (12 pm-6 pm) for hemorrhagic stroke. Topographic distribution ofcerebral infract and hemorrhage was found to be in parietal lobe and periventricular white matter, respectively. Mostly prescribed medication forischemic and hemorrhagic patients was antihypertensive and mannitol, respectively. The contraindication for thrombolytic therapy was found to below economic status and average delay in time of presentation to hospital. The study highlights the need for aggressive management of traditionalrisk factors, need for extensive work up in patient to find etiologies and need for more active interventions in community for the prevention of stroke.Keywords: Ischemic, Hemorrhagic, Circadian pattern, Antihypertensive

Immune Mechanisms Responsible for Vaccination against and Clearance of Mucosal and Lymphatic Norovirus Infection

Two cardinal manifestations of viral immunity are efficient clearance of acute infection and the capacity to vaccinate against secondary viral exposure. For noroviruses, the contributions of T cells to viral clearance and vaccination have not been elucidated. We report here that both CD4 and CD8 T cells are required for efficient clearance of primary murine norovirus (MNV) infection from the intestine and intestinal lymph nodes. Further, long-lasting protective immunity was generated by oral live virus vaccination. Systemic vaccination with the MNV capsid protein also effectively protected against mucosal challenge, while vaccination with the capsid protein of the distantly related human Lordsdale virus provided partial protection. Fully effective vaccination required a broad immune response including CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and B cells, but the importance of specific immune cell types varied between the intestine and intestinal lymph nodes. Perforin, but not interferon gamma, was required for clearance of MNV infection by adoptively transferred T lymphocytes from vaccinated hosts. These studies prove the feasibility of both mucosal and systemic vaccination against mucosal norovirus infection, demonstrate tissue specificity of norovirus immune cells, and indicate that efficient vaccination strategies should induce potent CD4 and CD8 T cell responses

Collective Action by Women’s Groups to Combat Drought and Poverty in Northern Kenya

Collective action can be an effective means of local development and risk reduction among rural people, but few examples have been documented in pastoral areas. We conducted extensive interviews for 16 women’s groups residing in northern Kenya. Our objectives were to understand how groups were formed, governed, and sustained and what activities they have pursued. The groups we interviewed were 10 years old, on average. Charter memberships averaged about 24 women, 20 of whom were illiterate. Half of the groups formed after facilitation by a development partner and half formed spontaneously. Groups are governed under detailed constitutional frameworks with elected leaders. Groups primarily form to improve living standards of the members and undertake a wide variety of activities founded on savings and credit schemes, income diversification, small business development, education, health service delivery, and natural resource management. Groups have evolved means to buffer members from drought and poverty. The greatest threats to the sustainability of the groups come from internal factors such as unfavorable group dynamics and illiteracy, while external challenges include drought, poverty, and political incitement. Principles of good group governance and wisdom in business are reportedly the key ingredients for long-term success