Creation in the Image of God: Human Uniqueness From the Akan Religious Anthropology to the Renewal of Christian Anthropology

The Judeo-Christian belief, based on the bible, is that God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Gen. 1: 27). This dissertation explores the Akan understanding of the human person to shed further light on creation of human beings in the image of God and to understand and demonstrate the corresponding uniqueness of the human being among God\u27s creatures. With the help of the Akan context, we note that every human being possesses a spark of God. God, who is relational, shares relationality with human beings. Through the use of Akan anthropology, we identify creation in the image of God to mean that every human being is created through the agency of parents, who also share in the image of God through their birth. Our interpretation is that the okra is the soul and is considered the spark of God in the human being. The honhom, which refers to the breath of life, is treated as the breath that God breathed into human beings to make a human a living being (Gen 2:7). We equated the breath of God with the Holy Spirit who gives life. We propose to demonstrate the possibility of human relationships through the Holy Spirit. At the moment of conception, every human being derives some elements from his/her father and mother and elements from God. These elements from the three sources (God, mother, and father) combine to make a person a human being. Though humanity derives certain elements from the three sources, it is the holistic person that reflects God\u27s image in the sense that through the various elements humanity is able to relate and communicate with God, neighbor, and the world. The holistic human person enables us to clarify that humanity is both physical and spiritual. With the help of the Akan anthropology, we successfully show that knowledge of the human being starts with the relationship between God and human beings, which extends to other humans and the universe, thus offering a further insight into the meaning of being created in the image of God. Our conclusion is that when a Christian is asked the question, What exactly in the human being points to the image of God? he/she will be able to respond that there is a spark of God in every human being. We therefore renew Christian anthropology through the method of contextualization with the Akan culture to disclose the hidden presence of God in the human being. We demonstrate that theology functions exactly as the manner in which religion makes sense within a given culture. As the people in the culture understand their world and make meaning of it, they can also share their insight with others. Human beings have become a source of theology in addition to scripture and tradition. Human beings are created in God\u27s image and are relational and unique within God\u27s creation

Sustainability of Raw Water Supply in Nawuni River for Tamale Metropolis and Environs, Ghana

Water supply service is possibly the most essential of all public service in Ghana and any obstruction to its delivery threatens human survival. A major challenge to water supply is the rapid urbanisation, which has increased water demand in the urban areas, placing pressure on service providers to meet demand. Perennial water shortages in Tamale, is linked to several factors including the inability of the service provider to keep pace with the demand of the rapidly increasing population of the city. This situation could be exacerbated by natural climate variation and competing water uses upstream the city supply source. This study investigates the sustainability of raw water supply to Tamale metropolis and environs using Water Evaluation and Planning Model (WEAP). The investigation was based on scenarios analysis: Reference scenario, Population and Socio-economic growth, intensifying upstream water use and Extended Dry Climate. The results revealed that, intensifying upstream water use as projected in the study do not have impact on the downstream water availability for sustainable water supply. However, the assessment based on High Population and Socio-economic growth results showed significant value (229 million cubic meter) of Unmet Demand in year 2035 for Urban and rural demand site. The results also showed that, the water demand will outstrip raw water supply by 2029 when Extended Dry Climate occurred under scenario High population and Socio-economic growth. Possible options of water storage reservoir should be investigated so as to mitigate the effect of extended dry season. Keywords: Downstream water, Reliability, Supply requirement, Supply delivered, Un-met demand. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-6-05 Publication date:August 31st 202

The Role of Solar Power in Enhancing Sustainable Energy in Electricity Generation Mix Across Ghana

Sustainable energy is a key driver in the preservation of the environment and the development of Economies, and Society. Sustainable energy, solar power is one of them, is more concerned with how energy needs can be met today, and tomorrow for generations yet unborn. Energy supply from sustainable sources is significant for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because of its clean and climate action. Therefore, the study examined a qualitative assessment of solar energy’s role in enhancing energy security, and environmental sustainability in the electricity generation mix in Ghana. The research uncovers some findings through a qualitative analysis of downloaded papers from the Energy Commission of Ghana and the Ministry of Energy to supplement peer-reviewed scholarly literature. The study revealed that solar energy installed and connected to the grid is 143.9 MW representing 3% of the electricity generation mix despite Ghana’s substantial solar energy potential. The 143.9 MW is insufficient to guarantee the country's energy security. Again, it was discovered that in response to the global call for a cohesive approach to tackle the challenges of climate change, developing more solar energy would offset the country from millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This would save the environment and contribute favourably to Ghana's Nationally Determined Contribution in response to the Paris agreement in 2015. An effective solar energy master plan is needed for the massive development of solar energy because of the abundance of solar potential in Ghana

Quality of Care: A Review Of Maternal Deaths In A Regional Hospital In Ghana

The government of Ghana and key stakeholders have put into place several interventions aimed at reducing maternal deaths. At the institutional level, the conduct of maternal deaths audit has been instituted. This also contributes to reducing maternal deaths as shortcomings that may have contributed to such deaths could be identified to inform best practice and forestall such occurrences in the future. The objective of this study was to review the quality of maternal care in a regional hospital. A review of maternal deaths using Quality of Care Evaluation Form adapted from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Maternal Death Audit Evaluation Committee was used. About fifty-five percent, 18 (55%) of cases were deemed to have received adequate documentation, senior clinicians were involved in 26(85%) of cases. Poor documentation, non-involvement of senior clinicians in the management of cases, laboratory related issues particularly in relation to blood and blood products as well as promptness of care and adequacy of intensive care facilities and specialists in the hospital were contributory factors to maternal deaths . These are common themes contributing to maternal deaths in developing countries which need to be urgently tackled. Maternal death review with emphasis on quality of care, coupled with facility gap assessment, is a useful tool to address the adequacy of emergency obstetric care services to prevent further maternal deaths. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 68-76). Keywords: Maternal death, Review, Quality of care, Sub-saharan Africa, Ghana Le gouvernement du Ghana et les principaux intervenants ont mis en place plusieurs interventions visant à réduire la mortalité maternelle. Au niveau institutionnel, l’on a mis en place le processus de vérification des décès maternels. Ceci contribue également à réduire la mortalité maternelle puisque les lacunes qui peuvent avoir contribué à ces décès pourraient être identifiées pour influencer les meilleures pratiques et prévenir de telles occurrences dans l'avenir. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer la qualité des soins de santé maternelle dans un hôpital régional. Un examen des décès maternels a été effectué à l'aide du Formulaire d'Evaluation de la Qualité des Soins adapté du Comité de vérification des décès maternels du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Komfo Anokye (CHUKA). Il est estimé qu’environ cinquante-cinq pour cent, 18 (55%) des cas ont reçu une documentation adéquate ; des cliniciens chevronnés ont été impliqués dans 26 (85%) des cas. La documentation insuffisante, la non-implication des cliniciens expérimentés dans la gestion des cas, les problèmes relatifs au laboratoire surtout en ce qui concerne le sang et les produits sanguins ainsi que la rapidité des soins et de l'adéquation des services du soin intensif et des spécialistes à l'hôpital, ont été des facteurs contributifs à la mortalité maternelle. Ce sont des thèmes communs qui contribuent à la mortalité maternelle dans les pays en développement qui doivent être abordés d'urgence. L’examen de décès maternel, tout en mettant l'accent sur la qualité des soins, ajouté à l'évaluation de l'écart de l'installation, est un outil utile pour faire face à la pertinence des services de soins obstétricaux d'urgence pour prévenir d'autres décès maternels. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 68-76). Mots-clés: mortalité maternelle, critique, qualité des soins, Afrique subsaharienne, Ghan

Railway Container Station Reselection Approach and Application: Based on Entropy-Cloud Model

Reasonable railway container freight stations layout means higher transportation efficiency and less transportation cost. To obtain more objective and accurate reselection results, a new entropy-cloud approach is formulated to solve the problem. The approach comprises three phases: Entropy Method is used to obtain the weight of each subcriterion during Phase  1, then cloud model is designed to form the evaluation cloud for each subcriterion during Phase  2, and finally during Phase  3 we use the weight during Phase  1 to multiply the initial evaluation cloud during Phase  2. MATLAB is applied to determine the evaluation figures and help us to make the final alternative decision. To test our approach, the railway container stations in Wuhan Railway Bureau were selected for our case study. The final evaluation result indicates only Xiangyang Station should be renovated and developed as a Special Transaction Station, five other stations should be kept and developed as Ordinary Stations, and the remaining 16 stations should be closed. Furthermore, the results show that, before the site reselection process, the average distance between two railway container stations was only 74.7 km but has improved to 182.6 km after using the approach formulated in this paper

The Relationship between Net Interest Margin and Return on Assets of Listed Banks in Ghana

The purpose of the study was to find out the trends of Net Interest Margin (NIM) and Return on Assets (ROA).  It also sought to find out the relationship between the NIM and the ROA of the listed banks in Ghana, considering the period 2005-2011. Seven out of the nine listed banks were considered for the study. The main sources of data were from the annual reports of the selected listed banks, as well as other relevant scholarly journals. Trend analysis was used to find the trend of NIM and ROA of the listed banks. Regression and correlation analyses were used to find the relationship and the strength thereof between NIM and the ROA. The dependent variable was Profitability (ROA); while the independent variable was Net Interest Margin (NIM). The study revealed that there is a strong positive correlation between the NIM and the ROA (Profitability) of the listed banks. The regression equation between NIM (X - Axis) and ROA (Y - Axis) is Y = 0.577X – 1.427. The correlation co-efficient, R2 is 0.826. This means that 82.6% of ROA is explained by the NIM. When Net Interest Margin decreases, Return on Assets (Profitability) decreases; and vice versa. Keywords: Net interest margin, return on assets, profitability, relationship, regression, correlatio

Small Scale Irrigation Development in Upper West Region, Ghana; Challenges, Potentials and Solutions

Agriculture production is largely rain fed in Ghana and West Africa. Meanwhile the rainfall pattern in these arid and semi-arid areas is short and erratic. In the Upper West Region, rainfall starts in May and ends in October. Small-scale irrigation systems have been introduced to ensure food security in the region. Food insecurity and poverty are the major setbacks resulting in migration out of the region in search of other menial jobs during the dry season. The study was carried out in four districts, Wa West, Nadowli, Lambussie-Karni and Nandom with their respective schemes at Siru, Sankana, Karni and Kokoligu. The scope of the study was to assess the state of irrigation structures, identify challenges and potentials and propose ways to improve irrigation development in the region. It was ascertained that irrigation structures in the region are in a very deplorable state leading to inadequate water supply to farms. Although soil nutrient levels in the study area are low, the high clay contents compared to most soils from the region suggest a higher ability to hold available plant nutrients for plant growth. The study also found out that irrigation in the region lacked access to inputs and credit, ready markets, mechanized labor and extension services thus resulting in the poor performance of small-scale irrigation schemes. The study also identifies water and land as major potentials for production if reliable farmer support and the appropriate technologies are available. There is the need for major stakeholders such as farmers, government (MMDAs), policy makers, research institutions and non-governmental organizations to complement efforts to rehabilitate irrigation structures, facilitate input availability, easy access to credit and enhance extension services to boost the development of already existing schemes in the region. Keywords: small scale irrigation, development, challenges, potentials, solution

Evaluation of incorporating plastic wastes into asphalt materials for road construction in Ghana

In improving the aesthetics of the environment, the management of plastic wastes cannot be left out of the picture. Among the numerous ways that plastic wastes are managed, incorporating them into plastic roads is another viable option. This study quantified plastic wastes generation in Sunyani Municipality in Ghana and investigated the optimum percentage of asphaltic materials that could be made of plastic wastes for road construction in Ghana. Plastic Wastes were obtained from social gatherings, residential areas and restaurants, there was dialogue with key persons in the plastic industry and various experiments were also conducted for plastic wastes utilization in road construction. It was found that only one entrepreneur recycles the plastic wastes to make bags, dustbins, ropes and many more in the Municipality. It was also estimated that plastic wastes generation in the municipality per capita was 49.7 g/person/day whiles the total plastic wastes generated in the Municipality was 6,725.64 kg/day. In addition, numerous experimentations proved that it is possible to substitute about 10% of asphaltic road materials with plastic wastes as plastic coated aggregates (PCA) to meet the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) standards for road construction. The novelty finding in this research is that substitution of about 10% or more of asphaltic road materials in Ghana with plastic wastes could bring economy and cost savings in both road construction and plastic wastes management in Ghana

Bibliometric Analysis Research on Audit Nexus in Corporate Governance

Audit study on corporate governance and its influence on the corporate organisation is expanding exponentially. It has been undeniable after the 2007-2008 financial crisis and corporate scandals. This review provides an overview of the evolution of scholarly literature on the relationship between audit and corporate governance in peer-reviewed publications published between 2010 and 2020. The study has used a bibliometric technique to review 48 researched documents from the Scopus database. The review highlights document type, publication trend, journal types, influential authors, impactful papers, and keyword co-occurrence network through VOSviewer visualisation. In addition, the findings uncover new trends that have surfaced over the past few decades and suggest possible future lines of research. This study contributes to our understanding of audit in corporate governance studies by reviewing documents systematically using bibliometric techniques and VOSviewer analysis for the study period