The holistic mission of the church in northern Ghana : a case study of the Methodist Church Ghana

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1279/thumbnail.jp

Enabling environmental fingerprinting with an NFC-powered sensor board

Abstract. In recent times, people have become concerned about their environmental conditions, amid deteriorating global statistics on bad air quality, global warming and UV light exposure. Conventional technologies for reading environmental conditions are expensive, bulky and situated, yet, people are mobile and need portable tools to be aware of their immediate environmental conditions on demand. Smartphones are now widely used, endowed with sensors and wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication (NFC) for external sensor connectivity, making smartphones a viable tool for fingerprinting the environment. This thesis outlines the design, evaluation and implementation of a mobile-enabled system for environmental data collection using a portable NFC powered sensor board. The name of the system developed in this thesis is the S3 system. The S3 system is a two-tier system which consists of S3 Android application and an online dashboard with a data repository. The S3 Android application is used for collecting and visualising environmental data; temperature, humidity, UV, ambient light, with a smartphone and a credit card-size NFC powered sensor board. The sensor data is then periodically synced to the online data repository. Additional features of the S3 application include automated feedback sampling, introductory tutorial, and user preference settings. The thesis further details the design and implementation process with scenarios, use cases, paper sketches, expert review of sketches, interface mockups, evaluation of prototype with a user study, quantitative and qualitative analysis of user study data, and finally the implementation of the S3 application. The thesis also presents a test run to demonstrate the capabilities of the S3 system as a mobile-enabled solution for crowdsourced environmental fingerprint datasets. To the end user, the work in this thesis provides the S3 application and the NFC powered sensor card as a portable tool for personalised environmental fingerprinting. On the other hand, the intervention in this thesis will have an impact on research since the crowdsourced environmental fingerprint datasets can be valuable datasets for research. As a TEKES project, the solution also provides a proof of concept for further improvement and deployment into the commercial software market

Ghana coastal fisheries governance dialogue: developing options for a legal framework for fisheries co-management in Ghana

The Third National Fisheries Governance Dialogue was a direct follow up on the Second National Fisheries Governance Dialogue held in Elmina in April 2012. It was agreed at the Second dialogue that co-management was the way forward for sustaining Ghana’s fisheries and that its success would depend on a supportive legal framework. The two day dialogue meeting consisted of four key presentations focusing on: the current status of fisheries in Ghana; co-management as a fresh approach to fisheries; outcomes from the regional stakeholder consultations on co-management structure; and outcomes from the research on the legal framework. The presentations were followed by four breakout groups that generated ideas for co-management structures for different species namely pelagic fish or Sardinella, near shore demersal, Volta lake, and lagoons and estuaries. Key elements for co-management structures and elements of a co-management legal framework were later identified during plenary discussions

Trade liberalisation, globalisation and the cocoa industry in Ghana: the case of the smallholder cocoa farmers

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the impact of the “meso model” on Ghana’s cocoa sector in general and the practices and opportunities for smallholder cocoa farmers in particular. Additionally, Ghana’s efforts to embrace globalisation are examined. The theoretical framework of this thesis is the neo-structuralism paradigm out of which an analytical framework was distilled to assess the impact of the 1993 reforms. The qualitative methodology was mainly used to collect data but some quantitative techniques were also used to enhance the collection and analysis of the data. Ghana was adjudged the “Star Pupil” of Africa by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank after implementing bold economic reforms in 1983 and the cocoa sector reforms in 1993. But ironically Ghana stood up to the IMF and the Bank by refusing to dismantle its cocoa marketing board (COCOBOD) as was recommended by them under the Washington Consensus and rather adopted a” meso model” of partial liberalisation of the cocoa sector after skilful negotiations. The thesis makes a significant, original contribution to knowledge in the field of economic development through the following key findings: Firstly, the output of cocoa farmers in general is a function of not only the price paid to them but also the overall environment created for production. Secondly, the” meso model” Ghana adopted challenges the “One Size Fits All” Washington Consensus development model because it enhanced cocoa farmers’ output and income, and Ghana’s cocoa export and foreign revenue enabling it to attain economic growth and development. Thirdly, the use of mobile phones by cocoa farmers contributes to the reduction in their transport cost and transforms their mode of operations. Finally, Ghana’s efforts to embrace globalisation and to integrate into the global economy have been impressive albeit urban bias

Sulfonate Adsorption and Wetting Behavior at Solid-Water Interfaces

The electrophoretic mobilities of silver iodide sol particles have been measured as a function of pAg in the presence of var,ious concentrations of C5, C8, C10, C12 and C14 sodium alkyl sulfonates at constant ionic strength and temperature. Contact angles in the solid-air-solution system both in the absence and in the presence of the C14 sulfonate have also been determined. These results have been compared with previously reported work on the effect of alkyl sulfonates on the electrokinetic and wetting behavior of alumina. Application of the Stern-Grahame model of the electrical double layer allows delineation of the various mechanisms contributing to the adsorption phenomena. In the case of the aluminasulfonate system the adsorption process is purely physical, viz. electrostatic and hydrocarbon chain-chain interactions, while for the AgI-sulfonate system both physical and chemical processes are involved, viz. electrostatic, hydrocarbon chain-solid, chain-chain, and solid-polar head interactions

Sulfonate Adsorption and Wetting Behavior at Solid-Water Interfaces

The electrophoretic mobilities of silver iodide sol particles have been measured as a function of pAg in the presence of var,ious concentrations of C5, C8, C10, C12 and C14 sodium alkyl sulfonates at constant ionic strength and temperature. Contact angles in the solid-air-solution system both in the absence and in the presence of the C14 sulfonate have also been determined. These results have been compared with previously reported work on the effect of alkyl sulfonates on the electrokinetic and wetting behavior of alumina. Application of the Stern-Grahame model of the electrical double layer allows delineation of the various mechanisms contributing to the adsorption phenomena. In the case of the aluminasulfonate system the adsorption process is purely physical, viz. electrostatic and hydrocarbon chain-chain interactions, while for the AgI-sulfonate system both physical and chemical processes are involved, viz. electrostatic, hydrocarbon chain-solid, chain-chain, and solid-polar head interactions

Geospatial Assessment of Vegetation Changes around the Odublasi Quarry in Ghana

This study examined drivers of vegetation cover changes around the Odublasi quarry, analyzed trends of the change, and areas around the quarry prone to these drivers. Stakeholders were interviewed to identify drivers of vegetation cover change, while satellite imagery of the area from 2007, 2012, 2013, and 2014 were used for trend analysis. Field mapping of trees in the area was undertaken to acquire baseline data of vegetation for use in future studies and restoration projects. Identified drivers were; the construction of a new access road; switch in livelihoods of the local community members from small-scale quarrying to extracting biological resources around the quarry site; unsustainable farming and wood logging practices around the quarry; social exclusion; and afforestation programme around the quarry. A rising and falling trend in vegetation cover was observed in satellite images of the quarry site from 2007 to 2014. Activities around the quarry like shifting cultivation farming was a key driver of this undulating trend. Habitats along the access road to the quarry were identified to be vulnerable to the drivers of vegetation cover change and needed critical attention in any environmental restoration efforts

Gallstone ileus: a rare type of intestinal obstruction in Ghana

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction in Ghana. A patient with gallstone ileus that was diagnosed intra-operatively after being treated conservatively as adhesive small bowel obstruction for ten days is reported to highlight the importance of the clinical information in this condition. A 60-year-old Chinese male with recurrent intestinal obstruction who was initially being managed at a primary healthcare facility was subsequently referred to a tertiary hospital on account of computer tomography diagnosis of an intraluminal object obstructing the bowel. He had hypokalaemia that was corrected before surgery. Intra-operatively, a 4.5cm in diameter gallstone was removed from the terminal ileum. Gallstone ileus is rare in Ghana. A high index of suspicion is required to avoid a delay in diagnosis due to the low incidence of cholelithiasis in Ghana