Indigenous Genres on Digital Keyboards: Vitalizing Choral Worship in the Methodist Church Ghana

This research examines digital keyboard workstations for choral accompaniment in the Methodist Church Ghana from an Ethnodoxological perspective. The Methodist Church Ghana has a strong choral tradition and is known for using indigenous African musical genres to inspire congregational singing and liturgical music. Digital keyboards are adaptable and versatile, making them ideal for Christian worship and inspiring the Methodist Church Ghana composers to write and arrange music rooted in traditional African genres. Choral keyboardists often accompany choral ministrations using rhythmic patterns programmed and played on digital keyboard workstations. However, little academic research has been conducted on the spiritual implications of using digital keyboard workstations in Ghanaian Christian choral music. This qualitative research utilizes an Ethnodoxological framework to investigate the cross-cultural dynamics of digital keyboards in choral worship within the Methodist Church Ghana services. The study employs a combination of literature review, surveys, observations, and analysis to accomplish this objective. The study aims to contribute to the growth of African Christian choral music and worldwide worship by providing resources for choirs of all Christian denominations that use digital music keyboard workstations to integrate traditional music genres with choral music into their worship

Methodological pluralism: Investigation into construction engineering and management research methods

The quantitative methodological biased debate in the 1990s in Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) Research resulted in researchers considering alternative methodologies. However, a follow up study in 2007 established that CEM remained dominated by quantitative research with only 8.4% of the studies surveyed exclusively using qualitative methods. A decade on, this remains a challenge and an update is overdue. Hence, an investigation to establish the current position regarding the methodological pluralism within CEM research was conducted. A total number of 4,166 articles spanning from 2000 to 2017 were examined from three reputable journals and tier 1 conference. The articles were categorised by the research method(s) used. Overwhelmingly, it was found there are acceptable multi-epistemologies within CEM research and there is a shifted from a dominance of quantitative to an increased utilization of qualitative methodologies and the use of mixed methodologies have shown hopeful progression. The demography of the data was also analysed and discussed. It is concluded that there is an increasing acceptance of methodological pluralism and CEM and its industry are on the verge of experiencing a competitive advantage, which could result in improved performances with utilization of balanced research methodologies (if applied appropriately)

Strategically Sustaining People\u27s Well-being: The Case of Ghanaian Women and Children

A government’s commitment to an adopted policy may be the first step that symbolizes its genuine intent to ameliorate the living conditions of its people, particularly the relevant and/or beneficial populations for which the policy was formulated. Ghana’s President J. A. Kufuor’s New Patriotic Party government ended decades of debate about improving the conditions of the vulnerable group of women and children by establishing the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. This article argues that, in order for the Ghanaian government to sustain efforts to effectively improve the plight of this group, there should be systematic mechanisms that include effective collaboration via sustainable-development, learning-organization, and knowledge-management philosophies. The study provides lessons that have implications for developing economies

‘Ghost’ stories: sociocultural factors influencing tuberculosis treatment adherence in Ghana

Background: Non-adherence to treatment is a major problem in tuberculosis (TB) control and leads to adverse outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. Aim: To explore the experiences of TB patients taking anti-TB drugs in Ghana to improve treatment adherence and prevent TB. Method: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants were asked about their experience of taking anti-TB drugs and factors that affect treatment adherence. These were transcribed and analysed using inductive content analysis. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling. Findings: Three main themes emerged from the data: family support, stigma, beliefs and misconception. Subthemes included emotional support, financial difficulty and myth. Conclusion: Patients who have family support, who are ‘policed’ and reminded to take their drugs at home are likely to adhere to treatment. Traditional beliefs and social stigma can affect medication adherence adversely

Designing Alternative Approaches for Teaching of Some Difficult to Learn Topics in the SHS Visual Art Curriculum

The researcher designed alternative methods to fill some gaps in teaching and learning of four topics, dubbed: “Designed alternative teaching approaches for four topics under General Knowledge in Art, Graphic Design and Picture Making in three Senior High Schools in Ashanti Region, Ghana”. This study employed qualitative research method. Using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, sample of three mixed SHS, 77 respondents comprising fourteen teachers and 63 students were selected for study. Questionnaire responses revealed some shortcomings in teaching and learning of layout, composition, design and lettering topics under GKA, GD and PM in the three SHS. During personal observation of teaching and learning of the four topics’ lessons, Visual Art students used improvised tools like bamboo/cane for calligraphy. Some students used 4/5 or six colours for three colour works, a teacher said, black letters can solely be used for citation. Above flaws and others indicate that some students find it difficult to learn aspect of the four. Some teachers also find it difficult to teach some practical aspects of the four, but they do not declare it. Design of  methods for teaching Layout in  fruit package, motif arrangement, career bag and posters, Composition from objects, scenery, memory/imagination, collage, mosaic, human figure, Design in printmaking, logo, flag,  freestyle and calligraphy lettering under GKA, GD and PM are discussed. He lists some demands of practicals, shortcomings in theory and remedies. He thus, mentions how SHS Arts teachers and students must teach and learn the 4 topics, according to faults detected. Keywords: Teaching, Layout, Composition, Lettering, Visual Art

The Instructional Processes for the Teaching of Some Difficult Topics in the Ghanaian SHS Visual Art Curriculum

The researcher investigated four topics’teaching-learning processes or described and analyze strengths and weaknesses in teaching and learning of four difficult topics in Ghanaian Visual Art curriculum.The study employed qualitative research approach with descriptive research and quasi experimental design research methods. Data were gathered via questionnaire administration and observation. Purposive and simple random sampling procedures were used to select 49 respondents. Questionnaire urged teachers and students to describe teaching and learning of layout, composition, design and lettering in two Senior High Schools, whether there are shortcomings in the four topics’ lessons. Responses revealed that there are no standardized textbooks, inadequate tools, equipment and materials for teachers and students to do practicals in the two SHS. During observation of teaching and learning of the four topics’ lessons in General Knowledge in Art, Graphic Design and Picture Making, it was noted that there were few resources available to the two SHS in Ashanti. As a result, Visual Art students were allowed to use bamboo/cane in calligraphy lessons observed. Some students used more colours than required number. Others made spelling, spacing and layout mistakes. Some words were missing in calligraphy/poster works. Some calligraphies were without border designs or initial letters, not decorated. Some objects were out of proportion. A student wrote freestyle letters in boxes. Teachers did not teach topics like optical spacing cartoon, fabric and edition binding practicals. Students produced pictorial posters without letters. A teacher said, citation can be written with black letters only, letters are in some PM3. Keywords: Instructional Processes, Visual Arts, Curriculum, Teaching, Layout