Men in communal roles. The influence of gender incongruent role models on gender stereotypes and occupational aspirations of kindergarten children in Northern Norway

Research in the past has looked extensively at gender segregation in the workforce, where men and women are “divided” into bigger domains of work based on traditional gender roles attributed to them (Watt, 2008; Tellhed, Bäckström & Björklund, 2016). These two domains are STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Beede et al., 2011) and HEED: healthcare, elementary education, and domestic functions (Croft et al., 2015). Where many studies have examined the difficulties experienced by women participating in the STEM or agentic professions, a much lower amount of research focuses on the barriers men face when entering HEED or communal roles (Croft et al., 2016). In order to further understand how gender disparity in labour develops, we turned to Norwegian kindergartens. This study investigated whether children (78 boys, 71 girls; Mage = 66.6 months, range = 54-83 months) who attended kindergartens with both male and female staff held more gender egalitarian views and aspirations than those who attended kindergartens with female staff only. We also looked at the roles that male kindergarten teachers play as role models. In reporting gender stereotypes of occupations, there were no significant preferences for either communal or agentic occupations as the children mainly reported that both genders could work in most occupations. Moderational analyses showed no significant effect of the gender of the kindergarten teachers on the children’s stereotypes, but there was a significant relationship between the boys’ internalised traits and willingness to work in communal occupations. These results are discussed in light of the Norwegian Action Plan aiming to increase the number of male kindergarten teachers in Norway

Response of Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Water Saving Management in the Coastal Savannah Agroecology of Ghana

Water productivity of rice is relatively low especially in irrigated ecosystem due to poor water management which leads to high water loss through seepage, evaporation and percolation. However, the amount of fresh water available for irrigation in the world is decreasing due to climate change, population growth and development of urban and rural areas. This study was therefore conducted at the screen house of Soil and Irrigation Research Centre of the University of Ghana, Kpong, during the cropping season of 2016/2017 to investigate the effect of different water saving management methods on growth, grain yield and water productivity of lowland rice. The study was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with seven (7) replications. Five treatments were involved; continuous flooding (T1, control), flooding from transplanting to ten days after complete heading (T2), flooding from transplanting to twenty days after complete heading (T3), alternate wet and dry (AWD) from transplanting to booting, then flooding from booting to ten days after complete heading (T4), and AWD from transplanting to booting, then flooded from booting to twenty days after complete heading (T5). Results from the experiments revealed that, withholding water after complete heading has no significant effect on rice growth. Plants from T5 saved 24.3% and 25.2% of water used in 2016 and 2017, respectively while producing similar grain yield as the control

Behind the Box: A Sociological Analysis of Theft, Tampering and Mishandling of Postal Packets

There is no gainsaying the fact that besides the physical requirements of food and shelter, man has another fundamental need, the need to communicate with his fellow human beings. The urge for communication is natural, primal and, in our modern interdependent world, a necessity. Indeed, our social life revolves around communication since it is the cement that holds society together. It is for this very important reason that postal service was developed to provide the indispensable link between people living in different parts of the world. Thus, through postal service people separated by hundreds and thousands of miles can be brought together. However, over the years, there have been malpractices in and against the Ghana Post Company Limited. These have resulted in numerous complaints, which constitute an indication of the public dissatisfaction with the performance of the organization. The study revealed that indeed mail theft, pilfering, tampering and mishandling of postal items are present at the Post Offices in Ghana. Among others, we identify factors such as social solidarity among workers, social pressure and ‘conducive’ working environment as contributing to mail theft, pilfering and mishandling of postal packets.   Key words: Postal service; Pilfering; Tampering; Mail theft; Devianc

Research on Strategies to Attract and Retain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Oil and Gas Industry in Ghana

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when a firm invests directly in facilities to produce or market a product in a foreign country which is not its country of origin. This study was limited to Strategies to Attract and Retain Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Oil and Gas Industry in Ghana. To achieve the objectives of the study, investigations were conducted regarding the following factors as important measures of motivation for foreign investors to invest in Ghana, the factors that will ensure their continue stay and operations as well as factors that can attract more investors to the oil and gas industry. Data was also collected from local firms operating in the industry in order to have their opinion on the subject matter since they also have a role to play in attracting and retaining foreign investors. This was done through primary data collection by way of questionnaires. The result of the data analysis indicated that, the main motivating factor for the foreign investors to invest in Ghana is the raw material which in this case is the oil and gas. The local firms also rated this factor as the main reason in addition to political stability. For continued operational factors, the foreign investors rated political stability as what will determine their decision in that direction. In the case of attractive factors, majority of the foreign investors rated Flexibility of Investment Policies index or factor as very important to attract more investors. However, in the case of local firms’ respondents, they strongly agree that, Taxes holiday is the main attracting factor for the foreign investors but company’s documentation processes been so burdensome can hinder foreign firms from investing in the oil and gas industry in Ghana. Key Words: Foreign Direct Investment, Strategies, Attraction, Firms and Institutio

Ghana and the COVID-19 pandemic

A new virus causing predominantly respiratory tract infection was described in China late 2019. The virus was subsequently named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease it causes as COVID-19. Subsequently the virus spread to many parts of the world. This resulted in the World Health Organisation declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11th March 2020

Ergonomics and Occupational Health Issues in Diagnostic Imaging: A Survey of the Situation at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

The practice of Radiology requires the performance of many labour-intensive tasks relating to the delivery of quality patient care. Poor working conditions could lead to increased adverse effects on the professional which, in turn may have deleterious effects on the work performance; hence the need to ensure effective working conditions. The study sought to assess the ergonomic situation of the various imaging units at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). The subjects were final year student radiographers, qualified diagnostic Radiographers, and Radiologists at the KBTH. A quantitative research design, using a descriptive survey, was conducted as the researcher sough to obtain information about what existed with respect to the conditions within the imaging departments. A response rate of 95% was achieved.  The majority of the respondents (87.3%) lacked training on workplace ergonomics.  Additionally, there were ergonomic injuries that existed among the participants and these affected their health. The ergonomic situations at most imaging units within KBTH were not up to standard and these affect the productivity and health of the professional in the form of musculoskeletal disorders, thus requiring attention. Key words: Ergonomics, Radiographers, Radiologists, Sonographers, Musculoskeletal injurie

Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Students’ Achievement in Chemistry

The study investigated the effect of problem-based learning on students’ achievement in chemistry.   Learners’ low achievement in Science in South Africa has been a concern to government, stakeholders, school principals and parents over the years as a result of poor teaching techniques, students’ attitudes, lack of teaching and learning materials, teachers’ pedagogical skills etc. Several studies, for instance Monitoring Learner Achievement (MLA) project conducted by UNESCO and UNICEF have shown no improvement in the performance of South African students in Mathematics and Science. Quasi-experimental design was employed for the study. 101 equivalent students were selected for the study using pre-test. The control group was taught with the traditional lecture method whiles the experimental group received instruction with PBL. Independent T-test was used for the analysis. Results showed that there was significant difference (p < 0.05) in chemistry achievement of students between control and the experimental group while there was no significant differences in the before the study. The results show that PBL is an effective way for to teach chemistry so as to improve students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. Keywords: Chemistry, Problem-Based Learning, Critical thinking, Traditional lecture, Achievement

Unanticipated Consequences of Imprisonment on Families of Prison Inmates of Kumasi Central Prison of Ghana

Prisons in Ghana, like most prisons the world over, are established to keep offenders from society and to try and reform them so that they will become useful citizens. Prisons are considered as crime fighting-devices which govern penal policy. However, there are many social, psychological and financial costs of imprisonment on the spouse and children of the prisoner. For instance, how do the remaining spouses and children cope with the social, psychological and financial problems resulting from incarceration? What social support systems exist in Ghana for the benefit of the families of the incarcerated? These questions and a few others formed the bases for which 25 families of prisoners in the Kumasi Central Prisons were purposively sampled and interviewed to examine the unintended consequences of imprisonment on the families of the incarcerated. The results of the study indicated that the incarceration of family members led to social stigma of the spouses and children, reduction in family fortunes, emotional and psychological trauma, infidelity and family breakdown. Consequently, the spouses and their children resorted to prayers from churches and pastors to cope with the situation, quitting their residences, relocating to cheaper and affordable accommodation and  reducing their expenditure and ‘luxury’ in order to survive, owing to unavailability of social support systems except temporary financial assistance from friends, close relatives and religious organizations. The study made some recommendations

CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ALBIZIA ZYGIA (DC) J. F. MACBR, A GHANAIAN MEDICINAL PLANT, AGAINST HUMAN T-LYMPHOBLAST-LIKE LEUKEMIA, PROSTATE AND BREAST CANCER CELL LINES

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic effects of extracts and fractions of Albizia zygia roots (AZR) on human T-lymphoblast-like leukemia (Jurkat), prostate cancer (LNCap) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells and the apoptotic effect in Jurkat cells.Methods: Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared and tested for cytotoxic effects on the cell lines using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. Apoptosis induction was determined by DNA fragmentation, cell morphological changes, flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays.Results: Both aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were more cytotoxic to Jurkat cells than the other cell lines, with selective index (SI) values of 104.4 and 86.6, respectively. The SI values of the extracts on LNCap cells were 9.0 and 35.4, respectively. Some of the fractions were non-cytotoxic. Nevertheless petroleum ether fraction was cytotoxic towards MCF-7 cells with SI value of 2.4. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited apoptosis via induction of DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells. Cell morphological changes were consistent with the extract-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays also showed significant apoptotic induction confirming apoptosis by the AZR extract.Conclusion: This study has shown that AZR possesses anticancer activity by demonstrating a high selective toxicity against Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the hydroethanolic extract induced apoptosis in the Jurkat cells. Albizia zygia roots may be a source of novel compounds for the development of new anti-cancer agents.Keywords: Albizia zygia, Cancer cells, Cytotoxicity, Apoptosi

A Model for Reactivating Abandoned Public Housing Projects in Ghana

In Ghana, the housing deficit is not well known. However, the root causes which are improper planning and incoherent political activities, mismanagement and consequently, abandonment of public housing projects are easily identifiable. Even projects established in the colonial period to provide shelter were abandoned. Some housing projects initiated for mere selfish politics, (face-saving purpose) only to be abandoned along the way. Worse still, others were commenced to please electorates so as to avert threats and disloyalty from them, whiles the politicians well know that, the government’s finances cannot complete those projects.  This paper examines the root causes of public housing project abandonment, with the aid of “root cause analysis”, to identify the causes of public housing project abandonment in four well-documented cases of abandoned public projects drawn mainly from literature. The findings are synthesized into a Cause-Effect Summary (CES), culminating in a model for reactivating the abandoned housing projects. The findings identify three major categories of causes for public housing project abandonment, namely (1) poor project implementation, (2) negative politics practiced by the governments that culminate in abandonment of public projects (3) lack of proper structures that ensure the continuation of public projects when there is a change in government. These three major categories of causes are iteratively refined and eventually, the root causes emerge. This information is then used as a guide, with the aid of “Cause and Effect Diagram”, to generate a model that could be used to revive abandoned housing projects as well as ensure its sustenance. The model presented three main factors that when adopted could lead to project restoration. They are (a) proper implementation of public housing project, (b) positive politics practiced by government, (c) adequate structures that ensure continuation of public housing projects when there is a change in government. Key words: Housing Deficit, Sustainability of Public Projects