Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Coexistence: Ecumenicalism in the Context of Traditional Modes of Tolerance

In many parts of the developing world, religion is singled out as the cause for violent clashes. At the 2007 TrustAfrica workshop in Dakar, the conference of religious leaders, scholars, and experts from 12 African countries and the Diaspora explored this concern under the theme "Meeting the Challenges of Religion and Pluralism in Africa." It was observed that religiously justified conflicts were often the repackaging of community concerns regarding issues of social, economic, and political injustices, inequities and exclusions. Consequently, a project on “religious pluralism and interfaith coexistence in Ghana” was funded in 2008 as part of the efforts to examine the role of local traditions as a foundation to interfaith dialogue. Earlier in 2005, a similar project on the theme of Islam and tolerance, with funding from Harvard and Michigan State University, was conducted in Ghana. Several issues emerging from the field conversations are pertinent to topics of how history shaped Muslim relations with their non-Muslim hosts in West Africa. It is often argued in the literature that Islam’s inherently adoptive attitude toward African religious culture made it possible for Muslims and their non-Muslim hosts to co-exist. However, this research contends that, in the case of Ghana, it was the traditional local culture as defined by indigenous religious values that shaped and moderated the environment that sustained peaceful interreligious relations. The authors express concern that as the country experiences rapid urbanization, Westernization, proliferation of charismatic churches and aggressive Christian evangelization, the traditional values that underpinned pluralism and peace in historic times might be threatened (George Bob-Milliar and Karen Lauterback, 2018).   &nbsp

Assessment of the Impact of Solid Waste Disposal on the Portability of Surface Water and Groundwater Using Water Quality Index (WQI) in Kpassa, Nkwanta North District of Ghana

The emergence of the Water Quality Index (WQI) has helped to convey vital water quality information to stakeholders and the general public at certain locations and times based on water quality parameters. The present study was carried out to assess how improper solid waste disposal impacts on the potability of surface and ground water at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District of the Volta Region in Ghana. Water samples were collected at different locations on the River Kpassa and from boreholes within Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District of Ghana. The quality of the water was assessed by testing various physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Sulphate, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Apart from turbidity that was observed to be high in the samples during the period of study (indicating the presence of organic matter pollution, domestic effluents and runoffs from agricultural fields), all the other water quality parameters in both surface and groundwater were lower compared to WHO/ICMR/BIS standards.  The WQI for the surface water and the borehole water were 56.50 and 94.82 respectively. The study shows that the samples within the study area had poor water quality and therefore unsuitable for drinking and for domestic use. Regular water monitoring should be carried out especially with reference to the microbial analysis to give a better view of the water quality at Kpassa. Keywords: Kpassa, Index, pollution, agriculture fields, Leachat

USE OF TEACHER’S PROFILE DIMENSIONS TO ASSESS SOCIAL STUDIES STUDENT’S LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA

This study centered on the use of teacher’s profile dimensions to assess Social Studies student’s learning outcomes in the Senior High Schools in Aowin and Wassa Amenfi West Districts in the Western and Western North Regions of Ghana. The objective of the study was to assess how graduate teachers use profile dimensions to assess student’s learning outcomes in teaching and learning of Social Studies in Senior High Schools. This study adopted a multiple case study design. The data were used together to form one case. The population for the study were the Social Studies teachers teaching in the Aowin and Wassa Amenfi West Districts. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select the twelve (12) graduate Social Studies teachers and senior high schools respectively. The two main instruments employed for data collection in this study are interview guide and observation checklist. The findings concluded that, the way and manner Social Studies teachers assess their learners’ learning outcomes in Social Studies lessons was contrary to the main goal and objectives of the subject which is to develop a reflective, concerned, responsible and participatory citizen in the civic life of a country. It is recommended that, since most teachers do not use more authentic forms of profile dimension assessment techniques such as portfolio and peer and self-assessments techniques during lesson delivery, the teacher training institutions/universities should endeavour to infuse in their Social Studies curricula with more authentic forms of profile dimension assessment techniques in order to lay a strong foundation for knowledge base for teaching and assessing the learners learning outcomes

Regulation of Mitochondrial Complex I Biogenesis in Drosophila Flight Muscles

The flight muscles of Drosophila are highly enriched with mitochondria, but the mechanism by which mitochondrial complex I (CI) is assembled in this tissue has not been described. We report the mechanism of CI biogenesis in Drosophila flight muscles and show that it proceeds via the formation of ∼315, ∼550, and ∼815 kDa CI assembly intermediates. Additionally, we define specific roles for several CI subunits in the assembly process. In particular, we show that dNDUFS5 is required for converting an ∼700 kDa transient CI assembly intermediate into the ∼815 kDa assembly intermediate. Importantly, incorporation of dNDUFS5 into CI is necessary to stabilize or promote incorporation of dNDUFA10 into the complex. Our findings highlight the potential of studies of CI biogenesis in Drosophila to uncover the mechanism of CI assembly in vivo and establish Drosophila as a suitable model organism and resource for addressing questions relevant to CI biogenesis in humans

Agronomic Evaluation of Eight Genotypes of Hot Pepper (Capsicum Spp L.) in a Coastal Savanna Zone of Ghana

Local landrace varieties of pepper (Capsicum sp) often fail to meet the expectations of farmers with respect to fruit yield, while exotic breeds are unadapted to local conditions, with detrimental effects on local pepper production. The aim of the study was to assess the agronomic performance of eight (8) pepper genotypes, comprising 6 exotic and 2 local genotypes, under rain-fed conditions to identify those suitable for cultivation locally. The experiment was conducted between April and October 2011 at the research farm of the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with three replicates was used. Weed control was carried out manually with the aid of a hoe and a cutlass at 4 and 10 weeks after planting (WAP).  One application of 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer was made at 2 WAP, using a rate of 200 kg ha-1. No pesticides or fungicides were applied. Parameters measured include number of days to 50% flowering, height at first branching, total plant height at maturity, canopy spread at maturity and total yield. Results indicate that exotic hybrid varieties matured earlier than the local genotypes. They also performed better in terms of fruit weight, fruit length and fruit yield. However, the two local landrace varieties, Anloga and Legon 18, produced the highest number of undamaged fruits. Keywords: Capsicum sp, genotypes, exotic pepper, landrace, yield, plant height, fruit weigh

Metabolic syndrome among schizophrenic patients: A comparative cross-sectional study in the middle belt of Ghana

The study determined the prevalence ofMetS in patients with schizophrenia at the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. This comparative cross-sectional study recruited 348 schizophrenic patients comprising 236 antipsychotic-treated and 112 newly diagnosed treatment-na¨ıve patients. The MetS prevalence was assessed based on World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the National Cholesterol Education Programme, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. The overall prevalence of MetS was 14.1%, 20.4%, and 23.6% using NCEP ATP III, WHO, and IDF criteria, respectively, compared to 7.8%, 3.9%, and 2.2% reported in the generalGhanaian population.The prevalence was significantly higher among treated psychiatric patients compared to treatment-na¨ıve group based on NCEP ATP III (17.8% versus 6.2%; p = 0.0001), WHO (26.2% versus 8.0%; p \u3c 0.0001), and IDF (30.3% versus 10.0%; p \u3c 0.0001). MetS was prevalent among patients on atypical antipsychotics compared to typical antipsychotics irrespective of the criteria used (i.e., 17.1% versus 11.1% for NCEP ATP III; 29.5% versus 25.9% for WHO; and 44.3% versus 18.5% for IDF). Using logistic regression model, obesity, raised fasting blood sugar, raised total cholesterol, and decreased high density lipoprotein were observed to be significant predictors of MetS (p\u3c0.05).The study found high prevalence of MetS in Ghanaians with schizophrenia and higher prevalence rate of MetS associated with monotherapy. Regular monitoring of cardiometabolic parameters should be an important therapeutic objective in the management of these patients

The coverage of continuum of care in maternal, newborn and child health: a cross-sectional study of woman-child pairs in Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: The continuum of care has recently received attention in maternal, newborn and child health. It can be an effective policy framework to ensure that every woman and child receives timely and appropriate services throughout the continuum. However, a commonly used measurement does not evaluate if a pair of woman and child complies with the continuum of care. This study assessed the continuum of care based on two measurements: continuous visits to health facilities (measurement 1) and receiving key components of services (measurement 2). It also explored individual-level and area-level factors associated with the continuum of care achievement and then investigated how the continuum of care differed across areas. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study in Ghana in 2013, the continuum of care achievement and other characteristics of 1401 pairs of randomly selected women and children were collected. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with the continuum of care and its divergence across 22 areas. RESULTS: Throughout the pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery stages, 7.9% of women and children achieved the continuum of care through continuous visits to health facilities (measurement 1). Meanwhile, 10.3% achieved the continuum of care by receiving all key components of maternal, newborn and child health services (measurement 2). Only 1.8% of them achieved it under both measurements. Women and children from wealthier households were more likely to achieve the continuum of care under both measurements. Women's education and complications were associated with higher continuum of care services-based achievement. Variance of a random intercept was larger in the continuum of care services-based model than the visit-based model. CONCLUSIONS: Most women and children failed to achieve the continuum of care in maternal, newborn and child health. Those who consistently visited health facilities did not necessarily receive key components of services