Recent Discoveries in the Aboakyer Festival of the Effutus-Ghana

The Effutus hold in high esteem their festival; the Aboakyer festival also known as the deer hunt festival. It is a festival celebrated annually by the Asafo Companies to pacify their war god Apa Sekum. The Aboakyer festival has gone through several phases since the inception of the celebration. There has been an introduction of deities for the youth of both the Tuafo No. 1 Asafo company and Dentsefo No. 2 Asafo company during the celebration. This has gone unnoticed by writers although it plays a significant role in the celebration of the festival. Data gathered for the study was made possible by employing the qualitative research methodology and the instruments used were interview and participant observation. Purposive sampling method was adopted to select the respondents for the study due to the nature of the study. This paper argues out that although the festival has gone through several phases right from its beginning till date, the introduction of the youth deities have not been tackled by writers. The study therefore aims at describing the Aboakyer festival, the origin and composition of the deities with regards to the role they play in the celebration. Keywords: Aboakyer, Festivals in Ghana, Effutus, Culture, Deities, Winneb

Workload and Mental Well-Being of Homeworkers: The Mediating Effects of Work-Family Conflict, Sleeping Problems, and Work Engagement

Objective Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, this cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between workload experienced by employees when working at home and their mental well-being. Work-family conflict, sleeping problems, and work engagement are proposed as mediators. Methods A sample of 11,501 homeworkers was drawn from the sixth wave of the European Working Condition Survey data set. Results Unlike the expected, the higher the workload, the higher the mental well-being of employees. However, as expected, high workload was correlated with lower well-being when indirect effects through work-family conflict, sleep problems, and work engagement were considered. Similarly, the total effect of workload on mental well-being was negative. Conclusions The study suggests that organizations should pay more attention to the amount of workload experienced by their homeworkers because it may be harmful to their health and well-being

Balancing the Focus of Quality Assurance Frameworks of Higher Education Institutions in Africa: A Ghanaian Context

Higher education institutions in Africa appear to be completely copying the quality assurance (QA) frameworks of developed countries instead of conceptualising their own frameworks for delivering quality higher education outcomes in Africa. Certain factors (limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate staffing, relatively low research outputs, and limited graduate employable skills) characterising higher education are peculiar to developing countries including Africa. Using a qualitative case‐study approach through interviews and document reviews, and a “PPP” conceptual framework, this study examined the foci of quality assurance frameworks of three flagship universities in Ghana. The findings indicate that the least attention is given to facilities in the quality assurance frameworks even though limited facilities pose a major challenge to the quality of higher education outcomes of the universities. The findings indicate that most attention is paid to programme areas such as teaching and learning. The results of the study recommend regular and appropriate balancing of the foci of quality assurance frameworks in the universities to enable them to give optimum attention to all key operational areas for quality outcomes

Barriers to Institutional Investment in Rental Housing: A Systematic Review of Market Risks

Housing practitioners and policy experts are advocating for an expansion in rental housing supply in contemporary cities around the world. The objective is to convince institutional investors to include rental housing investment in their investment portfolio to contribute to boosting housing supply. Unfortunately, the rental sector is characterized by numerous uncertainties and challenges, making it unattractive to institutional investors. With the growing attention to institutional investors in various housing market contexts, an understanding of the market risks (also known as barriers), is useful to inform future research and policymaking. Using a systematic literature review methodology, this paper synthesizes the extant literature on the market risks inhibiting institutional investment in rental housing. Findings reveal the following barriers: low profitability, non-progressive rent control policies, unclear target group for rented projects, poor landlord-tenant relations, inadequate property management and unreliable property market information. Among all the barriers identified, low profitability and inadequate property management had great influence on their investment decision. Firstly, institutional investors perceive rental housing investment as less profitable and unattractive in terms of project performance. Secondly, the lack of supporting structures for the property management sector contributes to derailing rental yields. The review also finds that the target group for rental projects are often vague especially for projects under government assistance. The rental sectors in many countries are confronted with numerous problems, some of which greatly inhibit institutional investors from investing in the rental asset. This paper concludes that, although the idea of expanding rental housing supply seems laudable, ignoring these problems may be detrimental to housing markets in the long run. Rental markets in many countries are volatile, and thus not ready to receive institutional investors fully into the sector. An expanded rental sector could be advanced if policy makers take the appropriate steps to resolve the identified challenges. Adequate structural preparations must also be made for large scale rental housing supply

A study of the n-body problem in celestial mechanics for college students

The purpose of the study is to investigate simple solutions of the many-body problem otherwise known as the n-body problem. The study focuses on elementary solutions of the n-body problem that can be understood by undergraduate students and college preparatory students of applied. mathematics. Historical origins of the problems were traced to the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks. Further development and interest dated back to the time of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and finally to Newton who proposed its modern form. Analytical and numerical solutions of specific n-body problems were solved to demonstrate solvability of certain types of n-body problems. Analytical solutions for velocities of the masses were calculated. Numerical methods written in the QB computer language generate solutions of specific n-body problems. Two- and three-body numerical solutions were solved to demonstrate solvability by writing a computer algorithm using the Euler or Runge-Kutta method. The numerical solution displays the trajectories of the masses in graphics and the behavior the masses are shown. No formula has been developed for determining general solutions of n-body problems in this research. In conclusion, there are simple solutions for certain n-body problems. The subject can be studied at the undergraduate and college preparatory Level

Analysis and demonstration: a proof-of-concept compass star tracker

This research analyzes and demonstrates the local position determination problem on Earth using a novel instrument, the Compass Star Tracker. Special focus is given to the theoretical development of the mathematics of local position determination, the design and fabrication of a proof-of-concept instrument, an error source analysis, and the experimental tests used to validate the position determination concepts. Star sensors are typically used as attitude determination instruments on spacecraft orbiting Earth. In this capacity, the star sensor determines the orientation of the spacecraft using digital images of the stars. This research utilizes the basic functionality of the star sensor in a new way; the orientation information from the star image is used to determine a user's latitude and longitude coordinates on Earth. This concept is valuable because it allows users to determine their position autonomously. The fundamental concepts that enable local position determination were originally published in Drs. Samaan, Mortari, and Junkins (AAS 04-007). This research improves upon that work by eliminating the zenith-orientation constraint and providing several crucial theoretical corrections. In addition to the position determination mathematics, this research provides analysis of the theoretical and practical error sources associated with the position determination problem. This research also details the design, fabrication, and experimental test program of a proof-of-concept Compass Star Tracker. Together, the theoretical development, error analysis, instrument design, and test program serve as validation of the the position determination concept. This work is intended as the first of many steps toward eventual deployment of autonomous position determination sensors on the Moon and Mars

Performance Measurement and Research Practices in Higher Education-Focused Philanthropic Organizations

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Performance measurement and research are key components of the operations of philanthropic organizations (both grant-making [GM] and grant-seeking [GS] organizations) —particularly those in the higher education subsector. Both conventionally and historically, performance measurement and research practices have been portrayed as rational tools that philanthropic organizations undertake to get the needed data or information to make evidence-based decisions. In this dissertation, I investigate, identify, and explain, beyond rational choice, the other possible motives that may drive higher education-focused philanthropic organizations to engage in performance measurement and research practices as well as the ways they use the information gained from these practices. In other words, I answer the research questions: why do philanthropic organizations (both grant-making and grantseeking organizations) engage in performance measurement and research practices? How do they use information from these practices? This dissertation employs a content analysis methodology to explore whether other theories may provide plausible explanations as to why higher education-focused philanthropic organizations engage in performance measurement and research practices. Some of the other theories upon which I draw to help explain why and how philanthropic organizations (GMs and GSs) use performance measurement and research practices are: organizational learning theory, principal agency theory, institutional theory, resource dependency theory, stewardship theory and culturally responsive, equitable and inclusive practices and outcomes theory (CREI)

The Influence of Adoption of Improved Oil Palm Production Practices on the Livelihood Assets of Oil Palm Farmers in Kwaebibirem District of Ghana

A number of improved oil palm production practices have been introduced to assist small-scale oil palm farmers increase yield and improve on their livelihoods. This study was conducted to examine the influence of adoption of improved oil palm production practices on the livelihood assets of oil palm farmers in Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. In all, 120 oil palm farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Results revealed farmers’ characteristics such as level of education and farm size had significant influence (p<0.05) on the adoption of improved oil palm production practices whilst farmers’ age, gender, farming experience did not exhibit significant influence (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed among farmers who fully adopted improved oil palm technology than the non adopters in acquiring the following: more physical assets in the form of houses and household appliances; financial assets such as access to credit, increased income and savings; participation in group activities as a social asset and human capital in the form of ability to pay children’s school fees. It is recommended that extension services should cover more farmers who should be encouraged to adopt improved oil palm production farming practices and therefore improve on their livelihood assets. Keywords: Oil palm, Adoption, Livelihood Asset

Exploring creative pedagogical practices in secondary visual arts programmes in Ghana

Secondary visual arts education provides learners with opportunities to develop critical thinking, and their creative potential, as part of their personal growth. This development happens when visual arts teachers actively integrate creative pedagogies to target creative thinking in learners. Ghana\u27s 2019 National Pre-tertiary Curriculum Framework has added creativity as one goal for all learners. This research study explores teachers\u27 perceptions and use of creative pedagogies as part of implementing this creativity into their teaching. A multi-site qualitative case study was conducted in government secondary schools within Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, and data were gathered from interviews and participant observations. The 16 cases specifically examined creative pedagogies in practice in the secondary visual arts programme, as the subject of visual arts is commensurate with developing creativity. The study revealed that teachers\u27 pedagogical perceptions of developing creativity do not align with the actual pedagogies they employ, with teachers being observed to emphasise teacher-centred pedagogies. It is suggested that the integration of creative pedagogies should be contextualised in Ghana\u27s secondary visual arts programme, in order to support teachers to meet the goal of creativity development for all learners