Measuring Risks of Interdependencies in Enterprise Systems: An Application to Ghana’s Salt Enterprise

This dissertation describes the use of Functional Dependency Network Analysis (FDNA) for modeling risks resulting from dependencies among elements of enterprise systems with application to salt processing enterprise in Ghana. FDNA was developed to model dependencies among members of enterprise systems by highlighting two dimensions of dependency: strength and criticality. Nonetheless, the concepts and analytics for these two dimensions of dependencies needed further development and generalization in the context of project management and systems development in developing countries. Managing risks within the interdependency in enterprise systems through integration will help improve global economic growth. Coherent theory for enterprise integration must be developed, especially in developing countries like Ghana. The significance of this dissertation is the further development of theoretical concept that can be used to analyze dimensions of dependencies in enterprise systems. This model development is contingent upon the strength and criticality dimensions of dependencies in enterprise systems as they apply to project management and the development of enterprise systems. The research covers empirical investigation of the complexities and of enterprise risk management in the Sub-Saharan region for the appropriateness of using the FDNA concept to develop the salt processing enterprise in Ghana

Akyem Te: The Technology and Socio-Cultural Setting of the Abompe Bauxite-Beadmaking Industry, Ghana

Drawing primarily on data obtained from recent research at Akyem Abompe, Ghana, this paper examines the technology and socio-cultural setting of a stone-beadmaking industry in the forest zone of Ghana. Preliminary ethnographic observation of the industry not only reveals that it is community-based, but that it also interacts in a complex way with other local crafts in the village. The production process and marketing of the beads are discussed, as is the antiquity of the industry

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Utilization in a Ghanaian Teaching Hospital: Trend and Policy Implications

Background: The use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is new in Ghana compared with some Western countries.A number of studies have observed increased MRI utilization due to increased sensitivity to diagnosis, and the paradigm shift to modalities that do not use radiation. Challenges with MRI use include high cost of the examination and inappropriate requests by referring clinicians. Objective: To determine the MRI utilisation trend in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana and its policy implications. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study undertaken in the Radiology Department, KBTH, from February to March, 2017. Eight hundred and forty request forms for MRI studies between January, 2013 and December 2016 were reviewed. Information on patient’s age and sex, number of MRI studies done, body parts and clinical conditions evaluated, appropriateness of clinical requests and existing policies on MRI in Ghana was gathered. Measures of central tendency and spread were obtained. Chi square, Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis were also used in the analysis. Results: The top three body parts requested were Spine (55 %), Brain (19%) and Joints (6 %); degenerative disease was the most common clinical condition evaluated.Significant association and correlation were obtained between of the number of body parts evaluated and examination year as well as the variety of clinical conditions requested and examination year. Conclusion: A progressive increase was noted in MRI utilisation both in number and diversity but no policy guiding MRI use in Ghana exists

Assessment in Preschools in Ghana: Issues and Challenges

This paper focuses on a very critical area, assessment in preschools in Ghana. It discusses the issues and challenges in Ghana’s early childhood education system. Educational Reforms since 1987 have advocated the inclusion of nursery and kindergarten education in the basic school system. In all of these reforms, especially that of 1987 and 2007, efforts were not made to critically look at establishing standards for the smooth running of such early childhood programmes. Also, assessment procedures to help in achieving the major purposes of the programme as introduced in some selected schools in 1987 and as a beginning point of Ghana’s education as stipulated in 2007 reforms were not clearly stated. It is on this note that the authors discuss the issues and the numerous challenges that have evolved in assessing young children between the ages of 3 and 8 years in Ghana’s education system. This paper, as a caveat from a discussant paper presented during a national conference in early childhood education in Ghana, addresses the issues of assessing young children by reviewing major purposes of assessment, action options to improve the system, challenges in assessing young children and recommendations for good practice. Keywords: preschool, early childhood, development appropriate assessment, educational reforms, standards

Effectiveness of Internal Control on the Finances of Churches in Greater Accra, Ghana.

The embezzlement and mismanagement of funds from religious organisations particularly in churches is becoming common. Such disgraceful acts have raised a lot of concerns about the effectiveness of internal control systems in churches. The study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of internal control, determine the internal procedures and to find out the independence of internal control functions in churches. Keywords: Internal Controls, Effectiveness, Churches, Finances.

SABR: Development of a Neuromorphic Balancing Robot

We discuss the development of a self-adjusted balancing robot (SABR) using a neuromorphic computing framework for control. Implementations of two-wheeled balancing robots have been achieved using traditional algorithms, often in the form of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. We aim to achieve the same task using a neuromorphic architecture, which offers potential for higher power efficiency than conventional processing techniques. We utilize evolutionary optimization (EO) and the second iteration of Dynamic Adaptive Neural Network Arrays (DANNA2) developed by the Laboratory of Tennesseans Exploring Neural Networks (TENNLab). For the purpose of comparison, a traditional balancing robot was first designed using PID control; the neuromorphic implementation was then designed. This work demonstrates the simplicity and flexibility of DANNA2\u27s neural network architecture, as this framework can be simulated on a simple computing platform. As a proof-of-concept, a trained network was able to balance the physical system by simulating the network on a Raspberry Pi. We further discuss possible improvements to the system and future work implementing the system on an FPGA