The consumer in the midst of two distinct terms for the quality of goods in Ghana: Can the law be simplified?

This paper examines the suitability of the concurrent operation of the term of ‘free from defects’ and the term of ‘merchantability quality’ as the basic standard terms for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions involving consumers in Ghana. The analysis is explored in comparison with the law in England and Wales. The paper argues that the distinct operation of the two different terminologies defining the requirements for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions in Ghana has the susceptibility of predisposing consumers to uncertainties regarding which standard term to expect in a transaction. In considering resolving the likely uncertainties of the different terminologies with a uniform standard term similar as pertains under the law in England and Wales, the paper contends that the term to be adopted should be one which is educative and effectively preserves the aspirations of consumers in Ghana. The paper therefore proffered recommendations discerning from the comparative analysis for legislative consideration in Ghana. Keywords: consumer protection, free from defects, merchantable quality, satisfactory quality and comparative law DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/94-19 Publication date: February 29th 202

Production and Utilization of Skills Oriented Graduates: An Assessment of Newly Trained Teachers Utilization of Instructional Materials in Selected Senior Secondary Schools in Cape Coast, Ghana

This study examined the extent to which newly trained teachers have used the knowledge and skills acquired from the schools and colleges to improve their performances, especially in the production and utilization of instructional materials. Three hundred newly trained teachers comprising graduates from senior secondary schools (Public and Private) participated in the study. The respondents were stratified and randomly selected. A structured questionnaire (PUIM – TQ) was used to collect data from the respondents. Frequencies and percentile statistical tools were employed to analyse the data. The findings suggest that the newly trained graduate teachers have remained relatively stable in the use of instructional materials in their teaching at the time of investigation. However, they expressed some problems in producing some of the teaching/learning materials. The implications of this study are discussed. Keywords: Instructional Materials; Trained Teachers; Graduate Teachers.International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 113-11

Health-seeking behaviour among migrant female head porters in the City of Accra, Ghana

Migration is an important feature of human development and a significant driver of societal change and well-being across populations. One key aspect of contemporary migration is the rise in female migration, contributing to the debate on urbanization with implications for the health of migrants. This study examined the health behaviour of migrant female head porters in Accra. The study design was cross-sectional with an interview-administered survey. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select communities and 213 respondents. Data were analysed using the SPSS software. From the results, 41.1% were within ages 15-19 years, 41.7% were Mamprusis, and 59.1% were not married. About 65.5% knew the existence of a health facility around their residence, with 75.5% seeking healthcare outside orthodox health facilities. A significant association was established between marital status and education and where healthcare was sought. Respondents who saved money, had Health Insurance cards, and receive support from others were more likely to visit health facilities. The study concludes that the predictors of health-seeking behaviour among the respondents are the possession of health insurance; level of saving, social support they receive from others including marital status and education. Respondents should be encouraged to possess health insurance and save money.Keywords: Health-Seeking, Behaviour, Migrants, Female, Head-Porters, Behaviou

Management of Curriculum Change: A Mechanism for Ensuring Continuous Academic Improvement in Ghanaian Universities

Effective collaboration in the curriculum change effort remains a challenge in higher education, in particular, with comprehensive curriculum reform or change. Curriculum modification to existing courses or content will not always lead to the desired reform even though a collaborative approach has been the foundation of the process. Comprehensive and collaborative curriculum change requires a full examination of how academics conceive their role and how the curriculum itself is defined, analyzed, and changed.Through a systematic review of literature, the researchers were able to create a contextualized emergent model for curriculum change management for Ghanaian universities derived from experience and educational policies.It emerged from the review of literature that a collectively shared guiding vision for an effective curriculum change provided a strong foundation for the comprehensive curriculum review process; Embracing curriculum as a shared responsibility among faculty and administration led to widespread participation; The collaboration of various groups within the institution in the process promoted organizational change; Cultural issues regarding people and organizational structure served as barriers to the collaboration process, simultaneously the curriculum team’s sense of community strengthened the curriculum review process. This position paper therefore recommends that the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ghana Education Service should ensure that the practice of curriculum change is highly decentralized to reflect local concerns. Thus, the decentralization of the process would be tailored towards the local needs of the area. This would make education more meaningful and relevant to students

Economics Teachers’ Conceptions of Classroom Assessment: A Study of Senior High Schools in the Central and Ashanti Regions of Ghana

Assessment literacy is part of the Economics teachers’ professional competence, yet little attention in the form research has been undertaken in this area. This study therefore explored Senior High School (SHS) Economics teachers’ conceptions of the purposes for undertaking classroom assessment. In specific terms, the study investigated Economics teachers’ understanding of the various motives that inform their assessment practices. The study also examined the influence of the Economics teachers’ demographic variables such as age, gender, and teaching experience on their conceptions of classroom assessment. It further assessed the influence of formal training in assessment on the teachers’ conceptions of the construct. The study was a descriptive type which employed the survey method. Participants of this study comprised 301 Senior High School Economics teachers drawn from the Central and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The participants were made up 213 male and 88 female teachers. A 50-item version of Brown’s Teachers’ Conceptions of Assessment (TCoA) inventory scale was adopted as the questionnaire for this study. Using a test-retest procedure of two-week interval, the TCoA which also made provisions for the demographic data of respondents on a different section, was administered on 36 Economics teachers. A reliability index of .813 was obtained. The data were analyzed using mean, t-test, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical techniques.The findings of the study showed that a majority of the Economics teachers (mean score = 3.01) consented to the idea that classroom assessment leads to improvement in teaching and learning as well as ensuring school accountability (mean score = 3.27). The study also found that gender and age did not influence teachers’ conception of assessment. The study recommends that community of learners be organized for experienced and less experienced Economics teachers to enable them exchange ideas on the various purposes of classroom assessment

Rational \u3ci\u3eS\u3c/i\u3e Matrices and NN Interactions

The S matrix for central NN interactions is represented in the s wave as a rational function of k. Single and double Yukawa potential models of 1S0 and 3S1 interactions are the starting point. Twelve terms of the effective range expansion are found, Padé approximants are calculated, and poles and zeros of the associated rational S matrix are located. For all the potentials, rational S matrices are shown to give excellent agreement with data through medium energies while satisfying Levinson’s theorem. Inverse scattering theory is easily applied to recover phase shift equivalent potentials, either local or nonlocal. Bound state and antibound state poles are precisely determined, suggesting this approach is a viable alternative for finding bound state eigenvalues. We truncate our potentials beyond a range R which we vary from 8 to 21 fm. Rigorously, the S matrix of such truncated potentials has no cuts, and the Jost functions are entire. Our analysis introduces distribution of poles and zeros that, as characteristic of Padé approximants, is seen to bear a relation to the Yukawa cuts of the full potentials. Statistical determinations of rational S matrices from experimental phase shifts, already found to be useful, are further supported by the present results

Regulatory Remedies in the Enforcement of Product Quality and Safety Standards in Ghana: A Case for Reform from a Comparative Analysis

This article examines the regulatory remedies in the enforcement of consumer law regarding the quality and safety standards of goods in Ghana. The article argues that the remedies which the regulatory institutions administer in their enforcement of consumer law in Ghana are focused mainly on punishing the manufacturer or seller of the goods. The article further contends that there are presently no provisions in the regulatory remedies for the manufacturer or seller who breached the established quality and safety standards of goods to compensate affected consumers on account of the breach. As a result, consumers only have access to common law remedies in tort for the manufacturer’s or seller’s negligence. However, this reprieve is illusory for many Ghanaian consumers as litigation is expensive and in most cases, beyond the reach of the average consumer in Ghana. Consequently, this article advocates for the adoption of the redress category of the enhanced consumer measures (ECMs) similarly introduced by the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA 2015) to secure administrative remedies for consumers as part of the regulatory remedies in the enforcement of consumer law regarding the quality and safety standards of goods in Ghana

Sale in the Ordinary Course of Business Under Ghana Law: Recent Developments and Lessons from the UK

The Sale of Goods Act 1962 (Act 137) put a statutory footing on implied conditions for the quality and fitness of goods in every contract involving the sale of goods in Ghana. The functionality of the implied conditions of quality and fitness of goods hinges on the sale of goods taking place in the ordinary course of the seller’s business. This article evaluates the concept of the sale in the ordinary course of business under which the implied conditions of quality and fitness of goods apply in Ghana. The paper argues that the current definition of sale in the ordinary course of business under the law in Ghana, is narrow to the disadvantage of buyers of goods. Consequently, this article advocates that the definition of the sale in the ordinary course of business needs to be broadened along the lines of the English law to help enhance the degree of protection of buyers of goods in Ghana. The paper further submits that the courts should consider distinguishing consumer matters in widening the scope as the current definition is mainly the product of non-consumer case law

Enacting a Consumer Protection Law in Ghana: Possible lessons from the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015

For many years, the trend of legislation has been piecemeal with a fusion of the rules of laws for the protection of consumer and non-consumer buyers. However, the complexity of accessing the fragmented laws and their unsuitability in dealing with contemporary consumers issues have led to the adoption of a Consumer Protection Policy 2014 with the primary object of providing a consumer tailored regime for the protection of consumers in Ghana. While the adopted 2014 Policy document is currently before the Attorney General Department to be drafted into a Bill for Parliament consideration, the present article appraises the comprehensiveness of the existing law and the adopted Consumer Protection Policy 2014 in effectively responding to the problems of consumers in Ghana. This is explored in comparison with the approach of the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 while bearing in mind the peculiar circumstances in Ghana. This article argues that whereas the effort of the government is so far commendable, there are noticeable unresolved consumer concerns. Of particular concern is consolidating the laws on consumer contracts and coverage of the law on the supply of services to consumers. This paper, therefore, submits that addressing these concerns is vital to ensuring that consumers are provided with a comprehensive and effective regime in Ghana