What is in a nickname: Ghanaian nickname cultures

Many a Ghanaian at one time or the other in his or her life has either been given a nickname, or conferred one on himself or herself, or on another person. Some have not one but several and a nickname may supplant a birth name. Some nicknames are perceived as insulting and are resented but some too are welcomed even if on the surface they denigrate the bearer. The paper looks at the characteristics of nicknames in Ghana. It addresses the questions: who gives nicknames; to whom; for what reasons; and what significant values do they have? It posits that the study of nicknames contributes to an appreciation of the socio-cultural values of a society.Keywords: nicknames, names, culture, Ghana, Afric

Eye health knowledge and health-seeking behaviours in Ghana

Background: To improve access to comprehensive eye health services within the community, an intervention study that sought to integrate primary eye care (PEC) into existing primary health care (PHC) services, namely Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS), was conducted. Aim: To improve access to eye health at community level. Setting: The study was conducted in Northern, Eastern and Western Regions of Ghana. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional exploratory study, which employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. It used multistage cluster randomised sample design. The study involved a household survey, observation, focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs) and informal discussions and case narratives. Results: The findings of the baseline survey covered information on the eye health knowledge, and health-seeking behaviours at community level. Out of the total 1760 people interviewed, 52.5% were women. The educational level of the respondents was low, 35.7% had no education and only 3% had tertiary education. All the study communities, including 67% of survey respondents, said eye disease was the third most common health problem. Overall knowledge about specific diseases was low. Only 3% and 5% of respondents mentioned trachoma and glaucoma, respectively, as a cause of blindness. All community members tended to either seek help from the practitioner closest to them or else alternate between different practitioners. Conclusion: The study showed that eye disease was a common health problem in all the communities. The community members desired eye care services manned by trained personnel close to them. Using CHPS appeared to be an option that can greatly improve access to eye care services in Ghana

Book Review: Kröger, First Notes on Koma Culture

Franz Kröger and Ben Baluri Saibu, First Notes on Koma Culture: Life in a Remote Area of Northern Ghana. (Forschungen zu Sprachen und Kulturen Afrikas) [Paperback] Berlin: Lit Verlag, 2010. 568 pages (xxi + 535); Language: English; ISBN-10: 3643105436 / ISBN-13: 978-3643105431. €54.90

Attitudes towards instruction in the local language – a case study of the perspectives of the ‘small stakeholder’

While Ghanaian educational policy has prescribed local languages as media of instruction for at least the first three years of basic education, in many cases the policy is in abeyance. Attitudes to local languages and doubts about their educational value seem to account for this. The case of the Kasem language is illustrative. Until perceptions and attitudes to local languages change the benefits that can accrue to the use of the mother tongue as instructional medium will elude Ghanaians. As the negative attitudes stem from misinformation, attitudes can be changed for the better with correct information and a clearer demonstration of the educational gains that can result when pupils are taught intheir own mother tongues.RésuméSi la politique pédagogique ghanéenne prescrit les langues nationales comme moyen d’instruction pour au moins les trois premières années del’enseignement primaire, il n’en demeure pas vrai qu’elle n’est pas  souvent en vigueur. L'attitude envers les langues nationales ainsi que les doutes sur leur valeur pédagogique sont responsables de cet état de choses. Le cas de la langue « kasem » sert à l’illustrer. Aussi longtemps que l’opinion publique et le comportement à l’égard des langues nationales resteront inchangés et défavorables, les bénéfices que peuvent tirer les Ghanéens de l'usage de la langue maternelle comme véhicule de l’enseignement seront chimériques. Dans la mesure où ces réflexes négatifs sont fonction de la désinformation et des préjugés, la disposition d’esprit ne s’améliorera qu’au moyen d’informations exactes et d’une démonstration plus transparente des avantages pédagogiques que  peuvent tirer les apprenants de l’enseignement donné dans leurs propreslangues maternelles

An Ethnographic Study of Northern Ghanaian Conflicts : Towards a Sustainable Peace

Conflict in Northern Ghana appears to be increasing in amplitude and frequency and its effects are getting more devastating. It is the view of this book that the Government of Ghana and civil society organisations involved in aspects of conflict management have approached peace issues in the region with an inadequate understanding of the local issues that divide and unite the people, or using sufficient resources to preempt conflict. In 2003 The Mole V summit was held in Damongo to discuss strategic directions for comprehensive development and poverty reduction in Northern Ghana as a mechanism for supporting conflict management. It is the aim of this publication to contribute to the proposed plan by suggesting past and current conflict management resources and mechanisms which could be employed. The suggestions are informed by surveys, which are oulined in the book, of particular conflicts in the three northern Regions of Ghana between 2006 and 2008 - their histories, causes and effects and their resolution