University of Cape Coast Journals
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Teaching mathematics in an inclusive basic school: A case study of the experiences of non-special education teachers
Get PDFThere is a general notion that the teaching and learning of mathematics to all students is quite a daunting task. However, there is a general perception that the move towards inclusive education [IE] may present unique challenges to regular teachers who teach mathematics in inclusive schools. In this study, we explored the experiences of a group of professionally-trained mathematics teachers who teach in a school designated as an inclusive school located in the southern part of Ghana. This was done with the aim of uncovering the challenges these teachers face considering that they do not have extended preparation in teaching students with special educational needs (SEN). An illustrative case study design was employed. Data was collected through the use of a semi-structured interview guide containing both closed-and-open-ended items. It was revealed that the participating teachers faced a number of challenges including inadequate knowledge and skills in teaching students with SEN. Another challenge unearthed has to do with assessing students who are blind due to difficulties faced by some of the teachers and students in using Braille to facilitate teaching and learning. The implications of the findings to teaching and learning are discussed
Reflections on identity and terrorism: A tale of misfit: Reflections on identity and terrorism: A tale of misfit
No full textThis paper focuses on the relationship between discursive exclusion practices and terrorism. The changing linguistic meaning of civilisation, the structure of modern discourse and the objectivity of knowledge claims undergirding western civilisation have contributed immensely to the construction of the idea of terrorism. The paper argues that these expressions of self and practices define the individual and give credence to their existence. Using some examples of violent acts, the paper illuminates the biases in the usage of the term terrorism and its implications on the apparatuses adopted to minimise it
Reforming campaign finance laws in Ghana: A \u27political party bank\u27 proposal: Reforming campaign finance laws in Ghana: A \u27political party bank\u27 proposal
No full textAll over the world, the issue of financing democratic institutions is a huge concern. In developing countries in Africa, several commentaries and suggestions have inundated the subject. Central to these suggestions is the idea of state funding of political parties. Given that there are many political parties in Ghana, any notion of State financing of political parties does not appeal to many. But as democracy has come to stay in Ghana, the phenomenon of elections and financing would continue to nag for attention. Two issues to this are; whether it is necessary to deregulate the use of money in elections because of democratic free speech or whether to regulate given democratic and equal political participation. The paper uses a qualitative, doctrinal, and comparative legal methodology to make a case for \u27political party banks\u27 as an option in political party financing
Vaccine hesitancy, mandatory covid-19 vaccination and the right to personal autonomy in Nigeria: A constitutional analysis: Vaccine hesitancy, mandatory covid-19 vaccination and the right to personal autonomy in Nigeria: A constitutional analysis
No full textSince countries began vaccine rollout against the COVID-19 virus, all hands have been on deck to vaccinate as many people as possible, in order to achieve a high vaccine uptake towards herd immunity. Though slow, Nigeria just like other countries, has been vaccinating its citizens. However, the vaccination effort, like similar programmes has continued to encounter the familiar foe of vaccine hesitancy. Where vaccine hesitancy becomes an issue, a likely response is for the government to explore the option of mandatory vaccination, either directly or indirectly, with the goal of compelling citizens to be vaccinated, or suffer some jeopardy. Such a move is bound to touch on core human rights, especially the right to personal autonomy. This article examines the extent to which a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination programme in Nigeria, conflicts with the citizen’s right to determine what should be done to his/her body. It concludes that rather than forcing vaccines on people, a better option is for government to gain the trust of the people, through multi-layered social engagements.
 
Socio-legal needs of rape and defilement victims: Beyond punishment: Socio-legal needs of rape and defilement victims: Beyond punishment
No full textGhana passed the Domestic Violence Act in the year 2007 despite pockets of resistance from some conservatives who thought the act will endanger family life and lead to a high divorce rate. A special unit within the Ghana Police Service called the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) was established to handle all cases under the Act. The law prescribes custodial punishment for suspects upon conviction. However, data collected from secondary sources, through key informants and in-depth interviews show that most cases of rape and defilement are withdrawn for settlement which is against the law. Most often, the victims who are not financially endowed are forced to accept settlement outside the courts or withdraw from the court processes, which often do not inure to their benefits. The Act and the establishment of DOVVSU have improved access to justice for rape and defilement victims, however, some critical issues need to be addressed to ensure that victims of sexual offences are well catered for. It is in connection with this that the paper seeks to highlight some of the conditions confronting victims of sexual violence and what must be done to mitigate these challenges. Prominent among these challenges is the poor financial status of the victims which makes them succumb to the pressure of out-of-court settlement. It is recommended that the government and other stakeholders review the justice system/processes for rape and defilement victims to ensure that they are not forced by circumstances to withdraw from the court processes to accept other settlement options which are not in consonance with the law.
 
The “veronica bucket” and the inventive step requirement under the patent law of Ghana: The “veronica bucket” and the inventive step requirement under the patent law of Ghana
No full textThe Veronica bucket, a hand washing mechanism consisting of a bucket with a tap fixed at the bottom, mounted at hand height, with a bowl at the bottom to collect wastewater has played a pivotal role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic through the promotion of good hand washing habits. The popularity of the Veronica bucket led its Ghanaian inventor in an interview on a radio station in Accra, Ghana in March 2021 to express her regrets for failing to obtain a patent for her product. Her statement, which dominated the headlines of major social media platforms and generated public discussion demonstrates the misconception about the grant of a patent. This paper adopts the doctrinal legal research methodology in an attempt to analyse the requirements for the grant of a patent under Ghanaian law, particularly the inventive step requirement to ascertain whether the Veronica bucket is indeed patentable under Ghanaian law. The paper argues, after a careful analysis of the patentability requirements under Ghanaian law that, even though the Veronica bucket is industrially applicable, it would have failed to meet the inventive step requirement to warrant the grant of a patent. The paper further argues that even if a search was to be conducted to reveal that the invention underpinning the Veronica bucket was new at the material time, such an invention would instead entitle its inventor to a Utility Model Certificate under Ghanaian law, which only requires the product concerned to be new and industrially applicable.
 
Permanence of the Negative in Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born
Get PDFThe present essay identifies the defining feature of Armah’s first novel as changelessness in the negative carried by language steeped in scatology. It pitches this reading against Armah’s later efforts at signaling missed optimism. The later reading raises also technical considerations that should make the novel’s scatology less irritating to readers’ senses. This essay argues that the changelessness derives from the perspective that frames the novel. That perspective, cast in the metaphysical method of reflection, conceives the world as made up of things ‘ready-made’, ‘rigid’. This, the essay argues, forbids the possibility of change and regeneration that Armah reads, post facto, into the novel.
Futuring Africa: Immature Men and the Utility of Hope in Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to provide a re-reading of Armah as a writer of decadence and frustration. I argue that such readings remain prejudiced since scholars rarely identify the philosophy of Kant as a particularly useful resource which will aid one to understand the full complexity of Armah’s vision for postcolonial Ghana. Drawing on Kant’s age of enlightenment, this paper redeems Armah’s debut of pejorism by locating the novel’s diagnostic function within the complex paradigms of maturity and immaturity. Thus, this paper examines the ambiguities of Armah’s characterization and how it strengthens the utopian sensibilities embedded in the text. The paper concludes that Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born remains therapeutic for the advent of the new nation
Uncharted waters: an exegetical exploration of Ghana’s regulatory framework in relation to cryptocurrency: Ghana’s regulatory framework in relation to cryptocurrency
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The historical evolution of money has taken many forms such as precious metals, cowries, banknotes and coins, with the latest stage of this evolving continuum being digital currency. This evolution has been characterised by the gradual movement to a more cashlite aware society. The transition is being facilitated by constant improvement in financial technologies and services. Ghana is no exception to this development. The emergence of credit and debit cards as well as mobile banking is digitising Ghana’s currency whilst extending financial services across the country. Mobile money payment facilitated by the telecommunication companies in partnership with the traditional banks is also fast-tracking Ghana’s progress towards a cashlite economy. In 2009, a new cash-like electronic instrument known as Bitcoin emerged. Bitcoin is touted as offering anonymous, fast and irreversible peer to peer transactions, across borders with little or no transactional cost. The introduction of Bitcoin has birthed the cryptocurrency era. The anonymous nature of cryptocurrency transactions is an attraction to criminals and terrorist organisations who use cryptocurrency to facilitate unlawful activities. Despite the enormous financial, social and economic, and even political risk in cryptocurrency use, this financial instrument is largely unregulated in most countries. The potential use of cryptocurrency for purposes outside the law justifies the need for regulation to make cryptocurrency use less attractive for unlawful activities. This article draws on the legal approaches to regulating cryptocurrency by adopting a desk research to theoretically examine and interpret primary and secondary sources of data in order to determine the possible existence of an existing Ghanaian legal framework regulating cryptocurrency in Ghan
Pregnancy discrimination as a cause of action in Ghana: A commentary on CHRAJ, Grace Fosu & Thelma Hammond v. Ghana National Fire Service & the Attorney General: Pregnancy discrimination as a cause of action in Ghana: A commentary on CHRAJ, Grace Fosu & Thelma Hammond v. Ghana National Fire Service & the Attorney General
No full textThe Ghana labour law (ACT 651) prohibits pregnancy discrimination. The law exempts from application the armed forces, the police service, the prison service and the securities intelligence agencies and hence by extension, the fire service. Despite these exemptions, the court in the case of CHRAJ, Grace Fosu & Thelma Hammond v. Ghana National Fire Service & the Attorney General (CHRAJ & others v. GNFS) declared a pregnancy clause in conditions of service of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) discriminatory in its effect, unjustifiable and illegal. The objective of this case commentary is to examine the court decision in order to draw attention to the illegality of the practice of pregnancy discrimination at the workplace that adversely affects women. In analysing the court’s decision, this case commentary finds, among others, that pregnancy discrimination could be perpetrated under the guise of freedom of contract. Also that, pregnancy clauses inserted in employment contracts are discriminatory and a violation of the constitution and a business practice that adversely impacts both employers and employees. The paper submits that a good precedence has been established in the case for future use by employers, employees and civil society for optimization of the rights of women at the workplace in Ghana. Major recommendations made to improve workplace conditions and human rights of women include (1) a women’s charter to consolidate all laws on women’s rights, (2) ratification and implementation of relevant conventions and principles on business and human rights and (3) education of all stakeholders on the laws including better monitoring of employment practices to ensure that all businesses abide by the decision in CHRAJ & others v GNFS to avoid costly law suits.