1,720,963 research outputs found
Indigenes’ Perceptions of Gold Mining in Their Communities: A Case Study of Gold Exploration in Nadowli District of the Upper West Region of Ghana
Full text linkThis paper explores the perceptions of indigenes about the mining of gold in their communities in the Nadowli district of the Upper West region in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative research approach using the Chere community as a case study. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect the data. The data was analysed through thematic analysis. The findings showed that indigenes of the mining community have mixed perceptions of the gold exploration in their community. On one hand, the gold exploration has transformed and improved livelihoods of local communities in the Nadowli district. On the other, it has affected the environment negatively. The activities of mining have myriad impacts on the life of the community (local economy, local politics, education, health, marriage, religion). There is a growing tension between the host community and the principal mining firm operating in the Chere community. Despite the benefits that the host community has obtained, activities of mining are viewed as serious threats to community settlement and farmlands. The interaction between the local community and mining firm could degenerate into a full-scale violent conflict. It is recommended that appropriate platforms be created for host communities and the mining firm to interact to address grievances arising out of the mineral exploration in the Nadowli district. Keywords: Indigenes, Perceptions, Gold Mining, Nadowli, Upper West, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/90-05 Publication date: January 31st 202
A Spitcerow Analysis of the Nadowli Chieftaincy Conundrum in the Upper West Region of Ghana
Full text linkThis paper provides an analysis of the Nadowli chieftaincy conundrum using the SPITCEROW model. Using a qualitative case study, the study draws data from the chiefs, elders, community leaders and Tendaaba of Nadowli to understand the conflict and why it has remained unresolved. The analysis reveals that the conflict is non-violent. The conflict which is over twenty years old has changed from an initial struggle over the rightful traditional kingmakers of Nadowli into a succession dispute. The use of the law courts has been the main tactic employed by parties in the conflict. The resort to the law courts as a resolution tactic has rather contributed to prolonging the lifespan of the conflict. It is recommended that rather being stuck in court, stakeholders may wish to revert to the native mechanisms of resolving disputes in Nadowli. Keywords: Spitcerow, Analysis, Nadowli, Chieftaincy, Conundrum, Upper West, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/81-04 Publication date: January 31st 202
Principals’ Perceptions of Independence Mission Schools in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Full text linkThis study is a contribution to a new model of Catholic education that has emerged in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, USA in the past eight years. The primary purpose of the research was to understand the experiences and perceptions of principals of the establishment and ‘mission’ of Independence Mission Schools (IMS) in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The study was approached qualitatively and designed as a case study. Using a sample of nine IMS principals, data was collected through interviews and analyzed thematically. The study found that there is great value for Catholic education. The study also unearthed that the principals of these institutions have deep understanding of the mission and vision of the IMS including the following: That the IMS system provides a model of Catholic education, a viable alternative to other private and public education providers; provides holistic education for the poor, ensures continuity in Catholic education, provides safe, caring, and supportive environment for students. The study further discovered that the Principals adopt different strategies to accomplish the mission and vision of IMS. Additionally, IMS impacts positively on students’ lives. However, limited finance, teacher turnovers, operation of schools as businesses have been challenging to the Principals’ effective management of the IMS schools. The principals nonetheless have positive perceptions of IMS’s future. At the same time, the principals expressed concerns about the sustainability of the IMS network. To ensure the sustainability of the IMS vision and mission, the Principals, during the study, recommended that more financial resources should be obtained, remunerations of teachers should be increased, Catholic identity should be kept in schools, improve competitive advantage, encourage good relationships, and constantly revisit the network’s mandate. The study has important implications for stakeholders. Stakeholders can use the findings of the study to meet the critical needs of the IMS network. Since the study was limited to only nine principals, it is recommended that a further research may be carried out to take into account the perceptions of other key actors in the IMS network such as teachers, students, parents and board members. That way a deeper understanding of the establishment mission of the IMS might be gained. Keywords: Principals, Perceptions, Independence Mission Schools, Archdiocese, Philadelphia DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-10-11 Publication date: April 30th 202
An Analysis of Political Vigilantism in Ghana Using the Spitcerow Model
Full text linkThe paper is a qualitative analysis of the dynamics of political vigilantism in the fourth republic of Ghana. The goal is to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of political vigilantism and the behaviors and interactions of actors in the political processes of Ghana. The paper deployed the SPITCEROW model as the framework of analysis of political vigilantism in Ghana. Political vigilante violence increases during general elections in Ghana. In 2024, Ghana will hold general elections. Some Ghanaians are concerned that the country may witness a recurrence of increase vigilante violence and activities in the 2024 general elections. We take the view that understanding the dynamics and complexities in political vigilantism is essential in combating it. The paper draws data from secondary sources including research reports, articles, and online news reports. The analysis demonstrates that the dynamics of political vigilantism in Ghana are complex, multidimensional, and fluid. The analysis further indicates that unaddressed structural deficiencies in the Ghanaian society create fertile grounds for the birth, growth and thriving of vigilante groups and activities. Vigilante tactics range from physical to emotional, psychological, and verbal. There are multiple actors with varied behaviors, positions, interests, identities, and needs in political vigilantism. Therefore, we argued that multilevel interventions are necessary for confronting the multilayered conditions that are responsible for the emergence and thriving of political vigilante groups. We concluded that any effort that is aimed at dealing with political vigilantism in Ghana without addressing the structural sources may not produce sustainable outcomes. Keywords: Political, Vigilantism, Analysis, Ghana, SPITCEROW DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-2-03 Publication date: February 28th 202
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Why the Resolution of the Nandom Imamship Conflict Has Not Been Successful
Full text linkIn our earlier work (2022), we analyzed the dynamics of the Nandom Imamship conflict in the Upper West Region of Ghana. This current paper discusses the threats to the resolution of the Nandom Imamship conflict. The study that informed this paper was undertaken to understand the Nandom Imamship conflict using a qualitative approach and a case study design. The purpose was to explore the factors that have been stalling the resolution of the conflict since its eruption to enable conflict resolution and peacebuilding practitioners or institutions to devise appropriate mechanisms towards resolving the conflict. The findings show that the threats to the resolution of the conflict exist at system, actor, and community levels. The local dynamics of the conflict and the conflict environment were not well understood by intervening parties. As such, we argue that conflict analysis should be prime to conflict resolution. The paper observed that trust and confidence building are critical issues in conflict resolution. The paper concludes by arguing that consciousness and understanding of conflict resolution threats is significant to approaching conflicts and constructing effective conflict resolution processes. Key words: Conflict Resolution, Threats, Nandom, Zongo, Imamship DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/59-03 Publication date: March 30th 202
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
A Case Study of the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Church Activities in the Catholic Diocese of Damongo in the Savannah Region of Ghana
Full text linkSince the emergence of the Covid-19 virus, the world has changed in almost all spheres. Economies, transportation, health, commerce, tourism, education, hospitality, employment, agriculture, religion, among others have all been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The overarching goal of the study was to explore the impact of Covid-19 on church activities in the Catholic diocese of Damongo in the Savannah region of Ghana. Thus, the study explored the perceptions of Catholic priests in Damongo diocese about the Covid-19 pandemic, examined the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on church activities in the various parishes as well as sought to gain some insights into the strategies priests in the various parishes adopted to cope with the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Using a qualitative case design, sixteen (16) priests from all the parishes in the Catholic diocese of Damongo were purposively selected and interviewed. The data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed competing perceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic among priests in the diocese. The findings also showed that the impact of Covid-19 on church activities in the diocese of Damongo has been severe. Among other things, finances of parishes diminished, church attendance declined, and the faith of parishioners was put to the test during the pandemic. Yet, parishes also learned new ways of evangelizing during the pandemic, namely through digitalization. Survival was a major challenge for parishes during the pandemic. Priests resorted to God for protection. Lay associations and societies were appealed to for donations. Digital platforms were adopted to facilitate evangelization. Based on the findings, the study recommended that parishes should be pastorally proactive, invest in other sustainable ventures, and use accrued funds judiciously. The study further recommended that a self-reliance drive which the diocese initiated in the past be upheld and parishes should explore modern digital means of reaching out to the community of faithful across the diocese of Damongo. Keywords: Covid-19 Pandemic, Impact, Church Activities, Catholic Diocese, Damongo, Savanah Region, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-5-03 Publication date:March 31st 202
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