Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education

Number 9 (3), 2022

94-95
From 2014 to 2022, Our 8-Year Celebrations Continues: Editors’ Note

Authors: Jacob Owusu Sarfo

Abstract

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The Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education started in October 2014 in Ghana, Africa and has grown into international recognition and indexing. Today, we can boast of authors from 23 countries across the globe. With a consistent publishing record, we have stood strong in promoting open access and securing full funding to support all our authors. As we celebrate our 8th year in sharing scientific knowledge without boarders and barriers, we share our achievements as a journal and editorial team. We acknowledge all our regulators and funders for their continuous support. Together, we hope to make the Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education the best and most preferred home to researchers, academics, students, practitioners, policymakers, and all who share or read research outputs.

96-104
Woodworkers’ Demographic Characteristics and Perceptions of Popular Wood Preservatives in the Ghanaian Housing Industry

Authors: John Lawer Narh, Isaac Agyei-Boakye, John F.K. Ekpe

Abstract

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In the housing industry in Ghana, wood treatment is often done using water-borne preservatives. Common examples of preservatives include Acid Copper Chromate (ACC), Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), and Chlorpyrifos (Dursban). It is important to know that good wood preservatives must be available on the market to ensure the quality of wood products in the Ghanaian housing industry. It is not enough that the preservative is efficient; it ought to be popular on the market. However, the popularity of a preservative may not necessarily portray its popularity. The main purpose of this study was to identify the most and least popular water-borne wood preservatives (Dursban, CCA, and ACC) in use and also determine any possible associations between woodworkers’ views concerning the most and least popular water-borne wood preservatives used in the housing industries and demographic status. An analytic sample of 199 participants was included in our study using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The results suggest that woodworkers rated Dursban as the most popular (65 %), CCA least popular (52 %), and ACC unsure (37 %). More specifically, young adults (74 %), secondary educated (84 %), carpentry speciality (86 %), and over two years experienced (88 %) woodworkers rated Dursban the most popular water-borne wood preservative used in the housing industry. However, young adults (56 %), secondary educated (59 %), carpentry specialists (59 %), and over two years experienced woodworkers (60 %) rated CCA the least popular water-borne wood preservative use in the housing industry. Further, we observed significant associations between participants’ education, profession, and experience with their perceptions of widespread water-borne wood preservatives used in the Ghanaian housing industry. Our study has implications for research, practice, and policy.

105-115
Gendered Roles in Traditional Musical Practice: A Study of Pondo Women Drummers

Authors: Benjamin Obeghare Izu, Alethea de Villiers

Abstract

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Studies in various countries on gender roles in traditional musical practices portray women as people whose music-making potential is dictated by their role and status in their various communities, among other factors. This article examines the gendered roles of Pondo women drummers in the traditional music played among the Pondo people, a sub-tribe of the Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This article presents a discussion of the Pondo community’s gender ideology and how gender-related behaviours affect its musical thought and practice, and how traditional music functions in communities to reflect Pondo women’s musical roles in traditional ceremonies. This article outlines the role played by Pondo women in traditional ceremonies and their drumming in those ceremonies. The research method adopted was a secondary data analysis of the study by Nombeko Ndzobongo (2007) titled “Women drumming among the Pondo people of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: implication for gender music education”. Her study outlined several factors that directly and indirectly affect Pondo women’s musical activities. As indicated in the study, these reflect society’s perception of these women; as women and as female musicians. Their place in the community, their role and their value in making music were also discussed.

116-123
Efforts to Patch Ghana’s Leaky Educational Pipeline’ for Promoting Gender Equity in STEM Field of Study: A Position Paper

Authors: Dickson Okoree Mireku, Prosper Dzifa Dzamesi

Abstract

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This position paper aims to highlight some progressive steps by successive Ghana governments to patch the leaks in Ghana’s educational pipeline for training females for careers in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Documentary analysis techniques were employed to review the literature to follow the line of discussions on the topic. After the review, it was found that at the end of British rule in 1957, Ghana adopted various science and technology policies geared towards pushing it into the class of front-runners in modern science and technology. Adopting policies became necessary after Ghana assessed the pivotal roles that science and technology would play in its economic development agenda. The Gender Parity Index in the primary and secondary school enrollments in Ghana between 2011 to 2020 increased from 0.96 to 1.01, indicating that the differences in the rates at which males and females were admitted to reading STEM programmes closed up. Through the government of Ghana’s interventions, the gender gap was reduced, a situation that supported the stands of the authors against that of some social critics who were of the view that Ghana is among the countries that are still struggling to patch ‘leaks’ in its educational pipeline for promoting gender balance in STEM education.