PRESENTER: Mrs Kate Adoo-Adeku
TOPIC : Gender and HIV/AIDS
DATE: 25th January 2002
ABSTRACT
The HIV/AIDS epidemic constitutes one of the greatest public health
challenges for all Nations of the world. A gender approach and focus
in dealing with HIV/AIDS is important because the needs of women and men
should be identified and treated and treated as such. It is recognized that
its spread could within the next few decades affect the whole economically
active segment of the world's population. In addition since this segment
of the population belongs largely to the reproductive age groups some of
their children could be at risk of infection. The entire national
development process therefore stand derailed if preventive measures are
not taken to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The paper therefore examines the awareness and attitudes of two
communities - Burma Camp and Sodom and Gomorrah located in the Accra
Metropolis. Findings of the study call for the need to design specific
educational programs based on situational analysis of communities for
the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
PRESENTERS: Prof. Brenda Mc Gadney-Douglas Prof. Richard Douglas Prof.Nana Araba Apt
TOPIC: Role of Grandmother's in the Survival Of Children with Kwashiorkor: Agenda For Reform of Public Policy.
DATE: 22nd February,2002
ABSTRACT:
The paper will be presented in two parts. First. The authors will discuss findings from a recent study conducted in Accra that seem to support the contributions of family members, particularly grandmother, in the remarkable survival of adolescents diagnosed with kwashiorkor in early childhood. There is a dearth of information regarding the survival of such children and the little that exists provides a bleak view of their survival , ability to learn, and successful contribution in society. Secondly, the authors will discuss policy options which when undertaken may ensure the successful survivorship of children diagnosed with kwashiorkor. These policy options include an extension of health and social welfare prevention services to families of kwashiorkor children and support training of staff at community-based nutritional rehabilitation centers.
PRESENTER: Mrs. Gifty Ohene-Konadu
TOPIC: Decentralization and Women
DATE: 22nd March 2002
ABSTRACT:
This paper focuses on the gender dimension of decentralization, and adopts a multi-dimensional gender analysis to debunk the notions that carry with them intrinsic assumption that the devolution of power too the grassroots will bring power closer to all the people, including women ,and thereby improve governance. Decentralization is therefore seen as hope for the masses at the grassroots to have power to contribute to decisions made in government. To all intents and purposes however, decentralization of power to local governments has not improved the numbers of women assembly members or increased effectiveness in influencing government.
To help examine the subject under discussion, the research address three major question:
PRESENTER: Mr. William Ahadzie
TOPIC: Ethnic Conflicts In Ghana: Who Pays the Price?
DATE: 26th April 2002
ABSTRACT:
Ghana has witnessed an unprecedented eruption of inter and Intra-ethnic conflicts in the last three decades. Most of these conflicts have had their roots in systems of governance, contentions over resources successions to offices, demands for secession and excessive begemonic intentions ethnic groups living either as contiguous groups or as mixed groups within economically deprived geographical areas. The conflicts are disruptive of the progress towards improved conditions of life and constitute a veritable drain on scarce national resources. They take consideration toll on vulnerable groups such as women and children, within and beyond the conflict zones. This paper examines the recurrent nature of ethnic conflicts in Ghana, the social costs of these interactive exchanges, as well as emphasizes the need for a proactive and systematic investigation into the underlying structural weakness that engender them.
PRESENTER: Mr Alexis Danikuu
TOPIC: HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support: The Contribution of Faith -Based Organization (FBOs)
DATE: 31st May 2002
ABSTRACT:
Medically speaking, AIDS is the consequence of viral infection . However, the issues raised by HIV/AIDS epidemic are far from purely medical or clinical . They touch on cultural norms and practices, socio-economic conditions, issues of gender, human responsibility, sexuality and morality. The social economic and moral trauma of AIDS on all people is considerable, regardless of culture, geographical or religious beliefs.All segments of society therefore, have diverse roles to play in ensuring the minimization of the rate of HIV/AIDS epidemic. This presenter primarily reviews the contribution of Faith-Based Organization (FBOs) in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support in the country. The paper notes that considering the strength, credibility and widespread nature of churches, they could make a real difference in HIV/AIDS, prevention care and support services in Ghana.
PRESENTERS: Dr Rexford Kofi Asante Prof. Richard L.Douglas
TOPIC: Roadway Casualties in Ghana: Number Two Killer, Threat to Economic Development, and the Tragedy of Preventable Suffering.
DATE: 28th June 2002
ABSTRACT:
Ghana among Sub-Saharan Africa nations,has the dubious distinction of having
the most dangerous roadway and vehicular transportation systems, based on
morbidity and mortality data. It doesn't take advanced science or an
abundance of statistical data however, for an observant traveler to take
heed on Ghana's roadways. To ride in a taxi,tro-tro, bicycle, or to be a
pedestrian along most of the roads in Greater Accra, the highway to
Cape Coast or Kumasi, or to venture into the neighbourhood streets within
districts such as Jamestown is to understand that it is a dangerous
undertaking and must cost Ghana's economy dearly.
Given that roadway and transport crashes and casualties present public health
problem, however, there is little evidence that Ghana ,as a nation has fully
recognized the threats to human life, costs to the economy damage to
families and communities or a factor that simultaneously restrains
economic and human development throughout urban and rural areas, alike.
The seminar is to stimulate a systematic attack on the dangers that
threaten us all as we live and work in Ghana.
PRESENTER: Mrs Queronica Q,Ahene-Amanquanor
TOPIC: Improving Labour Productivity: The Family - Workforce
DATE: 26th July 2002
ABSTRACT:
The paper focuses on societal changes that have impacted on harmony in the family and far reaching implications for sectors of society. Attention is drawn to how these threats affect the productivity of family members within the economically active group. This is buttressed by the plight of the family that has called for global concern to raise the awareness of policy makers to the family. The contribution of some family-oriented policies is assessed. The paper draws scenarios of the situation of the workforce based on empirical evidence, the kind of human resource being tended out now, and arouses awareness of the linkage between sound mind, healthy upbringing, and productivity. Within sociological discourse, the discussion postulates ways to improve the emotional make-up of workers through the provision of holistic family sensitive training programs and counseling sessions at the workplace.
PRESENTER: Ms Augusta Sena Gabianu
TOPIC: Our Priorities - What Are They?
DATE: 30TH AUGUST 2002
ABSTRACT:
So often in this country, one hears people say "we do not have our
priorities right". We say it when something happens or is done, which we
feel is receiving undeserved attention, to the detriment of other more
important things or actions. But even as we say it, no concrete action is
taken to reorder the priorities we find are not right. Do we have
identified priorities for our society, for our state? Are these commonly
known?
The discussion of the topic, which would be led by Ms Gabianu, would take
the form of an interactive session, so that together, we can come out with
a fair idea of what we consider should be the acceptable priorities for our
society.
PRESENTER: David K Leonard(Ph.D.)
TOPIC: Personal Rule, Economic Enclaves, and Conflicts in Africa
DATE: 20TH September 2002
ABSTRACT:
None
PRESENTER: Mrs Mercy Ackumey
TOPIC : Local Perception of Buruli Ulcer in the Ga District, Greater Accra Region.
DATE: 25TH October 2002
ABSTRACT:
The Buruli ulcer disease caused by mycobacterium ulcerans infection was first described By Sir Alfred Cook in 1987 in the Buruli area in Uganda. Since then, several cases have been reported throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. To date, the exact mode of transmission is unknown and there is no scientific evidence to suggest person -to- person transmission. Even though there have been epidemiological studies on the disease, very little research has been done on the local perceptions of the disease. This study therefore, sought to investigate the local perceptions of buruli ulcer, aetiology of the disease from the community's point of view, treatment seeking behaviour of the people and the community reaction towards patients.
PRESENTER: Miss Edna Aryee
TOPIC: Violence against women: Psychological effects of rape on victims.
DATE: 29th November 2002
ABSTRACT
Violence against women is recognized today as a major issue on the international human rights agenda (UNFPA, 1999). Violence takes many forms and varies from culture to culture. It involves behaviour, injuries and impacts that are not only physical but also psychological and sexual in nature. Gender- based violence includes a wide range o violation of women's human rights including trafficking of women and girls, rape, spousal abuse, harmful cultural practices and traditions that impedes their reproductive rights and sexual health ( WHO,1997). The main aim of this study was to assess the psychological effects of rape on victims and specifically examine the level of depression among victims.
PRESENTER: Prof. Nana Apt
TOPIC : Children: Our wealth, our Hope For The Future: What Policy options?
DATE: 18TH December,2002
ABSTRACT :
The month's seminar of the Centre for Social policy Studies, for 2002, was
rounded up with discussions on issues of Child Welfare, with particular
reference to the wide spectrum of issues that beset our children and
which have tremendous impact on their growth, development and welfare.
These issues include: