Benjamin Darkwa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Benjamin Darkwa
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), May 1, 2022
Culture & History Digital Journal
From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valua... more From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valuable roles towards the development of every culture. Historically, their impacts in medicine and healthcare in general have been evident across time and space. Prior to European influx and the modernization of healthcare in Ghana, women delivered such roles that simulate that of modern midwives, nurses, herbalists and priestesses. Although, denied access to formal education in the colonial days, because of cultural reasons, women have risen to occupy central stages in biomedical services. Regardless of their numerical strength and contributions towards the provision of healthcare, they have been neglected and marginalized both within the society and by scholars. Significantly, the place of Obuasi, in particular, within the literature on women’s contribution to healthcare delivery has received little attention. Dwelling on a qualitative research approach grounded in both primary and second...
Modern Africa: Politics, History and Society
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of ... more The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of individuals. Using a social media research approach, this article analyses social media data in order to understand how social media users related with COVID-19. We sought to address the various events that generated humour among Ghanaians during the pandemic. The study reveals that the various instances of humour revolved around nose and/or face masks, terminologies and various social media posts. People neutralised their tensions and raised their humour with posts that flooded social media. This stemmed from the idea that people were mainly surprised at what they saw, watched or heard as they sought to release stress. We conclude that, owing partially to the creation of humour, the fear and tension associated with COVID-19 decreased with time among Ghanaians.
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with the practice of medicine either in tra... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with the practice of medicine either in traditional or advanced societies. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the Kwahu people of Ghana in particular. Cultural values in the Kwahu vicinity and the world at large has gone through changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine which is embedded cultural constructs have experienced some changes since the cultural values of the people have gone through enormous metamorphosis. Although the values of culture -on their own- changes overtime, this paper associate most of the changes with the community's encounter with the Europeans dominance on the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of these social ...
Studia Historiae Oeconomicae
Cocoa production has been a major source of income and revenue to many citizens and the governor ... more Cocoa production has been a major source of income and revenue to many citizens and the governor of Ghana respectively through time. Historically, although attributed to Tetteh Quarshie, records have shown that prior to Tetteh Quarshie’s achievement, the Dutch and Basel Missionaries had experimented with the crop in the Gold Coast. Since its introduction in the country, cocoa production has expanded and spread across all the regions in Ghana. The production of cocoa has affected every facet of development in the country since its inception and has once led Ghana to be world’s major exporter of the beans. Cocoa production in Ghana has gone beyond its agricultural and economic significance with its impacts felt across socio-cultural, religious and political life of Ghanaians. That notwithstanding, scholars have made partial effort at addressing the impact of cocoa production among Ghanaians between 1879 and 1976. Using a qualitative approach rooted in both primary and secondary source...
International Journal of Modern Anthropology, 2020
Societies that have accepted Islam have blended their native culture with what was, rightly and w... more Societies that have accepted Islam have blended their native culture with what was, rightly and wrongly, linked to Islam. Here, we present an example of this combination concerning traditional healing processes in Muslim societies. Focusing on the Aboabo community, we did an ethnographic study of healing processes and rites used by healers and further discussed the rites, practices, contributions and challenges of Muslim traditional healing in the community. Based on a qualitative research approach, the current study uses both theories of diffusionism and syncretism and empirical evidence to highlight the mode of treating some diseases using medicinal plants and rituals including prayers and Qur‟an verses recommended in ancient narrations received from earlier Muslim societies (particularly Arab societies). Although Muslim traditional healers are nearly disappearing from many contemporary Muslim societies, the continuation of their presence in some societies such as Aboabo is partly...
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural v... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural values in the Kwawu community and the world at large has gone through a cornucopia of changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine and healing in the Kwawu community which are embedded and constructed culturally have experienced some changes or gone through metamorphosis. Although the values of culture -on their ownchanges overtime, this paper relates most of the changes within the community to the European domination of the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of which have served as social forces impacting the nature of medical practices among the people of Kwawu. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the...
Missions have played numerous developmental roles towards the achievement of economic and social ... more Missions have played numerous developmental roles towards the achievement of economic and social advancement including the provision of healthcare. From their entry into Africa, they have employed numerous methods in order to introduce their Christian faith. The construction of schools and hospitals, engagement in public health campaigns, provision of relevant services for the poor, and spearheading the provision of formal education, among others, have been the most effective mechanisms. The activities of missionaries have taken different dimensions as their scope continues to change over time. Nevertheless, existing literature shows little data on the changing landscape of mission medicine and hospitals in Africa. Using a systematic literature review approach, the current study discusses the changing landscape of mission medicine and hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa. This contribution dwells partly on the missionary theory of medical practice to define most of the services of these ...
Research in Globalization
History of science and technology
While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a milit... more While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a military apparatus and gained much attention during major wars, including the two world wars. Aside being used in combats and to deliver humanitarian services, drones have also been used extensively to kill both troops and civilians. Revolutionized in the 19th century, the drone technology was improved to be controlled as an unmanned aerial devices to mainly target troops. A new emerging field that has seen the application of the drone technology is the healthcare sector. Over the years, the health sector has increasingly relied on the device for timely transportation of essential articles across the globe. Since its introduction in health, scholars have attempted to address the impact of drones on healthcare across Africa and the world at large. Among other things, it has been reported by scholars that the device has the ability to overcome the menace of weather constraints, inadequate perso...
Ethnologia Actualis
Akyem Abuakwa is one of the largest states of the Akan ethnic group in Ghana. Notwithstanding its... more Akyem Abuakwa is one of the largest states of the Akan ethnic group in Ghana. Notwithstanding its size and important contribution to Ghana’s development, historians have paid little attention in doing academic research on the health history of the people. Using a qualitative method of research, this paper does a historical study on public health policies in Akyem Abuakwa from the 1850s to 1957. We utilised documentary and non-documentary sources to discuss the various public health policies implemented in Akyem Abuakwa from the pre-colonial era to the colonial era. We examined the impact of the policies on the people of Akyem Abuakwa and the various challenges faced by the British colonial administration in their quest to implement public health policies.
Studia Historiae Oeconomicae
Colonization successfully advanced various reforms in Africa that affected several practices on t... more Colonization successfully advanced various reforms in Africa that affected several practices on the continent. The various customs that have been affected include the land tenure system of British colonies in particular. An abundance of laws and policies were adopted with the sole aim of conserving the environment. These policies often clashed with indigenous interests and witnessed counter attacks as a result. Despite this, there is little information in the literature concerning how British land policies shaped their relations with the indigenous people, particularly the Asante. Based on a qualitative research approach, the current study uses Asante as a focal point of discourse in order to historically trace British land policies and how they, the British engaged with the people of Asante. From the discourse, it should be established that the colonial administration passed ordinances to mobilize revenue and not necessarily for the protection of the environment. In addition, the f...
Kervan Journal of Afro-Asiatic Studies, 2020
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural v... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural values in the Kwawu community and the world at large has gone through a cornucopia of changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine and healing in the Kwawu community which are embedded and constructed culturally have experienced some changes or gone through metamorphosis. Although the values of culture-on their own-changes overtime, this paper relates most of the changes within the community to the European domination of the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of which have served as social forces impacting the nature of medical practices among the people of Kwawu. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the Kwawu people of Ghana. The current contribution concludes, among other things, that the youth are the major exhibitors of social change. Practitioners and clients (patients) have therefore recognized the need to use up-to-date technology and skills to meet the changing needs and preference in the area of healthcare and medicine.
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), May 1, 2022
Culture & History Digital Journal
From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valua... more From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valuable roles towards the development of every culture. Historically, their impacts in medicine and healthcare in general have been evident across time and space. Prior to European influx and the modernization of healthcare in Ghana, women delivered such roles that simulate that of modern midwives, nurses, herbalists and priestesses. Although, denied access to formal education in the colonial days, because of cultural reasons, women have risen to occupy central stages in biomedical services. Regardless of their numerical strength and contributions towards the provision of healthcare, they have been neglected and marginalized both within the society and by scholars. Significantly, the place of Obuasi, in particular, within the literature on women’s contribution to healthcare delivery has received little attention. Dwelling on a qualitative research approach grounded in both primary and second...
Modern Africa: Politics, History and Society
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of ... more The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of individuals. Using a social media research approach, this article analyses social media data in order to understand how social media users related with COVID-19. We sought to address the various events that generated humour among Ghanaians during the pandemic. The study reveals that the various instances of humour revolved around nose and/or face masks, terminologies and various social media posts. People neutralised their tensions and raised their humour with posts that flooded social media. This stemmed from the idea that people were mainly surprised at what they saw, watched or heard as they sought to release stress. We conclude that, owing partially to the creation of humour, the fear and tension associated with COVID-19 decreased with time among Ghanaians.
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with the practice of medicine either in tra... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with the practice of medicine either in traditional or advanced societies. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the Kwahu people of Ghana in particular. Cultural values in the Kwahu vicinity and the world at large has gone through changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine which is embedded cultural constructs have experienced some changes since the cultural values of the people have gone through enormous metamorphosis. Although the values of culture -on their own- changes overtime, this paper associate most of the changes with the community's encounter with the Europeans dominance on the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of these social ...
Studia Historiae Oeconomicae
Cocoa production has been a major source of income and revenue to many citizens and the governor ... more Cocoa production has been a major source of income and revenue to many citizens and the governor of Ghana respectively through time. Historically, although attributed to Tetteh Quarshie, records have shown that prior to Tetteh Quarshie’s achievement, the Dutch and Basel Missionaries had experimented with the crop in the Gold Coast. Since its introduction in the country, cocoa production has expanded and spread across all the regions in Ghana. The production of cocoa has affected every facet of development in the country since its inception and has once led Ghana to be world’s major exporter of the beans. Cocoa production in Ghana has gone beyond its agricultural and economic significance with its impacts felt across socio-cultural, religious and political life of Ghanaians. That notwithstanding, scholars have made partial effort at addressing the impact of cocoa production among Ghanaians between 1879 and 1976. Using a qualitative approach rooted in both primary and secondary source...
International Journal of Modern Anthropology, 2020
Societies that have accepted Islam have blended their native culture with what was, rightly and w... more Societies that have accepted Islam have blended their native culture with what was, rightly and wrongly, linked to Islam. Here, we present an example of this combination concerning traditional healing processes in Muslim societies. Focusing on the Aboabo community, we did an ethnographic study of healing processes and rites used by healers and further discussed the rites, practices, contributions and challenges of Muslim traditional healing in the community. Based on a qualitative research approach, the current study uses both theories of diffusionism and syncretism and empirical evidence to highlight the mode of treating some diseases using medicinal plants and rituals including prayers and Qur‟an verses recommended in ancient narrations received from earlier Muslim societies (particularly Arab societies). Although Muslim traditional healers are nearly disappearing from many contemporary Muslim societies, the continuation of their presence in some societies such as Aboabo is partly...
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural v... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural values in the Kwawu community and the world at large has gone through a cornucopia of changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine and healing in the Kwawu community which are embedded and constructed culturally have experienced some changes or gone through metamorphosis. Although the values of culture -on their ownchanges overtime, this paper relates most of the changes within the community to the European domination of the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of which have served as social forces impacting the nature of medical practices among the people of Kwawu. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the...
Missions have played numerous developmental roles towards the achievement of economic and social ... more Missions have played numerous developmental roles towards the achievement of economic and social advancement including the provision of healthcare. From their entry into Africa, they have employed numerous methods in order to introduce their Christian faith. The construction of schools and hospitals, engagement in public health campaigns, provision of relevant services for the poor, and spearheading the provision of formal education, among others, have been the most effective mechanisms. The activities of missionaries have taken different dimensions as their scope continues to change over time. Nevertheless, existing literature shows little data on the changing landscape of mission medicine and hospitals in Africa. Using a systematic literature review approach, the current study discusses the changing landscape of mission medicine and hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa. This contribution dwells partly on the missionary theory of medical practice to define most of the services of these ...
Research in Globalization
History of science and technology
While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a milit... more While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a military apparatus and gained much attention during major wars, including the two world wars. Aside being used in combats and to deliver humanitarian services, drones have also been used extensively to kill both troops and civilians. Revolutionized in the 19th century, the drone technology was improved to be controlled as an unmanned aerial devices to mainly target troops. A new emerging field that has seen the application of the drone technology is the healthcare sector. Over the years, the health sector has increasingly relied on the device for timely transportation of essential articles across the globe. Since its introduction in health, scholars have attempted to address the impact of drones on healthcare across Africa and the world at large. Among other things, it has been reported by scholars that the device has the ability to overcome the menace of weather constraints, inadequate perso...
Ethnologia Actualis
Akyem Abuakwa is one of the largest states of the Akan ethnic group in Ghana. Notwithstanding its... more Akyem Abuakwa is one of the largest states of the Akan ethnic group in Ghana. Notwithstanding its size and important contribution to Ghana’s development, historians have paid little attention in doing academic research on the health history of the people. Using a qualitative method of research, this paper does a historical study on public health policies in Akyem Abuakwa from the 1850s to 1957. We utilised documentary and non-documentary sources to discuss the various public health policies implemented in Akyem Abuakwa from the pre-colonial era to the colonial era. We examined the impact of the policies on the people of Akyem Abuakwa and the various challenges faced by the British colonial administration in their quest to implement public health policies.
Studia Historiae Oeconomicae
Colonization successfully advanced various reforms in Africa that affected several practices on t... more Colonization successfully advanced various reforms in Africa that affected several practices on the continent. The various customs that have been affected include the land tenure system of British colonies in particular. An abundance of laws and policies were adopted with the sole aim of conserving the environment. These policies often clashed with indigenous interests and witnessed counter attacks as a result. Despite this, there is little information in the literature concerning how British land policies shaped their relations with the indigenous people, particularly the Asante. Based on a qualitative research approach, the current study uses Asante as a focal point of discourse in order to historically trace British land policies and how they, the British engaged with the people of Asante. From the discourse, it should be established that the colonial administration passed ordinances to mobilize revenue and not necessarily for the protection of the environment. In addition, the f...
Kervan Journal of Afro-Asiatic Studies, 2020
The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural v... more The cultural values of any group of people correlates with their practice of medicine. Cultural values in the Kwawu community and the world at large has gone through a cornucopia of changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine and healing in the Kwawu community which are embedded and constructed culturally have experienced some changes or gone through metamorphosis. Although the values of culture-on their own-changes overtime, this paper relates most of the changes within the community to the European domination of the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of which have served as social forces impacting the nature of medical practices among the people of Kwawu. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the Kwawu people of Ghana. The current contribution concludes, among other things, that the youth are the major exhibitors of social change. Practitioners and clients (patients) have therefore recognized the need to use up-to-date technology and skills to meet the changing needs and preference in the area of healthcare and medicine.