MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

It has been a fruitful year so far. We have seen

consistent progress across all the units of the Faculty. I
say a big ayekoo to all faculty members for the
hardwork and diligence, as well as our students for the
steadfast spirit in their studies.

The 3rd Quarter Edition of TBN showcase six (6)

Bioscience Discourse series, Postgraduate and
Undergraduate study programmes in Biosciences,
students practical training experience and publications
by member of faculty in the period under consideration. PROF. ELLIOT H. ALHASSAN, DEAN

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 BIOSCIENCE DISCOURSE - BD

BIOSCIENCE DISCOURSE

ioscience discourse is a monthly seminar series of the Faculty of Biosciences of the University

B for Development Studies (UDS), where faculty members and invited guest-scientists present
their research work, innovations/ideas, scientific propositions, etc, to peers and students for a
constructive discussion (discourse). BD was launched in January 2022 and has since hosted
17 speakers of varied specialties in biosciences. The BD platform is shaping research in the faculty:
promoting collaborations, peer review, quality research design, data handling/analysis and
communication. In this edition, summaries of six thematic presentations made by senior and early-
career researchers of the Faculty in the BD series were included.

A snapshot of s Bioscience Discourse session

Photo Credit: Bluecraft photos

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 BD_SERIES

RAW SHEA BUTTER SOLD IN MARKETS: MICROBIAL DIVERSITY, HEALTH

IMPLICATIONS AND THE WAY FORWARD Prof. Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba

M
any people today spend money on beauty products,
most especially to have smooth skin. Sheabutter is
one of the cheapest organic options for moisturizing
the skin, improving the scalp and managing certain skin
infections. Locally the butter is used to make soaps, treat
wounds and also for cooking. Recently the demand for shea
butter has grown as it is widely used in global brands that
focus on chocolate production.
Aside from the labour-intensive nature and hazards of the Shea fruits on tree
shea butter production industry, the issue of microbial
diversity and health implications of the shea butter is of keen interest to researchers like Prof. Courage
Kosi Setsoafia Saba. Upon observing how the product is handled at the local market, Prof. Saba
hypothesized that the skin of shea butter users could harbour either beneficial or pathogenic
microorganisms. He designed and carried out a study to
isolate and identify microbes in shea butter sold in major
markets in Tamale, Tolon, and Kumbungu that may cause
infections or prevent diseases when used on the skin.
In the report of Prof. Saba, 95% of the shea butter
sampled were contaminated with one or more microbes
and had higher microbial load than the recommended limit
of 1000 cfu/g for cosmetic products. He attributed this
observation to poor hygienic conditions and handling
practices, and exposure to sedimented dust and aerosol.
He further asserted that contaminated shea butter may be
Shea butter on display on the market
colonized by pathogenic microbes.
Prof. Saba and his team are still working on this project and he encourages the use of clean water for
shea butter processing, heating before use, the use of clean packages and the development of a
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point approaches for shea butter processors.

Contact
Prof. Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba, PhD
csetsoafia@uds.edu.gh

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 BD_SERIES

NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES: POLICING GEOHELMINTHS WITH ZOONOTIC

POTENTIAL IN GHANA Mr. Seth Oware

T
he tropics are home to some horrific diseases that are not seen anywhere else with more than a
billion people at risk of these diseases today. Billions of people in the tropics are at risk of
helminths, protozoa, fungi, viruses, bacteria and ectoparasites that cause Neglected Tropical
Diseases (NTDs). Based on global statistics, the World Health Organization have set strategies to
control and eliminate NTDs with specific targets.
This global intervention, gradually, will see the improvement of health in the tropics. Children of
school-going age will be able to go to school and parents will be able to go to work because of the less
vulnerability to NTDs. This will subsequently have positive consequences on the global sustainable
development goals 3, 4, 6 and 10 directly in the tropical regions.
Mr Seth Oware and a team of reserachers from
KNUST has been engaged in research works on
NTDs in Ghana in areas including the Mole
National park, Atewa forest reserve, and some
schools in the Kwabre East district in Ghana. He
establishes that even though Ghana has managed
to eradicate Guinea worm and blinding Trachoma
the country is currently not on track in its efforts to
fight NTDs. In his recent presentation, he said
“Geohelminths, collectively, presents the highest
disease burden than other NTDs but are given
little consideration in the fight against NTDs”.
Mr Oware also has a keen interest in intensifying
geohelminth monitoring and surveillance efforts,
developing improved and cost-effective methods
of geohelminth diagnosis, enhancing efforts
towards the development of vaccines and Warthogs feeding on household food residue in a
intensifying public health awareness campaigns compound in the neighbourhood of Mole
on geohelminth in the future. National Park– indicating wildlife/domestic
interaction

Contact
Mr Seth Oware, MPhil
soware@uds.edu.gh

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 BD_SERIES

FISHERIES ASSESSMENT AND TROPHIC MODELLING OF RESERVOIRS IN NORTHERN

GHANA Dr Seth Mensah Abobi

F
isheries in reservoirs in northern Ghana greatly support communities through the provision of
food, nutritional security, income and livelihoods. Meanwhile, managing fish populations in the
reservoirs can be very challenging due to encroachment, habitat destruction, extreme water
losses, and poor reservoir management.
To improve inland fishing management with science-
based approaches, Dr. Seth Mensah Abobi used single
species stock assessment and trophic modelling
approaches to assess the Tono Reservoir in the Upper
East Region, and the Bontanga and Golinga Reservoirs
in the Northern Region of Ghana. He set out to answer
questions concerning harvest potential estimation,
population-level assessment, and ecosystem-level
assessment using Ecopath with Ecosim food web
modelling software suite to assess ecosystem
structure, trophic relationships, robustness, and key Fresh fish catch
roles of species.
Dr. Abobi identified the seasonal shift from fishing to alternative livelihoods as an enabler of
sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. He also finds reservoir-specific gear selectivity and
fishing pressure as key drivers of fishing exploitation. He also noted that small reservoirs have high
fishing productivity but risk critical seasonal water shortages.
In his recommendations, Dr. Abobi called for the protection and enhancement of the physical
environment of reservoirs for fish production, enforcement of Ghana’s fishing regulations and the
development of an inland fisheries management plan. He also encourages the maximisation of
sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. With emphasis, Dr. Abobi is demanding the
government of Ghana through MoFAD and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to include an
ecosystem-based fisheries perspective in the planning and construction of dams to augment the
agricultural benefits derived from reservoirs. Going forward, Dr. Abobi and his team of researchers will
be evaluating the social-ecological resilience of these reservoirs considering their multiple-use
characteristics.

Contact
Dr Seth Mensah Abobi, PhD
mabobi@uds.edu.gh

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 BD_SERIES

OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HUMAN DISEASES: OCIMUM AMERICANUM IN MANAGING

LIVER DISEASES Ms. Afua Kobi Ampem Genfi

T
he cells of humans and animals begin to lose function as a result of oxidative stress
accumulation. This causes the inefficiency of the mitochondria, and the cell membrane begins to
lose its integrity. At this point, the entire system of a human or animal is likely to fail.
It is a normal mechanism of the body system to make reactive oxygen species (ROS) when it suffers
imbalance from the environment. Exposure to chemicals, environmental stressors, microorganisms,
viruses, aflatoxins, pollutants, antiblastic drugs, and UV radiation produces high levels of ROS, which
are known to either be free radicals or non-free radicals. Why the body makes ROS is still not well
understood. However, the ability of the body to get rid of cells that are mutated, altered or
dysfunctional has always been a positive process.
Ms. Afua Kobi Ampem Genfi, in her research, identified
Ocimum americanum, locally known as "akoko mesa" as a
potential detoxifying plant which could be used to manage liver
diseases which are on the rise in recent times. O. americanum
is an indigenous plant with other benefits such as reduction of
blood glucose, parasitic infestations, colds, fevers, and
inflammation. Aside from these benefits, which are obtained
from the plant indirectly as a result of its usage in local dishes
or concoctions, she is interested in the phytochemical
constituents and their effect on oxidative liver function as well
as oxidative and antioxidant profiles of the liver.
The findings of her studies show that O. americanum extracts
are hepatoprotective due to the presence of bioactive
compounds (phytochemicals) that give them the ability to
modulate biochemical parameters, scavenge free radicals
Ocimum americanum plant generated by toxins (CCl4), and down-regulate the expression
of interleukin-1 (IL-1).

Contact
Ms. Afua Kobi Ampem Genfi, MPhil.
agenfi@uds.edu.gh

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 BD_SERIES

THE ROLE OF PROCESSING TECHNIQUES ON THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF BAMBARA

GROUNDNUTS (VIGNA SUBTERRANEAN) Dr Damba Yahaya

B
ambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) is a stress-tolerant crop of West African origin which
provides enormous dietary importance for humans and animals. This legume also provides
adequate nutrients to the soil and has the potential to adapt to different climatic situations. The
postharvest practice of drying bambara groundnut to harden often causes a decrease in the nutritional
quality of the nuts. One major concern limiting the utilisation of bambara groundnut is that it is hard to
cook; it requires extensive cooking time and higher energy expenditure.
Dr. Damba Yahaya’s interest lies in assessing the effects of processing techniques on the nutritional
quality of bambara groundnut (V. subterranean) towards food security in Ghana. In this recent study,
he set out to determine the proximate composition of bambara groundnuts while detecting the levels of
oxalate and phytate and finally, identifying and quantifying the mineral constituents.
The results of his recent study include the establishment of a significant difference between the
varieties used in the study and the processing techniques considered. Generally, the minerals
considered in the study had a clearly defined variation across the various processing techniques with a
continuous reduction from the original amounts. He also found that
his results solidify the point that minerals are easily leached into their
soaking media, which is often discarded.
He recommends that bambara groundnut seeds should be processed
before utilisation. He encourages soaking bambara groundnut in
NaHCO3 + NaCl because it increases mineral content (calcium,
potassium, and iron) and reduces anti-nutritional factors (oxalate and
phytate) according to his study. He finally recommends that further
research should be conducted to identify the appropriate time for
soaking with NaHCO3 + NaCl to check the reduction of anti-nutritional
Bambara beans factors.

Contact
Dr Damba Yahaya , PhD
ydamba @uds.edu.gh

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 BD_SERIES

ANAEMIA AMONG ANTENATAL ATTENDEES AT THE NAVRONGO WAR MEMORIAL

HOSPITAL Mr. Saeed F. Majeed

H
eavy periods, pregnancies, ulcers, colon cancers, inherited disorders, lack of folic acid or
vitamin B12, and blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, or cancer are
conditions that could lead to anaemia in people. Anaemic persons often feel tired, have short
breaths, headaches, cold, dizziness, and irritability, which significantly affect their health and socio-
economic development. Anaemia in pregnancy is a common health problem worldwide, especially in
sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to high maternal morbidity and mortality, low birth weight, stillbirth,
and perinatal mortality.
Mr. Saeed Folorunso Majeed determined the prevalence and assessed the risk factors for anaemia
among pregnant women seeking antenatal care at the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo in the
Upper East Region of Ghana. Mr. Majeed found the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women
at a level of 49.11% which is beyond the national prevalence level of 45%.
His study showed that the level of education, helminthic infestation, and consumption of fruits,
vegetables, and milk were significantly associated with anaemia in pregnancy. He also found the risk
factors for anaemia in pregnancy to be previous delivery, type of pregnancy, bleeding per vagina,
history of miscarriage, transfusion in a previous pregnancy, malaria during pregnancy, Intermittent
Preventive Treatment (ITN) use, Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp-SP), worm
infestation, and usage of anthelmintics.
Mr. Majeed recommends that more education should be given during antenatal care (ANC) visits. He
also suggests more intensive community outreach on the contents of the Maternal and Child Health
Record Book, as well as continued supply and advocacy for ITN use.

Contact
Mr. Saeed F. Majeed
fsaeed@uds.edu.gh

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 STUDY PROGRAMMES

FACULTY OF BIOSCIENCES – STUDY PRGRAMMES

The Faculty of Biosciences has 6 Academic Departments that ran undergraduate and postgraduate
programmes.

Department of Department of Fisheries Department of

Biotechnology and Aquatic Resources Biochemistry and
Management Molecular Biology

• PhD. Biotechnology • PhD. Fisheries Science • BSc. Biochemistry

• MPhil. Biotechnology
• MSc. Biotechnology
• BSc. Biotechnology and
Molecular Biology
• PhD. Sustainable
Aquaculture
• MPhil. Fisheries Science
• BSc. Aquaculture
Technology and Fisheries
Science
• Dip. Aquaculture
technology and Fisheries
Science

Department of Department of Biological Department of Forensic

Microbiology Sciences Sciences

• BSc. Microbiology • BSc. Biological Science • BSc. Forensic Science

The programmes italicized are at advanced stages of accreditation consideration by the Ghana
Tertiary Education Council (GTEC). All other programmes are fully accredited by GTEC and are being
ran with high enrollments.

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 PRACTICAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE

POSTGRADUATE STUDIES – THESIS EXPERIENCE

ANTIBIOTIC EFFECT OF GUAVA LEAVES

EXTRACT ON BACTERIA ISOLATES FROM
TILAPIA REARED IN CAGES ON THE
VOLTA LAKE
The study identified and characterized
bacteria from cage cultured Nile tilapia in the
Lake Volta in Ghana and evaluated its
response to commonly used antibiotics and
guava extracts at 10, 30, 50, 70 and 100
mgml-1. Samples from the head kidneys of 27
moribund Nile tilapia were collected from 9
fish farms and identified using morphological
and molecular techniques. Antibiotic
susceptibility test was carried out using disc
diffusion and agar well diffusion assay was used to determine the ability of guava leaf extracts to
inhibit the growth of the bacteria isolated. The bacteria identified as YM was 99.32% identical to
Aeromonas jandaei, WT was 99.42% identical to Bacillus thurengensis, SB was 99.20% to Bacillus
infantis and CM was 99.32% identical to Bacillus cereus reference strains. Antibiotic susceptibility test
showed bacteria were resistant to Tetracycline and Ampicillin. Guava extracts at the various
concentrations inhibited the growth of bacteria isolate with significant increment in the zones of
inhibition with increasing concentration of leaf extracts (P < 0.05). However, Guava extract showed
prominence compared to others only at 100 mgml-1 (P < 0.05). Management of bacteria in tilapia
farms in Lake Volta using Guava extracts may be recommended since the use of antibiotics such as
Tetracycline and Ampicillin may not yield the needed result.

Mr Shadrack Agyekum, BSc.

[agyekumshadrack00@gmail.com]
Study programme: MPhil. Fisheries Science
Level: 600

Supervisor
Dr Emmanuel D. Abarike

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 PUBLICATIONS

Chapter in a Book

1. Imoro, A. Z., Acheampong, N. A., Oware, S., Okrah, H., Coulibaly, V. T., Ali, A. G., Asare-
Amegavi, F., Krah, D. and Offei, F. (2022). The potential benefits of microbial fuel cells in the
context of the sustainable development goals. In Ahmad, A., Ibrahim, M. N. M., Yaqoob, A. A.,
Setapur, S. H. M. (eds). Microbial Fuel Cells for Environmental Remediation: Springer, pp. 167 -
182.
Journal Articles
1. Atiim, J. An., Alhassan, E. H. and Abobi, S. M. (2022). Evaluating the contribution of wetlands
to food security and livelihoods improvement in the Savelugu Municipality, Ghana. Wetlands
Ecology and Management, 30, 561 - 577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-022-09881-5.
2. Nzeh, J., Quansah, L. and Dufailu, O. A. (2022). Physicochemical properties of imported and
locally produced honey did not translate into its microbial quality and antibacterial activity.
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1513445/v2.
3. Marri, D., Osae, M. Y., Quansah, L. and Kortei, N. K. (2022). Growing Pleurotus ostreatus (ex.
Fr) kummer using gamma radiation in Southern Ghana and its associated pests. Ghana Journal
of Science, 63(1), 14 - 28.
4. Abdallah S., Yahaya D. and Alhassan, M. (2022). Effects of processing techniques on the
nutritional quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) varieties. Journal of Agriculture, Food and
Environment, 3(2), 34 – 39. https://doi.org/10.47440/jafe.2022.3207.
5. Alhassan, E. H., Dandi, S. O. and Atindana, S. A. (2022). Effects of small-scale mining
activities on fisheries and livelihoods in the Birim River in Atiwa District, Eastern Region of
Ghana. Tanzania Journal of Science, 48(3), 703 - 717. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjs.v48i3.17.
6. Abarike, E. D., Atuna, R., Agyekum, S., Akongyuure, D. N. and Alhassan, E. H. (2022).
Isolation and characterization of Aeromonas jandaei from Nile tilapia in Lake Volta, Ghana, and
its response to antibiotics and herbal extracts. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, 34,140 - 148.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aah.10165.
7. Kordorwu, V., Tegladza, I. D. and Okoampah, E. (2022). A simple two-dimensional convective-
diffusive based modelling study of a biosensor for glucose detection. Journal of Chemistry
Studies, 1(2), 1 – 8. https://doi.org/10.32996/jcs.2022.1.2.1.
8. Opoku, R. S., Larbi, C., Lutterodt, H. E., Genfi Ampem K.A., Dumfeh E. and Perez D. (2022).
Extract of fermented and non-fermented seeds of Parkia Biglobosa attenuates hyperglycaemia
and related nephropathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus animals. Food Sci Nutr Res., 5(1): 1-10.
9. Sulley, Y. S., Seidu, O. A., Lawal, M., Oboakoh, I., Murtala, S., Dauda, M. and Quansah, L.
(2022). The national significance of a DNA revolution: A call for policy action towards
sustainable development goals (SDGs). Journal of Human, Earth, and Future, 3(2), 247 - 262.
http://dx.doi.org/10. 28991/HEF-2022-03-02-010.
10. Sulley, Y. S., Oboakoh, I. and Quansah, L. (2022). The plight of unknown and nameless
bodies: A proposal for forensic DNA policy action. Forensic Genomics, 2(3), 67 - 70.
https://doi.org/10.1089/forensic.2022.0012.

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 PUBLICATIONS

11. Yahaya, D., Seidu O. A., Tiesaah, C. H. and Iddrisu, M. B. (2022). The role of soaking,
steaming, and dehulling on the nutritional quality of Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea
(L) Verdc.). Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6:887311. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.887311
12. Alhassan, M., Nzeh, J., Quansah, L. and Dufailu, O. A. (2022). Antimicrobial resistance profile
of Staphylococcus spp. and Listeria spp. isolated from refrigerators of retailers and students in
the Tolon District, Ghana. Journal of Food Safety and Hygiene, 8(2), 122 - 131.
https://doi.org/10.18502/jfsh.v8i2.10673.
13. Jimma, F. I., Mohammed, A., Adzaworlu, E. G., Nzeh, J., Quansah, L. & Dufailu, O. A.
(2022). Microbial quality and antimicrobial residue of local and industrial processed fruit juice
sold in Tamale, Ghana. Discov Food, 2(26). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-022-00028-2.

Abstracts Presented at Conferences

1. Adu-Bonsu, G,, Addy, F., Helegbe, G. K. and Wezena, C. A. (2022). Genetic variation of hrp2
and 3 genes of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Northern and Savannah Regions of
Ghana. 1st Ghana Science Association – Tamale Branch – Virtual Conference and Abstract
Presentation. University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 25 th August, 2022.
2. Adu-Bonsu, G,, Addy, F., Helegbe, G. K. and Wezena, C. A. (2022). Performances of two
malaria diagnostics methods and distribution of pfhrp2 and 3 gene deletions from Tamale
Central Hospital. 1st Ghana Science Association – Tamale Branch – Virtual Conference and
Abstract Presentation. University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 25th August, 2022.
3. Issah, A-H, G., Apiung, T., Genfi, A. K. A., Oware, S., Majeed, S. F., Oboako, I., Opare-
Asamoah, K., Dongdem, J. T., Addy, F. and Wezena, C. A. (2022). Detection of useful HBV
markers: implications for disease diagnosis. 1st Ghana Science Association – Tamale Branch –
Virtual Conference and Abstract Presentation. University for Development Studies, Tamale,
Ghana. 25th August, 2022.
4. Murtala, S., Lawal, M., and Yahaya, D. (2022). Status and trends of food fraud in Nyankpala
and Aboabo markets. 1st Ghana Science Association – Tamale Branch – Virtual Conference
and Abstract Presentation. University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 25 th August,
2022.
5. Okoampah, E., Davids, J. S., and Payne, J. (2022). Carbon-dot-supported Gold
nanoclusters/g-C3N4 for Enhanced Visible-light Photocatalytic H2 Generation. 15th Annual
Interdisciplinary Conference. University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana. 7th–8th
September, 2022.
6. Yahaya, D., Seidu, O. A., Tiesaah, C. H. and Iddrisu, M. B. (2022). The role of soaking,
steaming, and dehulling on the nutritional quality of Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea
(L) Verdc.), 15th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference (AIC, 2022). University for Development
Studies, Tamale Ghana. 7th–8th September, 2022.
7. Abdallah, S., Yahaya, D. and Alhassan, M. (2022). Effects of processing techniques on the
nutritional quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) varieties. 15th Annual Interdisciplinary
Conference (AIC, 2022). University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana. 7th–8th
September, 2022.

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 PUBLICATIONS

8. Ayisi, C. L., N‫׳‬souvi, K., Baidoo, K., Tagoe, B. K., Nuamah, P. A., Larbi, I., Asiamah, T. A. and
Alhassan, E. H. (2022). Perception of climate change and adoption among small-scale
fishermen at Teshie, Ghana. 11th International and National Seminar of Fisheries and Marine
Science. Universitas Riau, Indonesia. 14th–15th September, 2022.
9. Yahaya, D., Seidu, O. A., Tiesaah, C. H. and Iddrisu, M. B. (2022). The role of soaking,
steaming, and dehulling on the nutritional quality of Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea
(L) Verdc.), BSUIII Climate Change Resilience, Adaptation & Sustanable Rural Transformation
International Conference. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),
Kumasi Ghana. 4th–5th October, 2022.

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 PUBLICATIONS

EDITORIAL TEAM
Francis Addy, PhD Chief Editor
Abudu Ballu Duwiejuah, PhD Editor
Emmanuel Okoampah, MSc Editor
Yahaya Sumara Sulley, BSc Content Curator/Assistant Editor

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subject line SUBSCRIBE TO TBN.

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