ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Determinants of nonperforming loans of microfinance Companies in Ghana

The study examined the determinants of non-performing loans of microfinance companies in Ghana. The qualitative approach was adopted for the study. Through the use of purposive sampling technique, 10loan officerswere selected to participate in the study. The structured interview guide was used to gather the requisite data for the study. The data were analyzed through the thematic approach based on the various themes according to the research questions that guided the study.The study among other things found out that non-performing loans were high around 2011 through to 2013, however, were less in 2010, 2014 and 2015. The year 2015 observed a massive decline indicating that the MFIs have taking proactive measures to help recover majority of their loans as mostly agree in the loan agreement. Also, the study found that external and internal factors such as poor management and economic downturns accounted for majority of non-performing loans in Ghana. Once more, there was a statistically significant negative effect of inflation on non-performing loans.However, no significant effect was observed by interest rate on non-performing loans.The study recommended that,NPL Management of MFIs should acquire the technical skills and managerial expertise needs to examine the trend and incidence of nonperforming loans so that critical measures can be taken in that effect. Also, government and other policy makers should help invest more in growth enhancing sectors of the economy so that government loans can be repaid on time to MFIs. Again, MFIs should consider international competitiveness in order to impact on abilities of borrowers to several exports and imports sectors of the economy so that they can repay loans.

Source: UCC
Determinants of Obstetric Care Seeking Behavior and Facility Delivery among Expectant Mothers in Northern Ghana

Access to obstetric care is key to reducing maternal mortality the world over. This study sought to explore determinants of obstetric care seeking behavior and facility delivery among expectant mothers attending antenatal clinic at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select pregnant women for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to assess their socio-demographic characteristics knowledge regarding the risks associated with pregnancy as well as delivery and birth plan arrangements. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22. χ2 test was used to determine associations between respective variables. Variables that displayed significant associations were entered into a multiple logistic regression model to ascertain the strength of association (Odds Ratios) between respective variables. At 95% confidence interval, p-values less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Age (p<0.05), religion (p<0.05), educational status (p<0.001), level of knowledge on obstetric risks (p<0.001), number of ANC visits (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.05), income level of participants (p<0.01) and cost of services (p<0.001) determined birth preparedness and their choice of facility delivery. However, the attitude of health workers (p>0.05) and birthing tradition of the respondents (p>0.05) were not associated with birth preparedness and choice of place of delivery. Strategies to enhance access to obstetric care and facility delivery must focus on the aforementioned determinants.

Source: UCC
DETERMINANTS OF OBSTETRIC CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AND FACILITY DELIVERY AMONG EXPECTANT MOTHERS IN NORTHERN GHANA.

Access to obstetric care is key to reducing maternal mortality the world over. This study sought to explore determinants of obstetric care seeking behavior and facility delivery among expectant mothers attending antenatal clinic at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select pregnant women for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to assess their socio-demographic characteristics knowledge regarding the risks associated with pregnancy as well as delivery and birth plan arrangements. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22. χ2 test was used to determine associations between respective variables. Variables that displayed significant associations were entered into a multiple logistic regression model to ascertain the strength of association (Odds Ratios) between respective variables. At 95% confidence interval, p-values less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Age (p<0.05), religion (p<0.05), educational status (p<0.001), level of knowledge on obstetric risks (p<0.001), number of ANC visits (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.05), income level of participants (p<0.01) and cost of services (p<0.001) determined birth preparedness and their choice of facility delivery. However, the attitude of health workers (p>0.05) and birthing tradition of the respondents (p>0.05) were not associated with birth preparedness and choice of place of delivery. Strategies to enhance access to obstetric care and facility delivery must focus on the aforementioned determinants.

Source: UCC
Determinants of Physical Activity Levels and Health-Related Quality of Life among Retirees In Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of physical activity levels and quality of life among retirees in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. A cross-sectional design with a multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit 234 participants in the Cape Coast Metropolis for the study. Questionnaires were used in gathering data for the study and the data was analysed using frequencies, means, standard deviation, and inferential statistics such as simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, and one-way MANOVA analysis. Results indicated 61.1% of the participants at low levels of physical activity, 8.5% at moderate levels, and 30.3% at high levels of physical activity respectively. Also, the study found that 70.9% of participants were at high risk for developing diabetes. Physical activity (β = .953, t = 8.61, p <0.001) was found to be a significant predictor of quality of life among retirees. Additionally, safe from crime (β =.122, t =2.598, p=.010), social support (β = .173, t= 3.320, p < .001), gender (β = .531, t=8.962, p < .001), age (β =149, t=2.449, p =.015), health status (β =.433, t=7.98, p < .001), and financial status (β =.484, t =.484, p <.001) were found to be significant predictors of physical activity among retirees. Furthermore, the study indicated that gender statistically predicted physical activity levels and quality of life, (t = 2.39, p = 0.011, Pillai's Trace (V) =0.038, ηp2 =0.038) and also predicted physical activity levels, (t = 4.14, p = .043, ηp2 =.018). It was recommended that retiree health promotion programmes be instituted in the metropolis to enhance the quality of life in every neighbourhood across the metropolis.

Source: UCC
Determinants of Poor Academic Performance among Senior High Technical School Students in the Dunkwa Obuasi Municipality

The study examined the determinant factors of poor academic performance among Senior High Technical Students in the Dunkwa Obuasi Municipality. The research was guided by five (5) objectives that transformed into five research questions. The descriptive survey design, specifically, the cross-sectional design, with a quantitative approach was employed in the conduct of the study. The investigation targeted form two technical students as well as teachers who teach core subjects in technical schools within the Municipality. Census technique was adopted to engage all 206 participants in the investigation. Questionnaires were used in collecting data for the investigation. The responses collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations. The study found that student-related factors, home-based variables, student characteristics, teacher-based variables, and school-based factors were significant determinants of poor academic performance among learners within the Municipality of Dunkwa Obuasi. The investigation further discovered that school-based factors including inadequate physical learning infrastructure, shortage of teaching and learning resources, as well as inadequate learning materials in school library contributed to students’ poor academic performance. Directors of education and policy makers in education are encouraged to make sure that good learning facilities and infrastructure required to enhance students’ academic performance are made available in the Dunkwa Obuasi Municipality.

Source: UCC
Determinants of profitability of commercial banks in Ghana

This study analyses the determinants of commercial banks profitability in Ghana. These determinants have been grouped into internal factors and external factors. Panel Data collected on seven commercial banks in Ghana was examined over a period of 2007-2017, the generalized least squares technique was used to estimate fixed effect regression models. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in analyzing the data. This study was motivated to research into the factors that influence the profitability of only Ghanaian banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. ROA and ROE were the major measures used to assess the profitability of banks. The variables that were significant in the determination of the profitability of banks were liquidity, capital adequacy, inflation and quality of asset. These factors included both. The study concluded by pointing out that the implications of the presence of multicollinearity makes it difficult to predict which variable is having greater influence on the ROA and ROE, also the variables used can either have positive or negative implication on the major measure of profitability used for the study. The study recommended that the research departments in the banks should carry out further studies on this areas due to the presence of multicollinearity the study recommends that authorities in charge of managing commercial banks should put in place proper loan recovery mechanisms and advertising strategies to increase their market share to enable them improve on the variables such as quality of asset, liquidity and adequacy of capital that have the potential of reducing the negative implication that the other variables will bring.

Source: UCC
Determinants of profitability of microfinance institutions in Africa

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are one of the key ingredients in poverty reduction in Africa. Nevertheless, for the achievement of poverty reduction goal, profitability is crucial. Several factors such as outreach, institutional environment, age, size and type of MFI affect the profitability of MFIs, but labour efficiency role and credit risk effect on profitability of MFIs have seen little attention. This study therefore, sets out to investigate the potential determinants of MFIs profitability within African countries. The objectives of the study were to examine the trends in profitability of African MFIs and to estimate the determinants of profitability of MFIs in Africa. The study used a MIX Market data for the period 2007 to 2011 for 45 MFIs in nine African countries to obtain a balanced panel. The study estimated both fixed effect and random effect. However, based on the Hausman test, the fixed effect best suited the estimation. Profitability of MFIs was measured using Return on Asset (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). To ensure robustness of the model, other control variables were included in the model such as inflation, real gross domestic product, age, size and type of MFI. The study finds that labour inefficiency and credit risk relate to profitability of MFIs in African countries negatively. Other variables found to influence MFIs profitability include economic growth, inflation, size of MFIs and age of MFIs. Hence, it is recommended that governments may consider providing enabling environment that would foster GDP growth in order to increase funding from donors. Also, MFIs should ensure that they employ efficient labour to deliver their services and hence increase profitability.

Source: UCC
Determinants of profitability of microfinance Institutions in Africa

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are seen as one of key ingredients in poverty reduction in Africa. Nevertheless, for them to achieve their goal of poverty reduction, their profitability is crucial. Several factors such as outreach, institutional environment, age, size and type of MFI affect the profitability of MFIs, but labour efficiency role and credit risk effect on profitability of MFIs have seen little attention. This study therefore, sets out to investigate the potential determinants of MFIs profitability within African countries. The objectives of the study were to examine the trends in profitability of African MFIs and to estimate the determinants of profitability of MFIs in Africa. The study used a MIX Market data for the period 2007 to 2011 for 45 MFIs in nine African countries to obtain a balanced panel. The study estimated both fixed effect and random effect. However, based on the Hausman test, the fixed effect best suited the estimation. Profitability of MFIs was measured using Return on Asset (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). Labour efficiency was measured as the number of borrowers per staff of MFIs whereas credit risk was measured by loan default for thirty days. To ensure robustness of the model and that the estimated equation does not suffer from omitted variable bias, other control variables were included in the model such as inflation, real gross domestic product, age, size and type of MFI. The study finds that labour inefficiency relates to profitability of MFIs in African countries negatively. Also, credit risk exerts negative effect on profitability of MFIs in Africa. Other variables which were found to influence the profitability of MFIs include economic growth, inflation, size of MFIs and age of MFIs.

Source: UCC
Determinants of propensity of tertiary agricultural students in Ghana to enter agribusiness as a self-employment venture

The study aimed to identify factors that affect the decision of tertiary agricultural students in Ghana to enter agribusiness as a self-employment venture after graduation. The results showed that tertiary agricultural students in Ghana were predominantly males with little or no farming background. They had a rather moderate propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness. The propensity was based on the perception that agribusiness was beneficial, sustainable, and had a bright future. A significant and positive relationship was found between the propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness and availability of inputs, training received by students and supportive policies. However, a significant and negative relationship was found between students’ propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness and the desire for other competing enterprises as well as risks and constraints in agribusiness. The most important determinants of the decision of tertiary level agricultural students to enter into agribusiness were found to be attraction to other businesses such as NGOs, nonagricultural manufacturing industries and banks; training received; perceived constraints; and needs for selfemployment in agribusiness. The results indicate that the propensity of agricultural graduates to enter self-employed agribusiness may be increased by (1) making agribusiness attractive by increasing its competitiveness with respect to other enterprises, ( 2) modifying the curricula to make agricultural training at the tertiary level more practical, (3) making it easier to acquire production inputs for agribusiness, and (4) improving the policy environment with supportive policies to minimize risk and constraints in agribusiness.

Source: UCC
Determinants Of Property Rate Compliance Among Property Owners In Kumasi Metropolis

The relevance of property rate towards nations’ development has become of interest to governments and scholars. Therefore, this study examined determinants (penalties, isomorphism, narcissism, individualism and demographic factors) of property rate compliance among property owners in Kumasi Metropolis. The study used an explanatory research design and a quantitative research approach. Integrating economic deterrence theory, theory of planned behaviour and institutional theory, data were collected from 322 property owners using closed-ended questionnaires and analysed with frequencies, means, standard deviation, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Stratified sampling technique was employed to ascertain the sample size. The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between penalties, isomorphism, narcissism and demographic factors and property rate compliance. The study revealed that property rate compliance is mainly influenced by penalties, isomorphism narcissism and demographic factors. It was recommended that; commissioner general should review and apply the available penalties accordingly. Similarly, institutional regulatory bodies like the Ghana Revenue Authority should exert pressures on property owners through the MMDAs in order to increase compliance. Again, GRA and MMDAs should consider psychological traits such as narcissism as well as demographic factors in setting strategies and policies to aid increase property rate compliance.

Source: UCC
Determinants of Psychological Health-seeking Behaviour Among Public University Students in Ghana

This study examined determinants of psychological health-seeking behaviour among students of selected public universities in Ghana. Specifically, the study investigated whether locus of control, stigma and culture have effects on the health-seeking behaviour of the respondents. The target population comprised 5,369 regular undergraduate students in four public universities in Ghana: University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University for Development Studies (UDS) and University of Cape Coast (UCC). A sample of 588 respondents was selected from the four public universities for the study which adopted the mixed methods research design, employed questionnaire and interview for data collection. Locus of control, stigma, culture and attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help short form (ATSPPHS-SF) scales were employed to explore the relationship between health-seeking behaviour and locus of control, stigmatization and culture. The independent t test, ANOVA and the Structural Equation Model were the statistical tools for the data analysis, whilst the software packages for data analysis, editing, coding and computation was the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS version 20). Findings revealed that age and gender have no significant influence on the health-seeking behaviour of the students, but geographical location has a significant effect. Also, each of the three independent variables (locus of control, stigmatisation and culture) significantly predicted the health seeking behaviour of the respondents. These findings call for counsellors to focus on anti-stigma campaigns, while paying critical attention to the cultural orientation and the personality profiles of their clients.

Source: UCC
Determinants of public transport passengers’ choice of seating positions in Ghana

Public bus/minibus safety concerns predispose passengers to make safety evaluations and engage in behavioural adaptations (i.e. behaviour change to compensate for changes in perceived risk) to the perceived unsafety. This cross-sectional study sought to explore Public Transport (PT) users’ choice of seating positions in Ghana, a form of behavioural adaptation to PT unsafety. Data for the study came from 660 public bus/minibus users (through questionnaire administration) in three towns (Wa, Kumasi, and Mankessim) in Ghana. We established the association between the dependent (preferred seating position) and independent variables (socio-demographic characteristics, trip duration and perceived safe seats) via cross-tabulations and Pearson Chi-Square. We tested the strength of the association (effect size) among the variables using the Cramer’s V. We found that the seats behind the driver, in the middle and in front were both the perceived safe seats and the preferred seating positions on a public bus/minibus in Ghana. Justifications for these were mainly informed by safety and comfort. Notably, we observed that occupational status, trip duration and perceived safe seats determine the preferred seating position on a public bus/minibus. Our study findings provide further perspectives on passengers’ seating position decisions which are expected to inform future research and policy directions

Source: UCC
Determinants of research collaboration towards a knowledge-based economy in Ghana

The purpose of this study was to analyse the determinants of the intention of academic researchers to collaborate on research projects with the carriers of innovation. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed to analyse survey data from 266 stratified sampled researchers and 11 key informants from different disciplines in two of Ghana’s public universities. Analysis of variance results showed a quite high intention to collaborate, with no statistically significant differences across disciplines. Regression results indicate that attitude was the leading predictor of intention to collaborate, and it was explained by the conviction and relevance attached to the capacity of research collaboration to speed up career advancement, to be a source of income and to be a means of advancing research work. Perceived behavioural control, explained by research capability and boundary-spanning skills, and environmental possibility, made up of funding, reward and administrative support, also influenced the intention of respondents to engage in research collaboration. The authors therefore propose that the universities should acknowledge and count research collaboration as a criterion in the promotion of academics and, together with national actors, should spearhead the establishment of a national research and innovation fund, research and innovation award schemes, and the requisite administrative support.

Source: UCC
Determinants of Rural Banks Profitability in Ghana: a Case Study of Rural Banks in Upper East Region

According to the findings of this study, the profitability of Ghanaian rural banks in Ghana is being investigated. The rural bank's return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) are two of the most significant measures of profitability (ROE). Analysis includes an extra set of independent factors, including the size and quality of the bank's branch network, as well as the bank's capital adequacy and liquidity. Five years of panel data from five rural banks in Ghana's Upper East area are used to explore fixed and random effect models for fixed effect models. The Ghanaian Central Bank provides the statistics. Among the macroeconomic variables considered in this research are GDP, inflation and interest rates, as well as the currency rate. The profitability of the five banks studied (2014 to 2018) changes during this time, according to the report. As measured by ROAs, Ghanaian rural banks' capital adequacy ratio and operational efficiency have the greatest impact on their profitability, according to the study's findings (ROA). There is no correlation between rural bank profitability (ROA and ROE) as measured by macroeconomic factors (interest rate, inflation rate, exchange rate, GDP growth rate) and rural bank profitability (ROA and ROE). A growing economy, according to the findings of the research, will lead to increased profits for banks, which will in turn benefit the government

Source: UCC