ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of crude oil price and monetary policy on economic growth in Ghana.

Crude oil is one of the most important inputs in the production process in Ghana. For an oiimporting economy like Ghana, an increase in the price of imported crude oil relative to the price of oil in cedi term, implies an increase in domestic oil price. This has the potential of causing most of the macroeconomic indicators vulnerable to fluctuations in crude oil price. The study employed the Autoregressive Distribution Lag bounds cointegration approach. The study used secondary data, and this data were obtained from the World Bank Development Indicators 2018 and the International Energy Agency. The results showed that the variables were cointegrated hence have a long run equilibrium relationship. The long run results showed that, crude oil price and money supply, have a positive effect, whereas interest rate and import had a negative effect on economic growth in Ghana. Exchange rate and inflation were positive but statistically insignificant. The short run estimated results showed that, interest rate imposes a positive and significant impact on economic growth in Ghana. The coefficient of crude oil price, money supply, inflation and export are positive but insignificant. Exchange rate is negative and statistically insignificant. Import was negative and statistically significant. Money supply and export lagged by one year has a negative yet significant effect on economic growth in Ghana. It can therefore be concluded that crude oil price and monetary policy have effects on economic growth in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
The effect of croton membranaceus on the hormone-dependent pathway in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Current pharmacotherapeutic strategies modulate the active hormones involved in androgen biosynthesis as androgen estrogen imbalance has been implicated in the aetiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, their usage has recorded adverse side effects even after discontinuation. Attention has therefore shifted to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Croton membranaceus (CM) has been in use for the management of benign prostatic (BPH) in Ghana for decades, yet its precise mechanism of action in humans is yet to be proven. This study therefore sought to elucidate the effect of CM on the sex steroid hormone dependent pathway. The study population consisted of 30 BPH patients between the ages of 46-87 years and 30 non-BPH men between the ages of 46-72 years served as controls. BPH patients on CM were observed for 12 weeks. Data were collected at baseline and after 3 months of treatment with the drug. Urologic parameters such as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostate volume (PV) were assessed via the International Prostate Symptom Score and ultrascan, respectively. Hormones [testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), androstenedione (AED), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2)] and their metabolites [androstanediol Adiol (3α-adiol) and androstanediol diol (3β-diol)] as well as total and free prostate specific antigens (tPSA and fPSA) were assayed by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) techniques. Non-parametric analyses were performed as data were not normally distributed.

Source: KNUST
Effect of cryptolepine on some Enterobacteriaceae and possible mechanism of action of Cryptolepine

Some members of the Enterobacteriaceae were treated with cryptolepine hydrochloride and varying degrees of growth inhibition was observed. Escherichia coli (NCTC 5933) and laboratory strains of Shigeila dysenteriae, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsieila pneumoniae and Salmonella typhii were all inhibited by the drug. Proteus vulgaris showed the greatest sensitivity (MIC 32.67μg/ml) and Shigeila dysenteriae the least (MIC 76.22.μg/ml). The action appeared to be bacteriostatic in all cases. When cryptolepine hydrochloride was added to exponentially growing E. coil cells the turbidities of the suspensions decreased sharply over the first 24 hour period. Thereafter there was a gradual decrease in turbidity. Increasing the concentration of drug to double the MIC brought about a sharper/steeper fall in optical density of the medium over the 24 hour period. Increasing concentration to three (3) times the MIC however did not produce any appreciable drop in optical density. Addition of Cryptolepine hydrochloride to heat-killed (60°C for 30 minutes) E. coil cultures did not cause a decrease in turbidity. Cryptolepine appears to interfere with the osmotic barrier in the bacteria thus allowing the leakage of minute quantities of some intracellular cell components into the culture medium. Chromatographic analysis of drug-treated culture suspensions appear to indicate that some nucleotide(s) and perhaps other components-are released from the ce!ls under the action of cryptolepine. A component with R value closely resembling that of a purine was seen on chromatogràms of drug-treated cultures run in n-Butanol: Water: NH3 solvent system. When both drug-treated and drug-free E. coil cells were observed under the phase contrast microscope there were some distortions in the protoplast membrane (and perhaps even the cell wall) of the cryptolepine-treated E. coil cells. This appears to suggest that cryptolepine causes some kind of damage to the cell barriers (membranes, walls etc). This damage which may be permanent or transient results in alteration of the permeability characteristics of the cell membranes under the influence of the drug thus allowing the leakage of cell components into the culture medium. Cryptolepine hydrochloride interacts indifferently towards ampicillin, streptomycin and gentamycin, that is, the two sets of drugs act together with neither antagonism nor potentiation.

Source: KNUST
The Effect of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) on the Profitability of Financial Institutions - A Case Study of Barclays Bank Limited, Takoradi Branches.

Customers are the lifeblood of every organization, yet due to their complex nature coupled with information communication technology, it has become very difficult to satisfy and retain them. This study intended to explore and find out appropriate measures that could be adopted to satisfy the customers in order to retain them and the effect of this on profit. Since the study seeks to explore, it is therefore qualitative and for that matter the main method used is questionnaire. The study revealed that the bases of customer satisfaction and long-term relationship could be attributed to innovative products and services coupled with competent and caring staff. The results showed that customer relationship management leads to customer satisfaction which brings about loyalty and retention, thereby having the potential of increasing sales and profit by reducing customer acquisition cost. As predicted, customer relationship management is appropriate for customers who have long-term needs and willing to invest time and effort for the necessary payoff.

Source: KNUST
Effect of Customer Relationship Marketing on Performance in the Banking Industry in Ghana: A Case Study of Some Selected Barclays Bank Branches in Kumasi

Banking today has become more innovative, competitive and attractive to other investors in the sector. This has caused the number of banks to swell in Ghana numbering over twenty six banks currently in operation in Ghana. The competitions as a result of high numbers of people who do not have bank accounts have driven more investors to obtain license to operate in the country. As strategies are developed day in and day out, ideas become archaic and that management of banks would have to be constantly developing ideas that will promote their services. This has therefore made it necessary for banks to be innovative in order to survive the terrain. This study aims at identifying the effect of the customer relationship marketing on performance in the banking industry, with a case study of selected Barclays bank branches in Kumasi. This study adopted a quantitative approach in its design with non-probability sampling being used for the study. Under this, convenient and purposive sampling methods were adopted. Questionnaires and interviews were used in collecting the data from the primary source. The findings obtained from the field were numerous, with areas under product knowledge, customer complaint handling as well as investment advice being areas of concern. The study showed that significant numbers of customer do not have much knowledge about the bank’s products such as e-statement and internet banking. The study also revealed that customers generally do not like to follow the complaints processes as a result of the experiences of previous ones not resolved by the bank. The customers of the bank from the study showed that investment advices on their accounts are not regular. It is recommended that good promotions be run on the new products by the bank. Management staff of Barclays bank should also commit more resources in resolving customer complaints in order to ease the processes of addressing complaints.

Source: KNUST
The effect of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in savings and loans companies in Ghana: case study of Multi Credit Savings and Loans Limited

Modern business organizations are faced with huge challenges owing to the turbulent nature of the business terrain. This challenges call for organizations to discard the old marketing philosophies and strategies and concentrate more on customer-driven initiatives that seek to attract, retain and build intimate long term relationship with profitable customers. The study sought to assess the effects of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty in savings and loans companies in Ghana, with Multi Credit Savings and Loans Limited (MCSL) as the focus. The study administered 120 questionnaires to customers and interviewed 10 staffs of MCSL to obtain the primary data. The staffs were purposively sampled based on their academic qualification and job description, while the customers were conveniently sampled. The study reveals that ‘customer satisfaction indicators’ such as Visits or calls by management, Good attitude and professional conduct of staffs, Swift turnaround time for customers, Value for customers than goals of MCSL, Convenient location of the bank and High quality of services rendered by MCSL are factors that positively affect customer loyalty. The survey reviews that several or almost all the variables have high coefficients of variation which give an indication of greater dispersion of the individual values around the mean. A multiple correlation coefficient of (R) =0. 844 was derived which indicates a strong positive significant correlation between customer loyalty (dependent variable)and the predictor variables as earlier statedIt was also obtained that the independent variables can reliably be used to statistically predict the dependent variable. Thus, the overall significance test indicates that the independent or predictor variables when used together will have positive impact/influence on the loyalty of customers to the MCSL. Even though there are few barriers to customer service, this had not negatively affected the service provided by the Bank and so loyalty of customers was also not affected. It was concluded that an extremely satisfied customer is more likely to be a loyal customer.

Source: KNUST
The effect of customer satisfaction on loyalty: a case study of First Allied Savings and Loans Ltd

In a highly competitive industry like banking, one way to gain competitive advantage is to ensure that the customers are satisfied. It is also a fact that, having loyal customers is a great asset to ensure long term growth of a company. The study aimed at finding out why some customers have stuck with FASL for long periods of time as well as determining what factors made them satisfied. Eventually the result is meant to improve the existing levels of customer satisfaction as well as loyalty. The study covered the Kumasi branches of FASL and involved the use of questionnaires. Explanation in the local language was also provided where needed. In all 60 questionnaires were circulated. The data gathered were primary in nature. The data was then analysed using excel charts and further explained in words. From the results it was realised that customer service was rated as the biggest satisfier. Majority of the respondents were satisfied with the overall service of FASL; about 73.33% of the respondents also believed FASL deserved their loyalty. The final findings also indicated that an improvement in the pricing and complaint handling of FASL will go a long way to improve satisfaction of its clients. It was recommended that complaint handling and pricing are two factors FASL needs to improve in order to increase the levels of satisfaction.

Source: KNUST
The effect of crude oil price on domestic investment in Ghana

This study investigated the effect of crude oil price level and volatility on domestic investment by applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to the time series from 1970 to 2014. The results indicate that oil price level has a positive and statistically significant impact on domestic investment in the short-term and long-term. Oil price volatility has a negative and significant impact on domestic investment in the short-run and long-run. The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) should employ price hedging techniques in order to reduce the volatility of oil price changes while the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector should be strengthened to ensure optimal oil price determination. Also, there should be increase in government credible spending on capital projects and Research and Development (R&D) that would encourage the discovery of least cost energy sources and reduce dependence on crude oil.

Source: KNUST
Effect of Customer Service on Customer Satisfaction: A Case Study of Fidelity Bank, Adum, Kumasi

The purpose of the research was to find out if the customer service provided in the bank has any effect on customer satisfaction and for that matter, customer loyalty. Barriers to customer service provision and any other thing customers would like to see in the bank were also researched. In order to obtain the best results, the main research methodology adopted was a case study involving the head branch of the bank under study. Questionnaires were used to obtain information from customers and the staff of the bank. Findings from the research revealed that, Adum Branch of Fidelity bank provides appreciable level of customer service; however these are just seen as satisfying. Barriers such as large numbers of customers with few tellers, some problems with the system (internet banking) and some managerial decisions affect customer service provision in the bank. Customers at Fidelity bank are loyal to the bank. And these customers would like the number of tellers to be increased and larger packing space provided for them. It was recommended that customer service provision in Fidelity bank should go beyond satisfaction. Strategies that exceed customer expectations should be put in place to delight the customers.

Source: KNUST
The effect of delayed payment on cash flow forecasting of Ghanaian road contractors

Delayed payment to contractors has a serious effect on early completion of projects in the construction industry in the world. Although there has been an effort to improve payments by Government of Ghana in the recent years, problems arising from payment issues are getting more severe. The study sought to unravel the effects of delayed payments problems facing Ghanaian road contractors. A deductive methodological approach was adopted for the study using literature search and surveys. The preliminary survey and literature search revealed a number of subjects that played a crucial role in this work. Among these were; the implication of delayed payment by the various stakeholders, its accompanying effects, strategic measures employed by contractors, suggestions or options necessary to mitigate delayed payments and finally, means contractors use to recover default payment. This study was restricted to Ghanaian road contractors. The survey was therefore carried out on fifty-two (52) A1B1 and A2B2 construction firms selected using Purposive and Snowball sampling. SPSS analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The survey revealed that, the rippling effects of delay in paying contractors were enormous. This includes; creation of cash flow problems, difficulty in procuring materials and services and creation of enormous stress on contractors, as the top three. In spite of all these draw backs, contractors put in some strategic ways or avenues to improve their cash flow. Respondents indicated that, there should be regular periodic payment, also payment of interest on default payment, and finally a defined time frame for payment. Delay of payment to contractors has numerous impasses which creates conflicts between the parties in the contract. Deductions from the survey revealed that, if pragmatic measures are not taken, delay of payment can hamper the growth of the Ghanaian road construction industry. As such the following recommendations can help improve the current situations if not totally eliminate the menace. They include the following: Enforcing clauses of late payment in contracts. This could be done by applying charges to overdue payments in the same way as liquidated damages have been applied; The government, which is the main employer, should introduce payment bonds and “Construction Guarantee Fund” schemes to enable road contractors to obtain bonds and guarantees at concessionary terms; Establishment of Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act which will help in the reduction of Payment Default and Dispute Resolution; and Finally, it is also true that needed investment cannot alone be generated through public financing and therefore private funding needs to be geared up. In conclusion, it is hoped that these findings would help in improving the payments problems of the Ghana road construction industry, and would be useful to draft a better way in seeking right for the contractors in attainment of payment on the predetermined time.

Source: KNUST
The effect of Dfm (Re-3, Re-3 Plus And P3) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, microbiological and haemato-biochemical indices of broiler chickens

Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of DFM products (RE3, RE3+ and P3) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, microbiological and haemato-biochemical indices of broiler chickens. Three hundred (300) unsexed day old Cobb commercial strain of broilers each were used for the two studies (experiment 1 with DFM in feed and experiment 2 with DFM in water). At 28 days of age, two hundred and forty birds each were randomly selected and divided into four groups, each group constituting a treatment with four replicates per treatment in a completely randomised design. Basic diets were formulated for all the 4 experimental groups with treatment 1 devoid of the DFM supplement and three other diets containing DFM in feed or DFM in water each incorporated at levels of 1.5 ml in a kg feed and in a litre of water. The experimental diets and water were provided to the broiler chickens ad-libitum throughout the experiments. The control groups were given coccidiostat (Narcox-plus), each in experiment 1(DFM in feed) and in experiment 2 (DFM in water) while the probiotic groups were not given any medication. Results of the first experiment indicated no significant (P>0.05) differences in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Haematological parameters were not significantly (P > 0.05) enhanced with the probiotics. However, significant (P < 0.05) differences existed in serum total protein, globulin and albumin levels among the treatment groups. Faecal enterococci were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the probiotic administered groups than the control groups. The results of experiment 2 showed that DFM administration in water produced significant (P < 0.05) effects on weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the broilers. Haematological parameters were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by DFM supplementation. However, significant (P<0.05) reduction in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) was recorded for broilers supplemented with the DFM. Faecal enterococci and salmonella were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the probiotic supplemented groups than the control groups. Based on the results of the study, both DFM in feed and in water for broiler chickens had beneficial effect on the health status, growth performance and even confer economic benefits. Key Words: Broilers, DFM, Haematology, Microbiology, Performance.

Source: KNUST
The Effect of Customer Satisfaction on the Performance of the Royal Bank in Kumasi

Customer satisfaction with the products and services being delivered by an organization is often seen as the key to the company’s success and long term competitiveness. In most cases, customer satisfaction is normally seen as an important determinant of customer retention. However, few empirical evidence from research indicates that there is either none or insignificant relationship between customer satisfaction and retention. The ability of an organization to increase in terms of financial gains and efficiency is mostly dependent on the level of satisfaction enjoyed by the customers. Customer satisfaction of services delivered by the bank is important since it increases the ability of the organization to deliver quality service. The focus of the study therefore is to assess the effect of customer satisfaction on the financial performance of The Royal Bank. The study collected data from 120 customers of the Bank in Kumasi through the use of questionnaire. The study adopted random sampling method in the selection of respondents. The study explored how customer satisfaction impacts on financial performance and customer retention. Issues discussed include assessing customer service perception of the Royal Bank customers in Kumasi, how customer satisfaction impacts customer loyalty in the Kumasi branches of The Royal bank and examine how customer satisfaction impacts on the financial performance of the Kumasi branches of The Royal bank. Findings from the research indicate that customers are particular about the organizations ability to deliver robust and proper services that meet customer expectations. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that there must be regular education of the services being offered, proper and regular customer needs survey, internet and online banking services to the customers.

Source: KNUST