ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Hygiene Practices among Students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: Proper hand hygiene practices have been shown to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Although diarrhoeal diseases continue to be recorded among university students, there is paucity of studies focusing on hygiene behavior among university students in Ghana. This study assessed hand washing behavior, knowledge and practices among students of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 422 students from 4th January 2018 to 21st January 2018. A pretested, structured questionnaire was used to collect all relevant data. Frequencies and percentages were used for categorical data. Chi square and one –way ANOVA were used to determine associations between some selected variables. P values, <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.7±2.9 years. The overall general hygiene behavior of students was good with a mean score of 19.2±2.7. There was a significant difference (p=0.001) in the mean scores of male and female students with females scoring higher than their male colleagues. Predictors of hygiene behaviour among the students were their sex (R2=0.164, p=0.001) and age group (R2=0.003, p=0.048). Only 52.1% of students reported they always washed their hands with soap and water. Ownership and use of hand sanitizer was low (17.5%). Conclusion: Self-reported hand washing behavior among UCC students is poor despite generally good knowledge of students on hygiene. The findings highlight the need for regular formal training of University students on proper hygiene practices and to encourage hand washing by ensuring the availability of soap and water.

Source: UCC
Assessment of hygienic practices among street food vendors in Sekondi, Ghana

Food poisoning, food borne diseases and food safety have been declared a major public health concern and street foods have been associated with microbiological contamination and low hygienic standards (WHO, 2006). The objective of the study was to examine the factors that influence the choice of location for street food vending, to assess the safety practices of handling and serving of food by street food vendors and to examine sanitary conditions under which street food vendors operate. Descriptive design was used for the study and simple random sample was used in selecting 85 informal street food venders to respond to researcher assisted questionnaire. A self- designed structured questionnaire as well as an observational checklist was used to collect data from the street food vendors.The major findings of the study were that the most significant factor influencing the choice of location of food vendors is closeness to customers; it was also noted that in most cases the food vendors did not choose a location due to the cleanliness of the surrounding environment. Forty per cent of the respondents made contact with food with their bare hands; there were no open sewages near all the vending sites; most (65%) of the food vendors operate near open drains, 20% of the food vending outlets were located near waste dump sites and 60% of the food vending outlets did not have dustbins available for waste storage. The study concluded that the most significant factor influencing the choice of location of food vendors is closeness to customers, and therefore vendors did not consider sanitary conditions around their vending points. Thus, the safety of food vendors‘ food handling practices was compromised. It was recommended that the environmental health officials should embark on frequent media and personal education of the food vendors on safe food handling practices.

Source: UCC
Assessment of ICT utilization in senior high schools in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district

This study examined the assessment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) utilization in the Senior High Schools in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District in the Central Region of Ghana. The Research Design employed for the study was descriptive survey. The objectives for the study were to examine the availability, adequacy and accessibility of ICT facilities and services in the selected schools by students and teachers, find out the attitudes and perceptions of students towards ICT usage in teaching and learning environments and state the perceptions of teachers about the usage of ICT for teaching, professional development and personal use. A total sample of 170 respondents took part in the survey that was made up of 120 students and 50 teachers. These samples were picked from five Senior High Schools, comprised of students and teachers: 60 males and 60 females were selected from the students; 12 females, and 38 males constituted the teachers’ sample. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the students while purposive sampling technique was used to select the teachers. Questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection to arrive at an understanding of the phenomenon. Data collected were coded and analysed using SPSS software into frequency tables and simple percentages. The main findings of the study were that; the availability, adequacy and accessibility of ICT facilities and services in the schools were inadequate

Source: UCC
An assessment of IFLA/DANIDA sponsored ILL/DD project in Ghana - The users point of view

The need to assess DANIDA sponsored ILL/DD project in Ghana is justified by the important role it plays in the fulfillment of information provision in the University and Research Libraries in Ghana. The availability of current materials and appropriate services offered by the ILL/DD offices in a congenial atmosphere motivate people to use the libraries for research purpose. The aim of this study is therefore to find out to what extend the available materials and services provided by ILL/DD offices in Ghana are actually satisfying the needs of the users of those libraries and how effectively they are using those resources. In doing this, the study evaluated the ILL/ DD project in Ghana and analysed the impact of the project on the users to establish the current performance in terms of fulfilling the needs of the users. In conclusion the study made some suggestions and recommendations for the development of the ILL/DD project in Ghana.

Source: UCC
An assessment of informantion and communication technology usage in selected colleges of education in the Ashanti region

An assessment of Information and Communication Technology usage among teacher trainees in selected Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region of Ghana was the main focus of this study. The population consisted of third year teacher trainees and tutors of the Colleges under the study. A sample of 123 respondents was considered for the study. These included 40 trainees and 1 tutor from each of the three Colleges under study. The instruments used for data collection were the questionnaire for trainees and interview guide for tutors. These instruments were pre tested in order to correct their weaknesses. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. From the analysis it was revealed that although teacher trainees had good access to computer use, internet usage by trainees is on the lower side. The study also revealed that Tutors do not have enough time to acquire computer skills and develop new teaching strategies for integrating technology into their classrooms. It was therefore recommended that tutors in the Colleges of Education should be regularly trained and retrained using school-based INSET to effectively use ICT tools in teaching. Also wireless internet service should be made available for trainees and hours for ICT lessons should be extended. Also ICT integration into education should well explained and understood by trainees.

Source: UCC
An assessment of information and communication technology usage in selected colleges of education in the Ashanti Region

An assessment of Information and Communication Technology usage among teacher trainees in selected Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region of Ghana was the main focus of this study. The population consisted of third year teacher trainees and tutors of the Colleges under the study. A sample of 123 respondents was considered for the study. These included 40 trainees and 1 tutor from each of the three Colleges under study. The instruments used for data collection were the questionnaire for trainees and interview guide for tutors. These instruments were pre tested in order to correct their weaknesses. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. From the analysis it was revealed that although teacher trainees had good access to computer use, internet usage by trainees is on the lower side. The study also revealed that Tutors do not have enough time to acquire computer skills and develop new teaching strategies for integrating technology into their classrooms. It was therefore recommended that tutors in the Colleges of Education should be regularly trained and retrained using school-based INSET to effectively use ICT tools in teaching. Also wireless internet service should be made available for trainees and hours for ICT lessons should be extended. Also ICT integration into education should well explained and understood by trainees.

Source: UCC
Assessment of institutional structures for solid waste management in Kumasi

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out and document what reforms have taken place in the institutional structure for solid waste management (SWM) in Kumasi since the inception of a National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP) in Ghana in 1999, and what impact institutional reforms have made on solid waste collection service efficiency. Design/methodology/approach – The study undertook a before-and-after assessment of key institutional issues as well as service efficiency within five years of the inception of the policy using questionnaires and interviews to collect data and information from relevant SWM stakeholders in the metropolis. Findings – It was found that the implementation of the policy has led to changes in the organizational structure for SWM in the city with the introduction of private sector participation, which has led to improvement in efficiency in terms of service coverage and cost recovery. Service coverage increased from about 50 per cent in 1999 to an annual average of 87.4 per cent between 2000 and 2004, while the amount recovered through house-to-house collection services increased from 26.5 per cent of the WMD’s expenditure in 2001 to 68.6 per cent in 2004. Practical implications – The findings and recommendations can inform future SWM policy reviews and implementation in the city and elsewhere. Originality/value – The study is the first attempt at documenting the historical evolution towards the current institutional structure and a scientific assessment of the impact of the reforms on service efficiency in Ghana

Source: UCC
An Assessment of Internal Audit Practices in the University of Education, Winneba

The goal of the study was to examine internal audit practices at the University of Education, Winneba. Both internal auditors within the internal audit division of the University of Education, Winneba, were mentioned in the target population for the report. A census of the total population was adopted for the study given the desire to provide all internal auditors with an opportunity to participate in the study, combined with the fact that the sample frame of internal auditors at the University of Education, Winneba, is not very broad (30). To guide the analysis, three research questions were formulated. To collect data from the respondents, a closed-ended questionnaire was used. For the analysis of the results, frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used. The study identified that the task of internal auditing in risk management in addition to fostering continuous growth is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of risk management. The study confirmed that the bedrock of internal auditing is organizational independence. It was proposed that the internal audit targets should be decided at the highest level of an organisation typically consisting of the central board or audit committee and so should be thoroughly identified by all management levels.

Source: UCC
Assessment of internal control practices at St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia at Denkyembour District - Eastern Region

The study sought to assess the internal control practices in areas of responsibilities of internal control setting, implementation and monitoring at St. Dominic Hospital (SDH). Good internal control practices positions an organization on high performance and boost the trust of both internal and external clients. St. Dominic Hospital is the biggest institution of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and therefore selected for this study. The methodology employed in the study was administering questionnaire that serves as a primary source of data gathered. The sources of secondary data were SDH 40th and 50th Anniversary Celebration books, Management Report, Audit Report, Human Resource management policy, and Accounting, Treasury and Financial Reporting of Ministry of Health. Interview guide was also used to collect data. The researcher adopted simple random and purposive sampling techniques to administer questionnaires to 217 respondents. The responses were analyzed using ratio analysis, descriptive, frequency with percentages and the results were presented in charts and tables. The findings revealed that ST. Dominic Hospital has impressive internal control practices in place which has impacted on its performance positively. It is recommended that staff strength of internal audit should be increased and well resourced. Also the head of internal audit should report directly to Audit Report and Implementation Committee (ARIC) as management can manipulate or hijack of auditors’ reports.

Source: UCC
Assessment of internal control system of SIC Life Company limited

In this study, the effectiveness of the system of internal control of SIC Life Company Limited is assessed via the famed Internal Control – Integrated Framework by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway commission. Forty-one members of staff at the company’s head office in Accra are sampled for the study. Analyses of the responses to the questionnaire indicate that overall the internal control system of the SIC Life company is only marginally strong. Skewness of total scores for the internal control system components shows a marginal tilt toward the positive region. The theoretical proposition that the control environment component of the internal control system drives the remaining components of the internal control system is also verified. Correlational analysis between the control environment and each of the remaining components of the system of internal control supports this theoretical proposition. It is found that the control environment, which constitutes the philosophies of top management, organizational culture, ethics, integrity, and accountability of top management, is positively correlated with each of the remaining components of the system of internal control of the company. It is recommended that the company takes steps to tighten the internal control system. Particular attention should be paid to the control environment since a stronger control environment will translate into a stronger, effective and efficient overall system of internal control

Source: UCC
Assessment of Internal Control Systems in the Administration of Senior High Schools in the Volta Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT The study seeks to assess internal control systems in the administration of senior high schools in the Volta Region. The specific ojectives are to determine the nature of internal control systems in the administration of the senior high schools, determine the level of compliance with internal controls, and examine the ways to enhance the internal control systems in the administration of the senior high schools.The study used a descriptive research design with cluster and purposive sampling techniques employed in the selection of respondents. Interview schedules and questionnaires were used to elicit the data from the respondents. In total one hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed among the respondents with a hundred percent rate of response. The study revealed that internal controls exist and the control systems are effective and efficient. Consequently, the controls are complied with and the level of compliance is generally high. It is recommended that the management of the high schools embrace planning and effective forecasting of activities, training and sensitization of personnel, policy guidelines, and segregation of duties to make the internal control systems more robust

Source: UCC
An assessment of internal controls and compliance in public health facilities in East Mamprusi Municipality: A case of Baptist Medical Centre - Nalerigu

“The study examined the extent of compliance of public hospitals to internal control system using Baptist Medical Centre in East Mamprusi Municipality. Specifically, the study determined the effectiveness of the internal control system in executing orderly, ethical, economical, efficient and effective operations; fulfilling accountability, ensuring compliance of hospitals to applicable laws and regulations in the hospital, and safeguarding resources against losses and misuse. A cross-sectional survey strategy and quantitative methodology was adopted. A structured questionnaire was used as a primary data collection instrument to obtain data from employees of Baptist Medical Centre. Both administrative and non-administrative staff of the hospital were included in the study. Overall, 134 employees participated in the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that largely the hospital was in compliance with internal control system. The internal control system in the hospital contributed to ensuring execution of orderly, ethical, economical, efficient and effective operations; fulfillment of accountability obligations; and compliance with laws and regulations in the hospital. However, internal control system did not contribute to safeguarding the resources of the hospital against abuse. The study recommended to management of the hospital to ensure effective implementation of internal control system so as to safeguard the resources of the hospital against abuse

Source: UCC
An Assessment of Internally Generated Funds Towards Development of District Assemblies: a Case Study of Bolgatanga East Assembly

The aim of this research therefore is to assess the generation of IGFs towards development of Bolgatanga East District Assembly. Questionnaires were used to gather data from a sample of 39 respondents out of a total of 64 study population. For descriptive analysis, statistics such as frequency, mean, and standard deviation were used. We also employed ranking and trend analysis. The outcomes were presented using tables. According to the findings of the study, the district still relies on the traditional sources of Internal Revenue such as Lands, Rates, Fees, Fines, Rents and Licenses. Though, total IGFs is on an upwards trend, not sufficient was generated for the needs of the district. The findings revealed slow business activities, ineffective planning and strategies as some challenges to revenue collection. Nevertheless, the IGFs contributed in the area of education, health, agriculture among others to enhance the development of the district. The study recommends to the assembly to diversify its IGFs source away from only the traditional sources to proper rates, tourism, private partnership among others to help raise needed funds and speed up development in the area. Also, strategies for IGFs generations should redesigned and made more effective and measures put in place to encourage payment, accountability and transparency in revenue collection and utilization.

Source: UCC
An Assessment Of International Public Sector Accounting Standards Compliance In Ghana’s Local Government Institutions.

The study examined International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) compliance at the local government level in Ghana using selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies. A descriptive survey design was employed where primary data was gathered. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data. Though the analysis found a very high compliance rate with various components of IPSAS in terms of the presentation of financial statements and comparative information, the overall compliance rate was very low at 18.18%. The results observed that the Assemblies complied very often with the minor components of the presentation of financial performance and cash flow; than those of financial position and notes on financial to the account. The Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies were found to comply more with the statement of financial performance, statement of financial position and statement of cash flows than the District Assemblies. Further analysis revealed that implementers' level of education and years of working experience significantly explain their views about the Cash Basis System of reporting in Ghana. It was further estimated that implementers’ perceived usefulness of IPSAS is statistically dependent on the perceived complexity of the standards, perceived operational benefits, perception of the cash basis system and the gender of the implementers. An inverse relationship was observed between the perceived level of IPSAS complexity and the perceived usefulness of IPSAS. The Ministry of Local Government needs to prioritize the presentation of financial statements at the assembly level by insisting on a uniform standard for all as stipulated by the IPSAS standards.

Source: UCC
Assessment of job satisfaction among staff of Ghana broadcasting corporation

The concept of job satisfaction is considered to be a very critical issue for any organisation’s performance. Thus, employers benefit from lower staff turnover and higher productivity if their employees experience a high level of job satisfaction. The study sought to assess the state of job satisfaction among the staff of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. A cross-sectional survey design was used for the study and data were obtained from 126 respondents, using questionnaires. The study revealed that adequate pay, healthy working environment and adequate working incentives among others were very important motivating factors for the workers. Also, while workers were very satisfied with some of the intrinsic and extrinsic job factors, they were also very dissatisfied with some of them. However, the majority of the respondents did not wish to quit working with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, mostly because of their age and their long years of service. In a nutshell, even though workers may be satisfied with some of the job related factors, total job satisfaction may actually be low among the workers, since the majority indicated that they would not work with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation if they had a chance to start all over again. It is therefore recommended that the Government of Ghana should improve the working conditions as well as the remuneration of employees of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Source: UCC