ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Organizational commitment and employee performance of the Ghana Audit Service

The study sought to examine the relationship between the constructs - organizational commitment and employee performance at Ghana Audit Service (GAS). After existing literature was reviewed and the context of the study discussed, appropriate hypotheses were developed. Structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from 96 Ghana Audit Service (GAS) employees in the central region of Ghana. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that, out of the three dimensions of organizational commitment examined, only one (Normative Commitment) had a positive significant relationship with employees work performance. This means that generally, employee’s commitment at Ghana Audit Service does not impact work performance except their commitment is normative. The study recommends management’s continuous support for staff in their quest to better develop themselves in both their personal and career objective so as to improve their commitment and work performance.

Source: UCC
Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intentions of Clinical Laboratory Scientists in Ghana

High employee turnover rate coupled with frequent strike actions embarked on by clinical laboratory scientists in Ghana over the years has become a major issue that needs to be addressed. This study examined the different dimensions of organizational commitment (affective, continuance and normative commitment) as predictors of turnover intentions of medical laboratory scientists in selected health facilities in Ghana. The study consisted of 141 medical laboratory scientists drawn from various public health institutions. Two standardized instruments were used to measure organisational commitment and turnover intentions. Results of the study revealed that turnover intentions correlated insignificantly with affective commitment, but correlated significantly with continuance commitment and negatively with normative commitment. Further analysis revealed a linear positive relationship between the predictor variables combined (affective commitment, continuance commitment, normative commitment) and criterion variable (turnover intentions) among clinical laboratory scientists. Based on the findings, retention strategies of clinical laboratory scientists were proposed

Source: UCC
Organizational culture and employee performance in Public media tertiary institutions in Ghana

The study assessed the effects of organizational culture on employee performance. A mixed research design was utilized. Employees of two media educational institutions were the study's target population. The study was guided by the organizational culture paradigm by Denison (1990). A total of 151 employees were chosen, where purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were employed. Data was analyzed using means, standard deviations, and regression analyses. It was discovered that, a negative association between rewards and compensation culture and employee performance existed. In addition, a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between training and development culture and employee performance was established. Also, the study discovered a positive and statistically significant association between leadership culture and the performance of employees. Finally, a positive and statistically significant link between conflict management culture and employee performance. Employee performance and training and development culture were shown to have positive and statistically insignificant link. It is recommended that managers and employees should get training on certain key productivity concepts of training and development culture. Employee performance also have negative link with reward and compensation culture. Despite the fact that reward and compensation are important in the short to medium term, institutions should be cautious of the types and forms of incentives and compensation packages they offer their staff. That is, motivation and financial incentives alone are insufficient; acknowledgment and opportunity for attaining distinct individual goals and desires must also be provided.

Source: UCC
Organizational Culture and Innovation Performance of Software Development Firms in Greater Accra Region

Through the knowledge-based theory, this study examined organisational culture and innovation performance of software development firms in Greater Accra region. Specifically, the study evaluated organization cultural variables that are present in the software development firms. Secondly, it found out the influence of employee’s empowerment on innovation performance. Thirdly, this research assessed impact of workplace flexibility on innovation performance and lastly, this research assessed relationship between teamwork and innovation performance. By adopting the quantitative research approach and the descriptive-inferential survey design, this study’s data was acquired by adopting structured questionnaire. With sample size of 108 respondents, this study revealed that three cultural variables were present or exhibited by employees in all the Software Development Firms. Again, the research found that there was a positive and strong relationship between employees’ empowerment and innovation performance. In addition, it was shown in this study that there was a positive and strong relationship between workplace flexibility and innovation performance, and last but not least, this study found strong positive relationship between teamwork and innovation performance. This study concluded and recommended that specific cultural practices such as training, delegation, group spirit, helping each other, friendliness and coordination, the adoption and utilization of modern technology, openness to new ideas, better relationships, involvement in decision-making and recognition could facilitate the innovative performance of the workers in the software development firms.

Source: UCC
Organizational culture and its relationship to organisation performance at Ghana Education Service head office Accra

The main objective of this research is to find out the organisational culture that exist at Ghana Education Service (GES) Head Office and to determine if this culture has any relationship with the organisation’s performance. The study is also targeted at getting feedback from respondents on the way forward for the organisation in the area of study. This study looked at performance in eleven areas including the organisation’s mission, ethics and accountability, leadership and management, strategic planning, finance and technology. The research was centered on five divisions of the organisation. The main tools for data collection were questionnaires and interview. The conclusions drawn in the study are that the existing culture does not mirror the preferred culture; culture and performance have a mutually reciprocating relationship. The study showed that the current level of performance could be improved if support systems in the area of finance, staff and technology are put in place. Furthermore the organisation should encourage shared leadership and give credit to others when they do the right things. Staff need to be trained in information technology so they can be current in the use of the technology.

Source: UCC
Organizational Justice in Performance Appraisal System and Work Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Market

This study aimed at extending the literature of the effect of performance appraisal on productivity and employees by connecting the employees’ perception on fair performance appraisal and organizational justice-considered practices to job satisfaction and work performance. Prior studies did not explore much this relation due to the geographical sample limitation and governance practice context. Participants of this research were employees of large and well-established companies, which were considered to have well and transparent appraisal systems and a perfect recently context to find the effect of organizational justice conflict. Questionnaires were used and processed with factor analysis and regression to examine the simultaneous effects of few independent variables on a dependent variable. The results reveal that the interactional justice has more influence than other types of organizational justice in evaluating employee’s performance, which is contrary with previous researches. Employees are more concerned on interaction during and after the evaluation process. They are keen on knowing how they have been evaluated and what the feedback of their superior is after the performance appraisal process. It provides strong support for the relationship between employee perception of organizational justice in performance appraisal system and work performance. It also supports a significant relationship between performance appraisal satisfaction and work performance. The important implication for organization is a pivotal role of the employees’ perceptions of the success or failure of a system. Therefore, the management has to keep in view the perceptions of their employees, while designing or modifying the appraisal system.

Source: UCC
Organizational support and employees’ performance of Ghana cement limited: The moderating role of gender.

The study examined the effect of organizational support on employees’ performance of GHACEM. The study employed a quantitative research approach with a causal design. Using questionnaire, data was collected from 335 employees of GHACEM. Mean, standard deviation, Pearson product moment correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. It was revealed that, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between organizational support and employees’ performance. It was also revealed that the various components of organizational support (organizational fairness, organizational supervisor support and organizational rewards and job conditions) were found to have a statistically significant positive relationship with employees’ performance. The study also revealed that organizational support has an effect on employees’ performance. Furthermore, it was revealed that gender moderates the relationship between organizational support and employees’ performance. It was also found that the performance levels of both males and females had no significant difference. The study concluded that employees who perceived support from their organizations repaid with greater commitment and improved performance of employees’ and hence the organization. In view of the findings, it is recommended that, employers should motivate their employees by providing employees with the various support they desire within the organization.

Source: UCC
Origin-destination linkages as livelihood strategy for Migrants from the three Regions in the Northern Sector of Ghana resident in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Linkages are the social and material links and networks that connect migrants to their places of origin. Linkages are employed by migrants to sustain relations as well as improve the socio-economic status of their places of origin. It is against this backdrop that the study sought to assess origin-destination linkages as livelihood strategy among migrants from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana who are resident in the Cape Coast Metropolis. To accomplish this, a descriptive cross-sectional survey design involving quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted for the study. The study was grounded in four theories: The New Economics of Labour Migration (NELM), Migration Networks Theory, Migration Systems Theory and Social Exchange Theory. A sample size of 297 was derived from a population of 1,287 using Raosoft Calculator. A self-developed interview schedule and interview guide were used for the data collection. The data were analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies and Chi-square. The study revealed that majority of the migrants had some form of linkages with their families at their places of origin. Some of these linkages included attending funerals, cash remittances, non-cash remittances, communication and child fostering. Further, the results showed that origin destination linkages influence migrants’ livelihoods both positively and negatively but the positives influence far outweigh the negative ones. It was, therefore, recommended that the various forms of origin-destination linkages be encouraged among migrants.

Source: UCC
Origin-destination linkages as livelihood strategy for migrants from the three regions in the Northern sector of Ghana resident in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Linkages are the social and material links and networks that connect migrants to their places of origin. Linkages are employed by migrants to sustain relations as well as improve the socio-economic status of their places of origin. It is against this backdrop that the study sought to assess origin-destination linkages as livelihood strategy among migrants from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana who are resident in the Cape Coast Metropolis. To accomplish this, a descriptive cross-sectional survey design involving quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted for the study. The study was grounded in four theories: The New Economics of Labour Migration (NELM), Migration Networks Theory, Migration Systems Theory and Social Exchange Theory. A sample size of 297 was derived from a population of 1,287 using Raosoft Calculator. A self-developed interview schedule and interview guide were used for the data collection. The data were analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies and Chi-square. The study revealed that majority of the migrants had some form of linkages with their families at their places of origin. Some of these linkages included attending funerals, cash remittances, non-cash remittances, communication and child fostering. Further, the results showed that origindestination linkages influence migrants’ livelihoods both positively and negatively but the positives influence far outweigh the negative ones. It was, therefore, recommended that the various forms of origin-destination linkages be encouraged among migrants.

Source: UCC
The origins, implementation and effects of Ghana's 1969 Aliens compliance order

This study situates the November 18, 1969 Aliens Compliance Order in a historical perspective and, with the employment of the internal-external approach, examines the context in which the expulsion order was enforced. Relying on both primary and secondary sources, the study reveals that various factors combined to make Ghana one of the preferred migrants’ destinations in West Africa, especially from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the 1960s. In the face of the growing immigrant population, the colonial, Nkrumah and NLC administrations all introduced immigration measures to control the influx of immigrants into Ghana. However, the colonial government and Nkrumah administration did not strictly enforce those regulations. The NLC attempted to remedy the situation, but it could not achieve much. When the Busia government was inaugurated, it immediately issued the expulsion order which caused the deportation of many immigrants in a manner never before attempted. The study demonstrates how the interplay of factors, such as the government’s desire to reduce the rate of unemployment and remittances from Ghana, combat crime, guarantee the security of the country, compel immigrants to comply with the immigration laws of Ghana, control the growth of the country’s population, ensure cultural homogeneity, clear the streets of immigrant destitutes and beggars, continue the policies of the NLC, and xenophobia on the part of some Ghanaians, at least to some extent, influenced the government’s decision to issue the expulsion order. iv The study observes that the decision was strictly enforced. Some of the immigrants who made efforts to secure permits were successful, but many were those who failed and, thus, had to leave Ghana, sometimes hastily. The study again shows that in some cases, the police and some ordinary citizens went to the extreme so that many of the expellees suffered in many ways, including loss of property and even death. The work indicates the economic, social and political repercussions of the expulsion on Ghana and the country’s foreign relations. In the end, the government did not fully realise the objectives for which it issued the Order, but some modest gains were made. The study finally appreciates the good intentions of the government in acting in the interest of Ghana, as was alleged, but frowns on the harsh manner in which the implementation was done. The study contends that if the government had been more cautious in executing the decision, it could have realised its objectives.

Source: UCC
THE ORTHODONTIC MANAGEMENT OF AN ADULT WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by abnormally shaped red cells. SCD frequently exhibits multisystemic manifestations including oral and craniofacial disorders. Craniofacial features such as maxillary protrusion and more forward growth of the mandible with significantly retruded maxillary and mandibular incisors are common. When a patient with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) needs orthodontic treatment, it is important for the practitioner involved to know about the disease and the respective treatment because of the importance of complete blood supply after application of intraoral and extraoral forces. This article describes a sickle cell HbSS patient with orthodontic problems and how she was successfully managed at the University of Ghana Dental School.

Source: UCC
‘Othered Bodies’: Interrogating Disability in the African Novel

In recent times, there has been a growing interest in the study of how disabled characters are represented in African literature. This is partly inspired by the call for researchers and scholars to present the African perspective on the ongoing disability discourse which hitherto, was considered to be dominated by Western thoughts and ideas. In this research, I examine the representation of disabled characters in The Last Duty by Isidore Okpewho, The Beggars Strike by Aminata Sow Fall, Silence is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia and The Book of Memory by Petinah Gappah. All these literary texts are novels by African writers and they involve the representation of characters who are disabled. By situating my discussions within disability studies, I examine how these characters are ‘othered’ by their respective societies as a result of their perceived body differences. I offer the hybrid interpretative framework as a viable way of reading the selected texts. This approach involves applying relevant perspectives on disability studies as they have developed over the years through a close reading of the texts while maintaining an eye on what may be described as ‘African’ as far as issues pertaining to disability representation is concerned. This study shows that characters whose bodies do not meet the societal perception of the ideal body are ‘othered’ based on their body difference. This therefore makes them victims of labelling, stigmatisation, stereotyping and marginalisation. In this regard, cultural and religious beliefs play a critical role in how bodies are perceived and treated in these societies. Again, this research shows that the intersection between sex and disability is at the core of the texts understudied. Even though the disabled characters are initially denied participation in the sexual activities in their societies, they find ways to fight for inclusion. I conclude that in their quest to present a realistic presentation of the disabled in their texts, the selected authors risk being accused of presenting mainly negative narratives about the disabled characters.

Source: UCC
Out of the reach of children? Young people’s health-seeking practices and agency in Africa’s newly-emerging therapeutic landscapes

Despite a dominant view within Western biomedicine that children and medicines should be kept apart, a growing literature suggests that children and adolescents often take active roles in health-seeking. Here, we consider young people’s health-seeking practices in Ghana: a country with a rapidlychanging therapeutic landscape, characterised by the recent introduction of a National Health Insurance Scheme, mass advertising of medicines, and increased use of mobile phones. Qualitative and quantitative data are presented from eight field-sites in urban and rural Ghana, including 131 individual interviews, focus groups, plus a questionnaire survey of 1005 8-to-18-year-olds. The data show that many young people in Ghana play a major role in seeking healthcare for themselves and others. Young people’s ability to secure effective healthcare is often constrained by their limited access to social, economic and cultural resources and information; however, many interviewees actively generated, developed and consolidated such resources in their quest for healthcare. Health insurance and the growth of telecommunications and advertising present new opportunities and challenges for young people’s health-seeking practices. We argue that policy should take young people’s medical realities as a starting point for interventions to facilitate safe and effective health-seeking.

Source: UCC
OUTCOME OF CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA IN A PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY UNIT IN GHANA

Despite high cure rates for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in developed countries, this success is not mirrored in resource-poor countries where most children with cancers live. The study objective was to determine the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of ALL in children admitted to the paediatric oncology unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana

Source: UCC
OUTCOME OF CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA IN A PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY UNIT IN GHANA

Worldwide, acute leukaemias account for about a third of all childhood cancers and ALL represents about 80% of all acute leukaemias in children below the age of 15 years [1]. Survival rates for childhood ALL have improved significantly in developed countries over the past fifty years and are currently at about 90% [2]. Improved laboratory diagnostic 64 capabilities with more precise risk-directed treatment regimens, availability of adequate supportive care and biologically targeted therapies have contributed to these improved outcomes [3]. In comparison, outcomes of children with ALL in resource-poor nations remain sub-optimal [4]. The reasons for these poor outcomes are multi-factorial and 68 include lack of recognition of childhood cancers as a health priority, poor health infrastructure with few specialized paediatric oncology units and trained personnel, limited laboratory facilities, missed diagnoses, poverty (rendering chemotherapy and other related healthcare costs unaffordable), delayed presentation to hospital and abandonment of therapy [4].

Source: UCC