ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Cost performance of construction projects in Accra Metropolitan Assembly

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (A.M.A) is one of the local authorities in Ghana, which by statute has considerable responsibility towards providing the needed infrastructure in its area of jurisdiction. This commission can only be achieved through good coordination among both stakeholders that is the A.M.A and contractors who work in the metropolis. This research aimed at assessing cost performance of construction projects in A.M.A by identifying the key performance indicators used in measuring construction performance, identifying the causes of cost overruns and making recommendations to control cost in the construction industry. A literature review was deployed to generate a set of factors believed to affect project cost performance, which included examining other peoples work (dissertations),using the website etc. on the subject area. A total of fifty (50) structured questionnaires were distributed to contractors working on A.M.A projects. Forty Five (45) questionnaires were received from the respondents and the results were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics and the ranking theory method. The survey findings indicate that material price fluctuation, differentiation of currency prices, high cost of machinery, inaccurate/poor estimation of original cost and incessant variation/change order were the first five factors out of the seventeen factors causing cost overruns in projects administered by A.M.A. Based on the findings, the study recommends that: 1)there should be appropriate scope definition; 2)there should be proper project costing and financing and finally; 3)contractors should use competent personnel in managing their projects.

Source: KNUST
Cost overruns resulting from payment delays in Ghanaian Public School Projects: exploring the cost benefits to the client

The construction industry is plagued with the myriad occurrence of cost-related problems paramount of which is cost overruns. Many factors have been identified as the causes of and solutions to cost overrun. Principal among these factors is delayed payments. This research Sought to explore the cost benefits accrued to the client when payment is delayed. The cost data of 81 Ghanaian school projects were sampled through purposive sampling and analyzed in order to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The findings are presented as follows: as regards objective 1, it was discovered that 91 % of the projects in the sample experienced cost overruns by an average of 52.90 %. A total of 91.36 % of projects sampled experienced schedule overruns by as much as 286.13%. Objective 2 involved the evaluation of cost trends in relation to schedule trends. It was discovered that a positive correlation exists between the cost trends and schedule trends. A rise in the schedule (time) resulted in a rise in cost. Further studies found that 38.18% of the variation in Cost is explained by the variation in Time, whereas 61.82 % is unexplained. It is recommended that the factors behind the unexplained 61.82% require further investigation to uncover. The following regression module was formulated to illustrate the relationship between cost and time trends: Percentage of Cost Variance = -0.006 + 0.187 (Percentage of Time Variance) Objective 3 sought to explore cost-benefit accrued to the client when payments are delayed. It was determined that the average period of delay in honoring certificates was 24.54 months approximately two calendar years. The study also revealed that cost benefits average 39.89% of the certified amount are accrued to clients as a result of delayed payment. Also, the mean cost-benefit accrued to the clients resulting from delayed payment of final certificates was 32.05% of the certified final certificates. Overall the cost-benefit due the client resulting from delayed payment leading to cost overruns was revealed to be 1% of the contract sum. Recommendations made as a result of the study include taking care through prudent management practices to prevent schedule overruns and hence preventing cost overruns. Policies on payment for construction projects should be structured such that, delayed payments are discouraged. Note should be taken that value accruing to the client indicates value lost by the contractor.

Source: KNUST
Cost overruns in the delivery of Highway Construction Projects in Ghana

Infrastructure development, and for that matter the construction of roads, serve as inputs for other sectors of a country’s economy and are therefore used to stimulate growth and development in a nation. Infrastructure development therefore plays a vital role in the economic growth of a country. This role of infrastructure development in ensuring economic growth is however being defeated by increasing cost overruns in project delivery across the world. The phenomenon of project cost overruns is very widespread in developing countries (Mahamid and Dmaidi 2013), Ghana not being an exception. The effects of construction project cost overruns are a source of friction especially between government owners, consultants, and contractors in terms of project cost variation subsequent to the owner’s decision to build (Creedy et al. 2010). Highway construction projects are particularly affected by cost overruns, with actual costs on average being 28% higher than estimated (Flyvbjerg et al. 2003). There have been several researches in countries the world over to identify the factors that lead to cost overruns in infrastructure projects and to look for ways to reduce the incidents of the problem. However, as a result of differences in the socio-economic and political maturity levels, the causative factors and therefore the remedies differ from country to country. The research sought to identify and assess the critical risk factors leading to highway construction cost overruns in Ghana from the points of view of the owner. The five top ranked critical risk factors identified are; use of line diagrams for highway construction projects, lack of adequate designs before contract award, underestimation of quantities in Bills of Quantities (BOQ), delay in payment for certified work done, inadequate contingency allowance in BOQ . A common theme amongst the critical risk factors identified is that most of them are client-related. This means that they can be better controlled or managed by the client or owner.

Source: KNUST
Cost of care in public health facilities - a comparative study in Kumasi

The Government of Ghana has the responsibility of ensuring that all Ghanaians enjoy good quality health at an affordable cost to clients. In pursuance of this goal, the Government has invested in resourcing and expanding the health sector. However, the Ministry of Health has realized that despite these efforts, utilization of health facilities has been low across the country. The five-year programme of work objectives for the period 1997 - 2001 therefore focused, among others, on means to optimize utilization of health services to improve the Ghanaian health status. The study was conducted at Manhyia and Kumasi South hospitals to compare cost of care and how cost affects the OPD utilization level of the two hospitals. Specifically, to compare the cost of managing the top four diseases as reported by the Metropolis Health Directorate in the two hospitals. Data were collected from clients in both hospitals and service providers using two instruments: exit poll interview and key informant interviews respectively. For these instruments, 50 clients and 15 service providers from each hospital were selected respectively. The clients were interviewed on their socio-economic background; the process they go through in receiving care and the affordability of the cost. Providers were also interviewed on level of OPD attendance; their knowledge of treatment procedures and how services are costed. The result gave a view of the level of utilization of clinical services at both hospitals, the perception of treatment procedures by prescriber and affordability of cost of care by clients. Reference was made to related secondary data as well as hospital records. Analysis was undertaken with the aid of the EPI-INFO 6.04. The findings showed that although the level of OPD attendances at both hospitals were low compared to the National target and had seen a general decline between 1997 and 1999, observed utilization in terms of OPD attendance had not experienced a significant deviation from the expected utilization level of 0.3 per capita OPD attendance set by the Ministry of health. However, a longer series of OPD attendance data is required to determine the exact trend. The respondents at Manhyia hospital averagely earn more than respondents at Kumasi South hospital and they found cost of care more affordable, though cost of managing three out of the four top diseases is higher at Manhyia hospital. 40% of respondents at Kumasi South hospital said cost of care was not affordable whilst only 18% of respondents at Manhyia hospital said it was not affordable. It was also found out that prescribers of both hospitals mostly stick in the treatment procedures and over 80% of their prescriptions are from EDL It was recommended that a further study should be done after five to ten years to determine the long-term trend of utilization in order to undertake any corrective measures. Service charges should also be made more affordable to the poorest section of the communities by putting in place an affordable insurance scheme or making exemptions for paupers easier to access.

Source: KNUST
Cost recovery of water services of Community-managed piped water systems

Cost Recovery has been a major setback to sustainability of community — managed water supply systems. The assessment of the level of recovery of the O & M costs and the full cost of water services were carried out in five (5) communities in Ashanti Region. 141 sample of water consumers across the communities were selected to investigate their willingness and ability to pay for the full cost of the water service. The willingness to pay was estimated using the contingent valuation method (CVM) whereas the ability to pay was estimated based on the five percent (5%) of income rule. The study results reveal that apart from Manso-Nkwanta the other four communities (Mankranso, Wiamoase, Juaso and Kuntanase) were recovering fully their O & M costs. All the five communities were however not recovering the full costs of the water services. Even though most households (66.7% in Wiamoase, 78.6% in Manso — Nkwanta, 80.0% in Juaso and 85.7% in both Mankranso and Kuntanase) have the ability to pay, majority of the people interviewed were not willing to pay for the full cost of the water service in all the communities. They rather wanted the existing tariff to be maintained. However, to ensure the financial sustainability of the systems, tariffs must be reviewed to reflect the full cost of the water services since the affordability levels are favourable in all the communities.

Source: KNUST
Cost – Benefit analysis of water supply: A case study of Ghana water company limited Ashanti-Region

The effect of recent water crisis in and around the cities and regional capitals of Ghana is a great concern. It hindered proper economic growth and put much pressure and stress on workers, women and school children. This research meant to look at the costs and benefits associated with improved water supply to the communities by the water company. Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)–Ashanti region was used as a case study. Cost –Benefit Analysis (CBA) is performed on monthly costs and benefits (revenue) from January, 2006 to December, 2007 from GWCL- Ashanti. It used Government of Ghana 91-day Treasury bill rate of 11.27 % (Bank of Ghana) as the discount rate for the analysis. The analysis indicated clearly that, the operation of GWCL is economically viable. The Benefit- Cost Ratio (BCR) gives the value of 1.3466 which is greater than one, the Net Present Value (NPV) is GH¢4,304,701.50 and that is greater than zero. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) also gives the value of 27% which is also greater than the discount rate of 11.27%. All these clearly show that, the benefits the communities derived from having water supply improved are by far more than the costs incurred. These benefits amount to time saving, less illness, increases productivities at the workplaces, increase in school attendance rates.

Source: KNUST
The cost- effectiveness of NED providing meters to each tenant in compound houses in northern area

Separate metering is very dear to tenants of compound houses and a challenge to electricity utilities, particularly the Northern Electricity Department (NED). The study investigated the financial implications of installing meters for individual tenants of compound houses in Northern Area of NED. The study used analysis of variance (ANOVA) model to examine the consumption patterns of compound house accounts over time and from station to station. It was realized that tenants increased their consumption upon provision of separate meters, and that the increase was not as a result of time or place. A community survey was undertaken. The result of the survey on consumption conflicted with that of the ANOVA study. It could be that the respondents were of the view that their consumptions were reduced when they were given separate meters. This was probably based on assumption and not by serious consideration. The effect of the PURC tariff structure on the billing was examined. It was realized that in 58.6% of the sample, the amount was lower when the consumption was shared before calculation of the bill, than when the bill was computed before sharing it among tenants. Cost- benefit analysis revealed that a substantial revenue gain to Northern Area is achieved through separate metering. The net benefit in providing tenants with prepaid meters is higher at GH¢2,813,253.71. The inertia in getting 472,500 meters for this purpose are the capital cost and the fact that the department (NED) will need to take similar measures in other Areas.

Source: KNUST
Cost planning as a tool in monitoring construction projects in the government sector

The aim of this research was to investigate cost planning as a tool in monitoring construction projects in the government sector in the Ghana Armed Forces. The specific objectives of the study include; to identify the cost planning practices being adopted by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), to identify the implementation challenges of cost planning methods as a tool for monitoring GAF projects as well as to establish modern cost planning techniques to enhance project delivery on GAF projects. Overall quantitative research approach was adopted with mainly descriptive designs adopted to describe the distinctive and the rating of responses obtained from respondents. The survey instrument used was structured questionnaire adapted from previous literature. The data instrument was administered among 66 respondents of the GAF. The data was presented both in charts and tables and interpretation for each data information was stated. The analysis was obtained with the help of SPSS (version 23.0). The results of the study showed that Cost control of the construction stage, Cost planning and monitoring of the design process must correspond with the funds availability for the projects are highly ranked, cost planning practices being adopted by GAF on projects. The study further revealed that project management information system, Elemental cost planning and Cost estimating were identified as the highly ranked effective modern cost planning techniques that enhances project delivery. The study also concluded that there are significant implementation challenges of cost planning method as a tool for monitoring GAF projects. It is recommended that more cost planning practices should be adopted and used effectively since very little (cost planning practices) works beyond moderate effectiveness.

Source: KNUST
Cost-Efficiency Analysis of Solid Waste Trucks Using Data Envelopement Analysis Programme - A Study Of Zoomlion Ghana Limited

This study focuses on the cost-efficiency analysis of solid waste trucks and seeks to identify the factors that account for the various variations in the cost components. The main objective of this project is to carry out a cost-efficiency analysis of the solid waste trucks using the Data Envelopment Analysis Programme. Data Envelopment Analysis is essentially an optimization algorithm, which develops efficiency scores for all Decision Making Units on a scale of zero to 100% or 0-1 with units that have 100% or 1 efficiency score being called fully efficient. In this study, a cost efficiency measurement of solid waste trucks was carried out using data on a sample of 28 trucks (10 skip trucks, 5 roll-on/roll-off trucks and 13 compaction trucks. A constant return to scale model was used in the analysis and efficiency scores were developed for all solid waste trucks. The study revealed that 3 out of the 28 trucks were found to have received a cost-efficiency score of 1 (100%). It also revealed that the dominant source of the cost inefficiency is as a result of high allocative inefficiencies. This implies that the managers of the trucks were relatively good at using the minimum level of inputs at a given level of output but they were not that good at selecting the optimal mix of inputs given the prices. An analysis was also carried out to account for the variations in the cost components of the trucks. From the study, it was revealed that factors that contribute to these variations include the age of the truck, the distance (in km) travelled by each truck, the frequency of breakdown, the traffic condition pertaining to the routed that the trucks ply among others.

Source: KNUST
Counterpart funding policy and community response in poverty reduction projects in Ghana

Development Partners are increasingly concerned about the slow progress being made towards poverty reduction and have identified new ways of strengthening the poverty focus of their policies and programmes. For this reason, community participation, with its associated counterpart funding, has been fashioned out to ensure that poverty reduction projects are more sustainable and respond better to the needs and priorities of beneficiaries. As a form of community participation, communities are enjoined to pay counterpart funds towards the cost of implementing projects in their localities. But the question that needs to be answered is; why should poor communities pay counterpart funding towards the cost of implementing poverty reduction projects in their communities ? The study therefore sought to find out the essence of the counterpart funding policy in poverty reduction projects and to examine the response of communities towards the payment of counterpart funding among others. The study was carried out through the case study approach. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Purposive sampling and simple random sampling were also used for the study. The findings of the study revealed among others that; • The counterpart funding policy was fashioned out to promote community participation and ensure sustainability of projects • Poor communities are endowed with human and material resources which they can tap to develop their communities • The response of communities to the counterpart funding policy was positive. Communities were generally willing to contribute towards the cost of implementing projects that they considered beneficial. • It came to light that in some cases District Assemblies supported communities to pay their counterpart funds • The study revealed that although community participation promoted a sense of ownership of projects in communities it did not necessarily lead to sustainability of projects The study revealed that the communities had embraced the counterpart funding idea and were responding positively to it. However, for effective and efficient implementation of the policy in poverty reduction projects there was the need for a much closer collaboration between the development partners, District Assemblies and communities in scheduling project implementation periods. Communities must also be helped to come out with operation and maintenance plans and implement them to ensure that the high sense of ownership could be translated into projects sustainability.

Source: KNUST
Costs of unsafe abortions in the Ablekuma South District of the Accra Metropolis

Women have resorted to abortions since times immemorial despite social norms and legal restriction that barred it. Today, restrictive abortion laws and inaccessibility to safe and affordable abortion services lead many girls and women of reproductive age to resort to unsafe abortion that result in costs: costs that are financial, social and health related. Costs which transcend the person of the woman; to her household and her community. The study assessed costs of unsafe abortions amongst forty-five (45) women who had gone through an unsafe abortion. It is came to light that the incidence of unsafe abortions is not limited to a homogenous group of woman, but cuts across women of different socio-demographic backgrounds of religious orientation and education for instance. The predominant age category was 19-28years, an indication that women in that age category are more predisposed to committing abortions than women in the other age categories. This is in line with findings in the GMHS‘s (2007) report which indicated that women aged 20–29years are more likely to seek an abortion than those aged 30years and above. Many were unmarried and did not intend to get pregnant at the time pregnancy occurred, but, also did not use any form of modern contraceptive to prevent the risk of pregnancy. Most of the unsafe abortions were self-induced by taking a drug obtained from a pharmacy over the counter, or by drinking an herbal concoction which was self administered. The financial losses of the unsafe abortions affected both the individual women and their significant others. There were social costs or losses to children, as well as significant others in the household of study participants. The issue of unsafe abortions should and must be critically accesses and addressed if Ghana is to make head way its quest to meet the MDGs, and also because the losses or costs go beyond the women who commits the act, the Ghanaian society perhaps ought to lend more support, try to empathize with, as well as encourage young women and girls who find themselves saddled with unintended pregnancies instead of stigmatizing them, so that they will not resort to abortions, and unsafe abortions for that matter.

Source: KNUST
Cost–benefit analysis of the COVID-19 vaccination model incorporating different infectivity reductions

The spread and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) present a worldwide economic and medical burden to public health. It is imperative to probe the effect of vaccination and infectivity reductions in minimizing the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, we analyze a mathematical model incorporating different infectivity reductions. This work provides the most economical and effective control methods for reducing the impact of COVID-19. Using data fromGhana as a sample size, we study the sensitivity of the parameters to estimate the contributions of the transmission routes to the effective reproduction number Re. We also devise optimal interventions with cost–benefit analysis that aim to maximize outcomes while minimizing COVID-19 incidences by deploying cost-effectiveness and optimization techniques. The outcomes of this work contribute to a better understanding of COVID-19 epidemiology and provide insights into implementing interventions needed to minimize the COVID-19 burden in similar settings worldwide.

Source: KNUST