ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Risk management and bank performance: a case study of First Atlantic Merchant Bank Ghana Limited (FAMBL)

The recent financial crisis and scandal such as Enron have raised several questions with respect to the growing awareness and the need for appropriate Risk Management of financial institutions. It calls for thorough assessments of the structure and components of the risk management frameworks and practices of banks by regulators, analysts and financial watchers from time to time, to ascertain the adequacy of the systems, policies and procedures for managing risks as well as their conformity to current best practices. As a contribution to this exercise, this study is focused on First Atlantic merchant Bank Ghana Limited (FAMBL) with the aim of evaluating the bank‘s risk profile as well as assessing its risk management framework to ascertain its soundness and conformity to international best practices. This study also investigates whether efficient risk management translate into enhanced performance of banks. It combines and further develops relevant previous findings from two major areas of research: risk management, enterprise risk management (ERM), and their effect on bank performance. Analytical based approaches were adopted in assessing the risk condition of FAMBL. By applying analytical tools such as ratios, tables and charts, to the bank‘s 2010 financial statements, and those of years 2009 and 2008 serving as references for comparison. Trends and relationships in the financial statements and other financial data were also established. This helped in making well-reasoned analysis of the bank‘s capital adequacy, balance sheet structure and composition, profitability and reliability of earnings, credit exposure size and quality, liquidity, interest rate and currency risks situations.. The study also revealed that FAMBL had a fairly adequate risk management structures to ensure sound management of financial and operational risks. There was an appropriate environment in place for managing risk, in that; the governance structure was solid with clear obligations and lines of authority set out.

Source: KNUST
Risk management and firm performance: the role of dynamic capability and risk management culture

Risk management is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing firm performance and competitiveness. Motivated by the complex yet critical relationship between risk management and firm outcomes, this study aimed to examine the impacts of risk management practices and risk culture on firm performance, focusing on mining firms in Ghana. The study is grounded in the resource-based view and dynamic capability theories. Using a quantitative approach, data was gathered from a sample of 133 employees of mining firms in Ghana and analyzed with structural equation modeling. Key findings reveal that while risk management alone does not directly enhance firm performance, the presence of a strong risk management culture significantly improves the effectiveness of risk management practices in driving performance. The study concludes that mining firms seeking to boost performance should invest in robust risk management systems and consciously nurture a risk-aware culture. This will equip them to better capitalize on opportunities and sustain competitiveness amidst myriad risks. The research contributes valuable empirical insights on the integral, nuanced role of risk management culture in translating risk management into improved firm performance. Based on the findings, recommendations include developing educational programs to promote risk awareness across organizations and creating open channels for communication about risk to nurture a supportive risk management culture. The study's focus on the mining industry in Ghana may limit generalizability, while the cross-sectional quantitative approach provides limited insights into the temporal dynamics of risk management. Further research could employ longitudinal and qualitative approaches across industries and regions. Overall, the study underscores the importance of an integrative approach encompassing risk management practices, culture and capabilities for long-term success amidst uncertainty.

Source: KNUST
RISK MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT OF MULTIMEDIA GROUP LIMITED

Risk management has become an inevitable part of doing business, especially since the business sector is related to conditions of uncertainty. This research was undertaken to gain understanding of the nature of risk, compliance to best standards and challenges faced in mitigating risk the media industry. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, data was collected through interview and questionnaires. Due to the fact that top-level management is directly responsible for risk management, the target groups included departmental heads and key employee. This research found that the major risks facing the media are credit risk, operational risk and strategic risk. Of these risks, operational risk forms the most challenging risk. Risk is managed through talent management, protection of the internal intellectual property, bench for key programs, maintenance of audience trust and strict adherence to credit policy manual. The study also revealed that effective risk management helps retain key and experienced employees especially on air presenters, development and maintenance of good relationship with key stakeholders and ability to prudently manage the cash flow of the organization The findings indicated that compliance to best standards facilitates the effectiveness of risk management. Some challenges faced in risk mitigation included lack of adequate tools for risk assessment and management, inadequate training programs, difficulty in identified risk data interpretation and analysis and inability to align risk management process with overall strategy.

Source: KNUST
Risk Management in Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in Ghana

The study examines Risk Management in Pharmaceutical supply chain in Ghana. The main methodology involved a descriptive survey. Managers or pharmacist of ten manufacturing companies, managers or pharmacist of fifteen importing companies, managers or .pharmacist of thirty wholesaling companies and twenty- five managers of retail shops formed the sample population. Non-probability sampling was used to select pharmaceutical companies. The total responses used for the study was eighty which represented 94.1%. » The chi square statistic and percentages were used to analyze the data and alpha level was set at a significant level of 0.05. The questionnaires were tested for consistency (i.e. reliability) with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. A reliability coefficient, Cronbach's Alpha, of 0.80 was obtained for the 21 statements relating to supply chain risk management. The study revealed that Pharmaceutical companies in Ghana are able to identify their risks whenever they occur and that they employs risk management methods to solve a confronting risk, but lack sound security systems to reduce or better still to prevent cash and information leakage, theft and expiration of drugs. It was also concluded that pharmaceutical companies enjoys credit facilities from their major suppliers as well as they also give credit facilities to their major customers. Moreover, they do not thoroughly investigate the credit worthiness of customers before offering credit facility. The study recommends among other things, that Pharmaceutical companies in Ghana should adopt a good and appropriate accounting and inventory management in addition to practicing an efficient debtor administration.

Source: KNUST
Risk management in smallholder scheme projects in Ghana. Cases study of Norpalm Ghana Limited’s smallholder scheme project

The agricultural sector plays a vital role in the economy of Ghana however, it is embedded with lots of risks that can affect the success of a project if not managed properly. This thesis is a study of risk management in a smallholder scheme project in Ghana using Norpalm Ghana Limited an oil palm plantation company as a case study. The main aim of the study was to identify the risks associated with Norpalm Ghana Limited’s smallholder scheme project and their response strategies. The objectives were to explore the risk associated with Norpalm Ghana Limited’s smallholder scheme project and assess its impact on the project. Questionnaires were developed and used to fulfil the objectives of the study. The questionnaires were distributed to all participants in Norpalm Ghana Limited’s smallholder scheme project. They included management, scheme manager, project team members and the project leads. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistic and results were ranked using their means scores. Respondents in the study concluded that ten most important risks that can affect a smallholder scheme project include: land availability, stakeholder selection process and engagement, weather condition, pest and disease management, team members with negative attitude towards project, financial difficulties, health and safety, communication methods, soil fertility and lack of training. The study revealed that all the participants acknowledged the need to perform risk identification and analysis in a project but some of them have never performed risk identification analysis before. The study recommended that project managers and stakeholders should train their project team in risk management process, organization should engage team member and select project lead with background in risk management

Source: KNUST
Risk management formalisation and contractor performance

Managing Risk in Construction is usually based on the skill and individual decisions made by site managers, particularly in lesser projects. Construction Site Manager should be a key individual, with a prevailing picture of being tough. This study tracks up a past study by a researcher who established that, managing construction project itself does not have such a large encouragement on the way risks are managed at a construction site. The construction site manager, as a distinct individual, is viewed as having a larger impact on the project performance related to risk. The question upraised in this study is; to what extent is risk management formalised in the Ghanaian construction industry? To answer this question, it is also vital to determine the extent to which it is possible to measure the effects of managing risk at construction site level. Average percentage score and correlation analysis were the main tools used to measure the extent of risk management formalisation, impact of risk management formalisation on project time and cost performance and determining the most prevalent techniques used in risk management. Statistical package for social sciences was used as software to run the analysis. The results showed that, risk formalisation was averagely among Ghanaian contractors. Per the scaling, companies partly make documentation as part of formal risk management system in their firm. There was weak positive correlation coefficient between risk formalisation and performance on project time and cost. Companies that agreed they have formalised risk, also indicated that, their project time completion was under schedule and vice versa. Similarly, those who agreed to risk formalisation also complete project under budget and vice versa.

Source: KNUST
Risk identification and analysis as practiced by construction firms in Ghana.

The significance of risk management has caused the construction industry to recognized risk management as a vehicle to ensure the safety operations of the construction industry as a whole. However, the leading challenges associated with risk management within the construction industry has led to exploring the general practices adopted by construction firms during the processes of identifying and analyzing risk at the various project phases. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach to access participants’ understanding on risk analysis procedures as practiced by their respective firms. Grounded on literature, a questionnaire was designed to contain information on risk identification procedures and analyses adopted by professional in the construction industry. A questionnaire survey was conducted among building contractors who were purposively selected to elicit information pertaining to the study. Out of the fifty-five (55) questionnaires distributed to respondents in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, only fifty-two (52) were returned and formed the basis of the analysis. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and Relative Importance Index (RII). Results shows that, prevalence difficulties in the procedure of risk analysis practice, within the construction industry among others were as a result of lack of qualified personnel to critically analyze the procedures and administrative challenges. Therefore, it is recommended that, construction professional on successful projects, document challenges on risks so that they can be integrated into future projects to enhance risk management procedures. The study would aid project managers at the early stages of construction projects in the quest of averting risks.

Source: KNUST
Risk management in soil fumigation projects in Ghana, a Study of GA South municipality

Soil fumigation as a practice is used to control the activities of soil pest and some weeds in the soil. As projects, they are undertaken to achieve specific objectives and success is measured by the realisation of such goals. However, immense risk is associated with soil fumigation. Over the years, soil fumigation practices have been conducted through projects initiated in specific areas to counter problems of pest in the soil (most significant is nematode) which drastically reduces yield of crops. These projects however are faced with some challenges and pitfalls. The aim of the research was to examine the project management techniques employed in soil fumigation projects in Ga south Municipality of Greater Accra Region; to explore the most significant risk factor attendant to soil fumigation projects and to develop risk mitigation measure for the soil fumigation projects in the Municipality. In an attempt to fill this research gap, questionnaires were design to gather information from soil fumigation project coordinators. Data gathered was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 16.0). The result showed that a number of project management techniques are used during soil fumigation exercise in the Ga South Municipality. These techniques include risk management, communication plan, stakeholder analysis, the use of Gantt Charts for scheduling, Cost management, writing of Reports and Scope management. Moreover, number of risks were found to be associated with the soil fumigation projects. The key risk factors include the following risk of longterm (chronic) health effects, Risk of water pollution, Risk of air pollution, Surface runoff effects and Risk of soil Leaching. The strategies implemented to mitigate the risks include provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for workers, education and training of workers on risk , Use of proper application methods/procedures, Buffer zoning and posting, Proper onsite supervision and Entry-restricted period. The key recommendation of this study was the emphasis on the need to use Personal protective equipment whiles engaging in soil fumigation activity, Educating and training of the workers of risk involved in fumigation was recommended, involved in fumigation activities was recommended.

Source: KNUST
Risk management practices at the Tendering and Contracting stages of Public Works Procurement

Procurement of construction works is an activity that is associated with different kinds of risks at various stages of the procurement process. This has necessitated the importance of risk management in every construction project. The purpose of the study is to identify the risk management practices adopted by public procurement entities in the procurement of works at the tendering and contracting stages (Needs assessment, Advertisement, Tendering, Tender opening, tender evaluation and award) and to assess the appropriateness to respond to timing of risks. The study adopted multiple research approaches including review of literature, interviews and questionnaire survey of Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies and Public Consulting firms in the Ashanti Region. The findings indicated that current risk management practices depended on intuitions, judgement and experience of practitioners, most of the personnel did not have qualification in procurement. Formal risk analysis and management are rarely used due to lack of the required knowledge. The findings of the study will be of use to practitioner of procurement in especially the public sector, as well as service providers of infrastructural works. The findings of the study will provide procurement practitioners of the risks that are likely to be encountered at the tendering and contracting stages of the procurement process. From the study it is recommended that the public procurement officials in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies be given the requisite training from time to time to get them abreast with risk management practices. In addition, the qualification of personnel to undertake the procurement process should be one that has training in risk management and also there should be a framework for risk management in the MMDA‟s.

Source: KNUST
Risk Management Practices of Construction Projects in the Mining Sector

In Ghana the importance of mining in the economy cannot be underestimated. Mining, especially gold mining, started several centuries before the arrival of the white man and during the colonial period the country was named “Gold Coast” to reflect such an importance. The aim of this thesis is to explore risk management practices of construction projects in the mining sector with three objectives being: To establish the critical risk factors associated with construction projects in the mining sector; To ascertain the risk mitigating factors attendant with construction projects in the mining sector; and to explore risk management practices of construction projects in the mining sector. Quantitative research method was adopted in which survey questionnaires were administered to respondents to gather primary data. Descriptive and Inferential analysis was conducted. Descriptive tools included standard deviation, mean scores, percentages and frequencies. One-Sample T-test and Relative Important Index was the inferential analytical techniques that were adopted. The findings of the research indicated that: Unavailability and accuracy of preliminary geo-scientific information; Instability of foreign currency exchange rate; High Inflation rate; Unstable and unpredictable fiscal regime; and fraud were critical risk factors associated with construction projects in the mining sector. It was recommended that construction project risk management stakeholders in mining industry ensures regular review and updating of risk management systems. Moreover, mining companies should take creative and innovative approaches to access new talents through training and education programs and retain existing skilled workers.

Source: KNUST
Risk management practices of construction projects in the mining sector

In Ghana the importance of mining in the economy cannot be underestimated. Mining, especially gold mining, started several centuries before the arrival of the white man and during the colonial period the country was named “Gold Coast” to reflect such an importance. The aim of this thesis is to explore risk management practices of construction projects in the mining sector with three objectives being: To establish the critical risk factors associated with construction projects in the mining sector; To ascertain the risk mitigating factors attendant with construction projects in the mining sector; and to explore risk management practices of construction projects in the mining sector. Quantitative research method was adopted in which survey questionnaires were administered to respondents to gather primary data. Descriptive and Inferential analysis was conducted. Descriptive tools included standard deviation, mean scores, percentages and frequencies. One-Sample T-test and Relative Important Index was the inferential analytical techniques that were adopted. The findings of the research indicated that: Unavailability and accuracy of preliminary geo-scientific information; Instability of foreign currency exchange rate; High Inflation rate; Unstable and unpredictable fiscal regime; and fraud were critical risk factors associated with construction projects in the mining sector. It was recommended that construction project risk management stakeholders in mining industry ensures regular review and updating of risk management systems. Moreover, mining companies should take creative and innovative approaches to access new talents through training and education programs and retain existing skilled workers

Source: KNUST
Risk Management in the Procurement of Road Works in the Public Sector: A Case Study of the Department of Feeder Roads

In Ghana one of the most available forms of transport infrastructure is the road. Undisputedly, road infrastructure provides means of access to all major cities, towns and villages. The procurement of this important infrastructure is characterised by a lot of risk. The identification of these risks, the extent and the degree of severity, should they occur, have a bearing on the success of the procurement activity. Adopting a mix methodology approach, the prime purpose of this research was to identify the risk management practices used in the procurement of road works in the public sector. The literature review conducted explored various risk management practices used in the procurement of road works. Through the literature review the scope of the study was limited to four aspects of the procurement process. These included planning the procurement process; procurement documentation; contract management and evaluating the whole procurement. Data was also gathered using survey questionnaires and the results were analyzed using descriptive and relative importance index. The findings show that the highest risk in the procurement process is variations in prices and foreign exchange and the second is lack of technical know-how by consultants. The study also showed that the most employed risk management practice was the use of risk limitation. The second most practice risk management practice was transfer of risk. The least practice risk management tool was the use of public-private partnership and acceptance of risk. The study like any other had limitation and this included only focusing on how significant a risk is in terms of importance relative ranking but did not explore their significance in terms of their impact on the procurement process. Future research could explore the effect of risk on the procurement process and the impact of risk management practice on the procurement process.

Source: KNUST