ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The impact of electronic banking on the profitability and growth of the Ghanaian banking sector: (A case study of fidelity bank)

Electronic delivery channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), telephone banking and online banking are options that have been made available by banks to serve their customers better. Customers do not have to transact business with their banks only through face to face contact. Information technology has brought about changes that have transformed the structure of the banking industry. With the transformation, customers have become more sophisticated, and new products have been made available. This has also resulted in changes in cost structure and an improvement in competition among banks profitability. Therefore, this study examined the impact of electronic banking on the profitability and growth of the Ghanaian banking sector. To explore the perceptions of employees about the introduction of electronic banking services, to determine the extent to which electronic banking contributes to profitability and growth in the banking sector, to determine the challenges encountered with the use of electronic banking in Banks in Ghana and to determine the types of electronic banking services provide by Fidelity bank. In achieving the above objectives, a survey was carried out using well-structured questionnaires, targeting the banks as the population, however, fidelity bank was used as the case study with a sample size of 83 using quantitative approach. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel were used for the data entry and analysis. After the analysis the findings indicated that the employees have a perception that Quality of services and products have improved with the use of electronic banking systems, customers are satisfied with services provided through the use of electronic banking system and the competition among banks has intensified with more banks adopting the use of electronic banking systems. Secondly, electronic banking contributes to profitability and growth in the banking sector. E-banking system has increased the productivity of the bank, customers have fewer complaints with the use of electronic banking system. E-banking system has positively impacted on the growth of the bank and the availability of electronic banking system (ATM, Mobile banking etc.) has reduced the number of customers that come to the banking hall. Furthermore, the challenges that are encountered with the use of electronic banking in banks in Ghana were frequent service interruptions and system failures, security features delaying access to e-banking services and issues with access to internet connection. Finally, the use of electronic banking has a significant impact on profitability and growth of Banks.

Source: KNUST
The impact of external debt on economic growth and investment in Ghana: 1984 - 1999

External debt of many low-income developing countries has increased significantly in the past two decades. The debt burden places severe constraints on the economic recovery of a group of severely indebted low-income countries (SILICS) currently classified as HIPCs, despite years of structural adjustment efforts. With economic performance stagnating around 4.5% of GDP, debt servicing continues to put serious fiscal constraints on government budget, limiting resources available for public investment in basic services which should crowd in private investment. This study presents a country case study of Ghana’s external debt profile (magnitude, term-structure, sources and determinants.) and its impacts on economic growth and investment. The descriptive analysis of the debt reveals that Ghana’s external debt is mainly official debt from multilateral sources. Public sector debt constitutes over 90% of long term debt outstanding, indicating that the public sector (government) plays a dominant role in the social economic development of Ghana. The findings also indicate that debt to export and debt to GDP ratios are highly unsustainable (indicating a debt overhang problem) while total debt service ratios are relatively low. Using time series data for the period 1984 to 1999, the study found that external debt accumulation has a negative impact on economic growth and investment- revealing the existence of a debt overhang problem. The results generally did not support a ‘crowding out’ effect of debt servicing on GDP growth and investment. Government fiscal deficit was found to work against both investment and GDP growth. Macroeconomic stability and credible policy (measured by inflation and real exchange rate) have positive impacts on investment and growth. From policy perspective, the excessive debt overhang problem implied that the country is insolvent and needs debt relief under the current enhanced-HIPC initiative. Debt relief under the HIPC initiative, however, needs to be complemented with fiscal discipline, institutional reforms, and credible macroeconomic policy implemented on a sustained basis to rebuild investor confidence and attract private investment to Ghana.

Source: KNUST
The impact of financial decentralization on the availability of non-drug consumables: a case study of Tafo, Suntreso and Kumasi South Hospitals.

Before the introduction of financial decentralization, the health sector was practicing a centralized system of administration, which put authority in the hands of managers and persons at higher levels who were not better acquainted with local conditions especially concerning the availability of non drug consumables. As a result client-centered care, which requires responsiveness to the needs and demands of service users, suffered. It was against this background that financial decentralization was introduced in the health sector to offer solutions to problems affecting the availability of non-drug consumables (NDCs) in the facilities. After, almost eight years of its introduction in the health sector, the assessment of the impact of financial decentralization in the area of availability of non-drug consumables in Tafo Hospital. Suntreso Hospital and Kumasi South Hospital, has been done. The main objective of the study was to assess whether financial decentralization has ensured availability of non-drug consumables in the three facilities studied by ensuring involvement of managers and persons at the facility level, adequacy, quality of non-drug consumables as well as transparency and accountability for non-drug consumables. Non-probability sampling methods, specifically purposive and quota sampling methods were used in selecting the respondents. In all 60 respondents, made up of 20 administrative personnel and 40 clinical personnel were used for the study. Questionnaires, checklist and interview schedule were used in collecting data for this study. However, the findings showed clearly that financial decentralization has ensured availability of non-drug consumables in Tam, Suntreso and Kumasi South hospitals. Thus, the implementation of financial decentralization in the facilities studied has led to involvement of personnel in the facilities studied to plan, procure and supply NDCs, ensure adequacy, quality, transparency and accountability of non-drug consumables. Based on the findings, it is recommended that technical inspection of the non-drug consumables should be done using test devices and measuring equipments and also facilities should adopt the use of computers in determining the minimum, maximum and re-order levels rather than the use of tally cards, stores ledgers and human discretion.

Source: KNUST
The impact of external remittances on poverty reduction in Ghana

This study examines the impact of workers’ remittances on poverty reduction in Ghana using time series data over the period 1980-2002. Employing modern time series econometric techniques such as unit root tests, cointegration and error correction techniques within an ARDL framework, which has been found to yield more robust estimates, the study revealed intriguing results. The results suggest that, remittances do have a significant impact on poverty reduction through increasing income, smoothing consumption and easing capital constraints of the poor. Also remittances were found to have no direct positive impact on economic growth. Nonetheless, they were found to have an indirect impact on economic growth through investment and human capital development. Among numerous policy recommendations, the study suggested policies which aimed at sustained increases in remittances through the formal channel where significant amounts can be recorded and sharpen the impacts particularly to the poor. Furthermore, transaction costs in sending remittances should be lowered and also barriers to official remittance channels should be removed. For example, capital requirements on remittance services should be lowered and formal financial intermediaries should be widened by allowing domestic banks to operate overseas. Finally, it is strongly recommended that, the government could develop appropriate training or education programs to assist returning migrants or remittance receipts in making effective investment decision. In addition, the appropriate infrastructure should be developed to generate favourable investment climate and to complement investments out of remittances.

Source: KNUST
Impact of Financial Crisis on the Fluctuations of Nigerian Stock Market Development

Musleh (2009) studied the implications of the global financial on macroeconomic and development policies in Pakistan and discovered the financial crisis led to the fall of liquid assets, gradual economic development, currency value and equity prices decline, etc. According to Jenrola & Daisi (2012), the collapse of the Nigerian Stock Exchange is not credited to the global financial crisis but as a result of the volatility of macroeconomic variables. Previous studies conducted revealed divers results on the effects of the global financial crisis on the stock market covering shorter periods of analysis. This study is intended to examine impact of financial crisis on the fluctuations of Nigerian stock market Development taking into account a longer period analysis from 1990 to 2014. The study used the OLS regression technique to examine the magnitude of the effect of the financial crisis on the fluctuations in the Nigerian stock market development using annual time series from 1990-2014. The study revealed that financial crisis has had no significant on the development of the Nigerian stock market and so does inflation. Gross domestic product and exchange rate rather had an effect on the development of the Nigerian stock market. The study therefore recommended that policy makers make efforts to implementing favourable policies or measures aimed at improving economic growth and reducing the rate of inflation in the economy, regulatory authorities implement policies aimed at stock market development by encouraging more domestic currency purchase which yield in country‟s exchange rate appreciation, the Nigerian stock market should engage in activities which improve stock market development, regulatory authorities ensure transparent and fair trading transactions and dealings in the Nigerian stock market.

Source: KNUST
The Impact of Fiscal Policy on Economic Growth in Ghana

This study examines the impact of fiscal policy on economic growth in Ghana. The examination is done by regressing economic growth on four fiscal variables and three non-fiscal variables. The fiscal variables considered in the study comprise taxes, government consumption expenditure, government investment expenditure and government transfer payments whilst private investments, labour force and terms of trade were considered for the non-fiscal category. The analysis is based on time series data covering the period 1981-2008. The study applies the DF-GLS test for stationarity and the bounds test approach to cointegration for the estimation of an autoregressive distributed lag model. The outcome of the bounds test supports the existence a long-run impact of the fiscal variables on economic growth. The empirical results suggest that in the long run government investments and government transfer payments affect economic growth positively whereas those of taxes and government consumption spending were shown to be negative. Similarly to that of the long run, government investments and transfer payments have positive effects on economic growth in the short run. The outcome also suggests that the effects of taxes and government consumption expenditures on short-run economic growth are both insignificant. However, the study recommends that budget policies in Ghana should be tailored towards reducing government consumption expenditure and raising those expenditures that enhance economic growth.

Source: KNUST
The Impact of Flooding on Social Services in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana

Floods do occur annually in the Tamale Metropolis flood prone zones. Floods occur when a body of water rises to overflow land which is normally not submerged. The Metropolis flood prone zones are a home to various communities namely Sogunayili, Gbalo, Jisonayili, Gumani and Fuo which were selected for this study. Flooding in the river basin affects life and property in many ways. The causes and socioeconomic impacts of flooding in the Metropolis flood prone zones have been investigated in this research. The cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Primary and secondary data were used. The purposive sampling method was used to choose a good sample to investigate the problem better. Related institutions were also contacted to give their own perspectives of the problem. It was found out that the causes of flooding in the Metropolis flood prone zones are both natural and artificial. Climate change has contributed to the natural cause of flooding through rise in average temperatures and increase in annual and seasonal rainfall at least, over the last twenty-seven years. Rise in temperature and increase in rainfall have led to increases in the discharge of the river with the excess overflowing to inundate the flood plain. The man-made causes of flooding in the Metropolis include poor land use, unplanned development of settlements and indiscriminate disposal of refuse into and on the banks of the river. The socioeconomic impacts of floods in the Metropolis include loss of life and property, disruption of the transport system as well as financial and health problems faced by inhabitants of the zoned areas. From the research, it was established that average temperatures and rainfall have generally been increasing over the last twenty-seven years and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse into and on the banks of the river have led to the annual floods in the Metropolis. Also, the actions and inactions of concerned institutions have encouraged the haphazard development of settlements in the zoned areas. The resettlement of communities in the 5 zoned areas and the enforcement of laws which protect the environment and its inhabitants as well as the proper disposal of refuse are recommended solutions to the problem.

Source: KNUST
The impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth in Ghana

The issue of economic growth has become a great concern for many economies. The growth of economies has been attributed to many factors. To contribute to this subject, the study empirically investigated the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth using evidence from Ghana. Using time series data spanning from 1980 to 2012, Autoregressive Distributed Lagged model (ARDL) is employed for the study. The study found that there is a significant positive impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Gross Domestic Savings (GDS) on economic growth in both short and long run. The study further shows that, inflation significantly impacts negatively on economic growth in the short run but has insignificant negative impact in the long run. Government consumption expenditure significantly impacts positively on economic growth in the short run but has insignificant positive impact in the long run. The results subsequently show that there is unidirectional causality between FDI and economic growth. That is FDI granger causes economic growth in Ghana. Owing to the significant positive impact of FDI on economic growth revealed by the study, policies that seek to attract FDI inflow into the country should be embarked upon to further enhance economic growth of Ghana.

Source: KNUST
The Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Productivity Growth in the Ghanaian Manufacturing Sector

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been viewed as a major stimulus to economic growth in developing countries. Its ability to deal with two major obstacles, namely, shortages of financial resources, and technology and skills, has made it the centre of attention for policy makers in low-income countries in particular. It can impact the host economy through a variety of channels. Principally, it helps by adding to resources available for investment and capital formation. This study therefore aimed at examining the impact of foreign direct investment on productivity growth in the manufacturing sector of Ghana over the period 1979 to 2009 using the both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study used secondary data mainly from the African Development Indicators (ADI). The study used the Vector Error Correction (VEC) model to estimate the relationships. The speed of adjustment coefficient was found to be significant and showed that 53 per cent of adjustments towards the long run equilibrium are corrected in a given year. It was found that though FDI impacted productivity growth in the manufacturing sector, the impact showed a negative relationship. The negative impact of the FDI on the manufacturing sectors’ equation may be due to the fact that when divided into proportion the FDI goes to other sectors which may end up drawing resources from the manufacturing sector thereby resulting in a fall in their output. As a consequence, adjustment policies to redirect resources into the manufacturing sector will lead to improving the productivity in the sector.

Source: KNUST
Impact of Firm Innovativeness on Performance of Micro and Small Family Business in Ghana: The Moderating Role of External Characteristics

The general and development objective of the study was on the impact of firm innovativeness on performance of micro and small family businesses in Ghana: the moderating role of external characteristics. Over the past decades, micro and small and medium scale enterprises (SME) have contributed immensely to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Ghana hence guarantee employment, stable income and growth. The government through economic restructure programmes introduced policies that improved on the country’s trade agreement that has resulted in the competitiveness of micro and small enterprises in the global market. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data and analysed for the study. In all, 200 small family businesses (SFB) found in various activities with a maximum of 10 employees part took the study through purposive-random sampling approach. Data collected were expressed quantitatively to enable comparative and statistics inference using Statistical Package Social Service (SPSS) and regression analysis were then performed in analysing the perceived moderating effect of the firms’ innovation and external characteristics on performances. The study realised that the impact of innovativeness on small family firm performance is positive. Product, technology and customer services innovation generally have positive effect on micro and small family firm performance. The strength of impact of innovativeness is dependent on external factors surrounding the business.

Source: KNUST
Impact of forest management systems on diversity and abundance of butterflies at Asenanyo forest reserve, Ghana

Objectives: Every forest management practice characteristically affects the structural elements of forests, which eventually influences the habitat conditions of biodiversity living in it. These practices, which may represent various forms of disturbance regimes could influence butterfly species richness, abundance and relationship with their hosts. This study was conducted in the Asenanyo River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to determine the impact of forest management systems on the diversity and abundance of butterflies in the forest reserve. Methodology and Results: The transect method using standard fruit baited traps were employed to capture butterflies in an unlogged, selectively logged and plantation forest management zones. Eight trap net stations spaced at 100 m interval on a 1 km transect were used for the butterfly sampling. This was replicated each other month in all the study areas for a period of six months; each transect was located about 500 m from each other. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s diversity indexes were used to analyze species richness and diversity of butterflies. The selectively logged forest zone recorded the largest number of butterflies (968) whiles the plantation recorded the least number of butterflies (466). Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s indices for the selectively logged forest and unlogged forest were similar. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s indexes were however significantly higher in the unlogged than in the plantation forest (P< 0.05). Conclusion and application of findings: The findings of the study indicated that selective logging could be considered as a good alternative to preserve butterflies in production reserves.

Source: KNUST
The Impact of Gender Inequality on Trade in Ghana: An Empirical Study

Free trade is considered the ―royal highway‖ for enhancing economic growth and decreasing the incidence of absolute poverty. Developing countries including Ghana have therefore made several efforts to enhance their trade flows. However, Ghana is still experiencing low export performance and hence its persistent balance of payments deficit. Also, there is a lot of gender inequality in terms of employment, property ownership, education among others in Ghana even though females make up about 51.2% of the total population. How does gender inequality impact on trade in Ghana? Does Ghana stand a chance to gain from trade by taking advantage from its relatively abundant female labour force? This study seeks to answer these questions by examining the impact of gender inequality on trade in Ghana using the ARDL model for the period 1980 to 2013. The empirical results reveal that; female employment, male employment and male education positively affect trade. Also, gender inequality in education has a negative impact on trade. The study therefore recommends that, policy makers should make policies that are favourable for more female employment since female employment affects trade more than male employment. Also, girl child education policies should be intensified to promote female education and reduce gender inequality in education since a reduction in gender inequality in education promotes trade. More so, when male education is increased in the short run, it has the tendency to decrease trade but in the long run it increases trade, therefore policy makers should consider such policies which will generally be beneficial in terms of trade.

Source: KNUST