ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
International gasoline price pass-through effects and the impact of domestic ex-pump prices on stock returns

ABSTRACT Domestic fuel pricing is a touchy subject for governments all over the world. Many advanced countries have adopted a full deregulation of their petroleum sectors to ensure that fuel prices are determined by the market. Governments of many developing and emerging economies however intervene to influence the timing and degree of changes in international fuel prices to domestic prices. These interventions not only account for the huge disparity in prices of petroleum product across the world but also result in the distortion of domestic fuel price from international prices, making it more difficult to predict. The first part of this study seeks to examine pass-through effects of international gasoline prices to domestic ex-pump prices to determine the timing and magnitude of changes in domestic prices as a result of changes in international prices in Ghana. Many researchers use crude oil price as a proxy for energy cost in their studies on Ghana and other developing countries, however, the distortions in domestic price as a result of government intervention makes the use of crude oil misleading when studying energy cost on domestic businesses. The second part of this study thus explores the impact of energy costs on stock returns in Ghana using domestic ex-pump gasoline price as a proxy. Empirical methods like Johansen cointegration model, Vector Autoregressive model (VAR), Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Granger causality tests as well as Toda-Yamamoto procedure were adopted in the study. The results suggest both long and short run relationships between international and domestic ex-pump gasoline prices with changes on international gasoline market having an impact on domestic prices after three weeks although with minimal pass-through. The result from the second part of the study establishes causality from ex-pump gasoline prices to the Ghana stock exchange iii albeit weakly and also shows that gasoline prices impact the stock exchange after ten weeks.

Source: KNUST
Internal control system: challenges and effects on management, staff and customers of Amansie West Rural Bank Ltd.

An effective internal control system has been described as a critical component of an organization’s management (especially banks) and a foundation for safe, smooth and sound operations. It is also an essential tool for the realization of the goals of every organization especially financial institutions and banks where the risk of mistakes and fraud are prevalent and their consequences are upsetting. The nature of the internal control system and how it is implemented may have numerous challenges and effects. These challenges are hindrances to realizing the main objectives of the internal control system. This study investigate the challenges of implementing an effective and reliable internal control system and its effects on customers’ perception to service quality rendered by Amansie West Rural Bank limited. The sample size was 60 employees and 45 customers of the bank selected from the 9 branches of the bank using purposive and random sampling techniques while questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. The findings suggest that there is some amount of weakness in the internal control system of the bank especially the control component of the internal control system. The findings also indicated that the internal control system of the bank in some part affects customers service delivery hence there is the need to improve upon it. This suggests that direct relationship should exist between the internal control practices and customer perception to service quality of the bank.

Source: KNUST
Internally generated revenue and physical development projects in the wassa amenfi west municipality

The study aims to investigate and appraise how internally generated revenue contributes to the provision of physical infrastructures in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality. Considering the nature of the research objectives and data collected from the field, A mixed-method study strategy is used to examine how internally generated income contributes to physical development in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality. However, the population for the study consisted of all taxpayers in the study area. Through a convenient sampling method, 96 respondents were used as the sample size for the study. The results were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that licenses form the highest proportion of IGF in Wassa Amenfi West Municipality with rents being the least-performing source. The correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between the two variables such that an improvement in the Internally Generated Revenue at any given time is expected to lead to the development of Physical Infrastructure. Binary logistics regression was analyzed to find the factors that affect taxpayers' willingness to pay taxes. It was found that gender was the only significant variable. Finally, the study found that the lack of current and accurate data on district activities (̅𝒙 2.24) with respect to IGF mobilization was the major constraint facing collectors. The study then recommended that the Assembly makes a deliberate attempt to move into other potential areas like tolls on mobile money services and night market, fees on refuse dumping, revenue checkpoint, Embossments, billboards, tourism user fees, Burrier fees, as well as on-street parking fee, Licenses on sand winning and fines on unlawful parking, the Assembly put in place procedures to ensure efficient management of internal revenue generation, as well as effective supervision and monitoring of tax collectors, and the Assembly, should start a regular education campaign and engage in interactions with ratepayers.

Source: KNUST
Internal revenue generation by Jaman South District Assembly

Local governance and decentralization programme in Ghana took effect from 1980s and it was aimed at bringing governance closer to the local populace. This era witnessed the gradual transfer of power, authority and resources to the District Assemblies. The decentralization programme had since made diffident gains, especially in promoting local participation in political governance. It is however, disheartening to discover that most local government have failed woefully to meet local needs of its people due to the dwindling subventions that are always late coming from the central government, therefore, one of the biggest problems facing the District Assemblies in Ghana is how to successfully generate revenue internally to support local development initiatives. This study sought to examine internal revenue generation by Jaman South District Assembly, sources of internal revenue, strategies used by JSDA in internal revenue and problems facing internal revenue generation. The researcher used both primary and secondary data method of data collection to generate the needed data. The data collected by both primary and secondary data were analyzed and some of the findings were dearth of District data base, inadequate strategies mounted by management, limited infrastructures, lack of enforcements of revenue by-laws, overconcentration of statutory funds. The study also observed the continuous downfall of internal revenue source performance over the last four year period’s that data were collected from Jaman South District Assembly. This research, therefore, recommended that there should be more creation of awareness of tax revenue and benefit to the District. The researcher also recommended that the District Assembly should intensify efforts towards carrying out aggressive collection on lucrative revenue source such as property rates, fees and license and at the same time block loopholes that have made the collections to decline in the last four years of this study. This study would be of value to 216 MMDAs who seeks to improve their internal revenue base, assist government on decentralization policy direction and NGOs that seeks to support activities of District Assemblies in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
International public sector accounting standards (ipsas) and financial accountability in colleges of education in ghana.

International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) is being implemented in all public institutions and organizations in Ghana. However, less is known in empirical studies, about the impact of IPSAS on financial accountability in the public sector in Ghana. This study, therefore, assessed the impact of IPSAS on accountability in colleges of education in Ghana. The study was guided by three objectives: to assess the implementation of IPSAS, to assess the level of financial accountability and to determine the impact of IPSAS implementation on financial accountability. The study through a simple random sampling technique sampled 142 internal auditors from various colleges of education in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect all the data and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) were employed for the estimation of the impact of IPSAS implementation on financial accountability. Descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation were used to assess the level of IPSAS implementation and financial accountability. The statistical software used was SPSS version 26.0. The study found that financial disclosure, timely reporting and comparability components of IPSAS were very effectively implemented. IPSAS implementation as a whole was effectively implemented. Financial accountability was very low in the colleges of education. It was found that financial disclosure and timely financial reporting significantly impact financial accountability positively. However, comparability has no significant impact on financial accountability. The study further found that IPSAS implementation has a significant positive impact on financial accountability. Colleges of Education should be sensitized to collaborate with all stakeholders on financial matters and become more financially accountable. Implementation of IPSAS in colleges of education should be supervised by the appropriate agency to ensure strict compliance with financial reporting under IPSAS to enhance financial accountability in the colleges of education in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
International transfer pricing and income shifting: evidence from companies listed on the Ghana stock exchange.

International transfer pricing and income shifting has become a topical issue in many countries. As such it attracted a lot of attention from key players like academia, auditors, governments, international organizations and the media. The academia for instance, provides empirical evidence of International transfer pricing among multinationals in developed economies where the tax regime is quiet effective and efficient. Little is however known about it in developing economies where there exist inadequate and ineffective tax regimes. Motivated by this, the current study seeks to examine the possible use of international transfer pricing and income shifting by foreign multinationals in developing economies using Ghana as a case study. The methodological approach involves a comparison of total assets as a measure of capability, net profit before tax and return on assets as measures of profitability and absolute amount of dividend paid as post-performance measure for an equal sample of foreign and Ghanaian controlled entities over a seven year period. The results show significant differences between foreign and Ghanaian companies in terms of capability, profitability and dividend payment. Foreign firms therefore underperform domestic ones given their higher capability and higher earning potential thus suggesting the use of International transfer pricing by foreign companies in Ghana. Also interesting is the fact that foreign firms paid higher dividend than domestic firms notwithstanding their lower profitability thus signaling possible income shifting. Hence evidence of International transfer pricing and income shifting is confirmed and the claim that foreign firms use International transfer pricing to shift profit and reduce their tax liability is established. The study therefore recommends that existing tax laws and transfer pricing regulations should be strictly implemented. Also, Ghana Revenue Authority should equip staff of its transfer pricing unit with specialized auditing skills through capacity building programmes.

Source: KNUST
International Volunteers’ Transit Centre, Accra

This study aims at providing a comprehensive and detailed survey and documentation on the operations of international volunteer-sending organizations in Ghana especially during in-country training programmes that will ultimately lead to the design of the “Transit Centre”. Studies also include the organizational structure or profile of the Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD) - the ultimate client for the scheme and the organisation to run the centre. 2. SCOPE AND PURPOSE From the above objectives, the ultimate aim of the scheme is to provide a centre that is capable of purposes of in-’ country training and the daily management needs of the centre. USERS of the facility will include international Volunteers (including local voluntary organizations) since consideration is being given to people from all over the globe who are associated with international volunteer—sending organizations operating in Ghana. Anticipated Major Users are: i. Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Development. ii. International Volunteers from: a. United States of America Peace Corps b. Britain — Voluntary service Overseas (VSO) c. Germany — German Development Service (GDS) d. Japan — Japan Overseas Co—operation Volunteers (JOCV) E. Canada — Canadian University Service Organisation (CUSO) f. Netherlands - Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) g. Multi-Nationals - United Nations volunteers (NUV) and Inter – cultural Exchange programme (I.E.P). Anticipated minor users include: The local voluntary Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) registered as members of the Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD) - The ultimate client for the scheme. 3. METHODOLOGIES - Data collection through the use of: questionnaires interviews making references and general reading, taking photographs, and personal observations. - Documentation of data collected. - Analysis and synthesis of data collected taking into account studies of identical or relevant facilities that will ultimately lead to making definite design proposals for the design of the “International Volunteers’ Transit Centre”.

Source: KNUST
International Transit Facility, Accra

By definition a transit facility is a facility providing comfort and convenient services to a traveller in transit; that is a traveler moving over, across or through a place. Transit facilities also take into consideration transient travellers who stay for short periods in a place. Types and User Groups Various types of transit facilities occur irrespective of mode of transport. These are: i) Accommodation ii) catering iii) Services, especially for automobile iv) Shopping v) Recreation and Entertainment. Accommodation Facilities: A prominent feature of transit accommodation facilities is its proximity of location to its node of transport or termini. Examples can be seen in Airport hotels provided near or in airports or Motels located near highways. These accommodation facilities are usually patronised by travellers staying for a few hours, overnight or for a few hours, overnight or for a few days in a town, city or country Clientele usually associated with transit accommodation facilities are: a) Business men who stay overnight for a few days a place to conduct business meetings, etc. b) Tourist who are in transit. ii) Catering Facilities Again these facilities are located near their transportational modes or termini. They offer a wide range of services in combination or individually from fast food snack shop to full bloom specialty restaurants in either for manual or self service vender modes. They are also found in combination with other transit facilities. Clientele would differ depending on the level end price of service i.e. specialty restaurant or low class cafeteria or chop bars and would include a wide range of people from all walks of life iii) 3Service Facilities This form of transit facility, relating to road transport offers a wide range of services from fuel retail to specialised automobile servicing. Again these occur individually or in combination with other transit facilities and are used by all road users. iv) Shopping Facility The form of facility ranges from Duty free foreign exchange shops to consumer good shops and beautician shops. The fore which these facilities would take in combination with other transit facility would depend on the type size of clientele and destination of the clientele; international or local. v) Recreation and Entertainment These are often located in combination with other facilities; for example accommodation facilities; and take the form of sporting facilities and landscape relaxation facilities; with entertainment facilities like night clubs and the users can be drawn from the locality of the facility.

Source: KNUST
Internationalization of small and medium scale enterprises (SME’s) in Ghana, strategies and the impact on the economy

Internationalization has been embarked upon by companies globally and has brought about an advanced form of technology as well as co-operation and co-ordination among nations in the world as a whole. One fact that remains clear is that, even the developed industrialized countries who have concentrated in serving only the domestic markets have reached the point where internationalization has become the ultimate opportunity as supply, in terms of production capacity exceeds demand. Whilst some companies never take the first step to go abroad, the question is what factors are most likely to encourage companies to embark upon its international markets and what advantages and challenges seem to fall in their way thereby serving as deterrents to successful ventureship? The study sought to investigate the kind of problems that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana face in their bid to go international, the mode of entry into the foreign market, the assistance and restriction from political policies and benefits obtained by these companies. The study also looked at the reasons why SMEs go international. Recommendations and alternative solutions to some problems encountered by these Ghanaian based companies who may want to go abroad have been dealt with in the study. As Ghanaian companies try to improve upon their performance in terms of profit making and take the advantage of economies of scale among other things, the entrepreneur may end up producing more in which case demand may exceed supply and warrant the need for internationalization.

Source: KNUST
Interpretation of ground-based magnetic and gravity data for the delineation of potential gold mineralization zones in Subenso, Ghana

Data from integrated ground gravity and magnetic surveys were used to interpret the geology by delineating lithological units, geological structures as well as the delineation of potential gold mineralization zones within the Subenso South concession of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited. The two datasets were acquired along 3.6 km by 2.1 km block with 100 m profile line spacing and data was collected at 100 m station along the profile lines using L&R Gravimeter and Topcon DGPS for the ground gravity survey. Geometrics G856 and G858 were used in a continuous mode for the ground magnetic survey. Geosoft Oasis Montaj version 7.1 was used to process the data. Image enhancement techniques such as reduction to the pole and first vertical derivative aided in the delineation of geological structures like faults which are potential gold mineralization zones. A residual gravity map was produced from the gravity data which helped in enhancing the lithological contacts. The area is made up of predominantly metasedimentary units, mafic volcanic units and volcaniclastic units. The metasediments showed generally low magnetic and gravity responses. The mafic volcanic units showed high gravity and magnetic responses. Relatively intermediate gravity and magnetic responses were mapped as the volcaniclastic units. The superimposition of the Subenso South gold deposit on the gravity and magnetic results helped to establish a relationship between the mineralization zones in the area. The Subenso gold deposit was located on and along the contacts of the high gravity and magnetic anomalies. This relationship led to the delineation of unexplored potential gold mineralization zones in the study area.

Source: KNUST
Internet Adoption, an Alternative Marketing Tool for the Ghanaian Timber Industry

Marketing of Ghana's timber abroad started in the 1900s mainly by foreign merchants and some few local Political elites like Paa Grant. (BOG, 2004) Exports in this era were mainly round logs to Europe. A major setback to effective marketing of Ghana's wood products has been the lack and unavailability of information in the global setting (BOG, op cit). TIDD's major mode of operatic which is by participating in and organizing Trade Fairs as a means of promoting Ghana' s wood appears to be expensive and inadequate. The time has come for the firms to effectively undertake their own research into new markets and innovative products by taking advantage of the benefits that the internet brings in promoting themselves and their products and adopting other market enti options. The problem at hand therefore is: The non competitive performance of the Ghana Timber Industry in the world market and the minimal use of the internet, which is seen as an enabling tool to improve the performance of the industry in the global market. The objective of the study is to explore the possibility of the Ghanaian Timber Industry to use the internet to access information in a networked world in order to be more competitive in the global market. The study was based on Timber firms in Ghana that exported their products in 2005. According to TIDD reports, there were 241 firms that fell into this category. Sampling was done by purposely selecting the top 25 timber firms on the basis of the value of their exports which constituted 80percent of total value of exports during the period.Data for the work was collected mainly by administering questionnaires to and interviewing key representatives of the sampled firms. Institution and agencies involved in all stages of the timber, i.e. Growth, production and marketing cycle were visited. The response indicates that though all the respondents use the internet, less than 30% of them use it for promoting themselves and their products. Even with the few that use the internet, most of them have not updated their records since they hosted their sites. In conclusion, the timber industry has been a major contributor to the development of Ghana and continues to play this role very significantly. However its negative effect on the environment cannot be gainsaid. For the industry to maintain and improve on its level of contribution, very competitive prices should be received for the products. The case of Tasmania where a reduction in volume of export in 2002, was accompanied by an increase in revenue obtained after introducing internet marketing in its timber industry, (Ridley, J. & G.) is worthy of emulation.

Source: KNUST