ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Willingness to pay for electronic transaction levy: empirical evidence from Ghana

Purpose – In countries where the electronic levy (e-levy) has been implemented, one question that resonates with the populace is, “how much would you want to pay for e-levy per transaction?” In response, varied perspectives have been shared with no convergence. Against this background, this study seeks to estimate people’s willingness to pay (WTP) for electronic transaction levy in Ghana, while analysing the associated determinants. Design/methodology/approach – This study relies on a survey of 2,810 respondents obtained from February 9 to 16, 2022 in Ghana. A multivariate logit model was estimated with its marginal effects. Further, a robustness check was undertaken using the linear probability model to validate the results. Findings – With respect to the sample, the authors find evidence that approximately 46% of the respondents are not willing to pay any amount per transaction for the e-levy. Second, about 21% of the respondents are willing to pay Ghs0.5% as e-levy per transaction. Furthermore, about 10% of the respondents are willing to pay 1% per transaction as e-levy. Those who indicated that they would pay rates above 1% (specifically, 1.50%– 1.75%) per transaction are less than 5%. For flat rates, approximately 10% of the respondents were willing to pay Ghs5 per month for all transactions above Ghs100. All others who are interested in other flat rates together are less than 5% of the respondents. The key statistically significant determinants of the probability that an individual would be willing to pay for the e-levy are also provided. This study recommends a comprehensive dialogue between the government and all stakeholders to reach a reasonable conclusion on an acceptable e-levy rate and by extension, implementation strategies. Originality/value – To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study that estimates individuals’ willingness to pay for e-levy on electronic transactions in a developing country.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for excreta pellet fertilizer: Empirical evidence from Ghana

This study examined farmers’ willingness to pay for excreta pellet fertilizer in Ghana. Primary data was obtained from 461 farmers in 10 districts in the Western and Greater Accra regions of Ghana through randomized questionnaire administration. The contingent valuation method was used in eliciting the farmers’ willingness to pay decisions (WTP) and maximum amount they were willing to pay. The Tobit regression model results revealed that being a household head, unit cost of current fertilizer used, and farm size positively influenced the willingness to pay amount whereas previous use of organic fertilizer influenced the willingness to pay amount negatively. These results have implications for marketing of excreta pellet as fertilizer in Ghana.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for improved water for farming in the Upper East Region of Ghana

This study examined the irrigation systems practiced in the Upper East Region of Ghana. It also estimated the farmers’ willingness to pay for improved access to water for irrigation. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the expenditure incurred in the irrigation systems. Logistic regression approach was used to estimate willingness to pay for improvement in these systems of irrigation. Gravity motorized pumps was used to distribute water and hand-watering with bucket. Were the systems of irrigation practised in the rainy season? Hand watering was also done in the dry season. About 80% expressed willingness to pay for an improvement in their system of irrigation. For recommendation, government should subsidize the price of fertilizer in the study area since the respondents used the input alongside irrigation. Also other bodies and agencies should help improve the system of irrigation in the area by upgrading the existing ones and gradually deducting as part of the cost of water since the respondents were willing to pay for such an improvement.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for insurance against mobile money fraud: evidence from Ghana

Purpose – The rapid growth of the mobile money industry has been matched by a rise in mobile money fraud. The technology required to apprehend perpetrators of such fraud is nonexistent in most developing countries. Hence, the need for individuals to be willing to pay for insurance against such frauds is crucial. This paper aims to examine individuals’ willingness to pay for insurance against mobile money fraud in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses nationally representative data collected from 4,266 adults (persons 18 years and above) in Ghana. Individuals’ willingness to pay premiums for protection against mobile money fraud was elicited by a single-bound dichotomous choice and open-ended contingent valuation designs. Findings – On average, 24.34% of Ghanaians are willing to pay premiums for insurance against mobile money frauds, with more men (26.37%) being willing than women (22.56%). Similarly, the average monthly premium that men are willing to pay for protection against mobile money fraud is GH¢32.16 (US$8.16), while that of women is GH¢22.5 (US$5.62). Furthermore, the results show that years of schooling, income, previous fraud experience, and using the accounts for saving are all positively associated with willingness to pay. However, using other networks apart from MTN has a negative association with willingness to pay. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines willingness to pay for insurance against mobile money fraud. Thus, this is the first that estimate quantitatively how much mobile account holders will pay as premiums for insurance against mobile money fraud.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for kidney transplantation among chronic kidney disease patients in Ghana

Background Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with end stage renal disease. However, it is largely unavailable in many sub-Sahara African countries including Ghana. In Ghana, treatment for end stage renal disease including transplantation, is usually financed out-of-pocket. As efforts continue to be made to expand the kidney transplantation pro gramme in Ghana, it remains unclear whether patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) would be willing to pay for a kidney transplant. Aim The aim of the study was to assess CKD patients’ willingness to pay for kidney transplanta tion as a treatment option for end stage renal disease in Ghana. Methods A facility based cross-sectional study conducted at the Renal Outpatient clinic and Dialysis Unit of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital among 342 CKD patients 18 years and above including those receiving haemodialysis. A consecutive sampling approach was used to recruit patients. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain information on demo graphic, socio-economic, knowledge about transplant, perception of transplantation and willingness to pay for transplant. In addition, the INSPIRIT questionnaire was used to assess patients’ level of religiosity and spirituality. Contingent valuation method (CVM) method was used to assess willingness to pay (WTP) for kidney transplantation. Logistic regression model was used to determine the significant predictors of WTP. Results The average age of respondents was 50.2 ± 17.1 years with most (56.7% (194/342) being male. Overall, 90 out of the 342 study participants (26.3%, 95%CI: 21.7–31.3%) were willing to pay for a kidney transplant at the current going price ( $ 17,550) or more. The median amount partici pants were willing to pay below the current price was $986 (IQR: $197 –$1972). Among those willing to accept (67.3%, 230/342), 29.1% (67/230) were willing to pay for kidney transplant at the prevailing price. Wealth quintile, social support in terms of number of family friends one could talk to about personal issues and number of family members one can call on for help were the only factors identified to be significantly predictive of willingness to pay (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion The overall willingness to pay for kidney transplant is low among chronic kidney disease patients attending Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Patients with higher socio-economic status and those with more family members one can call on for help were more likely to pay for kid ney transplantation. The study’s findings give policy makers an understanding of CKD patients circumstances regarding affordability of the medical management of CKD including kidney transplantation. This can help develop pricing models to attain an ideal poise between a cost effective but sustainable kidney transplant programme and improve patient access to this ultimate treatment option.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for small solar powered bed net fans: Results of a Becker-DeGroot-Marschak auction in Ghana

Background and methods: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are one of the main interventions recommended by the World Health Organization for malaria vector control. LLINs are ineffective if they are not being used. Subsequent to the completion of a cluster randomized cross over trial conducted in rural Greater Accra where participants were provided with the 'Bokoo System' - a set of solar powered net fan and light consoles with a solar panel and battery - or alternative household water filters, all trial participants were invited to participate in a Becker-DeGroot-Marschak auction to determine the mean willingness to pay (WTP) for the fan and light consoles and to estimate the demand curve for the units. Results, discussion and conclusions: Results demonstraed a mean WTP of approximately 55 Cedis (~13 USD). Demand results suggested that at a price which would support full manufacturing cost recovery, a majority of households in the area would be willing to purchase at least one such unit. © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements for women and children: Evidence from Ghana and Malawi

Small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements (SQ‐LNS) are designed to enrich maternal and child diets with the objective of preventing undernutrition during the first 1,000 days. Scaling up the delivery of supplements such as SQ‐LNS hinges on understanding private demand and creatively leveraging policy‐relevant factors that might influence demand. We used longitudinal stated willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) data from contingent valuation studies that were integrated into randomized controlled nutrition trials in Ghana and Malawi to estimate private valuation of SQLNS during pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood. We found that average stated WTP for a day's supply of SQ‐LNS was more than twice as high in Ghana than Malawi, indicating that demand for SQ‐LNS (and by extension, the options for effective delivery of SQ‐LNS) may be very context specific. We also examined factors associated with WTP, including intervention group, household socioeconomic status, birth outcomes, child growth, and maternal and child morbidity. In both sites, WTP was consistently negatively associated with household food insecurity, indicating that subsidization might be needed to permit food insecure households to acquire SQ‐LNS if it is made available for purchase. In Ghana, WTP was higher among heads of household than among mothers, which may be related to control over household resources. Personal experience using SQ‐LNS was not associated with WTP in either site.

Source: UG
Willingness to pay for weather index-based insurance in semi-subsistence agriculture: evidence from northern Togo

The effects of climate change on agricultural production are pushing countries to reconsider risk management policies in their development plans. Opportunities exist to increase agricultural production and improve the policy environment. However, policymakers lack local empirical evidence to provide local solutions to agricultural development in many developing countries, including Togo. This paper assesses farmers’ willingness to pay for weather index-based insurance (WII) as a market option for sharing climatic risks. A choice modeling approach is used based on data collected from 704 randomly selected households in northern Togo, West Africa. Statistical analysis of the data shows that dry spells are the major concern of farmers and maize is perceived as the most affected food crop. Results also indicate that respondents are willing to participate in a WII market and would prefer insuring crops, such as maize over sorghum and rice against drought by paying on average about $14.5 per hectare. The results show that WII should not be offered standalone, but interlinked with other factors such as providing drought tolerant and high yielding varieties; loans to organized farmers’ groups; and weather information through TV, radio and mobile phones in local languages, while encouraging education to enable the diffusion of more advisory services. These factors are likely to influence positively farmers’ preferences in participating in a WII market.

Source: UG
Willingness to take and ever use of pre-exposure prophylaxis among female sex workers in Ghana

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a drug taken by people who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative and at increased risk of acquiring HIV. It’s an effective intervention for HIV prevention. This study seeks to report on the prevalence and determinants of willingness to take and ever use of PrEP among female sex workers (FSW) in Ghana. The data analyzed was obtained from the Integrated Bio-behavioral Surveillance Survey conducted across the 16 regions of Ghana in 2020. Analysis was only performed on FSW who were tested negative to HIV and were sexually active. All included variables were described using medians, percentages, and graphs. Bayesian adjusted odds ratios and 95% credible intervals were estimated using a Bayesian generalized linear model via the binomial family of distributions under the logit link function. Of the 5107 FSW with complete data on willingness to use PrEP, 2737 (53.59%) reported their willingness to take PrEP. Out of the 998 respondents who have ever heard of PrEP only 64 (6.39%) have ever used PrEP. The median age of the respondents was 25 years. People with no comprehensive knowledge of HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as well as those who entered into the FSW business at age less than 25 years; 946 (34.56%) and 2181 (79.65%) respectively were more willing to take PrEP. FSW from 6 out of the 16 regions of Ghana have never used PrEP. A statistically significant difference between those who entered the sex work at age less than 25 years and those within 25 to 34 years was observed. About 23% of FSWs who had been screened for Sexually Transmitted Infections were more likely to take PrEP. Respondents with lesser age and no comprehensive knowledge of HIV were more willing to take PrEP. The willingness to accept PrEP among FSWs in Ghana is modest. However, utilization is low. Advocacy or intervention programs are required to improve uptake of PrEP.

Source: UG
Willingness to work in rural areas and the role of intrinsic versus extrinsic professional motivations - a survey of medical students in Ghana

Abstract Background Retaining health workers in rural areas is challenging for a number of reasons, ranging from personal preferences to difficult work conditions and low remuneration. This paper assesses the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on willingness to accept postings to deprived areas among medical students in Ghana. Methods A computer-based survey involving 302 fourth year medical students was conducted from May-August 2009. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between students' willingness to accept rural postings and their professional motivations, rural exposure and family parental professional and educational status (PPES). Results Over 85% of students were born in urban areas and 57% came from affluent backgrounds. Nearly two-thirds of students reported strong intrinsic motivation to study medicine. After controlling for demographic characteristics and rural exposure, motivational factors did not influence willingness to practice in rural areas. High family PPES was consistently associated with lower willingness to work in rural areas. Conclusions Although most Ghanaian medical students are motivated to study medicine by the desire to help others, this does not translate into willingness to work in rural areas. Efforts should be made to build on intrinsic motivation during medical training and in designing rural postings, as well as favour lower PPES students for admission.

Source: UG
Willingness to work in rural areas and the role of intrinsic versus extrinsic professional motivations - A survey of medical students in Ghana.

Background: Retaining health workers in rural areas is challenging for a number of reasons, ranging from personal preferences to difficult work conditions and low remuneration. This paper assesses the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation on willingness to accept postings to deprived areas among medical students in Ghana. Methods. A computer-based survey involving 302 fourth year medical students was conducted from May-August 2009. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between students' willingness to accept rural postings and their professional motivations, rural exposure and family parental professional and educational status (PPES). Results: Over 85% of students were born in urban areas and 57% came from affluent backgrounds. Nearly two-thirds of students reported strong intrinsic motivation to study medicine. After controlling for demographic characteristics and rural exposure, motivational factors did not influence willingness to practice in rural areas. High family PPES was consistently associated with lower willingness to work in rural areas. Conclusions: Although most Ghanaian medical students are motivated to study medicine by the desire to help others, this does not translate into willingness to work in rural areas. Efforts should be made to build on intrinsic motivation during medical training and in designing rural postings, as well as favour lower PPES students for admission. © 2011 Agyei-Baffour et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG
Winning the Battle and Losing the War: Child Rape in Post Conflict Liberia

Ten years after the end of hostilities, post conflict Liberia is confronted with the daunting challenge of addressing child rape. Using mix methods of data collection and content analysis the paper interrogates the drivers of child rape in Liberia, and submits that there is a chasm between the legally constructed concept of childhood enshrined in statutory documents and reflected in official processes, and the traditional and cultural construction by the citizens and children themselves. The paper draws attention to the impossibility of assuring security in a context where the state has not been able to assert itself throughout the entire territory and is unable to provide basic services to its entire population. The paper postulates that current efforts at addressing sexual violence against children has not yielded many results because they are not sufficiently comprehensive, enforcement mechanisms are weak and the critical mass of support needed for attitudinal and behavioural change does not exist. © 2015 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Source: UG
Winning the Battle and Losing the War: Child Rape in Post Conflict Liberia

Ten years after the end of hostilities, post conflict Liberia is confronted with the daunting challenge of addressing child rape. Using mix methods of data collection and content analysis the paper interrogates the drivers of child rape in Liberia, and submits that there is a chasm between the legally constructed concept of childhood enshrined in statutory documents and reflected in official processes, and the traditional and cultural construction by the citizens and children themselves. The paper draws attention to the impossibility of assuring security in a context where the state has not been able to assert itself throughout the entire territory and is unable to provide basic services to its entire population. The paper postulates that current efforts at addressing sexual violence against children has not yielded many results because they are not sufficiently comprehensive, enforcement mechanisms are weak and the critical mass of support needed for attitudinal and behavioural change does not exist.

Source: UG
Winning the Fight against Childhood Malaria: the Case for Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Children (IPTc) Combined with Timely Home Treatment: A Case Study from Ghana” In: Malaria: Etiology, Pathogenesis and Treatments. In Anna Margrét Peterson and Gerald E. Calamandrei (Eds.)

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Witchcraft and Magic of Africa

‘’And now the chapel’s silver bell you hear, That summons you to all the pride of prayer….. To test, the cushion and soft dean invite, Who never mentions hell to ears polite’’. Pope, moral essays, epistle IV. The famous author of Wessward Ho (1855), and other immediately popular novels, Charles Kingsley tutor to the Prince of Wales (Edward VII),Regius professor of modern history at Cambridge, and Canon of Westminster, whose theological opinions-so far as they smacked of theology at all-it has been actually said ,although’ ’definitely Christo-centric, were moulded by German philosophical influence’’, a man of the broadest views who utterly rejected , for example , the doctrine of eternal punishment , which he regarded with horror and disgust, an eminently sane man, a healthy mind the impassioned and unfortunate opponent of Newman whom he completely misunderstood , a typical Victorian, an out-of –doors man a sportsman Charles Kingsley one Sunday morning mounting his pulpit at eversley parish church without any stereotyped preliminary text.

Source: UG
With or without you: stem-galling of a tephritid fly reduces the vegetative and reproductive performance of the invasive plant Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) both alone and in combination with another agent

With or without another biological control agent, the specialist folivore Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata, the stem-galling fly Cecidochares connexa reduced the performance of the invasive alien plant, Chromolaena odorata in Ghana. There was a strong significant negative relationship between gall densities of the gall fly and stem height, and the number of stems and flower heads of C. odorata. Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata had very little impact on any C. odorata parameters. However, at sites where both C. connexa and P. pseudoinsulata occurred simultaneously, the performance of C. odorata was significantly reduced when compared with control plants. Increasing densities of both agents had a strong significant negative correlative effect on C. odorata plant parameters. Cecidochares connexa was recorded in all five regions of the country sampled, while P. pseudoinsulata was recorded in four regions. Densities of both agents declined in the dry season, but galls were persistent throughout the study period. This is the first report of the impact of C. connexa on C. odorata in the West African sub-region since its introduction to Cote d’Ivoire in 2003 and it is clear that the agent has a significant impact on C. odorata in Ghana. Further surveys are required to determine the impact of both biological control agents in other parts of the sub-region where they have established. © 2018, International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC).

Source: UG