ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessing the factors influencing IPM adoption in Ghana: the case of vegetable farmers in the Kumasi metropolis

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach used to enhance crop production. Although most IPM practices or technologies have proven to be relevant, their adoption have been found to be less among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. This study examines the adoption of two IPM practices, namely, pesticide application and pest monitoring with a cross-sectional data collected on 300 vegetable farmers from five vegetable farm sites in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana in 2012. The multinomial logit model was employed in the empirical analysis to examine the factors which influence the adoption of the existing IPM practices among the vegetable farmers. The empirical results indicate that age, education, membership of FBO, farm size, contract farming, employed hired labour, availability of hired labour, perception of labour cost and extension visit had positive influence on adoption of pesticide application only. Household size, dependency ratio, distance traveled to pesticide sale point had negative effect on pesticide application only. For the adoption of pest monitoring only; age, farm size, contract farming, employed hired labour, availability of hired labour, perception of labour cost and extension visit had a positive effect on its adoption. Distance traveled to pesticide sale point had a negative effect on its adoption. The results also indicate that education, access to credit, membership of FBO, farm size, contract farming, employed hired labour, availability of hired labour and extension visit had a positive effect on the adoption of both practices. Distance traveled to pesticide sale point and access to credit facility had a negative influence on the adoption of both practices. It is recommended, based on the empirical magnitudes and directions of the determinants that the government will draw policies to accommodate some of the input cost through subsidies so that farmers can channel the money spent on input to hiring more labour. Also FBO should be included in IPM training programs

Source: KNUST
Assessing the factors for rebranding Technical and Vocational Education for National Development in Ghana

Despite the persistent request from the International Community and stakeholders of TVET to embrace TVET for sustainable livelihood and development, enrollment in TVET institutions in Ghana is still very low. TVET in Africa is far from achieving the desired goals as there is still declining trend in labour force participation for the youth. Besides, many studies on TVET in Ghana have largely focused on the prospects and challenges of TVET in reaching targets, with limited emphasis on the possibility of stakeholders doing something different in an attempt to rebrand the programme. This study therefore seeks to examine factors for Rebranding of TVET for National Development in Ghana. The quantitative study involved the survey of 156 tutors and 54 administrators of TVET institutions selected through multistage sampling method. Data collected using structured questionnaires were analyzed through descriptive methods, relative importance index and Kendall’s rank test. The study revealed enormous lapses in the design of the TVET programme as it exhibits low level of local partnership and poorly funded. The content and curriculum of TVET was also bereft of entrepreneurial skill development and provide low level of linkage between industry and institution in the delivery of TVET education. The main challenges of the TVET programme to national development include inadequate funding, poor condition of service for TVET teachers, derogatory remarks about TVET students and graduates, poor image and status of TVET, unavailability of consumable materials for practicals, poor maintenance culture and others. The governmental strategies perceived to be critical in the rebranding of TVET in Ghana include offering legislative backing to national TVET policy, mainstream vocational education into the general education system, and set up venture capital to support TVET graduates. Parents and guardians could also lobby politicians in favour of TVET.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the factors influencing the adoption of bio-pesticidesiIn vegetable production in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

The massive use of inorganic agrochemicals in vegetable production in Ghana that often leads to health and environmental hazards, demands bio-intensive as an alternative strategy. This study assessed the profitability, and examined factors that affect the adoption of bio-pesticides in vegetable production. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit primary information from 300 vegetable farmers in the Offinso District and Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study employed both descriptive and inferential tools to analyse the data. Whereas gross margin analysis was conducted to assess the profitability of bio-pesticide adoption, a logistic regression model was used to determine the factors that influence adoption of bio-pesticides in the study areas. From the study, the over reliance of vegetable farmers on chemical pesticides as the major pest management strategy can be attributed to the relatively less profitable nature of bio-pesticide adoption. The gross margin analysis indicated that the adoption of bio-pesticide as pest management strategy in tomato production was less profitable compared to the conventional method. This situation vein, non-adoption of bio-pesticide was relatively profitable in cabbage and carrot production. The proportion of vegetable farmers in the studied districts who have adopted bio-pesticides was found to be fourteen percent irrespective of the positive perception and high awareness of the practice. The key bio-pesticides used by vegetable farmers were found to be neem, neem plus pepper and cinnamon. Neem adoption relative to cinnamon was found to be positively influenced by household size, education, experience, extension visitation, membership of FBOs, the less ill effect of bio-pesticide on human health, the accessibility of bio-pesticide; but negatively influenced by age, farm size and the specificity of bio-pesticide. With the exception of education, extension visitation, the less ill effect of bio-pesticide on human health, and the specificity of bio-pesticide; the factors that influenced neem adoption also influence neem plus pepper adoption relative cinnamon. The study recommends commercialization of bio-pesticides to make them readily available in packaged forms and training of farmers in preparation of bio-pesticides. It further recommends segmentation of the Ghanaian vegetable market to allow for price premiums to compensate adopters for the relatively lower yields associated with bio-pesticide adoption.

Source: KNUST
“Assessing the factors influencing the performance of loans of Commercial Banks in Ghana” Case study of HFC Bank

This study assessed the factors that influence loan performance of commercial banks in Ghana using HFC as a case study. The sample period used for the study was based on a quarterly data from 2008 to 2015. Two separate models were used to determine the effects of banks’ specific factors and macroeconomic variables on loan performance. Using the ARDL bounds test of co-integration as an estimation technique, the results showed evidence of long run relationship among the variables. The results suggest that macroeconomic factors that influence loan performance are inflation and T-bill whiles banks’ specific factors are, bank’s loan interest rate, loan to asset ratio and banks loan loss provision over reserve. These therefore show that macroeconomic instabilities and banks specific factors do have significant impact on loan performance. Hence there is the need for bank management and policy makers to undertake policies that can ensure efficiency in banks loan performance.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the feasibility of a solar water heating system based on performance and economic analysis

Solar water heating technology is one of the cost-effective ways of heating water in residential and public buildings such as hospitals and health centres. This thesis has used the T*SOL® software programme to assess a proposed solar water heating system for the government hospital of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The assessment is based on thermal performance and economics of two distinct collector configurations; a flat plate and evacuated tube collectors. The thermal performance analyses of the collectors show that the flat plate collector with annual solar contribution of 38, 221 kWh and reduced CO2 emissions of 25, 456 kg has a better performance over the evacuated tube collector with solar contribution of 37, 946 kWh and reduced CO2 emissions of 25, 273 kg. The annual hot water heating load of the hospital is 57 MWh. The technical parameters of the proposed system from T*SOL® gives a total of 13 flat plate collector modules with collector area of 48.05 m2 and annual collector surface area irradiation of 68.80 MWh. The contribution of the system to the annual heating load is 32.49 MWh with annual solar fraction of 54 percent and collector system efficiency of 47.2 percent. The annual fuel energy savings of the system is 38.2 MWh. The economic analysis of the system from T*SOL provides annual fuel savings of GH¢ 26,640 (US$ 13,320) with annual operating cost of GH¢ 5,400 (US$ 2,700). The total investment of the solar water system is GH¢ 57,658 (US$ 28,829) with a project life span of 20 years and a simple payback period of 6 years. The system gives a positive net present value of GH¢ 63,738 (US$ 31,869). However, an interest rate value of 12 percent or less would yield a payback period of 5 years or less. The thermal performance and economic analysis of the system has therefore shown that it is feasible and worthy of implementation.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the financial control practices among private schools in Kumasi.

In recent times, there have been recurrent reports on financial irregularities persisted in a lot of Senior High Schools in Ghana simply because of laxity in controls and disregard of financial rules and regulations. Financial control activities are aimed at achieving desired return on investment. Heads of institutions use financial statements such as budget and other financial tools to exercise financial controls in the form of using policies and procedures established by institutions for managing, documenting and reporting of financial transactions. Current hearings from Public Account Committee indicate that there are challenges in our public institutions. The study was undertaken to ascertain the financial control practices in among private schools in Kumasi. Specifically, it explored the sources and uses of funds in the Senior High School and assessed the effectiveness of financial controls in the institution. Interviews were conducted with the Headmaster and the Bursar. In addition, three sets of questionnaires were designed. One set went to Headmaster and Assistant Headmasters. The second set of the questionnaires went to the Bursar and Accounts Officers; another set went to the teachers. The survey revealed that the sources of funds available to the private schools were the money provided by Director(s) sources and the schools internally generated funds. The study revealed that the schools have put in place effective financial control practices to check embezzlement and misappropriation, expenditure and accounting staffs were performing duties as enshrined in the manuals for headmasters provided by Ghana Education Service. The study also revealed that mode of payment of fees in the private schools is mainly through cash although few people pay their fees through bankers‟ draft/money order and cheque, this however is contrary to what Ghana Education Service requires. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the schools have put in place effective financial control measure. It was recommended that, there should be periodic inservice training for the account personnel since training improves knowledge, skills and abilities. Sub-division of duties of account officers should be strengthened. This will ensure that accounting staff follow proper accounting control practices. Future researchers were recommended to increase the number of school to include public schools and other private schools outside the Ashanti Region to make generation of results very easy.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the Feasibility of Islamic Banking in Ghana- A Case Study in Ashanti Region

The banking industry in Ghana has been receiving heated debates as to whether the regulator of the Ghana Banking Industry should give the licence to the operation of Islamic banking in Ghana. It is upon this heated debate that this study sought to assess the feasibility of Islamic Banking in Ghana. The specific objectives that guided the study were to assess the knowledge and perceptions of Ghanaians regarding Islamic Banking, the indicators that make the adoption of Islamic Banking to be feasible and also the barriers to the feasibility of Islamic Banking in Ghana. Exploratory research design was employed to a sample of 200 respondents from the Kumasi Metropolis and other rural communities of the Ashanti Region for the study. The study reveals some interesting results for policy formulation, planning, and bridging the knowledge gap. On knowledge about Islamic Banking among the research population, the study revealed that the knowledge of the research population is very low even though majority of the respondents showed interest in doing business with an Interest free banking system by adhering to some of the principles and laws regulating interest free banking. The study also reveals among other things that Islamic banking would be feasible in the Ghanaian banking industry. However, the application of the Islamic shar’iah and the deposits of the depositors to the bank not earning predetermined interest rates were found to be the main challenges that would serve as barriers to the feasibility of Islamic banking in Ghana. The study thus recommends that the regulator of the banking industry in Ghana should grant the licence to the operation of Islamic banking in the country whiles scholars and practitioners of the Islamic banking should also conducts series of studies and education that would be geared towards demystifying the concepts in the Shar’iah which governs the activities of Islamic banking.

Source: KNUST
Assessing The Fertility Status Of A Reclaimed Site Planted With Pineapple: A Case Study At Ghana Manganese Company- Nsuta

A three year old reclaimed site revegetated with pineapples, oil palm trees and plantain was observed to have all the planted crops develop, with the exception of pineapples. The influence of soil parameters such as pH, temperature, cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity, organic matter and success rate were examined. Nitrogen was determined with the use of Kjeldahl method, phosphorus extracted using neutral ammonium acetate and analysed with flame photometer whilst the content of potassium was determined using the Bray’s Method (No.1). The reclaimed site recorded lower soil parameters of nitrogen (0.04%), phosphorus (0.21ppm), potassium (15.64ppm), cation exchange capacity (4.81cmolc/kg), water holding capacity (47.90%) and organic matter (1.10%) compared to the standard soil requirements by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). However, the control site recorded soil parameters of nitrogen (0.27%), phosphorus (26.23ppm), potassium (74.39ppm), cation exchange capacity (7.25cmolc/kg), water holding capacity (71.3%) and organic matter (8.31%) which were within the range for standard soil requirements by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). This resulted in the higher yield of pineapples (74 %) at the control site than the reclaimed site (12.6 %). The study revealed that the nutrient cycle at the reclaimed site at Ghana Manganese Company has been broken down; therefore the soil ultimately has become unproductive for the cultivation of pineapples.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the financial impact of construction securities on the cash flow of building contractors in Ghana

Risks affect construction industries and Ghana is no exception. Due to the negative impacts of risks, the multiplier effects of construction have not been fully utilized. To mitigate risks, one of the mechanisms used in Ghana is risk transfer through the acquisition of financial securities. Securities are demanded by clients at various contract phases to ensure that the risks aimed to be controlled by the securities are curbed. This study therefore seeks to assess the cost effects of these securities on the contract sum and the cash flow of contractors. Review of literature, however, does not provide much information on whether the risks that these financial securities seek to repress still persist in the Ghanaian construction industry or not. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap of the securities that clients call for, the cost implication of these securities on the contract sum and the cash flow of contractors. These gaps in knowledge are the guides for the setting of the research questions and objectives. Using Accra as the study area, purposive sampling was adopted for the selection of project participants. With a questionnaire survey, data were collected from thirty-two (32) quantity surveyors mostly from the public sector, ten (10) banks and ten (10) insurance companies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic, parametric and non-parametric analysis and finally, a simulation (scenario analysis) of the cost implication at various penal sums. Results from the analysis revealed that the dominant pre-contract risk is low bid rates. Also, inadequate capital as a risk factor occurs most frequently at the contract stage whiles time overruns ensued dominantly at the post-contract stage. The study further provided insight into the most frequently demanded securities such as guarantees, bonds and cash retention. Moreover, it was also found out that an increment of 4.60% maximum of contract sum is likely when guarantees are used and 2.80% maximum when bonds are used. This research contributes to the implication of these cost increment on the cash flow of contractors. Again, it contributes to cost planning before project commencement. It was recommended that high penal sum could be used as a way of eliminating or reducing risks in a more risky environment. However, low penal sum can be used to encourage greater participation and competition of bidders as well as lessen the cost burden on bidders provided that there is a past record of very low risks in an area. Assessing the cost benefit analysis of using high penal sum and low penal sum; and improvement in the usage of Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (LAD) and retention bond/guarantees are suggested potential areas for further research in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the factors influencing the sustainability of community-based projects in Ghana. A case of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project

The sustainability of a project is pointed out by its continuous operation and maintenance of the system. Sustainability of projects is usually constrained by the inadequacy of financial resources that are needed to implement the same. The present study assessed the Factors Influencing the sustainability of community-based projects in Ghana focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project. The issues the study focused on are sustainability parameters, factors that influence the choice of sustainability parameters and challenges of sustenance. The study used one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. The instrument for the data collection was developed by the researcher, preceded by a pilot study. The pilot study was initially conducted in a similar project community to ascertain its validity and the reliability. With regard to Cronbach Alpha, the pilot study passed the threshold of 70%. The data for the study was basically from primary source in that, closedended questionnaire was designed and distributed to respondents. The data generated was analyzed using the mean score ranking. Descriptive statistics was used to test the data. The study concluded that sustainability parameters are recognized on the project, therefore achieving its set objectives and already providing some tangible benefits to community members. In addition, the study recorded that the project has influential factors of sustainability parameters. More so, the study finds that planning and coordination is the most significant sustainability challenge of the Project. The study recommended that project implementers should use their project management skills to solve practical challenges to enhance the benefits to communities.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the financial management practices among Small and medium scale enterprises in the Kintampo Municipality

The contribution of small firms to the development of Ghana is highly recognized. SMEs play a critical role in the growth and development of every economy of which Ghana cannot be exempted. Information available at the Registrar General Department point to the fact that about 70% of Ghana‟s Gross Domestic Product is contributed by SMEs. They also account for about 92% of business and 85% of employment in manufacturing industries. Inspite of these contributions, SMEs are still constrained with a lot of challenges and prominent among them is poor financial management practices. However companies that sell well but have poor financial management cannot survive in this competitive market. This study therefore examined the financial management practices in small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) from a study of 60 small business owner-managers in the Kintampo Municipality. The data was collected using a case study survey through the use of questionnaires. The study found out that the majority of the SME owners relied on multiple sources for funding their businesses. Furthermore, the study found that the majority of SME owners did not have dividend policies in place. The study also found that SMEs that were owned by partners had laid down principles that guided how dividend was shared among partners. With regards to records keeping on financial management practices among SME owners, it was found that all SME owners indicated they kept important records about financial management practices in their businesses. The major recommendation of the study was that there is the need for all stakeholders in the SME sector to come together and design financial literacy training programmes for SME owners to equip them with adequate skills in financial management practices. Also government through its agencies and financial institutions should make funds available to SMEs.

Source: KNUST