ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Training and development of non-teaching senior members and perceived job performance in University of Education, Winneba

This study was conducted with the aim of investigate how training and development programme affects non-teaching senior members of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). This study was guided by the four research questions. The philosophical position adopted by this study is pragmatism. To achieve these, the sequential explanatory mixed method approach was adopted for the study. The study population was non-teaching senior members of UEW totalling 94. In all, 43 respondents were selected using stratified and purposive sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data for the study. Test Analytics of Survey (TAFS) and Statistical product and Services (SPSS) were the analytical tool used was a descriptive statistic using percentages and frequencies distribution, whereas the Interviewees’ views and responses to the semi-structured interview were analysed qualitatively and presented verbatim alongside the major findings on the data from the questionnaires. The study revealed among others that training and development programmes for non-teaching senior members in UEW is done annually. Further, training and development helps improve communication skills of staff, increase productivity and improve job performance. Again, nonteaching senior members were satisfied with the ability to perform assigned task within the limited period of time. Finally, training and development has positive significant effect on employee performance. Based upon the findings, it was recommended among others that management of UEW should improve upon all the necessary structures to make the training and development programmes a success, ensure that training is considered a priority as it is a major confidence booster for employees and directly improves their overall performance and provide adequate funding for all training and development programmes.

Source: UEW
Training strategies of front office personnel in the hospitality industry. A case study of three star hotels in the Cape Coast municipality

The front office is the heart of any hotel industry. Service performances of front office personnel are therefore jeopardized because of lack of training. The study evaluates training needs of front office personnel in 3 Star hotels in Cape Coast Municipality. Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. Purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting 64 front office personnel from sixteen (16) registered 3-star hotel in the Cape Coast Municipality. Questionnaire was used in gathering information from the front office personnel. Coding was done and the data from completed questionnaires was entered on the SPSS 23.0. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation was used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that training strategies are employed by the 3star hotels to improve front office personnel operational performance. The study showed that continuously changing environment, reduced patronage from customers, increased in complaint from customers are the major factors that influence training of front office personnel. The study found a positive and significant (p=0.000<0.01) relationship between training strategies employed by the 3star hotels and front office personnel performance. The study concluded that training strategies affect front office personnel performance. It was recommended that hotel managers should make the front office personnel know the training strategy and understand the importance of it.

Source: UEW
Transformational leadership with innovative behaviour: Examining multiple mediating paths with PLS-SEM

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine simultaneously multiple mediating mechanisms through which transformational leadership affects innovative work behaviour (IWB). Specifically, the authors test job autonomy, affective commitment and supportive management as the three mediating paths through which transformational leadership predicts innovative wok behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 358 employees working in large retail banks in Accra, the capital of Ghana. A partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to estimate the measurement and structural models. Findings: Job autonomy and supportive management rather than affective commitment mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and IWB. In addition, transformational leadership positively relates to job autonomy, affective commitment, supportive management and IWB. Practical implications: By adopting leadership behaviours that seek to offer employees freedom on the job, a feeling of attachment to the organisation and positive perception of leadership support, managers and HR professionals can potentially foster employee innovation. This could stimulate organisational innovation and business success in the financial sector. Originality/value: Although it is important to understand the mechanisms or processes through which transformational leadership behaviour promotes IWB, research in this area is scanty and scarce. This study theorises and empirically examines job autonomy and support management as novel mechanisms through which transformational leadership behaviour translates into workers� innovative behaviour in formal banking institutions. � 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Source: UEW
Transformational leadership, transactional leadership and firm performance; the role of knowledge sharing

The study investigates the influence of transformational and transactional leadership and firm performance mediated by knowledge sharing practices at Societe Generale Ghana Plc. The survey research design was adopted. A sample size of one hundred and seventy (170) respondents selected, and questionnaires were administered to collect data from them and analysed using descriptive, inferential statistics (correlation and regression analyses). The study found a significant positive influence of both transformational and transactional leadership on firm performance. More so, the study revealed that knowledge sharing partially mediated the relationship that exist between transactional and transformational leadership and firm performance. Therefore, the study recommends that firms that seek to enhance their performance in other to achieve competitive advantage should place more emphasizes on improving their leadership styles as this can be achieved through numerous approaches such as improving knowledge sharing which has been statistically found to improve firm performance

Source: UEW
Transforming land cover depletion and livelihood strategies in peri-urban Ghana

The study focuses on the extent of land cover change distribution, major livelihood activities and their effects on land cover in peri-urban Accra, using residents of Ablekuma, Agape and Gonse as a case study. The sustainable livelihood and human-environment system concepts were combined to study assets and livelihood strategies changes residents relied on for survival in the study communities. A mixed-method approach, using the cross-sectional and case study designs was applied in the study. Three hundred and thirty respondents answered questionnaires and 40 key informants, were interviewed in the communities. The main findings of the study were that the dominant land cover in the three communities had gone through changes over the years, from 1991 to 2018. The study concluded that there is a shift to other economic activities other than agriculture in the study communities. The study policy recommendation is that local assemblies should encourage residents to plant trees in their houses to improve the biodiversity of the environment. � 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Source: UEW
Transition programmes for persons with intellectual disability at Shalom Special School, Nkoranza

The study investigatedtransition programmes available at Shalom Special School, Nkoranza. The study adopted the qualitative approach and case study design. The sample size for the study was 12 participants from a population of 16teachers in the school. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting the participants for the study.The findings of the study indicated generally that transition programmes available at Shalom special school are not given much attention and such programmes are not well structured to meet the needs of the students due to lack or inadequate teaching and learning resources. However, it is suggested that training equipment, materials and logistic should be regularly supplied to the special school by Government through the Ghana Education Service to enhance the training skills of students. In addition, adequate and qualified teachers with technical and vocational training background should be encouraged to teach in the special schools after training. The researcher believes that when these recommendations are implemented, individuals with intellectual disabilities will see positive results in terms of their independent living.

Source: UEW
Transition services influencing school completion for learners with intellectual disabilities from selected basic special schools in Ghana

This study determined how transition services influence school completion for learners with ID in Three Kings Special School in Battor, Garden City in Kumasi, and Twin City Special School in Sekondi-Takoradi, all in Ghana. Specifically, the study identified (a) available transition services for learners with ID in the curriculum of basic special schools, (b) ways basic special schools prepare learners with ID towards completing school, (c) factors that affect parents‟ hopes, desires and expectations about educating their children with ID, and (d) how ready employers are to engage learners with ID after their training from basic special schools. A mixed approach, involving cross-sectional design, was used. Fifty-one participants including 3 head teachers, 17 special education teachers, 25 parents and 6 craftsmen were involved in the study. Questionnaire and interview guides were used. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Services (SPSS) to generate frequencies, charts and percentages from the responses gathered while qualitative data from the interview were transcribed to explain the verbatim quotations from the respondents. The findings were that; (a) the basic special schools face difficulties in preparing learners with ID towards non-existing school completion programmes and transition services in their school curriculum; (b) parents‟ were disappointed that their children were unable to complete school; (c) even though some employers were ready to employ students with ID if they possess the required skills and abilities to work. Recommendations were that schools must provide adequate job training to learners with ID to make them employable after they leave school; teachers should continue to teach vocational skills as part of transition services; and schools must prepare learners with ID towards school completion.

Source: UEW
Transitivity in a ghanaian literary text - a study of the major process types in awoonor’s just to buy corn

This study uses Halliday's transitivity framework to analyse how language has been used by Kofi Awoonor to reveal the African experience represented from the Ghanaian perspective in his story Just to Buy Corn. The primary focuses of the study are the three main process types, and the interplay between processes, participants and circumstances in the three major process types is used as representation of the author‟s perception of the Ghanaian experience. Using the qualitative design and the interpretative content analysis, the study finds that processes abound in the text, with a total of 533 processes. Material processes appear the most with a frequency of 336 representing 63.04% of the data analysed. The second most frequently used in the story are relational processes with a frequency of 103 representing 19.32%, followed by the mental process with a total frequency of 43 and a percentage of 8.07%. The verbal process follows with a frequency of 26 representing 4.88%. The behavioural process type follows with a frequency of 21 representing 3.94%, and existential process with a very small frequency of 4 representing 0.75%. The dominance of material processes in the story indicates the existence of a lot of physical actions in the African experience. The conclusion drawn from the study is that the selected story uses more primary process types than secondary types and confirms that the transitivity system can help in analysing clauses effectively and also helps us encode our experiences of the world. This affirms the assertion that language forms selected by writers are unplanned, yet, deliberately chosen to perform certain specific communicative functions. Keywords: Kofi Awoonor, Systemic Functional Grammar, Transitivity, Short Story, Social Ideology

Source: UEW
Transitivity in political discourse_the 2009 state of the nation address in Ghana

The study examined how language has been used by President John Evans Attah Mills to present the message in his first State-of-the-Nation address. The main focus of the study was the analysis of transitivity in the address and the functions it plays in political discourse. Halliday‘s Systemic Functional Grammar was applied as a theoretical framework and the qualitative research design was used for the content analysis of the text. The study applied the interpretative content analysis to investigate the communicative functions of the linguistic choices made in the address. The study used 536 clauses in the State-of-the-Nation address for analysis. The study discovered that material processes dominate the speech with a total occurrence of 59.14% whereas the existential process types are used minimally in the speech with an insignificant total occurrence of 0.93%. The dominant use of material processes implies that Mills and his government are the main actors working on a number of concrete projects in an attempt to create a sense of continuity in development and policy direction in a challenging administration he has inherited. The minimal use of the existential processes also implies that though there have been some attempts to solve Ghana‘s socio-economic challenges, some problems still persist in the country. The 2009 SONA recorded no behavioural process type because the study did not analyse the paralinguistic elements of the text. The study concludes that the 2009 SONA uses more primary process types than the secondary process types. The study affirms Halliday‘s (1985b, p.101) assertion that ―Transitivity specifies the different types of processes that are recognized in the language, and the structures by which they are expressed.‖ The study recommends that since teachers use language as a medium of instruction in the classroom, it would be useful that they undergo series of seminars and workshops to brainstorm the need to make Systemic Functional Grammar an integral part of the English curriculum.

Source: UEW
Trapped in the �web�: Challenges of grade 9 pupils in choosing a course to pursue in senior high schools in Ghana

Grade 9 pupils� choice of a course to pursue in senior high school in Ghana is a decision made at a young age usually below 16 years. Therefore, these young pupils rely on other persons for help when making such a decision. Previous research found that instead of assisting, these social agents rather interfere with this decision-making process. This study explored the challenges grade 9 pupils face in choosing courses in their transition to senior high school by seeking the views of the pupils and their teachers/counsellors using a questionnaire and interview guide. The findings showed that fathers, mothers, siblings, finances and orientation at home were the major obstacles the pupils faced when selecting a course to pursue. Other challenges found in the school setting included teacher interferences and peer distractions. The study concluded that grade 9 pupils have a great challenge from their social milieu when choosing a course to pursue at the senior high school level. The study recommended that school counsellors/heads should educate parents, guardians and teachers on how to guide pupils in choosing a course to pursue at the SHS level. � 2022 Justine Abla Addadey et al.

Source: UEW
Treatment outcomes and associated factors among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ashanti Region, Ghana: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

Objective Although several studies have assessed treatment outcomes of drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) in Ghana, very little has been done in the area of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The aim of this study was to determine treatment outcomes and associated factors among patients treated for MDR-TB in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Design A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. Setting The study was conducted in the Ashanti Region, the second most populous region in Ghana. The regional MDR-TB register, which contains information on all patients with MDR-TB being treated at the various TB centres in the region, was analysed between February and May 2021. Participants The participants consisted of all registered patients with MDR-TB who were placed on treatment between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020. Patients were included in the analysis if their treatment outcome had been assigned. Patients with no record of treatment outcome were excluded from the study. Outcome measures The main outcome variable for the study was MDR-TB treatment outcome, standardised as cured', treatment completed', treatment failure', died' and lost to follow-up'. A logistic regression model was fitted for factors associated with the outcome measure. Results Out of 159 patients included in the analysis, 86 (54.1%) were declared cured, 28 (17.6%) completed their treatment successfully, 6 (3.8%) were declared treatment failure, 12 (7.5%) were lost to follow-up and 27 (17.0%) died. The overall treatment success rate was 71.7%. Patients who were female (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.27, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.39, p=0.023), younger (AOR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.11, p=0.012), had a higher level of education (AOR=1.12, 95% CI: 0.65 to 1.90, p=0.034), had a baseline body mass index of 18.5 kg/m 2 or above (AOR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.23 to 2.47, p=0.011) and those who did not have a history of TB (AOR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.75, p=0.028) were more likely to have successful MDR-TB treatment outcomes. Conclusions Favourable treatment outcomes for patients with MDR-TB can be achieved in a resource-limited country. Although the recommended WHO target of ?75% was not met, the current result (71.7% treatment success rate) is still commendable considering all the challenges associated with TB treatment in Ghana. � Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022.

Source: UEW
Treatment Outcomes of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Gomoa West District, Ghana

Background: The study reviewed background characteristics of patients being treated for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Ghana. The review indicated that the disease was endemic in deprived regions. Gomoa West District in the Central Region of Ghana, one such region, was chosen for the study. Methods: A retrospective cohort study on all files of patients diagnosed of Pulmonary Tuberculosis either by smear or radiography in the district during the period January 2010 to December 2015 were studied. Socio-demographic and clinical variables of cases were extracted from case files as well as their treatment outcomes at the end of six months’ therapy. Patients who were transferred out, re-treated, including resistance Tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary cases were excluded from the study. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the data. A logistic regression analysis was used to calculate crude and adjusted ratio of successful treatment outcome at a 95% confidence interval. Results: The Pulmonary Tuberculosis treatment success for the district in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were 94.2%, 87.59%, 94.4% and 92.1% respectively. Prevalent rate of Pulmonary Tuberculosis was highest amongst fisher folks and those in age group 65 years and above. Conclusions: The study concluded that improving Pulmonary Tuberculosis treatment outcomes requires qualitative information on factors associated with treatment outcomes that quantitative data does not reveal; so as to develop specific interventional strategies since general intervention might not be suitable for all cases considering the diverse characteristics of Tuberculosis patients. Interventions among age group 65 years and above will potentially improve treatment outcomes by 22.2% in Gomoa Oguaa. Keywords: Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Radiography, treatment outcomes, co-morbidities

Source: UEW
Trends in the usage of timber species for building construction among small and medium scale contractors in Ghana

The research aimed at determining the trends in the usage of timber species among small and medium scale building contractors in Ghana. The specific objectives were to determine timber species that have been used in the past decade by small and medium scale building contractors in Ghana; to determine the current timber species being used by small and medium scale building contractors in Ghana and to determine factors that influence the choice of particular timber species in building construction in Ghana. Questionnaires, on site observations and unstructured interviews were the instruments used for data collection from 45 stakeholders in the timber and construction industry such as building contractors, lumber traders, saw millers, carpenters and chain saw operators.. The study employed quantitative and descriptive techniques to analyze data collected. It was observed from the findings that, there are over 20 lesser known timber species on the Ghanaian local timber market predominantly Essa, Konkroma and Teak that can serve the same purposes as the traditional known timber species. It was concluded that, the extinction of the traditional known timber species used by small and medium scale building contractors is as a results of their over exploitation in the construction industry. Essa, Konkroma, Apro, Teak, Bese, Subaha, Ofram and Nyamedua are the most current timber species being used in building construction works. The research recommend that, more research is carried out on the strength properties and application of lesser-used species (LUS) among Small and Medium Scale building contractors in Ghana to reduce their total reliance on the traditional known timber species in their construction work. The use of lesser-used timber species should be promoted to sustain the trends in the usage of timber species in building construction in Ghana.

Source: UEW