ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF MARKET FIRES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SAVINGS AND LOANS COMPANIES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF FIRST ALLIED SAVINGS AND LOANS LIMITED

Ghana has in recent years witnessed frequent outbreaks of fire in the various market centers. Unfortunately, each occurrence of fire outbreak impacts negatively on traders who fall victims and the performance of banks, particularly savings and loans companies which have most of their loan customers in the market centres. This phenomenon of market fire outbreaks have created a situation where savings and loans companies are confronted with the challenge of having to deal with huge amount of non-performing loans. The study administered questionnaire to sixty-seven credits officers and twenty customers of First Allied Savings and Loans Limited (FASL) as well as an interview session with the assistant credits manager to collect primary data. It was found out that market fires have become one of the causes of loan default in FASL and account for 15% of all the causes of loan defaults. Again, it was found out that GHS500, 000.00 has been written-off as bad loan as a result market fire outbreaks. Another finding of the study is that 50% of customers who responded to the questionnaire still have huge outstanding loan amounts they are struggling to pay due to market fires. In order to reduce the effects of market fire outbreaks, it has been recommended that the central government must resource the Ghana National Fire Service with more fire fighting vehicles and equipment. Also, the government has been advised to reconstruct all old markets to make them more accessible and equip all such markets with fire hydrants. Again it is recommended that the Ghana National Fire Service must on regular basis educate traders at the various market centers on fire safety measures.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the implementation of the electronic salary payment voucher of the controller and accountant general department: a case study of Ghana education service (GES)

ABSTRACT The study assesses the implementation of the Electronic Salary Payment Voucher (E-SPV) system of Controller and Accountant General‟s Department (CAGD) on Ghana Education Service (GES). Little has been done to assess the implementation of E-SPV of the system in Ghana since its adoption again, the resistance of teachers and public sector workers against it, makes this study worth considering. Mixed method research design of quantitative and qualitative was employed using convenience and purposive sampling techniques to select 500 teachers and 6 CAGD staffs respectively. Questionnaires and structured interview guide were used to elicit data from the respondents. Data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources and SPSS and Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) were used to analyze the primary data gathered. The study revealed that lack of adequate knowledge in the E-SPV system has resulted in the mal-handling of e-pay documents. Moreover, the study concluded that teachers within the educational sectors are faced with avalanche challenges such as lack of equipment like computers and internet services to validate workers‟ pay on the voucher and access to their pay slip information and due to that, some have to walk long distances to access internet services which increases their security and privacy risks level. The E-SPV system has nevertheless, brought convenience, cost effectiveness and easy access to salary information and validation before payment to teachers. However, CAGD challenges reported were, system malfunctions, internet related issues etc. and their benefits included: system cost effectiveness, prompt and fast access to approved vouchers before payment, etc. The study therefore, recommended that, employees be sensitized constantly on the system, provided with the basic equipment, among others to enable adequate and proper use of the system.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the implementation of the free zones policy in Ghana

The Government of Ghana has sought to facilitate an increased in the exports of the economy and job creation through export processing zones. To that end it has introduced certain economic measures as well as physical, administrative and legal facilities. The FZs policy can be said to have been successful in terms of its major objectives that are export earnings, and job creation. The same can be said of enterprise participation, capital inflow and linkages with domestic economy. However, our findings also reveal some weaknesses in the policy as well as its implementation. First, the policy did not provide incentives regarding location of enterprises and the use of local raw materials. Second, no training facility was provided for customs officers assigned to the FZs. Third, the problem of land acquisition was not tackled. So was the problem of tariff discrimination on exports from Ghana’s FZs to Francophone countries within the ECOWAS sub-region. A review of EPZ schemes in Nigeria and Mauritius reveal other shortcomings of Ghana’s policy. Prefinancing facilities in the EPZs in Nigeria and cost containing policy of those in Mauritius made Ghana’s EPZ less competitive. On the basis of the above findings, the present study makes recommendations as follows; Provision of training facilities for customs officers, creation and strengthen of linkages, pre-financing facilities and finally the use of FZs as an instrument of human settlement by providing deliberate locational tax incentives which ensure an even distribution of population and resources.

Source: KNUST
Assessing The Implemention And Practice Of The School Health Program In Some Basic Schools In The Kwabre

This was a cross sectional descriptive study of the School Health Program in some basic schools in the Kwabre district. The study was carried out between March and September 2008. The main objective of the study was to assess the implementation and practice of the School Health Program in some basic schools in the Kwabre district. The district has two (2) hospitals, ten (10) Health Centers, ten (10) maternity homes and four (4) clinics serving the population in the district. Some of the issues that bothered the implementation and practice of the program, such as the seemingly weak collaboration between the implementers, sponsorship of the program and the health support services for the program, were studied. The study, therefore, sought to describe the structure of the program as practiced in the district, the physical environment of the schools that promote health, the health services and the role of implementers of the program. The World Health Organization Expanded Program on Immunization (WHO EPI) 30 x 7 cluster survey was used in determining the sample size of the survey. This included 30 basic schools, 30 community health nurses and a total of 210 parents (thus parents of 7 children in each school). This was selected from the eighty-nine (89) communities in the five (5) sub districts. Structured questionnaires and checklists were used for the data collection. The data were analyzed using Epi info version 3.9.1. The study revealed the program is poorly funded and implementers are not fully abreast with an in-depth knowledge about the structure of the School health program. The implementation of the program faces a major systemic challenge in the sense that there are no measures to monitor and evaluate the activities of implementers. Also, the study brought to light the fact that the community/parents are unaware of the role they are to play in supporting the implementation of the program.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the implications of cost overruns in the construction industry in Ghana

The issue of cost overruns in construction has indeed marred the quest for monetary worth in contracts executed as the country gears up to fill infrastructural gap as part of efforts towards national development. The existence of cost overruns has also affected the significant contributions aimed at the improvement to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Cost overruns inevitably yield overruns in construction of projects, the effects of which results in slippage of project schedules, a situation which does not augurs well for the construction industry. This, undoubtedly, creates implication of the variations in the budgets earmarked for the construction. In view of this, the study assessed the implications of cost overruns in the construction industry in Ghana. As a research design based on qualitative and quantitative approaches, the study relied on purposive sampling technique, a sample size of 117 respondents was selected for data collection. A 100% response rate was achieved in the questionnaire administration. There should also be explicit legal regime so as to legislate for the contractors and consultants to ensure that the best practices and standards tenets of construction cost estimates are carried out within the legal framework so as to manage cost overruns in construction. The key findings of study included inadequate skilled in estimating total project cost and disrespect for expert advice by contractors. It was also discovered that, problem of non-compliance with laid down rules concerning bidding for contracts, lack of appropriate bidding process and inadequate measures for evaluating the projects under construction are contributing factor. Among the key recommendations of the study was that there should be effective evaluation of project-cost relationship by the appropriate agencies tasked with the above stated responsibility. Regular time-cost trade-off analysis should be undertaken at all levels of the progress of the contract to be diligently carried out so as to shorten the project duration and to further get rid of any possible emergence of cost overruns in construction.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the importance of communication in project execution by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies: a case study at La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly

Today’s world of business has been reduced to a global community where businesses can interact and communicate with others instantaneously mainly because of technological advancements, innovations and tenacity of human beings. This study was conducted to investigate and assess the importance of communication in project execution at La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA). The main aim of the study was to assess project communication management in project execution at LaDMA. This study adopted the case study method as the research design. To operationalize the study’s objectives, the study used the purposive sampling technique to collect data from three key and relevant representatives of LaDMA. In relation to the first objective, it was established that LaDMA uses different types of communication channels during projects and these are formal site meetings, town hall meetings, instruction books at site and issuing of letters. It was however found that the LaDMA does not employ social media tools such as WhatsApp, twitter, Facebook and Instagram to effectively reach their different constituents. In relation to the second objective, it was found from all the three interviewees that LaDMA’s project communication management positively affects the assembly’s project deliveries. In relation to the third objective, it was found that the main challenges of project communication management at LaDMA are delays in getting meetings organized, stakeholders not receiving feedback, delays and inconsistencies during project execution and it is also expensive to bring stakeholders together in terms of the time and other resources. It was found that these challenges and bottlenecks negatively affect project deliveries at LaDMA. Based on the findings of this study, the study recommended that LaDMA should establish a system of regular communication, to send and provide up to date and prompt information to project teams and other stakeholders during project execution. This study also recommends that LaDMA should resort effective use of information technology such as Social media channels including Facebook, Whatsapp among others. Finally LaDMA should employ the use of all other tools in communication during project execution in other to reach out to stakeholders and ensure that projects are well executed with right specification and value for money.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the influence of information, education and communication (IEC) strategies in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Ejisu-Juaben District of Ghana

More than 30 million pregnant women and children in Africa are particularly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of malaria caused by the most lethal parasite, Plasmodium Falciparum. Malaria Control Programmes in Ghana and elsewhere in the developing world need to give the highest priority to an effective and sustained strategy to bring about behaviour change to reduce the incidence of malarial infection. One way to achieve this is through effective Information, Education and Communication (TEC) strategies. Thus, a full range of activities and approaches from mass media campaigns to the use of interventions aimed at personal protection need to be used. IEC programmes need to be integrated into various components of programmes such as Insecticide Treated Nets’ (ITNs) distribution and re-treatment; and early diagnosis and prompt treatment. A descriptive study with a cross- sectional design using quantitative and qualitative methods were used to assess the effectiveness of information, education and communication (IEC) strategies in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy. Four (4) focus group discussions (FGDs) and three (3) key informant interviews (KIls) were conducted for baseline information. 200 women were also interviewed through the use of a structured questionnaire to explore the practices, attitudes, beliefs and behavioral tendencies amongst study women and their relatives, health staff, community leaders and opinion leaders. The study revealed that knowledge about malaria and how it can be prevented was high, yet the malaria in pregnancy and its prevention is a problem in the district due to lack of regular JEC programmes that are needed to reinforce and stimulate women to practice what they know. It is therefore recommended that effective implementation of IEC strategies requires that the District Health Administration provide regular and well focused JEC strategies, that are frequent and focused on encouraging pregnant women to adapt practical and positive attitudes and practices towards the prevention of malaria in pregnancy.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the influence of land administration systems on physical development in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

The capacity to plan, develop and coordinate the spatial distribution of human activities in rapidly growing settlements is critical for national socio-economic progress. Using Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis as a study area, this research compares and contrasts the two land administrative systems, namely, State Lands and Stool Lands and assesses their relative influences on physical development. Following preliminary investigations and the updating of sector layouts for the five selected areas, primary data was collected on a sample of 250 homeowners selected through systematic sampling technique while institutions were purposively selected for indepth interviews. The research found that the Land Allocation committees were ineffective and as result, the land purchasers dealt with chiefs rather than the committee. The analyses also showed that planning schemes were not comprehensive enough to meet increasing demands for recreational and commercial activities. The Traditional Authorities were not informed about updates to sector layouts and as a result allocated lands were based on old planning schemes. These updates were largely carried out to retrofit uncontrolled physical development into the planning schemes. The land documentation process was found to be time consuming and burdensome. As a result, physical development occurred contrary to planning schemes as developers ignored the process. This uncoordinated development was also attributable to the weak resource base in terms of logistics, funds and staff capacity in the official land sector institutions. The study recommends that state institution should offer training to the chiefs as well as the Land Allocation Committee. Experts on land issues should constitute the committee in order to discharge their duties effectively. The committee members are also to ensure that the necessary official documents are obtained by the developers to before development is carried out. In order to minimize unauthorised development of the study recommends that lands on the frontages of major roads should be designated for residential/commercial uses. Thus purely residential uses should not permitted along major roads. Institutions like the Building Inspectorate Division and the Survey Unit should be privatised and run as a commercial entity in order to generate money for the smooth running of the office. The Land Use Planning Bill which is currently before Parliament should be hastened to make Physical Planning Department an autonomous organisation with powers to enforce development control.

Source: KNUST
ASSESSING THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS (A CASE STUDY OF TAMALE POLYTECHNIC)

There have been several cases of embezzlement of funds and misuse of resources in Public institutions though such institutions have several rules and control measures to Guide their operations. The main purpose of the research was to assess the effectiveness of internal control systems at Tamale Polytechnic. The specific objectives were to find out the internal control systems at Tamale Polytechnic, employee‟s awareness of the internal control systems, whether management is able to override the control systems and how consistent are the control Systems with international standards. The descriptive research method was employed in the study. The population was all staff at the Polytechnic in the year 2014-2015. The sample was made up of 50 respondents comprising of 40 experts (Finance, audit, procurement and stores) and10 non-experts from other departments apart from the ones already mentioned. The purposive and the simple random sampling technique were used to sample the population and the main instruments used for the collection of data were the questionnaire. Some of the findings the research revealed are the existence of strict supervision, authorization and segregation of duties. The findings revealed that management does not communicate to the staff of new control policies introduced. Again the findings indicated that the control systems at the Polytechnic are quite effective and are directed towards the detection and prevention of fraud and error. Some of the recommendations to the management of the Polytechnic include the embossment of the institution's logo on all assets and that management must keep the employees informed of new control policies introduced. Finally, the Polytechnic must invest in computerizing most of its manual operations.

Source: KNUST
Assessing the internal audit practices in Ghana Education Service –Brong Ahafo Region.

The internal audit practice at Ghana Education Service must function in a manner that is in accordance with applicable professional standards such as Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (SPPIA). Using a sample size data of 30 from internal auditors and management, this study looks at assessing the internal auditing practices at Ghana Education Service-Brong Ahafo Region. Purposive Sampling and simple random sampling method were used to select the respondents from the population. Questionnaire and the in-depth interview and focus group discussion method were used in collecting data. The data were analyzed using statistical tables and Microsoft Excel to identify trends. It was observed that, the nature of Internal Audit practice meet its intended purpose as and when it serves as governance mechanism, risk management mechanism, and control mechanism, and also, conformance with the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing which includes management support, management’s perception of internal audit function, adequate competent of Internal Audit staff, organizational independence, and approved internal audit charter. It was observed that, the nature of internal audit practices form an integral part of the governance structure and management of risk where the Internal Auditors ensures that there is effectiveness of design, and implementation of activity plan in the Ghana Education Service Offices which make it possible for the various source of fund (Department of International Development, Ghana Partnership for Education Grant, School Capitation Grant) to have it individual activity implementation plan. Again, the nature of internal audit practice serves as control mechanism which institutes controls to ensure that resources are safeguarded against loss due waste and fraud in Ghana Education Service Offices. The result suggested that the internal audit unit is performing despite many challenges they encounter with regard to freedom to operate well, support from management, and inadequate resources. The conclusion drawn is that, internal audit practices at Ghana Education Service with effective cooperation from government, Ghana Education Service board, management and staff of Ghana Education Service, and the public organizations at large will move forward to reduce inefficiencies in the internal controls, governance processes, and risk management processes. Recommendations, if considered, could impact positively on the internal audit practice at Ghana Education Service which encompasses ensuring internal audit practice compliance with Professional Practice for Internal Auditing, installation or operation of adequate accounting system, building the capacity of the internal audit unit, enjoying goodwill in the form of Internal Audit Function and support from management, making available adequate resources to the internal audit unit.

Source: KNUST