ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The sponsorhip of jazz musical concerts by corporate organizations in Ghana: A case of Stanbic Bank Ghana

Sponsorship of musical concerts by corporate organisations has over the years become a common practise used to communicate to a specific target group. This approach has helped corporate organisations present themselves to more clients and improve the perception held of the brand. Ghana has over the years experienced this practise of sponsoring musical concerts growing among its organisations. One of such sponsorships that sparked an interest was Stanbic Bank’s sponsorship of Jazz Musical concerts. The aim of this study is to understand why corporate organisations in the country are sponsoring Jazz musical concerts, further to find out what motivates the attendees of such concerts to do so. The data for the study was obtained through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The results from the study revealed that the major reason for sponsoring jazz musical concerts was because jazz was is attractive avenue which appeals and attracts the elite in the society. As such, sponsoring such events helps the organisations to improve their image and build a perception of the barnd among the elite. Also, people are motivated to attend jazz musical concerts because they enjoy jazz music and the relaxed atmosphere that accompanies the music. Recommendations for the study include an increase in the advertisement of jazz concerts or bars through newspapers, magazines, and social media.

Source: Ashesi
Standing out in the hospitality sector: The case of Bloombar

The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide and measures need to be put in place to ensure full utilization of the potential of this industry. Ghana’s economy is increasingly becoming more dependent on the hospitality industry however, the food and beverages sector of this industry has not been substantially studied by scholars. The Seven P’s of the Marketing Mix is checklist that service providers can use to ensure the full satisfaction of their target markets. This research paper seeks to analyse the various components of the marketing mix that customers prioritize to serve as a rubric for individuals looking to set up establishments in the food and beverages sector of the hospitality industry. In accordance with the goals of the research, the literature reviewed discusses how the Seven P’s of the marketing mix influences the success of a firm in the food and beverages sector of the hospitality industry. The study concludes with recommendations on the right way to implement the Seven P’s of the marketing mix for a specific target market in the food and beverages sector of the hospitality industry.

Source: Ashesi
Strategic financial plan for Vera Causa Realty

The project identifies the problems of Vera Causa Realty, a Ghanaian real estate firm that has been in operation for five years. Vera Causa Realty provides affordable services for people looking to build their homes. However, the company has no financial plan; thus, they cannot evaluate an individual's current salary and future financial state by using present known variables to predict future income, asset values, and withdrawal plans. This project sought to create a stable financial plan for the company. The financial plan will contain the company's long-term monetary goals and strategies to achieve these goals. Some insights gained during the need assessment stage were that as a result of the company's current mode of financing, i.e., self-financing, they have not been able to create a solid financial plan. The assessment revealed that the company would update its mode of funding to best suit it in the long term. After extensive literature has been reviewed that financial planning requires six steps. These steps ensure that companies created a feasible and solid financial plan. More insight was gained in the understanding of the external financing processes in Ghana. Some requirements must be met to seek external funding from the financial institutions in Ghana successfully. The study proposed that Vera Causa Realty creates a financial plan to manage the company's long-term financial goals. However, if the company cannot do it, they can outsource to other companies that specialize.

Source: Ashesi
Strategic marketing plan for Hill View Guest Centre, Abokobi

Hill View Guest Centre, formally known as International Student Guest Centre, is a 3 star hotel located in Abokobi, Ghana. The expected outcome of increasing patronage as a result of the change in name remains unaccomplished. To help Hill View Guest Centre address this problem, a qualitative needs assessment was conducted to identify the needs of the hotel which happens to be low patronage; even after the change in their name. The data collection methods used were semi-structured interviews, internet research, observation, and focus group interviews. The study confirmed the challenge of attracting and retaining customers and the resulting decline in the purchase of almost all of the hotel’s services including rooms, and its effects on Hill View’s revenue. The study revealed the absence of a targeted and appropriate strategic customer acquisition plan to match the new image of the hotel after the name change. Secondary research conducted using scholarly articles indicated that a strategic marketing plan is one key approach to controlling and retaining 75% of an organization’s target market (Nwabuibe, 2014). Since Hill View Guest Centre aims to expand its customer base and improve brand awareness for its new image, a corresponding strategic marketing plan is needed. The objective of the project was to use the outcomes of the needs assessment conducted on Hill View Guest Centre to develop a strategic marketing plan based on the SOSTAC planning model. The components of the proposed model are Situation Analysis, Objective, Strategy, Tactics, Action, and Control. This model was selected because of its ability to thoroughly address customer acquisition challenges as a broad strategy within marketing and branding. Thus, the strategic marketing plan will serve as a guide to enable the hotel to increase brand awareness, customer base and improve sales.

Source: Ashesi
Strategic marketing plan for Obrapa Money Lending Limited

Obrapa Money Lending Limited is a company licensed by the Bank of Ghana to operate the business of money lending. The company takes funds from the public in the form of investments and gives out funds to the public in the form of loans. Since its inception in 2013, the company has provided financial assistance to traders, taxi drivers and small enterprises. The aim of this project was to develop a strategic marketing plan for Obrapa Money Lending Limited to increase its brand awareness and customer base. This was based on a needs analysis which revealed that the company relied on funds from friends and family members. The strategic marketing plan was developed using the MicroSave-TMS Financial Strategic Marketing Framework, which has been implemented by eight institutions in Africa, similar to Obrapa who experienced phenomenal results in terms of brand awareness, an increase in the number of customers and a reduction in processing costs. A major objective of the strategic marketing plan was to ensure that at least 30% of the target market living and working in and around Dzorwulu are made aware of the services Obrapa offers by the end of December 2017, through personal selling and Facebook advertisement. Some of the key activities of the plan include painting of the company premises, developing flyers and brochures and creating content for the Facebook page of the company. An implementation of the proposed strategic marketing plan will help Obrapa Money Lending Limited increase its brand awareness, customer base and revenue significantly in the long-term.

Source: Ashesi
[Strategic marketing plan for] Aftown

Online music retail stores have made it possible for users to access a wide range of music online either by paying or free of charge (Swanson, 2013). Aftown is a commercial online music retail store which provides music from a wide range of African Artistes. Aftown users are categorized into the artistes(sellers) who upload their music unto the portal, and the music lovers(buyers) who can also subscribe to the portal. Since it’s establishment in June 2017, Aftown has subscribed about 11,000 users. Aftown has prominent artistes such as Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Efya, Manifest, Worlasi and Joe Mettle signed unto their platform. The company is currently unable to match their growth in customers to their efforts in marketing. Also from surveys, prospective customers do not know about Aftown and what their benefits are. The company needs advice on how to penetrate the market in order to increase their customer base. To achieve this, interviews and questionnaires were used to get more information on the needs of the company. From the results, Aftown lacked strategies on how to acquire customers and make their product made know to prospective users. This project provides strategies and tactics on how to overcome the barriers to growth of the company. It provides an action plan, an OGSM Framework and an evaluation plan in executing the recommended strategies, all to be done in 7 months.

Source: Ashesi
A strategic promotional plan for Live Truth Live Catholic

Live Truth Live Catholic (LTLC) is a Catholic book and gift store located in East Legon, Accra, and has been operating since March 2019. At LTLC, they have an extensive product range such as religious books, rosaries, jewelry, CDs/DVDs, sacramentals, Holy water, and clerical shirts among several other products. The management of LTLC expressed that they have a low customer base. A needs assessment showed that their promotional efforts have proved ineffective, resulting in low customer acquisition and retention because their current promotional strategy is not appropriate for the type of market that they operate in. Their promotional strategy is only reaching 0.07% of their potential customers because it is not targeted correctly. Literature suggests that when developing effective promotional plans or strategies, businesses have to consider the characteristics of their target audience, factor in their promotional goals or objectives, and identify the tasks that are essential in achieving these objectives. The proposed solution uses elements of the promotion mix to develop a customized promotional strategy that comprises of advertising, direct marketing and sales promotion. To carry out these strategies, LTLC has to consider the stages a consumer will go through before they decide to make a purchase at their shop through the use of the AIDA model: attention, interest, desire, and action. Each element of the promotion mix can be used to achieve one or more stages in the AIDA model.

Source: Ashesi
Strategies to Improve the Effectiveness of the Pre-university Educational Systems of Ghana and Rwanda

Education is key to sustainable national development. It should be the objective of all governments to ensure that quality education is accessible to all citizens. This thesis focuses on the educational systems of two developing African countries: Rwanda and Ghana. The first aim of the thesis is to identify and compare the challenges, strengths, and weaknesses of the Rwandan and Ghanaian educational systems. Next, the research will analyze Singapore and Finland systems to provide suggestions for improving the educational systems of Ghana and Rwanda. Rwanda and Ghana are being compared because of the historical difference in their educational systems. The choice of benchmarking the educational systems of Singapore and Finland is because both countries are ranked high in terms of quality and performance of their educational systems.

Source: Ashesi
Student challenges in Applied Project – A case of Ashesi University Business Administration Department

The Ashesi University Business Administration Applied Project capstone provides students with a unique opportunity to gain real-life experience in the working world as junior consultants. The purpose of this study was to identify challenges students encounter in their Applied Project journeys under a student-led model where students are in control of most of their experience. The study was qualitative, employing interviews and surveys as research tools to gain insight into the student-led experience. The main challenges were student choosing applied projects for the wrong reasons, encountering difficulty in finding a supervisor, working around the high ratio of supervisors to students and the proximity of the deadlines for finding a supervisor, topic and company. The recommendations addressed the challenges in the best interest of the student, that would help them to take better control of their experience. It also includes some methods faculty in charge can employ in organizing the capstone.

Source: Ashesi
Students Entrepreneurs and Academic Work Life at Ashesi University

This study explores the experiences of student entrepreneurs at Ashesi University, focusing on how they navigate the combination of their academic commitments and entrepreneurial ventures. This study employed qualitative research through a phenomenological approach. This study used non-probability, purposive, and snowball sampling techniques. These were used to gather data from a diverse group of participants, including student entrepreneurs, parents, faculty, and staff, with the sample size being fifteen. Semi-structured interviews were primary data collection instruments to uncover the intricate balance between academic life and business pursuits. The study used the Social Cognitive Career Theory and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Model. It examined how personal beliefs, self-efficacy, and the university's support systems are expected to influence students' decisions to engage in entrepreneurship alongside their studies. The research sought to understand the impact of entrepreneurship on students' personal, academic, and professional lives, identifying the key challenges they will likely encounter, such as time management, financial constraints, and the available support mechanisms within the university context. These research findings provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to the success of student entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of a supportive educational environment that fosters academic excellence and entrepreneurial endeavours by exploring the academic support systems at Ashesi University, the study aims to inform the development of policies and initiatives tailored to support student entrepreneurs, enhancing their academic and business experiences. This investigation into student entrepreneurship at Ashesi University will contribute to the broader understanding of how academic institutions can nurture future leaders and innovators.

Source: Ashesi
A study of the relationship between company size and business process outsourcing (BPO) in manufacturing companies in Ghana

This paper focuses on studying the relationship between company size and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in manufacturing companies in Ghana. The study sought to establish the relationship between company size and the decision to outsource in manufacturing companies in Ghana and also to assess the extent to which manufacturing companies are outsourcing and which main functions are outsourced. By definition, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a managerial practice which essentially involves the decision of choosing between performing certain business processes internally, or employing the services of an external firm to perform them on behalf of the company. The study was carried out primarily through questionnaires, which were administered to 25 manufacturing companies located in Accra and Tema that practice BPO. Secondary data was obtained from journal articles, books and the Internet. 22 companies responded while 3 companies declined from participating. Number of employees was selected as a proxy for company size in this study. The findings indicated that there is no direct relationship between company size and decision to outsource. This essentially means company size -measured by number of employees - has very little to do with the reason why companies outsource but more to do with cost management reasons thus emphasizing the transaction cost economic theory defined by (Heinzl, 2009). Also, the three main functions that are usually outsourced by manufacturing companies are HR, legal and supply chain services. This showed that manufacturing companies are inclined to outsource non-critical and more technical business functions. However, though outsourcing is practiced, the findings showed 81% of the manufacturing companies (large to small-sized companies) perform about 60 to 95% of their business functions in-house, leaving very little to be outsourced.

Source: Ashesi
A study of the street hawking phenomenon: A review of intervention programmes

There has been an increase in the number of recruitment agencies in Ghana over the years. The aim of these recruitment agencies is to create the perfect fit between companies and individuals looking for job opportunities. This service is how ever rendered by Human Resource Management (HRM) department in the companies. The company has the option of choosing between the two methods when recruiting: using the services of recruitment agencies or maintain their recruitment activities in-house. The research investigates the viability of recruitment agencies in Ghana to establish how efficient and effective their services rendered are. Through exploratory research, the recruitment requirements of companies in Ghana Club 100 (2011) and the factors that influence the choice of method adopted were established. The research discovered that, majority of companies in the sample use the in-house recruitment method mainly because it satisfies the recruitment requirement of the companies. It is recommended that the recruitment agencies concentrate on the factors that mostly influence the decision made by companies when choosing a recruitment method to adopt. The companies in Ghana Club 100 (2011) were advised to try the services of the recruitment agencies and determine the gap they could fill in their company to contribute to its success.

Source: Ashesi
A study on the rise in the use of African fabrics in Ghanaian and Western societies

The use of African fabrics has progressed from a time when they were primarily reserved for traditional and special occasions, to a period where they have become a casual wear staple, both within and outside the African continent. However, there is inadequate literature that comprehensively addresses the question of why African fabrics have generated so much interest especially in Ghana, while the country's textile industry is declining. This study therefore explains the reasons for the growing interest in the fabrics and compares the use of these fabrics in and outside Africa. It also provides recommendations on how Ghana's textile industry can be improved. It gathers data from questionnaires circulated to consumers of African fabric, interviews conducted with Ghanaian-based fashion industry players and some observation. The data shows that the primary motivation for the use of the fabrics stems more from the attractiveness of the fabrics, as opposed to cultural factors or media propaganda. It also shows that the internet was significant in the diffusion of the trend in Ghana. Other factors that also explain the trend in Ghana include the National Friday Wear Programme introduced by the government in 2004. Recommendations for the textile industry include improving the quality of products, competitive pricing and co-operation between textile manufacturing companies and fashion designers. This study therefore adds to existing literature on African fabrics and clothing, and at the same time provides solutions on how Ghana's textile industry can be improved so as to take full advantage of the increasing interest in African fabrics.

Source: Ashesi
A study on the role of e-banking and its relation to customer satisfaction in the banking industry of Ghana

This study aims at examining the role of e-banking and its relation to customer satisfaction in the banking industry in Ghana. The study addresses some issues that affect the role of e-banking and its link to customer satisfaction in Ghana‟s banking industry. Data were obtained from bank staffs and bank customers through a questionnaire using simple random sampling as well as an interview with bank staffs. All 60 questionnaires sent out were responded. Findings from the study indicate that e-banking has had a positive impact on the productivity and profitability of the banking industry amid expansion. Also, customers are to a large extent satisfied with services provided through electronic delivery channels by banks in Ghana. There was also evidence that customers‟ age group contributed to the propensity to use any of the electronic delivery channels used by banks. This study concludes by highlighting the need for banks to understand the customer needs, develop appropriate e-banking marketing strategies that maximize value for customers and satisfaction in the long run.

Source: Ashesi
A survey of the Ghanaian private equity industry and its contribution to private sector development

The usefulness of private equity (PE) as a tool for stimulating private sector growth in an economy is a topic that, regrettably, does not feature prominently in the literature on Ghanaian development. However, private equity has the potential to contribute significantly to Ghanaian private sector development by providing affordable long term capital and business expertise to local firms. In 2004, the Government of Ghana, realizing the importance of PE in private sector reform, set up the Venture Capital Trust Fund to jump start the local private equity industry. Subsequently five local PE funds were setup while several foreign PE funds opened Ghanaian offices or invested remotely in Ghanaian businesses. Since 2007, when many of these funds begun operating in earnest, not much has been done by way of measuring the socio-economic impact of PE on the Ghanaian private sector by either academia or the corporate world. Similarly, little is known about the size of the Ghanaian PE industry or its current growth trajectory. It is by addressing these shortcomings in the literature that this paper seeks to contribute most to the body of knowledge on Ghanaian PE. To this end, this paper seeks to answer the question: What is the state of the Ghanaian PE industry and to what extent is it contributing to private sector development? The paper concludes that the PE industry, while still growing, is making a significant contribution to the development of Ghanaian businesses through the provision of capital and technical assistance. The paper however reveals that the Ghanaian PE industry is defective in its reluctance to provide start-up capital for local entrepreneurs.

Source: Ashesi