ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment Of Effectiveness Of Non-Treatment Interventions In Reducing Health Risks Associated With Consumption of Wastewater – Irrigated Cabbage

Health risks associated with consumption of wastewater irrigated cabbage can be greatly reduced by treating the wastewater before its use. But wastewater treatment facilities are prohibitively expensive. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006 proposed alternative guidelines called non – treatment interventions for low – income countries for reducing health risk associated with wastewater irrigated vegetables. This study focused on the assessment of the effectiveness of non-treatment interventions in reducing potential health risks along production – consumption chain. The first phase of the study was a preliminary component that established the appropriate day for the cessation of irrigation before harvesting of cabbage, and post - harvest handling practices in the market and their contribution to the overall contamination. The study assessed post - harvest handling practices including places of display of cabbage during marketing, removal of outer leaves, and cutting of cabbage in the market for sales. Thermotolerant coliforms and helminth eggs levels were used as indicator organisms for health risk assessment. In this study, four-day cessation of irrigation before harvesting was identified as an acceptable on-farm non-treatment intervention. The four – day cessation of irrigation before harvesting could reduce thermotolerant coliforms by 0.83 log units and 0.6 helminth eggs per 100 g cabbage representing reduction rate of 0.21 log units and 0.15 helminth eggs per day. These reductions were both significant (P ≤ 0.05). Removal of one outer leaf and display of cabbage on table covered with clean sack as intervention at the market reduced thermotolerant coliforms significantly by 0.97 log units (P = 0.000) and 0.2 helminth egg counts which was not significant (P = 0.753). Treatment of cut cabbage with vinegar reduced thermotolerant coliforms significantly by 2.11 log10 units and helminth eggs insignificantly (P = 0.909) by 0.6. Furthermore, treating cut cabbage with salt solution reduced both thermotolerant coliforms and helminth eggs significantly by 1.27 log10 units and 0.7 respectively. Overall cumulative reduction of 3.91 log10 units thermotolerant coliforms and 1.4 helminth eggs were achieved when cabbage pieces were treated with vinegar, and 3.07 log units thermotolerant coliforms and 1.5 helmith eggs for samples treated with salt solution. These figures are however, lower than the 6-7 log units’ reduction proposed in the WHO guideline. The main species of helminth eggs isolated in the irrigation water and on the cabbage were Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma species, Strongyloides stercoralis, Taenia species and Trichuris trichiura. The combinations of the non – treatment interventions have a potential of considerably reducing health risks associated with wastewater irrigated cabbage.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of employee turnover in the Radio Industry

The study has sought to investigate employee turnover in the radio industry in Kumasi. An attempt has been made to identify the key factor that has been the driving force of employee turnover among the radio stations in the Kumasi Metropolis. Data for the study have been collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data * * have been collected using a standard questionnaire designed to accomplish the objectives of the study. Secondary data have been gathered through an examination of the topic on the Internet, Periodicals, books, business journals, and magazines and other relevant secondary data sources. The study population comprises all 21 radio stations that are currently operating in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study has used two non-probability sampling techniques- purposive sampling and convenience sampling- to select the sample size for the study and one probability sampling technique for administering copies of the questionnaire for employees of radio stations. The main finding of the study is that the critical factor that explains turnover in the radio industry in Kumasi is poor salary and working conditions. Among the conclusions made in the report are that employee turnover is prevalent in the radio industry in the Kumasi metropolis and that temptation regarding availability of prospects for making more money in a different radio station has been the driving force behind employee turnover in the Kuniasi metropolis. One of the recommendations made by the study is that in order for the radio stations to retain their core staff to avoid the consequences of employee turnover, they should review their existing motivational practices. Salaries and working conditions should be competitively determined. The main challenge faced during the study was the unwillingness of some of the radio stations [ to take part in the survey for fear of exposing themselves to their competitors. One of the research avenues that the study opens is the need for someone to conduct an investigation into the motivational practices in the radio industry in the Kumasi metropolis.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of Electronic Banking on Banks Performance : A Study of Barclays Bank Ghana Limited

This research sought to assess electronic banking on banks performance; a study Barclays Bank Ghana Limited. The target population for the research comprised all E-banking customers of the study areas which are Barclays Bank branches at Ahodwo and Asafo, all in Kumasi. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, with the research purpose being exploratory and a descriptive research design. A sample of one hundred and ninety-six (196) respondents was selected made up of 30 purposively selected employees of Barclays Bank Staff comprising departmental and unit heads and Tellers and one hundred and sixty-six (166) randomly selected customers of the bank. The customers were selected using accidental sampling.Data was collected through questionnaires. Data was analyzed using description of results. Findings revealed that the bank provides electronic banking services in the form of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) /Debit cards services, SMS (mobile) banking, E-Zwich Card services, Email notification services, Internet banking, Inter Banking Services and Slip free banking services. Among the services provided, an ATM service is the most widely patronized. The study discovered that electronic banking has significantly improved service delivery and majority of customers are satisfied with the significant change. The study also revealed that some benefits of E-banking are reduction in banks cost of operations, increased number of customers, increased banks revenue, public image enhancement, new market opportunities wider market, increased profitability by the bank and increased contribution to Corporate Social Responsibility. The study indicated major challenges facing E-banking as unreliable network, intermittent power supply and cultural reluctance. The intermittent power supply leads to power surges which usually cause the breakdown of ICT equipments resulting in high cost of ICT investment by Barclay’s bank.The study therefore recommends that Barclays bank should provide alternative and reliable sources of power particularly solar energy, to ensure reliable connectivity and grants E-banking customers uninterrupted access to E-banking platforms.

Source: KNUST
The assessment of factors affecting family planning education on its practices - a case study at Dormaa District

Ghana adopted a population policy aimed at reducing the rate of growth of the population from 3.0% in 1970 to 1.7% by the year 2000. However, thirty years after adopting the policy, there have been no signs that the target has been achieved. Dormaa district has an estimated population of 148,626 according to the 2,000 population census figures released in 2002 with a growth rate of 3.1%. The District Health Management Team (DHMT) has identified low practice of family planning as a matter of great concern, considering the multiplying effect that lack of reasonable level of family planning practice can have on other health and socioeconomic conditions. A cross sectional study was undertaken to examine the low usage of family planning methods. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for analysis. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents for the study, and a cluster sampling was used for the focus group discussion. The results of the study showed that the facilities that exist in the Dormaa District for family planning services are woefully inadequate. The existing facilities are also not maintained. Transportation difficulties both on the part of clients and service providers made it impossible for the clients to visit the clinics. The providers generally find it difficult to do extension work. There is not enough trained staff to educate the people on family planning services. The study recommends therefore that more rural clinics be provided through community participation. It is also recommended that motor-bikes and bicycles be provided for family planning service providers for outreach programmes.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of factors affecting female participation in Senior High School education in Ghana: A case study of Asunafo North and Sunyani Municipalities and Kumasi Metropolitan Area on October, 2010.

The study focused on female participation in Senior High School education. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of the factors which affect female access to and participation in Senior High School or Secondary education in the Asunafo North and Sunyani municipalities in the Brong-Ahafo Region and Kumasi metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study showed that female access to and participation in Senior High School education are influenced by many factors such as negative attitudes and perceptions, poverty, poor academic performance, absence of specific access policies for girls and weak institutional female education support programmes. These things have become major hindrances to girls’ participation in Senior High School education. One way girls fail to gain access to Senior High School education is through the failure of parents to provide adequate care for their school needs. Without support for girls to complete their education, many of them will struggle with poverty and its effects and this will affect their participation in labour issues and decision making later in life (Stephen et al 1999 cited in Meena, 2001). It is suggested that for the society to have girls’ full participation in Senior High School education, parental support should be based on a clear philosophy so that District/Municipal/Metropolitan Assemblies, Central government and Non-Governmental Organisations could make a commitment to provide assistance for the education of girls in Senior High Schools. Provision of support for girls should include adequate financial care, reducing girls’ participation in family occupational activities, institution of scholarship, science and technology schemes, introduction of affirmative action in Senior High School admissions, establishment of special girls’ Senior High Schools and joint District/Municipal/Metropolitan Assemblies-NGO projects for supply of books, equipment and development of infrastructure. Above all, there is the need for parents and the society at large to wear positive attitude towards girls’ education. This will help the girl-child to build up a strong ego and confidence to go through school.

Source: KNUST
An Assessment of Ethical Procurement Practices in the Health Sector: A Case Study of Sogakope District Hospital.

The research study was carried out for the purpose of assessing the status of ethical procurement practices of procurement officers at Sogakope District Hospital based on public procurement roles in achieving value for money. The purposive sampling method was employed by the researcher. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from the respondents. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, relative importance index and mean score ranking. Public procurement and supply chain officers and other staff made of various departments were employed for the study.The main objective of this study was to assess the ethical practices of public procurement practices at Sogakope District Hospital.Based on the data obtained from 25 members of staff made up of procurement practitioners and other staff members, the result showed that the Sogakope District Hospital complied with Public Procurement Act and Disposal Regulations on ethical issues, by preparation/ implementation of procurement plans annually. ‘Inadequate training Programmes on ethical procurement practice’ as well as unequal opportunities to practitioners are the major challenges to procurement practitioners at Sogakope District Hospital, as it was ranked highest among the factors identified. Therefore, it was recommended that, there should be regular training programmes for procurement practitioners and equal treatment before and after procurement processes without any discrimination to avoid unethical procurement practices.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of factors affecting performance of contractors in the construction industry: case study of Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly

The disappointment to meet deliverables within the Ghanaian construction industry is a common feature. In reference to Ahadzie (2008), such outlook is witnessed as far as contractors are concerned because owners of most construction companies do not have any formal or little knowledge about the operation of the industry there-by affecting them in applying well-grounded management theories in achieving good performance. In many instances, contractors are blamed for poor performance and criticized for having limited knowledge in the application of requisite management techniques. Moreover, they lack the ability to employ people with the requisite experience because they see the industry as only business oriented forgetting about the technicalities involved. In Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly, similar issues are faced by clients. It is against this background that this study seeks to identify and examine the factors affecting contractor performance on development projects.The research approach presented in the study was mainly quantitative. The study made use of questionnaire as means of gathering useful data for the study. A sample size of 52 was chosen from five (5) departments out of sixteen (16) departments for the study. Developed questionnaires and interview guides were used through purposive sampling to collect data from the respondents. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to perform descriptive analysis whiles Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the identified critical success factors for improving contractor performance. Adoption of Total quality management, utilizing up to date technology and introduction of health and safety programs problems were the major factors identified for improving performance. Also, analysis from the study identified these problems associated with contractor performance:Personal issues;inadequate supervision; incompetent designers/contractors; and changes in scope of works. Based on the findings from the study, some recommendations such as the Municipal Assembly trying as much as possible to make payments on time to the local contractors so as to prevent delays in the execution of projects and project designs and specifications must be clear to the various stakeholders of the project to prevent future complexities during the construction activities were put forward to the Municipal Assembly of the district to help improve the situation.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of financial control practices in Nadowli-Kaleo district assembly

Public Sector Organizations are not countries but they have a sort of constitutions in the form of internal regulations and controls to adhere to in order to ensure judicious use of their resources towards sustainable growth and development. This study examined the financial control practices in Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly. Descriptive research strategy was employed by the researcher. The sample for the study was made up of 99 respondents, believed to provide the needed information for the study. Findings of the study revealed that the control environment of the internal control system is sound enough for effective governance and management functions, for communication and enforcement of integrity and ethical values, and for easy identification of potential risks by management and deciding upon appropriate corrective actions. The study also revealed the existence of effective information and accounting system in the NKDA that is good enough for good financial reporting objectives, effective performance review, information processing, physical controls and segregation of duties. It could therefore be concluded that the internal control system at the NKDA is considerably effective for efficient managerial function. It is, however, recommended that management of NKDA, through the Human Resource Unit, should organize training for all staff and Assembly Members of the NKDA for all to appreciate the need for internal control measures to ensure the NKDA finances are reported accurately.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of farmers response to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training by (CHED) and its effect on the quality of cocoa beans in Nkawie Cocoa District

The adoption of good agricultural Practices (GAP) in cocoa farming is a means for achieving high productivity. The length of time that a cocoa farm remains productive and financially viable is determined by the application of good agricultural practices. Growing consumer concerns about food safety have put pressure on agricultural commodity markets to pay more attention to produce quality. Notwithstanding the good reputation of Ghana’s cocoa and the efforts to maintain quality, there are indications that quality can be compromised. This study was therefore carried out to assess farmers response to GAP training by Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) and its effect on the quality of cocoa beans produced in Nkawie cocoa district. Primary data was sourced from field survey through the administration of well-structured questionnaires to (50) cocoa farmers (25 untrained farmers and 25 trained by Cocoa Health and Extension Division. Each community had ten (10) farmers, five for trained and the other five untrained. Pesticide residue analysis and cut test was also carried out on samples of cocoa sourced from the two farmer groups. The result on the field survey indicates that about (24%) of the CHED trained farmers do not raise cocoa seedlings before planting and an appreciable number also do not line and peg before transplanting seedlings. However, about (80%) of the trained farmer remove mistletoes whiles about (82%) stored their agro-chemicals in safe places before and after use. Few (32%) of the trained farmers did bean separation after drying of cocoa beans. However, majority (88%) of them removed foreign materials from the beans during drying. The major challenges facing the farmer with regards to the CHED training programme were lack of extension teaching materials (50%) and language barrier (37.50%).The cocoa samples produced from the two farmer groups were all of high quality, however those from the CHED farmers were classified as grade I and the untrained farmers grade II based on the cut test. Chlorpyrifos was the only active ingredient detected from all the cocoa sourced from the two farmer group however, the concentration from both samples were within the EU permissible maximum residual level of 0.10 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of financial control practices in New Juaben Senior High Commercial School-Koforidua.

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 New Juaben Senior High Commercial School. Specifically, it explored the sources and uses of funds in the Senior High School and examined the effectiveness of financial controls in the institution. Four sets of questionnaires were designed. One set went to Headmaster and Assistant Headmasters. The second set of the questionnaires went to the Accounts Officers, another set went to the teachers and finally the other set also went to the student executives. Apart from these, interviews were conducted with the Headmaster and the Bursar. The survey revealed two main sources of funds for the school, the government of Ghana budget line account and internally generated funds. The revenue and expenditure trend for the School shows that expenditure exceeds revenue due to regular changes in price levels. The School has put in place effective control practices such that financial transactions were backed by supporting documents. It is recommended that, there should be periodic in-service training for the account personnel to improve knowledge, skills and abilities.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of financial control system in Nifa Senior High School in North Akuapem Municipality in the Eastern Region Of Ghana

Report has shown that there have been persistent financial malfeasances in most second circle schools in Ghana in recent times due to absent of proper financial control system and non compliance with financial rules and regulations. Organizations use financial tools like, cash flows, income statements, budget and other financial instruments to undertake financial controls in the form of using policies and procedures established by institutions for managing, documenting and reporting on financial activities. The research was conducted to investigate the financial control system in Nifa Senior High School in Akuapem North Municipality. Actually, it assesses the sources of funds, challenges, effectiveness of financial controls and strategies to improve the control system. Information was gathered, using questionnaires to collect data, from a sample of 1 Headmaster, 3 Assistant Headmasters, 8 Bursar and Account Clerks, 35 Teaching Staff and 40 Student leaders. Four set of questionnaires were designed to determine financial control system in the School, Data obtained from the research instrument was then statistically analyzed and presented in tables, graphs and percentages. The researcher used descriptive statistics to study in detail the financial control system in Nifa Senior High School since the study is exploratory in nature. The study revealed two sources of funds for the schools, from government budgetary allocations and internally generated funds. The school funds are mostly spent on administrative activities and other important items. The students pay their school fees through bank draft and postal order while a few students are allowed to pay cash. The staff of account section should be urged to attend conferences, seminars and workshops regularly to upgrade their knowledge and skills. It is recommended that the school should establish its own audit committee to check the spending rate of the school in order to make sure that the school spends within the budgeted estimates.

Source: KNUST