ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
B2B e-commerce adoption levels; SMEs; TOE framework; partial least squares; Ghana

This research examines the relationships between technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) factors on different levels of B2B e-commerce adoption. A survey of 315 Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs was validated and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The research findings indicate that perceived desirability, organization’s readiness, and competitive pressure positively and significantly influence the different B2B e-commerce adoption levels. Likewise, top management support and government support partially had a significant impact on the various levels of B2B e-commerce adoption, whereas the business partner’s pressure has no significant influence on B2B e-commerce adoption levels. This research’s results confirm that the TOE factors influence B2B e-commerce adoption levels in the Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs. The results reveal that the various contextual factors have a different effect on the different levels of B2B e-commerce adoption. Also, the implications of this study are subsequently discussed

Source: UCC
Background to the problem of economic development in Northern Ghana

Northern Ghana is Ghana's problem region. It is a large area accounting for about half the total land surface of Ghana, yet it is the least developed part of the country. It would be futile to seek to explain the lack of economic development in the region mainly with reference to the problems of the savanna environment, which in- deed are no more serious than in many other parts of West Africa where there has been greater economic development. The reason must be sought primarily in the strategy adopted for economic development, which at first failed to identify the fundamental problems of losw productivity in food farming and high transport costs. Later, the solution of the transport problem was made conditional upon the success of the measures adopted for increasing agricultural productivity; yet these measures proved to be partially unrealistic since they ignored long-established local values and preferences

Source: UCC
Backpackers’ Motivations and Perceptions of Risk in the Cape Coast-Elmina Area

Backpackers have been recognised as an important segment of the tourist market and have attracted academic interest globally including Ghana. The main objective of the study was to examine backpackers’ perception of risk and safety in the Cape Coast-Elmina area. The study was grounded in the positivist philosophy of research – a quantitative approach. The self administered questionnaire was used to solicit data from 200 backpackers in the Cape Coast-Elmina area. Frequencies, Factor Analysis and Chi Square Test of Independence were employed to analyse the data. The study revealed that word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and relatives as well as internet sources were mostly utilised by backpackers. Again, backpackers perceived that they were at risk of contracting tropical diseases such as malaria and cholera as a result of insanitary conditions. Furthermore, backpackers felt that they were financially at risk because of the presence of cheats in the area. In addition, the backpackers thought that crime happened in the Cape Coast-Elmina area and as a result there were some reports of physical assault. With regard to the risk reduction strategies, it was found that most backpackers kept their valuables very close to them whenever they were on the move. It was concluded that although backpackers generally did not perceive the Cape Coast-Elmina area as risky, they had issues with sanitation. It is therefore recommended that stakeholders in the Cape Coast-Elmina area should take critical steps to improve sanitation to reduce the rate of malaria and other environmentally driven diseases.

Source: UCC
Backpackers’ views on risk in the Cape Coast Elmina area of Ghana

The backpacker market segment is recognized as one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism trade. Despite its growth, literature suggests that the peculiar characteristics of backpackers predispose them to varied forms of risks. Consequently, the study sought to examine backpackers’ perspectives on issues concerning risk in the Cape Coast-Elmina area. Data were obtained from 387 backpackers to the Cape Coast-Elmina area in Ghana using the systematic sampling method. A Chi-square test was performed to explore the relationship between backpackers’ perception of risk and their travel and socio demographic characteristics. Making inference to the perceived risk theory, the study identified three main risk areas, health, finance and crime, to be of concern to backpackers surveyed from the study area. The results suggest significant associations between some socio demographic characteristics (gender and highest level of education) and risk perception. Likewise, some significant associations were observed between the respondents’ perception of risk and their length of stay, accommodation preference and travel party size

Source: UCC
Bacterial Contamination of at-Point-of Transfusion Blood in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Background: Hand-in-hand demand for blood transfusion and transfusion-related bacterial infections among blood recipients in Sub-Saharan Africa have increased. Due to resource constraints and increased demand for blood donations in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is a common practice at some blood transfusion centers, where after initial screening of blood and its storage, the stored blood (non- expired blood) is not rescreened at least for bacterial contamination prior to transfusion, a practice which has the potential to expose blood recipients to high risk of bacterial sepsis, especially if blood were donated at window period of contaminating pathogens. This study investigated bacterial contamination of whole blood at-point-of-transfusion at a referral hospital in the western region of Ghana. Method: Pre-screened and stored blood units about to be sent out for transfusion to recipients at patient wards were purposively sampled, and cultured in different culture media (brain heart infusion broth, blood agar, Mackonkey agar, and plate count agar). Colo- nial morphology, Gram stain reactivity, and standard biochemical and bacteriological methods were used to identify bacteria isolates. Standard plate count was used to enumerate growth of each bacteria isolate. Results: From 97 blood units sampled, 16 (16.5 %) were blood contaminated (30-300 cfu/ml) with Gram-negative (E. coli, Pseu- domonas aeruginosa, and Enterobactersp) and Gram-positive (Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis) bacteria species. A total of 16 bacteria isolates comprising Gram-negative (43.8 %) and Gram-positive (56.2 %) were identified. Conclusion: Bacterial contamination of at-point-of-transfusion may be common in the study area, and while this observation may stimulate further investigations, local hospital-constituted transfusion oversight committees as well as national, regional, and district health authorities must increase monitoring, supervision, and enforcement of standard sterile and aseptic procedures at all blood transfusion centers nation wide.

Source: UCC
Bacterial Profile of Diabetic Foot Ulcers of Patients Visiting a Specialist Diabetic Clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU’s) pose socio-economic challenges and are a major cause of hospital admissions and morbidity often causing suffering and poor quality of life for diabetics especially in developing world. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility and resistance pattern of foot ulcers of diabetics at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Twenty seven (27) diabetics with foot ulcers comprising 15 males and 12 females attending the diabetic clinic at KATH were recruited or this study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the diabetic clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) between November 2006 and April 2007. Methodology: Demographic parameters of the participants were recorded and wound swabs were obtained and cultured on blood and MacConkay agar. Organisms isolated were identified and tested for their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns using Kirby-Bauer method. Results: The mean age of the participants, duration of diabetes and FBS were 58.2±12.0 years and 6.5±2 years and 12.3±4.0 mmol/L respectively. Two (2) patients had their toes amputated. Twenty nine (29) isolates were detected from the 27 ulcer specimens out of which 28 (97%) isolates were gram negative organisms. Proteus spp (31%) and Escherichia coli (24%) were the most common gram negative pathogens isolated in this study and Staphylococcus aureus was the only gram positive organism isolated. Ciprofloxacin (100%), ceftazidime (100%), Ceftriaxone (88.3%), gentamycin (80%) and cefotaxime (80%) were most sensitive to the isolates whereas ampicillin (0%), tetracycline (0%) and chloramphenicol (0%) were the most resistant. Conclusions: Gram negative organisms’ highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone are the most common pathogens in DFU’s in KATH.

Source: UCC
Bacteriological Pattern of Wound Swab Isolates in Patients with Chronic Leg Ulcer

PURPOSE: To determine the pattern of bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity profile in patients with infected chronic leg ulceration. METHODS: Sixty swab specimens obtained from chronic leg ulcer (CLU) patients were cultured aerobically and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the recovered organisms determined by the modified KirbyBauer disc-diffusion method. RESULTS: 47 (78.3%) of the ulcers were infected out of which 39 (83.0%) were culture positive. Most of the culture positive ulcers were on the distal third of the leg. The isolated bacteria from the wounds were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (33%), Staphylococcus aureus (24%), Proteus spp (15%), Klebsiella spp (13%), Citrobacter spp (13%) and Escherichia coli (2%). None of the patient without clinical evidence of wound infection had bacterial positive wound swab culture. All isolates were sensitive to third generation cephalosporin and floroquinolones but majority were resistant to ampicillin. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus. Proteus spp, Klebsiella spp, Citrobacter spp and Escherichia coli sensitive to third generation cephalosporin and floroquinolones have been recovered from 78% of patients with chronic leg ulcers in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.

Source: UCC
Balancing the Focus of Quality Assurance Frameworks of Higher Education Institutions in Africa: A Ghanaian Context

Higher education institutions in Africa appear to be completely copying the quality assurance (QA) frameworks of developed countries instead of conceptualising their own frameworks for delivering quality higher education outcomes in Africa. Certain factors (limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate staffing, relatively low research outputs, and limited graduate employable skills) characterising higher education are peculiar to developing countries including Africa. Using a qualitative case‐study approach through interviews and document reviews, and a “PPP” conceptual framework, this study examined the foci of quality assurance frameworks of three flagship universities in Ghana. The findings indicate that the least attention is given to facilities in the quality assurance frameworks even though limited facilities pose a major challenge to the quality of higher education outcomes of the universities. The findings indicate that most attention is paid to programme areas such as teaching and learning. The results of the study recommend regular and appropriate balancing of the foci of quality assurance frameworks in the universities to enable them to give optimum attention to all key operational areas for quality outcomes.

Source: UCC
Balancing work, family and personal life: Perspectives of female staff at the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The study examined how female staff of the College of Distance Education (CoDE), University of Cape Coast (UCC) balance work, family and personal life roles, amidst their busy work schedules. A 21-item well-structured questionnaire was developed to collect primary data. Using the convenient sampling technique, 32 female staff was selected for the sample. Statistical tools such as percentages, mean, standard deviation as well as regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between organizational, family and personal life roles of the respondents. The findings of the study revealed that female staff of CoDE is not able to balance work, family and personal due to situational roles and their busy work schedules. The study also show that the university does not support female staff with policies and programmes that would assist them in this regard. The urgent need for the university to enact institutional policies and to show commitment in establishing a work- family friendly environment was recommended. This is important since the female staff at CoDE work 15 h on the average daily, which far exceed their contractual working period of 8 h.

Source: UCC
Bank competition financial innovations and economic growth in Ghana

Purpose – This paper takes the finance-growth nexus further by looking at the relationship between bank competition, financial innovations and economic growth in Ghana. The purpose of this paper is to find the causality among bank competition, financial innovations and economic growth in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The relationship between bank competition, financial innovations and economic growth was established through the framework of the endogenous growth model. In addition, the paper employed the bound testing ARDL cointegration procedures to enable us to establish both short-run and long-run relationship between bank competition, financial innovations and economic growth. Granger causality test were also estimated to determine the direction of causality. Findings – The results showed that, in the long run, bank competition is positively related to economic growth while financial innovation is negatively related to economic growth. In the short run, bank competition is negatively related to economic growth. By the same token, financial innovation is positively related to economic growth in the short run. In terms of causality, the results showed that there is unidirectional Granger causality from bank competition to economic growth. However, there is bidirectional Granger causality between financial innovation and economic growth. Practical implications – The study therefore, recommends for more regulations toward a more competitive banking system with more innovative products tailored toward mobilization of savings and investment to growth induced sectors of the economy. Originality/value – This paper provides a time series perspective to the finance-growth nexus and highlights the potential contribution of effective banking development to the economic welfare of the Ghanaian citizens.

Source: UCC
Bank Competition, Stock Market and Economic Growth in Ghana

The paper empirically investigates the relationship between bank competition, stock market and economic growth in Ghana using time series data for the period between 1992 and 2009. Short and long run relationship were established within the frameworks of Granger causality and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL)/ Dynamic Ordinary Least Square (OLS) approach respectively. It was found that bank competition and stock market development granger cause economic growth in Ghana. Also, in the long run, banking competition is good for economic growth. However, there is a disproportionate response of economic growth to stock market development. It is recommended that policy to promote banking competition should be vigorously pursued.

Source: UCC
Bank Crisis, Self-efficacy and Depositors Confidence in Financial Institutions in Ghana: the Case of Cape Coast Metropolis

ABSTRACT The study dwell on the aftermath of the current bank crisis and the subsequent reforms to examine the extent to which depositors’ confidence were affected as well as the role that depositors’ self-efficacy plays in the extent of the effect on depositors’ confidence. Primarily, the study sought to examine the relationship that exist among bank crisis, self-efficacy and depositors’ confidence in the financial sector of Ghana. The purposive sample was used to sample a total of 100 depositors from the Cape Coast Metropolis for data collection and structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. The distribution free asymptotic SEM was used to model the simultaneous relationship between self-efficacy and investors’ confidence in the mist of bank crisis. The results suggested that bank crisis has adversely affected the confidence level of depositors in the financial sector of Ghana. Depositor confidence level during the crisis statistically depended on their sex and age group. A significant bi-directional relationship was observed between financial self-efficacy and depositors’ confidence during crisis. The bankers were found to have adequate knowledge on the way forward in ensuring confidence in the financial sector of Ghana. The bankers recommended law enforcement, introduction of depositor’s insurance in Ghana, education of the depositors to manage their expectation and seek more information on investment product before investing huge amounts as the way forward reduce the possible effects of the crisis. The Central Bank must put in measures to boost depositors’ confidence through sensitisation programmes

Source: UCC
Bank Stability and Economic Growth in Sub-saharan Africa

The study determines the nexus between bank stability and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the purpose of this study, both the short-run and long-run dimensions was captured to assess the influence of bank stability on economic growth. Through the explanatory research design and quantitative research approach, the analysis of the study were performed. The secondary data was utilised in a panel form, and span 2000 to 2017. Analysis of the study was conducted with the aid of the System Generalised Method of Moments (SGMM). The study sought to examine the role of bank stability in influencing economic growth. In this regard, the study’s objectives were to examine the short-run and long-run relationships between bank stability and economic growth. The study reveals several findings that are significant and useful for policy. Findings from the study can be categorized into two: the short-run effect of bank stability on economic growth; and the long-run effect of bank stability on economic growth. Firstly, on the relationship between bank stability and economic growth, the study finds that the stability of the banking sector has a significant positive effect on economic activity. Secondly, the study finds that bank stability has a significant positive impact on economic growth in the long-rum in SSA. It is recommended that governments in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and regulators must make attempts to improve regulations in the banking sector in terms of activity restriction and supervision to minimize bank risk taking behaviours in their economies so as to ensure a sustainable banking sector which can have a positive impact on economic growth.

Source: UCC
Bank Stability and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bank stability and growth of economies has gained considerable debate in recent times due to the overriding importance of the banking industry in providing and allocating financial resources to the various sectors of the economy. This study investigated the banking stability of Sub-Saharan Africa economies and its relation with the growth of the region by using six year data from 2010 to 2015 from the global financial development database. Bank stability was measured by the z-score which compares the buffer of a country's commercial banking system (capitalization and returns) with the volatility of those returns. The study investigated the short run and long run relationships between bank stability and economic growth. These objectives were investigated based on the explanatory design and quantitative approach and the autoregressive distributed lag model was used to analyse the objectives. The study found evidence of both short run and long run relationship between bank stability and economic growth. The study concluded that high levels of bank instability lower the regional growth while the stability of the banking sector on the other hand increases the growth of the region in both the short and long run. It was recommended that central banks and management of commercial banks of the Sub-Sahara Africa economies work on boosting the resilience of their respective banking sectors so as to influence the long term growth of the Sub-Saharan African economies.

Source: UCC
Bankers-customer relationship and the operations of deposit mobilisation and credit delivery: A case study of Kumasi central market branch of the Ag

This research investigated the customer-banker relationship and the operations of deposit mobilization and credit delivery at the Kumasi Central Market Branch of Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). The study was set out to examine the customer-banker relationship and the operations of the Kumasi Central Market Branch of ADB in respect of deposit mobilization and credit delivery to customers. The study design was basically descriptive survey and case study type. The population consisted of all the 16 staff members and customers of the branch. The sample for the study was 587 respondents, which was made up of 16 staff and 571 customers. An interview guide and a questionnaire were the instruments used for data collection. In processing and analyzing data, the computer software: the Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS) version 15.0 and Microsoft Excel was employed. Frequency tables, bar graphs and percentages were used for data presentation. The results showed that about 30 percent of the staff indicated that they were not aware of the bank’s policy on customer relationship, deposit mobilisation and credit delivery. However, due to the friendly nature of the staff of the branch, they would continue to do business with the bank. This had impacted positively on the deposit mobilisation and credit delivery of the bank. It was recommended that staff and customers should be educated on the policies of the bank.

Source: UCC
Banking Sector Financial Soundness and Stock Returns in Ghana

The emergence of the financial crisis in the past years together with the movement of international capital flows poses a significant threat to the financial soundness of the banking sector, stock market, and the economy. This adds up to other fundamental problems such as banks' inability to provide long-term capital and the long-term volatility of Ghana’s financial sector. Accordingly, this study examined the effect of banking sector financial soundness (CAR, CLASL, CLATA CD, NPL, ROA, and ROE) on stock returns (GSECI and GSEFSI) as well as the causality between them. Pertinent to that, the quantile regression approach and conditional causality in quantile are utilised from January 2011 to December 2022 in the Ghanaian context. The study found the banking sector's financial soundness indicators to have both positive and or negative effects on the quantile distributions of GSECI and GSEFSI. In addition, CAR was found to have a forecasting ability on the GSEFSI, while CD had a forecasting ability on both the GSECI and GSEFSI. Regulators and policymakers should enhance CAR, CLATA, and CD to positively impact stock returns and also address the negative effect of CLASL through improved lending practices and risk management. Additionally, policies should be implemented to control inflation and boost economic activity to mitigate their negative impact on stock returns. Finally, regulators and policymakers should develop dynamic strategies by continuously monitoring financial indicators to adjust to changing economic conditions and improve market confidence.

Source: UCC