ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of Audit Committee Characteristics on Financial Reporting Quality of Listed Companies in Ghana

The study examines the effect of audit committees on financial reporting quality in annual reports of listed companies in Ghana for the period 2005 to 2017. Using a sample of 30 listed companies, content analysis technique was employed to compute financial disclosure indexes for quantity and quality of financial disclosure, while regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of five audit committee characteristics, namely gender, size of audit committee, frequency of meetings, independence of members, and financial expertise of members on financial disclosure. The study found that, on average, listed companies in Ghana disclosed 29.1% of financial information with the quality of disclosure being 54.0%. Moreover, the study revealed that, on average, non-financial companies made more financial disclosures than financial companies. In terms of the quality of financial disclosure, financial companies appeared to disclose high-quality financial information than nonfinancial companies. The results also showed a significant positive relationship between quantity of financial disclosure and financial expertise as well as independence of audit committees. On the other hand, size of audit committee and financial expertise of audit committee were found to have a positive and significant relationship with quality of financial disclosure. The study concluded that an audit committee with the relevant characteristics is an effective corporate governance mechanism that can help to protect the interest of shareholders through the effective monitoring of financial disclosure practices of companies. The study contributes to policy by emphasising that even in the absence of mandatory financial disclosure requirements for companies in Ghana, audit committees with adequate characteristics could help in improving the quantity and quality of financial disclosure by listed companies.

Source: UCC
Effect Of Basel Iii Liquidity Requirement On Bank Profitability In Ghana

The study investigates the impact of Basel III liquidity requirements on Ghanaian banks and their profitability. Using an unbalanced data set of 14 banks over a 10-year period, the one-step GMM was used to estimate the effect of Basel III liquidity requirements on bank profitability. The study found that bank specialization (SPEC) had a positive and statistically significant relationship with bank profitability under all three objectives or models. However, inflation showed a negative relationship only under objective or model one and two, and management efficiency showed a negative relationship with ROA under objective or model one but a negative insignificant relationship under objective or model two and three. The GDP growth rate had no significant relationship with bank profitability. Regarding the main variables of interest, Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and net stable funding ratio (NSFR) showed a positive and statistically significant relationship with bank profitability on an individual basis, but the variable jointly exhibited a negative statistically significant relationship with bank profitability (ROA); Meaning a percentage increase in these variables result to a decrease in profitability. The study concludes that Basel III liquidity requirements have a mixed effect on bank profitability in Ghana, based on the Basel committee's condition that banks must meet all two regulations.

Source: UCC
Effect of boiling and roasting on the fermentation of soybeans into dawadawa (soy-dawadawa)

Soybeans which had initially been dehulled by either boiling (boiled/dehulled) or roasting (roasted/dehulled) before peeling, were cooked and fermented into dawadawa, a traditional food condiment. The micropopulation, enzymatic activities, proximate composition, amino acid, and aroma profiles of the two types of soybean dawadawa were evaluated during fermentation. Only minor differences were found in the microbial profiles of the two types of soy-dawadawa. Although boiled/dehulled soydawadawa initially had lower microbial counts, it recorded higher counts at the advanced stages of fermentation. Proteolytic and amylolytic Bacillus species including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus firmus dominated the micropopulation of the two types of soy-dawadawa with Bacillus subtilis accounting for about 50% of the Bacillus species in all samples. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts occurred in low numbers in the two types of soy-dawadawa. The proximate composition of the two types of soy-dawadawa were similar, and their contents of moisture and protein increased whilst fat and ash decreased during fermentation. Both types of fermenting soy-dawadawa recorded similar levels of a-amylase activity, but boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa showed slightly higher protease activity. The levels of isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine and proline increased significantly with fermentation time in both types of soy-dawadawa. With respect to differences in their aroma profiles, hexanodecanol, octadecyl acetate, 1,2-dimethyl benzene, tetradecene, (E)-5-eicosene, cyclohexadecane, and hexacosane were found only in the roasted/dehulled samples, whilst 1,2-ethanediol, ethyl acetate, dimethyl disulfide, cyclotetradecane, decene, indole, 2 butyl-octenal, acetophenone, and toluene were found only in the boiled/dehulled samples. A market focus group showed preference for roasted/dehulled soy-dawadawa over boiled/dehulled soy-dawadawa. Apart from the volatile aroma compounds, the biochemical and microbiological profiles of the two types of soydawadawa showed only minor differences and were also similar to the profiles reported for African locust bean dawadawa.

Source: UCC
Effect of budgetary control on financial performance of selected small and medium-sized entreprises in the transport industry

The current study sought to investigate the effect of budgetary control on financial performance of selected small and medium-sized enterprises in the transport industry in Accra. The specific objectives of the study were: to ascertain evidence of budgetary control practices in the selected firms; to examine the relationship between budget planning and financial performance; analyse the effect of monitoring and control on financial performance; and to examine the relationship between budgetary control and financial performance. Data on financial performance were sourced from financial statements of the selected firms, while data on budgetary control were sourced from questionnaires administered to employees in the selected firms, signifying that, both primary and secondary data sourced were employed. Research approach was quantitative and research design was explanatory. The multi-stage sampling method was adopted to select samples for the study. The selected firms were Aaron‟s Home Removals, Secure Travel and Tours, De-Genesis Travel and Tours Limited, Grassroots Tours Ghana, Silverwhite Groopp Inc., Netplink Travel Consult, Educate Global Limited, Africa Express Travelling and Tour Agency, West Travel and Tour, and Easy Travel Consult. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software for windows, version 22. Multiple regression analysis revealed a positive significant relationship between budgetary control and financial performance in the selected firms. The study, therefore, concluded that better planning and control helps to improve the financial health of small businesses in the transport industry, potentially reducing business failures and job losses. The study recommends that staff should be trained on other budgetary control techniques, such as participatory budgeting, to enhance business decision making and improve efficiency and productivity. Future research should consider modelling the moderating role of financial knowledge in the relationship between budgetary control and financial performance in small businesses.

Source: UCC
The Effect of Caffeine on Tear Secretion

Purpose. Caffeine, probably the most widely consumed psychoactive substance, is claimed to have conflicting effects on some tear film dynamics. This study sought to investigate the effect of orally ingested caffeine on tear secretion. Methods. In an examiner-masked, placebo-controlled, crossover experimental model, the effect of caffeine intake on tear secretion was studied in 41 healthy volunteers aged 20 to 26 years (mean, 23.0 T 2.1 years). Participants were randomly assigned into two groups, A and B, to receive two different treatments in two sessions. Subjects in group A were exposed to 5.0 mg/kg body weight of caffeine dissolved in 200 mL of water on their first visit, whereas those in group B were exposed to 200 mL of water. On the second visit, however, the order of treatment was reversed. Schirmer 1 scores were measured repeatedly at 45, 90, 135, and 180 minutes after treatment. The baseline Schirmer 1 scores were compared with posttreatment scores. Results. Schirmer 1 scores increased after caffeine intake. The increase was statistically significant at 45 and 90 minutes (p G 0.05) after caffeine intake. Age, body mass, and blood pressure had no correlation with Schirmer 1 scores (Spearman correlation test, p 9 0.05). There was no influence of gender in caffeine’s effect on tear secretion (F = 0.994, p = 0.399). Conclusions. From our study, orally ingested caffeine appears to stimulate tear secretion in healthy nonYdry eye subjects.

Source: UCC
Effect of Capacity Building on Employee Performance of Staff of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly

This study set out to assess the effect of capacity building on employee performance in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana. There were four specific objectives which the study aimed to achieve and these include to determine the impact of financial capacity building on employee performance, to assess the effect of administrative capacity building on employee performance, to determine the impact of training on employee performance and to analyse the combined effect of capacity building on organizational performance. The study was based on the views of 175 workers from the study area. Linear and multiple regression analyses were used to establish the influence of capacity building on employee performance. The results show that capacity building dimensions such as financial and administrative had a positive and significant influence on employee performance. Again, training and development had a positive and significant influence on employee performance. Results from multiple regression also suggest that capacity building traits greatly influenced employee performance. It was recommended that management of Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly should design both direct and indirect forms of capacity building in order to enhance employee performance.

Source: UCC
Effect of capital inflows on financial market Development: evidence from Ghana

The study examines the effect of capital inflow variables on financial development in Ghana. Annual data on foreign direct investment and external debt was extracted from the World Bank World Development Indicators from 1970 to 2014 while data on domestic access to credit by the private sector and remittance inflows was extracted from the Global Financial Development Dataset from 1970 to 2014. Data was analysed by using the descriptive, causal and the Johansen and Juselius (1990) multivariate cointegration model. The results revealed that foreign direct investment; external debt and remittance inflows have a significant negative relationship with financial development in the long run. Also, the study documents a significant negative relationship between external debt, remittance inflows and financial development in the short run. However, the study recorded an insignificant relationship between foreign direct investment and financial development in the short run. For foreign direct investment to fully contribute to financial development, issues of capital flight must be addressed by government. Government must adopt policies that are expected to reduce the debt burden and ensure that external debt did not reach unsustainable level. Policy makers should take pragmatic steps to channel remittances inflows to productive sectors of the economy. Finally, government should make policies that will make foreign capital inflows complement but not to replace domestic investment.

Source: UCC
Effect of capital structure on firm value: a case study of listed manufacturing firms in Ghana

Previous empirical literature demonstrates conflicting results on the effect of capital structure on firm value. Building on extant literature on the effect of capital structure on firm value, this study was undertaken to examine the effect of capital structure on the firm value of manufacturing companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). In particular, the study analyzed the effect of Equity and Long Term Debt as components of capital structure on the firm value of listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. To achieve the research objectives, a panel data of firms spanning the period 2008 to 2012 were collected from the annual published financial statements of 8 sampled firms. The study employed a multiple regression technique to estimate the impact of capital structure on firm value. The outcome of the study shows that both Equity and Long Term Debt have positive impact on the value of listed manufacturing firms. However, the study found that the effect of debt capital on firm value is pronounced relative to equity. From the financial management perspective, the findings of the study provide enough grounds for the utilization of both equity and debt capital in the financing activities of listed manufacturing firms. But it is recommended from the findings of the study that firms employ more debt capital than equity capital to finance business activities because of its greater impact on firm value vis-a –vis equity. The study culminates by outlining suggestions for further research. It is suggested that future research studies conduct longitudinal studies to measure the stability or otherwise in research findings.

Source: UCC
Effect of cassava-legume intercropping alternatives on crop yields and soil properties in two Agro ecological Zones of Ghana

The research was carried out in two locations namely: Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso and Wenchi Agri. Research Institute, Wenchi. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments in the first and second trials consisted of two factors: three levels of fertilizer (0-15-30 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1,), and four cassava based cropping systems. The behaviour of component crops in three row arrangements was evaluated in the third trial. Root yield was significantly affected by cropping systems at Kwadaso while fertilizer effect on root yield was observed at Wenchi. Cassava-groundnut intercrop gave the highest root yield of 70.2 t/ha at Kwadaso. The highest root yield (34.6 t/ha) at Wenchi was reported in plots treated with 15 N-P2O5-K2O k/g. The study showed higher increased in organic carbon by 39 -97% at Kwadaso and Wenchi. Total soil nitrogen decreased by 16.7%, available phosphorus by 70.8% and exchangeable potassium by 20% at Kwadaso. Increase in soil total nitrogen was reported at Wenchi. Exchangeable potassium decreased by 30% under cassava-soybean +15 N-P2O5-K2O kg/ha. Cassava showed higher values of aggressivity (1.8), relative crowding coefficient (57.4) and competitive ratio (21.4) in cassavacowpea 2:1, cassava-soybean 1:1, and cassava-cowpea 2:1 intercropping system while cowpea and groundnut showed higher values of 0.5 and 0.6 for aggressivity. In the study, intercropping system gave higher land equivalent ratio (LER). Furthermore, cassava was more productive in terms of competitive ratio when it was in association with cowpea, soybean and groundnut.

Source: UCC
Effect of celebrity endorsement on Young voter‟s choice of political candidates in Cape Coast Technical University

The study was conducted primarily to examine the effect of celebrity endorsement on young voters‟ choice of political candidates during national elections in Ghana. The study targeted Technical University students in Cape Coast Technical University. Explanatory research design, backed by quantitative research approach, was employed to survey 400 students from the institution. An estimated population of 2500 were targeted for the study. Simple random sampling was employed for the selection of the respondents. Structured questionnaire was used for the primary data collection through self-administration exercise. The instrument had 0.825 internal consistency as measured by Cronbach‟s Alpha. Multiple regression was applied to assess the effect of celebrity endorsement on choice of political candidates. It was discovered that celebrity endorsement influences choice of political candidates among undergraduates than it does for both post graduates and graduates during national elections. Celebrity advertising and celebrity personality jointly accounted for a statistically significant moderate positive variance in choice of political candidates although only celebrity personality made a statistically significant positive contribution in this regard. Individually, celebrity advertising and celebrity personality respectively accounted for 10.4% and 36.6% significant positive variance in choice of political candidates. Political candidates and parties in Ghana must employ celebrity endorsement as a campaign strategy during national elections and they will change young voters voting intentions favorably towards their candidates

Source: UCC
The Effect of Chemotherapy on Clinical, Haematological and Biochemical Profile in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital; A Longitudinal Study

People with primary invasive breast cancer receive both local (surgery and radiation therapy) and systemic treatment (chemotherapy and hormonal therapy). However, there are substantial short-and long-term side effects from chemotherapy as documented in several studies. This study assessed the effects of chemotherapy on clinical, haematological and biochemical profile of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted in the female surgical ward of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). We randomly sampled 51 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and scheduled to start chemotherapy and recorded their demographic, clinical and therapeutic data. Blood was collected for haematological profiles [haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) count, platelets (PLT) and biochemical analysis (lipid profile, uric acid and creatinine) for day 1, day 21 and day 42 of their chemotherapy cycles. Results: Majority of the participants were within 46-60 years, married, overweight and had informal employment. Throughout chemotherapy cycles, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased till after the third cycle (P=0.026), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) significantly decreased after second cycle but increased slightly after the third cycle (P=0.029). Hemoglobin though insignificant, decreased after the second cycle but increased sharply after the third cycle (P=0.281). White blood cells (WBC) significantly decreased throughout cycles (P=0.008) whereas high density lipoprotein (P=0.014) increased throughout cycles- Uric acid (P=0.852) and creatinine (P=1.000). were maintained throughout cycles Conclusion: Throughout cycles, chemotherapy had significant adverse effect on the clinical profile (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), white blood cells (WBC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) in patients undergoing treatment.

Source: UCC
Effect of cognitive and soft skills on labour market outcomes among adults in Ghana

Cognitive and soft skills have gained traction among economists in recent times. Using the World Bank’s Skills toward Employment and Productivity (STEP) surveys, this study examines three objectives: (1) the effect of age of starting school on cognitive skills proficiency, (2) the effect of cognitive skills on labour market outcomes, and (3) the effect of soft skills on labour market outcomes. The econometric approaches used in this study were the ordinary least square (OLS), logit, ordered logit regression and structural equation modelling techniques. Empirical results indicate that starting school at the required age of six significantly improves cognitive skills proficiency by between 5 and 23 points. It was observed that one-standard-deviation increase in literacy proficiency score was associated with an average increase in hourly earnings of about between 3 and 25 percent. Further, cognitive skill proficiency had a significant positive effect on employment, working in the formal sector, being a wage worker and occupying a managerial position. In addition, personality traits capturing soft skills were found to have significant effect on all the labour market outcomes. The study recommended that the law on school starting age should be enforced through house-to-house sensitisations at the community level. Basic educational institutions should concentrate on developing cognitive competencies through the teaching of the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic. Finally, the teaching and learning of soft skills should be introduced by Ghana Education Service in the new educational reforms.

Source: UCC
Effect of cognitive behavioural and interpersonal therapies in achieving implantation in infertile depressed women in Greater Accra

study's main goal was to determine if cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) could help infertile depressed women achieve significantly higher implantation. The study used a trueexperimental design. All infertile women on the register of 37 Military Hospital in Accra from September 2021 to November 2021 numbering 106, were included in the study. Using purposive sampling technique and random assignment approach, 45 of the said women were selected for the study with 15 being placed in each of CBT, IPT and control groups. The Beck's Depression Inventory II was utilised for baseline data as well as post-test scores, while a self-developed questionnaire was used for the implantation data. Each of the CBT and IPT groups was taken through 12 sessions of therapy after which all the women in the two groups as well as those in the control group went through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment. The two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA and logistic regression were employed to analyse the data. The findings conveyed that women who are experiencing infertility suffer from depression, and that CBT and IPT significantly helped them reduce their depressive levels. Also, infertile women who experienced CBT achieved significantly higher implantation than those who were taken through IPT. Finally, it was revealed that demographic variables do not predict the depression levels of infertile women. The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service should ensure that counselling plays an important role in fertility treatments. Also, counsellors should be knowledgeable about CBT and IPT and be able to use them to treat depression in infertile women.

Source: UCC