ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Determinants of financial performance of life and non-life insurance companies in Ghana

This study examines the determinants of financial performance of the insurance industry in Ghana. The study employs annual financial data from 2012 to 2016 from ten insurance companies which underwrite all types of business policies in both life and non-life insurance. The study employs Random and Fixed effect regression analysis to predict the effect of the predictive variables on the financial performance of life and non-life insurance companies in Ghana. The study finds evidence that tangibility, size, leverage, gross written premium (GWP) and liquidity of both life and non-life insurance companies are the predictors of their profitability suggesting that a rise in any of these predictive variables can have substantial influence on the profitability of the Ghanaian insurance companies employed in the study. The results revealed positive and significant relationship between tangibility and profitability of both life and non-life insurance companies. The findings also showed a positive and significant relationship between life and non-life insurance companies’ size and return on assets. The results showed positive and statistically significant relationship between gross written premium (GWP) and profitability (return on assets, ROA) of both life and non-life insurance companies. The findings also show positive and significant relationship between liquidity and profitability of both life and non-life insurance companies. The results however revealed a negative and significant relationship between life and non-life insurance companies’ leverage ratio and financial performance (return on assets).

Source: KNUST
Determinants of financial stability of commercial banks in ghana

The current Ghanaian banking crisis prompted the research to examine commercial bank financial stability determinants. (Seventeen) 17 selected commercial banks were selected based on available data and the panel research design was used to obtain data for the selected banks between 2016 and 2019. The results from the model estimate show that the capital adequacy ratio negatively impacts financial stability, but was not significant. Interest cover ratio negatively and significantly affects financial stability. Bank lending rate is shown to negatively and significantly affect financial stability. In addition, financial stability is negatively and significantly impacted by the efficiency of banks. The result also shows that GDP, inflation, and interest rates negatively affected the stability of banks but were insignificant. The study thus concludes that concluded that bank efficiency, debt repayment and lending behavior are major factors that accounted for the general instability of the banks during the period.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of financial performance of listed manufacturing firms in ghana

This study examined the determinants of financial performance of manufacturing firms in Ghana. The theoretical underpinnings of the research was the pecking order theory, agency theory and the theory of comparative advantage. The research design for this study is quantitative. The study sampled 12 manufacturing firms on the Ghana stock exchange covering the period 2010 - 2021. The data was analysed using fixed effect regression. The study found that an increase in cash holdings is associated with an increase in the performance of manufacturing firms. The study revealed that an increase in the cost of debt leads to a decrease in the performance. The study highlighted that an increase in openness to trade leads to a decrease in the performance of manufacturing firms. The study does not find a significant effect of exchange rate volatility on the performance of manufacturing firms. Manufacturing firms should continuously monitor market trends, industry dynamics, and macroeconomic factors that may influence their performance. This allows firms to proactively identify opportunities and challenges, adjust their strategies, and make informed decisions to stay competitive. Regular performance evaluations, benchmarking against industry peers, and staying informed about regulatory changes can help firms adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Fiscal balance of Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies in Ghana

The study employed a panel data analysis approach to examine fiscal balance in Districts/Municipalities in Ghana. The study examined specifically; the trend in internally generated funds (IGF), total transfers, fiscal balance, total revenue and total expenditure; the causes and determinants of fiscal balance in District/Municipalities in Ghana; and the causality between internally generated funds (IGF) and total transfers (TT). Panel data from ten (10) Districts/Municipal Assemblies in Ghana spanning from 2009 to 2014 was used for the analysis. Pooled and random effects estimates via panel data analysis approach are employed. The random effects showed that total transfers (TT), Population, and staff strength were the main drivers of fiscal balance of the selected ten (10) District/Municipals in Ghana. The pooled-OLS results showed that internally generated funds (IGF), population, and staff strength were the main determinants of fiscal balance for the ten (10) selected Assemblies in Ghana. The panel Granger causality test revealed bi-directional causality from internally generated funds (IGF) to total transfers (TT). The study concluded that inducing both internal and external revenue sources play a critical role in achieving fiscal balance in MMDAs.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Ghana’s bilateral export: Does exchange rate variability matter?

The purpose of this study was to empirically analyse the internal and external factors that drives Ghana‟s bilateral exports. This was to take a critical look at whether variability in Ghana‟s exchange rate really matters in Ghana‟s bilateral export flow. Since the external value of the Ghana cedi has been unstable and persistent increase depreciation against major currencies for the past two decades. The study employed a panel data spanning from 1995 to 2014 and observed 20 of Ghana‟s trading partners. An augmented Gravity model and panel data estimation techniques such as the Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS), Fixed effects and Random effects models were the methodology used in the estimation. The result revealed that the real bilateral exchange rate is negative and insignificant, however, GDP is positive and statistically significant. Trade openness, infrastructure and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are all having positive relationship with total trade of export but not statistically significant. Distance and language as well as the population of Ghana all have negative relation with the total bilateral export flow. As implied by the results, Bank of Ghana must ensure that variations in exchange rate are relatively predictable, minimal and less detrimental. The country must envisage an economic growth and the reduction of trade barriers as well as improvement in infrastructure which are require to advance the export trade of the country.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Ghana’s Bilateral Trade Flows: A Gravity Model Approach

This study seeks to identify the internal and external factors that matter for Ghana’s bilateral exports and total trade flows within the framework of an augmented gravity model. Utilizing a panel data covering 25 major trading partners of Ghana from 1995 to 2011, the study employs panel cointegration analysis, aside the conventional fixed effects and random effects estimators, to establish the existence of and to estimate the long run relationship among Ghana’s bilateral total trade and exports and their respective determinants. The empirical results reveal that improvement in Ghana’s GDP and that of its partners, growth in foreign population, depreciation in real bilateral exchange rate, higher trade freedom of partners, and the inflow of foreign direct investment are robust positive and significant determinants of Ghana’s bilateral exports and total trade. Geographical distance, Ghana’s population and internal transport infrastructure are found to have significantly deleterious impact on Ghana’s bilateral trade flows. It is also found that the level of Ghana’s institutional quality and sharing common language with partners exert positive but statistically insignificant impact on the nation’s bilateral trade flows. The study concludes that the current government’s budgetary focus of massively expanding, upgrading and modernizing trade-related infrastructure in Ghana is a stride in the right direction and must be anchored with policies aimed at improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of domestic institutions so as to create the needed incentives for economic agents, both at home and abroad, to engage in trade and invest in Ghana’s exports sectors.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of financial performance of savings and loans companies in Ghana: A case of Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited

The main purpose of this study was to examine the determinants influencing financial performance of savings and loans companies in Ghana: A case of Opportunity International savings and Loans Company limited. The study specifically identified the factors influencing the performance of Opportunity International and further examined the financial products and services the institution offers. Lastly, the study assessed the challenges facing Opportunity International. The research revealed that capital adequacy ratio is non-stationary at the 5 percent significance level but became stationary after first-difference. Thus, capital adequacy ratio is integrated of order one ( I(1)). Also, credit risk is non-stationary even at the level. It attained the stationary status after first-difference, thus being an I (1) series. Inflation is non-stationary at the level and become stationary after first difference and Management inefficiency at 1 percent level of significance is stationary. Log of Net profit at the 5 percent level of significance is non-stationary but became stationary after first –difference and hence an I (1) series. Cointegration test was carried out to determine whether there is a level of relationship between profitability of Opportunity Savings and Loan Limited and its determinants. In the long run, management inefficiency was statistically significant. In the short run, capital adequacy was statistically significant and a meaningful addition to the model because changes in the predictor’s value are related to changes in the variable. From the survey group and individual loan products are the most widely patronized products in Opportunity International representing 30% and 23% respectively. Multiple borrowing from same clients across several organizations but with no data on the credit reference bureau and poor addressing systems were among the challenges identified.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of hearing loss and its effect on the academic performance of Junior High School Students’ in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District of Ghana

The study was aimed at assessing the determinants of hearing loss and its effects on students’ academic performance. School based cross-sectional hearing function using screening Audiometer. Simple random and systematic sampling techniques were used to select 400 learners. Data were gathered through the use of questionnaires, physical examination, audiometry and documentation. Data Entry Screens were developed in EXCEL for Data Entry. This applied to the quantitative data collected. The study discovered that, prevalence rate of hearing loss among respondents was high with 31% right ear loss ,26% left loss and 19.5% having either unilateral and bilateral hearing loss. It was revealed that exposure to excessive sounds or noise, reddened and painful ear, itching ear infections, primary school attended and students’ educational level were determinants of hearing loss. Subsequently, teachers’ assessment of their children’s hearing revealed that one cannot rely on what children and teachers say regarding their hearing status. Slight hearing impairment cannot be detected by another person but by the use of audiometer. It also revealed that children with hearing loss were 1.63 times more likely to be graded poor to average academically by their teachers, than normal hearing students. This was however shown to be statistically insignificant. In conclusion, hearing loss prevalent rate among respondents was high. Hearing loss was by acquired causes. The study recommended that, parents and children should be educated about the harm in prolonged noise exposure and poorly treated otitis media infections. Hearing assessment should be made part of the school health program me in addition to external ear physical examination done. Health directorate in the district must effectively monitor and evaluate hearing loss mitigation programmes in order to ascertain its success and challenges in order to provide the requisite support when and where needed.

Source: KNUST
The determinants of foreign direct investment inflows in Ghana.

The main aim of the study was to examine the major determinants of foreign direct investment in Ghana. The study employs time series annual data on FDI, GDP per capita, Economic Openness, Exchange Rate, Political rights, Government Consumption Expenditure, Macro Economic Stability, and Natural Resource Endowment and Interest Rate from Ghana over the study period 1980 to 2014. Also openness of the nation’s economy and market, and natural resources, its infrastructure, the size and level of governments expenditure and consumption and also the interest rate regime in the nation were the factors that determines Ghanas FDI. In summary Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ghana is much concentrated in the mining and oil and gas sector at the expense of the fundamental drivers of Ghana’s economy, therefore FDI becomes less impactful on Ghana’s economic growth. Ghana’s attraction of foreign direct investment hinge on major factors mentioned earlier above. The study recommended that government must create the enabling socio-economic and political environment with appealing features for FDI. Also, government must showcase the investment potentials of the country to the world through the various technological mediums and Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) and the Free Zones Board (FZB) are laudable initiatives by government towards attracting FDI.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of housing choices and affordability in the Ghanaian Real Estate Industry

Housing affordability has become an issue in most countries worldwide. This has given rise to lots of research into the issue. However, in Ghana, there are lots of property overhangs despite the rise in private real estate development. Homebuyers have a perception on the kind of building they want whiles developers are producing buildings based on their perspectives. Most individuals have concluded on the fact that property prices in Ghana are high without knowing the components that determine the final price of real estate units. Most literatures in Ghana about housing affordability focus on economic factors and policies, not taking into consideration the determinants that influence the choice of homebuyers. This study seeks to add knowledge by identifying the most influential factors that inform homebuyers’ decisions when they want to purchase a house and also identify the factors that influence house prices in the real estate industry. This will help bridge the gap between demand and supply of housing units whiles providing real estate developers with a criteria to ascertain what homebuyer’s prefer and incorporate them into their housing framework in order to address their needs. Seventeen (17) choice determinants were used as the criteria to identify the determinants. Convenience sampling technique was used to administer hundred (100) questionnaires to middle and high income Ghanaians with a total of eighty-seven (87) returned to ascertain the choice determinants whiles the price determinants were also achieved through the administration of hundred (100) questionnaires to Real Estate firms with thirty-six (36) retrieved. The determinants were analysed and ranked based on their level of importance perceived by respondents.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of individuals’ investment decisions in Ghana: a case-study of Kumasi metropolis.

In allocating resources, individuals consider certain factors internal or external in order to achieve their objectives. The object behind this research is to establish the determinants of investment decisions among investors in the Kumasi Metropolis. The specific objectives are to identify the determinants of individual‟s investment decisions both external and internal and to ascertain the effects of income level, education level, source of information and financial advice on investment decision making. This research focuses on individual investors in Kumasi-Ghana. The research adopted a survey design. A questionnaire approach was adopted in this study. Simple random sampling method was used throughout the research. Both primary and secondary data were used. Statistical packages like SPSS as well as MS-EXCEL were used in analyzing the data collected. It was realized from the research that, risk and profitability were the major external determining factors of investors‟ investment decisions whereas over confidence and personal emotions were the human inherent factors investors considered most among others in taking their investment decisions. The study further concluded that income level to a great extent has a significant effect on investment decision making unlike the level of education which has an insignificant effect on investment decision making. The study recommends that investors figure out their goals and risk tolerance either by themselves or with the help of a financial professional before making investment. The study further recommends that investors consider appropriate mix of investments to help protect against significant losses.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Interest Rate Spread in Ghana

The study investigated the banking industry and macroeconomic determinants of interest rate spread in Ghana in an ARDL framework. The study revealed that in the long run, Treasury bill rate and the total deposit mobilized by the banks have a significant negative effect on the interest rate spread, whiles exchange rate have a significant positive effect on the interest rate spread. In the short run, real GDP, treasury bill rate, total deposit mobilized by the banks and exchange rate have a negative effect on interest rate spread whiles inflation has a positive effect on interest rate spread. The study has demonstrated the importance of macroeconomic stability in reducing the spread in interest rate in Ghana. Specifically, inflation, exchange rate, Treasury bill rate and real GDP have important implication on the spread in interest rate in Ghana. It is therefore imperative for policy formulation to keep inflation rate as low as possible through the implementation of appropriate monetary and fiscal policies. Actionable steps should be taken to work at stabilizing the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar through increased exports and less imports by enhancing the activities of the Ghana Export promotion Council. Also, the Government should search for alternative ways of generating revenues rather than borrowing from the domestic market through treasury bills as this will keep the rate on treasury bills low. Furthermore, steps should be taken to end the power crisis which has crippled economic growth in the country since real GDP was found to negatively influence interest rate spread.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of individual savings and investment decisions in Kumasi.

It is well reported that the aged population thus people with the ages of 60 years and above has increased into two folds since the 1980s and it is estimated to be in the range of 2 billion by the year 2050. Hence if individuals have appropriate and adequate saving and investment culture, this will help them to secure their living after retirement age. Therefore, this study investigated the determinants of individual’s savings and investment decisions within the Kumasi metropolis. The target population for this study constituted customers of Cal bank, Ecobank, Anidaso Mutual Fund, Data bank and New Generation Investment Fund who either had a savings or an investment account in any of enlisted banks and investment companies. Hence, a total of 250 customers were targeted as the study population. Since one has to have a savings or investments options with any of these financial institutions before one can qualify to be part of the study sample, the study employed purposive sampling in selecting the study participants for the study. The study used the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sampling table to determine the sample size for the 250 participants for the population size. Based on the table, the sample size for this study employed was 152 with 95% confidence level with 5.0% significance. Since the study followed the positivist paradigms, quantitative methodology was employed and questionnaire items on a five point Likert scale were used as the data collection instrument. The study found out that under the firm’s image factors, variables such as past performance of a firm stock, easiness to obtain saved funds and firm’s status in the industry as well as reputation of firm’s shareholders had the most significant impact in determining a person investment and savings decisions. Also the study found out that among recommendations advocate factors, opinion from a firm’s majority stockholder had the most influence on respondents’ investment and savings decisions.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of internal audit effectiveness in the public service of Ghana: evidence from Sunyani municipality

This study was undertaken to investigate the determinants of internal Audit effectiveness in some selected Public Service Agencies in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana. Specifically, the study focused on assessing the effect of internal audit competence on internal Audit effectiveness; the effect of management support for internal audit on internal Audit effectiveness; the effect of independence of internal audit on internal Audit effectiveness; the effect of the relationship between internal and external auditors on internal Audit effectiveness. This study adopted quantitative research approach. The target population of the study comprised of accountant, auditors and financial officers in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana. Primary data has been used in the study, through administration of structured questionnaire to 85 respondents. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. The study has revealed that internal audit staff competency and management support for internal audit had significant and positive effect on internal auditing effectiveness. However, the study has revealed that internal audit independence and internal audit and external audit relationship had insignificant and positive effect on internal auditing effectiveness. The study concludes that only internal audit competency and management support for internal audit were significant determinants of internal audit effectiveness.

Source: KNUST