ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The Determinant of Profitability of Banks in Ghana

This study examines the determinants of bank profitability in Ghana. These determinants have been categorized into internal factors which are bank-specific characteristics and external factors which can further be divided into macroeconomic factors and financial structure factors. The main objectives of the study are to determine the factors that influence commercial banks profitability in Ghana and to make recommendations for management decision making and policy objectives. A panel data of 26 commercial banks in Ghana was analysed over a period of 2000-2009, using a generalised least squares technique to estimate fixed effect regression models. Two key measures of profitability (dependent variables) analysed in this study comprised of Return on Average Asset (ROA) and Return on Average Equity (ROE). Bank-specific factors, which were incorporated into the regression models were capital adequacy, operating expense, liquidity, asset quality, and bank size. In addition, macroeconomic factors and financial structure factors captured in the regression models included inflation, Gross Domestic Products (GDP), money supply and banking industry concentration. The results for the ROA model indicate that capital adequacy, liquidity and bank size are positively significant to bank profitability while asset quality and operating expense are negatively significant to bank profitability. Moreover, inflation and GDP were positively significant to bank profitability while money supply and bank concentration were negatively significant to bank profitability. Apart from GDP, banking industry concentration, and asset quality, all the determinants were consistent when bank profitability was measured by Return on Equity (ROE). However, capital adequacy was negatively significant to bank profitability in the case of ROE.

Source: KNUST
Detection of viability markers of mycobacterium ulcerans and their association with healing in buruli ulcer patients

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans), an infection common in rural parts of West Africa including Ghana. It affects predominantly children between the ages of 5-15 years. Treatment of BU has changed over the past 11 years with the introduction of antibiotics (rifampicin and streptomycin) as an alternative to surgery. The aim of antibiotic treatment is that each patient receives the minimum appropriate therapy needed to achieve recurrent free cure. The current duration of antibiotic therapy (8 weeks) was based on observations in patients with early M. ulcerans which were excised after treatment. Thus it is likely that a shorter course of antibiotic treatment may be successful in some patients. To characterise the viability of M. ulcerans in BU and to ascertain its association with time to/ rate of healing of lesions. Fine needle aspirates and swabs were obtained from patients confirmed with active BU using IS2404 PCR as a gold standard. Samples were obtained at baseline (week 0), during treatment (week 4), end of treatment (week8) and after treatment (weeks 12 and 16) for detection of viable M. ulcerans using combined assay 16S rRNA/IS2404 RT qPCR and culture. Patients were followed up 2 weekly with wound measurements using Silhouette required for determination of rate of healing. Of one hundred and twenty-nine patients, viable M ulcerans could be detected in 65% at baseline. By week 4, 20 (15.5%) of lesions had healed or 29 (22%) had undetectable viable organisms. At week 8 viable M. ulcerans were still detected in 43 (33%) lesions of unhealed, 15 (12%) of unhealed at week 12 and 3 (2%) of unhealed at week 16. Patients with detectable viable organisms after antibiotic treatment had significantly higher bacterial load, vii longer healing time and lower healing rate at week 4 compared with those with undetectable viable organisms at baseline or by week 4. We demonstrated that current antibiotic therapy for BU disease is highly successful in most patients but it may be possible to abbreviate the treatment to 4 weeks in patients with a low initial bacterial load. On the other hand, evidence has been presented that persistent infection with viable M. ulcerans contributes to slow healing in other patients, suggesting that those with a high bacterial load, may need antibiotics for longer than 8 weeks.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Adoption of Sawah Rice Technology among Farmers in Ashanti Region of Ghana

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of adoption of sawah technology in Ashanti region of Ghana. It identifies those independent variables that explain adoption and can also facilitate further dissemination and adoption of sawah technology. Sawah refers to leveled rice field surrounded by banks with inlet and outlet for irrigation and drainage. This study uses data from 108 farmers randomly selected from 198 sawah farmers in the study area. Regression analysis showed that age, educational level and year of experience in rice production were the personal factors that determined the adoption of sawah technology among the respondents. The result further showed that contact with extension agents, attendance in previous sawah trainings, land tenure arrangement, yield from sawah farm and attributes of sawah technology determined adoption. This study suggested that adoption of sawah technology should be targeted at young, educated and experienced farmers. Also, security of land must be ascertained by farmers in order to enhance adoption, continuous and sustained use of sawah technology.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Anaemia in Pregnant Women in Peri-Urban Kumasi in the Ashanti Region

A field survey was conducted to investigate the causes of anaemia in pregnant women in peri-urban communities of North Suntreso and Pramso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Three hundred pregnant women attending antenatal were studied in both areas. Blood samples of participants were collected to determine serum ferritin levels, malaria parasitimia and haemoglobin concentration. Stool examination was also conducted to determine the presence or otherwise of parasitic intestinal worms. Questionnaires were administered to obtain information on the socio-demographic characteristics of participants. Majority of the participants (43.6% and 71.3% for Pramso and South respectively) were anaemic with Hb below 10g/dl. Mean ferritin levels ranged between zero and 275 microliters. Malaria parasitaemia was of a high prevalence (56.4% and 68.3%) among the participants in Pramso and North Suntreso respectively. There was a significant association between the knowledge of transmission and prevention and malaria parasitaemia. However no significant association was found between the low helminth parasitaemia recorded (P < 0.005) and anaemia. There is the need for education on the contributory factors to anaemia especially, iron deficiency anaemia.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of access to credit and its impact on household food security in Karaga district of the Northern region of Ghana

This study attempts to measure access to credit and its influence on food security in Karaga District of the Northern region of Ghana. The thesis assessed access to credit from both formal and informal sources. The study looked at the farm household characteristics, household assets, farm size and crop produced, demographic factors, farm and non-farm income activities in the study area , household head access to credit and forms of credits accessed, household livestock wealth, number of times eaten in a day by the household and month of stock depletion as measures of food security. The study also employed multivariate tobit model that estimated the determinants of credit. A chi-square test was used to link access to credit to food security. The study revealed that access to credit has significant impact on the household food security status of the farmers. Multivariate tobit estimates revealed that socio-economic factors such as age, male, household size, education, farm size and farmer-based organisation membership positively affect access to credit and subsequently food security. Also, institutional factors such as credit worthiness and guarantor had positive effects on access to credit and food security. Finally all locational dummies except Nyingali and Pishigu had positive influence on credit access and food security.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of appropriate insecticide treated nets (ITNs) use in malaria control in children under five years in Peri-Uran areas of Kumasi (A case of Asokwa Sub-Metropolitan Area)

Background : Malaria remains the number one public health problem. Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) is one of the established methods of malaria control. However, inappropriate ITNs usage reduces their effectiveness in malaria control. Ample evidence of this is farfetched through very integral policy input. This study sought to provide empirical evidence on determinants of appropriate ITNs use to inform policy. Methods A cross sectional study was designed and conducted in five communities in the Asokwa Sub-Metropolitan Area, Kumasi, Ghana, with randomly selected 500 mothers and caregivers for interview with the aid of questionnaire from May – September 2010. Logistic regressions were used to examine the predictors of appropriate ITNs use at 95% confidence interval. Results The study found that 50% of the participants owned ITNs, and of this only 67% used it the night before the study. While 39% of the total population did not own any ITN at all, 21% of those who owned the nets did not use them appropriately. The key predictors of appropriate use were found to be income levels, health seeking behaviours of caregivers and the room structure of participants. Conclusions Appropriate ITN use in the study area is determined by a group of factors; background characteristics of household, socio-economic status and environmental factors. Strengthening health education on the benefits and importance of appropriate ITN use and improving socio-economic status of mothers and caregivers is likely to improve appropriate ITNs use.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of audit fees: evidence from companies listed on ghana stock exchange.

If the auditor is unable to give a strong audit quality, this will have an effect on unfair financial statements, lowering investor trust in the market, increasing investment risk, and increasing working capital expenses. The main aim of the study is to examine the relationship between firm-level variables and audit fees among firms listed on the GSE. The research employed descriptive-analytic and exploratory. Descriptive analytics was used for analyzing and synthesizing historical data of the company's budget statements to recognize the trends and make meaning of them. On December 31, 2020, there were sixteen non-financial companies listed on the GSE, making up the study's target population, ten non-financial enterprises listed on the GSE were specifically chosen using the purposive sample technique. Although additional sources were also used, the annual reports and statements of accounts of the selected financial institutions served as the primary source of secondary data. The study employs multiple regression to find the relationship between the variables under investigation in the data analysis, cross-sectional and time-series data are combined. The study revealed that ROA has a negative and significant relationship with audit fee, it was also revealed that firm size and leverage has a positive and significant influence on audit fees. But the study revealed that audit firm tenure, have an insignificant influence on audit fee. Therefore study concludes that the firm-level variables affecting audit fees include profitability (ROA), firm size and leverage but it excludes audit firm tenure. It is recommended that businesses put into place a corporate governance framework of principles and procedures by which the board of directors ensures accountability, fairness, and transparency in the consumer goods industry because profitability has a negative relationship with audit fees.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Career Choice, Job Satisfaction and Retention of Academic Staff in Three Private Universities in Ghana

Career selection is one of the many important choices people make in determining future plans. Choosing a career as an academic staff in private universities is very critical in Ghana today due to the growing demand for higher learning in Ghana. For choosing this career, academic staff must derive some source of satisfaction and be motivated enough to consider retaining their jobs for a long time in order for their role to be successful. This research examines the determinants of career choice, job satisfaction and retention of academic staff in three private institutions in Ghana namely; Pentecost University College, Regent University College of Science and Technology and Maranatha University College. A total of 96 respondents made up of 93 academic staff conveniently selected and 3 randomly selected management staff were used for the research. The main method of data collection was questionnaire. The data was analysed using SPSS and descriptive statistics such as percentages, tables and frequencies were used to present the data. The study showed that most academic staff private in universities chose their career due to their passion for the job as well as good working environment and their need to be autonomous. The study further revealed that although the lecturers are satisfied about their jobs and their working environments, the larger proportion are unhappy with their salaries. The greatest challenge they face in their work is inadequate facilities followed by delay in their salary payment. Retention is poor in private universities because most academic staff said they would leave to work in public universities if they had the chance. Recommendations to motivate and retain academic staff include putting in place concrete career development programs as well as retention policies in other to develop and retain them in their various universities.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of adolescent pregnancy: a case-control study in the Amenfi West District, Ghana

Globally, about 11% of all births occur to mothers between 15-19 years with over 95% occurring in developing countries. The consequences of adolescent pregnancies are very disheartening with respect to their physical and mental well-being, education and economic progress. The health burden of teen pregnancy is very huge with increased maternal mortality and morbidity including obstetric fistulae, complicated induced abortions, preterm labour and sexually transmitted infections among others. Despite the fact that the burden of adolescent pregnancy is huge in rural settings, little is known with regards to what its predictors are. This study looked at the determinants of adolescent pregnancy in the Amenfi West district, Ghana and its prevalence. The study used a case-control approach that sampled 80 cases and 220 controls to find out the association between the dependent variable adolescent pregnancy and the independent variables such as socioeconomic status, contraceptive knowledge /use, responsible parenthood and peer influence. The cases were defined as any girl between 10-19 years (W.H.O) who is currently pregnant or delivered not more than two years preceding the study. The controls were adolescent girls who have never been pregnant. The study showed that being in school, coming from a wealthy household, contraceptive use at sex debut, parental monitoring of the adolescents’ wherabouts at night, and the ability of the adolescent to talk to parents about relationships with the opposite sex offered significant protection against adolescent pregnancy (p<0.05). The factors that predisposed adolescents to pregnancy were ; being in the late adolescent age group 15-19 years , violent parental attitude towards boy/girl relationship , demanding financial support from adolescents for house upkeep and one’s friend ever been pregnant. Government should endeavor to introduce more social interventions to improve the living conditions of the poor and parents must do well to win the confidence of their wards. Contraceptive promotion and infrastructural development should be given the necessary attention by all stakeholders.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of cash holdings of firms listed on the Ghana stock exchange

Cash is the lifeblood of every business. This study analyzed the determinants of cash holdings of Ghana-listed companies. The study adopted an explanatory research design. A sample of 21 companies was analyzed from 2010 to 2018. Quantitative data from the financial statements and macro-economic data was obtained. The independent variables were firm size, growth, dividend payout, profitability, liquid assets substitutes, and leverage. The dependent variable was cash holdings, and the control variables were inflation, gross domestic products, and exchange rates. The data were sorted, cleaned, and coded, and then entered in version 15 of Stata. It was observed that profitability and size had a significant positive effect on the cash holdings of non-financial firms. It was also seen that liquidity and leverage had a significant negative effect on the cash holdings of non-financial firms. It was observed in the financial sector that size and growth had a significant positive effect on cash holdings, while dividend payout had a significant negative effect on cash holdings. It is recommended that companies balance cash holding with cash holding expenses for optimal benefit

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Contraception among Women with a Previous Ceasarean Section in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Background: A previous Caesarean section (CS) confers high risk on the index pregnancy. Ensuring optimal inter-pregnancy intervals and the reduction of unintended pregnancies among this sub-population of high risk pregnancies is important for maternal health and survival. Contraception is encouraged especially after CS in order to reduce the risk of a short inter-pregnancy interval. The determinants of contraception among women has been widely studied but there are few studies that have looked at the predictors of contraception among this high risk sub-population - women with a previous CS.

Source: KNUST
Determinants Of Cash Holdings Of Firms Listed On The Ghana Stock Exchange

Cash Is The Lifeblood Of Every Business. This Study Analyzed The Determinants Of Cash Holdings Of Ghana-Listed Companies. The Study Adopted An Explanatory Research Design. A Sample Of 21 Companies Was Analyzed From 2010 To 2018. Quantitative Data From The Financial Statements And Macro-Economic Data Was Obtained. The Independent Variables Were Firm Size, Growth, Dividend Payout, Profitability, Liquid Assets Substitutes, And Leverage. The Dependent Variable Was Cash Holdings, And The Control Variables Were Inflation, Gross Domestic Products, And Exchange Rates. The Data Were Sorted, Cleaned, And Coded, And Then Entered In Version 15 Of Stata. It Was Observed That Profitability And Size Had A Significant Positive Effect On The Cash Holdings Of Non-Financial Firms. It Was Also Seen That Liquidity And Leverage Had A Significant Negative Effect On The Cash Holdings Of Non-Financial Firms. It Was Observed In The Financial Sector That Size And Growth Had A Significant Positive Effect On Cash Holdings, While Dividend Payout Had A Significant Negative Effect On Cash Holdings. It Is Recommended That Companies Balance Cash Holding With Cash Holding Expenses For Optimal Benefit.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of Cocoa Production in the Ashanti Region

The economic benefits of cocoa in Ghana include foreign exchange, employment and provision of raw materials for both domestic and international industries. For these reasons, there has been a government intervention in the cocoa industry that brought forth policies including high producer price and also cocoa pest and disease control programme (CODAPEC) to stimulate cocoa production. However, studies investigating factors influencing cocoa production in Ghana are very scarce. This thesis fitted Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Weighted Least Squares (WLS) modelling techniques to cross section data obtained from 251 farmers. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling technique. Questionnaires were administered to respondents and the items consisted of farmers characteristics (production years, Gender, education) and farm characteristics (Farm size, family labour, hired labour, Farm age, fertilizer, mass spraying, insecticides, Total Revenue and type of seed). The dependent variable was output. The regression results showed an adjusted co-efficient of determination of 0.96. It was found that the total revenue and hired labour variables had significant influence on cocoa production. Both variables were significant at 1%. The number of times of mass spraying and farm size variables were statistically insignificant. This study could have important policy implication for government to increase producer price of cocoa.

Source: KNUST
Determinants of customer satisfaction in retail bankng at Dunkwa, Ghana

The banking sector in Ghana has undergone tremendous change over the years as a result of keen competition among the players. Banks are constantly adopting dynamic customer service practices and strategies in order to retain customers. Intense competition has led to decrease in firm’s profit, switching customer behaviour and spreading negative word of mouth if services do not meet client’s expectation resulting in the need to investigate customer satisfaction in retail banking within Dunkwa Catchment area. The study focused on assessing determinants of customer satisfaction in retail banking at Dunkwa, Ghana. The survey was conducted on a total of 500 respondents out of which 406 responses were received representing 81.2% response rate. The study collected data using questionnaires. The study adopted convenience and purposive sampling technique in selecting customers. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software was used to run the descriptive statistics. Regression analysis was used to estimate the relationships among variables. Findings revealed that, employees at the Retail Banking are always ready to response quickly to customers’ needs and further assist customers with any challenges they encounter during the banking hours. The findings further revealed that high services quality and standards are very crucial to them and therefore prepared to pay any amount to receive or enjoy the quality services. Competitive products are most often than not considered to be of high quality with increased performance. The study records a positive impact of sympathetic staffs and operational hours on customer satisfaction. Sympathetic staffs and operational hours are statistically significant and are making a unique contribution to the prediction of customer satisfaction. The study recommended improvement on the banks system of service delivery to its customers, most especially the customer service practices, constantly engagement of both the internal and external customers of the bank in order to achieve optimum satisfaction as well as other stakeholders in decision making so as to identify their pressing needs.

Source: KNUST