ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the internal audit unit of Kumawuman Rural Bank limited.

Forming part of the economy‘s commercial banking system, Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) have been commended for their efforts in making banking services available in most rural communities. With the establishment of internal audit departments in rural and community banks, it becomes necessary to assess the extent of effectiveness of their internal audits. This study employing an exploratory case study used structured questionnaires and interview to gather responses from 15 staff of Kumawuman Rural Bank Limited. It was found out that the internal audit of Kumawuman Rural Bank Limited was effective in carrying out its various functions. Observance of reporting standards was also found to be in compliance with laid down auditing standards. The auditing unit was found to be challenged with the workload attributable to the large number of branches of the bank. It is recommended that the internal audit unit of the bank should be adequately staffed.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) in resolving industrial disputes: A case study of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT)

Industrial disputes in recent times have assumed an alarming proportion especially in the public sector. It is expected that with the promulgation of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) industrial disputants would have their grievances addressed in accordance with the procedures provided by the Labour Act to ensure industrial harmony and peace which are necessary conditions for increase productivity and economic growth. However, in many cases, workers resort to the use of strike actions and demonstrations whilst employers adopt lockout and other means that are not approved by the Labour Act. It was against this background that the research was conducted with the main objective of critically assessing the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), with a particular reference to the provisions on mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes with specific reference to Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). To achieve the objectives of the research, an exploratory and descriptive design were adopted aimed at assessing how the provisions of the Labour Act can help to manage industrial disputes. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of both the executives and members of GNAT in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region for collection of primary data. The study revealed that the respondents appreciate the effectiveness of the mechanisms set out in the Labour Act in resolving industrial disputes. However, they did not want to go through the procedures in resolving dispute between them and their employers. The respondents believe that their employers Ghana Education Service (GES) which represents the government of Ghana use the mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes to buy time during industrial disputes. The research also revealed that respondents have low knowledge in the provisions of the Labour Act. The respondents wanted GNAT to organize seminars and symposia to educate them on the provisions in the Labour Act. Recommendations were made to that effect so that members of GNAT could have basic knowledge in the Labour Act.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the level of community awareness and preparedness for the district-wide mutual health insurance scheme: the Case of the Kintampo District-Ghana

The Kintampo district is one of the poorest in terms of economic development in the Brong Ahafo region. Most people in the district live in rural communities. Due to poverty and illiteracy they are restricted from accessing basic health care from the formal sector. The introduction of the health insurance scheme was therefore a great sigh of relief to the people. However, for people to accept the insurance scheme, it is very important for high awareness to be created. Again, knowledge on the health insurance scheme must be encouraging. The preparedness of the people will largely depend on awareness and knowledge on the scheme. The study was therefore undertaken to assess the awareness and knowledge level of the people as well as their preparedness for the scheme. Study Methodology The study was cross sectional and used both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection. A sample size of 227 was randomly selected from the Jema, Kintampo and the New-Longoro sub districts for the study. These sub districts were selected purposively based on their rural and urban characteristics. Ten qualitative interviews were conducted with community opinion leaders, caregivers’ health staff and heads of institutions. Besides, structured questionnaires were administered on heads of households who were randomly selected from the various sub districts. Six focus group discussions were organized with caregivers in six communities selected randomly from the other sub districts. Results The results and findings showed that awareness on the health insurance scheme was very encouraging among the respondents (92.5%). Knowledge on the scheme on the other hand was found to be generally very low among them. Again, out of the 227 respondents selected for the study only 66 of them had paid the premium, representing an enrolment rate of 29.Oo. The analysis revealed that collection of contributions started in the off-season making it more difficult for people to be able to afford the premium. Again, the premium rate was found to be unaffordable to most people, especially, those who have large family sizes. Other problems that restricted enrolment were long distances to health facilities and its attendant high cost of transport fares, traditional beliefs which prevent some people from assessing health care from the formal sector, poor quality of health care as well as apathy on the part of health staff Conclusion and Recommendations It was therefore concluded that even though awareness on the scheme was very high, knowledge was very poor and also most people were not prepared for the scheme at the time of its introduction. The study therefore recommends to all stakeholders to join hands together in educating the public and also make contribution of premiums more flexible and affordable to the people. Also, community-based associations and opinion leaders must be given special roles to play in the implementation of the scheme.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) in resolving industrial disputes: A case study: Ghana National Association of Teachers (Gnat)

Industrial disputes in recent times have assumed an alarming proportion especially in the public sector. It is expected that with the promulgation of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) industrial disputants would have their grievances addressed in accordance with the procedures provided by the Labour Act to ensure industrial harmony and peace which are necessary conditions for increase productivity and economic growth. However, in many cases, workers resort to the use of strike actions and demonstrations whilst employers adopt lockout and other means that are not approved by the Labour Act. It was against this background that the research was conducted with the main objective of critically assessing the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), with a particular reference to the provisions on mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes with specific reference to Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). To achieve the objectives of the research, an exploratory and descriptive design were adopted aimed at assessing how the provisions of the Labour Act can help to manage industrial disputes. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of both the executives and members of GNAT in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region for collection of primary data. The study revealed that the respondents appreciate the effectiveness of the mechanisms set out in the Labour Act in resolving industrial disputes. However, they did not want to go through the procedures in resolving dispute between them and their employers. The respondents believe that their employers Ghana Education Service (GES) which represents the government of Ghana use the mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes to buy time during industrial disputes. The research also revealed that respondents have low knowledge in the provisions of the Labour Act. The respondents wanted GNAT to organize seminars and symposia to educate them on the provisions in the Labour Act. Recommendations were made to that effect so that members of GNAT could have basic knowledge in the Labour Act.

Source: KNUST
“Assessment of the level of compliance of tendering procedures of public procurement entities” Case study at Estate Management Department of the Ghana Health Service

In 2003, the Government of Ghana put together the main Public Procurement Act currently used in Ghana and enacted the Act to fight against and overcome shortcomings inPublic Procurement process. The new structure was also intended to foster competition, efficiency, transparency and accountability in the tendering Process of Public Entities. However compliance by the entities has been the greatest challenge in the attainment of the said objectives. The research therefore assessed the level of compliance of tendering procedures of public procurement entities for works using National Competitive Tendering at the Estate Management Department of the Ghana Health Service office in Accra. Compliance/Performance measuring tool for assessing tendering procedures from the invitation to tender to the award of contract for works under the National Competitive Tendering was used with regards to the dictates of the PPA 663. The overall compliance/performance of 78% was achieved at the Estate Management Department of the Ghana Health Service which showed that compliance level obtained was good but much work needs to be done to improve compliance of tendering procedures at the entity. Explanatory research was used to provide a better understanding to the situation with explanatory typologies method used to analyse and explained the indicative assessment level of compliance of tendering procedures. To improve compliance and ensure smooth implementation of the Act, the following, were recommended: The Public Procurement Authority should partner with all Stakeholders to ensure that award of contracts are published in newspapers of national circulation; all documents relating to the tendering procedures should be recorded; Public Procurement Authority should adopt a compliance assessment tool to measure compliance of entities; the Public Procurement Authority should undertake vigorous information dissemination to all stakeholders and training of iii selected procurement staff as trainers and involving them in delivering training for procurement entities.

Source: KNUST
An Assessment of the Level of the Adequacy of Paid Compensation and Lost Livelihood in Mining Communities

Compensation is very important to individuals and communities who through no fault of theirs are displaced to make way for development induced projects. It is the means by which the lost of assets and livelihoods may be replaced. Act 703 of the Mineral and Mining Act, 2006 of Ghana has provisions to guide the payment of compensation so as to ensure fair and adequate paid compensation. However, the provisions of Act 703 of the Mineral and Mining Act, 2006 has come under severe criticism due partly to shortfalls in the provisions of the Act. The affected persons of development induced displacements are no longer able to have access to their source of livelihoods and environmental services previously available to them such as farmlands, alluvial mine concessions and forest resources among others. This has resulted in agitation and protest from the affected persons. These protests often end up in violent demonstration and repression from government agencies that protect the richer claimants. In an attempt to address the problems of paid compensation, a number of principles and compensation models have evolved. Examples include the principle of Pareto improvement, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) model of compensation, the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Act 703 of Mineral and Mining Act, 2006. The ADB policy model for example, advocates the payment of compensation for both land title holders and tenants. Though these models are meant to restore lost assets and livelihoods, they do not critically alleviate the incidents of impoverishment which often results from lost assets and livelihoods. Land which is extremely important to rural communities is most often not catered for by some of these compensation models. The study was conducted at the catchments areas of four mining companies in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality and Prestea/Huni-Valley District namely: Abosso Goldfields, Golden Star Bogoso Mines, AngloGold (Iduapriem) Mines and Goldfields Ghana Mines. The study involved both the collection of primary and secondary sources of data. A case study approach was adopted to investigate the subject based on the set objectives. The findings of the study were that, there is no universally accepted model on what could be accepted as adequate paid compensation. It also came out that the economic well being of individual and communities such as employment opportunities, incomes and savings have suffered significant losses after the projects. However, there has been improvement in access to social and environmental services but an increased cost which threatens the coping mechanism of affected persons. Based on the findings, the study recommends the involvement of affected persons in all levels of compensation negotiations so as to address their concerns. Others include an overhaul of the existing methods of valuation of compensation to take care of changing market prices as well as payment of compensation for lost Common Property Resources (CPRs) to ensure that affected persons receive fair compensations.

Source: KNUST
An Assessment of the Level of Compliance with Regulations of Selected Media Houses in Accra

Since the Ghanaian media was liberalized in 1996, there has been a proliferation of media houses and regulators with radio and television being the most vibrant and easily accessible. After more than a decade of the liberalization of the media, and the subsequent establishment of regulations the nation is still battling with the challenge of compliance with regulations. Therefore it is only prudent to determine the extent to which radio and television stations have complied with the existing regulations and the factors impeding the compliance. This was the main reason for which this study was carried out in Accra. The main objective of this study was to assess the level of compliance of the media houses with the regulations governing their operations for them to play their role in the development of the country. Geographically, the study focused on Accra, with the reason being that, after the liberalization, the media started its growth from there. Also Accra has been the hub of the media, hosting the headquarters of almost all television stations and to some extent the radio stations. The case study method was used for the study. A combination of probability (the cluster and simple random sampling techniques) and non probability sampling methods (the purposive sampling technique) were employed in the selection of samples for data collection for this study. From the analysis, it became clear that the major challenge of the implementation of the media regulations was the lack of the legal backing for the media regulators. Though the knowledge level about compliance issues was established to have been known, the details were not known and this was attributed to the lack of enforcement of sanctions by the regulators who were in turn hampered by the lack of legal backing. With the passage of the NCA Act and the Electronics Communications Act in December 2008 and the yet to be passed broadcasting law, it is hoped that a lot more media houses would conform to the existing media regulations.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in soils of artisanal shops in Suame magazine and their related health risks to artisans

Suame Magazine is an indigenous industrial area in Ghana, well-known for its automobile maintenance/repairs and metal fabrication activities. Due to emissions from vehicular engines, furnaces and the indiscriminate manner in which waste, including the spent engine oils are disposed of in the area, it is anticipated that people who work in this community will have high levels of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of this study was to determine the levels of PAHs in the 0 – 10 cm, 10 – 20 cm and 20 – 30 cm of the soil profile from shops of selected activities and based on the concentrations obtained, evaluate the health risks to the artisans. Physicochemical parameters such as soil texture, pH, organic matter content and moisture content were determined. Concentrations of dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene as well as benzo(k)fluoranthene were found to be higher than the individual maximum permissible levels for the individual PAHs according to international regulations. The benzo(a)pyrene equivalence of 1.87, 0.394, 0.050 and 0.121 were obtained for maintenance, spraying, welding and metal fabrications activities respectively. The results obtained indicated that maintenance shops relatively, contributed between 61.096% and 95.243% of higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Contributions by other activities were in the order: spraying > metal fabrication > welding. Health risk assessments based on soil ingestion and dermal contact only, also indicated that vehicle maintenance shops pose the highest risk to artisans with an incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of 1.24E-05. Spraying, metal fabrication and welding have ILCR of 2.61E-06, 8.03E-07 and 3.34E-07 respectively.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the livelihood empowerment against poverty programme in the Bongo District, Ghana.

Ghana has drafted and is implementing a National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) aimed at protecting its vulnerable population. A major component of the NSPS is the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme (LEAP). LEAP is both a conditional and unconditional direct cash transfer targeted at the poorest of Ghana’s population. This research was carried out in 44 LEAP communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana with the objective of assessing the implementation of the programme. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods in achieving the objectives of the study. It combined secondary literature and primary data. The findings of this study showed that LEAP in the Bongo District has increased the consumption of basic needs by beneficiaries, high awareness of the LEAP conditionalities and some engaged in small scale businesses with the grant. However, most of the beneficiaries are unaware of the sanctions for non-compliance of the conditionalities. The results of this study are intended to contribute to knowledge base on social protection in Ghana and the world at large and to bring to bear some of the challenges of LEAP intervention while providing recommendations.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the management of population and family life education: a case study of in-school adolescents in Sekyere East and Kwabre Districts

Meeting the reproductive health needs of adolescents has become an issue of great concern and priority on the agenda of most governments. Various international conferences on population and development seek to promote Reproductive Health information and services to empower adolescents who have become increasingly vulnerable due to ignorance, inaccurate information and youthful adventurism, among others, especially in developing countries. In Ghana, Population and Family Life Education (POP/FLE) was introduced into the basic education system between 1973 and 1979 on a pilot basis for two reasons: to expose the youth early to sexual and reproductive health and population related issues, and to help achieve the national population policy. The project was reactivated in 1987 and again in 1994, but to date the project has been unable to achieve its objective of nation-wide coverage of the entire educational system. The study assessed the management of the in-school POP/FLE project among adolescents in two districts in Ashanti Region, Sekyere East and Kwabre. The study districts were randomly selected. Six groups of stakeholders were identified. Census interview was done for POP/FLE trained teachers in the pilot schools, staff of the District Education offices and the project co-ordinator. Purposive sampling technique was used to select parents/guardians of wards in pilot schools and staff of the District Health Management Team, while simple random sampling technique was used to select pupils/students at the pilot schools. Analysis of the data was done based on the functions of management in terms of planning, organising, co-ordinating and controlling. Findings revealed, among others, that supervision of teachers trained to teach POP/FLE issues was poor because head teachers responsible for that role had not been trained to know what POP/FLE is. Moreover, monitoring mechanism was weak, as such could not provide any substantive feedback. In addition, instructional and learning materials had not been provided to the schools to ensure effective teaching and learning. Recommendations made, based on the management functions, called on project staff to organise intensive sensitisation workshops for stakeholders, design and execute more effective monitoring mechanisms and comprehensive check-list and disseminate monitoring results to stakeholders. In addition, production of teaching and learning materials should be expedited and delivered to implementing schools. These, among others, will bring massive improvement to the project and ensure the achievement of project objective.

Source: KNUST