ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Testing the pecking order theory of banks listed on the ghana stock exchange

The research examined the pecking order theory practice of banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The link between leverage and firm specific characteristics such as profitability, loan quality, growth, age and size of firms was ascertained. The research used quantitative approaches and employed the descriptive designs. Secondary data from the annual financial statements of banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange from the year 2010 to 2019 were used for the studies. As at the end of the year 2019, eight (8) banks were listed consisting of Ecobank Ghana Ltd, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered Bank, Cal bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Access Bank, Republic Bank, and Ghana Commercial Bank. The data was analyzed using version 25 of Statistical Package for Service Solution. The Augmented Dickey Fuller, Tolerance, Durbin Watson and Variance Inflation Factor tests were used as estimation techniques to ensure accuracy of data. Panel data regression method was used to establish the presence of the pecking order theory. The study found that leverage was negatively related to profitability of listed banks but was statistically insignificant. Leverage was also negatively related to loan quality but statistically insignificant. Leverage showed positive correlation to the size and the age of the firm and was statistically significant, while leverage was positively correlated to growth but insignificant. The study recommends that management of the banks listed put in the necessary measures such as ensuring quality loans and using debt as financing strategies to enhance an increase in the growth levels of firms.

Source: KNUST
Testing the natural resource curse hypothesis in Ghana.

The study examines evidence of the resource curse hypothesis in Ghana using the prices of gold as an indicator of the curse. The dependent variables for the study were the real effective exchange rate, economic growth (GDP), and household consumption expenditure. The explanatory variable used included minerals‘ rent, real export, inflation and GDP per capita. Data on these variables covered a 46 year period (19702016). The analysis of the data covered both descriptive and inferential analysis using VECM Model. The findings of the study revealed that minerals‘ rent has statistically significant effect on real effective exchange rate and economic growth. The results also show that there is a statistical significant positive relationship between effective exchange rate and also the economic growth of Ghana. This means that increase in minerals‘ rents negatively affects the exchange rate of Ghana and GDP. These situations are evidence of the resource curse phenomenon and Dutch diseases conditions with regards to gold production. It is therefore necessary to put in place the right check and balance to avert the situation and present its extension to other resources sectors.

Source: KNUST
The adoption of e-banking services by retail customers in Kumasi metropolis

The study sought to assess internet adoption among bank retail clients within the Kumasi metropolis. The specific objectives were to assess retail bank clients‘ knowledge and awareness on the various e-banking services, to examine the level of patronage of e-banking products among bank retail clients, to identify challenges affecting the adoption of e-banking services among retail clients, and to examine the effect of e-banking service adoption on banks‘ operations in the Kumasi Metropolis. The research design adopted for this study was descriptive. The population comprised of retail clients within Kumasi metropolis. Convenience sampling technique was used to select 400 bank retail clients. Questionnaires were used in collecting primary data from customers. At the end, the study found that the most popular e-banking products clients were aware of was the ATM/Master/VISA cards. This was followed by E-zwich, internet banking, and SMS banking. The less popular ones were telephone banking, credit cards, and use of company‘s website. The operational benefits received by clients from banks were affected positively by internet adoption. The study also found that generally, clients were satisfied with e-banking services of their respective banks, and this affected their loyalty level positively. Additionally, the study revealed that most clients used e-banking services mostly once a month; most clients have also used e-banking services for more than three years, with cash withdrawal as the major reason of using e-banking services. The frequent breakdown of the system e.g. ATMs, was the most significant challenge to e-banking. It is therefore recommended that, banks pay very critical attention to performance of their systems, especially ATMs

Source: KNUST
The altman emerging market z-score model: verifying its validity as a predictor of corporate failure in the case of banks in Ghana

Banks in Ghana contribute considerably to the country’s economy by creating employment opportunities. However, in spite of the significant contributions that the Banking sector plays in the Ghanaian economy, corporate failure of the sector is high. Research has scarcely been done in predicting corporate failure of Banks using the emerging market Z-score. This research sought to bridge this gap by applying the emerging market Z-score model by Altman: confirming its legitimacy as a predictor of business failure in the case of Banks in Ghana. The primary goals of the research are how to put into operation the emerging market Z-score model in predicting corporate failure and to evaluate financial performance through the analysis of the annual audited report of 12 banks in Ghana. This study was anchored on various theories including resource dependence, liquidity preference, pecking order, and entropy theory. The descriptive research design was used in this research. The target population was Banks in Ghana. The study adopted a purposive sampling method to collect secondary data from the 12 banks. Data was analyzed using Microsoft word excel and presented in the form of figures and tables. The outcome of the research discovered that the following ratios are significant discriminators and predictors of corporate failure of quoted banks in Ghana: book value of equity to total liabilities, retained earnings to total assets, profit before interest and tax to total assets, working capital to total assets. Consequently, the emerging market z-score ratio model was found to be a robust model in predicting corporate failure of listed banks in Ghana. The study recommends the adoption of the EM Z-score model as a utility predictor of corporate failure in Ghana. This study has implications for the policy since it establishes a versatile model of preventing the corporate failure of Banks whose sustainability is pertinent in achieving the countries sustainable development agenda and economic growth. The study also contributes to the existing body of knowledge of extending the discourse of the application of the EM Z-score ratio model in predicting corporate failure by applying discriminate analysis. It was established in this study that the prognostic capability of the emerging market Z-score model was precise in predicting corporate failure of quoted banks in Ghana; hence the powers that be can use this model to take precautionary actions.

Source: KNUST
The Aesthetic and Socio-Cultural Values of Selected Akan Traditional Games

Traditional games are structured games with rules and regulations governing them. No special equipment is needed for playing such games and they are usually accompanied by songs. They reflect the values and beliefs of their parent cultures. In the past Akan traditional games used to play very important role in Bono culture. Traditional games which were formerly played by the youth in basic schools and homes instilled upright and good moral values in the youth. However, its attributes appear to be fading nowadays. Ghanaian youth especially Drobo traditional area are unaware about the aesthetics in the Akan traditional games and how such games can impact positively on their socio-cultural lives. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to educate the youth on the aesthetic and socio-cultural values of selected Akan traditional games for awareness creation among the people of Drobo for its revival. The objectives of the research were to identify and describe selected Akan traditional games, the aesthetic qualities and socio-culture values in the Akan traditional games among the people of Drobo traditional area of Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana. Qualitative design and descriptive research method were used and the instruments employed were interviews and observations. The sampling technique adopted were purposive and convenience. The target population for the study was fifty (50) comprising traditional Chiefs and Queen Mothers, Sub-chiefs, and Opinion Leaders in Drobo traditional area. The total sampled size was 23 which consist of traditional chiefs and queen mothers (3), sub-chiefs (8) and opinion leaders (12). The findings on The selected Akan traditional games played among the people of Drobo traditional area were: Antoakyire, Ampe, Mpeewa, Sansankr]ma, Karikokoo, Pempenaa, Hwehw[ mu k]yi wo d]fo, Teele (As]), Ahyehy[aba, Adenkum, Story-telling, Oware and Dame. The aesthetic qualities found in the Akan traditional games were: Balance, variety, repetition, space, movement, colour, dominance, unity, harmony, rhythm and contrast. The Akan traditional games depict socio-cultural values such as; friendship, unity, sense of belongingness, communal spirit and education. It is recommended that the people of Drobo traditional area should encourage the youth to play the selected Akan traditional games in their communities, cultural festivals should be organized in the schools on these selected Akan traditional games for the people to appreciate the identified aesthetic qualities in them and the processes involved in the playing of the selected Akan traditional games should be documented to improve the socio-cultural lives of the people of Drobo Traditional Area.

Source: KNUST
The Ada Beater: Improving the Quality of Handmade Paper in Ghana

The School Progression Policy is an intervention strategy to decrease unnecessary, high dropout rates in the South African Education system. It allows learners to move from one grade to another and thus advance in their careers and exit the basic education school system with a qualification. However, due to this intervention, some learners have experienced social and emotional problems at school, which may affect their wellbeing. This study explored the effects of the School Progression Policy on the progressed Grade 12 learners’ well-being in schools. It adopted a qualitative research methodology within a constructivist paradigm and used a case study research design. Thirty-seven learners (23 females and 14 males) and fifteen teachers and SMTs were purposively selected from four schools in the Motheo Education District. Semistructured interviews were employed for data collection. Thematic results revealed that this policy implementation positively and negatively affected progressed Grade 12 learners’ well-being. This study recommended constant empowerment and motivation for the progressed learners and comprehensive orientation at the beginning of the year to prepare and capacitate them to handle the expectations and challenges of Grade 12. Handmade paper has been around for centuries. In Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world, the means of creating handmade paper depend largely on traditional equipment and other industrial machines. In Ghana, the means of creating handmade paper is through a tedious process of hand beating the bast fiber of the Kyenkyen tree. This resulted in the production of a proto-paper known as the bark cloth. This traditional method has almost become extinct with the influx of imported industrial papers. Therefore the purpose of this study was to seek a solution to this problem through the possible design and fabrication of a paper pulp-making machine daubed the Ada Beater. Thus getting vital tools for making art, print, and papermaking. The paper explored practice-based research methodology to fabricate a papermaking machine known as the Ada Beater. The results showed that the machine can be fabricated and made to produce improved papers of archival quality derived from various plant sources in Ghana. It is recommended that this homegrown know-how should be made available to artists and art teachers for the teaching and use of handmade paper for artistic purposes.

Source: KNUST
The analysis of oil price shocks on the output of manufacturing industries in Ghana.

The study examined the long run and short run relationship and effects of oil price shocks on manufacturing output in Ghana. Johansen cointegration test was employed to examine the long run relationship between manufacturing output, oil price shock, interest rate, exchange rate and consumer price index. The study also employed impulse response function and variance decomposition to assess the effect of oil price shocks on manufacturing output in Ghana. The results revealed that oil price shock has negative effect on manufacturing output in Ghana. The results further reveal that interest rate exerts negative effect on manufacturing output. The study also found that product price increases output of the manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study recommended that the ministry of finance and energy should hedge against future hikes in international crude oil price so as to cushion domestic manufacturing firms from supply shocks through high cost of production.

Source: KNUST
The application of total quality management on Ghanaian construction site: a case study of Tema port

In the manufacturing and service industries, it has been testified that the implementation of TQM has led to improvements in competitiveness, quality and productivity in only 20-30% of the organizations that have applied it. However, the evidence of improvements in companies applying TQM practices is quite low, particularly in the construction industry in Ghana. The main objective of the study was to ascertain the challenges of effective TQM practices on construction sites within the Tema Port. Specifically, the study sought to establish the extent of application of TQM principles on construction sites at the port, to determine the extent of TQM practices; and then to ascertain the challenges faced in effective TQM implementation. Data was collected from a sample of 50 construction project personnel at the GPHA in Tema using questionnaires and the Relative Importance Index technique (RII) was applied to be able to rank the factors under each objective. The overall RII for evidence of the existence of RII principles was 0.585 (medium). This means that generally TQM principles were not very evident in the activities of construction companies at the Tema Port. Generally, the RII for TQM practices was 0.45 (low). Generally the RII for Challenges against effective TQM implementations was 0.766 (high). This means that challenges against effective TQM implementation were high at the Tema Port. The findings indicate that implementation TQM practices are still at nursery stage within the construction industry as principles and practices were found to be at medium level of observation. There is low evidence of the principles and observation of TQM practices within the activities on construction sites. The low level of practice can be attributed to the high level of challenges experienced in ensuring effective implementation of TQM practices. The study therefore recommended management commitment, education and training for staff, as well as government initiative to make TQM standards mandatory.

Source: KNUST
The basis for loan default repayments in microfinance institutions (MFIS) in Ghana: a case of microfinance institutions in Kumasi metropolis.

This study sought to evaluate the extent of which loans are defaulted among Microfinances Institutions in Ghana, investigate the factors that influence the default of loans among Microfinance Institutions in Ghana and also to examine the effects of loan default on MFIs in Ghana using Kumasi Metropolis as the study area. Thirty-two (32) MFI institutions were sampled. In each of the MFI, 20 customer and the credit officers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The responses from the credit officers were used to assess the extent and effects of loan default on the MFIs. Also, in order to evaluate those factors that are likely to influence loan default, a probit regression model was used with probability of loan default being the dependent variable. The independent variables were, age of respondents, marital status, household size (size of dependents), health condition of customer, health issues of dependents of customers, employment or business type, income, receipt of remittances, loan inadequacy, possession of multiple loans, financial literacy training and post loan customer supervision or monitoring. The results from the probit regression revealed that the significant determinants of loan defaults were age of customer, income level, level of education, loan inadequacy, possession of multiple loans, and health issues of customer. It was also revealed that over 65% of the MFIs have a default rate above 4% (above the international acceptable default rate of 3%). Furthermore, it was observed that the prevailing loan default rate of the various MFIs affected their profitability, lending potentials and led to worker lay off. The study therefore proposed that MFIs revise their lending policies and practices to incorporate those characteristics that are likely to influence their lending potential, adopt credit insurance and enhance the capacity of credit officers.

Source: KNUST
The association between organizational culture, innovation capability and firm’s performance at Ghana Commercial Bank Limited and Barclays Bank Ghana Limited.

The banking sector in Ghana is increasingly competitive. Banks are therefore expected to constantly improve their innovativeness as a way of maximising performance. Fortunately, organisational culture can be shaped to impact both innovation and performance. This study therefore examined the association between organisational culture, innovation capability and performance across two commercial banks in Ghana. A quantitative research design was adopted in this study. The study‟s population was employees at the head offices of Ghana Commercial Bank Limited (GCB) and Barclays Bank Ghana Limited (BBGL). All 161 and 109 employees from GCB and BBGL respectively who met some selection criteria were made to participate in this study. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson‟s correlated test, T-test, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to analyse the data through Amos 8 software. Data analysis confirms that at both banks organisational culture makes a significant positive effect on innovation capability and bank performance. Innovation capability also makes a significant positive effect on bank performance. This relationship is however stronger at GCB on the basis of producing a total variance of 68.3% and a lower Alkaike Information Criterion (AIC) of 43.22 in the factor analysis. In addition, the organisational culture of the two banks have no significant difference, but BBGL has a higher level of innovation capability and bank performance as compared to GCB. Innovation capability was found to partially mediate the relationship between organisational culture and bank performance. The study therefore concludes that improving organisational culture can increase both the level of innovation and bank performance. In view of the partial mediation, innovation capability is not a necessary requirement for organisational culture to impact bank performance.

Source: KNUST
The burden of drug resistance tuberculosis in Ghana; results of the First National Survey

Resistance to Tuberculosis drugs has become a major threat to the control of tuberculosis (TB) globally. We conducted the first nation-wide drug resistance survey to investigate the level and pattern of resistance to first-line TB drugs among newly and previously treated sputum smear-positive TB cases. We also evaluated associations between potential risk factors and TB drug resistance. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on conducting national TB surveys, we selected study participants from 33 health facilities from across the country, grouped into 29 clusters, and included them into the survey. Between April 2016 and June 2017, a total of 927 patients (859 new and 68 previously treated) were enrolled in the survey. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates were success fully cultured from 598 (65.5%) patient samples and underwent DST, 550 from newly diag nosed and 48 from previously treated patients. The proportion of patients who showed resistance to any of the TB drugs tested was 25.2% (95% CI; 21.8–28.9). The most frequent resistance was to Streptomycin (STR) (12.3%), followed by Isoniazid (INH) (10.4%), with Rifampicin (RIF), showing the least resistance of 2.4%. Resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampi cin (multi-drug resistance) was found in 19 (3.2%; 95% CI: 1.9–4.9) isolates. Prevalence of multidrug resistance was 7 (1.3%; 95% CI: 0.5–2.6) among newly diagnosed and 12 (25.0%; 95% CI: 13.6–39.6) among previously treated patients. At both univariate and multi variate analysis, MDR-TB was positively associated with previous history of TB treatment (OR = 5.09, 95% CI: 1.75–14.75, p = 0.003); (OR = 5.41, 95% CI: 1.69–17.30, p = 0.004). The higher levels of MDR-TB and overall resistance to any TB drug among previously treated patients raises concerns about adherence to treatment. This calls for strengthening

Source: KNUST
The causal linkages among money growth, inflation and interest rates in Ghana.

This study instigates the causal linkages among money growth, inflation and interest rate inGhana. The essence of ensuring price stability, a considerable increase in money growth thatenhances economic growth and development and favorable rate of interest that encourage domestic business and foreign direct investment cannot be over emphasized. The data was extracted from two main sources. The main variable under study were money supply, interest rate and inflation rate. Other variables that affect inflation rate such as exchange rate, real gross domestic product were controlled for. Data on money supply, interest rate and exchange rate Twere extracted from world development indicator (WDI) whereas data on inflation and the GDP growth were extracted from annual report of the Central Bank. The data comprises of of missed order of cointegration. That is I (0) and I(1). So bounds test of cointegration proposed by Pesaran, Shin and Smith (2001) was used. It was found out that money growth has both short run and long run relationship with inflation and all the other variables are insignificant in influencing inflation. The Granger causality test was conducted to help find the causality among the variables of interest. The null hypothesis that inflation rate does not does not Granger cause money growth was rejected at 5% which implies that there is a uni-directional causality between inflation and money growth. It was recommended that, in an attempt of reducing inflation both in the long run and short run, increase in money supply should be reasonable.

Source: KNUST