ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
International Non-Governmental Organisations and Environmental Policies in Ghana: The Case of “Save Atewa Forest” Campaign

Since the 1990s, NGOs have become prominent actors in environmental politics across the world. However, studies on NGOs in Ghana have primarily focused on their socio-economic services such that NGOs engagement in environmental policies in the country is barely researched. To address this gap, the current study examined the influence of international NGOs on environmental policies in Ghana using the NGOs campaign to influence government policies on the Atewa Range Forest Reserve as the case for the study. The study examined NGOs strategies, their relationship with the government, and their level of influence on policies relating to Atewa Forest. Drawing on the Four C’s Model of NGO-Government relations, the study discovered that NGO-government relation was cooperative from 2012 to 2017. Both parties shared similar policy end goals and means. However, the relationship from 2018 to 2020 is confrontational as the government changed its policy end goal to allow for bauxite mining in the forest reserve. Using an adapted framework of Betsill and Corell’s (2008) qualitative framework to analyse NGO influence, the study revealed that NGOs exerted low-level influence on government policies and were unable to achieve their substantive end goal of pursuing the government to upgrade the status of the forest reserve to a national park. Significant conditions affecting the NGOs’ inability to influence policies include; conflicting interest in the use of Atewa Forest and the absence of massive civil society and public support. The study highlights the need for transparency and robust engagement among the various stakeholders on environmental policies to avoid confrontations in the future.

Source: UCC
International student’s experience of studying and working at a Northeastern public university in the US

This study explores international students’ experiences with studying and working at a North Eastern public university. Through phenomenological research approach that utilized face-to-face interview and photo-elicitation techniques, the personal experiences of twenty international students were captured. The findings of this study indicated that these students benefited from the responsibilities that resulted from their dual role as both students and employees in many ways. However, they also suffered from emotional and physical stress which resulted in tiredness, lack of sleep, role conflict, homesickness and frustration. Interestingly, these students effectively employed different coping mechanisms including finding social support, and participating in leisure and nonleisure activities to off-set the negative effects of studying and working concurrently

Source: UCC
International Tourists' Experiences with Ghanaian Cuisine: Implications for Food Tourism Development

Food tourism offers a unique way of marketing the culture of a people globally. To this end, many destinations are looking for ways of promoting their food offerings for the appreciation of international tourists. This study sought to contextualise international tourists' experiences with Ghanaian cuisine for the purpose of food tourism development in Ghana. A grounded theory approach to qualitative research was used for the study. Forty international tourists were interviewed between the months of August and December 2015. Data was analysed by employing open coding, focused coding, axial coding and selective coding. This study found among other things that tourists' motivation for consun1ing Ghanaian cuisine was out of cultural curiosity, there was a reasonable sense of knowledge deficit of Ghanaian cuisine among the tourists interviewed and international tourists' experiences when it comes to service related attributes were mixed. Additionally, it was found that the overriding image of Ghanaian cuisine was spicy and oily. Finally, a proposed grounded theory of transformative consumption experience of local food could explain international tourists' experiences with Ghanaian local cuisine. It is recommended that Ghana should vigorously promote its indigenous dishes using all modem means of marketing such as social media and consumer blogs. Food safety and sanitation should be encouraged and promoted especially among street food vendors and chop bar operators. There should also be sensitization on the use of pepper and oil in Ghanaian cuisine to make them more appealing to international tourists who visit Ghana.

Source: UCC
International tourists’ environmental attitude towards hotels in Accra

The available literature suggests that there has been a rise in green consumerism not only among general consumers but tourists. This has provided the impetus for the ‘greening’ of hotels as hotel guests have indicated their preference for hotels that ‘take care of the environment’. Ironically, the environmental impacts of hotels especially with regards to the consumption of energy and water are more likely to be exacerbated by their guests. In spite of this, most studies on environmental management in hotels have centred on programmes and initiatives undertaken by management with little focus on the attitudes and behaviour of guests. This study sought to assess international tourists’ environmental attitude towards hotels in Accra and the implications for environmental management by hotels. A sample of 343 international tourists was surveyed at major tourist attraction sites in Accra. The results of the study indicate that a majority of respondents generally held the view that hotels do not destroy the environment but contribute to the global environmental problems. Most of them (83%) were therefore willing to pay more to stay in a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude. There was also a significant positive relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics of tourist such age and sex and their environmental behavior. The results of this study have implications for environmental education of guests and the marketing of hotels

Source: UCC
International Tourists’ Environmental Attitude towards Hotels in Accra

The available literature suggests that there has been a rise in green consumerism not only among general consumers but tourists. This has provided the impetus for the ‘greening’ of hotels as hotel guests have indicated their preference for hotels that ‘take care of the environment’. Ironically, the environmental impacts of hotels especially with regards to the consumption of energy and water are more likely to be exacerbated by their guests. In spite of this, most studies on environmental management in hotels have centred on programmes and initiatives undertaken by management with little focus on the attitudes and behaviour of guests. This study sought to assess international tourists’ environmental attitude towards hotels in Accra and the implications for environmental management by hotels. A sample of 343 international tourists was surveyed at major tourist attraction sites in Accra. The results of the study indicate that a majority of respondents generally held the view that hotels do not destroy the environment but contribute to the global environmental problems. Most of them (83%) were therefore willing to pay more to stay in a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude. There was also a significant positive relationship between some socio-demographic characteristics of tourist such age and sex and their environmental behaviour. The results of this study have implications for environmental education of guests and the marketing of hotels.

Source: UCC
International tourists’ motivations to choose homestay: Do their socio-demographics have any influence?

The relationship between tourist socio-demographics and homestay use has received scant attention from researchers. Insights gained from this study will guide market segmentation and targeting by tourism planners. The main objective of this research was to examine the influence of socio-demographics on tourists’ motivations for choosing homestay in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Data were collected from 151 international tourists in the Kumasi Metropolis who lived in homestay facilities. Results of t-test and one-way analysis of variance suggest that socio-demographics are influential factors on international tourists’ motivations for choosing homestay. It is concluded that socio-demographics influence tourist motivations for choosing homestay

Source: UCC
International tourists’ satisfaction with Ghanaian upscale restaurant services and revisit intentions

Tourists’ satisfaction with restaurant services tends to generate repeat visitation. The interrelationships between international tourists’ satisfaction of restaurant services and intentions to revisit have, however, received little empirical attention from academics in Ghana. Data were randomly collected from 768 international tourists in Ghana and analyzed using actor analysis and binary logistic regression. International tourists were generally satisfied with the services of Ghanaian upscale restaurants. International tourists who were satisfied with the tangibles, reliability, assurance-empathy, and responsiveness dimensions of the upscale restaurant services showed a higher likelihood of revisiting the restaurants than did their counterparts who were dissatisfied

Source: UCC
Internet financial reporting: a survey of companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange

The primary objectives of this study are to: investigate the utilization of the internet by the companies listed on the Ghana Stock exchange (GSE) for financial reporting; to determine the company characteristics that influence the information disclosure on the internet; and to investigate whether there is a difference between the firms listed in terms oftype of financial information disclosure on the internet. The methodology of the study was content analysis of corporate web sites of companies listed on the GSE. The findings indicated that although all listed companies operate websites, only 21(61%) of the companies, which are predominantly in the banking and insurance sector provide a complete set of financial information on the internet. Again, there exist variations in terms of the amount of content(e.g. summary financial statements vs. detailed financial statements),the style of presentation (e.g. similar to paper-based reports vs inclusion of multi-media) and the manner in which companies incorporate navigation aids (e.g. hyperlinks, search boxes and others). Overall, the research finding is essential as it assists in informing regulators about the characteristics of listed companies that are, and are not, satisfying national and international investors‟ demand of updated/online information. It also assists current and potential stakeholders to know what drives corporate internet reporting in Ghana. Consequently, they may further investigate and verify such reporting practices. In practice, online reporting can be used as an effective tool for improving stakeholders‟ decision-making process. Therefore, further research can be undertaken to examine the degree to which online reporting provides value-relevant information for stakeholders. Digitized

Source: UCC
Internet fraud and its socio-economic implications for peace and development of Agona Swedru (Ghana)

Internet has countless benefits to the world, however, it has also been an easy platform for criminals to commit fraud. This research investigates the forms and prevalence of Internet fraud in Ghana specifically in Agona Swedru and examines its socio-economic implications on the peace and development of the town. Using qualitative research approach and snowball sampling technique, 10 Internet fraudsters were interviewed in Agona Swedru. Security Personnel and other key informants were also interviewed to share experiences on the implications of Internet fraud on the town. Police reports were also solicited to identify reported cases on Internet fraud in Agona Swedru. The study reveals that the practice of Internet fraud has effects on human resources, causes fear and panic, increase social vices and stigmatisation which has implications on the peace and development of the town. Findings from this research showed that although Internet fraud has negative implications, it also has some positive implication on the socio-economic development of the town. The research showed that Internet fraud has promoted investment, created some employment opportunities, expanded some markets and provided vast infrastructural changes contributing to the peace and development of the town. The limitation of the research was identifying reliable statistical information on Internet fraud though the practice is rampant in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Internet of things and Library Service Delivery in Selected Public and Private Universities in Ghana

The study assessed the usage of the Internet of Things (IoT) in library service delivery at both public and private university libraries in Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was students of the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Valley View University, and University of Health and Allied Science. Two hundred students who patronize their university libraries were sampled through convenience sampling method. Data gathered from the questionnaire administered to the two hundred students, were analyzed with mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that IoT is incorporated in library service delivery at the universities where the study was carried out. Also, university students are highly satisfied with library-service delivery that incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) in service delivery. Again, the study found that there are challenges in the smooth running of IoT in library service delivery at the university libraries in Ghana. Furthermore, the study showed that E-journal is commonly available at the university libraries in Ghana. The results of the finding revealed that the internet of things contributes to an effective learning climate that achieves higher levels of satisfaction. Students are satisfied with online information in the modern library. Based on the findings from the study, it was recommended that the University library management should place more priority on access to electronic resources such as journals E – Thesis E – research, EBibliography, and E-book, which show more rating by the respondents.

Source: UCC
Internet privacy: A survey of cyber abuses and policy improvements in Ghana

The exponential growth of the Internet and its ability for instantaneous communication anywhere and anytime has already revolutionized the individuals’ ways of life, organizations and businesses activities. Simultaneously, the internet has equally provided us with advanced tools and techniques to carryout unlawful activity. It is often common of late to hear of privacy infringement, identity theft and internet fraud that would never have materialized without the internet. This research employed mixed method approach to investigate the current level of knowledge the internet users in Ghana have on internet privacy and the abuses that can occur, understand the current policies as well as Ghanaians perceptions and finally to propose a policy recommendation to help curb and or eliminate the growing occurrences. This information will help to expose the loopholes and also act as a necessary tool to draw attention to the Government on the need for effective policy reforms on internet privacy abuse. It was realized that too much time has been wasted and so much damage has been done but to avoid further occurrence of the abuse and also to ensure the security of internet users in Ghana, the issue of internet privacy abuse has to be addressed urgently

Source: UCC
Internship experiences of Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) students of University of Cape Coast

The study explored the internship experiences of the IEPA students, UCC. This was proposed against the backdrop of a dearth of empirical evidence concerning how the internship experiences of IEPA students have prepared them for their professional endeavours. The study was underpinned by the convergent parallel mixed methods design. The study adopted the census approach to research where all individuals in the target study population were studied. In all, data was collected from 50 IEPA students using a self-administered questionnaire which was complemented by 12 interviews with their internship site supervisors. The data from the questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies. The interview responses were transcribed and analysed thematically. Among other things, the findings suggest that, majority of IEPA students agreed that their internship experiences have helped to enhance their expertise in performing general administrative duties (e.g. filing, writing minutes, memos and letters), human relations skills, communication skills and teamwork skills. Also, majority of the IEPA students indicated that, they did not see a link between their academic preparation (coursework) and most of the administrative tasks they performed. Against this backdrop, it was concluded that perhaps the IEPA’s curricula was not in line with the needs and aspirations of its clientele. In light of these, it was recommended, among other things, that the IEPA should review its curriculum to include courses that will provide students with the needed knowledge in 21st century educational administration practises

Source: UCC
Internship in vocational education and training: stakeholders’ perceptions of its organisation

Polytechnic education in Ghana is an offshoot of technical and vocational education and training, which makes internship a sine qua non for its students. The implementation of internships in the departments of hotel catering and institutional management in Ghanaian polytechnics is examined in this study. The perceptions of the stakeholders suggest weak links between the educational institution and the hospitality industry leading to ineffective implementation, which culminates in a myriad of challenges faced by interns. Finally, suggestions from stakeholders for improvement to subsequent internships included preparedness to collaborate, internship time to be extended, and industry’s and teachers’ active participation in internship.

Source: UCC
Interpersonal Hardiness as a Critical Contributing Factor to Persistence among International Women in Doctoral Programs: A Trioethnographic Study

Women in PhD programs, in particular minority and international women, are especially at risk for drop-out (Castro, Garcia, Cavazos, & Castro, 2011; Haynes et al., 2012). This initial part of a longitudinal trioethnography captures the experiences of three international women in a doctoral program, highlighting the challenges, support systems, and coping mechanisms they engage with in the process of completing their degrees. Discoveries include the identification of “Interpersonal Hardiness” as the potential vehicle which could ensure our success.

Source: UCC
Interpersonal relations on organizational performance: The mediating role of job satisfaction of University of Education, Winneba

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of interpersonal relations on organizational performance, taking into consideration the mediating role of job satisfaction. The study was conducted in the University of Education, Winneba. Respondents were selected via stratified sampling technique. Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument. Partial Least Squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) via the statistical software Smart PLS 3. 0 was used to test the hypotheses and research objectives. The findings of the study revealed that the factors influencing interpersonal relations include conflict resolution, communication, team building, social relations and relational justice. The study further found interpersonal relations to have a significant positive effect on job satisfaction and organizational performance. Job satisfaction was also found to play a mediating role between interpersonal relations and organizational performance. It was therefore concluded that job satisfaction provides an explanatory link between interpersonal relations and organizational performance. The study suggested that it is important for management of the University to give full attention to the factors that influence interpersonal relations in order to build positive relations among staff of the University and further ensure that staff is adequately satisfied so as to enhance organizational performance.

Source: UCC
Interpersonal Trust at Work and Employees’ Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

The study empirically investigated how employees’ perception of interpersonal trust at work affects the extent to which they go beyond formally prescribed roles, Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB). The survey design was employed for the study. Two dimensions of interpersonal trust at work (Trust in co-workers and trust in Management) and OCB were studied. Social Exchange Theory was utilized in describing potential relationships between trust and citizenship behaviour. Data were obtained from 152 employees randomly sampled from various organizations and analyzed using Pearson’s r and multiple regression analysis, and the hypotheses were tested at .05 and .01 levels. The major findings of the study suggested that employees’ interpersonal trust at work significantly influences their discretionary behaviour. A very vital finding was that employees’ trust in co-workers influenced their organizational citizenship behaviour more than their trust in management. Understanding personal and organisational factors associated with OCB have important implications for the training, and development of employees to facilitate the smooth operation of any organization. There is paucity of published studies in Ghana on how interpersonal variables, such as trust, affect employees’ work attitude and behaviour as well as organisational outcomes. This study is therefore very invaluable in providing insight into the Ghanaian context in this area.

Source: UCC
The interplay between leadership roles and academic performance: views of ‘student leaders’ of the University of Cape Coast

The invaluable role student leaders play in the administration and management of educational institutions, especially at the university level, is well documented in the higher education literature. However, there appears to be a dearth of information regarding how the performance of student leaders’ leadership roles influences their academic performance. It is against this backdrop that this study was carried out to explore the interplay between student leaders’ leadership roles and their academic performance. The study adopted a case study design. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with thirteen participants from the Executive Council of the Student Representative Council of UCC. The interview responses were transcribed, coded and analysed thematically. It was revealed that student leaders’ main leadership roles were for them to represent the entire student body; serve as a liaison between students and the university management and promote the interest and welfare of students. Again, the study reveals that whilst student leaders gain some positive experiences like leadership, communication and interpersonal skills through performing their leadership roles, their overall academic performances appear to take a nosedive. Given this, it was concluded that perhaps the student leaders were unable to adopt effective strategies to balance the performance of their leadership duties and academic work. It was therefore recommended that the guidance and counselling unit together with the office of the Dean of Student of UCC on a regular basis should organise training sessions for student leaders to equip them with effective strategies to use in discharging their leadership roles whilst improving their academic fortunes.

Source: UCC