ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Health Information System in Sekyere West District

Health Information Systems are designed to produce information for decision making and to enable management ascertain the progress made by an organization towards achieving its objectives. It aids in allowing optimal utilization of resources, in planning for better intersectoral coordination, and in monitoring and evaluation of activities. Information systems are thus a potent tool of management and also essential for initiating programmes in any field. An observation of HIS in the Sekyere West District revealed that there were some weaknesses in the system. The study therefore assessed the HIS in the Sekyere West District to make recommendations in order to improve health care delivery in the district and Ghana as a whole. Specific areas of interest in the study included assessing the adequacy of data collected for analysis: - Information needs and indicators - Personal and environmental factors influencing data collection - Relevance of data - Analysis of data - Timeliness of reporting - Uses of data - Feedback - Problems with current HIS - Information Technology and its usefulness A quantitative descriptive study was used. Validity of data collected was checked using the face validation method. The study was conducted in ten health facilities in the Sekyere West District. The ten study health facilities were chosen by simple random sampling. These are, Mampong District Hospital, Nsuta Health Centre, Kwamang Health Centre, Atonsu Health Centre, Asaam Health Centre, Krobo- Dadiese Health Centre, Kofiase Health Centre, Benim Health Centre, Apaah Health Centre and the MCH/FP Clinic at Beposo. Findings at the facility level showed that adequate data were collected but some were incomplete while others were inaccurate. There was a uniform format for collecting data at the different facilities. Returns were submitted on monthly basis, submissions were sometimes late. At the facility level data was analyzed by way of aggregation of data collected on daily basis. Each data prepared for submission to the DHA. At the District level returns were collated and submitted to the RHA. Returns were however not being used for decision making hence, under-utilization of data. Comparing the study with the conceptual framework it was observed that raw data is collected and processed into indicators but is not being used for decision making, hence there is a break in the management information stages. For the system to become operational, an efficient supervision and monitoring system will have to be put in place at all the levels of health facilities in the Sekyere West District. It will also be important to train all health workers on basic concepts and relevance of an efficient HIS.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the impact of fiscal gap (deficit) on district capital infrastructure development in Kwaebibirem District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

The MMDAs in Ghana are mandated to implement development-oriented projects to improve the standard of living in their jurisdiction. Therefore, the Assemblies need the adequate funding to carry out the implementation of development projects in the local levels in Ghana. However, the fiscal funding sources of the Assemblies fall short of the required amount. The research sought to assess the impact of the fiscal funding gap on the district capital infrastructure development in the Kwaebibirem District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The causal research approach was used since the objective is to test hypothesis about cause-and-effect relationship using survey methods such as literature and experience surveys. The research objectives: identify the time profiles of fiscal funding sources, find the causes of fiscal funding gaps, conduct the regression analysis of the impact of fiscal funding gap on district capital infrastructure development and assess the strategies of addressing fiscal funding gaps in the district. A sample size of 200 was selected from the 737 study population. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents. Secondary and primary data were obtained from survey and documentation. The questionnaires and formats were used to collect data, analyzed by the use of SSPS, Eviews, and presented in the graphical forms. The study revealed four major fiscal funding sources, huge gaps and the causes include poor financial management, revenue leakages and poor budget estimates etc. The research revealed no significance impact of fiscal gap on district capital infrastructure development. The study disclose that the prefinance of capital expenditure increase the debt burden of the Assembly. The strategies to bridge the fiscal funding gap include introduction of innovation grant, public private partnership arrangement and access to financial markets.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the Impact of Organizational Culture on Employee Creativity; A Case Study of Minkah-Premo & Co

This study examined the impact of organizational culture on employee creativity, using Minkah-Premo & Co (MPAC) as a case study. This case study and questionnaire-interview based research employed the convenience and purposive sampling techniques to select a sample of 40 employees out of which 32 responded to and returned the research questionnaire. The Holistic Management (KEYS) Model (2000) was used in analyzing the organizational culture of MPAC, it came out that, the culture of MPAC was not open to creativity. Pearson’s Correlation coefficient of (0.716) on the data gathered, showed a strong and positive relationship between organizational culture and employee creativity. Employee creativity was positively related to supervisor-rated employee job performance. Employee autonomy had the greatest and positive impact on creativity whilst financial reward (for creative work) was negatively correlated with employee creativity. Based on this study, it was concluded that; organizational culture impacts employee creativity positively with ‘autonomy’ having the most impact on creativity. Besides, it was affirmed that there exist a positive correlation between employee creativity and job performance.

Source: KNUST
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE ON THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES A CASE STUDY OF OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL SAVINGS AND LOANS LIMITED (OISL) ON WOMEN LIVING IN BEKWAI MUNICIPAL

The general objective of the study was to assess the contribution of OISL to the economic empowerment of women living in the rural communities within Bekwai municipal in the Ashanti region, with specific objectives of determining whether microfinance offered by Opportunity International had empowered rural women and also identifying the challenges rural women faced in accessing loans from Opportunity International. All the clients living in the rural communities could not be surveyed due to time and financial constraints; a sample size of 99 which was approximately 11% of the total women (loan clients) living in the rural communities was used. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaire administration. OISL's clients were found to be economically active, being engaged mainly in trading and manufacturing activities. A majority of these women had little or no formal education, with a lot of them also being single, either not being married to before, divorced or widowed. The women attested to the fact that they had been economically empowered after accessing loans from OISL compared to when they had never accessed loans from OISL, as a majority of them strongly agreed of having the capacity to provide better education, health and balanced meals for themselves and their dependents. A few of them encountered challenges either prior to the loan granting or during the loan repayment. It was therefore recommended that some of the stiff requirements demanded prior to the loan granting be lessened to make it more favorable for the women living in the rural communities. Such procedures included huge collateral and guarantor requirements. OISL and other MFIs should introduce medium and long term loan facilities, as well as repackage their training and monitoring tools to enable clients expand and grow their businesses for micro finance to realize its role as an engine of economic empowerment.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the impact of client involvement on the outcome of public construction projects; case study GETFund (SUTEmIP) projects in the Volta Region of Ghana

Client are considered to be central to all construction projects, hence their conduct on the project has direct influence on the outcome of project. The importance of client participation outlines the need to ensure optimum performance at all stages of the project. This study aims at assessing the extent of involvement and the effectiveness of client / client representative role on GETFund SUTEmIP in the Volta region of Ghana. In order to achieve this aim, objectives were outlined; (i) to identify the main roles of the client on construction projects; (ii) to investigation the current levels of client involvement on GETFund SUTEmIP; and (iii) to assess the performance of client or client representative based on their roles on the project. The study employed a survey research method, where questionnaires were distributed to the contractor and consultants working on GETFund SUTEmIP projects in the Volta region of Ghana. The questionnaires were distributed to 75 persons, consisting of 8 consultants (2 persons from each consulting firm) and 67 contractors. 58 questionnaires were answered and returned from the contractors and all 8 questionnaires were received from the consultants. A 5 point Likert scale questionnaire (very poor to Very good) was used and analyzed as such. The results indicated that client performance was “Average” and their level of involvement was also “Average” based on the roles of clients established from existing literature on the subject. The data gathered suggests that GETFund SUTEmIPs are not being delivered successfully as a result of the average performance and involvement of clients. It was however recommended that client must develop positive attitudes toward their project and ensure they perform their roles adequately.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the impact of Small Scale irrigation schemes on livelihoods and poverty reduction in the Upper East Region

Economic growth and poverty reduction has been the main thrust of the Government of Ghana as enshrined in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy and Growth and Poverty Reduction (GPRSI&II) and the GSGDA over the period of 2003 to 2013. In order to achieve these objectives agriculture which is a major sector that provides livelihood for over 80% of Ghanaians has being targeted and a number of policies and interventions proposed and initiated. Trends in development and climate variability have made it imperative for the transformation of the agricultural sector. Irrigation development has been one of the attempts towards modernizing the sector. The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is established with the task of promoting, supporting and managing irrigation technology in Ghana. The Upper East region has 220 dams and dugouts as at 2007 and estimated at 300 by 2011 as targeted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). The region is also endowed with a network of rivers and valleys that enhance the practice of irrigation. Communities have taken the acquisition of dams and dugouts and machines for pumping water as major community assets. This research is a comparative study of communities with irrigation practice and communities without irrigation practice as well as households and farmers that engage in irrigation and those that do not to establish the cause and effects of the results of the investment in small scale irrigation practice on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers towards poverty reduction. The focus is on small scale irrigation that is practiced, controlled and managed by the farmers in their own way. A comparative analysis of surrogate indicators of data collected on the dependent variables which are poverty reduction and livelihood development, the study revealed that irrigation has effect on the living conditions of smallholder farmers towards improving yields, expanding length of employment, reducing hunger gaps and at the meso level affects food prices, migration and community asset building including roads. But the effect would have been greater if the practice did not face challenges such as inadequate access to credit facility, extension service and irrigable lands. Less women than men carry out farming activities and attempts needs to be made to reduce the gap so that many men as women would engage in irrigation practice to help reduce poverty. iv This research recommends further investment into the practice and investigations into identifying and controlling pest and disease of irrigated crops.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the impact of the catholic diocese of Jasikan on the socio-economic development of the Northern part of the Volta Region

The Catholic Church in Ghana has been growing over the years. It is for this reason that the Catholic Diocese of Jasikan was created to meet the needs of the faithful in the way that God loves them. The Church is God’s agent of transformation in communities. However, over the years, churches have interpreted their mission to meet the needs of the people in different ways. For example, some Churches have focused only on the spiritual aspects of poverty. Their expression of love to the community has been in proclaiming the gospel. Some have expressed love through focusing on people’s material needs without giving enough attention to spiritual needs. They demonstrate the gospel without necessarily proclaiming it. The survey was conducted to find out how the establishment of the Diocese had impacted positively or other wise on the lives of the people in the Northern part of the Volta Region. The survey used research tools including questionnaire administration, interviews, focus group discussions, personal observation and the review of related literature. The findings of the research showed a number of important issues. The research showed for example that the Diocese was vigorously pursuing programmes and projects such as in education, health, agriculture, women and development and youth development. The research showed that the policies being pursued were also contributing to the poverty reduction programmes of the various District Assemblies in the Northern part of the Volta Region. The study concluded with some recommendations. On the issue of self-reliance it is important to indicate that for proper self-reliance, the Diocese must take local economic planning very seriously. This means there must be a re-thinking of the whole structure of the church. The Diocese can encourage all parishes to embark on a “green revolution” where more farms could be established and maintained. Networking is also an important tool that is suitable for the Diocese to improve on her performance and enhance their impact in poverty reduction. As a rural Diocese, Networking is therefore seen as a very effective means to share useful information and the spread of knowledge about the needs of the people, the solutions and best practices. On education, it is highly recommended that the Diocese should come up with a 5-year strategic plan for the development of education in the Diocese. It became clear from the study that the process of reducing poverty in any community is not an easy task and so the Diocese having taken it upon itself to contribute to the reduction of poverty in the Northern part of the Volta Region would need the unflinching support of all stakeholders especially the District Assemblies in bringing about the needed change in the life of the people.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the impact of risk factors on the financial performance of licensed buying companies in the internal marketing of cocoa in Ghana: A case study of Fortune Tree Company Ltd.

Risk may be defined as the likelihood of a negative outcome of an institution and this may inhibit the success of Licensed Buying Companies. This study aimed at assessing the impact of risk factors on the financial performance of Fortune Tree Company Limited as a Licensed Buying Company in Ghana. Through an explorative qualitative research approach, thirty five (35) experienced employees were interviewed out of the fifty three (53) to ascertain the issues on the ground regarding the various risks factors associated with the financial performance of Fortune Tree Company Limited. The findings of the study showed that, certain activities of purchasing clerks which include improper drying of cocoa beans before taking them to takeover points and also defaulting in the payments to farmers when cocoa beans are purchased were threats to the overall financial performance of Fortune Tree Company Limited. Moreover, production risks that were identified to be associated with the operations of Fortune Tree Company Limited included disease and pest attacks, bushfires, drought, soil infertility and excessive rainfall. Environmental risks that were discovered to be associated with the operations of Fortune Tree Company Limited included smuggling of cocoa by some farmers and purchasing clerks to nearby countries and also breakdown in some of the tools of trade such as tarpaulin and cocoa scales. However, market risks associated with the operations of Fortune Tree Company Limited consisted of delays at the takeover points (ports) as well as higher interest rates accrued on monies borrowed from banks for the purchasing of cocoa. Another risk that was identified as market risk was farmers who were pre-financed but could not pay back the money. These kinds of risks identified in the study had contributed to financial loss to the company especially in the year 2013. In conclusion, the study revealed that the various kinds of risk factors identified, have serious impact on the financial performance of Fortune Tree Ghana Limited. The study therefore recommended the need for management of Fortune Tree Company Limited to train its purchasing clerks on risk management and also set up an inspection team that will ensure that all cocoa beans taken to the takeover points by purchasing clerks are well dried and also in the best condition for export. Additionally, the study recommended that policy on pre-financing farmers before bringing their produce be strengthened so as to reduce losses.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the impact of the Subriso East Rock Dump on ground and surface water quality at Golden Star Wassa Limited

Acid rock drainage (ARD) has emerged as one of the greatest environmental threats facing the mining industry owing to its characteristic low pH, high acidity and elevated concentrations of metals and sulphate content. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of the Subriso East Rock Dump on ground and surface water quality at GSWL. Water samples were collected from deep and shallow monitoring boreholes and surface water within the immediate environs of the rock dump and analysed. Overall, surface water sampled was slightly acidic most especially the upstream point. For groundwater, the majority of the shallow monitoring boreholes were also slightly acidic. The deep monitoring boreholes were near neutral and within WHO (2006)/GSB (2009) acceptable range for drinking water. EC, CaCO3, TDS, and SO4 for the deep, shallow and surface water within the study area were below their respective WHO (2006)/GSB (2009) permissible limits. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the deep monitoring boreholes around the waste rock dump and the reference point (BRMB-01A). The same trend was depicted by the shallow monitoring boreholes. However, there was significant variation between the upstream point (SW-SE-07) and downstream points (TS-SE-01 and TS-SE-02) for EC, CaCO3, TDS, and SO4. Heavy metal concentrations in surface, deep and shallow monitoring boreholes were generally very low and below their respective WHO (2006)/GSB (2009) permissible limits. SEMB-02B and SEMB-03B (shallow boreholes) and all the surface water samples had Mn and Fe concentrations above the WHO (2006)/GSB (2009). All the deep boreholes also had Mn concentrations exceeding the above standards. Nonetheless, statistically, there were not significant differences amongst the various sampling points and their respective reference points. Cd, Pb and Ag were not detected. Although high concentrations of Fe and Mn were recorded in some sampling points, the differences were not significant (p ≥ 0.05). In brief, it can be concluded that, no significant impacts existed that could be attributed to the SE rock dump.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the impacts of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited (NGGL) on the Socio- Economic Development after six years of Operation in the Birim North District.

The Birim North District used to be one of the forested region Districts in the country. Parts of these were however reserved to ensure their sustainable use. The area also had records of peasant farmers in some parts of the District. The vegetative cover had been reduced by the activities of these peasant farmers, lumbering activities and illegal chain saw operations. This has been worsened by the incidence of bush fires in the area, over exploitation and illegal mining activities which is on the upsurge. This research adopted both quantitative and qualitative method of data collection, analysis and reporting in providing socio-economic development effects of the activities of the NGGL. Also, the study depended on secondary data such as journals, publications, and primary data from households, various institutions, and Opinion leaders for its sources of information, analyses and reporting. The interview covered households, opinion leaders, business owners, NGO’s and NGGL management. It became evident that, although NGGL has not started extraction, there is a high tendency of destroying the environment, the Company is committed to high standards of environmental protection as well as worker health and safety. The district has also benefited from the operations of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in the areas of water, electricity extensions, employment and revenue generation. It is recommended that, the Birim district supports the operations of Newmont Gold since it has a lot of prospects for the development of the District. This would be in the Implementation of most if not all of the development priorities of the District and also invest in other districts to generate more revenue for future development projects.

Source: KNUST