ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessment of supplier appraisal and rating in procurement entities in Ghana

Previously commonly used supplier appraisal criteria have solely focused on quality, service or delivery and price. Literature have in recent years suggested that some instruments or criteria for appraising suppliers were just about measuring quality and other quantitative measures such as price and service at the very most (Doney and Cannon 1997; Wilson 1994). As a matter of fact many existing appraisal measures fail to consider other important factors in appraising suppliers which are mostly qualitative in nature. The purpose of the research is to identify how buying organizations appraise suppliers and to identify the key supplier competencies (criteria) currently appraised on. The study also pinpoints those variables that have been identified by research as crucial elements of a buyer-supplier relationship but have been frequently omitted in the supplier appraisal processes. Findings however reveal that only few of responding firms have a formal supplier appraisal process in place and that other factors were not predominantly considered in the supplier appraisal process.The study also makes use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches for methodology where interviews and questionnaire will be used as data collection instruments. It also sought to identify challenges and weaknesses in the appraisal processes as well as its strengths with the view of suggesting recommendations that could be used to reinforce the processes. Recommendations included proper reviewing of weighting criteria, supplier rewards, short courses or training, debriefing, Reinforcement of Institutional structures and frequency of assessment.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of Strategies for Poverty Alleviation and Agriculture Development: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers in Ghana’s Asutifi District – Brong Ahafo

This research assesses Poverty Alleviation Strategies and agriculture development, the case of smallholder famers in Asutifi District. The emphasis on this study is smallholder farmers who are the majority, and account for more than 60% of the total workforce in the study area and more than 50% at the national level. The group mentioned is the poorest among these in the poor countrywide as well as at district level. The formulation and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategies need to involve different stakeholders in a given community including smallholder famers. The focus question to the study was, if Poverty Reduction Strategies do involve all stakeholders in its formulation, implementation and evaluation why this group is lagging behind? Participatory research methodology was the important tool to find the information and the target population was used as a center for the entire process. Case study method was employed and the research was carried out in a natural setting. The research revealed that there was no strategy that was directly focusing on smallholder famers in the district. Also poor functional institutional and managerial framework at the grass root level were the main cause that hinder the formulation and implementation of strategies that will result in bring about tangible outcomes at grass root level. It is proposed that real poverty reduction will only be sustainable when the views of the beneficiaries are incorporated into decision-making at micro level which will enhance capacity building and bring about change and diversified micro-economic activities among smallholder farmers. The foundation will make the wholly macro-economic strategies to be adequate in addressing smallholder famer needs.

Source: KNUST
An Assessment of Sustainability of Water and Sanitation Interventions in Northern Region: A case study of Nanumba North District

Since the start of the modern international development movement in the 1960s, development workers have recognized the need for appropriate technology and improved project planning to overcome the historically low success rates of water and sanitation projects (Feachem et al., 1977; Cairncross, 1992; Pickford, 1995). Yet, within the water and sanitation sector, it is widely agreed that past project interventions have not done enough to improve the situation. According to Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), about 33% of water facilities are down at any one moment. The European Union (EU) also examined its STS’s and discovered about 50% of EU funded water facilities were not functioning. These facts clearly demonstrate that the threat posed as a result of sustainability of these water facilities must be tackled, to ensure that they remain functional and useful to communities throughout the year. The MDG on water and sanitation, the SWAp compact and many other forms of interventions are geared towards provision of the facilities without being mindful of issues about sustainability. Hence, the desire to undertake this study. The study was much more of qualitative in nature with little quantitative data for analysis. Questionnaires were administered and focus group discussions were held. Besides, some of the facilities were observed and interviews conducted with some key stakeholders which altogether led to the conclusions drawn. The study revealed that lack of coordination among the stakeholders (NGOs) do not engender sustainability since the NGOs tend to operate with varied approaches some of which have the tendencies to cause an overlap in the mode of service delivery as well as throwing confusion among the beneficiaries. The aesthetic environment and socio-cultural values were not of significant threat to issues of sustainability of water and sanitation intervention. Instead, economic conditions and technological consideration were the issues identified to strongly affect sustainability. Inappropriate tariff setting and lack of community involvement at every stage of project implementation also accounted for sustainability problems that the study area encountered. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the local government authority must create an enabling environment to harmonize the activities of the relevant key stakeholders in order to have well defined approached to water and sanitation intervention in the district. Also, the involvement of the beneficiaries is crucial and for that matter must be considered in every stage of the intervention. Besides, the choice of technology must be locally friendly to avoid difficulties in operation and maintenance of the facilities. Finally, appropriate tariff setting would have a long way to help guarantee the sustainability of the facilities.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of teaching and learning conditions in basic schools, a study of selected schools in Offinso North District

One of the greatest developmental challenges in Ghana over the past 20 years has been the attempt to improve the quality of public education, particularly at the basic level. This has been an important area of concern to various stakeholders. The purpose of this study was to assess teaching and learning conditions in selected schools at the basic level in the Offinso North District. Here, an attempt was made to identify the nature of teaching and learning conditions in selected basic schools; factors that influence teaching and learning conditions; and their effects on pupils/students’ performance. To achieve these objectives, mixed method design which contains both the qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. The selected basic schools were stratified into 6 circuits of which 5 were selected considering the characteristics of the various circuits and their spatial distribution. Afterwards, 7 Primary Schools and 5 Junior High Schools were chosen using the simple random method. The participants of the study were 12 head teachers, 58 pupils/students, 58 teachers and 48 parents. Questionnaires were administered to collect data from the teachers, pupils/students and parents while interview schedules were also used to gather data from the head teachers. The study revealed that 83.3 percent of the head teachers were males while female accounted for 16.7 percent. In the same vein, male constituting 54 percent out number that of the females with 46 percent with regards to parents. In terms of qualification, teachers who had attained diploma were 91.9 percent while 8.1 percent of the teachers had attained SSSCE. This shows that majority of teachers had the necessary qualification in imparting knowledge. However, the classrooms were overcrowded with each having more than 45 pupils. Here, 90 percent of the teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the class size. Based on this, 58.3 percent of head teachers and 72.4 percent of teachers considering nature of teaching and learning conditions in the schools agreed that they would change their schools if possible. The conditions of teaching and learning in the selected schools have greatly affected performance as BECE results showed that 62.3 percent passed in 2011/12 reduced to 37.9 percent in 2012/13 to 35.1 percent in 2013/14 academic year. The study therefore suggested that gender awareness campaign, provision of educational infrastructure and instructional materials, sensitizing parents on the need for education, teacher’s motivation should be key in stakeholder’s interventions to improve education.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of support systems and their impact on students’ skill acquisition in textiles education in selected Senior High Schools in Kumasi Metropolis

The sole aim of any Visual Art programme which Textiles is no exception is to foster creativity and equip learners with skills to be self-employed. Skill acquisition comes with a task thus putting the right resources in place to ensure that a desirable result is achieved. Also, there must be key stakeholders to ensure that resources are utilized effectively because the sustenance of every institution largely depends on the availability and accessibility of support system in the teaching and learning environment. Due to the above, the study had two objectives (1) to identify and describe Support Systems available for Textiles and also (2) to assess the impact they have on students’ skill acquisition. Several literature were reviewed to highlight on the various support systems which must function properly to ensure skill acquisition in Textiles education in the Senior High Schools. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed methods) based on case study and descriptive research; and also used interview, questionnaire and observation as the main data collection instruments. The data were collected using the sample size of 50 SHS three students, 5 heads of department, 3 heads of schools, 3 assemblymen, 3 lecturers and 1National Council for Curriculum and Assessment coordinator in the Kumasi Metropolis. The data were analyzed through SPSS and the CIPP model propounded by Stufflebeam to gain insight into what goes into the teaching and learning of Textiles at the Senior High Schools in the Kumasi metropolis. The study revealed that skills acquired by students are inadequate to be self-employed due to lack of tools, equipment, and materials, the reluctance of some key stakeholders, lack of innovation on the part of teachers, limited instructional period and total neglect of co-curricular activities such as field trips. The teaching syllabus for Textiles in the Senior High School is thorough enough to equip students with enough expertise to be self-employed but the majority of students end up with only theoretical knowledge due to lack of physical resources for effective coursework. Also, key stakeholders who are supposed to offer support to the programme have neglected their responsibilities. To ensure that students acquire the requisite skills to practise a vocation after school, it is recommended that, the government should establish centres within the sub-metros or municipalities to serve as teaching facilities to satisfy the schools within that district. The timelines of both the University and the Senior High School must be structured well so that SHS can access the University’s facilities when they vacate. School authorities must collaborate with Textiles teachers to create E-libraries where students can access information in the absence of GES approved textbooks.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of tax compliance by the Self-employed in the New Juaben Municipality

Government needs funds to provide social amenities and infrastructures, among other things, for its citizenry and ensuring good governance. It is mandatory for every resident of Ghana to pay a fraction of his or her incomes to the state in a form of tax. (IRS Act 2000, Act 592). In undertaking a study of this nature there was the need to choose a reasonable number of tax payers (self employed) to form the target population so as a concise research could be carried out with reasonable probability of success. In view of this, the researcher chose two hundred and seventy (270) self-employed persons. The researcher used the stratified random sampling methods in administering the questionnaires. Due to the fact that there are so many self employed individuals across the various occupational divide ranging from artisans to traders, and used his personal judgement to select Auto Mechanics, Carpenters and Joiners and Masons for data collection. Self –employed have improved in their tax payment because most literatures on taxing informal sector have shown otherwise. Again the self employed do not attend seminars organized by the Domestic Revenue Service, although those who attend the seminars said it was beneficial and educative which improved their knowledge base on the need to comply with their tax obligation. Finally the self-employed believed their tax liabilities were too high for them to fulfil as they want to comply with their tax obligation. From the research conducted, it can be decisively concluded that the level of income tax compliance in the informal sector is not satisfactory. It is therefore recommended that the IRS educate the public on understanding the tax system, the basis of computing their tax liability and more importantly the need to pay income tax for national growth and development among other things so as to ensure full understanding of the tax system by the self employed.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the capacity of commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in exercising its mandate in Ghana

There have been several reports and allegations of human rights abuses and administrative injustices perpetrated by present and past governments, individuals and some institutions in Ghana and successive governments since 1966 have instituted measures to protect human rights and ensure administrative justice. As a result Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was established under the 1992 Constitution with the responsibility to investigate human rights abuses and administrative injustices. The study therefore assessed the financial, human resources and logistical capacities of the Commission in carrying out its mandates. The study was conducted in Ashanti Region using a case study design. The study used convenience and purposive sampling techniques to select 15 District offices of the Commission and 60 permanent staff as respondents respectively. The data was analysed using SPSS, version 16.0. From the analysis, it was realized that the Commission is not able to perform its functions effectively due to financial, human resources and logistical constraints but financial capacity was the most challenge. These constraints have resulted in slow mediation and settlement of cases and the cases resolved in the period of consideration was below 50 per cent of the reported cases. The following recommendations were made based on the findings: the Commission should attract and retain experienced staff through good motivation or incentive package. Moreover, the Commission should be allowed to directly submit its annual budget to parliament and adequately resourced financially and logistically.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of the Administrative Process in the Management of Maintenance Project Execution on Trunk Roads (A Case Study of Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), Volta Region)

This research work was done in partial fulfilment for a Degree. The research objective was to assess the administrative processes employed in the management of maintenance project execution on trunk roads and the Ghana Highway Authority, Volta Region was used as a case study. It also tried to identify the challenges confronting the GHA in the maintenance of road projects. A field targeted investigation was adopted. Field data on user perceptions were sampled using administered questionnaires among GHA employees in the Volta Region. The sample population were the entire GHA staff in the Volta region but a sample size of thirty (30) was chosen for the study. This was because a judgmental sampling technique was used to select staff members who play various roles in maintenance project execution in the Region. The findings reveled that, GHA to a large extent, follow some bureaucratic processes as a public organization in the management of maintenance projects. However, most of the personnel directly involved in the management of maintenance projects are of the view that projects are executed without fixed completion dates and cost which seem very unusual. Probably, the long delays experienced in execution of maintenance projects coupled with extension of time and their attendant cost may justify their perception and GHA much work to change that perception. Furthermore, it is recommended that the road agencies in general needs to be mindful of the control of time and cost in their management of projects to improve the confidence that the workers and the entire public have in them.

Source: KNUST
An assessment of the challenges of the public procurement act on a Metropolitan Assembly: the case of Tamale Metropolitan Assembly

An effective public procurement system is essential for good governance. A poor procurement system results in higher costs to government and the public. It delays project implementation which further increases costs, leads to poor project performance and delays the delivery of benefits to the beneficiaries. Procurement problems also increase scope for corruption, generate more complaints and raise concerns about the integrity of the procurement process. And finally, they discourage good firms (both national and foreign) from participating in bidding, thus deprive the country from receiving better prices and goods, works and services of better quality. Huge and unsustainable foreign debt, excessive budget deficits, huge contractual payment arrears, poor construction performance, corruption and pressure from international financial institutions, forced the government to commit to a reform of public procurement, which culminated in the passing of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). This study outlines the events leading to, and features of, the public procurement reform in Ghana and analyses the unique challenges it presents. The study concludes that while the Procurement Act sets out the legal, institutional and regulatory framework to secure fiscal transparency and public accountability, the sole reliance on the few existing personnel who have little or no training at all limits the scope for the value for money objective to be achievable. Expanding reforms to cover procurement and project delivery methods and strategies, with a focus on 'best value', will increase the potential and likelihood of achieving value for money in public procurement in Ghana iii Extensive literature was reviewed into researches that have been done on various procurement laws especially the situation of District Assemblies and other relevant issues therein as to the implementation of decentralization. The study revealed that all the processes of procurement in the Assembly were tailored to meet the requirement of the Procurement Act (Act 663), however, issues such as inadequate personnel and untimely release of funds from central government impedes the smooth implementation of the Act in the Metropolitan Assembly.

Source: KNUST
An Assessment of the Challenges of the Public Procurement Act , A Case Study of the Electricity Company Of Ghana

In most developing and developed countries procurement budgets constitute an enormous amount of national budgets. According to the an OECD report in 2004,worldwide procurement represented over 80% of world merchandise and commercial services export in 1998.Jn the United States procurement expenditure constitutes about 20% of Gross Domestic Products. However despite its enormous impact on countries’ economies public procurement has not been viewed as having a strategic impact in the management of public resources. In Ghana prior to the enactment of the public procurement Act (Act 633), the procurement system was fraught with a lot of challenges. These included the absence of comprehensive public procurement policy, and the lack of a comprehensive legal regime to safeguard the integrity of the public procurement system. The aims of the study therefore were to indentify some of these challenges and investigate to what extent the establishment of the public procurement law and authority has helped to smoothing the public procurement system. The need for the study was derived from the fact that public procurement expenditures exerted so much on public resources, hence the need to ensure measures are put in place to achieve greater value for money. Also studies in other developing economies such as in Guatemala, Colombia and Nicaragua have revealed that tremendous saving made through procurement reforms. In all about forty samples were studied applying both the probability and the non- probability sampling techniques. Most of the various data collection instruments were used. These included Questionnaires, Interviews, and Observation. The study also relied on both primary and secondary data. Some of the major results of the study were that trends are changing very fast in Ghana as well as most developing countries through reforms in public procurement. For example, procurement activities are no more treated as back room activity. There has been an appreciable improvement in the levels of staff handling procurement in most organisations by way of qualifications. The level of transparency in the processes has been enhanced.

Source: KNUST