ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Talent Management: A Bundle of Hurdles

Although companies around the world have made talent management a top priority, most human resource professionals and senior executives believe their organisations have not fully resolved the talent management puzzle. The paper investigates if there are any indicators that suggest that talent management is a puzzle. Applying mainly review of academic and popular literature, the assessment is done under five headings and nine propositions are developed that suggest various talent management perceptions, difficulties and applications. It is found that albeit being differentiator between organisations that succeed and those that do not, talent management is saddled with uncertainties, lack of clarity, and misunderstanding, hurdles that need to be cleared to pave way for more effective talent programmes. To overcome these, organisations should avoid one common blueprint to all talent situations, but develop approaches that suit individual talent requirements.

Source: UCC
Targeting Price And Financial Stability In Ghana: The Role Of Monetary Policy And Macroprudential Regulations

Examining the effect of Ghana's macroprudential regulations and monetary policy on the nation's financial and price stability is the main objective of this study. It specifically looks at how these policies interact and what effect they have on Ghana's prices and financial stability. This is done using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to evaluate quarterly data from 2013 Q1 to 2022 Q1 provided by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), and World Development Indicators (WDIs). The results show that macro-level prudential regulations have no long-term association with financial stability, but they have a favourable and significant short-term effect. Furthermore, the existence of monetary policy boosts the short-term effects of macro-level prudential regulations on financial stability but has no significant long-term influence. Additionally, without macro-level prudential regulations, monetary policy has a detrimental, albeit slight, effect on price stability; nevertheless, in their presence, the study finds a notable and statistically significant positive effect in the long-run. The study proposes as a recommendation that Ghana maintain its framework for managing inflation, using measures to control liquidity, borrowing costs, inflationary pressures, and foster stability, including policy rates and macro-level prudential regulations, particularly the primary reserve requirement ratio. Immediate concerns about financial stability can be addressed using a coordinated approach that combines macroprudential regulations and monetary policy, while fine-tuned macro-level prudential regulations should be the principal tool for long-term stability preservation.

Source: UCC
TARO “Colocasia esculenta”: Its Utilization in Food Products in Ghana

The study developed Taro “Colocasia esculenta” products and sensorily assessed acceptability and promotion in the diets of Ghanaians to help address the increasing persistent malnutrition among Ghanaians and provide employment through agro-processing. Composite flours were produced from taro, soybeans, rice and maize and analyzed proximately. Ten panelists, 5 males and 5 females were purposively sampled from the VOTEC Department of University of Cape Coast and interviewed. A self developed questionnaire was administered to panelists to evaluate the sensory properties of baby food and pastries prepared from the composite flours. Panelists’ scores were subjected to ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple test at α ≤ 0.05. Babies of the 5 females were fed samples of the baby food and observations made in relation to how well they ate the food were compared to the scores provided by the panelists. Results showed taro flour ash content of 4.01%, protein 3.43%, carbohydrates 0.74%, dry matter 85.32%, and fat 0.18%. Sensory analyzed samples had high mean scores for characteristics considered. Appearance and color of baby food (S1 - S4) were not significantly different at α ≤ 0.05 whilst taste, flavor and overall acceptability differed. The taste of S1 and S3 were not significantly different but were significantly different for S2 and S4. The texture of S1 and S3 were not significantly different but S4 was different. All samples of baby food were not significantly different for overall acceptability. For the taro cake (T1 - T3) most of the sensory characteristics were not significantly different. T2 was evaluated as the best product followed by T3, T1 whilst T6 came out as the best product followed by T5 and T4 respectively.

Source: UCC
Tax Compliance Among Self-Employed in Ghana: Do Demographic Characteristics Matter?

The paper investigates the influence of demographic characteristics, specifically gender, age, marital status and education attainment on tax compliance among selfemployed in Ghana using survey method. A questionnaire administered to 350 self-employed in Tema Metropolis revealed that female, educated, older and married selfemployed in Ghana are less tax non-compliant. The implication is that given the appropriate treatment, more tax could be collected from these groups than their opposite counterpart.The study therefore recommend that tax authorities should switch their approach to tax administration from a onesize-fits-all enforcement model to a model that builds on the lessons of tax morale that matches the tax authority’s response to that of the regulated individuals (taxpayers), for example tougher sanction or special tax education for low educated, young, unmarried and male self-employed.

Source: UCC
Tax compliance among self-employed in the Bawku West District of Ghana

Issue of tax non-compliance has remained a major canker in Ghana because of deliberate attempt of people not to file and pay their taxes. Few investigations on the drivers of tax compliance behaviour have revealed mixed findings because they were not able to establish a comprehensive factor that drive people to comply with tax obligation. The dearth of clarity on what drives people to comply with tax limits a proper understanding on tax policy formulation. In view of this, the study explored how tax compliance drives tax compliance behaviour among self-employed in the Bawku West District. The study proposed a comprehensive framework that institutional factors, economic factors, individual factors and social factors drive tax obligation behaviour among self-employed. This study employed the quantitative approach with both cluster and convenience sampling technique and questionnaire as data collection instrument. SPSS was used for processing data while Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to test the four hypotheses. The study result shows that, among the four factors, institutional, individual and social factors are the key determinants of tax compliance among self employed. The study did not find any positive relationship between economic factors and tax compliance behaviour. The study recommended that tax authorities must simplify all the complex processes that tax payers go through during tax filling. Government may consider employing mobile money services to help facilitate tax payment among self-employed.

Source: UCC
Tax Compliance among Small-Scale Enterprises in Ghana: A Case of La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly

The aim of the study was to explore tax compliance among selected small-scale businesses in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly (LANMA). The study adopted a qualitative research method. The study also adopted a descriptive survey study design in addressing the objectives of the study. The study population comprised of all small-scale businesses in La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly who have operated for not less than two years and GRA offices within the same Assembly. The study employed both purposive and convenience sampling technique in selecting fifteen (15) small-scale businesses and eight (8) officers from the GRA respectively. The study also used interview guides in collecting data from the participants. Consequently, Nvivo software version 11 was used in analyzing the data which later developed into themes that fall under the specific objectives. Thus, the study results showed that the level of tax compliance in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly is low and it is due to poor knowledge about tax, voluntary invasion of tax and late registration of business. Consequently, the challenges being faced by SSBs include low-income level, poor education on tax and high tax rate. The study, therefore, recommends that to overcome these challenges, the government must ensure that, information regarding the payment of tax, uses of tax, legal action of not paying tax must be communicated to all taxpayer by using TV advertisement, radio and communication van.

Source: UCC
Tax compliance behaviour among self-employed persons in the Cape Coast metropolis

This study examined the influence of non-economic factors such as socio-economic factors and psychological components which have the tendency of influencing tax compliance. The study was based on the Fisher tax compliance model. A partial modification of the model was done by incorporating an important tax compliance determinant – “Tax Knowledge”. The effect of perceived tax fairness, tax knowledge, and tax complexity in tax compliance decisions among a sample of 350 self-employed persons in Cape Coast metropolis was explored. Descriptive correlational design was adopted in the study. The data was analysed by multiple regression, ANOVA and Chi square methods which were undertaken with SPSS software. The findings revealed that simultaneously, perceived tax fairness, tax knowledge and tax complexity influence taxpayers’ compliance decisions. While the partial test showed that both tax fairness and tax knowledge affect the tax compliance among SMEs taxpayers in Cape Coast while the tax complexity/ structure did not give any significant effect on tax compliance. The results of the study suggest that tax knowledge is a key factor which determines tax compliance levels of the self employed especially in the self assessment system. It is, therefore, recommended that tax education programmes be designed for the self employed to help improve on their tax knowledge

Source: UCC
Tax compliance behaviour among self-employed persons in the Cape Coast metropolis

This study examined the influence of non-economic factors such as socioeconomic factors and psychological components which have the tendency of influencing tax compliance. The study was based on the Fisher tax compliance model. A partial modification of the model was done by incorporating an important tax compliance determinant – “Tax Knowledge”. The effect of perceived tax fairness, tax knowledge, and tax complexity in tax compliance decisions among a sample of 350 self-employed persons in Cape Coast metropolis was explored. Descriptive correlational design was adopted in the study. The data was analysed by multiple regression, ANOVA and Chi square methods which were undertaken with SPSS software. The findings revealed that simultaneously, perceived tax fairness, tax knowledge and tax complexity influence taxpayers’ compliance decisions. While the partial test showed that both tax fairness and tax knowledge affect the tax compliance among SMEs taxpayers in Cape Coast while the tax complexity/ structure did not give any significant effect on tax compliance. The results of the study suggest that tax knowledge is a key factor which determines tax compliance levels of the self employed especially in the self assessment system. It is, therefore, recommended that tax education programmes be designed for the self employed to help improve on their tax knowledge.

Source: UCC
Tax Compliance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Bolgatanga Metropolis

Tax noncompliance in Ghana has remained a major issue as a result of people's deliberate choice not to register and pay theocratisations. Few research studies have shown conflicting results about the drivers of tax compliance campaigns, and they have been unable to build a systematic framework that promotes individuals to comply with their responsibilities. The lack of clarity on what causes people to comply with tax limits facilitates a good understanding of the tax policy development. Due to this, the research analysed the Bolgatanga Metropolitan Assembly and how the factors influence the tax compliance behaviour of small and medium-sized business owners (SMEs). To accomplish the goals of the research, a sample of 362 from a population of 6044 was analysed using multiple regression. Using a multivariate regression model to evaluate the goals, I discovered that institutional variables had a positive and substantial effect on the degree of tax compliance among SME owners. Additionally, societal issues such as ethics had a favourable and substantial effect on tax compliance. Individual considerations also have a favourable and substantial effect on tax compliance. The research suggested that tax authorities should simplify the onerous procedures that people must through while filing their taxes. In addition, the government should not emphasize the characteristics of respondents while developing tax policy. Individual characteristics, such as age, degree of education, and field of endeavour, do not influence the tax compliance of the self-employed since they have no significant impact on tax compliance.

Source: UCC
Tax Composition and Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

The study examined the differential effect of income and consumption tax on income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa and their thresholds effect. The study used 26 countries from SSA and data collected from 1990 to 2017. The study used the GMM panel estimation methods in achieving the objectives of the study. The results of the study revealed that the income tax is significant in reducing income inequality in SSA but it has a threshold effect beyond which it turns to increase income inequality. Also, consumption tax does not have any significant effect on income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa and the threshold effect is also not significant. The study recommends that the governments of sub Saharan Africa in conjunction with fiscal authorities like Ministry of finance of these countries should focus on income tax if they wish to reduce income inequality. The fiscal authorities in SSA countries should set an optimal income tax rate of 9.2 percent which is necessary to reduce income inequality to boost economic activities

Source: UCC
Tax education and tax compliance: a study of the self-employed in the cape coast metropolitan assembly of Ghana

The level of tax knowledge is a key indicator of the level of tax compliance, which also affects the amount of the tax revenues available to support government projects and programmes. In Ghana, the level of compliance among the self-employed is low according to the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). It is believed that the level of compliance among these selfemployed will be improved with tax education. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between tax education and tax compliance among the selfemployed in the Cape Coast metropolis. The study applied the quantitative approach by designing closed–ended questionnaires to collect the appropriate numerical data necessary to address the study objectives. Tax compliance is represented by committed, capitulative and creative compliances. Tax education is also represented by five proxies. A total of 400 respondents were drawn from the estimated self-employed population of 28,355. The study adds to the body of existing knowledge on tax education and tax compliance. The key findings from the study indicate that tax education affects tax compliance among the self-employed, however, the nature of the relationship depends on the type of the content of tax education and the type of compliance to be achieved. Generally, tax compliance segregation into committed tax compliance, capitulative tax compliance and creative tax compliance has significant bearings on overall tax compliance. The study recommends that the tax laws should be made less complex to ensure compliance, penalties must be enforced, and tax payers must educate themselves more on tax laws. The GRA must also organise seminars and conferences to educate tax payers.

Source: UCC
Tax Evasion and Avoidance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (Smes): A Study of Selected Enterprises in Kumasi

In Ghana, the government mobilize huge amount of money from taxing the informal sector. Yet, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are noted as tax evaders and avoiders. This study therefore sought to assess the factors that have contributed to tax evasion and avoidance among owners of SMEs in Kumasi. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 150 owners of SMEs in Subin, Suame and Bantama in the Kumasi Metropolis through face-toface interview. Also, 10 tax officials from the GRA were interviewed using interview guide. The results from this study indicated that tax evasion and avoidance among the owners of SMEs in Kumasi was attributed to infrequent public education by the tax officials, illiteracy of taxpayers on taxation, high penalty rate, low returns, lack of tax incentives, and lack of enforcement of tax laws, lack of transparency and accountability and corruption. The correlation results indicated a significant relationship between high penalty rate on taxes and the influence on the decisions of taxpayers to pay their income taxes. The positive correlation significance of 0.173 indicated that the higher the penalty rate, the more owners of SMEs were committed to honor their tax obligation that also reduces tax evasion. It was also found that owners of SMEs evade tax through non-declaration of their income to the tax authorities and failure to pay income tax on the number of business they owned. The strategies used by tax officials from the GRA to minimize tax evasion and avoidance included the introductions of tax amnesty, field visits, tax court, tax education, tax incentives and the use of animators. It is recommended in this study that the existing strategies for minimizing tax evasion and avoidance should be strengthened through capacity building of tax officials from the GRA.

Source: UCC
Tax evasion and the Ghanaian economy: evidence from Ghana revenue authority, Cape Coast Metropolis

By far a lot of research has been done but the outcome of this study will strengthen the systems of GRA by way of employing all the necessary strategies probably going beyond what they do to close the loop holes thereby reducing the rate of tax evasion. The main objective of the study was to examine tax evasion and its effects on the Ghanaian economy with evidence from Cape Coast Metropolis. The research was a case study which blended both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis in getting to the bottom of issues discussed. The population of the study were all the tax officials of the GRA and businesses in the Metropolis. Convenience sampling method were used to select 120 businesses and five GRA staff. With the help of SPSS version 16, all the results were analyzed using charts and frequency distribution tables. The study revealed that most tax payers lack the fundamental knowledge on the tax payment process. It was again found that even though the level of evasion was high, there were no evidence of sanctions applied to anyone found culpable. It was revealed also that both categories respondents were very much aware that tax evasion reduces government revenue thereby affecting governments’ ability to provide the citizenry with the needed infrastructural development. The researcher then recommended that the GRA in the Metropolis should embark on tax education on payment processes, and the importance of tax to the national economy. It again recommended that appropriate reviews of tax processes should be integrated into the entire tax system to encourage taxpayers’ compliance. The GRA should in their attempt to profile businesses and individual tax payers, collaborate with Electricity Company of Ghana since ECG has a complete data of all commercial structures, to help them in their search for people liable to pay taxes.

Source: UCC
Tax Knowledge and Tax Compliance of Hospitality Firms in Cape Coast

This study investigated the correlation between tax knowledge and the tax compliance of small and medium-scale enterprises operating in the hospitality industry in Cape Coast. The primary data was collected from 113 small and medium-scale enterprises owners, managers and employees in Cape Cost. The study adopted a quantitative approach and utilized a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. Partial Least Square estimation was employed for data analysis and an explanatory research design was utilized. The finding of the study demonstrated a significant and positive relationship between knowledge of tax rights and responsibilities and tax compliance. Further, the study unveiled a significant and negative association between knowledge of business income and tax compliance. Additionally, the study revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation between awareness of sanctions and tax compliance. In light of these findings, it is recommended that small and medium-scale enterprises owners and managers should invest in tax education programs for their employees with a specific focus on ensuring that those involved in financial related issues are well-versed in tax rights and responsibilities. Also, small and medium-scale enterprises should consider seeking guidance from tax professionals who specialize in their industry as these experts can offer valuable insights into optimizing tax compliance strategies. Finally, it is crucial for small and medium-scale enterprises managers to effectively communicate the potential sanctions and consequences of non-compliance to their employees and stay informed about any changes in tax regulations and sanctions

Source: UCC
Tax Planning and Performance of Insurance Companies in Ghana

Many firms, including the insurance companies, in their bid to improve upon their financial soundness and contribute to shareholders’ value maximization include tax planning in the overall financial management decisions. Thus, within such firms, tax managers learn to take advantage of the tax planning opportunities to mitigate their firms’ tax liabilities and improve upon their after-tax returns. To what extent, therefore, is tax planning by firms related to firms’ performance? It is in this bid that this study examined the relationship between tax planning and performance of insurance firms in Ghana. The study employed panel data for the period of 2012 to 2017 of 40 insurance companies in both the life and non-life insurance industries in Ghana. Based on the results of the Hausman (1978), fixed and random effects model of regression were used to analyse both models of the panel data. The study revealed that, on the average, insurance firms in Ghana have low effective tax rate (ETR). However, non-life insurance firms have higher ETR than the life insurance firms, implying that life insurance firms were better tax managers than the non-life firms. The study also revealed that tax planning was positively and significantly related to performance of insurance firms, but only at lower ETRs from 0% up to maximum thresholds of 20.36% and 19.7% computed for ROE and ROA models employed, and beyond these optimal levels of ETR, tax planning assumed a significant negative relationship with firm performance. The study recommends that managers of insurance companies must be incentivised to undertake more aggressive tax planning aimed at managing their ETRs within the boundaries of the computed optimal ETR levels. The study is relevant to tax planning managers in maximizing returns by managing ETR within the computed optimal ETR levels.

Source: UCC