ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An investigation into the history and effectiveness of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and its impact on Ghana’s past and future development aspirations

This thesis seeks to explore the history of Ghana’s 1992 constitution by outlining Ghana’s constitutional history since independence. The study seeks to determine what the impact of this constitution has been on Ghana’s governance processes. It also wants to determine how Ghanaians can achieve better governance outcomes in spite of the shortcomings in the constitution that have been revealed by legal and economic scholars as well as political scientists or by modifying and amending the constitution for effectiveness. The research questions tackled in the thesis are: What is the history of Ghana’s current 1992 constitution? What has been the impact of this history on the quality of governance processes over time? What are the main weaknesses in Ghana’s 1992 constitution that subvert good governance and why do they persist? In what ways can Ghanaians as a body politic undermine these self-defeating aspects of the 1992 constitution to nurture good governance? The research employs a descriptive research design and uses secondary data on Ghana’s economy and governance spanning the years, 1980 to 2019 where data for those years is available. Qualitative data on the pitfalls of the constitution as it relates to governance was sourced from the Report of the Constitutional Review Commission. The research also relies on analysis of Ghana’s constitutional and governance history from various scholars. The principal finding is that the constitution directly impact governance in Ghana in several negative ways. These findings imply that there is the need to take seriously constitutional reform in Ghana. Key words: Governance, Constitution, Development, Governance Indicators

Source: Ashesi
An investigation into the need for Government of Ghana intervention to shore up the struggling Ghanaian entertainment sector

This study is about the entertainment industry of Ghana. It explored the history of the music and filmmaking sectors of Ghana. It addressed the challenges and success the industry has had over the decades. It sought to understand the root cause of Ghana's low output and quality of entertainment products by involving industry players such as music and film producers in the study. This research investigated the need for government intervention in the entertainment industry of Ghana. This dissertation aimed to find ways the government of Ghana can contribute to the growth of the entertainment industry Ghana. To find relevant roles of government, it used the entertainment industry of other countries like Nigeria to discover strategies and structures of successful entertainment space. It adopted a mixed method of research and grounded theory analysis to achieve this goal.

Source: Ashesi
An operational overhaul of Mhoseenu Studios

Mhoseenu Design Studios is a full-service design studio located in Labone, Accra. The company currently has internal struggles with operational management. The problem areas include communication, the alignment of strategic objectives and employee actions, and a lack of an organisational structure. This project details an operational plan aimed at addressing all the problems identified. This project uses a qualitative research methods approach to analyse the problem by considering the stakeholders. These methods include interviews, questionnaires and observations. The data collected was analysed using a service blueprint, tables and word clouds. Analysis of the collected showed that employees of Mhoseenu are generally confused with communication during their first few weeks at Mhoseenu. Furthermore, potential clients are largely influenced by past client reviews and consider customer service a crucial factor in the selection of a creative service firm to work with. The company needs to operate a circular organogram in its structure to facilitate the smooth flow of communication. In addition, a bi-annual Line of Sight analysis should be conducted bi-annually to ensure that the management objectives are aligned with those of the staff. Lastly, an updated service blueprint is recommended to reduce the customer wait times. A quarterly review of the service blueprint is recommended. The sensitive nature of some client information may limit the effectiveness of some proposed changes to the service blueprint.

Source: Ashesi
Analysing trends in agricultural output in Ghana 1995 2015: Underlying causes and options for sustainable growth

Agriculture’s impact in Africa has led to the conclusion that it is the lifeblood of many Africa economies. In Ghana, agriculture was historically the dominant sector of the real economy accounting for more than 30 percent of GDP post-independence although more recently, it has declined sharply and is the smallest sector of the economy as at 2016. Despite that, the sector still plays a key role in Ghana’s economy and employs 44.7 percent of the population above15 years. The continuous decline of output in the agricultural sector and its sub-sectors growth in Ghana raises many questions worth investigating. This paper investigates the trends in productivity of the agricultural sector to outline causal factors and options for sustainable growth. Literature indicates that the sector will remain as a mainstay sector for the growth of Ghana’s economy in the coming years. The study uses in-depth analysis of interviews to outline causal factors and options for growth in Ghana’s agriculture sector. The study found budget allocation, misplaced priorities, lack of technology commercialisation, among others, as some factors responsible for the declining performance in the agriculture sector. The paper concludes with recommendations for the turnaround of the sector and call for further studies into this area of research.

Source: Ashesi
An analysis of the office property market in Airport City using Porter's Five Forces Framework

Real estate in Ghana has also undergone tremendous change largely to economic stability and government's support of foreign investments. Over the past decade, the office property market in Accra has grown steadily averaging an annual 14 percent of GDP since 2010 (Setrana, 2013). This increase in demand has led to several developments being undertaken in Accra (Ghana Prime Properties, 2013). However, this paper focuses on the office property market in Airport City and uses Porters Five Forces model to make an objective assessment about the attractiveness of the market. This is because the model goes beyond a more simplistic focus on relative market growth rates in determining industry attractiveness. The main objective of the study was to assess the strength of the competitive forces in the office property market in Airport City and examine the overall attractiveness of the market. This study was largely qualitative in nature using both primary and secondary data. The study adopted an inductive approach to interpreting data by using public information about the market and also relying on statements by the interviewees to draw conclusions on questions raised in the study for the purpose of narrative analysis and thematic analysis. Overall, 75 per cent of responses agreed that supplier bargaining power was very low, 60 per cent of results confirmed that rivalry power among office property owners in Airport City was very low; 75% responses for office property owners indicated that the threat new entrants was also very low; however 72% of responses agreed that office property owners in Airport City do not have a favorable advantage advance with customers due to high buyer power. Finally 100% of responses agreed that the threat of substitutes was very low. From these results it can be drawn the Airport City is a very attractive market for investments since office property owners have a favorable advantage over four of the five forces.

Source: Ashesi
Analysis of the rehabilitation of inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison

Crime is on the ascendency in Ghana and prisons are becoming overcrowded. Vocational training is the main method by which Ghanaian prisons seek to reform offenders and put this trend in check, yet recidivism is on the increase in our prisons after inmates have gone through the various rehabilitation programmes. This study seeks to evaluate the rehabilitation programmes in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison and whether any meaningful rehabilitation process has been achieved by interviewing 68 trainee inmates; a sample size collated through the systematic sampling approach. Interview questions were geared towards the aims of this study and required information such as intentions towards training, future plans with regards to the training, performance of supervisors, conditions of tools used, problems faced during the rehabilitation programmes as well as suggested solutions to these problems. The findings of the study confirm the view that with proper direction and supervision, vocational training can serve as a method by which offenders can be reformed. This is supported by the fact that almost all the recidivists interviewed during the study were either unemployed or employed in illegal activities.

Source: Ashesi
Analyzing production challenges plaguing Ghana’s agricultural sector: A focus on poultry production in Greater Accra

Ghana has abundant viable land and a reasonably well educated population that can support different types of agriculture including crop production and animal husbandry. Unfortunately, in the last several years, the agricultural sector has been performing poorly and poultry production has suffered from liberal trade policies that have exposed it to competition from imported products, forcing an almost exclusive focus on egg instead of meat production. At the birth of the country, the agricultural sector was the main contributor to the nation’s economy with cocoa as the dominant foreign exchange earner. However, the contribution of agriculture to GDP has reduced, falling behind the industrial and services sector. The objective of this paper was to identify and discuss the challenges affecting agricultural production by focusing on the poultry sector. The challenges are then ranked in order of severity using a reliability test known as the Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance in order to make recommendations to help mitigate the problems. The research employed a mixed methodology (both quantitative and qualitative methods) and used primary data gathered from the Greater Accra region, specifically six poultry farms to attain accurate and reliable results. Current significant production challenges in Ghana’s poultry sector include: high cost of feed; competition from imported birds; outbreak of diseases; pests; access to finance and power supply. In terms of rank, the top problem is high cost of feed. To enhance poultry production, the NPP government can subsidize feed and focus on building processing plants in its one-district-one factory initiative to provide a market for locally produced birds.

Source: Ashesi
Analyzing the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement on consumer buying behavior in the telecommunication industry in Ghana

This research paper investigates the effect of celebrity endorsements on buying behavior in the telecommunications industry in Ghana. The paper seeks to provide fresh insight on the use of celebrity endorsement as a marketing tool in Ghana. The objectives of the studies are to examine how celebrity endorsements are being employed by firms in the telecommunication market in Ghana and its effect on marketing performance. It also analyzes how celebrity endorsements affect consumer behavior and purchasing decisions and make recommendations for the use of celebrity endorsements to promote brands. The study involved both secondary and primary research. Secondary research entailed a critical review of the Literature on the subject of celebrity endorsement and involved the analysis of celebrity endorsement models such as the sourcecredibility model, source-attractiveness model, the meaning transfer model and celebrity/product fit concepts. The primary research comprised a qualitative approach where a series of interviews were conducted with marketing executives in the telecommunication industry to gain insight into the choice of this mode of promoting brands. A survey was also conducted. This was targeted at university students in two leading universities in Ghana. The questionnaire constructed and used in the survey was based on an indepth interview conducted among marketing executives and on questionnaires developed and used by researchers and authors of the various celebrity models in India and the USA. This study serves as a pioneer in research of celebrity endorsement and buyer behavior in Africa. The work should generate insights and provide guidance or principles that will direct the use of celebrity endorsement to promote brands in Africa.

Source: Ashesi
Asessing the efficacy of the use of brand ambassadors in the promotion of banking services in Ghana

In today’s hypercompetitive environment, more and more firms, outside the heavy, traditional marketing, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, are investing heavily in developing and executing marketing programs to win in the marketplace. In the Ghanaian banking sector, diversity, development, and intense competition have seen many banks developing different strategies, such as employing brand ambassadors to reach their customers, deliver their services, and maintain longlasting relationships with them. However, not much has been done by way of understanding and exploring these strategies. This study, then, serves as a reference point for this gap by assessesing the efficacy of using brand ambassadors in the promotion of banking services in Ghana. The research questions this study addressed include: a) How do banks employ brand ambassadors within their marketing mix? b) Do brand ambassadors contribute significantly to the success or otherwise, of the promotion of banking services in Ghana? c) Are there any opportunities to improve the impact of brand ambassadors in the marketing of banking products/services? If there are, how can banks do this? To address these questions, three banks in Ghana were studied; GCB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Cal Bank. This was augmented with an online consumer study convering 356 respondents. The findings, which were analysed using the market-based brand assets theory and the CBBE model, revealed the importance of the use of brand ambassadors in the promotion of banking services in Ghana. The findings revealed that bank employees are inevitably brand ambassadors. The study also revealed that the use of brand ambassadors in the Ghanaian banking sector has a huge potential to grow and become an important marketing tool for banks to use.

Source: Ashesi
Ashesi University (international student) brand audit

Ashesi University needs to establish ways in which it could address its limited brand awareness in many parts of the African continent, with the help of its international students. This led to the need to understand the perceptions, attitudes and relationship of international students towards the brand of Ashesi. This would help in identifying sources of brand equity for Ashesi University, and opportunities in which the external relations office could use to promote brand awareness. This project therefore is a study of the perceptions and attitudes of international students towards the Ashesi brand. The findings from research will help in developing recommendations on methods of capturing value through international students, as well as how any negative issues arising could be solved. The research revealed that majority (95.7%) of international students feel proud of Ashesi of Ashesi and 82.6 % regard Ashesi as Special.63.5% believe that Ashesi provides a unique, useful high quality education. Generally, concerns were raised on the inactive student social life at the campus. Some of the opportunities for brand awareness include transformational marketing as well as the use of Ashesi international students as Brand Ambassadors in their own countries. Key issues that needed to be addressed, touched on the low satisfaction of international students with regards to current student social life at Ashesi. The final compilations of the analysis and findings are compiled into a report using Keller’s Brand Resonance Model/ Customer-Based Brand Equity Model.

Source: Ashesi
Assessing brand Ghallywood: A study of the elements that constitute and characterize the Ghanaian film industry

This paper explores the history, current state, and possible future of the Ghanaian film industry, by assessing its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. By treating the Ghanaian film industry like a brand, this paper researched and discussed brand assets that could be leveraged to make the industry more marketable to an international audience. Findings showed that the industry's biggest assets lie in the nation's unique traditions, human capital, and cultural values. This paper recommends that filmmakers adopt new business models, work with government to create a foundation that provides filmmakers with capital, and finally, lobby for the passing of the film bill that has remained with parliament for nearly a decade now.

Source: Ashesi
Assessing MMDAs Performance Towards Achieving SDGs 6 and 11: A Case of Ga Central Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Challenges associated with water, sanitation, and sustainability remain global problems, specifically in developing countries such as Ghana. To combat these issues, Ghana has tried to keep up with global development goals such as the United Nations (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Ghana has also tried to decentralize its governance structure to bring the government closer to the people. The core units of the decentralized governance structure are the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and these same MMDAs are responsible for implementing national strategies such as the SDGs at the local level. The research sought to assess Ghana’s decentralized governance by studying challenges faced by the Ga Central Municipality Assembly, the Greater-Accra regional capital’s worstperforming MMDA of 2020. The objectives were to evaluate the state of Ga Central Municipality regarding progress on the SDGs relating to SDG 6 (water and sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), identify problems encountered, and provide recommendations. The study followed a narrative qualitative research method, and the data collection methods employed were interviews and observation. The study used primary and secondary data and data sources, including the Ga Central Municipality residents, officers in the Ga Central Municipal Office, the UNDP, and the NDPC. Information from the Local Governance Act 936 was also used. The findings suggested that the Ga Central Municipality was in a poor state regarding attaining SDGs related to water, sanitation, and sustainability. The reasons for poor performance included lack of cooperation, communication, education, and financial constraints. Recommendations to resolve the issues were improved communication, cooperation, and education on the role and importance of MMDAs.

Source: Ashesi
Assessing MMDAs Performance Towards Achieving SDGs 6 and 11: A Case of Ga Central Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Challenges associated with water, sanitation, and sustainability remain global problems, specifically in developing countries such as Ghana. To combat these issues, Ghana has tried to keep up with global development goals such as the United Nations (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Ghana has also tried to decentralize its governance structure to bring the government closer to the people. The core units of the decentralized governance structure are the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and these same MMDAs are responsible for implementing national strategies such as the SDGs at the local level. The research sought to assess Ghana’s decentralized governance by studying challenges faced by the Ga Central Municipality Assembly, the Greater-Accra regional capital’s worst-performing MMDA of 2020. The objectives were to evaluate the state of Ga Central Municipality regarding progress on the SDGs relating to SDG 6 (water and sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), identify problems encountered, and provide recommendations. The study followed a narrative qualitative research method, and the data collection methods employed were interviews and observation. The study used primary and secondary data and data sources, including the Ga Central Municipality residents, officers in the Ga Central Municipal Office, the UNDP, and the NDPC. Information from the Local Governance Act 936 was also used. The findings suggested that the Ga Central Municipality was in a poor state regarding attaining SDGs related to water, sanitation, and sustainability. The reasons for poor performance included lack of cooperation, communication, education, and financial constraints. Recommendations to resolve the issues were improved communication, cooperation, and education on the role and importance of MMDAs.

Source: Ashesi
Assessing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry Using the Servqual Model – A Case Study of Fiesta Royale Hotel.

Poor customer service has had a wide range of effects on businesses worldwide, including hotels. Remarks such as "I am never able to get my meals on time" and "the receptionist was conversing with someone else in the background while I was making a reservation" are just a few of the comments made by Fiesta Royale customers when asked about their customer experience. According to studies, customer service plays a vital part in various people's choice of holiday location. This thesis investigated whether customer service affects a client's decision to visit Fiesta Royale, as well as whether a customer's opinion of poor or excellent customer service influences their decision. Using a quantitative approach, an online questionnaire was administered to customers of Fiesta Royale to determine and describe the various components of service in the hotel that influence customers' satisfaction. The servqual model, was used as the instrument for measuring service quality and customer satisfaction. In addition, the study's research hypothesis was examined using the Pearson chi-square test. The study's results found no statistically significant link between the two factors (p-value of 0.9). It was also discovered that a customer's opinion of poor or high customer service quality does not determine their decision to stay at Fiesta Royale. The essence of this study would be to aid hotel managers in building comprehensive service quality strategies that will promote the best possible customer experience in order to grow and keep service patronage.

Source: Ashesi