ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A framework for guiding walling materials selection for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana

This research discussed the factors that affect the selection of walling materials and developed a framework to guide the selection of such materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana. The study adopted a multiple research approach involving Delphi survey and questionnaire survey. Relevant factors that affect the choice of walling materials in general were discovered through literature search. This was followed up by the use of Delphi survey to determine the factors which are relevant in the Ghanaian construction industry. The Delphi study led to the confirmation of 46 factors as relevant to selection of walling materials for housing projects in Ghana. Further investigations with regard to the factors were conducted in the questionnaire survey. A sample size of 152 building construction professionals including Architects, Quantity Surveyors, and Structural Engineers were used for the questionnaire survey. These professionals were selected randomly. The data gathered were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Out of the 46 factors identified by the study, the top ten most influential factors includes strength, initial cost, appearance, durability, owner’s/user’s choice, resistance to decay, maintainability, labour availability, water resistance and maintenance cost.Finally, the results help to develop a framework to guide the selection of appropriate walling materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana. This framework will enable building professionals and stakeholders in general to effectively and accurately evaluate the trade-offs between cost, technical, environmental, socio-cultural, sensorial, performance and some general factors during the material evaluation and selection processes. In order to ensure faster construction solutions, foster new economic development and promote better quality of building structures, decision makers should consider all the essential factors established in this study when deciding on walling materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana

Source: KNUST
A framework for procurement planning in public procurement entities in Ghana

Public procurement around the world is one major means by which government provide developmental needs for its country. In order to achieve the ultimate goal for public procurement, various reforms have been undertaken especially in developing countries like Ghana. Notwithstanding, it has been reported that challenges are encountered throughout the procurement process notably at the planning stage. Planning generally for goods, works and services entails making future decisions that will have an impact on the procurement need. However, as important as procurement planning is to the success of the process, it has been neglected by public procurement entities especially in the local government sector. The study therefore aimed at proposing a framework for procurement planning in public procurement entities in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative approach by which qualitative data was collected and analysed. Primary data was collected from respondents by the use of unstructured and semi structured interview guide through face to face interaction. This helped to collect data on the current procurement planning practices in procurement entities. A review of literature identified challenges faced in procurement planning. The target population was procurement officers in all six (6) Metropolitan Assemblies in Ghana. The qualitative data obtained was analysed using the thematic data analysis technique. The study revealed eleven (11) stages of current procurement planning processes that procurement entities undertake to develop their annual procurement plan. In addition, the study identified sixteen (16) challenges faced in procurement planning. Among them are unfamiliarity with regulation, influence on the method of procurement, poor records management, poor coordination between departments, non-participation of key personnel and low ethical standards in procurement planning, small or low thresholds and loopholes in legislative provisions and others. However, some of these challenges were also in themselves causes of the challenges faced. These causes of challenges were therefore grouped into five categories namely; organisational, professional, political, legislative, economic and market conditions. Further, it was found that sustainable procurement planning and risk management were not currently part of the planning process, also there are challenges inherent in the planning process. The study, concludes that a team of relevant personnel should be constituted to undertake procurement planning for every financial year. It is therefore recommended Public Procurement Authority should intensify training programs on procurement process. Further the review should incorporate sustainable procurement planning and risk planning in the process.

Source: KNUST
Framework for the implementation of total quality management (TQM) in real estate firms in Ghana

With the globalization of economy, firms world-wide are actively engaged to achieve internationally accepted quality levels to ensure their position in the emerging international market especially those from developing economies. Unfortunately the Construction industry, generally, has lagged behind other industries in implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) which provide excellence in customer satisfaction through continuous improvements of products, processes or services. The main reason for that has been the perception that TQM is for manufacturing and service sectors only. Notwithstanding this challenge most current studies focuses on superior quality companies in advanced industrial environments, leaving companies in the developing economies largely unstudied. Against this backdrop, this research addresses the identified problem that has frustrated the construction industry on “how to implement TQM” by focusing on developing a framework for an effective implementation of total quality management for real estate firms in Ghana, a developing economy, through an investigation of critical quality factors. A survey of 62 real estate development companies registered with the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) was conducted to establish the current quality management practices and managers perception of factors required for a successful implementation of TQM. The data was analysed using descriptive Statistics, Importance indices and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The findings indicated that although these firms are aware of the importance of quality, their knowledge about QM is limited as well as their perception about quality is of corrective actions (Quality control) rather than preventive actions (Quality assurance, process and continuous improvement approach).Again, the survey indicates that the major problems affecting implementation of QM program are lack of expertise/resources in QM, changing the behaviour and attitude, lack of education and training to drive the improvement process, lack of employee commitment/understanding, lack of top-management commitment/understanding. Eleven factors were also identified as drivers for an effective quality management. These factors are to be given attention to minimize difficulties related to the implementation of total quality management and ensure the successful implementation of total quality management in this industry. In addition managers will be able to use this instrument to evaluate their quality management implementation so as to identify areas for improvement.

Source: KNUST
Franchising in the retailing of petroleum products in Ghana: prospects and challenges: a case study of shell retailers in Ashanti region

The importance of the development of the private sector is the engine of growth of the economy of Ghana cannot be over-emphasized. Since greater attention is being given to this sector, individuals and groups are found engaged in all form of private business initiatives. One such area is the retailing of petroleum products which has been a phenomenal increase in the last ten years. The sector had been dominated by the major Oil Marketing Companies like Shell, Total which has emerged with Mobil) and Engen. The entry mode and operating system of one of these companies (SHELL), its prospects and challenges to those who do business with it (SHELL) is research into in this work. Open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire was prepared as a major instrument used to sample information and views on a sampled population of twenty (20) retailers. Primary data was collected through interviews guided questionnaire and focus group. The analysis of the primary data was done by using charts and tables. Descriptive method was used to summarize the findings and conclusions.

Source: KNUST
A framework for on-site communication planning for construction managers in ghana

In modern day construction, some of the important elements contributing to the poor performance of the construction industry that have been identified are ineffective communication practices, the organizational fragmentation and the lack of integration between design and construction processes. In an industry such as construction, interaction is mainly characterised by unfamiliar groups of people who come together in a purpose driven environment within short periods before they are divided into several groups to perform their various roles towards the achievement of a construction project. Accordingly, failure in project communication can lead to the failure of the project as whole. Communication does not only aim to keep members of the project team updated in terms of progress, but to as well enhance the ownership of project decisions. This study aimed at developing a framework for on site communication to aid the planning of communication during the construction phase. The study adopted the quantitative method of research; in congruence with similar construction communication studies conducted. The primary data collection tool used for the study was the questionnaire. Data were collected from construction managers of D1 and D2 firms operating in the Kumasi and Accra Metropolises in Ghana yielding a response rate of 86 percent. Statistical tools used in data analysis included the mean score; quadrant analysis, factor analysis and descriptive statistics. The key findings of the study led to the development of a framework aimed at enabling construction managers to plan communication during the construction stage. The developed framework serves as an aid to construction practitioners to plan communication and help in allocating responsibility for information management. It also serves as a reference point through the provision of sources for which information can be assessed. Theoretically, further study has been recommended to validate the proposed framework on real life projects.

Source: KNUST
The free zones policy and the national space economy: an analysis of the potential location of industrial activities in the northern sector of Ghana

The space economy evolves overtime from a rudimentary stage to a matured and well integrated system. Its dynamism is facilitated by improvements in the physical infrastructure which in turn facilitates the interaction between goods and services, people and places. The existing form and structure of the space economy at any point in time is a reflection of the level of integration and development of the country. Governments seek to achieve development through the formulation and implementation of public policy which has varying effects on the space economy economic, social and more importantly spatial. It is important to emphasise that public policy affects the spatial arrangements of economic activities by modifying the conditions under which location decisions are made. In fact, the actual measures and strategies adopted towards the achievement of policy objectives, which may be entirely economic, social or a combination of the two, can have negative or positive impacts. The negative impacts tend to perpetuate spatial imbalances where they exist. Positive impacts on the other hand, induce development in otherwise dormant areas. The success of general economic or social policy therefore depends on the full anticipation of all implications - social, economic as well as spatial - and the ability of the government to influence the location of economic activities through improvements in infrastructure and the provision of attractive locational incentives. Other factors could be in the improvements in information dissemination and aggressive marketing. An examination of Ghana’s situation indicates an imbalance in the space economy in favour of the core region of Accra. This spatial imbalance has been perpetuated by the implementation of development policies over the years. Currently the implementation of one such policy, the Free zones policy is likely to perpetuate the imbalances existing in the Ghanaian space economy if government does not deliberately intervene to make alternative locations other than the present ones attractive to investors. Such deliberate interventions could be in the form of locational tax incentives as well as upgrading of essential facilities especially transport and communication infrastructure. The policy could also be used, with particular reference to EPZs, as an instrument of human settlement policy with the view to ensuring even distribution of population as well as equitable distribution of resources.

Source: KNUST
Free Senior High School educational policy and its implementation challenges in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Fee-paying in secondary education has always been the barrier that prevents many children from accessing quality secondary education. The successful launching of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) Educational Policy on September 12, 2016 witness an enormous increase of enrollment by 26.3% in the first year. FSHS educational policy was implemented for the purpose of granting every Ghanaian child an equal access to free, equitable and quality of secondary education. This will prepare children to acquire employable skills and knowledge to be able to meet the demands pertaining to the developmental agenda of the country. Sustainable funding of FSHS program has been an issue considering the country’s economic challenges in recent times. The policy is reported to faced myriad of implementation challenges which robbing it of its intended purpose. The paper sought to investigate the challenges faced in the implementation of FSHS educational policy in the Kumasi metropolis. The study investigated the adequacy and timeliness of government funds disbursement to schools; the availability and adequacy of physical infrastructures; the teacherstudent ratio in public secondary schools and recommend ways to deal with the challenges. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. It also utilized multi-stage sampling techniques in sampling. Stratified proportionate sampling technique was used to select 15 SHS’s in Kumasi Metropolitan for the study and purposive sampling technique for selecting of the number of respondents for the study. A sample size of 492 was used. This included 15 heads of schools, 14 Housemasters/Mistress, 60 Teachers, 388 Students, and 15 Matrons. Both closed nd opened-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and presented in frequencies, tables, and bar charts. The study found that government funds disbursed to schools under the FSHS program were inadequate and not timely disbursed. On the contrary, government provision for foods was adequate and timely delivered. Also, government provisions for Teaching and Learning Materials were inadequate. Physical facilities directly related to both classrooms and dormitories even though are available were inadequate. The study established the Teacher-Student Ratio of 1:53 under the FSHS educational program. This indicated teacher deficit in public secondary schools. The study also concluded that the purpose for which the FSHS program was established is most likely to be affected negatively by the identified implementation challenges if not addressed immediately. However, the study recommended that FSHS funds allocations must be revised upward which must always take into consideration the current market trends of prices. FSHS funds should be disbursed in yearly bases and sent to schools before an academic term begins in order to prepare adequately for the academic year. The government should recruit more teachers to balance the disproportion between teacherstudent ratio.

Source: KNUST
Fraud prevention policies and their implementation: a case study of selected Banks in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The increasing cases of fraud in banking institutions have made security a major concern in the banking industry and also academic research. The study sought to explore fraud prevention policies and their implication among three selected banks in the Kumasi Metropolis. A quantitative approach was adopted for the study; 70 completed questionnaires were obtained from the field study form Barclays Bank Ghana Ltd, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, and Stanbic Bank Ghana Ltd in the Kumasi Metropolis. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools of IBM‟s SPSS version 21 were used to explore the data, and tables and charts were formatted and generated in Microsoft office excel, 2013 edition. It was found that all the twelve fraud prevention policies; Know Your Customer, Know Your Intermediary policy, Asset Verification policy, Revolving Fund - Re draw ability policy, Know Your Staff policy, Third Party Payments/Disbursements policy, Reporting policy, Operational Efficiency policy, Fraud Technology policy, Protection of software/application, Communication fraud policy, and Process Control, were applicable and implemented in each of the banks. However, respondents from Stanbic Bank were more firm in their responses on both the applicability of each policy and the implementation thereof. Also, it was found that job insecurity, low salary, working in one position for a long time and high financial difficulty, were among some of the key primary causes of fraud incidents among employees. It was also identified that inexperienced staff and overloading staff (high workload, few staff) also contributed to outsiders committing fraud. Moreover, it was found that forms of fraud challenging banks today include forged documents, forged signature and seals, cash theft, electronic fraud, and fraud involved by management. A novel was that, junior staff‟s opinion on the implementation of Know Your Customer, Third Party Payment/Disbursement policy, and Reporting Policy, were far lower than perceived by senior management, using Bonferroni test for mean differences. It was therefore recommended that management of the banks re-examine their fraud prevention implementation policies

Source: KNUST
The Frequency and Burden of Severe Injury in Rural and Urban Communities of the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana: An Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION: The problem of injury is quite widespread and can affect anyone severely and yet has not received much public health attention. In Ghana, this is partly so because information available on injuries which makes the size of the injury problem visible to policy-makers is not adequately available to inform the deserved public health action. Information available excludes a good number of injuries in the communities as well as their socio-economic impact on victims. This makes the injury burden difficult to appreciate. OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency and burden of severe injury in urban and rural communities of the Bolgatanga municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana. METHODS: Community health workers interviewed respondents in 200 households in some urban and rural communities selected by two-stage random sampling to determine those who were involved in severe injury in a one year reference period (November 2007- October 2008), using a questionnaire/ interview guide. RESULTS: In the rural setting, 100 households, with 826 persons were surveyed whilst 100 households and 876 persons were surveyed in the urban settings. 63 and 48 injured persons were found in rural and urban communities respectively. The total incidence rate of fatal, disabling, and recovered injuries was 65.56 per 1,000 persons per year with a case fatality rate of 2.7. Leading causes of injuries were road traffic accidents in general, largely involving motor-bikes related injuries and deaths as well as occupational injuries in rural settings especially CONCLUSION: Based on the burden of injury and deaths as demonstrated by this survey, prevention measures in both urban and rural communities in the Bolgatanga municipality should make RTAs and occupational injuries top priorities.

Source: KNUST
Freeman Centre - Tafo Kumasi

Freeman College lay training centre is an institution for training the laity of the Methodist Church, Ghana in religion and Church administration affairs. The College was established to train ministers and catechists. After several transformations the College was left for the training of lay leaders of the Church, such, as society stewards, and leaders of the various organisations within the Church on their responsibilities within the Church and among the congregation. Looking at the state of the College now and the increase in number of people that need training. The Church also considers the fact that the location is very prime and improvement in the facility will attract more users to generate funds for the Church. The College at the moment serves as transit quarters for people and also a facility for training of workers of organisations. The above has prompted the idea of a centre to accommodate these functions. The dissertation is an attempt to set out proposals for the realisation of the dream. Hence it is one of necessary tooling-up studies for the development of such facilities in Ghana. The approach in tackling this dissertation was the initial collection of available statistical data and documented facts. Analysis of this information will lead to problem identification and solutions. Drawn up conclusions produced an appropriate design brief with their related presentations.

Source: KNUST
Free space optical communication over the Ghanaian Turbulent Atmospheric Channel

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication is the transmission of optical signals through the atmosphere. This technology promises high wireless data rates, highly secured transmission, license-free operation and immunity to electromagnetic interference. However, turbulent atmospheric conditions have impacts on its performance and therefore hampered its wide spread deployment. In this thesis, we investigate the feasibility of FSO in Ghana. Atmospheric attenuation is estimated based on the atmospheric visibility data. Our results show atmospheric specific attenuation as high as 128.2dB/km in the 1550nm window, 134.5dB/km in 1300nm window and 150.95dB/km in the 850nm window. The probability of encountering different atmospheric attenuation conditions is estimated. Fading loss due to scintillation is investigated using the lognormal statistical model. It is shown that the margin to compensate for losses due to scintillation depends on the power scintillation index and the allowable system outage probability. The system availability estimated in Ghana is above 99% for a propagation path of 1km.

Source: KNUST