ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Optimal Selection and Analysis of Allowable Photovoltaic Penetration Level for Grid-Connected Systems Using a Hybrid NSGAII-MOPSO and Monte Carlo Method

Generally, the main focus of the grid-linked photovoltaic systems is to scale up the photovoltaic penetration level to ensure full electricity consumption coverage. However, due to the stochasticity and nondispatchable nature of its generation, significant adverse impacts such as power overloading, voltage, harmonics, current, and frequency instabilities on the utility grid arise. These impacts vary in severity as a function of the degree of penetration level of the photovoltaic system. Thus, the design problem involves optimizing the two conflicting objectives in the presence of uncertainty without violating the grid’s operational limitations. Nevertheless, existing studies avoid the technical impact and scalarize the conflicting stochastic objectives into a single stochastic objective to lessen the degree of complexity of the problem. This study proposes a stochastic multiobjective methodology to decide on the optimum allowable photovoltaic penetration level for an electricity grid system at an optimum cost without violating the system’s operational constraints. Five cutting-edge multiobjective optimization algorithms were implemented and compared using hypervolume metric, execution time, and nonparametric statistical analysis to obtain a quality solution. The results indicated that a Hybrid NSGAII-MOPSO had better convergence, diversity, and execution time capacity to handle the complex problem. The analysis of the obtained optimal solution shows that a practical design methodology could accurately decide the maximum allowable photovoltaic penetration level to match up the energy demand of any grid-linked system at a minimum cost without collapsing the grid’s operational limitations even under fluctuating weather conditions. Comparatively, the stochastic approach enables the development of a more sustainable and affordable grid-connected system.

Source: KNUST
Stochastic Analysis of General Insurance Claims Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method

Motor insurance companies need to utilize past and current claim amounts in predicting future liabilities. It is therefore necessary that, motor insurance com- panies develop actuarial models using Bayesian and Markov Chain and Monte Carlo procedures. This thesis focuses on developing stochastic models for insur- ance claim amounts using Bayesian statistics. Motor insurance claim numbers usually follow compound Poisson distribution. This research work, however ex- amines the claim amount distributions. The methodology requires intensive use of Bayesian and Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques through a software called WinBUGS. Two distributions usually tted to claim amounts are examined and the issues encountered when using Bayesian and Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques in this context are investigated.

Source: KNUST
Stock Exchange Building - Ridge, Accra

Asked about the Ghana Stock Exchange, and most Ghanaian have no idea what it is and its operation. This is simply because the Ghana Stock Exchange is hiding at the 5 and 6 floors of the Cedi House at Ridge, Accra. Talk of the London Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Nigeria Stock Exchange, America Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange. All these exchanges have well built facilities that can be identified with them, not only to stand as the economic hub, but also to create the awareness of their existence in their various countries. It is not the same story in Ghana, the exchange, though young, is in an era of high economic competition across the world. Ghana cannot afford to lay back while the rest of the world is at top speed. Therefore, there is the need for a well designed building for the exchange to make it prominent and create an economic hub for Ghana, and this is what this design thesis seeks to achieve.

Source: KNUST
Stock Exchange Building, Accra

Apart from the Nigerian stock exchange and the BRVM of West African Monetary Union (WAMU), most national stock exchange buildings in Africa were not planned and design for securities and stocks trading. As a result installation of new technologies and other relevant infrastructure in these buildings has become almost impossible. The Ghana Stock Exchange is one such institution. It is housed in the Cedi House in Accra, facilities within which are becoming old and even obsolete in the face of new trends in the workplaces especially in the fast changing financial industry. This was made evident in the fire which destroyed the exchange's new refurbished trading floor. This design thesis seeks to explore current trends in the design of modern workplaces and office buildings and to produce a design that satisfies international standards in line with other stock exchanges elsewhere in the world while taking into consideration the surrounding environment and architecture in context.

Source: KNUST
Stock market development and economic growth in Ghana.

This study sought to analyse the trend of stock market development and economic growth inGhana as well as the effect of stock market development on economic growth in Ghana. The study used annual time series data of Ghana from 1996 to 2017 The study adopted tests for Stationarity tests, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing for cointegration, ARDL model for both long run and short run analysis, diagnostic and stability tests. The stationarity test was used to check for the presence of unit root in the time series data. The ARDLbounds test was used to examine the series for cointegration relationships. The ARDL model was used to estimate the long run and short run effects of stock market development on economic growth in Ghana. The results of the study indicated that in the long run, stock market capitalization, stocks value traded and the stock market index are important stock market development indicators which affect economic growth in Ghana. Alternatively, in the short run stock market capitalization, value traded, and stock market index are the stock market development indicators which affects the economy. In addition, inflation and interest rate negatively influence economic growth in the long run. Trade openness and inflation rate influence economic growth in the short run. The study recommended that Ghana Stock Exchange increase public education on the need to raise capital through the stock market. The Ghana Stock Exchange adopt various strategies to create awareness on the need to invest in the stock market. This would bring more investors on board especially those who are less knowledgeable about the stock exchange.

Source: KNUST
Stock exchange design - Accra

Stock exchanges perform important roles in national economies. Most importantly, they encourage investment by providing places for buyers and sellers to trade securities. These investments in turn enable corporations to obtain funds to expand their businesses. The design of the stock exchange facility basically involved studies into the salient issues of the stock exchange using various research methods. Research methods employed basically include existing literature, interviews and accessing information on the internet. Site surveys were conducted to get acquainted. Case studies were conducted at the Ghana stock exchange which sort to also « interview stakeholders and professionals in the field. The case study revealed that there were several challenges confronting the current stock trading situation given the fact of inadequate space among other factors. Further precedence studies delved into includes the New York Stock exchange and London Stock exchange which brought to the fore the direction stock trading is headed internationally. Special technical studies were as well done to achieve the resultant architectural design. The ensuing design seeks to address the basic needs of an exchange seeking to enhance exchange through space. Special dedication was given to the form an architectural style was chosen. Efforts have been made to make the entire design as tropical, cost effective and sustaining as possible

Source: KNUST
Stock market volatility of listed Banks on the Ghana stock exchange

This study focuses on stock market volatility of listed banks on the Ghana Stock Exchange and aims to apply Exponentially Weighted Moving Average models to determine the share price volatility of these banks. The study uses daily time series data spanning from 1st January, 2015 to 31st December, 2015 which represents 246 daily observations of nine banks listed on the Ghana stock exchange. The results indicate that, the share prices of Ghana Commercial Bank, CAL Bank, Ecobank Ghana, Societe Generale-Social Security Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank were fairly stable over the 12-months period. However, the share price volatility of HFC, Unique Trust Bank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation and Trust Bank Limited were the most volatile among all the nine commercial Banks share price volatility studied. To increase the value of their share prices, management of HFC, Unique Trust Bank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation and Trust Bank Limited should advance in technological novelty. This, in effect, can lead to strong profit growth and eventually will improve their share prices. The study also indicated that, there was a correlation between the banks listed on the Ghana Stock exchange. When the share price of one bank increases, there is a corresponding increases of share price of another. With this, investors are adviced not change their asset allocation in their shares of banks listed in Ghana. In order to increase the value of shareholders, management of banks listed on Ghana stock exchange should try as much as possible to expand into areas of which they have competitive advantage.

Source: KNUST
Stone’s theorem and its applications to particle properties.

Most of the physical laws associated with quantum mechanics are formulated in a math ematical framework where observables are represented as self-adjoint operators in Hilbert space. These self-adjoint operators are unbounded and therefore very hard to work with. Stone’s theorem makes it a little bit easier by establishing a bijection between a strongly continuous one-parameter group and self-adjoint operators. We began with the needed terminology, and then proved the stones theorem. In addition, we have indicated some applications of Stone’s theorem , particularly those associated with quantum mechanics (dilation and rotation in the Cartesian coordinates)

Source: KNUST
Stock return predictability and financial markets integration in Africa

ABSTRACT The study examined the predictability of stock returns and financial markets integration in selected African countries based on their market capitalisation (South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Ghana). To achieve this, the study first examined the predictability of returns. Afterwards, an investigation of the integration of stock markets was conducted. Finally, the study examined integration between stock and foreign exchange markets. These analyses were conducted through the utilisation of end-of-day returns data, covering the period from 24th September 2013 to 24 September 2018, for stock markets in five selected countries and thirteen other non-African countries (China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK and US). Foreign exchange returns for four African markets (Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and Ghana) were also utilised. The study employed the Dynamic Conditional Correlation Multivariate Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity model as proposed by Engle (2002) to examine the data. The results from the estimations showed that past stock returns were significant in determining current returns in four of the sampled five stock markets, with Morocco being the exception. In addition, most African stock markets were not integrated among themselves, although markets in South Africa, Morocco and Egypt were integrated with markets outside of the continent. Finally, this study found evidence of integration between the stock and foreign exchange markets in all four sampled countries.

Source: KNUST
Stool Regalia of the Dwaben State of Asante (Ghana): Relevance to Art Education.

Stool regalia of traditional Ghanaian societies ruled by kings and chiefs are an indispensable part of these societies. They reveal notable aesthetic and symbolic expressions of cultures, their religious beliefs and practices, ideals, social organizations and wealth. In Asante, stool regalia play momentous role in the life of their traditional leadership institutions and political systems and accentuate their status and authority. Asante stool regalia are characterized by the use of a variety of royal art forms that are both functional and symbolic. They have several cultural undertones that need to be understood by contemporary societies. A study conducted on a selected number of stool regalia of the Dwaben state of Asante revealed their philosophical, socio-cultural, symbolic expressions as well as outstanding aesthetic qualities and values. These knowledge need to be transmitted to the youth as a way of educating and preserving the Dwaben heritage. Their stool regalia convey historic facts about the state derived from several Asante proverbs, expressions and symbols represented by anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms. Primary data on the stool regalia were gathered from a sampled population from the Dwaben Traditional Area with a few from secondary sources. They were validated for their authenticity. Data gathered at the research sites (Dwaben, Bonwire, Manhyia, Ahwia, and Adum Nsuo Ase), were assembled, analyzed and interpreted, and forms the basis of discussions in Chapter Five. A few attribute variables are translated into bar charts for analyses of results. Conclusions and recommendations based on findings of the study are provided. Data on indigenous knowledge of the Dwaben stool regalia could serve as resource materials to promote indigenous arts education in the country. The excellent photographs and the accompanying scholarly information would be of interest to art students, art educators and researchers. Results of the research could enhance the study of Asante and Akan royal art forms in schools and colleges within Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Stools in Asante Culture

The stool is one of the more ubiquitous types of carving in Ghana, and it is especially common in Asante. Among the Asante people, the stool has varied functions. Stools are august emblems of political, judicial, and social leadership – the most important of the chief’s regalia and the ‘Sine qua non’ of his high office. Among the Asante and all Akans in general, the symbol of the authority of the traditional ruler is a stool. A stool denotes the social status of its owner and as such, it is the principal symbol of a chief’s political power and authority. Among the Asantes, stools have cultural significance beyond its domestic and utilitarian functions as a seat, and there are rules and taboos concerning its usage. With the assimilation of foreign culture, many indigenous cultural practices have been adulterated and require that the trend be studied for necessary action and pragmatic decision to be mad so as to protect the rich culture of the Asantes. The study focused on stools in Asante culture. The chief’s representatives, clan heads, curators at both the Manhyia Museum and Kumasi Cultural Centre, making a sample of 22 were included in the study. The researcher employed interviews and observations in the data collection process. Data were collected from Asante Bekwai, Kokofu, Asokore, Mampong Offinso, Juaben, Nkawie, Ejisu, Kumawu and Manhyia Palaces in addition to Kumasi Cultural Centre and Manhyia Museum. The findings revealed that Asantes are highly religious people who link every facet of life with God, ancestors, deities and divinities as being their “guiding angel”. They attribute very fortune and misfortune to the influence of God, ancestors and the gods. This belief is strongly showcased in their paraphernalia, which are art forms. The philosophies regarding Asante stools explain not only the spiritual significance but also every aspect if their life; every part of their objects has a purpose, deep meaning and communicates in no uncertain terms, the status, role and powers of the chiefs. The findings indicates that the highest ranked stool is the Golden stool and that Asantehene is seen as the supreme among the chiefs and kings. The unique authentic golden stool belongs to the King of Asante. He alone possesses the Elephant stool ({sonodwa) and the Leopard stool (}sebodwa). Some of the royal stools are exhibited ostentatiously while others are superficial. Cultural beliefs, values and customs change over time because of fashion, taste, education, entertainment and trade. These influential elements of culture transfer technology coupled with the assimilation of other cultures have reduced the value of some of the cultural practices of the Asantes.

Source: KNUST
Storm water drainage of “Fada n’Gourma” urban community in Burkina Faso, using “GIS” as a tool

A storm water drainage study was conducted in Fada N’Gourma a provincial town located in the east of Burkina Faso from May to July 2002. The purpose of the study was to identify the causes of flooding and to propose measures to protect the southern residents of the town against the negative impacts of flooding during rainy seasons. Three major flood-prone areas with high stake were identified. At flood-prone area at “sector 5”, persistent flooding has destroyed an important road in the town. Behind the hospital, because of flooding, civil workers have to go round looking for better roads to access their offices, causing delay in their normal activities. The third zone identified was located alongside the main road to Niger, where many shops are being opened. There, commercial activities are disrupted; even working materials are damaged. Though flooding always occurs in Fada, the situation has worsened in the last few years due to rapid urbanisation. Assessment of the existing drains at these flood- prone areas revealed their inadequacy to cope with runoff flows. Among the engineering solutions proposed are: - the increase of number of culverts by two at the junctions alongside the main road to Niger as short term alternative, and - the provision of new drains that will collect runoff from flood-prone areas to the dams as long term solution. Geographical Information System (GIS) was the tool used throughout the study to facilitate the work. The main recommendations include the increase of culverts as immediate solution and provision of new drains in the long term to protect populations against flooding.

Source: KNUST
Storability of Some Elite Maize Varieties in Ghana.

In an attempt to investigate means of minimising storage costs without compromising physiological quality of seed, five (5) maize varieties; namely: Mamab,. Obatanpa, Kawanzie, Abeleehi and Kwadaso Local were harvested and shelled at moisture levels of 8% and 9% respectively. The maize varieties were packed in moisture-proof polythene bags of 0.2mm thickness and stored under two conditions, the cold room (15°c/85% r.h) and ambient (25°c/70 r.h) for a period of up to five (5) months. Higher germination percentage and vigour were maintained throughout the storage period of five months for seeds stored at 8% moisture level in the cold room. A significant drop in germination percentage and vigour were observed after three months of storage for seeds stored at a moisture content of 9% in the ambient condition. Maize seeds should be dried to a moisture content of 8% and stored under cold condition in order to maintain its high viability and vigour. Conversely, maize could be dried to a moisture content of 8% and stored under ambient conditions in the absence of cold storage facilities and still maintain an appreciable level of viability and vigour. The study has shown that maize seed dried to a lower moisture content is essential for longevity.

Source: KNUST
Strategic change and sustained performance - A case study of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mine

The Obuasi Mine of AngloGold Ashanti has a highly prospective ore-body which can be mined profitably for several decades. Yet since the end of 1999, the performance of the mine has been declining year after year: gold production is declining; operating coat is soaring; staff turnover is high and there is uncertainty about the future of the mine. In order to produce dramatic improvements in the performance and sustain it in the long term, the company embarked on strategic change in the form of a merger 2004. Yet three years after the strategic change, no significant improvements have been observed in the performance. This study therefore investigated the factors that necessitated for the strategic change, the impact the change has so far made on the performance of the company and the chances of improvement in the next decade. The study found out that the short-term expectation of sustaining the performance of the mine to prevent further decline has not been met. Subsequently, the study has provided guidelines to make the strategic change achieve desired results

Source: KNUST
A strategic guide for managing project stakeholders expectations: a study within the Ho Municipal Assembly (HMA), Ghana

Project stakeholders management is a continuous and developing process that runs throughout the procurement process. It addresses methodically how to identify and manage their interests and influence in all stages of the procurement process if they are to exert positive effect on project delivery and successful performance of public projects. This becomes even more important when it comes to the management of public funds and resources towards provision of public infrastructure for the nation and meeting of external donor requirements. The objective of this thesis was to examine strategic guide for managing project stakeholders expectation in procuring public projects. Ho Municipal Assembly, a public institution was selected for the study in which sample size of sixty, (60) of the sample frame of project end users as stakeholders were provided with questionnaires as research instrument was analyzed. The data were analyzed using one tailed test as statistical tool. The work looked at the relevant success factor, challenges and benefits of stakeholder management in the public procurement, which includes relevant theories on project stakeholder and procurement management with the essence of value for money creation. This research revealed that there are strategic guides that must be considered in stakeholders‟ management which ultimately impact on project delivery. Identifying stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, assessing stakeholders behavior, predicting stakeholder influence and promoting good relationship are some of the strategic guides for managing public stakeholders expectation in public procurement. Moreover, it has also been found that defining project missions, identifying stakeholders, understanding the area of stakeholders‟ interests, exploring stakeholders‟ needs and constraints in projects, analyzing the change of stakeholders, among others were some of the challenges in managing project stakeholders expectations. On the contrary, improvement in communication among stakeholders, better stakeholders need clarification, value for money for the Assembly, promotion of good relations and meeting public expectations, as well as balancing interest and power of stakeholders‟ were found from the study as some of the benefits in managing stakeholders‟ expectation in public procurement management. Recognition of such variables as strategic guide creates and encourages transparency, value-for-money for the Assembly, eliminates resistance to misconduct in the procurement process while promoting accountability and control as well as improving project community relations throughout infrastructural provision.

Source: KNUST