ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Mobile money and financial inclusion in ghana: the moderating role of social networks

This study investigates whether social networks moderate the relationship between mobile money use and financial inclusion in Ghana. The study uses survey data from 120 households in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and employs the hierarchical regression method and Mod Graph as estimators. The empirical results indicate that mobile money usage and social networks increase the financial inclusion of households in Ghana. In addition, the results show the positive effect of mobile money on financial inclusion in stronger, particularly within a strong social network. Furthermore, the empirical results reveal that social network among households increases the positive effect of mobile money on financial inclusion. This study concludes that social network is useful for making mobile money financially inclusive. In light of these results, the study recommends that mobile money operators such as telecommunication companies, financial institutions, Fintech companies and governments must promote affordable mobile money services and infrastructure to enhance financial inclusion. In addition, this study recommends that mobile money network operators design a service which enhances social interaction to achieve higher financial inclusion. For instance, mobile networks must leverage social ties to spread mobile money to increase adoption. In addition, mobile money users must use their social sites to share useful mobile financial innovation information to improve access to financial services. For instance, by sharing the credibility and dependability of the mobile money services with other closely related people.

Source: KNUST
Mobile money penetration, financial inclusion, household welfare and poverty reduction in Ghana

Despite research progress on the effect of financial inclusion and mobile money penetration on other socioeconomic variables, the impact of mobile money and financial inclusion on poverty reductions and household welfare is still underdeveloped in the literature. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of mobile money and financial inclusion on two poverty indicators, i.e., life expectancy and poverty headcount, and household welfare (household final consumption expenditure) defined by the world bank from word development indicators (wdi) from 2010 to 2022. The study applies the ols and the 2sls methods. The empirical results reveal that mobile finance increases financial inclusion. Furthermore, mobile money and financial inclusion reduce poverty but increase household welfare. Based on these results, the study recommends that banks and regulators eliminate barriers to mobile money expansion by reducing transaction costs such as service charges and taxes and ensuring safety by combating cyber risk associated with the use of mobile money.

Source: KNUST
Mobile Wimax implementation in Ghana- a comparative radio interface dimensioning and a techno-economic study

The voice market in Ghana as it stands now is saturated. Migration to integrated service platforms (e.g. voice, data, video) with mobility- leaves both incumbent and prospective mobile operators with two investment choices-3G+ HSDPA or the Mobile WiMAX. HSDPA is a data enhancement on the voice-centric 3GPP system whilst Mobile WiMAX is intrinsically a data-centric technology being optimized with voice-support and mobility functionalities. HSDPA is already being rolled out by mobile carrier giants, MTN and Airtel. Currently, the country’s communications regulator is auctioning the 2.5-2.69 GHz RF spectrum to prospective licensees to fulfill its quest to actualize the country’s National Broadband Strategy. One of the most essential technical and business issues of any wireless access technology is efficiently (cost and performance) providing coverage and capacity, while avoiding the initial roll-out of a large number of new cell sites to reduce initial investment. In this study the researcher, through a radio interface dimensioning study, investigated the technical relevance of one of the technologies for which the aforementioned band is being auctioned- the Mobile WiMAX; yet doing so in comparison with the HSDPA which is already a commercial reality in Ghana. It was discovered that WiMAX’s OFDMA radio interface coupled with such technical features as Adaptive Modulation Coding schemes, Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, Frequency Reuse and the MIMO made it a preferred investment candidate for the new market entrant. By performing a techno-economic evaluation of the WiMAX 16e technology using Accra Metropolis as the study area, the researcher concluded that even with worst-case market share scenario the new entrant could arrive at a positive NPV and still break-even early in time within the 10 year license period as stipulated by the National Communications Authority.

Source: KNUST
Mobilization and management of political and socio -economic organizations for development in the Techiman District

The idea of community participation has been considered as an important tool for development of rural communities. The concept has been discussed by many from different points of view as to its meaning and mode for practice. Recent appreciation of the concept has highlighted the need for using local organizations as agents for effective participation oriented development. This idea necessitates, first of all the existence of well managed local organizations in the local areas. If such organizations exist, then there is the possibility of their being mobilised for development in the local areas. The study identified quite a number of local organizations, all of whom were engaged in some form of local development. A selected number of these organizations were studied in detail with regard to their operations in the study area, especially in relation to the socioeconomic development of the district. The people’s views about the local organizations were also considered to confirm the importance of the local organizations in the development effort. The major recommendations of the study included the need for the development oriented local organizations to be integrated into the local administrative machinery, especially since the emerging local level administrative structure had ample room for such integration. It was also emphasised that for the local organizations to operate effectively, they needed the support of the local administration, the government departments as well as the community as a whole. It was also mentioned that the local organizations and the community needed guidance and education on the roles of local organs in development, and also the need for the organizations with similar aims and functions to work together to ensure the efficient use of their human and material resources. The study concludes that most of the strategies and recommendations for the management and mobilization of the local organs would depend to a larger extent on the implementation of the emerging decentralization programme.

Source: KNUST
Mobile phone short message service (SMS) as a malaria control tool: a quasi experimental study

Background: Despite the extensive implementation of control measures and achievements in morbidity reductions, malaria continues to contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality in children under-five. Innovative approaches involving the use of mobile phones have been suggested to improve health outcomes. However, evidence of its effect on reducing the prevalence of malaria is limited. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the effect of a theory-driven mHealth intervention on the prevalence of malaria among children under-five living in rural districts of Ghana. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study of a 12-month intervention using a random sample of 332 caregivers with children under-five from two rural districts, assigned to either an intervention or a control group. Caregivers in the intervention group received voice short message service (SMS) on malaria prevention based on a behavior change theory to improve their health behaviors and practice, once a week for twelve months, while caregivers in the control group received none. Pre- and post-intervention assessment of the treatment effect (ATT) on malaria in children under-five was conducted using propensity score and difference-in-difference (DiD) analyses. Results: Among children whose caregivers received the intervention, the prevalence of malaria decreased from 58.4% at baseline to 37.8% at endline (difference: -20.6%; 95% CI: − 31.1, − 10.1) compared with children in the control group, where a reduction of 65.0 to 59.9% (difference − 5.1%; 95% CI: − 15.5, 5.4) was observed. The treatment effect at endline revealed a statistically significant reduction in malaria prevalence (ATT: -0.214; 95% CI: − 0.36, − 0.07) compared with the baseline (ATT: -0.035; 95% CI: − 0.16, 0.09). Overall, the intervention effect showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of malaria among children under-five was positive (DiD: − 0.154; p = 0.043). Conclusion: The results of the study indicate the effectiveness of mobile phone SMS as a control tool for reducing the burden of malaria in children under-five

Source: KNUST
The mobilization of internally generated fund and its effects on local economic development in the Wa Municipality

The study examined how IGF collection impacts on Local Economic Development. The case study research design was used to conduct this study. The Wa Municipality was selected as a single case. This study made use of questionnaires in order to obtain data from the diversity of respondents. Cluster sampling technique was used to select six (6) communities. Purposive sampling was used to select household heads as respondents to provide data for this study. The Wa Municipal Assembly has implemented, supported and facilitated the construction of infrastructural projects in the areas of roads, market facilities, Lorry Park, and the extension of electricity to communities. Provision of some level of business development services as well as skills training, counseling for businesses and individuals though on a limited scale is being achieved. Data from the Municipal Assembly indicates that other ways of increasing the performance of IGF is the outsourcing of IGF collection to private collectors. This is aimed at improving performance while at the same time providing job for the private sector. However, the limited IGF collection by the Assembly hinders the implementation of interventions. Also, the assembly’s revenue collectors have embarked on measures such as locking of shops and seizure of goods which are inimical to the development of local businesses and entrepreneurs. The study recommends that the Assembly should make its local contracts more accessible to artisans by making the bidding process more flexible so that local entities can bid for these contracts. It could also collaborate with the National Board for Small Scale Industries under the Rural Enterprises Project to provide business training, counseling and capital for business start-ups and expansions. This would enhance employment generation and improvement in income which will in turn provide avenues for revenue mobilization. It is also recommended that it embarks on revenue collection campaigns by educating the public on their obligations. This could be done by using religious and opinion leaders, as well as traditional authorities.

Source: KNUST
Mobilizing Deposits; the role of Commercial Banks in Ghana

Commercial banks are the main controller of the financial system in Ghana performing financial intermediation. They control greater portion of the investment funds from domestic deposits and are the main creditors of the corporate bodies, SMEs and individual investors. However, the amount of domestic funds that commercial banks receive is far below the level sustainable for self sufficiency. Huge volumes of loanable funds are left out of the banking system and it needs the efforts of the commercial banks to tap them into productive uses. The purpose of this study therefore is to identify the most effective and efficient ways commercial banks in Ghana should employ to maximize the volume of domestic deposits in the environment of high rural population, dominant informal sector employment and macroeconomic instability. Thus, the study aims to evaluate the design of bank products and services, assess their effectiveness of harnessing domestic deposits and challenges they face in mobilizing deposits. This research is based on relevant books, journals, articles and other publications. In addition, data from commercial banks in Ghana on deposits they received from 2000 to 2004 were studied to make recommendations. Results from the analysis indicated that deposits mobilization of Commercial Banks in Ghana though, has an upward trend, it increases at a decreasing rate hence, the present level of deposits as a ratio of the total amount of money in circulation is woefully inadequate. The study also reveals certain basic facts about commercial banks in Ghana. Their concentration in the cities and a few urban areas as well as their product design and services are targeted to the literate formal sector employees. In addition, unfavourable macroeconomic conditions have resulted in negative real interest rate on deposits while unnecessary government intervention has reduced the confidence in the banking sector. The effects of these factors are the low deposits that commercial banks receive. The study concluded with recommendations for commercial banks such as; the need to redefine their product target, increase their scope to include the large majority etc. in order to ensure improvements in their operations.

Source: KNUST
Mobilizing financial resources for local development: A case study of Techiman and Sunyani Municipalities.

Local governance and grass root participation have become an important development paradigm in many developing countries in Africa. Decentralization and local government reforms undertaken in Ghana since 1988 therefore have sought to transfer power and resources from central government to sub national institutions and structures in order to enhance participatory local development. In addition, it is intended to promote good governance and democracy, and improvement in the people’s quality of life through local delivery and management of public infrastructure and social services. These institutional reforms require the strengthening of local institutions through local resource generation and mobilization towards district development. This has been the focus of the 21 years of the implementation of Ghana’s decentralization programme. In spite of the successes chalked in the areas of political and administrative decentralization financial decentralization has been lagging with many local government institutions depending on central government financial support for their development activities. MMDAs therefore struggle in their efforts to mobilize local revenue towards their respective development. This situation puts stress on central government budget in executing its development agenda. This study is thus an attempt to examine the capacity of municipal assemblies to generate and mobilize local revenue for development. The study therefore assesses the structure and sources of revenue generation and mobilization at the municipal level. It also examines the prospects and challenges of financial resource mobilization at the municipal level. A case study approach was adopted for the study with Sunyani and Techiman municipalities as comparative cases. The study revealed that in both cases 80 percent of the assemblies’ capital expenditure is funded through central government transfers. Beside, key stakeholders like market women and property owners are not actively involved in the decision making process of the assemblies regarding revenue mobilization. The study therefore recommends that the two assemblies should take steps to diversify their revenue base and also involve local actors in revenue mobilization drives and to strengthen the revenue collection units enough to perform their duties.

Source: KNUST
A Model for Blending Motor Gasoline Case Study: Tema Oil Refinery Ltd.

Without accurate blending correlations, any attempt to blend different gasoline cuts can be expected to achieve non-optimum results. The purpose of this work is to propose a method for predicting research octane numbers, Reid vapour pressure and the density for two component gasoline blends. A new mathematical model for blending of gasoline is presented in this paper. It is a model which combines the idea of linear blending and mixing problem to develop three first order ordinary differential equations. Numerical method specifically Runge-Kutta is applied to solve the presented models in our research by applying a written code in MATLAB Software. Also a generic analytical solution was generated to solve the equations .This new mathematical models for blending of motor gasoline is illustrated with some studies based on data from the Quality control department Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana.

Source: KNUST
A model for domestic-type refuse management in the Kumasi metropolis

The objective of this project is to model the operations of the Refuse Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly with the aim of minimizing the cost of its operations as a service body and also to reduce the environmental problems associated with improper refuse disposal or insanitary conditions. A set of data was obtained from all the four submetros in the Kumasi Metropolis through self-visit. Linear Programming (L.P) techniques were then applied to solve the minimization problem. A fortran program for the algorithm was adopted and used to obtain these results. The least cost turned out to be ¢59,170,477.33 per month on the average and this indicates a 25% reduction in cost with regards the cost of ¢78,893,969.77 per month incurred by the Waste Management Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Source: KNUST
A model for predicting the performance of project managers at the conceptual phase of mass housing building projects (MHBPS) in Ghana

In recent years, performance – based competency standards are gaining prominence over knowledge based competency standards as a criteria for evaluating and certifying project managers (PMs). Moreover project management is a new concept in many developing countries such as Ghana; however, empirical evidence proves that, it provides a better alternative in the successful management of construction projects. Hence many researchers are calling for unique competencies of a PM commensurate with the type of project as well as the project life cycle. This study as a way of complementing to a research agenda of unraveling the appropriate competencies of the PM along the project life cycle will focus at the conceptual phase of Mass Housing building Projects (MHBPs) in Ghana. In the study a preliminary interview was conducted and subsequently the largely tested organizational theory of job performance was adopted in designing 120 questionnaires to be answered by CEO’s of Property Developers in Ghana to determine the high performing skills they demand from PMs at the conceptual phase. The data from the quantitative enquiry was then subjected to multiple regressions (backward elimination method). An R2 value of 53.2 % was derived which suggests 53.2% of the findings can predict the performance of PMs at the conceptual phase of MHBPs in Ghana. The validated findings indicates; knowledge in conceptualizing project execution plan, knowledge in computer application, ability to resolve dispute amicably among project team members, commitment in ensuring the proposed project is functionally feasible, commitment in data collection during preliminary site investigations, knowledge in statutory obligations and experience in team leadership. The findings provide empirical evidence that can be adopted by CEO’s of MHBPs in Ghana when recruiting PMs into their establishments.

Source: KNUST
A model for predicting the performance of project managers in the tendering phase in mass house building projects in Ghana

Taken into condideration the important role PMs play in execution of projects in general and in particular in the construction industry.It has become imperative to develop a model for assessing the performance of PMs in MHBPs in Ghana. Ahadzie (2007) considered the need for an empirical research into developing a model for predicting the performance of PMs in MHBPS in Ghana, a departure from establish standards and....................

Source: KNUST
Model of the operation of the State Transport Corporation of Ghana

The purpose of this research is to model the operations of the State Transport Corporation of Ghana (S.T.C), with the aim of minimizing the cost of its operations as a service organization This Study assumes that the S.T.C S only source of revenue is the fare and freight charge it collects. Thus government subvention and expenditures on employee salaries and benefits are not included in the model. A set of data was obtained from the State Transportation of Ghana and the Ghana Highways Authority. Integer programming techniques were then applied to solve the problem of minimizing the cost of operations of the corporation. A Fortran Program for the algorithm was written and used to obtain these results. The least cost turned to be ¢4,045,980,279.60 per month on the average and allowing for a fluctuation of 10% up or down in data values, could range from ¢3,874,554,868.35 to ¢4,374,798,850.94 per month

Source: KNUST
Modeling and Control of Measles Transmission in Ghana

In this study, the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) epidemiological model is formulated to determine the transmission of measles in Ghana. The model assumes that individuals are equally likely to be infected by the infectious individuals in a case of contact except those who are immune. The undetected individuals are those contributing to the disease transmission in a population. The numerical and qualitative analyses of the model were performed and different state variables were determined. Qualitative results show that the model has the disease-free equilibrium which is locally asymptotically stable for R0 < 1 and unstable for R0 > 1. Simulation of different epidemiological classes revealed that most of the individuals undergoing treatment join the recovered class. It is observed that if the proportion of the population that is immune exceeds the herd immunity level for the disease, then the disease can no longer persist in a population. Thus, if this level of immunity can be exceeded by means of mass vaccination, then the disease can be eliminated.

Source: KNUST
Modeling Demand for a Telecommunication Utility Operator Based On the Box-Jenkins Methodology

Telecommunication Demand Modeling has been a problem both in Ghana and the global world and has been under study for a long period of time. Developments in new communication technologies such as mobile devices and developments of new services to meet user demand such as video, multi-media and data services has led to an exponential growth in the demand for these services.In Ghana, the national regulator, the National Communications Authority puts cellular phone penetration in the country at about seventy percent (70%). The sharp increase in the number of customers over a short period and limited infrastructure has led users to raise concerns over the quality of service been offered. It is in this light that this thesis attempts to solve a case study of the telecommunication demand modeling for a leading cellular company in Ghana. Worldwide,different approaches have been employed in solving this very sensitive demand problem. The thesis employed the Box- Jenkins methodology to develop a near perfect ARIMA (2, 1, 0) model with the corresponding equation being that can adequately forecast the future rise in the subscriber base so that this can be carefully factored in planning so proper decisions can be taken to minimize this demand problem. With a mean absolute error of 8405 which is insignificant when considering the nation Ghana as a whole.

Source: KNUST