ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Marital Satisfaction Among Church Leaders in the Kumasi Metropolis

The purpose of the study was to examine marital satisfaction of church leaders in some selected churches in the Kumasi Metropolis. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised married church leaders in the Kumasi Metropolis. A sample of 235 respondents selected using proportional stratified sampling procedure was used for the study. Data were collected using Essuman’s (2010) Marital Satisfaction Inventory. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation, independent samples t-test and one way-ANOVA. The study revealed that the respondents were satisfied across all the scales of the marital satisfaction inventory (MSI). Also, the study revealed that, the respondents were satisfied with the fact that their spouses sought for their opinions and conversed with them, and were also sexually satisfied in their marriages. Further, the study found that male and female church leaders differed in their marital satisfaction in terms of character issues, temperament issues, marital roles issues and the overall satisfaction. Having found church leaders in the Kumasi Metropolis to be satisfied in their marriages, it was recommended that church leaders continue to pursue their marital goals so that their level of marital satisfaction can be maintained or even improved.

Source: UCC
Marital satisfaction among married people in Sunyani municipality

The study was conducted in order to ascertain the level of marital satisfaction of married people in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Purposive and quota sampling techniques were used to sample 320 respondents for the study. The level of marital satisfaction was assessed with four variables; sex, religion, age and educational levels of respondents. Five research questions were formulated to keep the study in focus. Similarly, four hypotheses were deduced from the research questions along the four variables used for the study. The Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) was used in collecting responses from the married people. The results of the findings showed that married people in the Sunyani Municipality were not satisfied with their marriages. The study also found that the higher educated married people were significantly more dissatisfied than those with lower levels of education. It further revealed that both young and old married people in the municipality were dissatisfied with their marriages. The younger ones were significantly more dissatisfied than the older ones. Also the study found that both husband and wives were not satisfied with their marriages. Christians and Muslims married people were also not satisfied in their marriages. There were no significant differences between them. It was recommended that more programmes such as workshops, seminars and symposia be undertaken by counsellors and other stakeholders in marital issues to put married people on the pedestal of satisfied marriages.

Source: UCC
Marital satisfaction of church leaders in the Church of Pentecost, Cape Coast area, Ghana

This study was carried out to find out the general marital satisfaction level of The Church of Pentecost leaders in the Cape Coast Area. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. A sample size of 340 was selected for the study through the stratified and simple random (lottery method) sampling procedures from a population of 1975 church of Pentecost leaders in the Cape Coast Area. Three research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.Data from respondents were gathered by the use of the Marital Satisfaction. Inventory (MSI) developed by Essuman (2012). The findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents were ‘very satisfied’ with their marriage. However, most of the respondents did not speak to anyone about their marital problems whiles more than half of the respondents would prefer to go to a counsellor when they had marital problems. There were statistically significant difference in the marital satisfaction levels of the respondents with regard to gender, age, educational level and duration of marriage. Based on the findings, it was recommended that couples be encouraged to talk to professional counsellors about their marital problems. Professional counselling services were also to be made available to church leaders. Finally, pastors should be taught counselling at the theological seminary.

Source: UCC
Marital satisfaction of church leaders in the church of Pentecost, Cape Coast area, Ghana

This study was carried out to find out the general marital satisfaction level of The Church of Pentecost leaders in the Cape Coast Area. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. A sample size of 340 was selected for the study through the stratified and simple random (lottery method) sampling procedures from a population of 1975 church of Pentecost leaders in the Cape Coast Area. Three research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data from respondents were gathered by the use of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) developed by Essuman (2012). The findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents were ‘very satisfied’ with their marriage. However, most of the respondents did not speak to anyone about their marital problems whiles more than half of the respondents would prefer to go to a counsellor when they had marital problems. There were statistically significant difference in the marital satisfaction levels of the respondents with regard to gender, age, educational level and duration of marriage. Based on the findings, it was recommended that couples be encouraged to talk to professional counsellors about their marital problems. Professional counselling services were also to be made available to church leaders. Finally, pastors should be taught counselling at the theological seminary.

Source: UCC
Marker-Assisted Breeding For Resistance To Blast And Rice Yellow Mottle Diseases In Ghana

Rice is consumed by over half of the world’s population and accounts for 19% of calorie intake. Biotic stresses cause substantial yield losses in rice. Rice blast and Rice yellow mottle disease (RYMD) are the two main biotic stressors in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, the major rice varieties cultivated by farmers namely, CRI-Agra Rice, CRI-Amankwatia, Jasmine 85 and Togo Marshall are susceptible to blast and Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) diseases and can cause up to 100% yield losses. There is thus the need to tackle these two diseases in order to reduce these yield losses. The objective of this research was to introgress resistance genes for rice blast and RYMD into four popular aromatic rice varieties in Ghana. To achieve this objective, a donor parent, Gigante which had RYMV1 (rymv1-2) and blast (Pi54) resistance genes was crossed to the four popular aromatic rice varieties to produce BC3F2 populations. A total of 71 BC3F2 rymv1-2 and Pi54 introgressed lines were screened for resistance to RYMV and blast and evaluated in a Preliminary Yield Trial (PYT). All the lines were found to be highly resistant to RYMV and rice blast. The results of the PYT indicated that RYMV-B-03-84-36-10-57, RYMV-B-01-6-37-1-91 and RYMV-B-03-84-36-10-46 yielded 7.25 ton/ha, 7.23 ton/ha, and 7.12 ton/ha respectively, which were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the highest yielding recurrent parent, CRI-Agra Rice (7.09 ton/ha). Through marker-assisted backcrossing, lines that are resistant to rice blast and Rice yellow mottle disease were produced. These can be evaluated further and released as resistant versions of the four popular but susceptible aromatic varieties.

Source: UCC
Market knowledge and personal values: implications for the growth of small enterprises in the Cape Coast metropolis

The resource-based and upper echelon theories have raised concerns against the unexplored human factors affecting the growth of small firms. This has created an incomplete view of factors affecting small enterprise growth in Ghana. This study, therefore, examines the implications of the personality and market knowledge of the individual managers on the growth of small enterprises in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Using a pragmatic approach and an explanatory sequential mixed design, 200 managers of the 270 registered small businesses in the Cape Coast Metropolis were randomly sampled to respond to questionnaire and interview items. Measurement scales were adopted from exiting literature to measure personal values, market knowledge and small firm growth. Results from the partial least square and content analysis revealed that personal values and market knowledge influence the growth of small enterprises. Findings further revealed that other than openness to change values, all of conservation, self-transcendence and self-enhancement values were found to affect the growth of small enterprises depending on the nature of the domestic culture. Pursuant to these findings, the study recommends that owner-managers of small enterprises should conduct personal values analysis of employees in order to reap the benefits inherent in each value type. Small enterprise subunits should also be created within the NBSSI and Ministry of Business Development to render tailored policies and programmes to small enterprises to enhance small enterprise growth. Additionally, future research should consider replicating the study in medium-sized and large firms. This will help provide more insight into the role of managers knowledge and personal values in both small and large businesses

Source: UCC
Market orientation and business performance in hotels in Cape Coast: mediating role of innovation

Due to the turbulent and dynamic nature of the business environment, creating and sustaining competitive advantage demands a company to develop a formidable company-wide market-oriented culture. The study adopted a quantitative research approach in its analysis. The purpose of the study was to examine the link between market orientation, innovation and performance. The total population of hotels at the study area was 159. Of this number, the study used simple random sampling method to select 79 respondents for the study. The respondents of the study were the managers/owners of the hotels. Data was collected through survey questionnaire and analysed through the use of PLS-SEM version 2.0, inferential statistics were used for the interpretation and discussion of findings. The results of the study showed that the level of market orientation practices among hotels in Cape Coast is low. The findings further revealed that a strong positive relationship exists between market orientation and business performance. Again, the findings disclosed that market orientation has positive correlation with firms’ innovativeness and innovation mediated market orientation and firms’ performance. Finally, the findings established a strong positive relationship between firms’ innovativeness and firms’ performance. The study found the mediation role of innovation very significant. The study thus concluded that a positive association exists between market orientation, innovation, and performance. The study, therefore, recommends that hotels in Cape Coast put much emphasis on marketing research in order to develop an innovative market orientation strategy.

Source: UCC
Marketing Analytics Use Intentions, User Satisfaction and Continuance Usage Amongst Firm Employees in Ghana

This study examines the factors affecting user intentions, actual use, user satisfaction and continuance usage of marketing analytics technology by firm employees in a developing country context. The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach. Quantitative data was collected from 213 firm employees through convenience sampling. The study used an online survey to collect the quantitative data, while interviews were used to collect data for the qualitative study. The quantitative data collected was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling through SmartPLS 3. The qualitative study using purposive sampling collected data from six firm managers using in-depth telephone interviews. The qualitative data were coded using MAXQDA and analysed using thematic analysis. The results reveal that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, user attitudes, and perceived trust predict intentions to use marketing analytics. Effort expectancy, social influence, and personal innovativeness in information technology were found not to predict intentions to use marketing analytics. The study also found that intention to use marketing analytics is a predictor of actual use of the technology. Apart from the moderating effect of age and type of innovator on effort expectancy, all the proposed moderating effects were not significant. Actual use was also found to be a predictor of user satisfaction. The study also found that user satisfaction is a predictor of continuance usage of marketing analytics technology. The study concludes that intentions determine the actual use of innovative technologies, while user satisfaction affects continuance usage. This study has practical implications for firms seeking to enhance the use of marketing analytics technology in developing countries.

Source: UCC
Marketing strategies and performance of smes in Ghana: a case study of yamoransa kenkey producers

One of the most common ways that SMEs boost their performance is by using new marketing methods. Profitability, recognition of the brand, and market share are three metrics that this research looks at to gauge how well a company is doing in Ghana. A survey research approach was used to acquire the data. One hundred and twenty subject matter experts (SMEs) were selected at random. The effectiveness of various marketing methods was hypothesized and then evaluated. The study's findings, taken as a whole, support the idea that strategic marketing is a key factor in the success of organizations seeking to position themselves in a changing market. The study's findings also show that conventional advertising channels are favored by Ghana's small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) for reaching new consumers and strengthening existing ones. Intriguingly, just a minority of them employ cutting-edge technology to promote their offerings; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would do well to enhance their results by embracing cutting-edge technical marketing tools like mobile marketing. The results shed light on the importance of strategic marketing to the success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a globalized growing economy.

Source: UCC
Marketisation of Ghanaian higher academic institutions: a hypermodal analysis of universities’ homepages

The marketization of higher education continues to incite universities towards the adoption of vital promotional practices. As a result, the university homepage has gained much interest from scholars and researchers from various backgrounds, including discourse analysts. However, the bulk of the literature focuses on homepages of universities in Anglo-American and Asian-Pacific contexts, whereas research of African and, particularly, Ghanaian universities’ homepages remains scant. In addressing this gap, the present study investigated how selected Ghanaian universities project their corporate identities (CIs) to promote their products and services through the hypermodal resources (images, verbal resources, and navigational elements) on their institutional homepages by drawing on Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) visual grammar model, and Zhang and O’Halloran’s (2012) hypermodal framework. The findings reveal that although Ghanaian universities portray their space as an intense academic environment, they tend to emphasize human resources rather than the existence of structural resources or facilities in representing their identities. In addition, the discoverability of information on the homepages was found to be low, with no overlaps between information sub-categories. The study, therefore, contributes to the scholarship on the marketization of higher education and has practical implications for the design of universities’ homepages in Ghana and other jurisdictions. Recommendations for further research are offered

Source: UCC
A Markov regime switching approach to estimating the volatility of Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) returns

The study used the Markov regime switching model to investigate the presence of regimes in the volatility dynamics of the returns of JSE All-Share Index (ALSI). Volatility regimes are as a result of sudden changes in the underlying economy generating the market returns. In all, twelve candidate models were fitted to the data. Estimates from the regime switching model were compared to the industry standard non-switching GARCH (1,1) using the Deviance Information Criteria (DIC). The results show that the two-regime switching EGARCH model with skewed Student t innovations describes better the return of the JSE Index. Additionally, we back test the model results in order to confirm our findings that the two-regime switching EGARCH is the best of the models for the sample period.

Source: UCC
A Markov-Modulated Tree-Based Gradient Boosting Model for Auto-Insurance Risk Premium Pricing in Ghana

In most sub-Saharan African countries, the mechanism for pricing auto insurance policies is tariff based. This means that the key factor that influences price changes is usually based on margins, regulation and legislative dynamics. Additionally, where pricing is risk based, analysis has in most cases focused on internal historical data. These policy regimes have led to unfair price distortions among policyholders and have increased risk of portfolios for most insurance companies. In this study we consider historical risk and location risk that is influential to loss cost. The study develops a Markov-modulated Tree-based Gradient Boosting (MMGB) model for pricing autoinsurance premiums. The Markov-modulated Tree-based Gradient Boosting is a Tweedie generalized model-based pricing algorithm with a compound-Poisson distribution whose rate varies according to accident risk in a Markov process. Thus, the study extends the existing premium pricing framework by integrating both historical and location risk into the main pricing framework. The study applies the model to a motor insurance data set from Ghana. The results show that the proposed method is superior to other competing models since it generates relatively fair premium predictions for the non-life auto-insurance companies, helping to mitigate more the insured risk for the firm and the industry.

Source: UCC
Marriage among the migrant Kwahu community in the Cape Coast metropolitan area

The Kwawus are from the Eastern Region of Ghana. They are traditionally known to be people with good business acumen which has also its historical basis. They are also known for protecting and maintaining their culture wherever they migrated to, and marriage and mate selection is one of them. It is expected that as people migrate to urban centres most of their traditional lifestyles change as a result of their exposure to people from different cultural and ethnic background. However, it is perceived that the Kwawus continue to maintain their traditional style of marriage and mate selection. That Kwawus are perceived to be endogamous. In exploring the marriage patterns of the Kwawu (mate selection), current and related literature on marriage and migration were reviewed. In conducting the study, all the Kwawu migrants living in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area, who have attained 18 years and above were targeted. Out of the 200 adults only 119 availed themselves for the study. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data was obtained through interviews and focus group discussion. The study revealed that history, cultural beliefs, love, character, wealth, formal education and employment status were some of the major factors influencing the selection of mates among the Kwawus. In line with the findings, it was recommended that for family life in Ghana to be sustained, the cultural values and practices in marriage should not be overlooked. Mate selection should not be a matter of imposition but by personal choice or preference.

Source: UCC
Mary and Joseph in Luke 2: 40-52: A case of parenting for Christian parents at Moree

This study looked at parental responsibility of Mary and Joseph from the gospel of Luke 2:40-52 in relationship with the Christian understanding of parenting in Moree community. The study also examined the rights of the child pertaining to children within the constitutionally enacted laws of Ghana and its relationship towards the total welfare of the child. The hermeneutical design employed to examine the text in Luke 2:40-52 was the text-centred narrative criticism approach. Through a facilitated rigorous close reading with objectivity, the text established the theme of parenting by Mary and Joseph. The text demonstrated how Mary and Joseph played their role as responsible parents. They provided the basic necessities their child depended on for growth and development like; feeding, clothing, shelter and medical care as seen from how Jesus grew from childhood to adolescent hood. In addition, Mary and Joseph inculcated spiritual and moral disciplines in Jesus with their Jewish religious faith and practices for attaining wisdom and favour towards intellectual and moral growth dimensions to ensure holistic developmental growth for their child. The text climaxed with how Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus with compassion when he got missing during a pilgrim advent in Jerusalem. The study was then pointed to parental perversion in Moree community where unacceptable traditions entrenched in cultural values infiltrate against conventional standards on child care delivery and practices is deliberated. Thus the study recommended the parental model of Mary and Joseph to the Christian parents at Moree for adoption and practice. The study then summoned the Christian community to embrace parenting as part of religious requirement in obedience to God and contribution to nation building and development.

Source: UCC
Mass media and community health in the Akotokyir community of Cape Coast - Ghana

It has been argued that even though broad-spectrum approaches to health promotion, using mass communication methods, may not be effective, they are still useful as' sources of health information and in reaching hidden groups in the general population. The effectiveness of promoting community health through various approaches in the mass media has been questioned. Therefore, in what ways can there be rapid improvement in community health using the mass media? This paper engages in a qualitative interrogation of mass media effects on health the Akotokyir community in Cape Coast in Ghana. The paper argues that the mass media within the Cape Coast Municipality have largely failed to lead to positive changes in Community health statuses; some of the reasons for this failure are examined. The paper then offers ome recommendations, stressing the need for an integrated municipal health campaign that is culture-specific and sustainable over a long period of time

Source: UCC