ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The role of rural banks in credit creation and poverty reduction in Ghana: a case study of Nwabiagya Rural Bank, Ashanti region

The study is about Rural and Community banks credit creation and poverty reduction in rural areas for rural development. One of the objectives for the establishment of rural and community banks were of provide credit to farmers, traders, craftsmen and cottage industries in rural areas for rural development. The main purpose of the study is to establish link between funds mobilization, credit facility, credit creation and poverty reduction in rural areas for rural banks (as Ghana Commercial Bank, Agriculture development bank, National investment bank and cooperative bank) and other cooperatives associations were mandated to provide credit to farmers, craftsmen and cottage industrial in rural areas for rural development. These financial institutions started providing credit facilities to the above groups, for rural and community development. This was successful at the initial states but for few years, explaining the high cost of administering a large number of small credits spread through out the country, coupled with high default rate and non provision of collateral security for loans. The agricultural development bank which was created for the sector, especially the rural sector in particular, however, eventually, began concentrating on urban based banking activities ignoring the rural sector. This led to the establishment of rural community banks. Rural and community banks were to mobilized funds and give credit facility to the community for rural development. The emphasis of the study has been comparing the link between rural and community banks credit creation and poverty reduction in rural areas. In conclusion, the research confirms that the effectiveness of Ghana’s rural credit program through rural and community banks indicates that the impact of Nwabiagya rural bank on credit creation and poverty reduction was minimal. Nwabiagya rural bank credit recipients (Agriculture and craftsmen) did not experience any improvement in their livelihood as compared with other economically active people.

Source: KNUST
The role of rural markets infrastructure in the distribution of’ small scale industrial products: case of Krachi District in Ghana

In rural economies of developing countries like Ghana, markets serve mainly as centres for collection and distribution of agricultural products. In these rural areas, there are also many small scale industries which are producing agricultural tools, household goods, simple furniture and foodstuffs. Most of the small scale industries sell their products in their working site because of their low level of production and market infrastructure which are major obstacles to the development of small scale industries in these rural areas. This study attempted to assess the situation of these market infrastructures in Krachi District in order to make recommendations for their development in view of improving the marketing of small scale industrial products. The study was made through collection and analysis of primary and secondary data on several aspects comprising the typology of the small scale industries, their production, the marketing of their products and the role and support of infrastructure to the marketing.

Source: KNUST
The role of rural and community banks: a case study of Builsa Community Bank - Sandema

The study has assessed the role of Rural and Community Banks in the development of rural areas by providing credit facilities and mobilization of rural savings/deposits to improve the livelihood of the rural people. It was revealed that the Builsa Community Bank in which this study is focused has performed well in providing the needed credit facilities to farmers, small businesses (traders), public/civil servants, groups and artisans to improve on their economic activities. Questionnaire and interviews were used as^the main survey instruments to solicit information from 136 credit/loan beneficiaries of the bank from five villages in the Builsa District, which generates qualitative and quantitative data for the analyses. Results have showed some improvement in the general welfare of credit beneficiaries, but employment generation and output in crop production were generally very low. There were consistent increases in bank credit facilities to the people, as well as rural savings/deposits mobilization. However the findings have shown that 85 percent of the people of Builsa are still unbanked. Large number of the population * predominantly farmers could not access the bank credit facilities due to lack of collateral security. The bank needs to introduce 'Susu' collection and sensitization of the people to take advantage of the large number of market men/women of the various village markets that fall every three days. The shareholders of the bank need to be sensitize to see the need to invest more into shares and increase their shareholdings, as well as contributing to strengthening the capital base of the bank to deliver the needed quality services to the people of Builsa.

Source: KNUST
The Role of Seed Coat and Its Pigmentation on the Acceptance of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) Cultivars by the Cowpea Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)

Bambara groundnut, Vigna subterranea is an important legume crop that is adaptable to the dry regions of Africa. It is a major source of protein to people in many parts of Africa. One major constraint to increased production of the crop is the incidence of the storage pest Callosobruchus maculatus which causes significant weight loss to seeds in storage. The preference of the cowpea beetle C. maculatus for a particular seed coat colour was determined using four different colour types of bambara groundnut in an arena. The olfactory attractiveness of testa against cotyledon and cotyledon against whole grain was carried out in an olfactometer. Oviposition preference of C. maculatus on the different seed colours was determined. In the arena experiment significantly more of the beetles showed preference for cream and mottled seeds than red and black seeds. Significantly more beetles chose seeds with testa over decorticated seeds as well as whole grain over decorticated seeds. Colour significantly affected the seeds as oviposition sites. Significantly fewer eggs were laid on red and black seeds than cream seeds in both the choice and no choice tests (P < 0.0001). Thus for the purpose of reducing losses of seeds in storage it is advisable to cultivate redand black-coloured seeds which showed lower acceptability to C. maculatus as oviposition site.

Source: KNUST
The Role of Service Quality in the Marketing of Financial Services in Ghana: the Case of Barclays Bank in Tamale

The major purpose of the study was to investigate the role of service quality in the marketing of financial services in Ghana with a case study of the Barclays Bank Limited in Tamale. Data were collected through desk and primary research. The statistical package for social sciences was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the SERVQUAL (service quality) instrument is a valid measurement instrument for service quality and that quality service delivered to customers result in satisfaction, profitability, customer retention, loyalty and revenue growth. Also, it was revealed that customers are more willing to switch to competitors if the bank renders poor quality services. In order to improve upon the delivery of quality services, it is recommended that, the bank make great efforts to appeal to a large number of business customers, empathy dimensions should be strengthened and customer satisfaction should be enhanced in order to continue enjoying the positive word of mouth its customers. The Bank should avoid any negative impression on the customers.

Source: KNUST
The role of sculpture in the promotion of tourism in Ashanti Region: A Case of Ahwiaa wood carvers centre, craft shops and Centre for National Culture.

In promoting the tourism industry through Sculpture works in the Ashanti Region a lot needs to be done as regards the involvement of customers in the business. If customers do not know what products and services one offers then business of these artisans especially sculptors would not survive in today’s competitive world. As a way of solving these lapses, effective communication need to be used to ensure that the business generates the needed sales and profit and this can be achieved by developing the appropriate promotional mix. Promotion is used to communicate with customers with respect to product offerings. Promotion is used by organizations to communicate with customers with respect to their product offerings. The aim of this research was to provide a better understanding of how Sculpture and Tourism potentials in Ghana with specific reference to Ahwiaa Crafts Centre and Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, contribute to the development of Ghana. Firstly the findings showed that there are more males than females that is, 57.1% and 42.9 in trade in the Ashanti Region. Secondly, the findings showed that all the respondents contacted accepted the view that providers and producers of sculpture have set objectives in promoting sculpture and tourism potentials in Ghana. Thirdly, the findings provided strategies to be adopted to promote tourism potentials in Ashanti Region. This thesis is divided into five chapters. The first chapter deals with the introduction of the topic. The second deals with the relevant and related literature to show what extent the topic has been handled by other scholars and the areas not dealt with. The third chapter deals with how the researcher went about in conducting the research. The various activities carried by the researcher in this chapter comprise stating the purpose of the study, the approaches (that is, both qualitative and quantitative), the research strategy (which was case study), population and sampling techniques, data sources and data collection techniques. The fourth chapter deals with the presentation of data from the field and its analysis. The chapter five deals with the summary and conclusion of the major findings of the study recommendations and also provides suggestions for future studies.

Source: KNUST
The role of savings and loans institutions in financing SME’s: A case of Utrak Savings and Loans Limited

This study sought to assess the role of saving and loans institutions in financing SMEs using Utrak Savings and Loans Co. Ltd as a case study. The study employs questionnaire designed to cover major aspects of the roles played by Savings and loans companies towards the financing of SMEs. Fifty clients and five staff of Utrak Savings and Loans Co. Ltd were selected for the study. The analysis revealed that business registration certificate is mostly the main document requested by Utrak savings and loans ltd during a loan application process. Other documents that are requested according to the analysis, include Management accounts, Business plan, financial statements, Appraisal of assets to be financed and Resolution to open an account. The analysis also revealed that Utrak savings and loans ltd has rejected some loan applications in past due to several reasons such as lack of collateral security by clients and poor credit experience or history of clients among others. It was however revealed in the analysis that the major problem that SMEs encounter in securing for funding from Utrak savings and loans ltd is their lack of collateral security. The analysis also revealed that the major impact that the financial support from Utrak savings and loans ltd has on SMEs business performance is that it has helped their businesses to grow and expand into big businesses. The results from the analysis also indicated that the financial support that SMEs receive from Utrak savings and loans ltd has helped them to increase their business assets and working capital which has resulted in smooth operation of their businesses and an increase in profit of their businesses. The results from the research also revealed that the policies that are put in place by Utrak to ensure quick recovery of loans from clients are daily collection of repayments from clients, routine customer visit and constant communication with clients as well as management advice to customers.

Source: KNUST
The role of SG-SSB Limited in the socio-economic development of the Juaboso District

Banks serve as instruments for the development of businesses which translates into prosperity and thereby facilitates the rapid socio-economic growth of nations. Bonsu (2001). The incentive for this study was to find out the reasons that could be assigned to the abject poverty and squalor that continuously plagued the people in the Juaboso District with in the last four years even though SG-SSB Limited was at'the Centre’ of its development economically and socially. Again it was to recommend definitive e solutions to the problems that were found. A qualitative study of a sample made up of categories comprising customers of the Bank, Non-customers of the bank, District Assembly members, Farmers, Traders, Chiefs, Workers and SG-SSB Limited employees revealed that even though the Bank has made remarkable strides in the economic development of the District, respondents indicated that the Bank's efforts were skewed towards the well to do in society whilst the poor were passed over. Hence the prevalence of poverty and under - development in the District. Findings also brought to the fore the fact that the Bank has performed abysmally poor in respect of corporate social responsibility. This in addition to the aforementioned have hampered the socio-economic development of the District.

Source: KNUST
Role of stakeholders at Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies to ensure successful delivery of construction project: a case study of the Fanteakwa District Assembly

The study was aimed at assessing the role of stakeholders in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in ensuring successful delivery in construction projects. With this aim, three (3) objectives were set which were to identify the roles of stakeholders at the Fanteakwa District Assembly in the delivery in construction projects, to examine the challenges associated with the management of project implementation at the Fanteakwa District Assembly and to suggest methods to overcome these challenges. Using the mixed research method, both textural and numerical data were collected from client representatives, consultants and construction firms in the Fanteakwa District Assembly. For the consultants in the District Assembly, eighteen (18) questionnaires were distributed and sixteen (16) were retrieved for the analysis. For the construction firms, forty-seven (47) questionnaires were distributed however, twenty-seven (27) were retrieved. With regards to the interviews, a structured interview guide was developed as shown in the appendix of this report. The interviewees were the District Chief Executive (DCE), the District Co-ordinating Director (DCD) and two (2) assistant Directors. The data collected were analyzed using mean score ranking and content analysis. From the analysis, it was realized that, the pre-execution phase was significantly performed by the consultants and clients, the execution phase was performed by the construction firms whiles the post-execution phase was performed by clients and consultants. With the second objective, it was realized that, the consultants and contractors had similar views on the challenges associated with the effective delivery of projects in the Fanteakwa North District assembly. The highest ranked challenge among contractors and consultants were poor communication. With the interviews, the most recurring challenge was improper funds management followed by delayed payment. With third objective, it was realized that, the challenges had significant impact on the delivery of projects with unclearness in project objectives having the most significant impact. Finally, from the fourth objective, it was realized that, effective planning and effective communication was the most significant strategy to improve the delivery of projects. From the findings, it was recommended that, consultants must adequately plan the entire construction project to ensure that, they are executed to a set standard and consultants must also set control mechanisms to serve as a check for construction firms in the execution of their work. This will involve setting criteria for measuring the performance of the project executed.

Source: KNUST
The role of termites in the composting of domestic refuse from U.S.T. Campus

Refuse was collected in bags from U.S.T. community and composted in two types of pits, the control and the experimental pits. The experimental pit was seeded with termites, whereas the control pit was without termites. The quality of compost and the rate of corn posting were then compared between the two pits. The quality of compost was evaluated by determining in every two weeks the concentrations of moisture, ash, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of the compost. The rate of composting was also assessed by determining the rate of reduction of composting materials. This was done by measuring the volume of refuse materials every two weeks. The results obtained indicated that the compost in the control pit significantly contained higher values of the nutrients mentioned above than that of the experimental pit. However, the rate of composting was found to be higher in the experimental pit was compared to the control pit. These results could partly he attributed to the activities of termites which were present only in the experimental pit during the processing period. In view of such results, it could be concluded that termite involvement with composting accelerates the process but does not lead to better compost production. it could therefore he recommended that termites he used to accelerate the decomposition of refuse materials as a way of finding a lasting solution to the refuse disposal problems persisting in our communities. However, the number of termites in the refuse heap meant to produce compost to serve as alternative source of fertilizer should he controlled.

Source: KNUST
The role of street vendors in the socio-economic development of Yilo-Krobo District - Ghana

In most Third World Countries including Ghana many people earn their livelihood from the informal sector. Street vending is one of the most common activities in the informal sector. In all parts of Ghana, including Yilo-Krobo District, it is practised by a large number of people including children, youth, adult men and women. However, being part of the informal sector, street vendors are characterized by low level of capital, little or no saving and irregular income. They do not have access to any form of formal credit and promotional activities. Thus, most of them suffer from low financial returns and irregular income. Moreover, they are operating under difficult working condition and hence, exposed to physical and moral danger. The objectives of this study include identification of reasons why many people engage in this activity; the roles they play in the socio-economic development of the District, the problems and constraints they face and to make suggestions as to how their problems can be solved or minimized. To this end, formal interviews were administered to street vendors in three selected area councils namely, Somanya (the District Capital), Nkurakan and Oterkpolu. For the enumeration, main streets and access roads where street vendors concentrated were chosen. Information regarding current and future plan for street vendors from different institutions in the District was also inquired. Analysis of the data collected indicates that for many of them street vending is the major source of subsistence while few undertake it to quickly sell their goods and to maximize profit. Street vendors benefit the larger community in different ways. Some of their contributions include bringing the basic goods ‘closer to the society, payment of taxes/rates, market tolls, development levy and contribution to communal labour. Currently Ghana is guided by the principle of human centered development. Thus, considering their socio-economic role and the unfavourable working condition, it is necessary to intervene in such a way that the creation of favourable working environment and the enhancement of their skills and knowledge can help develop their human potential towards better utilization of the resources and to help them develop.

Source: KNUST
The role of tax audit in revenue mobilisation in Ghana Revenue Authority: The case of Ashanti Region

In most nations, taxation serves as the main source of revenue which governments use for their developmental projects. However, this is not the case in Ghana, the country relies on foreign sources of finance namely foreign loans and aids due to its poor performance in tax administration. To change this system, there is a serious need for revenue administration transformation. For this transformation to function well an efficient and effective tax audit unit may be needed to enable the government to keep up with the increasing complexity of business activities and tax evasion schemes. The main objective of the study is to know the role that tax audit practice plays in tax administration in the Ashanti Region and to provide concrete suggestions to its sustenance in Ghana based on the case study. The research approaches used were both qualitative and quantitative case study approaches. Sixty Auditing staff from all the offices of Ashanti Region of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division (DTRD) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) acted as a case in the study. The quantitative study involved primary data collection through a field survey and secondary data collection from the DTRD of the GRA. And the qualitative research method was considered as a means of gaining access to unquantifiable facts. The result of the study showed that all the respondents admitted Tax Audit is very essential in improving revenue generation and has a most important part to play in tax administration in Ghana. Even though the employees in the Tax Audit unit have the necessary skills which enable them to perform their duties and responsibilities, it is recommended that there must be adequate short term and refresher training to keep them abreast with current trends of auditing and investigations and also the numerous amendments to the tax laws. In conclusion, an improved and well-equipped Tax Audit unit can aid the nation in her pursuit to be self- sufficient in domestic revenue generation through taxation.

Source: KNUST