ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Optimal decision on five telecommunication networks in the Greater Accra Region using promethee

Telecommunication and mobile phone usage for that matter have assumed a centre stage in the Ghanaian economy like any other economy the world over to a degree that its possession is increasingly becoming a necessity. The objectives of this thesis are to model the selection of the best telecom network as a decision problem as well as identify the best telecommunication network out of five available telecom networks in the Greater Accra region. These five networks are represented as: A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5. The model used to represent this problem is the decision model and the method employed is the PROMETHEE method. The National Communications Authority (NCA) has provided four major criteria for measuring the performance of the various networks. They include: Call Setup Time; Call Completion Rate; Call Congestion Rate and Call Drop Rate. Using the PROMETHEE methodology as a multiple criteria optimization technique, the five mentioned alternative networks are analyzed based on the above mentioned four criteria. However, a simple illustration of the single criterion optimization technique on this multicriteria decision problem is made to expose the inefficiency of the approach in solving such a multicriteria decision problem. The generalized preference function that is chosen for this study is the Gaussian preference function. Through this, partial and complete ranking of the alternatives are made to depict their performance from best to worst. Finally, upon the outcome of the analysis, the ranking is as follows: A2, A4, A5, A1, and A3. Hence, the best network is A2 and the worst is A3.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Credit Portfolio Case Study :( First Allied Savings and Loans)

With the recent onset of the global credit crisis and the growth of credit portfolio there have been an increased concentrations and credit portfolio volatility (unexpected losses), abysmal returns on risk and capital. The study sought to formulate and solve a linear programming model to maximize expected credit yield subject to capacity and demand, develop risk related scenarios and interpret results in the light of credit management issues. Data was obtained from the credit section of First Allied Savings and Loans Limited, Techiman, Ghana and was analyzed using the management scientist software to see how the portfolio fared in achieving its set targets in the contest of the LP model and to understand and quantify the credit characteristics of individual customer categories as well as compensate for risk level of the categories. The results obtained showed a positive relationship in general between the risk and the expected return of a financial asset. In other words, when the risk of an asset increases, so does its expected return.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Extraction of Photovoltaic Cell Parameters for the Maximization of Photovoltaic Power Output Using a Hybrid Particle Swarm Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm

Avoiding over-dependency on the oil-fired energy supply systems motivates many countries to integrate renewable energy into the existing energy supply systems. Solar Photovoltaic technology forms the most promising option for developing such a costeffective and sustainable energy supply system. Generally, the current-voltage curve is used in the performance assessment and analysis of the Photovoltaic module. The accuracy of the equations for the curve depends on accurate cell parameters. However, the extraction of these parameters remains a complex stochastic nonlinear optimization problem. Many studies have been carried out to deal with such problem but still more researches need to be carried out to achieve a minimum error and a high accuracy. The existing researches ignored the variation in the meteorological data though it has a significant impact on the problem design. In this study, the Sample Average Approximation was employed to deal with the uncertainty and the hybrid optimization method was used to get the optimal parameters. The results showed that the Hybrid PSO-GWO produced the most optimal solution: Series resistance(1.4623), Shunt resistance (215.0000), Ideal diode factors (n1 = 0.9500, n2 = 1.6500) with a maximum PV power of 59.850W. The methodology produced realistic results since the variability is dealt with and the Hybrid PSO-GWO finds the optimal solution at a higher convergence rate.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Fund Allocation of Loan (Case Study: Unibank (Ghana) Ltd)

Most Ghanaians who are in the working class both in the formal sector and the informal sector take loans for reasons of acquiring personal properties (houses or cars), investment in businesses, set up a business and continuation of education. Majority of Ghanaians rely on financial institutions like Banks for Loans. This thesis used the linear programming model to maximize profits through allocation of funds by the bank (Unibank). Data were taken from Unibank for this project and interior point method specifically Karmarkar’s algorithm was used for the computation. The optimal solution converts x_1 to GH¢113,800.00 for personal loan, x_2 to GH¢145,900.00 for small and medium enterprise loans, 〖 x〗_3 to GH¢99,900.00 for agricultural loans, no amount allocated to x_4 for construction loans, x_5 to GH¢142,400.00 for car loans and 〖 x〗_6 to GH¢288,200.00 for industrial loans show that the bank should allocate funds to all the types of loans accept construction loan and this would yield a minimum profit of GH¢17,286,000.00. Concluding, the solution meets the policy of loan preference of Unibank.

Source: KNUST
An optimal flow allocation schemes for the Volta River Basin System

The objective of this project is to design a network of reservoirs that could be sited within the Volta Basin and to develop a model based on this network that seeks to efficiently allocate flow within the basin to meet withdrawal Consumptive needs (irrigation and domestic) and withdrawal unconsumptive needs (hydropower). Data was obtained from Water Resource Management Study Group Report, Volta River Authority Irrigation Development Authority for analysis. From the designed network, a maximum flow problem was formulated and Ford -Fulkerson’s method and Simplex algorithm were used to solve the problem. The solution obtained by the two algorithms allocated a flow that could meet the basin’s need in terms of water withdrawal for irrigation and domestic purposes. In terms of withdrawal non-consumptive purpose, the flow allocated could meet at least the minimum operating levels of reserviors at Bui and Akosombo. These allocations could meet the basins need for withdrawal consumptive and withdrawal non-consumptive purposes far beyond the year 2020 provided the current basin run-offs are maintained and improved It must be stated that the result obtained in this work is based on a hypothetical network designed in line with spatial configuration of rivers in the Volta Basin System The work is not conclusive but it sets the stage for further work in Water Resources Planning and Management within the Volta Basin System

Source: KNUST
Optimal harvesting policy for an age-structured tilapia population

This research was carried out to determine an efficient optimal sustainable harvesting policy for an age-structured tilapia population using the Leslie model. The population was grouped into three age classes of six months intervals: juvenile, matured and older classes. The dynamics of the population was investigated by finding the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Leslie matrix of the tilapia population and develop an optimal sustainable harvesting policy for the population. The dominant eigenvalue was and the corresponding eigenvector indicated that in long run the population will consist of 94% of the juveniles, 5.6% of matured and only 0.4% of the older fish. The optimal sustainable harvesting policy was harvesting 99.3% of the juveniles and all the older fish.

Source: KNUST
An optimal investment policy for two firms in Kumasi

The focus of this thesis has been to look at one of the widely applied and effective modeling tools of Operations Research known as Linear programming, and how it is applied to an investment decision problem of two Firms in Kumasi. The separate investment problems of the two firms are first modeled as a linear programming problem and solved. A joint investment problem is afterwards simulated and modeled into a linear programming problem which is then solved, a step taken to see whether the two firms stand to gain operating together. A sensitivity analysis is performed on the three investment models formulated. This is done to see how the solutions react to slight variations of some chosen parameters of the models, after which the best solutions to the three models are selected. Finally recommendations are made for an optimum investment policy for the two firms separately and jointly.

Source: KNUST
An optimal investment policy for some selected projects at the Ghana Investments Centre

There has always been an urgent need to make maximum use of available resources. The thesis, being a model of Capital-Budgeting problem for a given set of investment opportunities available at the Ghana Investments Centre, has actually achieved the required aim of Maximizing Total Prof it. This has been made possible by applying an efficient Zero-One Integer Programming Algorithm developed by Egon Balas. The solution obtained for the problem ensures maximum total profit roughly ranging from 110 percent to 630 percent of the various amounts invested as against the 81 percent of the maximum amount which yielded from the allocation of funds obtained from the field. The optimum allocation of funds was to allocate 40 percent for the first year, 30 percent for the second year, 20 percent for the third year and 10 percent for the fourth year. This optimum policy for this set of investment opportunities at the Ghana Investments Centre, if accepted will be the basis of sound advice for potential investors and will lead to increased efficiency in private sector investment.

Source: KNUST
An optimal investment policy for two financial institutions in Ghana

In chapter zero, we try to review the necessary literature that is required to solve the investment policy problem. This includes mathematical programming with particular reference to Dynamic Programming where various theoretical examples are explained. Bellman’s Principle of Optimality, which is the basis of Dynamic Programming, is discussed. The background to the research receives attention in Chapter One since this is the crux of the study. Certain terminologies in the merchant banking and insurance have been defined to enable any reader to appreciate the nature of the study. In this Chapter, data collected are analyzed using a 95% confidence interval to formulate the problem. Subsequently, the problem is modelled in Chapter Two with Parameters in the model well explained. Results obtained in Chapter Three seek to advise Management of the two firms on how to allocate resources in order to operate optimally.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Investment Portfolio Based On Models of Risk and Expected Returns

The most prominent problem facing every investor is to maximize returns and at the same time minimize the risk associated with the investment. Unfortunately, all the efforts by the investors to develop a reliable mathematical model to solve this problem optimally for both long term and short term in order to maximize profit, have proved futile. The aim of this thesis is to develop optimization models based on Dynamic Programming (DP) algorithm and Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT), and use them to determine the optimal returns and the risk involved. To achieve these aims, secondary data were collected from six financial institutions in Sunyani municipality from 2006 – 2011. The price series were normalized such that each commodity’s price changes have annualized volatility of ten percent (10%). Financial ratio such as coefficient of variation (CV) which measures the relative probability of investing in each of the investments was calculated and used to analyze the data. Based on this empirical data MPT and DP models were formulated and used to find the risk and the corresponding returns involved in various investments. From the analysis, it was found out that, the optimal investment return was GH¢1.51x104. Ghana Guinness Limited, StateInsurance Company,Zenith BankBarclays Bankwere the prime investments which contributed most to the optimal expected return. Government of Ghana’s Treasury bill and Ghana Commercial Bank were not profitable since their total contribution to the portfolio return were zero. No investor will be interested in investing in these financial institutions. There was a strong positive correlation coefficient between the optimal investments portfolio and the risk associated with investments. This suggests that short term investments in these portfolios are not profitable.

Source: KNUST
An optimal joint operations policy for the airlines of the ECOWAS sub-region

The development of a comprehensive multilateral sub-regional policy on the harmonization and co-ordination of schedules of the airlines of the ECOWAS sub-region is an urgent requirement. Duplication of services and wasteful competition can be seen mostly on the few lucrative sub-regional routes and on some of the marginal routes. This thesis examines the schedules of West African airlines with a view to proposing an optimal joint operations policy for the airlines of the ECOWAS sub-region. This will provide a more effectively co-ordinated and viable network for users in the sub-region. Data was collected from the airlines themselves, Geographers, Ministries and other Co-ordinating bodies. Optimization techniques were then applied to solve the problem. A FORTRAN program for the algorithm was written and used to obtain these results. By this, we can always meet the needs of users and enhance the development of the aviation industry in the sub-region at a minimum cost of between $51,008,923.18 and $79,544,983.99 per month as compared with the current total net expenditure of $226,000,000 per month for all the airlines.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Load Shedding Scheme in Kumasi for Electricity Company of Ghana

The purpose of this research is to model a load shedding scheme in Kumasi for Electricity Company of Ghana (E.C.G) with the aim of maximizing revenue. The study assumes that E.C.G.’s only source of revenue is money that accrues from the amount of energy consumed by its customers. Thus administrative and operational costs are not included in the model. A set of data was obtained from the Electricity Company of Ghana. Linear programming techniques were then applied to solve the problem of maximizing revenue for the Company. A Fortran program for the Simplex algorithm was written and used to obtain the following results: For the categories which experienced the load shedding (i.e. residential and SLT customers) whenever there are blackouts, they occur only during the first four hours of the day (i.e. from 12 mid-night to 4 am), hours during which consumers need power least. The maximum revenue is ¢156,138,901 per day on the average. Using a 95% confidence level for the tariffs for the various categories, the maximum revenue could range from ¢98,910,900.96 to ¢213,366,901 per day.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Loan Portfolio (Using Karmarkar’s Algorithm) Case Study: Capital Rural Bank Limited, Dominase-Sunyani

In Ghana, banking industry is now characterized by increasing competition and innovation.This has made most of the banks to adopt scientific approach to improve the quality of their loan structure. The decline of relevant portfolio planning models especially in Ghana is attributed mainly to the evolving dynamics of the Ghanaian banking industry where the regulatory controls have changed with a high frequency. Due to the model used in allocating funds to various loan types, a lot of banks had suffered substantial losses from a number of bad loans in their portfolio.As a result, most banks are not able to maximize their profit on loans due to poor allocation of funds. The purpose of this study is to develop a linear programming model using the Karmarkar‟s projective scaling algorithm to help Capital Rural Bank Limited, Dominase-Agency (Sunyani) to maximize their profit on loans. The results from the model showed that, Capital Rural Bank Limited, Dominase-Agency (Sunyani) would be making annual profit of GH¢5,961,300.00 if they are to stick to the model. From the study, it was realized that the scientific method used to come out with this model can have a dramatic increase in the bank‟s profit on loans if put into practice.

Source: KNUST
Optimal loan portfolio (A case study of Atweaban Rural Bank, Duayaw Nkwanta)

Many Ghanaians both in the formal sector and the informal sector take loans for various reasons some being investment in businesses or their wards education. Others also take loans to acquire personal properties such as houses and cars. Most people rely on Banks for Loans. Due to poor allocation of funds by most banks to prospective loan seekers the banks are not able to maximize their profits. In view of this monies that can be used for social services in the community in which they operate go into bad debt. The main aim of this work is to develop Linear Programming model to help the Atweaban Rural Bank at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region to allocate their funds to prospective loan seekers in order for them to maximize their profits.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Loan Portfolio (A Case Study Of Agricultural Development Bank, Sunyani)

Many customers in ADB, Sunyani branch take loans for various reasons some being investment in businesses, agriculture or their wards education. Others also take loans to acquire personal properties such as houses and cars. Due to poor allocation of funds by most banks to prospective loan seekers the banks are not able to maximize their profits. In view of this monies that can be used for social services in the community in which they operate go into bad debt. The main aim of this study is to develop Linear Programming (LP) model to help ADB Sunyani branch in the Brong Ahafo Region to allocate their funds to prospective loan seekers in order to maximize profits. To achieve this aim, a secondary data were extracted from the annual reports and financial statements of the bank. Based on these empirical data, LP model was formulated. A computerized software application called LP solver (Lips) based on Revised Simplex Algorithm was used to solve the problem. The results from the model showed that ADB Sunyani branch would be making annual profit of GH¢ 476732.00 on loans alone as against GH¢ 190693.00 in 2011 if they stick to the model. From the study, it was realized that the Scientific method used to develop the proposed model can have a significant increase in the bank’s profit margin if put into use.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Loan Portfolio (Case Study: Prudential Bank Ltd And Asante Akyem Rural Bank)

The Banking Industry in Ghana is now characterized by increasing competition and innovation. This phenomena has led to most banks adopting cutting edge technology to improve the quality of their Loan structure . The decline of relevant portfolio planning models especially in Ghana is attributed mainly to the evolving dynamics of the Ghanaian banking industry where the regulatory controls have changed with a high frequency. A lot of banks had suffered substantial losses from a number of bad loans in their portfolio due to the models used in allocating funds to loans. As a result, most banks are not able to maximize their profit margin due to poor allocation of funds. The purpose of this Study is to develop a linear programming model using the Simplex algorithm to help Prudential Bank Limited and Asante Akyem Rural Bank to maximize their profit margin. The results from the model showed that, Prudential Bank and Asante Akyem Rural Bank would be making annual profit of GH¢8003572.5 and GH¢176750 respectively if they are to stick to the model. From the study, it was realized that the scientific method used to develop the propose model can have a dramatic increase in the two banks profit margin if put into practice.

Source: KNUST
Optimal Location Choice for Events (Case Study: Teacher Education Division of Ghana)

Employees of many institutions and organizations frequently travel to professional – development conferences and training events. Conference planners often decide on event locations arbitrarily with little regard for travel cost. In this thesis, a mathematical model for the determination of cost – effective event site for Teacher Education Division of Ghana (TEDG) is constructed. It involves using the Floyd’s Algorithm for solving the all pairs shortest-path-network problem and conference site selection model. The study revealed that an amount of GH¢570,015.00 and GH¢917,280.00 would be spent in the cost – effective site and most expensive site respectively. It also established that meeting at Wa, the cost – effective location could save TEDG an amount of GH¢347,265.00 on every training event. Among the recommendations offered was that since the model minimizes event cost, thereby increasing the savings, TEDG and other institutions event planners could adapt the model in deciding where to host an event.

Source: KNUST
Optimal location of a Library facility (Case Study: Nkoranza Community)

Facility location is a branch of Operations Research and computational geometry concerning itself with mathematical modeling and solution of problems concerning optimal placement of facilities in order to minimize transportation costs, avoid placing hazardous facilities near housing, etc. One of the greatest problems facing both the public and the private sector enterprises is how to locate facilities. People site their facilities anywhere and anyhow without first considering how close that facility will be to people in the community and whether the facility is desirable, semi desirable or undesirable by the community. This work attempts to use p-median model to find a suitable site to locate a library facility at Nkoranza community. Two different methods were used to locate the facilities; the myopic algorithm and Lagrangian algorithm. Results of both algorithm suggest that we locate the facility at Kassadjan. The optimal objective function value was 92674 kilometers. This gave an average demand-weighted distance of 2.06 km.

Source: KNUST
Optimal location of distribution center for Liquefied Petroleum Gas - Using Floyd?s shortest route algorithm (A case study: Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana)

Liquefied Petroleum Gas demand in Ghana has grown steadily since the LPG promotion program in early 1990’s. The country currently has no downstream LPG Distribution Centers (depots) in any of the ten regions, apart from the primary storage facility located at the TOR. This results in long queues and delay during rush period even when there may be gas in storage. The LPG filling stations in the country get their supply from Tema with little regard for travel cost. In this thesis, a mathematical model for the determination of cost effective distribution center for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is constructed. It involves using the Floyd’s Shortest – Route Algorithm for all pairs shortest-path-network problem and distribution center site selection model. The study revealed that an amount of GH¢5580.00 and GH¢13424.00 would be spent in the cost-effective site and most expensive site respectively. It also established that locating distribution center at Techiman, the cost-effective location could save TOR an amount of GH¢6783.00 on every distribution. Among the recommendations offered was that since the model minimizes distribution cost, thereby increasing the savings, TOR and other institutions planners could adapt the model in deciding where to site a distribution center.

Source: KNUST