ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of National Service Scheme on traffic management module.

National Service has become an important activity to national development in Ghana. This has been evident with the setting up of the Ghana National Service Scheme (G.N.S.S) by an Act of Parliament (Act 426) of 1980 with the purpose of reviving and growing the national service spirit, which appeared to be waning at the time. There was therefore the need to challenge service persons and the generality of the populace to desire to know the country, and to challenge all to appreciate and understand the challenges facing the country, in order to re-orient everybody towards the development of a new nationalistic and patriotic zeal. People have different views about the efficiency of Ghana National Service Scheme on the new Traffic Management module and policy makers consider it as useful, whilst some of those who enroll to take part in the program see it differently; others consider it as a program worth implementing. The Ghana National Service Scheme‘s new module is to deployed graduates onto the streets to help manage traffic and boost the few number of Police M.T.T.D officers in the major cities of Ghana. Data were collected from Ghana National Service Scheme Staff, the Police M.T.T.D officers and the N.S.S service persons who are directly involved in the operations and management of the Traffic management module. In addition 12 staff of the Ghana National Service Scheme and 119 national service persons and Ghana Police M.T.T.D officers were all interviewed. The selection of the respondents were done using the convenient sampling technic for G.N.S.S staff and systematic random sampling technic for the N.S.S service persons, and the Police M.T.T.D officers. In analyzing the gathered data, it was linked with relevant concepts of National Youth Service. The study employed some graphical presentation tools like charts and tables to illustrate some of the study findings. The results of the research found out that the orientation and training program was educative, well organized, skill impacting and resourceful. The N.S.S service persons were given reflective Jacket, uniforms, cap, notebooks, boots, and pens. The resources given them were all use at their duty points of operation. In addition, the result identified some challenges facing the Ghana National Service Scheme‘s Traffic management module, which were absenteeism, natural challenges, resource challenges, lack of motivation, and collecting money from drivers, mates, and motorist by N.S.S service persons. The study concludes with a number of recommendations, which would help in the efficient operations and improve the Ghana National Service Scheme on Traffic Management module in Kumasi Metropolis.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of performance appraisal systems: A study of KNUST

The need for effective performance appraisal in institutions has been emphasized in recent times. This study therefore investigated the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems in KNUST. The study was descriptive using both primary and secondary data. Data were collected with the help of questionnaires and analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The study found out that the institution has in place an appraisal system, and this was largely acknowledged by all categories of respondents: junior and senior members. The study noted that there are key performance criteria that have been developed and clearly identified in the appraisal system. Findings showed that to a large extent the criteria have been developed in consultation with workers and appraisers. Further, respondents indicated general understanding and support from the various stakeholders on the institution’s appraisal system. The study found out that most employees show cooperation in the appraisal process. Again, most staff believe that feedback reflects their performance. Further, most staff believe the appraisal system is relevant and do not consider the appraisal process a waste of time. It was noted that the process has helped in identifying systematic factors that are barriers to effective performance. Key challenges identified included low feedback rate and lack of adequate resources, among other challenges. The study recommended the need to ensure that fairness is maintained in the appraisal process so that the necessary trust and cooperation will be forthcoming from staff. Further, there is the need to ensure regular feedback. Failure to do this could affect staff interest in the process, as much as possible feedback should be given to staff on their performance.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of planning and implementation stages of the ISO 14001 standards EMS at the Obuasi gold mine, Ghana

This paper evaluated the effectiveness of the planning and implementation stages of the ISO 14001 Standards Environmental Management System (EMS) at the Obuasi gold mine in Ghana. The purpose was to identify growth factors, challenges and opportunities for improving process efficiencies through ISO 14001 Standards EMS implementation. A modified ISO 14031 Standards criterion for performance evaluation at the Plan-Do stages was adopted. In all, planning and implementation at eighteen business units were evaluated over a two-year period. Nine out of ten systems procedures evaluated scored above certification audit pass mark of 90%. Environmental Aspect and Impact Identification, and Competence training improved in performance over the study period by average values of 151% and 104%, respectively, while significance rating and environmental observations respectively dropped by 12% and 64%. Environmental training and awareness creation, good aspect and significance rating schemes, establishment of performance reward system for meeting environmental objectives, among others, could serve as key factors that can sustain the ISO 14001 standards EMS. Notable challenges of the EMS were: lack of guide tools, apathetic attitudes, group certification concept, cost constrains, legacy issues and complexity of company’s operations.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of revenue mobilization strategies of mmdas in Ghana. A case study of the talensi district assembly

Generating financial resources adequate for the provision and improvement of public goods and services to the citizenry by metropolitan municipal and district assemblies has encountered numerous challenges over the years after the coming to being of the fiscal decentralisation in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to; find out sources of revenue to the talensi district assembly, assess factors that contribute to the poor performance and to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used in revenue mobilization. A descriptive and explanatory research designs were adopted for the study, using purposive and simple random sampling techniques to carve a sample size of 50 respondents from the study population. Employing quantitative study, data was collected using questionnaires as collection instruments. For sources of revenue to tda, the study found that the assembly major source of revenue was its share of the 5% district assembly common fund annually sub vented to mmdas in proportion to their revenue performance. Six out of eight factors were found to be the causal factors accounting for low revenue performance at the tda. On the effectiveness of revenue generating strategies, the study found that the three most effective strategies of the assembly were the identification of viable sources of revenue, bringing on board businesses in the informal sector and building the capacities of revenue collectors to understand their roles in the assembly revenue mobilization drive. The study therefore recommended to management of tda to; take pragmatic steps in developing and creating a reliable data base on properties and for businesses to help revenue budget formulation and implementation, devise new strategies for revenue mobilization, review the collection of property rate and business operating permits to reposition it as a catalyst for accelerated development and to strictly enforce the by-law on property rate, imposing penalties for default in payment.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of strategic planning in the public sector: evidence from metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in Ashanti region.

The public sector is increasingly turning to strategic planning which has been a private sector tool for improved performance. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between strategic planning effectiveness and strategic planning and the underlying factors of the dimensions of strategic planning that are associated with the relationship. Data was collected from five Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in the Ashanti Region using questionnaires with each item measured using the five point Likert scale. The obtained data was quantified and analysed using SPSS and STATA. Analysis of data shows a mixed relationship between strategic planning effectiveness and strategic planning dimensions with the involvement of top management in strategic planning having a significant positive relationship. The study concludes that strategic planning cannot be effective in the public sector without the involvement of top management. This requires that top managers must participate fully in the strategic planning process, unit mangers performance must be evaluated based on the achievement of the objectives of the plan, unit managers and top managers must work together and top management must create the climate in the organization that support the development of strategic planning. The recommendations of the study therefore were that top management must create climate in the public sector that support strategic planning, and top management must be cognizant of the fact that their involvement and allocation of resources were what was needed to ensure strategic planning effectiveness.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of slow sand filtration for improvement of surface reservoir waters for rural water supply

In parts of the rural areas of northern Ghana where groundwater is generally inaccessible for exploitation, resort is made to streams, ponds, and constructed surface water reservoirs for drinking water. These sources of water are unprotected and highly susceptible to faecal and agro-chemical contamination. The exposed nature of such waters also creates ample breeding grounds for parasitic disease agents. The potential health risks of such sources are therefore quite substantial. Since a large percentage (about 30%) of common diseases is attributable to ingestion of unsafe water, there is a need to improve drinking water quality especially for community water supplies. The low technology and income status of most rural areas dictate that any intervention must be low-cost and simplified (appropriate technology). Bearing the above considerations in mind it is imperative that research into simplified treatment possibilities be intensified to provide information for the design, construction and operation of full-scale plants. This particular research activity involved the design, construction and operation of a pilot slow sand filter plant to generate data about the actual performance of a simplified slow sand filtration system within the typical rural setting of the selected study area. Samples were taken from the effluents of the different filter components and analysed for concentrations of some selected water quality parameters. The percentage reductions in the concentrations of the selected parameters, due to the actions of the various filter units, were then determined and the effectiveness of the unit operations analysed for the different parameters. The progressive improvement in the quality of the final water was monitored during the period of the filter run to determine the ripening period of the slow sand filter. The final water quality parameters were compared to the stated WHO guideline values for drinking water to determine the acceptability of the final product. A series arrangement was adopted for the roughing filters to enable an estimation of a suitable filter length. Protective measures were incorporated in the design to safeguard the quality of the final water against contamination during the fetching process. Interactions with the members of the user community yielded some interesting information about certain conditions that would compel them to abandon the whole facility. Based on the field experiences and analysis of laboratory tests, recommendations have been proposed for better design and operation of future village-scale plants. Serious attention has also been drawn to the importance of training for sustainable use of the filter system. The conclusion drawn from the analysis of the results of this research is that slow sand filtration is a feasible and appropriate water treatment technology for village-level surface reservoir water improvement in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of revised IMCI strategy in malaria management among caregivers in Amansie West District, Ghana

Introduction: The revised IMCI strategy combines community, nutritional and diagnostic measures to effectively manage malaria and other illnesses among children under five years of age. The objective of the study was to assess the awareness level of caregivers on presumptive approaches in malaria management, perception and acceptability of malaria management strategies under revised IMCI and the challenges caregivers encounter in adopting the malaria management strategies under the revised IMCI. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study for which 379 respondents were conveniently sampled. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 120 household heads, whereas 240 community members and 19 community health workers were purposively sampled for focus group discussions. Questionnaire and focus group discussion guides were used to gather data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. Content analysis was used to analyse responses from the focus group discussion. Results: The study found that caregivers were highly aware of the use of treated nets and good community sanitation to reduce the incidence of malaria whereas 60% were aware that balance diet helps to improve the immune system of children against malaria. 58.3% of the respondents strongly agreed that poor understanding on the recommended vitamin-rich foods for children is a challenge they encounter in managing malaria among their children, whereas 41.7% disagreed. Poor participation by the household heads, who are dominantly males, influenced the acceptability of the nutritional and some preventive aspects of the revised IMCI strategy. 52.5% of the respondents indicated that they seek first treatment for their children on malaria from health facilities, 31.7% use chemical shops, while 15.8% resort to herbal treatment. Room congestion, no proper beds, and frequent power outages prevented some caregivers from sleeping under treated nets with their children. The NHIS encouraged attendance of health facilities; however the occasional suspension of the system discouraged caregivers in accessing healthcare for their children. All caregivers admitted that health personnel conduct malaria test on children before giving them drugs. The implication is that Rapid Diagnostic Testing is effectively being implemented in the district. Conclusion and recommendation: The study recommends that health education programmes should encourage more male attendance to improve the acceptability of improved practices to enhance malaria management. Community leaders should organise communal labour to effectively address community sanitation issues. Community health nurses should intensify public education on the suggested vitamin-rich foods for children and the need for seeking proper healthcare early.

Source: KNUST
The effectiveness of project management practices and performance in the beverage industry in Ghana: A case of coca cola company

Project management’s fundamental concern is to effectively and efficiently execute projects to meet requirements. At the same time, challenges in managing projects are seen as a key feature, which affect project management framework. This study assessed the effectiveness of project management practices and performance in the Coca Cola Company in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Specifically, the study achieved these objectives: to identify the project management practices in the Coca Cola Company, to identify the project management performance criteria in the Coca Cola Company, and to identify the project management implementation challenges in the Coca Cola Company. The study used fifty (50) employees in the Coca Cola Company. The instrument for the data collection was developed by the researcher, and preceded by a pilot study. The pilot study was initially conducted in a similar beverage industry to ascertain its validity and the reliability. The study used primary source. Data generated was analysed using the mean score ranking. The study found that executing projects in the beverage industry is not an easy task and that project management practices, performance and implementation challenges are seen in various forms ranging from project vision to consumer satisfaction. The study found that defining project vision is the greatest project management practice problem in the company. Again, the study found that the company has excellent project performance criteria mostly ensuring that consumers satisfaction is maximized. Interestingly, the study found that managing the manufacturing process is the most serious. Based on the findings, it is recommended that project management skills are developed to solve practical challenges to enhance the benefits of the company and consumers. Also, it is recommended strongly that the project team members be given the required project management orientation and training in order to improve their performance and project delivery

Source: KNUST
The Effectiveness of Students Loan Trust Fund in Financing Higher Education in Ghana

Students Loan programmes has greatly improved the financing of high education in Ghana from its inception in the 1970s to its current state where it is being handled by an institution that has a sole mandate to award and recover the loans. This has come about as a result of criticisms of the previous schemes for poor administration, high cost, and very low recovery rates. Besides, the introduction of Students Loan Trust Fund in 2005 whereby loans are awarded based on means-based support, it has widened the scope of coverage. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of SLTF so far in its role of financing higher education in Ghana. Guided by the interpretative theory, this study used both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Majority of the respondents indicated that the activities of SLTF had gone a long way in providing access to tertiary education. They asserted that the loan amount awarded is usually inadequate in financing all their educational needs. It was found that SLTF depended on only one source of funding that is GETFund, limiting its financial base even though its enabling Act offers it a number of sources from which it can seek funding. The study also revealed that the first batch of borrowers who are to repay their loan has just began to do so and SLTF has put in place a number of innovative mechanisms to facilitate this process. In addition, the issue of guarantorship that deprived a lot more students from accessing the loan has been tackled with the reduction of SSNIT guarantors from three (3) to one (1), and the diversification of guarantors to include religious bodies, corporate bodies and MMDA’s. The study has made a number of recommendations including the fact that the means testing mechanism currently adopted in disbursing loans should be further strengthened to provide a more robust system where students could not easily forge their information to manipulate the system and that continuous efforts should be made in finding new ways of encouraging borrowers to repay their loans as the Fund is a revolving one.

Source: KNUST
The effectiveness of supervisory role of Bank of Ghana

The Bank of Ghana is the central Bank of the republic of Ghana is charged with the responsibility of seeing to it that the universal banks conduct themselves within the framework of rules and regulations that govern their activities. In recent times several banking fraud have been recorded within the banking sector of the country. For example a particular reference can be made of the cast regarding “A” life supermarket which led to the collapse and eventual liquidation of two state owned Banks namely, the Bank for Housing and Construction and the Co-operative 3ank respectively. Accusing fingers have been pointed at the Bank of Ghana with respect to the effectiveness of its supervision over the universal Banks. This project work looked into the activities of the Banking supervision Department of the 3ank of Ghana with respect to processes and procedures for its supervision and came out with appropriate recommendation to help curtail future recurrence of these Banking frauds in order to restore the confidence of the public in the Banks. In this regard the collective effort of the Government, the Bank of Ghana and the other banks will be a key factor towards the fight against this menace.

Source: KNUST
Effectiveness of the Continuing Professional Training on the Performance of Nurses at the Accident and Emergency Units of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

An accident or an emergency (A/E) is an injury or illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person‟s life or long term health (Amoah et.al.2011). The policy statement of the Ministry of Health A&E Services, 2011 states that all health facilities shall provide Accident and Emergency (A&E) Services. These A&E services must be manned by competent and committed healthcare professionals. The hospital management is to ensure that all those working in the A&E unit have training in emergency care such as: 1. Basic Life Support 2. Advance Cardiac Life Support 3. Recognition and management of the critically ill among others This study was conducted to know the effectiveness of continuing professional training on the performance of nurses at the A&E unit of KATH in Kumasi. It was a cross-sectional survey quantitative. The study was conducted among 268 nurses working at the A&E unit. A convenient method sample was used to select the A&E unit nurses. Bivariate analyses showed that the level of education of the A&E nurses influenced their participation in training programmes (p=0.001). Participation in training was highest among respondents with first degree. However, Gender, age, rank, position, years of experience in nursing and the number of years at the A&E unit did not influence participation in training programmes. vii The A&E unit nurses‟ perceptions about the improvement of performance by training programmes were however influenced by their gender and level of education. About 86.2% of the female respondents as against 95.3% of the male respondents believed that the training at the A&E unit has led to an improvement in their performance (p=0.043). However, more effort is needed to put in post-training evaluation by employing supervisors to go round the units periodically to monitor if performances are improved and that if there are enough equipment to work with after the training. Also, more opportunity should be created so that every health staff could participate in the training.

Source: KNUST