ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of the Eleven Stations of Volta River Authority/Northern Electricity Distribution COMPANY (VRA/NEDCo) Sunyani Operational Area: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

The purpose of this study was to utilize data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure performance assessment of the one main station and the ten outstations of Volta River Authority/Northern Electricity Distribution Company (VRA/NEDCo) in Sunyani operational area. The DEA approach has been recognized as a robust tool that is used for evaluating the performance of profit and non-profit institutions. The proposed approach is deployed based on empirical data collected from the stations. On an efficiency scale of 0.0 to 1.0, DEA assesses the efficiency of every station relative to the rest of the stations in terms of performance assessment. For inefficient stations, DEA provides quantitative guidance on how to make them efficient. The September 2012 data from the stations of NEDCo Sunyani operational area were used. Three (3) input variables and One (1) output variable were identified. The input variables were staff population (only technical staff including drivers), active customer population and number of vehicles. The output variable was revenue collection. The results show that one station (Mim/Goaso) was found to be efficient, the rest of the stations (Sunyani, Berekum, Kenyasi, Dormaa Ahenkro, Duayaw Nkwanta, Tepa, Bechem, Drobo, Sampa, Wamfie) were found to be inefficient for the month of September, 2012. There was an indication that addressing some of the following problems will improve efficiencies of the ten inefficient stations; lack of logistics, too much work at hand, lack of personal, poor attitude towards work and poor planning etc.

Source: KNUST
Performance Evaluation of the Management and Performance of On-Street Parking Within the Central Business District of Sunyani.

Parking plays a significant role in any transportation system. Sunyani due to its rapid urbanization and increased vehicle usage has had its fair share of parking challenges. This study sought to evaluate the performance of on-street vehicle parking which is currently under franchise management by M/s. Day and Night Towing service. The study was conducted on on-street parking bays or stalls on selected roads, namely; Atoase Road (Market Street), Twene Amanfour Street, SY Barnie Link, Blantyne Avenue and Starlet 91 Street within the Central Business District of the Sunyani Municipality. Field data were collected to determine parking accumulation, parking occupancy, parking volume and average parking duration. The study revealed that, almost all the parking facilities operated at less than full capacity. Land use was also identified as influencing parking duration. In terms of user perception, indicators such as proximity to destination, security for parked vehicles and pedestrians, congestion and rates charged were the main factors affecting parking. Respondents were satisfied with the services except with the state of congestion which was found not to have improved. Management challenges identified included lack of adequate enforcement, lack of scientific basis in the setting of revenue targets and the absence of appropriate technology to monitor daily collection and increase revenue. The Sunyani District Assembly, the owners of the scheme should be more proactive in ensuring that enforcement of parking regulation are strictly adhered to, use a more scientific approach to forecast revenue targets and employ technology-based methods for monitoring and evaluation of revenue generation.

Source: KNUST
Performance evaluation of the operations of Ghana Post Company limited: a case study of Takoradi Main Post Office

There is no gain saying the fact that the need to communicate is an essential part of human existence. The Postal Service was developed to satisfy this human need. Through the Postal Service, people living in different parts of the globe can be and are linked. The Ghana Post was thus established to provide an efficient and effective means of communication both within and outside the country. However, in the discharge of its mandate, customers have leveled numerous complaints of malpractice and inefficiencies, against it. The main thrust of this research therefore was to assess the operational performance ofyGhana Post since its conversion into a company. The study demonstrated that the Postal Service was still relevant, but the transformation from a government corporation to a company has not made any significant impact in terms of performance. The old internal organizational culture has not changed. The bad attitudes and habits of the Post and Telecommunication Corporation era are as prevalent and mistreatments of mails are rift. Several factors such as insufficient address, inadequate mails vans, cumbersome mail procedures, poor supervision, apathy, inadequate security measures, to mention but a few have all contributed to the poor state of affairs. Generally, customers are not satisfied with the quality of service and this has cast a slur on the image of Ghana Post. In the area of competition, the combined effects of the private courier companies and improvement in telecommunication and internet facilities among others have resulted in dwindling mail volumes. The volume of mails handled by Ghana Post has fallen within the years. Ghana Post response to these threats has been slow. The company is yet to fully exploit its wide infrastructure network, and advancement in information and communication technology to enhance its efficiency and competitiveness. Unfortunately the company relies heavily on Traditional Postal Services which contributes about 75% to total revenue.

Source: KNUST
Performance evaluation of three yam storage structures in Fiaso in the Techiman Municipality, Ghana

The study was conducted in Fiaso, a yam farming community in the Techiman Municipality of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana where two new yam barns were constructed. These structures differ by way of shape (rectangular and circular). The general objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of two yam varieties namely Pona and Denteh, stored in the newly constructed storage structures. A control treatment was included in the study by selecting an existing storage structure in the community. Storage conditions and parameters monitored included temperature, relative humidity, weight loss, sprouting and tuber rot. The study was done between February and June 2015. From the study, it was observed that ambient temperatures ranged from 15.4 oC to 46.3 oC. The rectangular storage structure recorded minimum and maximum internal temperatures of 18.2 oC and 38.4 oC respectively whilst the circular storage structure recorded 18.7 oC and 35.9 oC respectively. The existing local storage structure recorded minimum and maximum temperatures of 18.3 oC and 39.6 oC respectively. It was observed that the minimum relative humidity recorded for ambient, rectangular, circular and existing local storage structures were 11%, 17.3%, 18.5% and 16.7% respectively. Maximum relative humidity for the ambient, rectangular, circular and existing local storage structures were 99.5%, 89.2%, 89.9% and 90% respectively. Rectangular, circular and the existing local storage structures recorded 54.9%, 55.5% and 58.7% weight loss for the Pona respectively and 40.4%, 32.4 and 35.1% for Denteh respectively during the storage period of 17 weeks. Sprouting index for circular, rectangular and the existing local storage structures were observed to be 45.2%, 46.5% and 59.2% for Pona respectively as against 53.1%, 48.7% and 57.5% for Denteh respectively. During the study, rot in Pona was observed to be the lowest in the rectangular storage structure with 37.5% against 50% and 56.3% for the circular and the existing local storage structures respectively. For Denteh, there was no tuber rot observed in the circular storage structure. However, the rectangular and the existing local storage structures recorded 6.3% and 8.3% respectively for Denteh. The newly constructed storage structures performed well in almost all aspects of the parameters monitored and therefore can be recommended as an improved storage structures over the local method in the study area.

Source: KNUST
Performance evaluation of the UASB Sewage Treatment Plant at James Town, Accra

The UASB Sewage Treatment Plant at James Town, Accra, is used for domestic sewage treatment to remove the organic material from the wastewater. To achieve higher removal levels, Trickling Filters and Final Settling Tanks, are the other treatment units used as post treatment of the UASB reactor effluent. Laboratory analyses were carried out to determine the physical, chemical and biological components of the influent raw sewage as well as the effluent from the UASB reactors, the Trickling filters and the final Settling Tanks. The study period was eight weeks, from March 24to May 12, 2003. The average concentrations obtained for the parameters analysed for the influent flow were pH(8.96), DO(0.46mg/l), Turbidity(1922NTU), TS(3206mg/1), COD (2604mg/l), BOD(1206mg/1), TKN(52 5mg/l), P04-P(2 31mg/l) and faecal coliform (93 x 104 count/100ml). At the final effluent stage, the average values obtained for the measured parameters were pH (7. 44), DO(4. 25), Turbidity(I25NTU), TS(958mg/l), COD(145mg/l), BOD(23mg/1), TKN(43.1mg/l), P04-P(0.5mg/l) and Faecal coliform (216 counts/100ml). The total removal efficiencies recorded during the study period were 94.4%,98.1 %,68.8%,1 7.4%,78.3% and 99.97% for COD,BOD,TS,TKN,PO4-P and Faecal coliform respectively When compared with EPA Ghana, 1997,maximum recommended guidelines for discharge into water bodies the final effluent could be considered good in quality with Turbidity, Ammonia-nitrogen and Nitrate-nitrogen exceeding the guidelines With average values of 65.3mg/I of total nitrogen and 0.50mg/I of phosphate-phosphorus the final effluent could be discharge into the Korle-Lagoon without causing eutrophication or health risk. The overall performance of the Treatment Plant is reasonably satisfactory. However, with the current management practices in place, the plant may not be able operate efficiently under full operational capacity. For good operational procedures to be followed, it is recommended that the institutional structure that was put in place at the initial stage of the plant be maintained. It is also recommended that a filter medium should be built to purify the biogas to methane to be used as energy source rather than flaring it.

Source: KNUST
Performance Implications Of Capital Budgeting Practices Of Private Waste Management Firms In Ghana. A Case Study Of Financial Zoomlion Ghana Limited

study examined This the financial performance implications of capital budgeting practices of private waste management firms in Ghana with emphasis on Zoomlion Ghana limited. Specifically, the study sought to: find out if development projects correspond with profitability, check whether the project is subject to rigorous defined procedures and finally, to recognize the appropriate capital budgeting techniques and activities that could enhance the monetary progress of the waste management sector. The population for the study was 44 consisting of all the Regional Offices and head office of Zoomlion Ghana Ltd with particular reference to staff at the Finance and Account units. The study assumed a philosophy of positivism to assess the relationship of capital budgeting processes and monetary growth and employed survey design. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 12. The main instrument used for the study was a questionnaire. Results reveal that through capital budgeting, profits have gone up by 21% - 40%. This shows a positive correlation between capital budgeting and profitability. Thus capital budgeting practices plays critical roles in ensuring the profitability of the company. The company does not use just one valuation method but rather adopts multiple valuation methods in its capital budgeting decisions. The finance department was responsible for all capital projects as there was no dedicated capital budgeting department. It is recommended that management institute a dedicated capital budgeting department, engage the services of professionals and equip the department with modern technology and other tools in order to succeed.

Source: KNUST
Performance evaluation of the TEK mechanical cassava harvester in three selected locations of Ghana

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the world‟s third most important crop and an essential source of food and income throughout the tropics providing livelihood for over 500 million farmers and countless processors and traders. In Ghana, cassava contributes 22% of Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) and is an emerging profitable industry crop. Large–scale cassava harvesting especially during the dry season is the greatest constraint to meeting its industrial demand through commercial production. Manual harvesting is slow and associated with drudgery and high root damage in the dry season. A mechanical harvester is needed to break the labour bottleneck associated with cassava harvesting. Research on mechanization of cassava production, however is very low especially in the area of harvesting and currently there exists no known mechanical cassava harvesters in Ghana. The main objective of this study was to test and evaluate mechanical cassava harvesters for three (3) agro-ecological zones in Ghana. Performance of six (6) prototype mechanical harvesters (TEK MCH 1 to 6) was evaluated against various manual harvesting methods for five (5) cassava varieties on ridged and flat landforms. Results from field trials of the harvesters showed that the best performance was achieved on ridged landforms, which have better tuber yields and spread both across and along the ridge. „Nkabom’ cassava variety on ridges gave the lowest average tuber damage of 9.91% when harvested mechanically. The mechanical harvesters worked best on ridged fields with minimal trash or weeds and relatively dry soils with moisture content from 1.0 – 16.0 % d.b, penetration resistance between 1.0 MPa and 3.99 MPa with bulk density from 1.56 - 1.68 g/cm3 and drafts of up to 12.3 kN, requiring a minimum tractor engine power of 40.4 kW (54 hp) with penetration depth from 20.7 cm to 30.1 cm. The best harvesting performance was achieved at tractor speeds of 4 - 7 km/h giving a field capacity of 1.55 - 2.96 h/ha. After mechanical harvesting, the field is left ploughed with savings on fuel, time and cost for the next season. It is however recommended to test the harvesters in other agro-ecological zones under a wide range of soil moisture regimes in Ghana to promote nationwide adoption.

Source: KNUST
Performance management practices in Ghana health service: a case study of the Manhyia district hospital within the Kumasi metropolis.

Publicly funded health care has seen huge investment over the years. Most of these institutions have strong leadership and highly qualified staff meant to deliver high performance and ensure value for money. Despite the huge investments, health outcomes still remained heavily poor. Health care workers are blamed for poor performance and poor patients‟ outcomes. The study therefore examined the whole package performance management practices and its implementation at Manhyia District Hospital in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region. The study employed a cross sectional approach to data collection. Selection of health staff was done using convenient sampling technique while management members were selected using purposive sampling technique. A questionnaire was used as the sole instrument to collect data from 182 health and administrative workers who met the inclusion criteria for the study and also consents to participating in the study. The data gathered for the study was coded, entered, cleaned daily and analyzed statistically using the statistical package for social science software (S.P.S. S) Version 23 data entry program software ensuring maintenance and preservation of the original data integrity. All statistical tests was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. The chi-square test will be used to test the association between variables because, the data collected was nominal hence the observed frequencies were analyzed in the form of categories. The level of knowledge was elicited using a Likert scales for various items on the questionnaire compared with the proportion of staff subjected to performance appraisal. The study therefore concluded that Performance Management practices (PMS) at Manhyia District Hospital was very strong and widely implementation across all departments. Management was able to effectively engage all employees in setting performance targets. The hospital had a robust system that ensured employees had feedback on the annual performance assessment.

Source: KNUST
Performance management systems and monetary incentives in the Ghanaian manufacturing sector

This study examined the performance management systems in the Ghanaian manufacturing sector. In addition the study explored the relationship between monetary incentives and the effectiveness of performance management systems. Using the case study research approach and questionnaires, eighty five (85) participants from the Kumasi plant of The Coca Cola Bottling Company Ghana Limited (TCCBCGL) were selected for the study. Results from descriptive statistics and Pearson product moment of correlation coefficient (Pearson r) indicate that the performance management system at the TCCBCGL encourages employees to achieve higher levels of performance. Also the system was found to encourage the development of the full capacities and potentials of employee. Furthermore most of the employees were satisfied with the existing performance management system that is in place at the TCCBCGL. Finally, it was found that employees who value monetary incentives were more likely to perceive performance management systems that take into account the importance of monetary incentives as more effective. It is therefore recommended that performance management systems should be designed in a manner that will enable employees use the system in a manner that brings visible and value added benefits.

Source: KNUST
Performance management systems in Ghana’s Local Government: A case of Kwabre East District Assembly in Ashanti Region

This study explores the performance management system (PMS) in place at the local government level in Ghana. Given the pivotal role Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) play in the socio-economic development of citizens, especially in rural areas, the need to ensure high levels of performance at the local government level cannot be over-emphasized. The researcher adopted quantitative method using mainly questionnaires to capture data from eighty two (82) respondents sampled at random from a total employee population of one hundred and six (106) at the administrative office of Kwabre East District Assembly in Ashanti Region of Ghana. They expressed their views on issues as it pertains to performance management system in place at the district and SPSS software was used to analyze the data gathered and presented in a tabular and diagrammatic format to aid interpretation and drawing of conclusions. Results show that the current system is not comprehensive with clearly defined strategies to continually manage and improve employee performance but mainly dominated by performance appraisal using a method which is obsolete and prone to biases. The assembly has a well educated and relatively young workforce and there is on-the-job coaching and support which help employees to improve their effective, but training and development are few and far in between to aid career growth and realization of their full potential. There is also no direct link between performance and pay or promotion as an incentive and motivation. It is recommended that a much more comprehensive performance management system be developed in line with the overall objectives of the MMDAs to be managed by a fully fledged and well resourced Human Resource Management (HR) department instead of the current personnel unit at the districts.

Source: KNUST
Performance modelling and optimisation of head rice yield of two rice varieties In a two-stage drying process

A considerable loss of milled rice (percentage of broken kernels) is traced to inadequate and untimely drying of harvested paddy. Therefore, an effective drying process or technique is required to minimise the reduction of head rice yield during paddy processing for an improved milled rice quality. In view of that, this study sought to integrate multi-criteria analysis and response surface methodology to optimise selection and operation of a two-stage drying process to maximise head rice yield. The study applied the method of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the selection of an appropriate two-stage drying technique and factors (influencing the unit operations involved in obtaining a proper milled rice after harvesting and cleaning) based on its level of significance on head rice yield (HRY). A fluidised bed and tunnel dryer were selected as the best two-stage drying technique. Factors selected for the experimental design were fluidised bed drying temperature, tunnel drying temperature, paddy variety and storage time. A central composite design (CCD) in conjunction with a response surface methodology (RSM) based on four factors at three levels, which included six centre points, was used to evaluate the effects of the fluidised bed drying temperature (60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C), tunnel drying temperature (40 °C, 45 °C and 50 °C), paddy variety (Amankwatia and AGRA) and storage time (1, 2 and 3 months) on the percentage of head rice yield were determined prior to optimising the operating conditions for optimal head rice yield. A regression model(quadratic), with a p-value of 6.5E-0.6 (<0.05), R2 of 0.995, RMSE of 1.14, AdjR2 of 0.986 indicated that the quadratic model was significant. Fluidised bed drying temperature, tunnel drying temperature and paddy variety were found to have significant effects on the head rice yield with p-values of 1.9E-0.5 (<0.05), 5.5E-0.6 (<0.05) and 2.5E-0.5 (<0.05) respectively. However, storage time had no significant effect on head rice yield with a p-value of 0.6 (>0.05). The optimal operating conditions for Amankwatia rice variety yielding 69.25 % head rice yield were as follows: fluidised bed drying temperature of 73 °C, tunnel drying temperature of 41.5 °C and storage time of three months. The optimal operating conditions for AGRA rice variety yielding 62.56 % HRY were as follows: fluidised bed drying temperature of 79 °C, tunnel drying temperature of 42 °C and storage time of three months

Source: KNUST