ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The role of public - private partnership in implementing government programmes (a case study of the youth employment agency in the South-Dayi district).

Unemployment especially among the youth is a major problem confronting the society and the government of Ghana (Olukoshi A. 2000). Consequent to the limited resources at the disposal of the government and perhaps the lack of strong political will, the government alone is unable to in its capacity create and provide jobs for these teeming unemployed youth. Consequently, there is the need for public – private partnerships (PPPs) aimed at providing the requisite skills through training or retraining to the youth to make them employable. The problem of the study was to investigate the roles, operations and challenges that render the Public- Private Partnership unsuccessful in spite of this great intervention in the implementation of the Youth Employment Agency’s vocational modules in the South Dayi District. The objectives for this study are to: assess how public - private partnership operates in the Youth Employment Agency of the South Dayi District, ascertain the role of public - private partnership in implementing government programmes in youth employment in South Dayi District of Volta Region, as well as to unearth the challenges affecting public - private partnership in the implementation ofgovernment programmes in creating employment for the youth in Ghana. The researcher employed the qualitative research method and used the purposive sampling technique to carry out the investigation. Questionnaires and interview guides were used as instruments to collect data. The primary data after careful organization, processing, analysis and interpretation in line with the research objectives revealed that; majority of the programmes implemented on the basis of public – private partnership was successful, and therefore the active role of the public and private partners must be given appreciable cognisance. It further indicated that this success has been chalked in the mist of enormous challenges like, failure of government to release funds early, political interference, and corruption among others. The researcher also made a number of recommendations based on the research findings.

Source: KNUST
The role of regulatory bodies in protecting food consumers. A case study of food and drugs board.

"We are what we eat" is an old proverb. Our nutritional status, health, physical and mental faculties depend on the food we eat and how we eat it. Access to good quality food has been man's main endeavor from the earliest days of human existence. Safety of food is a basic requirement of food quality. "Food safety" implies absence or acceptable and safe levels of contaminants, adulterants, naturally occurring toxins or any other substance that may make food injurious to health on an acute or chronic basis. Food quality can be considered as a complex characteristic of food that determines its value or acceptability to consumers. Besides safety, quality attributes include: nutritional value; organoleptic properties such as appearance, color, texture, taste; and functional properties. The absence of a Consumer Protection Act and an active institution to receive and address consumer complaints complicate the situation of food consumers being exploited. Though regulatory bodies are there to protect consumers they are restricted by a number of issues. The influx of products with foreign language label, no manufactured or expiry dates as well as country of origin poses a health risk to food consumers. The overall objectives of this study were to examine the performance of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in protecting food consumers and identify ways through which traders use to exploit food consumers. Explanatory research design was used, convenient sampling technique to collect the necessary data. A sample size of one hundred and seven food consumers was sampled from the Central Business District Adum. Basic frequency analysis was used to analysis the data presenting results with tables and charts. The findings proved that food consumers with higher educational background know their rights and responsibilities, and also read labels on food products to inform their decision to purchase. Though the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) faces some challenges such as personnel and logistics, they do their best to protect consumers by publishing in the news papers some unwholesome products and also destroy such products under the board’s supervision. The study recommends that the educational role of the FDB should be strengthened to enable them educate food consumer about their activities. Public education in the form Radio and Television programs should be done in local language to benefit food consumers with little or no formal education.

Source: KNUST
The role of regional coordinating councils (RCCS) in the implementation of government policies at the MMDAS: a case study of the eastern regional coordinating council.

Development and nation-building has become the slogan of developing countries in Africa since the inception of Africa‘s liberty. The pursuits of suitable idea for development lead to the creation of decentralization which manifested in the system of governance in many African countries. This study is to analyze the role of the RCCs, in the implementation of Government policies and projects at the District Assembly levels. This is also to identify the challenges of the Eastern regional RCC in undertaking their operations. The study adopted questionnaires and interview guides in the data collection with a sample size of 89 across six districts in the region. The study reveals that, the development of the District Assemblies depends on the effective coordination and monitoring by the RCC in the implementation of programs and projects. However, even though the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) is doing well in carrying out its operations, it would be more efficient if the resources needed to carry out such task are provided adequately and timely by the government. The study recommends that the RCC should be equipped with the needed resources for smooth coordination of the region to promote the effective execution of government policies and programs at the MMDAs. The study recommends further studies on the update of internally generated funds sources of the districts assemblies.

Source: KNUST
The role of the public services commission in promoting effective performance management in Ghana.

Public Sector (PS) Performance Management Systems (PMS) are designed deliberately by Public Sector Organisations (PSO) to improve the conduct of government business through the effective and efficient delivery of services. The study aimed to evaluate the role of the Public Services Commission (PSC) in promoting effective PMS in the public sector of Ghana. The design of a Performance Management Policy (PMP), the implementation of PMS and the capacity of the PSC were the areas examined. An elite interview and a survey were the main data collection methods employed to gather data from the PSC and PSOs respectively. The results reveal that the PMP was designed with adequate support from stakeholders. The policy is however too wide, hence difficult to achieve all the aims. Although the implementation is in its early years, knowledge and participation in PMS among staff is encouraging. Meanwhile, the implementation is not receiving an equal measure of support from the government and heads of PSOs. The result is insufficient and late budgetary allocation and lack of leadership commitment. Also, the PSC’s inadequate capacity prevents them from carrying out their regulatory functions. In this regard, the study recommends that government should ensure adequate and early release of budgets to PSOs, appoint heads of PSOs based on merit rather than long service or political affiliation. PSOs should build their capacity to enable them carry out PMS with or without the regulator's enforcement. The PSC should use technology to enhance their work since the issue of public sector funding in Ghana seems perpetual.

Source: KNUST
The short and long run dynamic effect of macroeconomic fundamentals on stock market performance: evidence from Ghana

This study focused on examining the impact macroeconomic fundamentals have on the performance of the Ghanaian stock market in both the short and long run. The study utilized an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to analyse monthly data covering the period September 2005 to December 2017 in a bid to understand how macroeconomic fundamentals including money supply, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates explain the movements in Ghana’s stock market returns. The results from the long run analysis revealed that both interest rates and exchange rates share negative significant long run relationships with Ghana’s stock market returns. Further, the results suggest that expansionary monetary policies in Ghana exert upward pressures on stock prices and by extension market returns. Trade volume employed to proxy market liquidity as a control is also observed to share a significant positive relationship with market returns. The short run analysis using the error correction representation found only interest rate to have a significant positive association with market performance in the short run. The results generally suggest that changes in macroeconomic factors such as interest rates, exchange rates and money supply significantly influence the direction of stock return movements in Ghana’s market giving the implication that changes in interest rates, exchange rate and money supply should generally be considered in making investment decisions in the Ghanaian market. Having made these findings, the study recommends that policy makers frame macroeconomic policies that will appreciate and stabilize the Ghana cedi and during periods of low economic activity, provide some form of economic stimulus by reducing interest rates or increasing money supply so as to ensure stability and enhance market performance

Source: KNUST
The Role of the Mineralogical Composition on Wettability via Flotation Test and Surface Complexation Modeling (SCM)

Minerals are the chief constituents of rocks and have varied properties, such as the surface area, surface charge, site density, etc. Hence, numerous interactions are bound to occur in a reservoir during rock–fluid (i.e., rock, crude oil and brine) interactions. This study seeks to assess the role of the mineralogical composition in the wettability of sandstone rocks (SRs) and mineral mixture (MM) using both surface complexation modeling (SCM) and a flotation test. From the considered sandstone rocks, both the experimental results and the simulated counterparts revealed that the SRs were preferentially hydrophilic. For the MM, when the mass fraction of the hydrophobic mineral was increased, the affinity of the MM became slightly hydrophobic, and vice versa. For the dominant sandstone reservoir rock minerals with predominantly negatively charged surfaces, negligible oil adsorption took place due to the interfacial repulsive forces at the oil–brine and mineral–brine interfaces. For the MM with low calcite content, the wetting preference was influenced by the mineral with a prominent surface area. Our developed model portrayed that the main mechanism of oil adhesion onto sandstone minerals was divalent cation bridging. Nonetheless, adhesion of carboxylate (>COO−) onto the illite, montmorillonite and calcite sites also took place, with the latter being more pronounced.

Source: KNUST
The role of the public administrator in promoting good corporate governance: a case study of the Ghana academy of arts and sciences.

This study assesses the role of the public administrator in promoting good corporate governance, the case of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS). Primary data was collected through structured interviews and the administration of questionnaires to staff and fellows of GAAS which were analyzed and interpreted. The study utilized secondary sources of data collection which were collected from the internet, published books, hand book of GAAS and other internet reports of GAAS. The study found that the administrator in GAAS had a key role to play in order to ensure effective governance practice at GAAS since he is the administrative head of the organization. It also found 72.97% of the respondents had knowledge of what good corporate governance is in GAAS. Majority of the respondents had fair knowledge on who a public administrator is in a public sector organization like GAAS. The study revealed that 67.56% of respondents held the view that ignoring issues of good corporate governance could have a negative effect on a public organization. Furthermore, the study found these consequences or ramifications for ignoring good corporate governance in public organizations in Ghana; lack of accountability, lack of transparency and fairness as well as economic effects on non-performance of GAAS as a public organization. It has therefore been recommended that, there is a need for a periodic review of the internal governance policy to guide the activities of the administrator in GAAS. Also, the administrator must undergo regular training and be abreast with current issues regarding good corporate governance, to help him ensure the promotion of good corporate governance in general and specifically GAAS.

Source: KNUST
The speech acts of persuasion: a case study of Pharmaceutical advertisement in selected Ghanaian media .

ABSTRACT Advertisers of pharmaceutical products use language to communicate with their customers to persuade and influence them. This study was, therefore, conducted to investigate the speech acts used in the advertisements of pharmaceutical products in selected Ghanaian media. A total of forty (40) English and Twi adverts from radio and television on pharmaceutical products constituted the data set for the study. The data was analyzed using Searle‟s (1969) classification of illocutionary speech acts and Rank's (1991) Model of persuasion. The study found that pharmaceutical advertisers used representative, declarative, directive, commissive, and expressive acts respectively to communicate the most to buyers. Again, the study showed how speech acts facilitate the achievement of persuasion in adverts. Advertisers mostly use attention-getting and desire-stimulation techniques as the strongest persuasive intentions. The findings have implications for the speech act theory about advertising and research on pharmaceutical advertising

Source: KNUST
The roles and responsibilities of the audit committee in public financial management: evidence from Ghana’s MMDAS

This study explores audit committees’ roles and responsibilities in public financial management in Ghana with a focus on some selected MMDAs. Employing the quantitative approach and a cross-sectional case study design, a population of 90 respondents was used, out of which a sample of 75 respondents were purposively selected. Primary data were obtained with structure research questionnaire which were analyzed by means of descriptive analysis. The study found that the most dominant function of the AC is “To ensure report is prepared to show the status of implementation of matters in the Auditor General's management letter”. The study also found that some of the dominant roles and responsibilities include “To review internal audit plans and processes” and “To review corporate policies relating to compliance with law and regulation”. Again, the study found the functions which are greatly performed to include “Ensuring execution of recommendations in the internal audit report”, “Ensuring execution of recommendations in the Auditor General and PAC reports”, as well as “Ensuring statement is prepared to show status of implementation of various recommendations”. It also found that the most dominant and greatly performed role is “The provision of advice on sound, transparent and reliable financial management” as well as “developing and implementing comprehensive risk management process”. The study also identified that the outstanding challenges hampering the effectiveness of the AC work are “Poor management support in providing the AC with adequate resources for its work”, “Inadequate compensation of AC members”, and “Inadequate dedication and commitment of some AC members”. It is recommended that the remuneration of the AC is standardized and paid by the central government. It is also recommended that the time-lines for submission of reports are respect and sanctions applied to officers who renege on their duties to provide them at the stipulated time without fear or favour.

Source: KNUST
The state of kete development in the Volta Region

Kente has gained considerable prestige in terms of recognition among all African textiles. Amidst its popularity, kente or kete cloth has experienced several transitions from its initial form through to its current state. The study presents an account on the developmental phases of Ewe kete cloth in the Volta region of Ghana. The study which was carried out in Agotime-Kpetoe and Agbozume in the Volta region employed purposive sampling to identify a group of weavers, elders, and the chief of Agotime. Interviews and observation were used as tools in collecting data on various aspects of the study. Analyzed data revealed that kete development has encountered some historical influences as a result of migration from other communities. There has also been a shift in design trends from traditional ideologies to customer-centered concepts and preferences, and the consequence of the occurrence of foreign materials in the production of the kete cloth. This study recommends ways of preserving Ewe kete weaving culture and the establishment of regulatory bodies to check the quality standards of kete products.

Source: KNUST
The Scalabili ty Metric, Based On Cost-Effectiveness In Distributed Systems Using Fundamental Laws

Today’s computer systems are more complex, more rapidl y evolvi ng, and more essential to the conduct of business than those of recent past. The complexity becomes more rigid in the case of distributed systems. A distri buted system is a collection of independent computers that appear to its users as a singl e coherent system. A distributed system shoul d be deployabl e in a wide range of scales, in terms of numbers of users and services, quantities of data stored and manipulated, rates of processing, numbers of nodes, geographical coverage, and sizes of networks and storage devices. The derived scalability metric of this thesis is based on cost effectiveness, in which the effectiveness is a function of the system's throughput and its Quality of Service. It is a strategy based scal ability metri c that generalizes the well -known metrics for scalability of parallel computati ons to describe heterogeneous distributed systems. Scalability is measured by the range of scale factors that gives a satisfactory value of the metric, since a good scalability is a joi nt property of the initial design and the scaling strategy. What makes this derived metric unique is the fact that, it separates the impact of throughput and response time on the metric, formalizing the notation of a scaling strategy, introducing QoS evaluati on and more also, i ntroduci ng formal scalability enablers which are optimzed at each scale factor. Throughput curves for all systems with bottleneck demand 𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥 are constrained to lie below the line 1⁄𝐷𝑚𝑎𝑥. If one needs to improve the performance further than this limit, then it is necessary to reduce the demand at the bottleneck center somehow.

Source: KNUST
The state of architectural heritage preservation in Ghana: A review

The link between past and present generations can only be maintained with effective preservation of cultural (Architectural) heritage. Architectural Heritage Preservation (AHP) is under threat in Ghana with an apparent dwindling awareness, unrelenting teardowns and destruction of historic buildings and places for other infrastructure development and spontaneous housing settlements. This paper seeks to review literature to establish the need to conduct further research on the state of architectural heritage preservation in Ghana. This research is under-pinned with interpretivism and theoretically assesses the state of AHP in Ghana through review of literature. Literature reviewed revealed low publicity concerning heritage preservation, inadequate human resource responsible for heritage preservation and need to improve Ghana’s Architectural Heritage management. The study therefore recommends further research in heritage studies to ensure effective protection and preservation of Ghana’s rich architectural heritage.

Source: KNUST
The state of textiles education in senior high schools in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT The SHS Textiles programme in Ghana has been designed to provide Textiles students with adequate basic knowledge and skills for further education in Textiles as well as self-employment or apprenticeship for those who might terminate their education at the Senior High School level. It is known that some SHS Textiles graduates are unable to acquire and practise the basic skills taught in the SHS Textiles syllabus. This has resulted in a number of them unable to establish for themselves any serious Textiles business at the end of the course. Textiles education is gradually collapsing at the SHS level. The objective of the study however, sought to examine the scope of content of the Textiles syllabus to understand its teaching and learning processes, in order to suggest strategic ways to make Textiles education at the SHS more interactive for students to engage in. The study used mixed methods research approach. The data were collected using convenience and judgemental sampling of 186 students, 12 teachers, three lecturers, three WAEC officials and two CRDD coordinators, in the Greater Accra Region. Data collection instruments were interviews, observations and questionnaires. The descriptive research method was used to report the findings. The study revealed that equipment and tools available in the sampled schools were either damaged or inadequate for effective practical work and demonstration. This makes the teachers to simply describe the tools and equipment that are needed for lessons without the students getting the opportunity to see or use them in class. Teachers are also not able to complete the Textiles syllabus within the stipulated three year-period due to the reduction of the teaching periods from 21 to18 per week even though many more topics have been added to the 2008 Textiles syllabus that was previously in use. These factors have negative effects on Textiles education in the SHS, hence the poor performance of the Textiles students in the WASSCE and ultimately, their inability to engage in entrepreneurship development in Textiles and employment after they graduate from SHS. It is recommended that Ghana Education Service should make provision for schools which offer Visual Arts and Textiles in particular to have the relevant textbooks, permanent studios, tools, materials and other equipment such as looms, padded and development tables for practical work in the schools that offer Textiles. GES should also organise periodic in-service trainings and field trips to enhance the teaching/learning methods used by Textile teachers and to introduce them to new topics that have been included in the Textiles syllabus.

Source: KNUST