ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Undergraduate students’ willingness to start own agribusiness venture after graduation: a Ghanaian case

Agriculture and related businesses in Ghana for the past decades have been the preserve for the smallholder, aged and illiterate farmers. Meanwhile, hundreds of students graduate in Agricultural Sciences from the universities over the years. This study seeks to investigate potential determinants of the entrepreneurial spirit of agricultural students to do self-employed businesses in the agricultural sector. A survey of 165 undergraduate students of agriculture in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana was undertaken to examine factors that influence their decision to enter into agribusiness as a self-employment venture after graduation. The results show that the majority of the students were males (87%) and approximately, 67% were willing to enter into agribusiness after school. The factors that students perceived to be hindrance to entering into agribusiness was the market competition of agro-products with imported products, unstable prices of agro-products, absence of insurance policy for agribusiness and unfavourable land tenure arrangement in Ghana. Correlation analysis showed negative and significant relationship between students’ willingness to enter agribusiness as a self-employment venture and the following personal characteristics: (1) level of education of mother, (2) level of education of guardian other than parents, (3) students who live in farming communities and (4) students who undertake farming activities at home. There were also positive and significant relationships between students’ willingness to enter agribusiness and the following: (1) availability of market for agro-products, (2) accessibility of market for agro-products and (3) accessibility of transportation facilities for agribusiness. Regression analysis showed that (1) level of education of mother, (2) students living in farming communities, (3) accessibility of transportation facilities for agribusiness and (4) accessibility of market for agro-product were the factors that best predict undergraduate agricultural students’ willingness to enter into agribusiness as a self-employment venture after graduation. To motivate students to take agribusiness as self-employment after graduation, the study suggests the development of comprehensive and sustainable long-term policy to inspire and attract the youth into agribusiness; creation of conducive environment to minimise risk and constraints associated with agribusiness in Ghana

Source: UCC
The Underground Economy and Tax Evasion in Ghana: Implications for Economic Growth

The objective of the study was to determine the size of Ghana’s underground economy and the extent of tax evasion in Ghana. The underground economy in most countries is vital because it serves as a survival place for most people. However, their activities are mostly related to tax evasion because their economic activities are mostly concealed from government tax authority agencies. The study used the Multiple Indicator Multiple Cause (MIMIC) model, a variant of the Simultaneous Equations Model (SEM), to estimate the size of Ghana’s underground economy. The data was obtained from the World Bank country indicators, Economic Freedom and Bank of Ghana and its spans from 1990 to 2020. The study is one of the premier to estimate the size of Ghana’s underground economy using the MIMIC model. The study found that the average size of Ghana’s underground economy is about 44 per cent of the official GDP of the economy and is primarily caused by Tax burden, government integrity, government spending, unemployment, self-employment, inflation and employment in the agricultural sector. The estimated tax evasion due to the presence of the underground economy is, on average, about 6.28 per cent of GDP. Other findings from the study were that, while tax evasion negatively affects economic growth, the underground economy's size positively affects economic growth in Ghana. The study recommends that since the underground economy, to some extent, provides job security to some individuals within the country, their activities must be formalized by ensuring proper documentation and registration. Furthermore, the government should ensure a fair, equitable and simplified tax system while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Source: UCC
Understanding Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Although adolescents make up a large proportion of the population in the developing world where most humanitarian emergencies occur, their sexual and reproductive health needs are largely unmet. This study, therefore, sought to explore adolescents’ knowledge, perceptions and sexual and reproductive health needs in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Guided by a sequential explanatory mixed design and cross-sectional research design, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model served as theoretical underpinnings. Convenient sampling procedure was used to sample in-school JHS adolescents (12 and 19) years, parents, community/opinion leaders, healthcare providers, teachers, and SHEP coordinators. Questionnaire, interview and FGD guides were used for data collection. The KOBO Toolbox and thematic analysis were used for both the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The study showed that adolescents’ knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was very minimal. Their dominant sources of SRH information were friends/peers and the media. Living arrangement, age, educational level and religious affiliation influenced opinions of adolescents and parents regarding ASRH and the use of the available RH services. To prevent adolescents from relying so much on their peers and the media for SRH information, the collaboration between GES and the GHS should be intensified with emphasis on comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health education as compulsory subjects for all adolescents. NGOs interested in ASRH should organise community outreaches for parents and guardians on the essence of parent-child sexual and reproductive health discussions, to encourage adolescents to confide in their parents on issues regarding their SRH.

Source: UCC
Understanding comprehensive learning requirements in the light of al-Zarnūjī’s Ta‘līm al-Muta‘allim

This article examines the requirements for quality learning in Islam from the perspective of al-Zarnūjī and according to his book, Ta‘līm al-Muta‘allim. This book has been a source of reference for both students and teachers in many educational institutions in Muslim countries, particularly, the Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. The article attempts to understand the students’ learning requirements proposed by al-Zarnūjī in the above treatise. It is, therefore, a library-based research. The research tackles many issues. It addresses the need for a broad-based learning process and analyzes the requirements in the light of the modern day learning circumstances. It was found that al-Zarnūjī’s theory of quality learning is conditional on six main principles which are, indeed, determinants of quality student outcomes. These are intelligence or high learning ability; high motivation for learning; patience, emotional stability, and commitment to the learning process; availability of financial support; inspiration of the teachers; and disposition to time management in the learning process. The notion of quality education is fundamental to the classical perspective of learning in Islam

Source: UCC
Understanding leadership style in a contemporary church growth, a study of Sunyani Baptist association

This study explored the leadership style in a contemporary church growth in Sunyani Baptist Association churches. The study comprised of 40 pastors and 80 church executives from the Sunyani Baptist Association, using Krejcie and Morgan (1971) mathematical table. A self-administered questionnaire was the main research instrument. The study concludes that the Sunyani Baptist Association church is governed mainly with democratic leadership style. The study further disclosed a positive relationship between the democratic leadership style and the church growth. Again, there was a weak positive relationship between paternalistic leadership style and church growth. On the contrary, the study discovered negative relationship between autocratic leadership style and church growth. Furthermore, there was a negative relationship between laissez-faire leadership style and the church growth. The church members indicated a very high level of satisfaction with the leadership style in their church. However, the pastors face numerous challenges in managing church growth, with the main issue being Lack of collaboration from the church members. The study recommends that leadership training programme for pastors should emphasize on three foci: the vision of the church, the individual's needs, and the culture. The church must provide social support and create environment for pastors to overcome their challenges in contemporary church management

Source: UCC
Understanding The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of School Improvement and Support Officers in Three Districts in Central Region of Ghana

Quality educational leadership delivery is informed by the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of school improvement and support service provision. However, studies that engage KAP of School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs) in Ghana are either lacking or inadequate. Informed by Fiedler‟s model and the situational leadership theory the current study leverages an interpretivist paradigm to examine the policy environment, ascertain the knowledge base, and examine the attitude and practices of SISOs towards their work. The study adopted a KAP descriptive study design within which a questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data from 11 SISOs representing about half of the SISOs from three Districts of the Central Region, namely, Cape Coast Metropolis, Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim, and Abura Asebu Kwamankese Districts. Descriptive and thematic analyses were performed on the data generated. The study found that SISOs are knowledgeable in their field and follow the guidelines spelled out in the policy manual that guides their practice. Furthermore, whereas some SISOs applied to fill vacancies others were recommended for the role of SISOs. Majority of the SISOs were identified with good attitudes toward their role similar to the practices they held for the role. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Ghana Education Services (GES) management should facilitate the sustenance of SISO's knowledge by providing continuous in-service training, additional motivation to stay resourced on the job possibly including laptops, stationaries, and logistics to provide effective feedback for professional growth and development.

Source: UCC
Underwear Choice and Management by Colleges of Education Male Students in the Central Region of Ghana

The study aimed to explore the underwear choice and management by colleges of education male students in the Central Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey design was utilized in this study. Purposive and convenient sampling were used to select the respondents for the research from the Ola College of Education, Komenda College of Education and Fosu College of Education. Thirty participants were sampled. An interview schedule was used to collect the data from the participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview schedule. The study revealed that male students often wore singlet, undershirt, vest, boxer brief, brief, boxer shorts, thongs, tanga, mankini, tights, dual pouch underwear, jockstrap and G- string. Two major factors influenced the student‟s underwear choice and these were personal factors and product factors. Some of the challenges related to their choice of underwear was discomfort, heat rashes and bruises and cuts. It was revealed that most of the students do not pay much attention to their care of underwear which leads to them facing some challenges with their choice of underwear. I therefore recommended that male students in the various Colleges of Educated need to be educated on the health implication and possible risk related to their underwear choice and how they tend to manage the underwear used by them.

Source: UCC
Unearthing the discursive shift in the ‘fCUBE’ policy implementation in Ghana: using critical discourse analysis

This article analyses selected texts from documents on the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (fCUBE) policy implementation in Ghana to unearth the discursive shift in policy (i.e. from predominantly socialist/social democratic towards neo-liberal ideological policy direction) in recent time. The methodological approach involves the critical discourse analysis (CDA) of extracts selected purposefully from the fCUBE policy documents to show how Ghana’s education policy has evolved over time. Owing to its commitment to enhancing the educational opportunities of the socially and economically disadvantaged, the analyses view fCUBE as a rights-based policy deeply rooted in social democracy. However, the strategies for implementation outlined in the fCUBE policy documents do not appear consistent with the policy goals/ intentions. A significant discursive shift in policy direction and language of implementation is uncovered, which the article contends, is due to the emergence of neo-liberal ideological discourses on education wrapped in the rhetoric of ‘skills for the world of work’. The article concludes that owing to its potential to draw on language as a resource for analysing complex social issues, CDA is a useful interdisciplinary methodology for highlighting new textual formations and marginal discourses within policy texts and for tracing discursive shifts in policy implementation processes

Source: UCC
Unearthing the Integral Determinants of Foreign Ownership Prevalence of Companies in Africa: Role of Country-level Governance

This study seeks to deepen our understanding on how countrylevel governance structures influence prevalence of foreign ownership of firms in Africa. This study reinforces the new institutional economics perspective by empirically highlighting that governance structures influence the prevalence of foreign ownership of companies in an economy. Using archival data from 39 African economies, we found that there is a significant positive association between regulatory quality and foreign ownership prevalence. Also, foreign ownership is prevalent in African countries that are politically stable and embrace rule of law. However, we found that countries with high voice and accountability structures are associated with low foreign ownership prevalence.

Source: UCC
Unemployment Duration, Migration Intention, and Social Participation: Evidence from Selected Regions in Ghana

This study examines unemployment duration, migration intention, and social participation, with evidence from four administrative regions in Ghana. It employs primary data and semi-parametric Cox regression and probit models for the analyses. The study concludes that age, locality, social network, alternative income sources, migration status, and education are significant factors influencing unemployment duration in Ghana. Also, migration and education are jointly associated with shorter unemployment duration. The study further concludes that unemployment duration has an insignificant positive effect on intentions to migrate, but it significantly increases migration intentions for both sexes. Lastly, unemployment duration has a negative effect on social participation, particularly in rural areas. The study encourages young people to take up voluntary services and other forms of industry attachments to build labour market experience. Again, the government should develop and implement a policy on industrial attachment and internship programmes for tertiary students. Individuals should build and effectively utilise their social networks. Individuals who receive financial support while unemployed should leverage such income to intensify their job search efforts and activities. Moreover, individuals should take advantage of the opportunities created in the educational sector to upgrade their educational levels. The study further encourages job seekers with higher education to migrate as part of their job search efforts ad activities. Lastly, the government should take steps to build more economic and social infrastructure, especially in rural areas.

Source: UCC
University Academics’ Usage of Open Access Institutional Repositories

The article explores the usage of Open Access Institutional Repositories in universities. The quantitative research approach and survey design were adopted, and simple random sampling and stratified sampling techniques were employed. A questionnaire was used as a research instrument to gather appropriate data for the study; descriptive and inferential statistics were used as statistical tools to analyze data. The study looked at the level of usage of Open Access Institutional Repositories, reasons for Open Access Institutional Repositories usage, and ways of enhancing usage of Open Access Institutional Repositories in universities. Although the level of Open Access Institutional Repositories usage was low, all the respondents were willing to use it (deposit in and download from Open Access Institutional Repositories). The article recommends strategies for the usage of Open Access Institutional Repositories in universities. This strategy consists of improvements in the user experience and user interfaces, archiving services, advocacy and marketing, Open Access Institutional Repositories policy, and automatic harvesting. Universities will be able to determine which factors affect the usage of such repositories in libraries and will be able to design strategies on how to sustain and manage them.

Source: UCC
University Accounting Education And The Labour Market In Ghana

The study sought to explore university accounting education in relation to the labour market by examining employers' expectations, graduates' perception and the accounting curriculum content/structure. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design. Using the proportionate technique, simple random sampling, purposive sampling and the systematic sampling procedures, the universities, accounting graduates working in the public and private sectors, together with their employers were selected for the study. A questionnaire was used to gather the requisite data for the study. The data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean distributions, independent samples t-test, and ANOV A. The study found that, accounting graduates perceived skills such as: exhibiting honesty, continuous learning, work ethics, problem solving abilities, time management, analytical thinking, among others as important to their careers. Also, it was realised that, accounting courses such as: "Accounting and financial reporting", "Microsoft Office Programme", "Financial statement analysis", and "Tax regulations", among others were important to the careers of the accounting graduates. Again, there were gaps between the expectations of employers and the perceptions of accounting graduates in terms of knowledge and skills. The study recommended that, heads ofaccolmting departments of the various universities should ensure that they make available technologies comparable to what students are likely to find in the workplace. Again, they should ensure that, their accounting students undergo mandatory internship as a partial requirement for completing the programme.

Source: UCC
University Library Utilization by Biological Sciences Students at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The university library is pivotal in developing students to acquire print information resources such as books and journals as well as electronic information resources to support teaching, learning and research. This explains why various library services have been developed in promoting effective information retrieval systems. The main aim of this study therefore, was to examine utilization of libraries by students of University of Cape Coast. The survey method was adopted for the study and students in level 100-400 who visited the library within the space of two months were purposively used for the study. In all, 500 students were selected for the study and SPSS version 21.0 was used for the analysis. Majority of the students hesitated to use the library because of lack of current reading materials and poor Internet access. It is recommended that the library should be resourced with the latest and relevant books as well as computers and Internet access to enable the students get the needed resources to support their research needs.

Source: UCC
University of Cape Coast Sandwich Postgraduate Students' Experiences and Expectations of Online Learning

This study explored the experiences and expectations of sandwich postgraduate students at the University of Cape Coast in their online learning environment using a concurrent mixed methods design. The study focused on 2022 and 2023 cohorts, with 426 students participating in the quantitative phase and nine course representatives providing qualitative insights. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and Social Constructivism Learning Theory, the study analysed quantitative data using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis. The findings showed that many students struggled with unreliable internet connectivity, only 4% received technical support from UCC, and over half (232 students) lacked a dedicated learning space. However, students benefited from interactive communication with lecturers and flexibility in study schedules. Key challenges included unstable internet connectivity and high data costs, which affected student participation. To address these challenges, the study proposed a Theory of Change for Online Learning Experiences to improve students' engagement and academic success. The model focuses on improving technology by enhancing internet access, providing learning devices, and strengthening IT support. It also highlights the need for better course design with more interactive and engaging content, stronger student support through timely instructor feedback and guidance, and training students in time management and digital literacy to promote independent learning. The study concluded that UCC needs to improve its support for online learning, as students want a more engaging and responsive virtual environment. It is recommended that Heads of academic departments adopt the proposed Theory of Change to create a better online learning experience for students.

Source: UCC
University of Ilorin Academic Staffs’ Perception of the Harmonisation of Academic Programmes and Qualifications

This study examined University of Ilorin academic staffs’ perception of harmonization of academic programmes and qualifications in West Africa. The findings were that there is a significant difference in the academic staffs’ perceptions by gender and duration of university teaching experience. However, no significant difference in perception of harmonisation was found on the basis of the respondents’ departments and academic ranks. On the basis of these findings, the researchers recommended that ECOWAS provides funds to encourage academic activities that foster harmonization among cooperating member states. It is argued that the organisation can also organize trainings and workshops for stakeholders on harmonization of academic programmes and qualifications. This will help to update the academic staffs’ knowledge of harmonisation of programmes and qualifications.

Source: UCC