ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Machine learning forecasting of solar PV production using single and hybrid models over different time horizons

This study uses operational data from a 180 kWp grid-connected solar PV system to train and compare the performance of single and hybrid machine learning models in predicting solar PV production a day-ahead, a week-ahead, two weeks ahead and one month-ahead. The study also analyses the trend in solar PV production and the effect of temperature on solar PV production. The performance of the models is evaluated using R 2 score, mean absolute error and root mean square error. The findings revealed the best-performing model for the day ahead forecast to be Artificial Neural Network. Random Forest gave the best performance for the two-week and a month-ahead forecast, while a hybrid model composed of XGBoost and Random Forest gave the best performance for the week-ahead prediction. The study also observed a downward trend in solar PV production, with an average monthly decline of 244.37 kWh. Further, it was observed that an increase in the module temperature and ambient temperature beyond 47 ◦ C and 25 ◦ C resulted in a decline in solar PV production. The study shows that machine learning models perform differently under different time horizons. Therefore, selecting suitable machine learning models for solar PV forecasts for varying time horizons is extremely necessary.

Source: KNUST
Machining (planing and turning) characteristics of four Ghanaian lesser used wood species

The project sought to determine the planning and turning characteristics of four lesser-used species which are found to be among the most abundant timber species by volume in Ghanaian Forests (Forest Inventory Report, 1989). The test species were Stronthosia glaucescens. (Afena), Ceitis rniidbraedii (Esa), Petersianthus macrocarpus (Essia) and Ceiba pentandra (Onyina). Factorial experiment was used to investigate the effect of the moisture content of the wood, the knife cutting an1e and the feed speed on the surface quality of the planning and also the effect of moisture content and turning speed on the surface quality of turning. The results indicated that the effect of moisture content, cutting angle and feed on surface quality speed were all significant at 1% and 5% probability levels. At the same probability levels species-moisture content interaction showed no significance. In the turning test, moisture content and turning speed were significant at 1% and 5% probability levels.. Afena (Strombosia glaucescens) was outstanding in surface quality both in planning and turning. Onyina (Ceiba pentandra) planed well but showed poor surface quality in turning. Essia (Petersianthus macrocarpus,) also planed and turned well but Esa (Ceitis n2iidbraedii) planed well when the cutting angle was as low as 15o the turning of Esa was not very satisfactory. Afena and Asia are recommended for use for any work where high surface smoothness is needed. Even though Ceiba planes well, it should be ignored for any turning work. Celtis should be planned at a moisture content below 20% and a cutting angle below 15° for good surface quality.

Source: KNUST
Macro-economic determinants of banks’ performance in Ghana

The research examined macroeconomic factors of bank performance in GSE-listed Ghana. Explanatory research was used. The demography for this study was GSE-listed banks. Since data was available, this research purposefully selected 9 listed banks from other universal banks in Ghana. Secondary data came from yearly reports. The data was collected 2010-2021. The research goals' parameters were estimated using random effect techniques. This research shows that macroeconomic conditions significantly affect Ghanaian banks' financial performance. Exchange rate variations, inflation, Treasury bills, GDP growth, and monetary policy rate changes may boost bank performance. However, inflation rates increase interest rates and asset and liability values, which raises funding costs and lowers bank profitability. The economic theory of inflation risk supports this. Inflation rates affect nominal and long-term interest rates, money demand, and credit supply, which affect a bank's liquidity and financial stability, according to the Fisher effect, expectations theory, and liquidity preference theory. The findings suggest that Ghanaian financial institutions should closely monitor macroeconomic indicators like exchange rates, inflation rates, treasury bills, GDP growth, and the monetary policy rate to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities. This may include implementing effective risk management strategies, diversifying portfolios, and maintaining adequate levels of liquidity to cushion against potential shocks

Source: KNUST
Machine learning of redundant energy of a solar PV Mini-grid system for cooking applications

Solar PV mini-grids are increasingly being deployed in off-grid and island communities especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries to meet household energy demand. However, one challenge of solar PV mini-grids for community energy supply is the mismatch between the PV energy generation and household energy demand. PV mini-grid energy generation is highest in the afternoon whilst household energy demand is highest in the mornings and evenings, but lowest in the afternoons. This mismatch creates redundant energy generation during peak sunshine hours when battery energy storage is full, leading to low profitability for mini-grid systems. In this study, four machine learning models have been applied on an installed 30.6 kW mini-grid system in Ghana to ascertain the level of the redundant energy. The study has revealed that redundant energy exists on the mini-grid, in the range of 56.98 – 119.86 kWh/day. Further analysis has shown that the redundant energy can support household cooking energy demand through sustainable thermal batteries. With the four machine learning (ML) models applied in predicting the redundant energy, the most accurate ML model, K-nearest Neighbour Regressor, had a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.148 and a coefficient of determination (R2 ) value of 0.998.

Source: KNUST
Macroeconomic and bank level determinants of non performing loans in Ghana

Non-performing loans in many developing and emerging economies have recently become a subject of concern especially in Ghana. Non-performing loans are loans that have past due for a period of 90 days without the borrower making any effort for repayment. Npls began at the early stage of financial liberation. Npls which were a canker in the financial intermediation process could not be curtailed through privatization and liberalisation during 1980s and 1990s. However, there are a number of factors responsible for npls in Ghanaian banking sector. These factors can be classified as macroeconomic factors such as inflation, GDP per capital, lending rate, public debt, unemployment, etc. And bank level factors like liquidity, net interest margin, return on asset, bank size, and management efficiency etc. Unfortunately, unlike the banking sector of the developed and emerging economies, Ghana banking sector has experienced an increase in non-performing loans which has therefore, contributes to the collapse of many banks and have consequently received little attention by researchers. This study therefore seeks to examine the macroeconomic and bank level determinants of npls in Ghana. The study employed panel regression method to accomplish its objectives where the random effect estimation was appropriate after the Hausman test. Using macroeconomic and bank level data obtained from WDI and annual financial statements of various commercial banks from a period 2008-2018, it was found that both macroeconomic variables (i.e. Public debt, inflation, real interest rate, and GDP per capital) and bank level variables (i.e. Net interest margin, bank size, liquidity, management efficiency, and return on asset). However, unemployment, net interest margin, and ROA are not important in explaining non performing loans. Finally, the sub-sample results conclude that macroeconomic and bank level determinants significantly affects non-performing loans of local banks more than foreign banks.

Source: KNUST
Macro and Micro Determinants Banks’ Profitability in Ghana

This study aimed to examine the macro and micro determinants of banks’ profitability in Ghana. The study utilised secondary data of the individual banks and other economic data gathered from the period beginning from 2017 to 2022. Eight (8) banks who had operated in the Ghanaian banking sector as at 2017 to 2022 were examined. These banks include Access Bank, Agricultural Development Bank of Ghana (ADB), CAL Bank, Ecobank Ghana, Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Société Générale Bank, Republic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. In the study, the Fixed Effect panel data model was employed. The study adopted Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) as dependent variables, and Efficiency ratio (EOI), Size, Capital adequacy ratio (CAR), Asset quality (AQ), Net interest income to total assets (NIITA), Gross domestic product (GDP), Inflation (INF) and Money supply (MS) as the independent variables. It was evident that factors such as Efficiency Ratio (EOI), Bank Size, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Asset Quality (AQ), Net Interest Income to Total Assets (NIITA), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Inflation (INF), and Money Supply (MS) all play significant impact on Return on Assets (ROA) are key predictors of the profitability of banks. For Return on Equity (ROE), the findings are consistent with many of the ROA determinants. Efficiency Ratio (EOI), Bank Size, CAR, AQ, NIITA, GDP, INF, and MS all demonstrate significant associations with ROE. The study concluded factors such as efficiency, size, capital adequacy, asset quality, net interest income, economic conditions, inflation, liquidity, competition, and regulation are important in shaping the profitability of banks. The study recommended that banks should focus on improving their operational efficiency.

Source: KNUST
L’utilisation des supports audiovisuels dans l’enseignement/apprentissage du français langue etrangere : le cas de quelques ecoles secondaires Des Regions, Brong Ahafo et Ashanti.

The objectives of this research work are to work on the difficulties associated with the use of audiovisual aids in the teaching and learning of French as a Foreign Language in Ghana: A case study of some Senior High Schools in the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions. The principal idea that motivates us to do this research is to know the reason why teachers after having pursued the courses in the use of audiovisual aids in the teaching and learning of French as a Foreign Language from the Universities are could not use them during their teaching. The objectives of teaching and learning French as a Foreign Language in Ghana are not completely achieved as of now. This research work first all wishes to help the student in learning French as a Foreign Language in Ghana with the appropriate use of audiovisual aids. Again, it has identified the different types of the contemporary audiovisual aids in the teaching and learning of French in Ghana. It further identifies the difficulties in communications in French from the selected students of this work. This piece of work has evaluated the efficiency of the strategies used to solve the problems of methods and approaches used by the teachers of French as a Foreign Langue in Ghana. These corpuses of the work had been received from both students and teachers of French in this domain. Observations and questionnaires were the two instruments used in receiving the said corpuses. The results of the corpuses revealed that a good number of teachers do not use audiovisual aids in the teaching and learning of French as a Foreign Language. In addition, the technological equipment such as the language laboratory, Internet connectivity among others for the teaching and learning are inadequate and insufficient in the selected Senior High Schools.

Source: KNUST
Macroeconomic and bank-specific factors as leading indicators of non-performing loans in the banking sector of ghana

The concept of NPL is on ascendancy as a result of its strategic implication on the banking sector and the economy in general. A country like Ghana has been plagued by a key problem, that is, access to loanable funds as a result of rising non-performing loans. The main objective of this study was to analyze bank-specific and macro-economic determinants of npls in Ghana. To achieve this purpose of the study, a sample of 11 banks in Ghana with data spanning from 2015 to 2021 were utilized for the study. The secondary data were sourced from both the audited financial statement and the World Development Indicators (WDI). Macro-economic variables of the study include inflation rate, exchange rate, GDP, and interest rate for the study. To achieve the study objectives, the study conducts descriptive statistics and regression analysis in respect to each objective. The study also carries out the LM-test, F-test and Hausman tests to determine the appropriate model for this study and finds that the fixed-effect model was appropriate for this study. Based on the results, the study found that inflation rate has negative but insignificant impact on npls. It was also revealed that NIM has a positive and significant impact on npls. ROA on the other hand revealed a significant negative impact on npls. Bank size also indicated a significant positive impact on npls. The model also revealed that firm age has a positive but insignificant impact on npls. Based on the findings, this study recommends to management to devise stringent mechanisms and tight credit recovery mechanisms to reduce the incidence of npls in the country. Credit officers should also assess the credibility of borrowers before granting loans and other credit facilities to them. Based on this finding, the study also recommends to government and policy makers to control inflation rate and exchange rate volatility against the major currency to help stabilize the Ghanaian economy.

Source: KNUST
Macroeconomic Factors and the Performance of Loans of Commercial Banks in Ghana: A Case Study of HFC Bank

With the increasing rate of default of loans in the country, this study assessed the macroeconomic factors that influence loan performance of commercial banks in Ghana using HFC bank as a case study. The sample period used for the study was based on a quarterly data from 2008 to 2015. Using the ARDL bounds test of co-integration as an estimation technique, the results showed evidence of long run relationship among the variables. The results suggested that macroeconomic factors that influenced loan performance were inflation and T-bills. These therefore show that macroeconomic instabilities do have significant impact on loan performance. Hence, there is the need for policy makers to manage the economy well, embark on fiscal discipline and reduce government domestic borrowing to reduce Treasury bill rates in order to improve on loan performance.

Source: KNUST
The macroscopic and other identification features of seventy lesser-used timber species of Ghana

In Ghana, about 70 species are harvested and used commercially out of about 420 which grow to timber size in the forest. However the trade is dominated by only about 20 species. There is therefore the need to promote the potential of lesser-used species in order to reduce the demand on the few commercial species which are getting extinct. The lesser-used species, if correctly identified can be used as substitutes for the commercial species. This thesis includes the description of macroscopic (vessels, axial parenchyma. rays, fibre tissues and growth rings), physical (density, hardness, texture and colour), and miscellaneous features (burning splinter test) of 70 lesser-used species. A thorough and systematic examination of the species was made to identify the wood species by their macroscopic, physical and other miscellaneous features. Definitions, explanatory notes and photographs of the features employed are given. The key macroscopic identification features like the presence of tyloses, diagonal pattern of vessels, marginal parenchyma, storied rays, and axial parenchyma, distinct growth ring boundaries, reticulate and scalariform parenchyma are used in identifying the various wood species. The key physical and miscellaneous features identified are density, hardness, texture, heartwood colour and burning of splinter test. The outcome of the various wood identified is summarized in a diagnostic dichotomous key for identification of the species. A dichotomous key for identification of all the 70 species based on compiled macroscopic and other identification features is shown in Table 4.2. It is recommended that sufficient information on lesser-used species he compiled to obtain general market acceptance and also the Government of Ghana should promote marketing and utilization of lesser-used species through tax relief, low royalties and incentives for plantation development.

Source: KNUST
Macroeconomic determinants of the Ghana stock exchange market performance

This research looks at the profound impact of certain macroeconomic variables on the performance of the of Ghana Stock Exchange All share index, and therefore use the outcome to predict how the GSE performance would behave if there is a slight or greater change in the macroeconomic variables. The popular co- integration method was employed for the methodology and an annual data for both the GSE All share index and the five macroeconomic variables namely, interest rate, inflation, money supply, real GDP, exchange rate from 1990 to 2012 to ascertain how changes in the variables affect the GSE performance. The research finally attains a level where there is a long run equilibrium relationship existing between the dependent and independent variables (GSE All share index and the five macroeconomic variables). Also it was established that the effect of the macroeconomic variables on the Ghana stock Exchange in the short run is almost imaginary. The results show that real interest rate (RIR), Exchange rate (EXCH), Inflation rate (INF) and Real GDP have a negative impact on Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Money supply (M2) is the only variable that has a positive impact on Ghana Stock Exchange in the Short run. Exchange rate (EXCH), Inflation rate (INF) and Real GDP are statistically significant but the rest are insignificant. It therefore worthy to recommend that prospective investors are very particular about the fluctuations in the exchange rate and of course the interest rate. This is because these two determine whether the economy is fertile to invest in or otherwise since their changes has a repining or long run effect on the GSE.

Source: KNUST
Magnetic survey of gold bearing ore zones of the salman concession in the Western Region of Ghana

Magnetic method of geophysical prospecting was carried out to map out regions of magnetic mineralization, which might be potential gold bearing zones on the Salman concession in the Western Region of Ghana. The method involved ground surveys in which total magnetic field measurements were made using a bi-station set up of a pair of SCINTREX ENVI-MAG proton precession magnetometers along 49 three-kilometre profiles of 25 meter station spacing, separated 100 meters apart. Profile plots, surface and magnetic anomaly contour maps obtained from the field data provided means of analysing the data. From the results, a major shear zone, trending South-Southwest to North-Northeast indicating the Upper and Lower Birimian contact which bear a series of East-West and Northeast-Southwest faults was delineated. Zones of high, moderate to low yet positive magnetic anomalies were mapped out and most of them found in the vicinity of the shear zone. The results were qualitatively interpreted with regards to the geology of the area and it was found out that most of the major magnetic bodies around the shear zone are of hydrothermal origin, some of which might be deep seated. Elsewhere, they might be shallow, disseminated and weakly magnetic such as pyrites and arsenopyrites. As a result, lP method and drilling are proposed to put the gold deposit on the Salman prospect on a decisive economic standing for mining.

Source: KNUST
Magnetic susceptibility and density characterization of mineralized and non mineralized rocks in the Chirano Gold Camp, Ghana

Magnetic susceptibility measurements taken on drilled cores from two holes indicate that the core from Paboase deposit had a magnetic susceptibility value within the range of (3.96 – 7.49) x 10 -6 SI and a mean of 5.90 x 10 -6 SI for the non mineralized rocks and magnetic susceptibility within the range (2.29 - 4.58) x 10 -6 SI for the mineralized rocks with a mean value of 3.51.90 x 10 -6 SI. The drilled core from the Akwaaba deposit had a magnetic susceptibility in the range of (5.02 - 12.36) x 10 -6 SI with a mean of 7.37 x 10 -6 SI for the non mineralized rocks and (1.0 – 7.0) x 10 -6 SI with a mean of 4.99 x 10 -6 SI for mineralized rocks. Comparatively, the magnetic susceptibility of the non mineralized rocks from the Paboase concession are high with low assay values within the range of (0.01 – 0.17) ppm while the mineralized rocks have low magnetic susceptibility with high assay values within the range of (1.25 – 17.4) ppm. The assay result for the Akwaaba deposit follows the same trend as that of Paboase deposit, low from (0.00 – 0.04) ppm within the non mineralized rocks but high assay values of (0.41 – 10.13) ppm within the mineralized rocks. There was a general negative correlation between the assay values and the magnetic susceptibility values. The magnetic susceptibility values decrease drastically for rocks with high gold assay values while those with very low gold assay values generally have high magnetic susceptibility values. Selected rocks from the two holes on which density measurements were carried also produced densities around the means of 2698.56 kg/m 3 for basalt and 2704.11kg/m 3 for tonalite from Paboase deposit, 2959.57kg/m 3 for basalt from Akwaaba deposit These correlations are strong signals that can be used to delineate mineralized zones in the area with a prove backed by the use of other geophysical method.

Source: KNUST
Macroeconomic determinants of lending rates in Ghana

Lending is considered one of the fundamental functions of banks. Loans and advances which may be on long term, medium or short term basis are given to individuals, businesses or even the government to enable them indulge in productive investments and development activities to boost economic activities. Thus, the lending activities can help expand the economy and ultimately promote economic growth and development. The study sought to investigate impact of the Monetary Policy Rate, Financial Development (measured by the ratio of credit to the private sector), inflation and Trade Openness on the lending rate in Ghana. Annual time series data from 1980 to 2015 and the ARDL econometric technique was employed for the study. The study found that the Monetary Policy rate and inflation had a significant positive influence on lending rates in both the short and long run. Financial Development on the other hand, influenced lending rates positively in the short run but negatively in the long run. The study thus recommends policies by monetary authorities to stabilize the MPR and prices in the vain to stabilize the lending rate.

Source: KNUST