ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Implications of informal economic groups’ responses to formal regulation: a case study of street food vendors in the Kumasi metropolis.

Unaddressed food needs resulting from urbanisation, work pressures and increasing cost of time has fostered an unchecked growth of private informal food retail referred to as street food vending. To protect diverging interests of consumers and investors, formal regulation of SFT has emerged paramount. Unconstructive and burdensome regulations, however, is a disincentive to the growth of these enterprises. This study measures compliance burden, determinants of extent of compliance to regulations and preference for varying regulatory aspects and regimes. Within urban Kumasi, 309 SFVs were sampled across 8 sub-metros for data collection using a structured questionnaire and observations. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, income statement and regression analysis. Compliance to regulations is found below average among SFVs in urban Kumasi and does not necessarily follow awareness. Most aspects of SFT regulation were negatively perceived. Whereas time cost of compliance is significantly higher non-compliance, money cost of the latter is higher but with smaller difference. Compliance cost is significantly high among users of prohibited sites, improved equipment and undeveloped vending structures. Same is the case among smaller and less viable enterprises subjected to lesser advisory and more regulatory visits as well as punitive enforcement methods. Distance to regulator, cost of compliance, perception of training programmes and daily length of trade activity have major influences on extent of compliance to food safety regulations. Whereas financially viable enterprises favour a massive overhaul of current regulatory regime, members of vendor associations support subtle changes in some/all aspects of SFT regulation. SFVs prefer improved siting regulations the most and improved medical certification the least. Regulatory compliance among SFVs can be made more preferred and less costly by among other things using siting regulations as major entry point while formally working with vendor associations and identifiable third parties to improve perceptions of regulations.

Source: KNUST
Implication of Urban and Peri-Urban Agricultural Wastewater Irrigation to Malaria Transmission in Kumasi

Malaria transmission within areas of wastewater irrigation activities was the focus of this study where seven thousand and seventeen (7017) progressive data from health facilities within seventy-seven (77) communities were assessed. Results indicated approximately 3698 and 3319 cases of malaria, respectively for areas of wastewater irrigation activities and areas devoid of wastewater irrigation activities. Statistical result at 95% confidence interval (CI) gave a P-value of 0.1914 between these two multi-urban and peri-uran settings. The mean ± SEM of A (irrigation activity zones) was 13 ± 3.816 (N=4) and mean ± SEM of B (non-irrigation activity zones) was 8.167 ± 1.515 (N=6). The resulting difference between the means A and B was 5.083 ± 3.562. Again, identification and quantification of Anopheles spp density using Gillies and de-Meillon protocol showed quite a high number of Anopheles spp densities in farrows followed by ponds and streams presenting the least Anopheles spp density. This should therefore bring to the attention of many that though urbanization indicates to some extent development, nevertheless could sometimes contribute to malarial transmission due to certain anthropogenic activities.

Source: KNUST
The implications of Luke 4:18-19 for Christian Ministry in Ghana: case study of Ankaasi and Berekum circuits of the Methodist Church Ghana

There seems to be a general out-cry concerning the way ministry is done in Ghana generally and in the Methodist Church Ghana particularly. The worry has been on the concept and mode of practice. It seems ministers who administer the “sign gifts” are currently recognized as people in ministry at the peril of holistic nature of ministry. The topic of this thesis is The implications of Luke 4:18-19 for Christian Ministry in Ghana: case study of Ankaase and Berekum Circuits of The Methodist Church Ghana. Our case study was made on the Methodist Circuits in Ankaase and Berekum. We interviewed ministers, caretakers, stewards, employees of Methodist institutions and some opinion leaders in the two circuits. We also looked at structures existing in these circuits for ministry. We found out that Christian ministry is understood as Christians making themselves available for God’s use through the Holy Spirit to bring people into the Kingdom of God. In respect of this we call on all who are connected with Christian ministry in one way or the other to proceed into it in the mind-set of Christ and in a time-tested mode of practice. We also found out that Christian ministry is shepherding and stewardship done by lay and clergy. We recommend that those in ministry should possess the primary responsibility of taking care of and guiding those in their charge for the realization of the specific objective of supporting life and in its fullness, with the sense of having been mandated to responsibly manage what God has entrusted to them.

Source: KNUST
The Importance of Customer Service in the Banking Industry: The Case of Ecobank Ghana Limited

The aim of the research is to critically analyze the importance of customer service in the Banking Industry, a case study of Ecobank Ghana Limited, Tema. The six (6) branches selected were Tema main, Community Six, Gyau Towers, Safebond, Long Room and Tema Mail. In conducting the research a convenience research sampling method/procedure was adopted to select the sample size from which data was obtained. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data on the activities of Ecobank Ghana Limited on customer service. The data gathered were coded, analyzed with the necessary conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for future research presented. The study revealed that, Ecobank Ghana Limited provides excellent banking services to its retail and corporate customers, further more customers complaints are welcome by lodging them through their website, suggestion box, customer complaint unit, branch manager and customer service representatives. Recommendations have been made to address and enhance customer service delivery in order to achieve excellent services. Suggestion for future studies was given that a large number of customers may leave hence the need for Ecobank Ghana Limited to seriously step up its research into why customers keep another account at other banks and address their shortfalls as quickly as possible.

Source: KNUST
Import Clearing Facility Boankra, Kumasi

Increasing congestion of the main seaports and the difficulty associated with transit trade to the hinterlands from these ports in Ghana is the main reason for an alternative. This paper focuses on the concept of dry ports which involves the movement of intermodal freight terminals further inland from seaports. In Ghana, the proposal of the establishment of the Boankra inland port has served a platform in dealing with the issues of congestion faced by the two main ports of Tema and Takoradi. The proposed inland port is expected to connect the seaports to the hinterlands and neighbouring landlocked countries of Ghana. For the purposes of developing Boankra port to achieving its objectives, this paper seeks to architecturally propose and develop parts of the inland container depot as an import clearing terminal to facilitate the operations of the port. The application involves an extensive collection of data and analysis through research leading to architectural design proposals as well as design conclusions and recommendations relative to the entire project.

Source: KNUST
Import Demand, Dutch Disease and Capital Inflows: The Case of Ghana’s Petroleum Revenue.

This paper examined the relationship between import demand, capital inflows and Dutch disease in Ghana. In examining this relationship, three models were constructed and the ARDL Bound test for cointegration applied. In the first model, an import demand function for Ghana was estimated: first to find out the impact of agriculture share in GDP (tradable sector contribution to GDP) on imports and second, to show the extent to which windfall inflows affect import demand. In this model, it was found that rising imports cannot be attributed to any Dutch disease effects in Ghana as the coefficient of the Dutch disease variable was not significant. Also, it was established that windfall inflows had significant positive impact on imports. Given this relationship, as well as the inability of Dutch disease to explain increased imports in Ghana, we interpreted this to mean that the increased imports are perhaps of capital and intermediate goods which generate positive externalities to the tradable sectors thereby neutralizing any Dutch disease effects. The second model attempted to find out whether indeed windfall inflows in Ghana have led to exchange rate appreciation as it is the main channel of transmission of the Dutch disease. It was established that windfall inflows proxied by LNFDI did not appreciate the exchange rate and therefore does not cause Dutch disease in Ghana. Finally, the estimated Dutch disease model also suggests that Ghana did not experience any Dutch disease effects as a result of its natural resource boom. Rather declined contribution of tradable agricultural sector to GDP is as a result of economic development theory.

Source: KNUST
The importance of recruitment and selection as a prerequisite for employee performance: a case study of non-professional teachers in the Ghana Education Service-Jomoro district

The Ghana Education Service, generally, offers appointments to non professional teachers to supplement its staffing needs in the country. This is due to the fact that many of the professional teachers leave the classrooms each year for further studies. As to whether or not these non professional teachers go through proper recruitment and selection processes to meet the level of expected employee performance remains puzzle. In this Thesis the researcher examined the recruitment and selection processes of the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) regarding non-professional teachers in the Jomoro District in the Western Region and made some recommendations for improvement. Stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used for the study The main areas of the recruitment processes addressed were the sources and methods of recruitment. With regard to the selection process, the study placed much emphasis on realistic job preview, selection interview and reference checks. In addition, considerations were given to the criteria and methods used to assess employees' performance at the Ghana Education Service. The findings indicate that the recruitment and selection processes adopted by the Ghana Education Service were not in line with laid down human resource best practices. This, thus, calls for improvement in a number of areas. With regards to the selection processes, the researcher recommended that non professional teachers should be thoroughly screened and interviewed before they are selected and posted to schools. They should also go through medical examination, among other things, to discover any medical limitation that should be taken into account in placing the candidates.

Source: KNUST
Importance of selection criteria to public procurement agencies and the challenges they encounter in managing consultancy services

This study was aimed at examining the importance government agencies, who procure consulting services, attach to selection criteria and sources of information as well as describe their challenges and the extent to which they follow the laid down processes for public procurement. The study involved 22 professionals purposively sampled from government agencies within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Questionnaire was administered to these professionals to provide responses on their practices in procurement of consultancy services and the SPSS tool was used in analyzing the collected data. The major outcomes are summarized in the section that follows. The results revealed an overwhelming majority (92%) government agencies working without an in-house consultancy department. The findings also show that government agencies who procure consulting services have been making efforts to implement the recommended professional practices (i.e. Public Procurement Act) since they are able to determine the appropriate criteria for selection as well as sources of information in doing business. However, it was observed that the public procurement practices that received the worst rating in this evaluation phase. ‗Project Execution/Action Plan‘ was identified as the highest challenge amongst nine (9) identified challenges in the study as being faced by the government procurement agencies. ‗Tender Price‘ was ranked fifth (5th) among the challenges. It was recommended among others that government agencies set up and/or increase the capacity of their in-house consultancy departments to implement the recommended public procurement practices.

Source: KNUST
Important Determinants of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Female Adolescent and Youth in Ghana

This study documents key indicators of sexual and reproductive health among female adolescent and youth age between 15-24 in Ghana and examine factors a ecting them. This study aimed at the following objectives: examine the associ- ation between various socio-economic characteristics and key indicators of female adolescent childbearing. The application of logistic regression on the use of con- traception on Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), 2008 data was used for the analysis. Multiple logistic regression was the main statistical tool employed through this study. In our ndings, women's educational level had a strong in uence on the odds of adolescent childbirth. The adjusted odds of begin- ning child bearing before age 20 are roughly 54 percent lower among women who have primary education compared with women with secondary education. This study also shows low rates of ever use contraceptives among female adolescent and youth in Ghana with the key indicator of sexual and reproductive health of female adolescent and youth vary substantially among adolescent according to their background characteristics. The main determinants that in uence adoles- cent and youth to ever use contraceptives were discovered to be educational level, ethnic group, recent sexual activity and wealth index which were found to be signi cant by the wald test statistics indicate signi cant. Signi cant determinant such as adolescent and youth level of education, recent sexual activity and wealth index should be considered as determinant that contribute to early childbearing in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Implications of sand mining on the environment and livelihoods in Brong Ahafo Region

The relevance of sand in undertaking any developmental project is immeasurable. Every year, huge volumes of sand are mined from various places as raw materials for building projects. This study examined the effects of sand mining on the environment and livelihoods of people in some selected communities in Brong Ahafo Region. In this research, primary data from three districts in the region namely; Sunyani West District; Wenchi and Techiman Municipalities were used. Two hundred (200) respondents were chosen using the systematic, convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data from the respondents were collected using field observations, questionnaires and interviews. The quantitative data were analysed using some tools of Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS, version 20) such as Chi-square and Correlation. The qualitative data were analysed using content and thematic analysis of events as they unfolded in the field. The study found that, primarily unemployment influenced people into sand mining. Also, very high profits and regular income from the sales of sand were found to be some of the positive effects of sand mining on livelihoods. In addition, sand mining was found to have negative effects on livelihoods through destructions caused to vegetation cover and water bodies. The study further revealed the failure of the local authorities in protecting the environment and other livelihood activities from the operations of the sand miners. The study concludes that, although sand mining supports the livelihoods of some people, it also has the capacity of degrading the environment and subverting the livelihoods of farmers. The study recommends that, sand mining by-laws be established and enforced by all the assemblies. Such a move could prevent the sand miners from causing unwarranted destructions to farmlands, vegetation and water bodies. Again, sand mining sites should be properly demarcated by the local authorities to ensure that, environmental impact assessments are done on such lands prior to mining the sand.

Source: KNUST
Important determinants of sexual and reproductive health of female adolescent and youth in Ghana

This study documents key indicators of sexual and reproductive health among female adolescent and youth age between 15-24 in Ghana and examine factors a ecting them. This study aimed at the following objectives: examine the associ-ation between various socio-economic characteristics and key indicators of female adolescent childbearing. The application of logistic regression on the use of con-traception on Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), 2008 data was used for the analysis. Multiple logistic regression was the main statistical tool employed through this study. In our ndings, women's educational level had a strong in uence on the odds of adolescent childbirth. The adjusted odds of begin-ning child bearing before age 20 are roughly 54 percent lower among women who have primary education compared with women with secondary education. This study also shows low rates of ever use contraceptives among female adolescent and youth in Ghana with the key indicator of sexual and reproductive health of female adolescent and youth vary substantially among adolescent according to their background characteristics. The main determinants that in uence adoles-cent and youth to ever use contraceptives were discovered to be educational level, ethnic group, recent sexual activity and wealth index which were found to be signi cant by the wald test statistics indicate signi cant. Signi cant determinant such as adolescent and youth level of education, recent sexual activity and wealth index should be considered as determinant that contribute to early childbearing in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
Impressions: an Arbitrary Colour Based Exploration of KNUST Landscapes

This study has been a challenge to express my impressions about some of the landscapes of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). My impressions have been portrayed on canvases as a result of an intimate relationship with the landscape here, which has created a mental image and a lasting effect on my life. Some of the remarkable scenes that my inner sensations mirror are what have been depicted on the canvases. I have used arbitrary colours as the power to branch from mainstream landscapes because I aimed at making personal representations rather than objective naturalistic representations of the places. I may have sounded quite personal but in the end my work still expresses some of the general feelings the landscapes in KNUST evoke. Some of the paintings were made outdoors, others in the studio and they are not biased towards a particular style though impasto technique seems to dominate. The study revealed that though the paintings are expressions of my impressions, they are generally tacit memories of the many and varied experiences that the KNUST environment provides. They evoke people’s thoughts rather than telling them stories. Again the study has revealed the power of colour in visual representation.

Source: KNUST
An improved computer network access control using free BSD PFSENSE A case study of UMaT local area network

The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has a Local Area Network (LAN) whose primary purpose was to facilitate research; teaching and learning; and information sharing. Unfortunately, the LAN had some challenges attributable to high demand by over 2500 users on the limited bandwidth of 45 MB, misuse of the bandwidth on low priority bandwidth hungry applications, insecurity from virus attacks, phishing and lack of effective user access control. This thesis sought to study the behaviour patterns of the network users and deploy an enhanced network access control using pfSense open source software as the dedicated perimeter firewall. Prior to the installation of the firewall, a test was conducted using wireshark protocol analyzer to identify completely the vulnerabilities of the LAN and their causes. The results showed that the network was slow due to the limited bandwidth, and phishing out user credentials and other vital information was easy since illegitimate users could gain unauthorised access to the LAN. To resolve this problem, the LAN was upgraded by installing additional software packages which included Squid, squidGuard, Squid Analyses Report Generator (SARG) and setting up of an Active Directory server with user access protocols and policies on the firewall to effectively improve user access control and insulate the LAN from misuse and virus attacks. A test was then conducted using freeBSD pfsense software to assess any improvement in the upgraded LAN. The results showed that in spite of the limited bandwidth, the speed of the upgraded LAN had improved significantly and become more secure. It is recommended that the bandwidth of the LAN at UMaT is increased from 45 MB to at least 80 MB especially as the student enrolment is expected to increase. The installed software packages should also be upgraded periodically.

Source: KNUST
Improved propagation models for LTE path loss prediction in Ghana

Long Term Evolution (LTE) Networks offer significant advancement compared with third- generation (3G) Networks in the areas of capacity, latency, network complexity and quality of service. To maximize these benefits of LTE cellular networks, careful and proper planning is needed. This requires the use of accurate propagation models to quantify the path loss required for base station (BS) deployment. However deployed LTE networks in Ghana mostly do not offer the desired 100Mbps throughput leading to customer dissatisfaction. This stems from the fact that Network operators rely on transmission planning tools designed for generalized environments, having no detailed knowledge of the Ghanaian environment. These transmission planning tools come with already embedded propagation models for path loss prediction suited to other environments. A challenge therefore to Ghanaian Network operators at the planning stage will be choosing a propagation model that best suits the Ghanaian environment for accurate path loss prediction. Therefore an accurate and precise propagation model reflecting the Ghanaian environment is needed. In view of this, this study considers extensive LTE path loss measurements at 800MHz and 2600MHz taken in selected urban(Adum, Sunyani, Techiman) and suburban(Agogo, Afrancho, New Dorma, Berekum) environments in Ghana. The measured path loss is compared with the corresponding results obtained from six(6) commonly used propagation models: Stanford University Interim model (SUI), Electronic Communication Committee model (ECC-33), Hata model, COST 231 model, Free space path loss model , and the Ericson model. The commonly used industry standard propagation models that best fit measurement data in these Ghanaian environments were then selected. The measured results show that the Ericson model predicts best in urban areas at 800MHz, the SUI model predicts best rather in suburban areas at 800MHz and the ECC 33 model best predicts path loss in urban and suburban areas at 2.6GHz.These models were modified and developed to predict more accurately the path loss in these environments.

Source: KNUST