ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
TAXATION OF THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF THE COMPLIANCE LEVEL OF ARTISANS IN BRONG AHAFO REGION.

The economy of Ghana is made up predominantly of the informal sector which employs a larger proportion of the working population. However very little can be said of it actual revenue contribution to the larger economy though it has great potentials in this regard (GTUC, 2004). Artisans are people who work with specialized skills mostly obtained through mentorship and apprenticeship. The low revenue contribution of this sector compelled the erstwhile internal Revenue Service to introduce Tax Stamps, a tax regime that categorizes various informal sector businesses by the nature of the business, size and volume of transaction in order to give fixed quarterly taxes. The issue of properly registering and taxing the informal sector is a major challenge and thus this study established the factors that promote tax compliance. Primary data was collected from 170 respondents using both closed and open ended questions for the four Direct Tax Districts in Brong – Ahafo. Ordinary least square model was used to predict compliance of artisans. The following factors were found to be significant: number of children of the artisan, number of years of working (experience) and educational level of artisan. However age was the only non-significant factor. It was found out from the research that artisans do not see the need to pay taxes because they receive no direct financial assistance from Government. As part of the recommendations, punitive measures such as seizure of business assets should be put in place to deal with artisans who do not fulfil their duties as citizens, thus payment of taxes.

Source: KNUST
Taxpayers’ attitude, perception and influence on tax compliance decisions a case study of the informal taxpayers in the accra metropolis

It is still unknown how attitudes and perceptions of taxpayers in Accra Metropolis affect their choices regarding tax compliance. This study examined the relationship between taxpayer attitudes, perceptions, and their influence on tax compliance decisions in Ghana using data from informal taxpayers in Accra Metropolis, Ghana. According to the empirical findings, taxpayers’ perception has a negative, significant impact on taxpayers’ attitude. The second hypothesis of this study is supported once more by the positive significant effect of taxpayers’ perception on tax compliance decision. The third hypothesis of the study is also supported by the fact that taxpayers’ attitude have a negative, significant impact on their decision to comply with tax laws. Finally, among informal taxpayers in Ghana’s Accra Metropolis, taxpayers’ attitudes mediate the relationship between taxpayer perception and tax compliance decision. The study comes to the conclusion that taxpayers’ expectations for compliance are significantly influenced by how they view the compliance of their peers. When widespread noncompliance is seen, taxpayer attitude deteriorate; however, when honesty is norm, they improve. According to some research, for instance, higher compliance levels were associated with higher ethical convictions, which in turn were associated with higher compliance levels. This suggests that the relationships between personal standard, social norms, and tax. The study’s conclusion suggested that GRA Office provide ongoing training and education to increase taxpayers’ tax knowledge and awareness in order to eradicate or significantly reduce negative attitudes toward taxes. Tax authorities may choose to inform taxpayers of the purpose for collecting taxes, the methodology used to determine tax rates, and the intended use of the funds. Understanding these ideas not only increases the amount of tax due, but also encourages taxpayers to view taxes more favorably.

Source: KNUST
Teacher motivation and quality education delivery: a study of public basic schools in Tamale Metropolis in Ghana

In the past three years, Ghana had witnessed frequent industrial strikes on the labour front by teachers following lack of motivation in the profession. The issue of low quality delivery of education as manifested in basic education certificate examination (BECE) results have also become a serious matter of concern to all stakeholders in the country’s education. The study aimed at examining the relationship between teacher motivation and delivery of quality education in public basic schools in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana.It also soughtto find out what motivates people to choose teaching as their profession; the best incentive that can increase teachers motivation to be committed to their work; the motivation level of teachers in the Tamale Metropolis especially in the last three years; to ascertain factors accounting for lack of quality delivery of education and identify measures that can be used to improve quality education. Stratified random sampling method was used to select 20publicbasic schools with both primary and junior high schools from urban and peri-urban areas and 216 respondents from these schoolsthrough simple random sampling method. Self administered questionnaires and simple observation were the methods employed for data collection from a sample of 216 teachers and head teachers who were selected fromthe schools, for a thorough analysis of the relationship between teacher motivation and quality education delivery in the Tamale metropolis of Ghana. Relevant data obtained were analyzed quantitatively using both descriptive and inferential statistics.Besides, thedata generated were subjected to the chi-square test statistics to answer research questions raised in the study. Results of the first hypothesis showed a significant relationship between teacher motivation and quality education delivery. On the other hand, the test results of the second hypothesis did not show any significant difference in terms of teacher motivation, between urban teachers and peri-urban teachers in the metropolis. Also, results of the data analysis suggested that the majority of teachers decided to join the service because of the interest they have in teaching. Despite their interest, it was also revealed that the level of motivation among teachers in the metropolis was very low. Inadequate Core Textbooks (PCTBR), lack of enough furniture and library facilities, insufficient classrooms among others were factors responsible for low quality education delivery in the metropolis. It is therefore recommended among others that the living and working conditions of teachers need to be improved to regain recognition and respect from the society. Again, opportunity for career advancement should be made simple for teachers to upgrade their professional knowledge and skills; there is a need for effective supervision of teacher; adequate TLMs need to be provided to schools on time; scholarship should be given to teachers’ children to motivate them to be committed to their work.

Source: KNUST
Teaching and Learning Embroidery and Appliquė in Selected Senior High Schools in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Embroidery and Appliqué are topics that are taught under Fabric decoration techniques within the elective Textiles syllabus. The two topics are classified under Stitches in the Needlework component of Fabric decoration techniques. These are interesting topics but it seems many Textiles students are not able to acquire the knowledge and technical skills that they need to be able to answer West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) questions in Needlework as the Textiles syllabus was designed to do. The study therefore sought to investigate the teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué in the Senior High Schools in Ghana, using four schools in Akuapem South District of Eastern Region as a case study to find out the challenges and to suggest ways of improving the teaching and learning outcomes. Specifically, the study set out to identify and describe how teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué are done in the selected senior high schools, and also to find out how the strengths and weaknesses in the teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué in the selected senior high schools can be resolved. Data needed to answer the research questions were collected using two sets of a self-administered questionnaire that were administered to 86 respondents comprising 79 Form 3 Textiles students and seven (7) teachers. Additional data were collected through observation during a practical intervention project in which the study respondents were taught embroidery and applique lessons. Analysis of the data collected revealed that the schools lack standard textbooks and reference materials to guide the teaching and learning of textiles; the required materials were also not available in the schools’ libraries. All the teachers in the four schools (coded A, B, C and D) were therefore using whatever reference textbooks they buy from private bookshops, and what they are able to borrow from their colleague teachers in different v vi schools. Out of the 7 teacher respondents, only the Textiles teacher in School C had specialized in embroidery and appliqué and was teaching both the theory and practical aspects of the two fabric decoration techniques while the other teachers were only teaching the theory of embroidery and appliqué by means of the lecture method. The schools had inadequate basic hand tools and equipment such as embroidery machines for Textiles and particularly, for effective teaching and learning of embroidery and appliqué so the students buy their own tools and materials for practical lessons. The intervention lessons made it possible for the textiles teachers and their students to learn about and use appropriate tools and materials to create different stitches and produce embroidery and appliqué articles, which gave the textiles teachers some level of proficiency to enable them to guide their students to do practical works in embroidery and appliqué for acquiring technical knowledge and skills for WASSCE and employment purposes.

Source: KNUST
Teaching and Learning in Border Towns: A Study in some Junior High Schools along The Ghana-Togo Border

This study aimed to inquire into teaching and learning in Junior High Schools located along the Ghana – Togo border, to analyse teaching methods and strategies the teachers adopt, the influence of the teaching methods and strategies on the performance of students and key factors that affect the general performance of students in those schools. Through the use of questionnaire, interview, and observation, the relevant data were collected from a convenient sample of 365 students, 12 teachers, and four headteachers purposely selected from four schools located along the Ghana-Togo border in the Volta Region. This qualitative study revealed that teachers in the sampled schools use a variety of teaching methods and strategies identified including drill, question and answer, group projects, discussion, individualised instruction, demonstration, school garden system, homework, writing, classroom visual aids, songs, and reading aloud. The effects of some of the teaching methods and strategies have negative impacts on the students. The factors that affect teaching and learning and academic performance were identified in the study as: language, differences in the students’ educational background, teacher inexperience, poor school environment, poor classroom management strategies, lack of cordial relationship between teachers and students, poor school infrastructure, lack of teaching and learning materials, student indiscipline, and lack of models for female students. To improve the situation in the schools, the study recommends in-service training for teachers in these schools on current teaching methods that can enhance successful learning, assessment techniques and learner-centred teaching, involvement of communities and other education stakeholders in the provision of teaching facilities in schools for implementing appropriate teaching pedagogies to enhance student learning and academic performance in the schools.

Source: KNUST
Teachers guide to poster-making in Ghanaian schools

The poster has served a variety of purposes from time immemorial. As a psychological device, it has advantage of reaching many people at a relatively lower cost than other advertising media. In Ghana, a number of educational posters are being used to facilitate national development. However many posters displayed are ineffective due to poor execution. To correct the situation there is the need to update and step up the teaching of the subject in schools. The teachers as at now can do very little because most of them are non-professional graphic designers who teach without any reference materials. The attractions in the more lucrative industrial sector of the economy make the recruitment of professional graphic designers into the teaching profession extremely difficult. This study comprises the requisite knowledge, methodology and scheme of work for poster—making. It has been done to assist the general art teacher to teach the subject effectively and efficiently.

Source: KNUST
Teacher motivation within the private junior high schools: a case of the New Juaben Municipality.

Teachers’ motivation has become an important issue given their responsibility to impart knowledge and skills to learners. Consequently, the study investigated on Teacher Motivation within the Private Junior High School. Specifically, within the New Juaben Municipality. The general objective of the study is to examine the teacher motivation within the Private Junior High Schools. Specifically, the study aimed at determining the current condition of motivation, the factors that account for the low level of motivation, the effects of the low level of motivation and the measures that can be employed to improve upon the level of motivation in the Private Junior High Schools . A descriptive survey design was adapted. Total sample of 66 respondents including head teachers were consulted. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires from the different schools and both qualitative and quantitative were employed to provide answers to the research questions. However the research findings revealed that, teachers are recognized and appreciated, they have adequate working conditions, and they are given the opportunity to express themselves freely. It was also revealed that inadequate salaries and allowances, bad policies of management and job insecurity affected motivation. Furthermore, teacher turnover, organizational commitment, job involvement and job satisfaction were the effects of low level of motivation. In order to improve the performance of teachers at work, the study recommended salary increments to teachers to match the high standards of living and institute an internal award schemes for hardworking and long serving staff to motivate them.

Source: KNUST
Teaching Hospital - Tamale

A Teaching Hospital usually combines assistance to patients with teaching to medical students and this kind of hospital is often linked to a medical school. The University for Development School (UDS) which is situated in the Northern Region-Tamale has a Medical School which is not linked directly to any Teaching Hospital. As a result, they resort to sending the students to the south to study at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Korle -Bu Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and Accra respectively. The students are faced with lots of challenges- change of environment, new faces to live with, new methods of teaching and learning etc which they cannot compromise. There is therefore the urgent need for a Teaching Hospital close enough to the Medical School so as to facilitate high standards of teaching and learning. This project can only succeed if the various stakeholders- the UDS Medical School, the Government of Ghana and the community at large collaborate intensively. A Teaching Hospital in the Northern part of Ghana will attract workers and investors and also reduce migration to the south. This project will not only reduce migration but also serve as a source of revenue for the country since the health delivery system will be patronised by the neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali for example.

Source: KNUST
Teaching guide of dyed fabric design for Ghanaian Secondary Schools

The thesis focuses on the teaching of dyed fabric design in Ghanaian Secondary Schools. It seeks to direct attention to the development of design thinking and skills in textiles in the area of dyed fabrics. For many years now the design quality of locally produced fabrics have been of poor standard compared to imported ones. The lack of knowledge and skills in dyed fabrics among art teachers who are non—specialists in textiles and dearth of text—books on textiles in Ghana have contributed to the sub-standard textile products art students present for the ‘Ordinary’ and ‘Advanced’ Levels G.C.E. examination. The need for the provision of a handbook on dyed fabrics through this research as a resource material for art teachers and students have been satisfied by the author of this thesis. She has provided adequate information on the design and production processes for improving the quality of dyed fabrics. Some useful suggestions and recommendations have been made on effective teaching and learning of dyed fabric design. This thesis is considered & possible resource material for the Curriculum Research Development Division (C.R.D.D.) of the G.E.S. for art curriculum improvement. In the end, this will contribute to the improvement of quality in the locally dyed fabrics which will compete with outside and earn more foreign exchange for Ghana. It will help influence the design quality of textiles manufactured in Ghana for more economic gains.

Source: KNUST
The teaching of drawing and painting in Secondary Schools problems and suggested solutions

Owing to the importance of education in the development of every nation, the government attaches great importance to the effective teaching and learning of various subjects on the curriculum in Secondary Schools. Art Education is no exception. However, it is significant to note that despite all, the efforts made by the government, there are a lot of problems which hinders the teaching and learning of drawing and painting in Secondary Schools and suggest possible remedies to them. The research for the long essay was conducted through the help of library studies, interviewing of some experts. and through questionnaire and personal experience a, The purpose of the il1ustrationsare to throw more light on some of the problems and suggested solutions so as to help the reader to have a clear picture of what the essay is about.

Source: KNUST
Teaching of core subjects to visual arts and non-visual arts students in selected Senior High Schools in the Sunyani Municipality

High academic performance has been found to be a cardinal concept in education. Studies however, have shown that students’ performance depends on many factors even though there has always been a tendency of making a direct correlation between a student’s academic achievement and intelligence level. This is very common when it comes to teaching core subjects to Visual Arts students in Ghanaian SHSs. The study thus investigated the teaching processes used in delivering the core subjects to students and; evaluated the impact of the processes employed by the schools on the academic achievement of Visual Arts and Non-Visual Arts students. The study adopted the qualitative research design, under which the descriptive and evaluation research methods were employed to identify, describe and examine issues such as school facilities, availability and use of TLMs, supervision, students and teachers attitudes as well as methods and quality of teaching core subjects. The stratified and purposive sampling techniques were adopted; sampling 233 respondents –199 students, 24 teachers, 8 HODs and 2 head teachers. The study identified and described the processes involved in teaching core subject to Science, Business and Visual Arts students. The research further established that the schools share lots of similarities in the processes than differences and they were evident in the examination scores that students achieved. It was therefore, necessary to adopt a modified model based on Bloom’s model for evaluating academic achievement to evaluate the academic performance of all students on the different programmes in the sampled schools. This helped the researcher to outline and recommend that managers of schools should improve and fully utilize all school resources appropriately, considering the diversity of students’ backgrounds and needs in order to achieve high academic success in core subjects at the SHS level.

Source: KNUST
Teak Coppicing: Effect on the Yields of Cocoyam and Maize in Tain II Forest Plantations

In Ghana, the approach for mitigating the ever increasing deforestation has been massive afforestation and reforestation by Government and the private sector with mostly short rotational tree crops like Tectona grandis (teak). This has led to the establishment of large plantation areas both in Forest reserves and off-reserves with teak trees. Most of these plantations have been harvested but the coppices (sprouted shoots) are not being managed and eventually leading to poor tree forms of the next crops after the first rotation. The lack of coppice management is largely attributed to high cost involved. Many authors have suggested the exploration of the use of local farmers as cheaper sources for coppice management, but have also indicated that farmers would co-operate if the design used would enhance the production of their preferred food crops in any intercropping system. In effect, no such investigation into the effect of teak coppice shoots on food crops has ever been done in Ghana. This study was therefore conducted in the Tain II Forest plantation in 2008 cropping season to ascertain the effect of teak coppices spatial arrangement on two staple food crops (Cocoyam and Maize) in the Sunyani West District of Ghana; in a tree based intercropping system. The study took a participatory on-station approach with some students and community farmers actively involved. Cocoyam and maize were intercropped with and without teak stems in 10 m x 10 m plots in a block, and were replicated in three blocks. The levels of coppiced density used were: no coppicing (control), single stem and double stem coppice shoots; the levels of coppiced spacing used were: no coppice shoots (control), 3 m by 3 m and 6 m by 6 m. In all, there were five treatment combinations and replicated in tree blocks. It was a Factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design. GenStat software was used to analyse the data obtained. Two way Factorial ANOVA was used to test the effect of the treatments at 5% significance. Coppice density, spacing and interaction of coppice density and spacing of teak had significant effect on the yields of cocoyam and maize. The best treatment combination that yielded good harvest was 6 m x 6 m single stem coppice density for cocoyam (7.8 tons/ha) and maize (4.18 tons/ha). These were very good yields for both agricultural crops compared to the control (10 tons/ha). The study has provided a framework for the reintroduction of farmers into plantations for coppice management in Ghana; an incentive for farmers to cooperate in plantation development. This study has also provided a basis for making lands inside Forest reserves available to landless farmers. It has provided a scheme for cost effective teak coppice management in Ghana.

Source: KNUST