ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Substance Abuse among Senior High School Students in Ghana

This study examined the abuse of substances among senior high school students in Cape Coast and Kumasi in Ghana. A sample of 244 students (40.5% males, 59.5% females; mean age =18.4 years) completed the Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Involvement Scale. A series of one-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA) was used to determine the existence of any significant differences among variables. The results indicate that the mean AADIS scores (N=244; M=13.86; SD=16.436) was low. There were significant differences in gender F (1, 240) = 68.105, p < .001; age F(1, 240) = 28.273, p < .001; boarding and day students F(1, 240) = 13.287, p < .001; relationships F(1, 240) = 14.647, p < .001; locations F(2, 239) = 9.024, p < .001, and religion F(1, 240) = 9.371, p = .002. The results of this study clearly indicate a lower prevalence of substance use among senior high school students than those reported in other African countries and western countries.

Source: UCC
THE SUCCESS OF IFRS IN AFRICA: COMPARATIVE EVIDENCE BETWEEN GHANA AND KENYA

Comparability of financial statements in the face of increased globalisation of businesses has triggered mandatory adoption of IFRS by many countries in the world. Kenya adopted IAS now IFRS in 1998 while Ghana adopted IFRS in 2007. This study empirically sought to determine the extent of compliance with IFRS in Ghana and Kenya and further determined whether significant difference exist between the two countries. The study also sought to determine company attributes that have a relationship with IFRS compliance rate in Ghana and Kenya. Financial reports of 31 companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and 50 companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange were examined and compliance scored with an aid of a checklist. The study revealed an overall compliance rate of 97.1% and 74.5% between Kenya and Ghana respectively. Pearson product moment correlation revealed company attributes of auditor type, Industry type and Internationality as variables having a positive association with IFRS compliance rate in both Kenya and Ghana. The study concluded that the differential attribute of Kenya having an older Stock Exchange and having adopted IFRS far earlier could explain its higher compliance over Ghana.

Source: UCC
Succession Planning and Job Commitment of Non-Academic Senior Members in the University of Cape Coast: The Moderating Role of Employee’s Job Satisfaction

The study analysed succession planning and job commitment of non-academic senior members in University of Cape Coast: The moderating role of employee's job satisfaction. The objectives of the study were: to assess the extent to which non-academic senior members’ succession planning needs are considered in University of Cape Coast; to examine the effect of succession planning on job satisfaction among non-academic senior members in University of Cape Coast; to assess the relationship between succession planning and job commitment among non-academic senior members in University of Cape Coast; and to analyse the moderating role of job satisfaction on the relationship between succession planning and job commitment among non-academic senior members in University of Cape Coast. Employing the positivist philosophical paradigm, quantitative research approach, explanatory research design, and cross-sectional study design; 203 valid questionnaires were analysed, using IBM SPSS Statistics for windows, version 23 and Smart PLS software version 2.0M.3. The study found that the succession planning needs of non-academic senior members in University of Cape Coast were not fulfilled. To add, the study discovered a statistically significant positive effect of succession planning on job satisfaction. Moreover, the study unveiled a positive and significant relationship between succession planning and job commitment. However, the analyst did not find support for a significant moderating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between succession planning and job commitment. It is recommended that the human resource directorate of University of Cape Coast should consider paying much attention to the succession planning needs of non-academic senior members so as to enhance their satisfaction and commitment to their jobs. Future research should consider moderating the role of demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, level of education, and organisational tenure on the linkage between succession planning and job commitment.

Source: UCC
Succession Planning and Performance of Small and Medium-sized Family Enterprises: a Case of Obuasi Municipality, Ghana

Despite the significance and involvement of small and medium enterprise on the economy, several empirical studies indicate that most family-owned small and medium enterprise fail to grow with some folding up within the first few years of their operation. The study looked at the factors that influence succession planning, the challenges of succession planning and the relationship between succession planning and the performance of family-owned small and medium enterprise. The study discussed the theory of planned behaviour, the concept of succession planning and firm performance evaluation as part of the theoretical and conceptual analysis. The thesis adopted the theory of positivism and the descriptive design discussed in a quantitative approach to science. In all, 60 family-owned small and medium enterprise in the Cape Coast Metropolis were included in the study using convenience sampling technique. The research employed a questionnaire to elicit the required data for the study. Based on the discoveries of the research, we can conclude that the succession planning of sampled family-owned small and medium enterprise in the municipal had an important positive influence on their firm performance. It was suggested that managers of family-owned SMEs or entrepreneurs in Obuasi Municipal must always ensure they include succession-planning policies in their business’s core vision statement and always identify key areas and position that needs successors before the need arises.

Source: UCC
Succession planning in family business: A case of Ketu South Municipality

The study investigated the importance of succession planning, factors influencing succession planning and practices in succession planning in family businesses. The population included all family businesses in the Ketu South Municipality (KSM) of Ghana. The sample size 10, and participants were sampled using snowball method. Each business owner was interviewed, using an interview guide. Spiral model of content analysis was used for data analysis. The results showed that succession planning maintained cultural practices, leadership transition, business continuity and employees support family executives without envy. Factors influencing succession planning are reluctance to let go of control and power, transparency, family taboos, and spouses’ resistance to change. Best practices identified are top managements’ involvement in succession planning, focusing on specific goals and development programs. Comprehensive assessment based on competencies, talent databases and identifying future talent were not practiced. As a result, business owners in the KSM should have role models to encourage them to overcome succession planning fears. Besides, assessment programs, talent databases and future talents should be identified for effective succession planning best practices.

Source: UCC
Succession planning of owners/ managers of family-owned basic schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

This study sought to examine succession planning of owners or managers in family-owned basic schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The study adopted a mixed-method approach to achieve the stated objectives. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data used for the analyses. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents for the study. The statistical package for social sciences was employed in the data processing. The study revealed that owners of basic schools did not have any plan on succession. As a result, the schools had no succession plan policy integrated with the institutions’ planning process. Also, the study revealed that succession planning affected the future direction of the family-owned basic schools. Finally, training and education, involvement of non-family members and coaching of potential successor enhanced succession planning in family-owned basic schools. Based on the findings, it was recommended that owners of family-owned basic schools were to have a deliberate succession plan policy in place to ensure a smooth transition into the future. In addition, planning of succession was to be time-bound and updated to be realistic and relevant to the current business situations so that it became an invaluable business tool to guide transgenerational business transition and ensured future direction of the business.

Source: UCC
Succession Planning Practices and Performance of Ghana Education Service in the Asante Akim South in The Ashanti Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT The strategies a firm takes to fill its most crucial senior roles are referred to as succession planning. These positions may be created as a result of death, retirement, transfer, resignations, etc. of an employee. Companies have suffered significantly in the majority of Sub-Saharan African nations, particularly Ghana, due to the absence of a clear succession plan for management and important roles. This study was conducted to assess the effect of succession planning practices on the performance of Ghana Education Service in the Asante Akim South in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The research utilised a quantitative research technique, an explanatory research design, and the positivist philosophical paradigm. Based on the population size, a sample size of 212 participated in the study through a convenience sampling technique. The structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. The objectives were measured using the regression analysis. The result s shows that supervisor support had positive effect on the performance of Ghana education service in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Also, both organisational commitment and career development had positive effect on the performance of Ghana education service in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study recommends to the management of Ghana education service in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to continue with the good practices of succession planning

Source: UCC
Sufficient Conditions for Exponential Stability and Instability of Solutions of Nonlinear Delay Ordinary Differential Equations

In this thesis, inequalities regarding the solutions of the nonlinear ordi- nary di erential equation with multiple delays are obtained by means of Lyapunov functionals. These inequalities are then used to obtain su cient conditions that guarantee exponential decay of solutions to zero of the multi delay nonlinear ordinary di erential equation. In addition, a criterion for the instability of the zero solution is obtained. The results generalizes some results in the literature.

Source: UCC
Sufficient conditions for the stability of a system of Non-linear Volterra difference equations with variable Delay

This research seeks to obtain sufficient conditions for the zero solution of a system of non-linear Volterra difference equations with variable delay to be stable. The Lyapunov’s direct method is employed in the research to establish the sufficient conditions. In the process a suitable Lyapunov function is constructed which is then used to obtain inequalities that relate the solution of the system of difference equations. The obtained inequalities were then utilized to obtain results for which the system of non-linear Volterra difference equations has a stable zero solution. To illustrate the power of the obtained sufficient conditions, an example was constructed.

Source: UCC
Sugarcane juice as an alternative carbon source for in vitro culture of plantains and bananas

The suitability of sugarcane juice for the in vitro culture of bananas and plantains was investigated in this study. Two concentrations of sugar cane juice 5, 10% and 30 g L­1 laboratory sucrose were used. There was also a control medium without carbon source. Explants were prepared from field grown sword suckers. The preparation of the explants involved, sterilization with 70% ethanol, followed by 1% Sodium hypochlorite+1% tween 20. The explants were cultured at 26°C, under 16 h photoperiod, light intensity of 3000 lux and a relative humidity of 60%. Plants that were cultured on 5% sugarcane juice had higher average fresh weight values of 16.6 g per plant compared to those that were cultured on the 30 g L­1 sucrose and 10% sugarcane juice which had fresh weight of 15.6 g per plant and 11.0 g per plant, respectively. Oniba had higher fresh weight on medium supplemented with 5% sugarcane juice compared to the two other cultivars. In terms of dry weight, ‘Oniaba’ again had the highest value of 7.2 g per plant which was obtained on medium supplemented with 5% sugarcane juice. Plants that were cultured on 5% sugarcane juice were better in terms of shoot height and number of shoots per plant than those cultured on 30 g L­1 sucrose and the differences between the 5% sugarcane juice and the other treatments were statistically different. The various carbon sources and their concentrations also affected the water potential of the media. Medium supplemented with 10% sugarcane juice had the lowest water potential of ­0.8 MPa compared to the control medium that had a water potential of ­0.1 MPa. Medium supplemented with 5% sugarcane juice and 30 g L­1 sucrose had in a medium water potential of ­0.3 MPa. Five percent sugarcane juice was found to be a better substitute for laboratory grade sucrose for the in vitro propagation of Musa sp

Source: UCC
Suicidal ideation among in-School Adolescents in Ghana

Studies have established that suicidal ideation is associated with risk of suicide attempt or suicide. Thus understanding more about Suicidal ideation may have implications for prevention. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which utilized secondary data from the most recent Global School Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in 2012. Both Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were done to examine the associations between demographic and psychosocial factors and suicidal ideation. The results revealed that Sex; Bullying, Substance Use and Depression were major factors that influence suicidal ideation among in-school adolescents in Ghana. It was also found that there was a significant association between sex and suicidal ideation. The study recommends that the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and other agencies responsible for the welfare of young people intensify education on the avoidance of suicide among young people. The Ghana Education Service should also formulate policies to ensure that bullying is curbed in schools to help reduce suicidal ideation. They should ensure that schools organize guidance programmes for their students on drug abuse and depression. This can help students adopt behaviours that can help reduce suicidal ideation.

Source: UCC
Suicidal Ideation Among In-school Adolescents in Ghana

Studies have established that suicidal ideation is associated with risk of suicide attempt or suicide. Thus understanding more about Suicidal ideation may have implications for prevention. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which utilized secondary data from the most recent Global School Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in 2012. Both Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were done to examine the associations between demographic and psychosocial factors and suicidal ideation. The results revealed that Sex; Bullying, Substance Use and Depression were major factors that influence suicidal ideation among in-school adolescents in Ghana. It was also found that there was a significant association between sex and suicidal ideation. The study recommends that the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service and other agencies responsible for the welfare of young people intensify education on the avoidance of suicide among young people. The Ghana Education Service should also formulate policies to ensure that bullying is curbed in schools to help reduce suicidal ideation. They should ensure that schools organize guidance programmes for their students on drug abuse and depression. This can help students adopt behaviors that can help reduce suicidal ideation.

Source: UCC
Suicidal Ideation Among Students Of The Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to explore suicidal ideation among university students in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative case study approach. The study, through purposive and snowball sampling techniques sampled 20 students from three colleges of the university out of 71,844 students that reflected data saturation. The data was gathered using a semi-structured interview guide. The data obtained was analyzed qualitatively using thematic approach. The study discovered that suicidal ideation was triggered by depression, stress, financial challenges, academic performance, poor relationship issues, loneliness and sickness/illness. Suicidal ideation resulted in poor academic performance, substance abuse, psychological, isolation/loneliness, low self-esteem and anxiety. Additionally, the study discovered that building self-resilience, counselling/psychotherapy, academic advisor’s help, social support and motivational speech/messages were management strategies that students used to overcome their suicidal ideation. It was concluded that, the causes of suicidal ideation were influenced by a multitude of factors comprising a range of mental health challenges. Also, students adopted a combination of self-resilience techniques, counselling support and social networks to overcome their suicidal ideation. As a result, the study recommended to the university authorities and the Counselling Centre to develop mental health and suicide prevention programmes targeting the issues of depression stress, academic and relationship issues. Budgetary support for needy students should also be increased. Also, programmes should be organize for students on how to reduce suicide ideation or cope up with the situation.

Source: UCC
Suicidal Ideations and Emotional Regulation as Predictors of Involvement in Post Stroke Rehabilitation

Patient‟s willingness to involve in decisions concerning their health and recovery process is of great importance to health care shareholders. Many factors have been found to influence involvement of stroke patients in rehabilitation activities. This study sought to find out the relationship between emotional regulation and suicidal ideations on stroke patient‟s involvement during rehabilitation and to find how age moderates‟ emotional regulation and involvement in post stroke rehabilitation. The cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 80 stroke patients. The results show a significant relationship between emotional regulation and involvement in post stroke rehabilitation, suicidal ideations and involvement in post stroke rehabilitation but emotional regulation did not significantly mediate the suicidal ideations and involvement in post stroke rehabilitation. Age was a significant moderator between emotional regulation and involvement in post stroke rehabilitation. In conclusion, difficulty in emotional regulation and suicidal ideations are psychological challenges some stroke survivors are facing. It is recommended that healthcare practitioners seek, choose and improve on the existing intervention for a better recovery of stroke survivors.

Source: UCC
Suitability of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Test for Detection of Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Ghana, West Africa

In West African countries such as Ghana, efficient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is a priority in the fight against AIDS. A new immunochromatographic rapid test, Determine HIV-1/2 (Abbott Diagnostics, North Chicago, Ill.), that detects antibodies against HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and/or HIV-2 was evaluated using Ghanaian blood samples. Two hundred four serum and/or plasma specimens were tested. HIV screening was done by a particle agglutination test and confirmed by a Western blot (WB) test as the “gold standard.” The results revealed 125 HIV-seropositive AIDS patients, 75 HIV-seronegative healthy individuals, and 4 individuals for whom the HIV-1 result was indeterminate. The results obtained by the Determine HIV-1/2 assay and Diagnostic HIV SPOT (Genelabs), which is currently widely used in many districts in Ghana, were compared with those of the WB test, excluding the four HIV-1-indeterminate samples. The sensitivity of the Determine HIV-1/2 assay was 100%, compared with 98.0% for the HIV SPOT assay. The specificity was 100% for both tests. Determine HIV-1/2 is a single-step assay and was found to be rapid and easy to perform without any special equipment. It was highly sensitive and specific. The kit can be applied without electricity and water supplies, making it suitable for the detection of HIV antibodies especially in the rural areas of Ghana, West Africa.

Source: UCC
Suitability of cassava starch as a gelling agent for the in vitro culture of banana plantlets

In this study, the suitability of cassava starch for the in vitro culture of banana tissues was investigated. A combination of cassava starch and agar was used as a solidifying agent as against pure cassava starch and pure agar. Three types of media with respect to the inclusion of cassava starch were prepared as; media with 60 g cassava starch, 6 g agar and 2 g agar+40 g cassava starch. Explants were prepared by sterilizing them with 70% ethanol which was followed by 1% sodium hypochlorite tween 20. They were then cultured at 26 0 C. The conditions in the culture room were 16 h photoperiod, 3000 lux light intensity and a relative humidity of 60%. Tissues cultured on medium with a combination of cassava starch and agar had the highest fresh weight values of 25 g and this was significantly different from those cultured on the other two media. Dry weight was also better (10 g) for plantlets cultured on a combination of cassava starch and agar, compared to those on agar alone which had dry weight value of 8 g. Medium with agar alone had a water potential of MP a and that of medium with a combination of cassava and agar was -0.3 MPa. The growth of plantlets was better on medium with cassava starch and agar combination even though the differences in some of the parameters measured were not significant. This also reflected in the number of roots produced per plantlet and subsequently the percentage survival in the nursery. Cassava starch was thus found to be a suitable substitute for agar in the in vitro culture of banana

Source: UCC