ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Marketing a country: promotion as a strategic marketing tool for attracting foreign direct investment-evidence from ghana investment promotion center (gipc)

This study aim to investigate the role Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) plays in marketing Ghana through the deployment of promotion as a marketing tool in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. This study seeks to achieve three objectives including, 1. To identify the main promotional tools for marketing Ghana as a nation, 2. To identify the promotional mix that encourages foreign direct investments, 3. To examine the effect of promotional tools on foreign direct investments for marketing Ghana as a nation. The source of data was gathered from the employees of Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC). The data analysis was done using the SPSS (v 20). The data was subjected to statistical analysis by performing descriptive statistics, graphs, correlation, and regression approaches. The finding of the study stated that promotion tools had a positive effect on FDI in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC). The outcome is consistent with the findings of Wilson, and Baack, (2012), Abamu, (2019), Devadze, (2021) which had positive association between promotion tools and FDI. The positive effect of promotion tools on foreign direct investment in the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) was achieved due to policies and procedures adopted by the GIPC in dealing with their investors, customers and employees.

Source: KNUST
The marketing of agricultural produce and planning for development in Keta district - Ghana

The rural sector is important to the development of Ghana since it is this area which provides food, generate employment and contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In spite of the recognized importance of rural areas to the national economy, the local economies are underdeveloped and the highest levels of poverty predominate. The producers of food and vegetable crops in Keta district depend solely on the sale of these crops as their source of income. Additionally, the district is faced with a peculiar situation of severe pressure on land due to the physical characteristics. Water bodies in the district occupy approximately 30 percent of the surface area, and this along with frequent inundation from the sea contributes to the existing pressure on land resources. The study aims to identify problems in the marketing system which effectively militate against the producer and suggest strategies which can alleviate the situation. To achieve this, surveys were carried out with farmers and the market participants in the district to determine their output levels, the prices they receive, and the percentage of the profits which they obtain at the end if the distribution chain. Specific crops selected for the study were shallot, pepper, maize, cassava and cowpea. Results from the study indicated the weak or non-existent linkages between market centres in the district, the low bargaining power of producers against the traders, inadequate physical facilities and low accessibility of food-crop producers to high order market centres which result in low income to the producers. Therefore, markets as a centre for development do not perform their role to stimulate and expand production and consequently development, thus poverty prevails. The study recommend measures which can be used to improve the efficiency of the market system such as organization of market days for major markets, promotion of marketing associations among others to increase the bargaining power, improving intra- district linkage so that northern producers can have access to high order market centres and the provision of storage and improved processing facilities to add value to the products. The proposals are made within the framework of the decentralized administrative system where the District Assembly plays a pivotal role in the formulation and implementation of development programmes in the district.

Source: KNUST
Marketing management in forest industries in Ghana

Following the worldwide concern about environmental changes threatening the survival of the tropical rain forest, there have been increased awareness of the need to undertake measures to conserve this invaluable natural resource. This trend has been encouraged by the realization of governments of the potential effects of the loss of export revenue following the disappearance of the tropical rain forest. Today, however, there appears to be consensus between many forest products firms and environmental groups that, whereas the harvest of timber is essential to the economic well - being of many tropical countries including Ghana, the timber industry must adopt a philosophy of sustainability. This study explores a number of ways in which improved marketing techniques can provide managers in the forest products industry with the opportunity to move towards a basis of sustainability in a number of ways. This study was conducted using a sample size of 40 out of a total population of 104 wood exporters. The same size included firms from small, medium and large scale exporters. The research methodology included both field and desk research and the results were presented in percentages. The marketing philosophy predominant among wood industries in Ghana was found to be the product and production oriented. Their reason for such general concept is the fact that bulk of their products was for exports. Personal selling was found to be the principal technique. Europe was found to be the principal overseas market for Ghanaian wood exporters. Substantial amount of Ghanaian wood products is also exported to the United States of America whilst there are also pockets of emerging markets in the South East Asia. Sawn wood or lumber was found to be the major product exported by respondents whilst Tertiary products were exported in very small volumes. Marketing management was found to be poorly developed among Ghanaian wood exporters with respect to planning and marketing organizations. It was concluded from the study that the predominant management philosophy in the forest products industry involves the minimization of manufacturing cost to provide a competitive advantage in the production and export of commodity products. Reliance on this philosophy results in a situation where firms are forced to compete solely on the basis of price, thus providing them with minimal or negative profit margins and reducing bargaining power with importers and manufacturers. A more appropriate competitive strategy for Ghana would be the development of differentiated products that can be marketed to niche international markets. While this strategy would provide companies in Ghana with a variety of benefits, it requires that managers in the timber industry accept a shift in management philosophy and become more market - oriented.

Source: KNUST
Marketing of farmers’ foodstuff: a case study of the Asutifi District in the Brong-Ahafo Region

Despite the fact Ghana can be identified as an agricultural country, it has not been able to produce enough food for her people. This situation is manifested in the importation of food and also food aid she receives from donor countries. This state of affair resulted from the little attention which is usually given to the restraint imposed by simple techniques in production and over reliance on peasant farmers. The research identifies numerous constraints on farmers in the marketing of their produce. These include lack of market information, access to credit, risk and uncertainty, and moral suation. Other problems identified in the research is the issue of high cost in collection of small product quantities, huge transaction cost, missing markets and insufficient number of traders acting as middlemen. All these work to the disadvantage of the poor farmer. The writer argues in this study that production of food crops could go up sharply only if there were prospects of assured markets and distribution. Thus all talk of increasing food crop production would not yield any good results unless the problem of marketing and distribution has been satisfactorily considered. Attempt is therefore made to identify, analyse and suggest solutions to these pressing problems faced by farmers in marketing their foodstuffs.

Source: KNUST
Marketing of Jewellery products - a case study of Pearl Jewellery

A primary product of export such as Gold, which also is the main raw material requirement in the Jewellery industry has not performed well enough in terms of export earnings. When value is added to Gold by transforming the material into finished works of art it readily attains a higher value which in turn increases its price. This has been the aim of government to turn its primary products into secondary products of exports in an attempt to increase revenue. The Jewellery industry offers a great potential for growth in this export sector of the economy. It has also been observed that though the price of Gold is the same for all exporting countries, Labour cost in the production of Jewellery products in Ghana is relatively cheaper than most parts of the world. A survey in 1985 revealed that in the United State Labour wage in this industry is 300 dollars whilst its equivalent is 100 dollars in Ghana. This phenomenon presupposes that given the same technology, Ghana has a comparative advantage and can effectively penetrate into the export market of jewellery and conformably produce jewellery for its local consumption. With available market locally and given the advantages in exports, there has been a proliferation of Jewellery shops in recent times. The industry’s has not only attracted Ghanaians but foreigners as well. With such potential entrants, competition is bound to stiffen and it is the aim of the project to find ways of improving performance of Pearl Jewellery in the areas of marketing.

Source: KNUST
Marketing of non-traditional export products- a case study of handicraft products in Ashanti Region

Trade has been a major engine of growth in the industrial countries and the middle-income developing countries and extensive studies have consistently shown that export growth is linked to economic growth. However, there is growing empirical evidence that improved trade performance is closely associated with increased employment opportunities and income earning potential for the poorer. Ghana has depended exclusively for its foreign exchange earnings in traditional products like cocoa, timber, gold and other minerals and electricity. Continues depreciation of world market prices for these products have compelled Ghana to diversify her export to include non-traditional exports. From a meager US $1 .9m in 1984 non-traditional exports has grown to US$404m in the year 1999. It is against the background of improving Ghana’s trade with other countries that this study was carried out to unearth the marketing constraints in the handicraft sub-sector of non-traditional exports. The handicraft sub-sector of the non-traditional exports was studied primarily because the sector has enormous potential to contribute to Ghana’s economic development, but handicraft has not gain considerably export market entry. The thesis therefore assessed the export performance of the handicraft products in Ghana, identified international marketing constraints, assessed existing marketing strategies and developed a comprehensive international marketing strategy for Ghanaian handicraft. Out of the total craft product portfolio of eleven, three (i.e. Kente, Wood Carvings and Beads) were selected for the study because there exist, to a large extent, a strong representation of product classification like wood, textile and products whose process involve firing. Random sample size of 54 exporters of handicraft was chosen. Each of the exporters selected was visited and data collected through administration of questionnaire, interview and personal field observation. This thesis was divided into five main chapters. The thesis revealed that, Ghana like other developing countries have attached importance to handicrafts but the export potential is affected by insufficient reliable statistics, inadequate holistic systems which integrates the provision of business practices and deplorable infrastructure support to facilitate successful exports. The thesis recommended that there should be extensive training in Business Management for handicraft exporters. in addition , Trade Promotion Offices both private and public should coordinate their activities in a way to achieve concerted national goal. Furthermore, product and market development programmes should be improved in the handicraft sector. Financial resource, targeting handicraft sector should be export development friendly. Collaborative Scheme for the establishment of infrastructure at Handicraft Producing Centers by the communities was recommended.

Source: KNUST
Markov Chain Analysis Of Rainfall Pattern In The South Eastern Coast Of Ghana

This study develops an objective rainfall pattern assessment through Markov chain analysis using daily rainfall data from 1980 to 2010 for five towns along the south eastern coastal belt of Ghana namely Keta, Akatsi, Akuse, Accra and Cape Coast. The transitional matrices were computed for each town and each month using the conditional probability of rain or no rain on a particular day given that it rained or did not rain on the previous day. The steady state transition matrices and the steady state probability vectors were also computed for each town and each month. It was found that, the rainy or dry season pattern observed using the monthly steady state rainfall vectors tended to reflect the monthly rainfall time series trajectory. In particular, for Accra, the rainy season was observed to be in the months of May to June and September to October. Also, it was observed that the probability of rainfall tended to increase from east to west along the south eastern coast of Ghana.

Source: KNUST
A markup determination for building contractors in Ghana

As builders’ estimated costs are similar the main variable in bids is the markup. But deciding on the right markup to add to an estimate is not an easy task for a contractor. The markup must be small enough to ensure a good chance of winning the contract, yet big enough to realize a reasonable profit. Studies have identified some thirty-six factors that affect markup decision in Ghana. Optimum markup determination entails the evaluation of these factors, and in Ghana building contractors are found to consider and evaluate the factors subjectively when they set markup for projects. This research sought to identify the most important factors needed for the markup determination in the competitive bidding environment and provided a suitable model for computing the optimum markup. The research comprised a questionnaire survey, supplemented with interviews, among all class Dl and a random sample of class D2 building construction firms in Ghana with the aim of identifying problems associated with the markup decision and the importance that the contractors attached to the factors that affect the markup decision. The research revealed that project cash flow, risk involved in investment and competition are the most important factors that affect markup decision and the FaRM Pricing Model is a suitable tool for the determination of the optimum markup by Ghanaian contractors.

Source: KNUST
Matching of trucks to loaders for the haulage system at Billiton Bogosu Gold Limited

Every Open Pit mine is planned towards the achievement of maximum productivity. Loading and hauling are two among other main operations that affect the productivity of an open pit mine. It is therefore very important to match well loaders and hauling units to achieve this goal. This thesis work presents methods of investigating how the haulage trucks match the Backhoe excavator being used at the Chujah Pit of Billiton Bogosu Gold Limited. Analysis of the data obtained from field studies established that, for minimum or no queuing of trucks, 3 trucks (for waste haulage) and 5 trucks (for ore haulage) were needed for the Backhoe loader to give maximum haulage efficiency. Professor Rjevcki’s Method for estimating the number of trucks to match a given loader for a known haulage distance also gave 3 trucks for waste haulage and 5 for ore haulage respectively, for the same Backhoe loader.

Source: KNUST
Master of science in project management

Generally, the success of completing any construction project is predicated on key performance indices such as timely delivery of project, construction time, defects as well as client satisfaction. However, what impact does the introduction of safety management has on construction project performance? This research sought to identify key safety management practices adopted in the construction industry, identify those used in the industry and their effect on performance of construction projects in the Ghanaian construction industry. To be able to achieve the specific objectives, 70 questionnaires were administered to site managers, project managers, safety officers as well as well as other site operatives. Fifty-five (55) completed questionnaires collated from the survey were examined using mean score ranking. The summation of findings from the survey revealed Provision of required PPEs as the most commonly safety management practice used in the Ghanaian construction industry. Also, total participation by top management in the sensitization and implementation of safety was identified by the respondents as a significant improvement measure for safety management during construction projects. The findings and recommendations listed in this study may be essential to clients as well as other construction professionals in facilitating the delivery of projects according to the defined standards and specifications. It will also be an added benefit for construction firms if a similar study is conducted to ascertain the effect of safety management on cost performance of construction projects in Ghana

Source: KNUST
Mass drug administration targeting Onchocerca volvulus in Owabi catchment area in Ashanti Region, Ghana: Determinants of drug coverage and drug uptake.

Introduction: Achieving high Mass Drug Administration (MDA) coverage and drug uptake are pivotal in the efforts to eradicate onchocerciasis. The present study investigated the extent and predictors of ivermectin MDA coverage and uptake from the individual and healthcare providers’ perspectives. The extent of ivermectin distribution and uptake, and the predictors of distribution and uptake were investigated in endemic communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to October 2019 in communities within the Atwima Nwabiagya North District. A total of 2008 respondents were interviewed. Data was collected with REDCap mobile App which had an electronic version of the structured questionnaire. Descriptive data was presented in frequency tables, and bivariate and multivariate logistics regression analysis were performed to measure the associations between exposure var iables and outcome variables which were received and uptake of MDA drugs. Results: A total of 1284 (63.9%) respondents did not receive ivermectin during the 2019 MDA programme and more than half of them were not aware of the drug distribution (53.3%). The most common reasons for not ingesting the drug were fear of side effects (47.7%) and not trusting the drug distributors (20.0%). Respondents in the age group 48–57 years (AOR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.01–2.67), Persons in the high wealth index (AOR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.11–1.77), Being aware of the MDA programme (AOR = 6.67: 95%CI: 4.76–9.35), MDA being beneficial (AOR = 2.12; 95%CI: 1.54–2.92) participating in previous MDA (AOR = 5.44; 95%CI: 4.25–6.98) and having stayed in the communities for 10 years and above significantly increased the odds of receiving MDA drugs. Previous uptake of MDA drugs (AOR = 10.58; 95%CI: 5.78–19.38) and perception of the MDA drug as beneficial (AOR = 5.25; 95%CI: 2.55–10.82) increased the likelihood of ingesting drugs when received.

Source: KNUST
Materials and methods for textiles in Post-Secondary Teacher Education in Ghana

Often, many an art teacher has found himself ineffective in the classroom at instances of handling lessons in textiles. Experience shows that this handicap is not the result of lack of technical or teaching skills for handling the subject. Instead the problem lies with the unavailability of basic requisite materials and equipment. These are in the form of fibres, looms and other weaving accessories, dyestuffs d fabric printing equipment. It is also a known fact that the cost of these materials, where available, is often prohibitive. The meager “Art school” funds cannot suffice because they are to be spread over several other of art, each requiring special equipment. Against this background, it is apparent that art teachers should start exploring the local environment for material resources for adaptation to reactivate textile activities in the school and colleges. It is this concern that has prompted this enquire into “materials and methods for Textiles”, for incorporation in the Post— secondary Teacher education in Ghana. This study has been undertaken to point out local resources fur basic tools and material and methodologies for adapting them to suit school requirements in spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing. It has, therefore, been designed as a manual on textile for art teachers. It is to assist the teacher and his students in procuring materials mid equipment from their own local resources for lessons in textiles. It is also to equip them with simple processes for constructing simple working devices to substitute for the unavailable conventional ones. The experiments performed to test the suitability of the vegetable dyes, and gums as thickening agents are also easy to follow. The results, though not the best, are indicative of the effectiveness of these materials. The scope of its experiments is designed to meet school requirements. It should be remarked that many of the materials and. methods used for this study are already in existence in the Ghanaian environment. These are just modified and. adapted to suit the objectives of this study. Therefore, the information in the thesis does not, in any way, constitute an authority. It is subject to further development. This exercise has been made possible through personal observations, literary materials, and experiments mid interviews with resource personnel. By taking up such textile fundamentals, and methods, the readership would include not only students and teachers, but also, those whose works in other fields involve spinning, weaving, dyeing or printing.

Source: KNUST