ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An investigation on the entrepreneurial opportunities in the ornamental plants industry in Accra, Ghana

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Ghana (Ghana Statistical Service, 2016). However, Ghana’s agriculture mainly focuses on the production of staple foods such as cassava, cocoa and not high value crops like ornamental plants and spices (Index Mundi, 2018). This research study aimed to investigate the entrepreneurial opportunities in the ornamental plants sector in Accra- Ghana, which could help reduce the high rate of unemployment, 11.9% in Ghana (Ghana Statistical Service, 2016) The study further probed into how entrepreneurs could recognize and effectively exploit the opportunities identified in the industry to maximize profits. In answering these questions, a total sample of 16 small- scale florists in Accra were engaged in an in-depth- interview into the topic studied. The results of these interviewed revealed the primary challenges in the industry to be resource constraints and low levels of qualification. Further probing in the interviews exposed creativity, location of business, after-purchase services and education as recognized entrepreneurial opportunities by the small scale florists in the ornamental plants industry. To exploit these entrepreneurial opportunities, the necessary qualities required by an entrepreneur expressed by the respondents included entrepreneurial intention, employment creation, personal traits, and the goal of satisfying the need of customers. These attributes facilitates the exploitation of these opportunities to make profits. It was found that, potential entrepreneurs can capitalize on these opportunities in various fields in the industry to create jobs for graduates, florists and the unemployed in the country.

Source: Ashesi
Investor reactions to news about firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange

The Ghana Stock Exchange has received a lot of attention in recent years. Some research done concerning the GSE conclude that the market is inefficient. Behavioural Finance has been used to explain the aggregate stock market, highlighting irrational decision making. Directly related to the field of Behavioural Finance, this research presents a study into how individual investors react to news on the GSE and the reasons why they react in the ways they do. A descriptive study was done, using interviews and open-ended questionnaires to gather data from individual stock owners as well as some brokerage houses. It was found out that the response to new information on the GSE is fairly rapid. Findings showed that investors react more rapidly to negative news than to positive news. The type of information that respondents admit would cause them to withdraw their investments are mainly news of fraud and financial distress. However, some investors are immune to news, because of the issue of single-sided market orders which makes it difficult for them to react to news and trade the way they want. It is recommended that brokerage houses, investments banking firms and entrepreneurs take advantage of the insufficient or non-existence of market makers, provide such services and help make the stock market more liquid.

Source: Ashesi
Is foreign aid procyclical or countercyclical? A focus on Ghana and Zambia

The question of whether foreign aid stimulates economic development still attracts intense debate. This perennial debate has been given fresh life due to the recent election of some of Africa’s more impactful leaders like Nana Akuffo Addo of Ghana who seems bent on wearing Ghana off aid. Akuffo Addo’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda is interesting because historically, while some scholars have a benign view of aid, others accuse foreign aid of being responsible for Africa’s developmental challenges. This research investigated whether foreign aid is procyclical or countercyclical. The research also tried to confirm whether aid is growth promoting or growth retarding with the most recent data. Focusing on Ghana and Zambia, data on foreign aid and real GDP was obtained from the World Bank, the OECD and the IMF from 1960 to 2015, a 56-year period. The diagrammatic and correlational analysis revealed that multilateral aid is countercyclical for Ghana and Zambia, while there exists almost no relationship between bilateral aid and real GDP for Ghana and Zambia. When real GDP is lagged and lead one year, the result suggested that a poor performance in the previous year influences more aid in both countries, nevertheless, this makes them worse the following year. Again, the multiple regression output revealed a negative and statistically insignificant relationship between multilateral aid and real GDP for both countries. Since the results suggest that foreign aid is transferred to Ghana and Zambia when they are struggling, but the receipt of the aid stagnates growth, it is recommended that these two countries focus less on aid as a means for growth. In support of Akuffo Addo’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda, Ghana and Zambia must look to control their own destiny and rely on other means other than aid, such as trade, for improving their economies.

Source: Ashesi
“Is Ghana’s higher education system delivering value to graduate students?”: A comparison of foreign trained to in-country trained university lecturers in the private university system

This study seeks to determine whether the graduate higher educational sector in Ghana is providing a sufficiently high quality of education for its clients, namely, the graduate students who eventually become lecturers. The research questions tackled by the study are: Are foreign trained lecturers working in Ghana’s private higher education sector more effective than locally lecturers with regards to teaching quality and ability to earn promotion in a 5- year period? Can any differences found between the two different workers be tied to their educational background and in particular to whether they were trained abroad? To answer these questions, the research employs an exploratory design and employs data collected using both qualitative and quantitative techniques from a sample of 120 students, 6 lecturers, 3 heads of academic departments and 3 human resource department heads in three private higher institutions in Accra. The principal finding is that foreign trained lecturers are more effective than locally trained lecturers in terms of teaching quality, research output and ability to earn a promotion in a 5-year period in two of the institutions (A and B) whilst the locally trained lecturer in Institution C was found to more effective in teaching quality. This findings implies that governmental policies must be implemented to encourage the repatriation of foreign trained workers to enhance economic growth. This would be achieved through their increased productivity, as well as, spill overs such as increasing the productivity of locally trained workers through transmission of knowledge and skills.

Source: Ashesi
Issues of Pricing and Transparency in the Short-Let Real Estate Market in Ghana

This capstone thesis investigates the intricacies of pricing and transparency within Ghana's short-let real estate market, with a concentrated look at the implications of gentrification and the role of informal real estate agents. By employing quantitative methods such as regression modeling and an analysis of gentrified properties, the study aims to unpack the complexities introduced by investor-owned properties and the widespread presence of unlicensed real estate agents. It delves into how these elements significantly impact market transparency and accessibility, potentially exacerbating the effects of gentrification and leading to the displacement of low-income residents. Through this research, the necessity for regulatory oversight and the implementation of transparent pricing mechanisms is highlighted, pointing towards the creation of a more equitable real estate market. This thesis is poised to enrich the ongoing discourse on urban development and real estate economics in Ghana, suggesting practical strategies for stakeholders to enhance market fairness and transparency.

Source: Ashesi
Job satisfaction and employee motivation among hospitality workers during the era of COVID: Does employee engagement mediate the relationship?

One of the consequences of the pandemic in Ghana is that the hospitality and tourism industries have been severely impacted. These industries were hit harder than others, resulting in a significant drop in employee numbers and a significant increase in the number of people on temporary leave. As a result, the impact of the pandemic on the motivation, job satisfaction, and employee engagement of Ghanaian hospitality and tourism workers was investigated in this study. The study's goal was to answer the following research questions: i) Does employee motivation predict job satisfaction? (ii) Does employee engagement predict job satisfaction? (iii) Does employee engagement predict job satisfaction? (iv) Does motivation act as a mediating variable in the direct relations between employee engagement and job satisfaction? Participants ranged in age from 18 to 60 years old and came from various backgrounds. With the help of a third variable, employee engagement, the collected data was analyzed using mediation analysis in the statistical software Jeffery's Amazing Statistical Program (JASP) to determine the relationship between employee motivation and job satisfaction. Employee motivation and job satisfaction were found to have a significant positive relationship, implying that higher employee motivation is associated with higher job satisfaction. When controlling for the effects of job motivation on job satisfaction and employee engagement on job satisfaction, there was also a significant positive relationship between employee motivation and employee engagement. Again, there was a significant positive relationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction. The study's findings supported the hypothesis and answered the research question established in the thesis paper. These findings have significant implications for interventions to boost employee motivation, job satisfaction and employee engagement, especially in the hospitality industry.

Source: Ashesi
Lessons for stimulating manufacturing output in Ghana: A comparison of a successful multinational company (MNC), Cargill, to a Ghanaian owned manufacturing company, Cocoa Processing Company (CPC)

Ghana, in its quest of seeking development and exploring FDI also has to focus on its local manufacturing industries. This industry is a source of retained profits, huge source of employment and skills development, strengthening the countries balance of trade and in effect its economy. Unfortunately, this industry has not been given the necessary focus and has been observed to be dying out with the introduction of huge MNCs in the country. Several literature have tried to explain why this is the case for most developing countries and have strategies as to how these MNCs survived over time and how they continue to exploit their opportunities in making profits. This research delves into the current situations of a local manufacturing company, Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) and its close competitor, Cargill as a case study. In determining the problems local companies in Ghana face, this study analyses the SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of the companies under study. This study also provide relevant and feasible measures and strategies that the government of Ghana, local manufacturing companies and the general public can adopt in an effort to revive the countries industry. It is crucial that all stake holders put into action the recommendations of this paper as it vital in attaining the economic growth and development of Ghana.

Source: Ashesi
Leveraging Communication to Improve Communication Across Pharma George Chemist Limited

The PharmaGeorge pharmacy chain started operations in June 2009 with one (1) retail pharmacy situated at Kwabenya in Accra, Ghana. The wholesale pharmacy was established in 2014 to procure stocks and supplies for the Pharma George retail outlets and other retail facilities in Accra. The business has grown in numbers over the decade since its inception. The retail outlets have increased from one to seven, with the new retail outlets in hotspots like Dome, Osu and Achimota. Though the business has experienced a healthy growth period in operations, recent events like covid 19 have made traditional areas like inventory management, conducting of meetings and information transmission (calls and WhatsApp) of the business quite ineffective because of the safety protocols for travelling to and from places and the failure to represent the issues accurately. A thorough needs assessment revealed that the problem the company faced was not with the lack of technology in communicating but with the attitude of the employees and the lapses of information flow in the organization. This project aims to design a comprehensive I.T and communication policy guideline that will provide guidelines to improve and manage the flow of communication and eradicate the lapses of information flow within Pharma George.

Source: Ashesi
Leveraging Technology to Improve Stock and Inventory Management at PharmaGeorge Chemist

PharmaGeorge Chemist is a registered limited liability pharmaceutical company in Ghana, with most of its operations centered in the Greater Accra region. The company began operating a wholesale pharmacy in 2014 to procure stock and supply to PharmaGeorge Chemist retail outlets and other retail outlets in Accra. Though poised as one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Ghana with seven retail outlets dotted across Accra, the firm regularly has challenges maintaining adequate stock levels, threatening several retail outlets with a shortage of drugs. After an extensive needs assessment and situational analysis by conducting interviews with PharmaGeorge Chemist employees, it was deduced that the company was facing was due to the lack of a coordinated procurement process which often results in miscommunication between different departments. This project aims to present a procurement process guideline and a change management strategy for Pharma George’s inventory management system to improve the procurement and ordering system at PharmaGeorge Chemist and a training strategy for its employees on its inventory management system (Trademaster) to eliminate the uncoordinated procurement and poor dissemination of information at PharmaGeorge Chemist.

Source: Ashesi
'Like or follow': The role of social media in the daily routines of radio journalists in Accra

This exploratory study investigated the role of social media in radio journalism at Accra-based radio stations. It was inspired by the steady evolution of radio in Ghana's democratic space and the insurgence of social media through increasing internet connectivity in Accra. The study combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. From a sampling frame of 33 radio stations, the study used a healthy combination of random sampling methods; purposive sampling and snowballing for its data collection. In selecting and determining the radio stations that made the cut for the research, primary data was collected from 7 social media platforms. Each social media platform was given particular weighted averages based on the total numbers gathered from each of the radio station's social media accounts. The top 3 highest ranking radio stations were selected by virtue of their social media engagement because of the insight they would provide on social media use in radio journalism. Using structured interviews, a total of 10 radio journalists from the top three most engaging Accra-based radio stations were contacted and interviewed. All of the interviews were in-depth and lasted for 20 minutes on a one-on-one basis. It is important to note that though the journalists provided various functions of social media in their jobs, they all acknowledged that its number one role was to provide timely information. This paper concludes with a recommendation for research into radio stations that are yet to join social media or incorporate it into their news reporting.

Source: Ashesi
A low-cost plant monitoring system and smart irrigation

During the dry season, there is little or no rainfall, and plant life suffers as a result. Water is available during the rainy season, thus plants will thrive but may perish if swamped. There must be a system in place that can harvest the limited water available then use it as needed. Ghanaian farmers in rural areas want a system that delivers real-time data on their crops. Safer, faster, and more effective means of such operations have emerged. Most traditional activities have evolved as a result of the internet's penetration. An Internet of Things (IoT) system could help enhance the effectiveness of a standard surface watering system. The system is equipped with sensors that can detect changes in temperature, pH, soil moisture, and humidity, among other things, and can send this information to a smart device via the Internet. Ghana needs to adopt new technologies in order to compete with the rest of the world. Plant monitoring is an important aspect of agriculture and horticulture. The majority of people are fixated on seeing the farm physically and performing the majority of farm tasks manually, which affects efficiency and productivity. In this project, the development of a plant monitoring system and smart irrigation operated using sensors and a web-based platform is explored for the monitoring of water consumption, with the help of Internet of Things (IoT).

Source: Ashesi
Make the likes count: Developing business models for Ghanaian content creators

Entrepreneurship has taken on a new dimension with creatives finding innovative ways of using digital content to create and meet needs of businesses and consumers. The digital content creation industry is fairly new yet rapidly growing all over the world. From sponsored collaborations to earning money on niche-specific content, digital content creators have established various means of earning sustainable income from the content they share. With the emergence of social media influencers and popular content creators, there has been an increasing interest in joining the lucky few. However, there is no established procedure to becoming a successful and high-earning content creator, especially not in Ghana. The objectives of this study are to understand the current state of the digital content creation industry in Ghana, including challenges faced by industry players and identify the fundamentals of a business model for Ghanaian content creators. In order to achieve this, ten content creators in Accra across five niches were interviewed to understand what practicing and eventually monetizing their content is like. The interview also sought to identify challenges they faced in their career and how they thought a business model would contribute to being more successful. The study concluded on a canvas that serves as a rubric for developing business models for Ghanaian content creators since a one-size-fits-all model could not be developed in the duration of the study.

Source: Ashesi
Making people strategic assets for competitive advantage: A case study of Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra

This study bases its arguments on the Resource-based theory and the human capital theory of making people strategic assets of the company for competitive advantage in the hotel industry, using Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra as a case study. The hospitality industry in Ghana is experiencing tremendous growth as a result of the growth occurring in the tourism industry in the country. Recent research reveals that the industry in Ghana is facing severe challenges concerning scarcity of skills across a broad spectrum of roles within the industry. Having a skilled workforce that meets the needs of clients beyond their expectations is an illustration of making employees strategic assets of the company. Using the qualitative approach to research, data was collected from 15 employees at the Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra. The data collection tools used are structured interviews. The data are analyzed by developing themes, for discussion. The results of the analysis revealed that Oak Plaza Hotel uses recruitment agencies to employ people; after which they train and develop them to make them strategic assets for the hotel. The study concludes that for a firm to have a competitive advantage over and above its competitors, employee retention strategies is a significant factor. Following these findings, the study recommends that hotels should focus on building relationships with their employees to identify what motivates explicitly in order to ensure their stay in their current jobs.

Source: Ashesi
Managing Crisis in Small Hotels to Improve Business Continuity

Generally, small-to-medium size hotels contribute to the creation of jobs, economic development and wealth generation. According to the Insurance Information Institute, (2010) 40% of small firms never reopen after a disaster; only 26% of small-to-medium-sized enterprises have a disaster plan, and 75% of the largest section of the industry has none. Due to the temporary closing of international borders as a result of the global pandemic (COVID19), the hospitality industry has been severely impacted, with hotels, restaurants, other destinations, and source markets suspending operations and commercial activity (Hartman & Nickerson, 2020; Kim, Kim, & Park, 2020; Nastopoulos, 2020). This paper investigated the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on small hotels in Accra, Ghana and the existing strategies employed by the hotel industry to mitigate the adverse effects of disasters and how effective they have been. Further, the study also sought to explore the level of disaster preparedness and identify patterns in the business operations to develop a generic solution that will work best for small hotels used in this study. The study employed a phenomenological approach as it allowed for an in-depth understanding of how the crisis has impacted small hotels. Using data collected from managers from six small hotels in Tema on their perspectives and lived experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, the study contributed to understanding the level of preparedness of small hotels and developing coping strategies that can be adopted to enhance future crisis management and avert closures of the small-hotels. The study had implications for policy makers and other stakeholders that can ensure business continuity and economic development in Ghana and across the region.

Source: Ashesi
Market research for SWoove

This capstone project sought to provide the client with an in depth understanding of the delivery space of Ghana, the various interactions between the businesses in this space, individuals and the major players in the delivery space I.e. logistic and delivery service personnel. It achieved this by conducting interviews and through the administration of surveys to the general public through platforms like WhatsApp and Twitter and Facebook. It did not however include an evaluation of the competitors and their individual strengths and weaknesses. It did this by conducting an in-depth interview between the above mentioned. It also sought to find out if the proposed operational plan of the firm is a good fit for the local industry and finally if their proposed strategy for entering the market is a sound one.

Source: Ashesi