ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Continuing education programmes and staff development of tutors in the colleges of education in the Central Region of Ghana

The general objective of the study was to assess the continuing education programmes and staff development of tutors in the Colleges of Education in the Central Region of Ghana. Using census survey, all 148 tutors in the colleges of education were involved in the study. However, 111 actually responded to the questionnaire. With regard to the three principals purposively selected for the interview, only one participated. Data obtained on tutor fs background information as well as other data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics to describe the characteristics and responses of respondents. Thematic analysis was employed for analysing the interview data. Findings of the study revealed that, on the whole, most tutors in the colleges of education were aware of existing training opportunities. It was also revealed that most tutors had a favourable attitude towards available staff development opportunities. Again, most tutors considered available training programmes to be relevant to their areas of specialization. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that periodic orientation programmes should be organized by colleges of education authorities to update colleges of education tutors on available training programmes which are relevant to the performance of their academic duties. Again, it was recommended that the colleges of education authorities should make available all the relevant information on the kinds of support they provide for staff who embark on further training.

Source: UCC
Continuous Professional Development and Its Perceived Impact on Teacher Professional Practice: an Exploratory-sequential Analysis

Teacher professional development for teachers has gained prominence for its role in maintaining and enhancing teacher knowledge and skills required for teachers’ professional practise. This study explored Continuous Professional Development and its perceived impact on teacher professional practise in Ghana. The study adopted a mixed methods approach utilizing an exploratory sequential design. Using multiple sampling techniques, 1 training officer, 3 headteachers and 435 pre-tertiary teachers participated in the study. Data was collected using interview and questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (ANOVA and MANOVA) were utilised to analyse all research questions and hypotheses. The study revealed that pre-tertiary teachers conceptualised professional development as formal CPD initiatives spearheaded by schools and governing institutions with no clear structure and organised periodically. The study also revealed that most CPD initiatives available to pre-tertiary teachers were high in teacher passivity, focused heavily on addressing issues relating to content areas and impacted teachers’ professional practise in terms of their knowledge and skills more than teacher efficacy. No difference was found in CPD activities based on school category. Also, no difference was found in perceived impact of existing CPD on teacher professional practise based on teaching experience. It was recommended that pre-tertiary teachers and GES shift from the traditional model of CPD for teacher learning to more collaborative and informal systems which should be recognised as mandatory components of teachers’ professional development.

Source: UCC
Contraception and sexual and reproductive awareness among Ghanaian Muslim youth: Issues, challenges, and prospects for positive development

Ghana, a lower-middle income country that is still grappling with fertility and birth rates, initiated family planning for the youth decades ago. This mainly targeted deprived communities, and the Muslim youth were also exposed to contraception.However, contraception awareness among the Muslim youth has had difficulties and repercussions. Against the social and economic challenges facing the Ghanaian Muslim youth, this article evaluates their awareness about contraception focusing on the issues and their ramification with the aim of identifying prospects for development. The findings reveal that awareness is high but not in a positive sense as the general patronage among couples is low, while among the unmarried, the awareness has negatively affected their morality. Among the issues, there is a disconnection between service providers and the community while some Muslims think that contraception can reduce the Muslim population and is un-Islamic. It was argued that contraception is permitted for Muslims provided there is ethical justification and that in view of the social and economic challenges, including school dropouts and Muslim child migration due to the poverty of parents, the Muslim youth must plan their childbirth. Hence, it was recommended that government must tackle the problem of education in Muslim communities. The Ulama should also dialogue with the service providers to create trust between the health providers and the Muslims

Source: UCC
Contraceptive Knowledge, Perceptions and Use among Adolescents in Selected Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana

Teenage pregnancies, human immuno deficiency virus and other sexually transmitted diseases infection, are an important public health issue because they are associated with maternal, fetal, neonatal and other adverse outcomes. Adolescent girls who get pregnant are likely to drop out from school and adolescent parents are unlikely to have the social and economic means to raise children. The study was conducted to assess contraceptive knowledge, perceptions and use among adolescents in selected Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Cosmopolitan city of Cape Coast of the Central Region of Ghana. Three mixed, one female and one male senior high school were conveniently identified for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 350 students in the schools out of which 300 were retrieved and used, representing a response rate of 85.7%. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme software (version 15.0) was used for data entry, and descriptive statistics tests were conducted for the items which were summarised by frequencies and percentages.

Source: UCC
Contractual agreements in Ghana’s oil and gas industry: In whose interest?

This article examines the history, nature, scope and policy ramifications of the production sharing contract as the core contractual agreement guiding the Ghanaian petroleum sector. It discusses the policy linkages between this form of contractual agreement and the management of the country’s oil exploration activities from 2010 to 2014. The article assesses the extent to which Ghana, as a new oil exporting country, has sought to actualize its resource benefits through negotiated contracts and agreements as well as management policies. The article argues that better negotiated contractual agreements ensure maximum State benefits from oil exploration. Again, production monitoring, periodic evaluation and institutional capacity building are effective ways of securing greater profits from oil resources. Finally, better legal and policy frameworks will also guarantee prudent management of the oil revenues

Source: UCC
Contribution of Action Aid international Ghana in the provision of quality education in the Upper East region

The study investigated the contribution of Action Aid International Ghana (AAIG) in the provision of quality basic education in the Upper EastRegion. The study seeks to identify the extent to which AAIG has contributed to infrastructural development, teachingl learning materials (including textbooks), staffing, in-service training and Girl-Child Education. The study also seeks to identify how Action Aid is promoting the REV and Shepherd school schemes as alternative models in education. A thematic approach was adopted for the research. The descriptive survey method was adopted with a sample size of 304.The sample was purposively selected. The questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data from key respondents. The data was analysed using frequencies and simple percentage distributions.The major findings are that AAIG has to a large extent contributed to provide classrooms built with suitable materials, furniture and office accommodation for headteachers. AAIG has also contributed to build the capacities of headteachers, teachers, PTAs and SMCs through in-service training. It has also promoted girl-child education through the education of parents'on the benefits of girl-child education and educational tours for girls in basic schools.Another major finding is that AAIG has promoted alternative models in education through its Rural Education Volunteer and Shepherd School Schemes. The study recommends to Action Aid to collaborate with other development partners and GES to make in-service training regular. It should also consider revising the allowances of REV teachers and provide moreteachers and toilet facilities for the Shepherd schools.

Source: UCC
Contribution of Child Labour to Children’s Schooling in and around the University of Cape Coast

Child labour has become a global phenomenon especially in developing countries. Most discussants of the topic focus on rural Ghana where agriculture dominates economic activity with little or no attention given to the presence of child labour in educational institutions. This study set out to find out the contribution of child labour to the schooling of children in and around University of Cape Coast community. Structured interview and observation were used to collect data from respondents who were obtained through the snowball method. In all, fifty (50) respondents were involved in the study. It also found that, economic constrains, poverty and occupational background of parents compel children to get themselves involved in child labour mainly in the form of providing domestic services for students. The data shows that child labour has both positively and negatively contribution to the education of children in the study area. Positively, it enables some of the children to buy school items for themselves. On the contrary, the child labour takes most of the respondents’ time making them get to school late among other. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the activities of these children be regulated to some extent to ensure that even as they engage in the labour, they do so in such a way to still have adequate quality time for their school attendance, and home work among others.

Source: UCC
The contribution of credit union operations to its members’ development: a survey from Nkoranza area teachers credit union

The role of Credit unions in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. This motivated the researcher to investigate and establish the impact of credit union operations on its members’ development. To achieve this, quantitative approach through the use of explanatory design was adopted. Questionnaires with reliability alpha coefficient of 806 were used to collect responses from selected respondents. The data were analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) software. Two hundred (200) teachers were selected through the use of the simple random technique. The findings from the study revealed that among the challenges teachers face includes the poor location of the credit union; delay in given loans, lack of trust in the Credit Union services. Again, it was unravelled that that majority of the teachers are not satisfied with the benefit they derived from the Credit Union. Finally, the study revealed that an improvement in the quality of services rendered by credit union has a positive effect on the development of its members.The role of Credit unions in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. This motivated the researcher to investigate and establish the impact of credit union operations on its members’ development. To achieve this, quantitative approach through the use of explanatory design was adopted. Questionnaires with reliability alpha coefficient of .806 were used to collect responses from selected respondents. The data were analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) software. Two hundred (200) teachers were selected through the use of the simple random technique. The findings from the study revealed that among the challenges teachers face includes the poor location of the credit union; delay in given loans, lack of trust in the Credit Union services. Again, it was unravelled that that majority of the teachers are not satisfied with the benefit they derived from the Credit Union. Finally, the study revealed that an improvement in the quality of services rendered by credit union has a positive effect on the development of its members.

Source: UCC
The contribution of credit union operations to its members’ development: a survey from Nkoranza area teachers credit union

The role of Credit unions in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. This motivated the researcher to investigate and establish the impact of credit union operations on its members’ development. To achieve this, quantitative approach through the use of explanatory design was adopted. Questionnaires with reliability alpha coefficient of .806 were used to collect responses from selected respondents. The data were analysed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) software. Two hundred (200) teachers were selected through the use of the simple random technique. The findings from the study revealed that among the challenges teachers face includes the poor location of the credit union; delay in given loans, lack of trust in the Credit Union services. Again, it was unravelled that that majority of the teachers are not satisfied with the benefit they derived from the Credit Union. Finally, the study revealed that an improvement in the quality of services rendered by credit union has a positive effect on the development of its members.

Source: UCC
Contribution of customer service to customer retention of selected banks of Akim Oda

In today’s highly competitive market, it is expected of banks to deliver on promises, a fast and reliable service consistently. Anything shot of good quality service get customers dissatisfied. While dissatisfied customers are less likely to repeat transaction with the service provider, satisfied customers are more likely to repeat transactions and go ahead to share positive word-of-mouth. On this basis, the study sought to examine the perception of customers on service quality, and factors that lead to repeat purchase or customer retention of selected banks of Akim Oda. The research design used for this study is non–experimental research because independent variable could not be controlled by the researcher. The type of non-experimental research adopted was survey that made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The survey aimed at obtaining 160 customers’ expectations and perception of service quality of Ghana Commercial Bank Limited, Barclays Bank Ltd and South Birim Rural Bank Ltd. The service quality scale instrument was the main instrument used, both in the questionnaire and the interview guide. Collected data were analyzed using analytical tools and procedures embedded in the Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) software and Microsoft excel to create appropriate tables and graphs that answer the research questions. Conclusions drawn are that customers’ perception of service quality of BBL and SBRB exceed their expectation hence, satisfied and are more likely to repeat a transaction. Conversely, GCB's service quality fell short of customers’ expectation. Hence, the customers are dissatisfied with the bank’s service quality offering and are less likely to repeat transaction. It is therefore recommended that GCB should improve their service quality offers to boost customer retention. SBRB and BBL service quality offers generally exceeded customers’ expectation however should not be complacent but continue to even offer better service to their customers.

Source: UCC
The Contribution of Different Risk Factors in the Occurrence of Stroke

Although stroke cause substantial morbidity and mortality, it is unclear how individuals are affected, or a group of risk factors contribute to stroke outcomes especially in developing countries. Methods: This study evaluated the risk factors of stroke. This was a cross-sectional study of stroke patients from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital; Adult enrolees who were eligible for inclusion were persons who have had stroke within twenty-four hours of onset without any medication. Questionnaires were used to gather information on medical history, demographic features and lifestyle. The lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure were measured, likewise the determination of aminotransferases and gammaglutamyltransferase. Results: Out of 224 stroke patients, of mean age 65.64 ± 1.08 SEM years, used for the study, 56.7% of the patients had hyperglycaemia, whereas 47.2% were known diabetics. Hypertriglyceridaemiawas found in 55.8%, followed by 30.8% of the patients who had a reduced HDL-C and 17.95% of them with increased LDL-C. About 20% of the patients had raised AST, 7.1% raised ALT and 14.7% raised GGT above the normal levels. As high as 63% of stroke patients had high blood pressure. Conclusions: There were a high prevalence of both hypertension and hyperglycaemia among the stroke patients. Based on this study, it is important to stress the need for educating the stroke patients and/or their caregivers, on the aetiology of stroke and the treatment options. The general population should also be educated on primary preventive measures for all age groups and both genders.

Source: UCC
The contribution of human capital and resource-based view to small- and medium-sized tourism venture performance in Ghana

Purpose – Grounded in human capital theory and resource-based view, this paper aims to examine the effect of the entrepreneur’s human capital and the venture’s resources on the performance of small and medium-sized tourism ventures (SMTVs) in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The data were collected from 247 SMTVs, defined as tourism establishments employing less than 100 employees in the Western and Central regions of Ghana. Hypotheses derived from human capital and resource-based theories were tested to assess the relationship between the theories and SMTV performance. Findings – The study found a significant positive relationship between education, experience and performance. However, the hypothesised positive relationship between entrepreneurial family background and SMTV performance was inconsistent with prior studies. The findings with respect to the hypothesised relationship between venture resources and SMTV performance were mixed. Research limitations/implications – The study suffers from industry-specific, size-specific and region-specific limitations. Another limitation is the focus on human capital and venture resources as the determinants of tourism venture performance. Practical implications – Knowing that education and experience per se impact on tourism venture performance, it behoves entrepreneurs in the tourism industry to endeavour to acquire the requisite education and experience. The finding has policy implications in the provision of tailor-made training and incubation programs for SMTV entrepreneurs. Originality/value – The study adds to the understanding of the unique nature of entrepreneurship in tourism by identifying the significance of human capital factors and venture resources on the performance of tourism ventures.

Source: UCC
Contribution of human resource development to organisations: A case study of Asuogyaman district assembly

Human resource development is being viewed today as an important strategic approach to to improved productivity, efficiency and profitability. The level of human resource development which is the central driving force in the achievement of organisational goals and economic development in Ghana is rather not encouraging and should be given the needed boost by building the knowledge, skills, working abilities and innate capacities of all the people in the society. The study therefore aimed at examining the contributions of human resource development to organisations in Ghana in order to make some suggestions that will ensure that the required human resource needs are provided. In attempt to do this, Asuogyaman District Assembly was selected as a case study. Both primary and Secondary data were collected and analyzed. The study found out that majority of staff in the organisation was occasionally involved in a training programme. Most staff occasionally had their training needs assessed. Performance management/appraisal and human resource planning are promoted. Human resource development contributes to increased productivity and builds manpower abilities.Based on the findings, it is recommended among others things that; all organisations should establish a human resource development policy that will encourage systematic learning, performance and change as a means to increase productivity and improve performance.

Source: UCC
The contribution of participatory engagement strategies to reliable data gathering and inclusive policies in developing countries: Municipal solid waste management data in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana

The absence of participatory engagement strategies in the collection of solid waste management data in most developing countries affects reliability and deprives professional staff and local authorities of any clear basis for system modernization. This article addresses these challenges in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana, y sing participatory action research and systems analysis approaches, to engage a working group of relevant stakeholders to map material flows, assess socio-economic contributions, and chart a sustainable pathway towards informal waste sector integration. The data collected were analyzed statistically and the result is a seemingly simple statement: 1618 informal service providers and 646 informal recycling entrepreneurs are collecting 1370 tonnes er day, which is equivalent to 46% of municipal solid waste. In total they are recovering 85,653 tonnes of recyclables annually; achieving a 6.4% recycling rate, and saving the municipalities an estimated US$20 million in annual solid waste operations costs. Despite the critical mass of pointers to the benefits of this activity, integration of the informal sector remains a complex issue; and the fear of losing access to clients and materials remains a challenge to the sector. In response to the assessment, the working group has worked together with municipal officials and the related policy institution to elaborate recommendations for integration of the informal waste sector. The assessment suggests that the next step for decision makers is to institutionalize inclusive waste and recycling policies, and to continue to collaborate with stakeholders to support the informal waste sector to sustain reliable data flows and to unleash their full potential as valued contributors to urban waste management

Source: UCC