ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Strength and Colour Fastness of Smock Fabrics From Selected Traditional Areas in Northern Ghana

The use of smock, primarily a preserve of Northern Ghana ethnic groups, has somehow assumed a national dimension, and even beyond. Considering the high patronage of smock and its other fabric products, it is most important for the consumer to know the basic information about the quality characteristics. The aim of this study is to find out the differences in tensile strength, colour fastness, and dimensional stability among others, that exist among the smock fabrics produced from Yendi, Daboya and Yelwongo all of Northern Ghana. The quasi-experimental research design was adopted and Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain the sample of 162 for the study. Samples were manipulated to assess the variables under study at the clothing laboratory of Ghana Standard Authority. ANOVA was used to determine the differences between and within groups of the fabrics. It was found out that there existed significant differences in tensile strength and colour fastness, and other fabric characteristics at p≤0.01 among the categories examined. It can be concluded that the differences in the tensile strength of the smock fabrics will influence the life span of the smocks made from them. Smocks that are made from the fabrics that have poor colour fastness were found to be dyed with weak mordants. Fabrics that have more weight will influence the draping quality of smocks made from them. It is recommended that the ministry of trade and industry together with Ghana Standard Authority should standardise the tensile strength for smock fabric weavers, local producers of yarns should substitute natural dyestuff with synthetic ones or use mordants that can ensure colour sticks to fabrics to be dyed.

Source: UCC
Analysis of Study Skills employed by Ghanaian High School Science Students

This study was motivated by the desire to explore the study skills employed by science students in senior high schools (SHS) in the Cape Coast metropolis across the Central Region of Ghana. A total of 600 SHS second-year science students, 354 males, and 244 females, took part in the investigation. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The “Study Skills Scale” questionnaire was utilised for data collection to determine the kind of study skills employed by the science students, across gender, age range, and school-type. The arithmetic mean was used to establish the degree to which students employ study skills strategies in their learning. Similarly, the consequence of gender, age range, and school-type on the eight subscales of study skills strategies was determined using a one-way multivariate examination of variance. Findings from the investigation indicated that SHS science learners employ study skills strategies in their learning to a large extent for all the subscales of study skills strategies. However, female students employ the memory and concentration study skills strategies more effectively than their male counterparts; demographic variables, such as age range and school-type, do not influence students’ study skills significantly. The implications for this study for policy and practice were discussed.

Source: UCC
Analysis of Technology Integration in Teacher Education in Ghana

Ghana’s Education Reforms launched in June 2007 introduced Computer literacy not only as a new subject, but also as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. This study provides a situational analysis of the pedagogical issues associated with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in teacher education in Ghana. The methodology used in the study focused on meta-data analysis in which issues associated with integrating ICT in Ghana’s education were re-examined to provide a better picture that will support future achievement of teaching and learning with ICT. The evidence suggests that the challenges of ICT use in education do not lie only in the lack of availability of technological resources, but also in the shortage of skilled human resources and other institutional factors. Implications that relate to teacher “readiness” to deliver 21st century education through the use of technology are discussed and analyzed.

Source: UCC
Analysis of the Antecedents of Customer Loyalty of Telecommunication Industry in Ghana: The Case of Vodafone (Ghana)

The study investigated the determinants of customer loyalty in Vodafone (Ghana). The main variables of concern were service quality, customer satisfaction and image, even though other factors were also considered. The study adapted the SERVQUAL model as the main framework for analyzing service quality. Multiple and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between service quality, customer satisfaction, image and customer loyalty. The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between service quality and customer loyalty. However, the results show a negative relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. The results of the findings suggest that Telecom management needs to emphasise service quality. Due to the fact that telecom firms do not provide tangible products, their service quality is usually assessed by measures of the service provider’s relationship with customers. Thus, telecom service management should pay attention to staff skill possession and offering fast and efficient services.

Source: UCC
Analysis Of The Effect Of Team-Building On The Performance Of Employee Of Gomoa West District Assembly

In any organisation, the contribution of each employee, no matter how small, holds importance. The study aimed to analyse the effect of team-building on employee performance at the GWDA. This study embraced a positivist research philosophy, employing a deductive approach and a quantitative strategy. A cross-sectional design was chosen to represent the current state, covering the entire GWDA employee population (282). The sample size of 165 was determined using Slovin's Formula through simple random sampling and a response rate of 67.27% was achieved. Data was collected through surveys and secondary sources, and analysis involves descriptive and regression analysis in Microsoft Excel. From the findings, the participants generally agreed moderately on aspects like social identity, clear goals, and communication, indicating a positive organisational atmosphere. The identification of teams showed overall positive trends and consensus on key elements in terms of understanding team objectives, confidence in collaboration, and satisfaction with team communication. The regression analysis emphasised meaningful and positive links between employee performance and crucial factors such as shared social identity, clear and challenging goals, and enhanced communication and collaboration. While exchange of social resources has a positive impact, its statistical significance is not confirmed. Overall, the study underscored the robust predictive role of team building in improving employee performance. The research recommended that organisations should put in place team-building programmes, explore the sharing of social resources, create a system for ongoing feedback, offer opportunities for professional development, and encourage transparent communication.

Source: UCC
An analysis of the financial performance of GCB ltd and SG-SSB, 2009-2011

This study analysed the financial performance of Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited and Ghana Commercial Bank Limited for the period 2009-2011, using the banks respective financial statements. The study employed the case study design. The sample was Ghana Commercial Bank Limited and Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited. These two banks were selected purposively. The data were primarily secondary and quantitative in nature. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. In addition, graphs were used to present the data. When the two banks were compared, Ghana Commercial Bank Limited was found to be more liquid than Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited. However, profitability indicators showed that Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited utilised its assets better than Ghana Commercial Bank Limited resulting in the bank’s higher scores over the period. The findings show further that Ghana Commercial Bank Limited showed higher ratios for investment in the future while Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited showed higher ratios of higher dividend immediately. However, Societe Generale-Social Security Bank Limited capital adequacy level was far higher than the legal requirement of Banking sector while its counterpart fell slightly below it in terms of average. Based on the main findings and conclusions, it is recommended that Ghana Commercial Bank Limited should find a means of reducing its expenditure, introducing prudent assets management, should be cautious when assisting government in time of economic difficulty, and operate as an independent entity.

Source: UCC
Analysis of the partnership between the university of cape coast, ministry of food and agriculture, and gtz in an integrated crop protection project in Brong Ahafo region of Ghana

This paper presents a study that analysed the partnership between the University of Cape Coast, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) in the Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) Project in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Interview schedules, farmer meetings, and field tours were used to collect data from 80 farmers involved in the project. Analysis of students’ dissertations, project documents and personal communication with students and lecturers/supervisors were also used to gather data for this study. The study revealed that the partnership was not necessarily formal but involved groups with complimentary objectives and roles aimed solving farmers’ problems. The partnership acted as a forum for rural development. The levels of adoption of the ICP technologies by farmers were high. The major problem was that of group formation process. Valuable agricultural data were generated for future programme planning. The interactions among people involved in the partnership enhanced positive perceptions toward each other. Among the factors that enhanced the partnership were good and committed leadership, open-minded communication, and sharing of common resources. The study suggests, among other things, that partnership between private and public sectors is possible. However, it should dovetail into existing structures

Source: UCC
Analysis of the performance of social security and national insurance trust in Ghana from 1995-2005

The study reviewed and assessed the perfonnance of Social Security and National Insurance Trust's (SSNIT) pension scheme from 1995 to 2005, using horizontal and vertical analysis and financial ratios such as dependency, coverage, contribution, benefits and indebtedness to fund size and ascertained if there was government interference in the operations ofSSNIT. Evaluative research design was adopted in the study. Documentary secondary data which include written materials such as notices, correspondence, minutes of meetings, reports to stakeholders, diaries, transcript of speeches, books, journals, magazine articles and administrative and public records were used. The perfonnance of the SSNIT pension scheme from 1995-2005 has been mixed. This is because while funding status, contributions received and benefits paid have improved over the years, other indicators like investment income, coverage rate, dependency ratio and processing time have not fared as well. Agency problems exist in the operations of SSNIT. This is due to the fact that there political interferences that negatively affect the choice of investment and investment income. The study showed that the method of computing the pensionable income is an indication of poor scheme design because it can easily expose the scheme to abuse. The study recommends that SSNIT should review the use of the best three years average to ensure a more equitable system. The average of total years of contribution should be used. SSNIT should approach the government to review the legal and regulatory framework to resolve the politically based agency problem eminent in the running of the scheme.

Source: UCC
An analysis of the recoveries of British-ringed fulmars

Examination of 300 recovery records of Fulmars ringed in Britain allowed the distribution and movements of birds of known age to be described. Biases in the methods of recovery made estimation of mortality impossible. Soon after fledging, birds disperse from British waters to the western North Atlantic, Norwegian Sea, and European Arctic waters. In the fourth year, the distribution contracts, coinciding with the peak return of pre-breeding birds to land. Adults are restricted to the eastern North Atlantic, North Sea and European Arctic, moving several hundred kilometres from their colonies at all seasons.

Source: UCC
Analysis of total iodine in soils of some agro-ecological zones of Ghana

. Iodine is beneficial in human nutrition and to a lesser extent in plant nutrition. Availability of this element in the soil is thought to be via ocean-atmosphere precipitation, iodine minerals and redistribution by vegetation, but very little is known about levels of iodine in Ghanaian soils. We analyzed for the content of total iodine alongside pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, sand, silt and clay in top soils of selected agro-ecological zones. These soils occur at various locations spanning from the coastline to the far interior. Variations in nutrient elements were attributed to diverse parent materials from which these soils originated and the complex interactions of organic matter, type of clay, acidity-alkalinity and leaching processes. The soils recorded low total iodine content of 0.08 – 3.92 µg g-1. There was a decreasing trend of iodine from the coastal zone inwards in the order of 1.85, 0.84 and 0.66 µg g-1 for the coastal savanna, semi-deciduous rainforest and Guinea savanna agro-ecological zones respectively. Iodine very weakly negatively correlated with C and N and showed a moderate positive correlation with clay content and moderate negative correlations with pH and sand content

Source: UCC
Analysis of value added tax effect on firms’ cash flow in various sectors of the emerging economies

Inadequate cash flow constitutes the major reason for most corporate failures. However, absence of empirical evidence on value added tax (VAT) effect on corporate cash flow in different industries means that cash flow implications are often ignored by VAT policy makers. This study examines the relationship between VAT and firms’ cash flow in various sectors of the economy within the context of an emerging economy. The study employs factor analysis to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in cash flow effect of VAT on firms among the different industry groupings in Ghana. The study used data on firms registered with the Large Tax Payer Unit (LTU) of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to conduct the analysis. It was established that VAT effect on firms’ cash flow differs significantly between industry groupings, depending on the particular factor influencing the amount of VAT remittance to revenue agencies. The findings also show that governments’ decisions on the efficiency and neutrality of the VAT scheme must not only be influenced by its ability to transfer the tax burden from corporate bodies to final consumers, but also its effect on firms’ cash flow in various industries. The findings have important policy implications for policy makers in evaluating the efficiency and neutrality of different tax schemes.

Source: UCC
Analysis of vehicular fallouts from traffic in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana

Concentrations of platinum, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc in dust from areas of high, medium, low and very low vehicular movements in Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana was measured. High concentrations of platinum, lead, copper, and zinc were found to be associated with soils from areas of high traffic densities suggesting that vehicles (that ply these areas) also contribute heavy metals to the environment. The results of the study shows that the road and users, like residents living in buildings within these areas, those engaged in commercial activities like hawking, and the general public are at risk of exposure to the toxic effects of Pt, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn as they inhale those metals released from the exhaust of vehicles into the environment. According to these results, there is the potential for exposure to high levels of Pt, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn for road users and those living in urban environments or along the highways

Source: UCC
Analysis of water soluble Copper residue in the top soils of some Cocoa growing areas of the Central Region of Ghana

Water soluble copper concentrations in some topsoil samples collected between February and March 2000 from eleven cocoa growing towns in the central Region of Ghana were determined. In all a total of hundred and eighty soil samples were taken randomly at a depth of 0-20cm from preselected farms. copper fungicides were applied in ten of the farms and the eleventh farm which served as a control had no fungicide application. Some physical and chemical properties of the soils were determined. Analysis for copper was done using atomic absorption spectrometer after the extraction process. Water-soluble copper in the soils ranged from 0.05 to 0.40mg kg-1 with a mean concentration of 0.265 mg kg -1.The correlation was done to determine the factors responsible for the differences in the absorption levels of water-soluble copper. Water soluble copper correlated negatively and insignificantly (P>0.5) with cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, nitrogen, moisture, and silt while an insignificant (P>0.05) positive correlation existed between copper level and pH of the soil. Also a significant (P<0.05) negative moderate correlation existed between water soluble copper concentration and soil clay content while a significant (P<0.05) positive correlation existed between copper concentration and sand content of the soil

Source: UCC
An Analytical Review of Education Policy- Making and Implementation Processes Within the Context of “Decentralized System of Administration” in Ghana

A critical assessment of education policy and practice in Ghana suggests that despite the initiation of the concept of decentralization, education policy making and implementation is still perceived as adopting a hierarchical structure with its inherent practice of concentration of power at the center. This article conducts an analytical review of the processes of education policy making and implementation within the context of decentralized system of administration in Ghana. This is done with the view to illuminating the theoretical and practical challenges and limitations that this “top-down” and rationalist approach to policy processes imposes on the functioning of the education system. In pursuit of this agenda, useful proposals for democratizing and decentralizing the processes of policy formulation and implementation are presented. The article contends that this critical review is necessary to provide analytic information for facilitating and informing national education policy dialogue and policy formulation to improve the Ghanaian education system.

Source: UCC
Analyzing customer retention strategies at opportunity international savings and loans limited

In recent years, customer retention has gained attention among savings and loans service providers. With the increasing competitive environment, firms are continually looking for innovative ways not only to attract customers but to retain existing ones. The main objective of the study is to analyze customer retention strategies at Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited (OISL). The study revealed that, customer retention strategies used at OISL were consistent with literature reviewed on the subject. The study also showed that not all customers who switched to competitors informed management before leaving. Pricing, attraction by competitors, involuntary switching were the main factors mentioned as causes of switching at OISL. Respondents also complained of bureaucratic and cumbersome procedures in credit delivery system. Reduction in savings/deposits and hence, profit and dissemination of wrong information to the public by defectors came out as the effects of customer switch on the operations of OISL. It can be concluded that, customers remain the primary focus of every business because without them there will be no reason for operation. The fact still remains that, it is more economical to keep customers than to attract new ones. Therefore, it was recommended that, OISL should improve upon its retention strategies to track defections by customers, understand their preferences and thereby making them more delighted instead of satisfied and improve credit delivery system.

Source: UCC
Analyzing financial risks in small and medium enterprises: evidence from the food processing firms in selected cities in Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of the paper was to analyze the financial risk perception of owners/managers and to link such perception to the performance of their ventures. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employed PLS-SEM to analyze financial risks and its impact on SMEs in the food processing sector. Financial risks data on the operational, market, technological, credit and liquidity risks and financial performance including compliance, social and resource efficiency performance were collected from 214 food processors in selected cities in Ghana. Higher-order constructs were employed in assessing the relationship between financial risks and SME performance. Findings – Financial risk spurs a firm’s financial performance. Increased financial risks cause firms to be resource-efficient and compliant. Furthermore, an assessment of how the various performance indicators interplay showed increased compliant improved social performance and vice versa. Research limitations/implications – The paper looked at food processing firms in three major cities, analyzing the financial risks of the businesses and their effect on their performance. Although, these cities have the largest number of these firms, generalizing the findings from the study should be done taking into consideration the scope of the study. Practical implications – The study exposes owners/managers to the critical issues of financial risk, its components and how this could impact on their operations. It expected that owner/managers in the food processing sector would craft the necessary risk mitigating strategies to deal with the different financial risks they face. For theoretical implication, the paper suggests the need to highlight the risk exposure of firms due to the business–stakeholder interactions as contained in the stakeholder theory. Originality/value– The paper employed the higher-order construct of PLS-SEM to analyze the financial risks of food processors. The originality of the paper lies with the methods used.

Source: UCC