ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Calendar Effect Anomalies and Stock Returns Volatility in African Markets: Evidence From Ghana and Nairobi Stock Exchanges

his study examines calendar effect anomalies, particularly Day-of-the Week effect and Month-of-the-Year effect and stock returns volatility in Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). Daily closing prices indices from the two stock markets for the period 2005 to 2014 was used. Using an Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression with autoregressive term, the findings provide no evidence of day-of-the-week effect for GSE but there exist Friday effect for NSE. However, the study provides no evidence of month-of-the-year effect anomaly in either NSE or GSE. The study also documents that daily returns could be predicted but monthly returns cannot be predicted in NSE. On the contrary, the findings indicate that whiles daily returns are difficult to predict monthly returns can be predicted using past price and returns information in GSE. Furthermore, Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic GARCH (1, 1) Threshold GARCH (1, 1) and Exponential GARCH (1, 1) were employed to examine stock returns volatility. The results of the GARCH model suggest a high degree of persistent in the conditional volatility of daily and monthly stock returns in NSE. The TGARCH, and EARCH models show significant evidence for asymmetry (leverage effect) in monthly stock returns but no evidence of asymmetry in daily returns was found in NSE. However, there was no evidence of conditional volatility for Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE-CI). The study concludes that GSE and NSE are inefficient markets. It is recommended that months are irrelevant in making investment decisions in GSE or NSE but days of the week are relevant in NSE only

Source: UCC
Calibration and evaluation of aqua crop model in rice growth simulation under different irrigation managements

Due to the growing population and demand of food, increasing water productivity holds the key to future water scarcity and food security challenges. To achieve this, a good understanding of crop response to water stress and tools which simplify the complex crop response to various environmental factors, especially to water, are needed. FAO recently developed a water-driven model (AquaCrop) for use as a decision support tool in planning and scenario analysis in different seasons and locations. In this study, the Aquacrop model was calibrated and evaluated for a lowland local rice cultivar (Champa-Kamfiroozi) in the Kooshkak area (semi-arid climate), Fars province, Iran, with data from an experiment with five irrigation treatments in two consecutive years. According in this study, the model efficiency (ME) for canopy cover simulation was 0.34 to 0.82. The simulated grain yield deviated from the observed data with a range of 0.1% to 7.8% in 2000 and -19% to 0.2% in 2001. The model efficiency (ME) for grain yield simulation in 2000 and 2001 were 0.98 and 0.5, respectively. The root mean square error (RMSE) for grain yield simulation in 2000 and 2001 were 0.09 and 0.7 t ha-1, respectively. The AquaCrop model can adequately simulate the canopy cover development and grain yield of rice under different irrigation managements. The model can be used to explore management options to improve rice water productivity

Source: UCC
Calibration and validation of Aqua Crop for deficit and full irrigation of tomato

The objective of this study was to calibrate and test Aqua Crop for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown under deficit and full irrigation. Two field experiments were carried out in the tropical humid coastal savanna zone in Mfantseman district of the Central Region of Ghana. Data from the first experiment were used to calibrate the model while data obtained from the second experiment were used to validate the model. The calibrated Aqua Crop model concentrated on its performance to predict crop yield and seasonal crop water requirement (ETc). Four treatments were investigated: T1 (no irrigation after plant establishment), T2 (50% ETc restoration), T3 (100% ETc restoration up to beginning of flowering, then 50% ET c restoration) and T4 (100% ETc restoration). The results revealed that Aqua Crop was able to simulate the yield of tomato for T2-T4 with the exception of Treatment T1 which was simulated with the highest deviation of 45.1%. On the other hand, the model was able to simulate the seasonal water requirements to an appreciable degree in both experiments. It must be pointed out that the calibration of Aqua Crop suffered from a lack of data on the progress of crop canopy cover which is a very important parameter used in developing the model

Source: UCC
Calibration and validation of AquaCrop for deficit and full irrigation of tomato

The objective of this study was to calibrate and test Aqua Crop for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown under deficit and full irrigation. Two field experiments were carried out in the tropical humid coastal savanna zone in Mfantseman district of the Central Region of Ghana. Data from the first experiment were used to calibrate the model while data obtained from the second experiment were used to validate the model. The calibrated Aqua Crop model concentrated on its performance to predict crop yield and seasonal crop water requirement (ETc). Four treatments were investigated: T1 (no irrigation after plant establishment), T2 (50% ETc restoration), T3 (100% ETc restoration up to beginning of flowering, then 50% ET c restoration) and T4 (100% ETc restoration). The results revealed that Aqua Crop was able to simulate the yield of tomato for T2-T4 with the exception of Treatment T1 which was simulated with the highest deviation of 45.1%. On the other hand, the model was able to simulate the seasonal water requirements to an appreciable degree in both experiments. It must be pointed out that the calibration of Aqua Crop suffered from a lack of data on the progress of crop canopy cover which is a very important parameter used in developing the model

Source: UCC
Calibration and validation of the FAO aquacrop model For tomato (solanum lycopersicon) in the coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana

Two field experiments were conducted to compare the growth and yield of tomatoes using experimentation and FAO AquaCrop model at the University of Cape Coast Teaching and Research Farm in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly of the Central Region of Ghana. The Randomized Complete Block Design was used with four (4) treatments and four(4) replications for the two experiments. The treatments used for both experiments were T1 – Full irrigation (100 %), T2 – 90 % irrigation, T3 – 80 % irrigation, T4 – 70 % irrigation. Data was collected on water requirement, plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, internode length,number of harvested fruits, fruitsdiameter, weight of harvested fruits and yield for both experiments after which the results were compared to that generated by AquaCrop model. At 100 % water application (full irrigation), crop coefficient for tomato was determined to be 0.62 - 0.63, 1.54 - 1.61, 1.23 - 1.34 and 0.92 –0.93 for the initial, development, mid-season and the late season stages respectively. The total amount of water applied for the 116 days ranged between 307 mm and 359.89 mm. Twenty percent deficit (irrigation) had no significant reduction on the yield of tomatoes. T4 had adverse effect on the plant and yield as indicated, which recorded the lowest yield of 3.11 t/ha in the first experiment and 2.10 t/ha in the second experiment. The model did not accurately simulate the yield of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. In the case of T4, however, the level of accuracy was high at 18.09 %. The model was able to simulate the seasonal ETc for T₂ at 9.88 % in Experiment 1 but not for the others.

Source: UCC
Calibration and validation of the fao aquacrop model for tomato (solanum lycopersicon) in the coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana

Two field experiments were conducted to compare the growth and yield of tomatoes using experimentation and FAO AquaCrop model at the University of Cape Coast Teaching and Research Farm in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly of the Central Region of Ghana. The Randomized Complete Block Design was used with four (4) treatments and four(4) replications for the two experiments. The treatments used for both experiments were T1 Full irrigation (100 %), T2 90 % irrigation, T3 80 % irrigation, T4 70 % irrigation. Data was collected on water requirement, plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, internode length,number of harvested fruits, fruitsdiameter, weight of harvested fruits and yield for both experiments after which the results were compared to that generated by AquaCrop model. At 100 % water application (full irrigation), crop coefficient for tomato was determined to be 0.62 - 0.63, 1.54 - 1.61, 1.23 - 1.34 and 0.92 0.93 for the initial, development, mid-season and the late season stages respectively. The total amount of water applied for the 116 days ranged between 307 mm and 359.89 mm. Twenty percent deficit (irrigation) had no significant reduction on the yield of tomatoes. T4 had adverse effect on the plant and yield as indicated, which recorded the lowest yield of 3.11 t/ha in the first experiment and 2.10 t/ha in the second experiment. The model did not accurately simulate the yield of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. In the case of T4, however, the level of accuracy was high at 18.09 %. The model was able to simulate the seasonal ETc for T. at 9.88 % in Experiment 1 but not for the others.

Source: UCC
Calibration and validation of the FAO aquacrop model for tomato (solanum lycopersicon) in the coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana l

Two field experiments were conducted to compare the growth and yield of tomatoes using experimentation and FAO AquaCrop model at the University of Cape Coast Teaching and Research Farm in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly of the Central Region of Ghana. The Randomized Complete Block Design was used with four (4) treatments and four(4) replications for the two experiments. The treatments used for both experiments were T1 – Full irrigation (100 %), T2 – 90 % irrigation, T3 – 80 % irrigation, T4 – 70 % irrigation. Data was collected on water requirement, plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, internode length,number of harvested fruits, fruitsdiameter, weight of harvested fruits and yield for both experiments after which the results were compared to that generated by AquaCrop model. At 100 % water application (full irrigation), crop coefficient for tomato was determined to be 0.62 - 0.63, 1.54 - 1.61, 1.23 - 1.34 and 0.92 –0.93 for the initial, development, mid-season and the late season stages respectively. The total amount of water applied for the 116 days ranged between 307 mm and 359.89 mm. Twenty percent deficit (irrigation) had no significant reduction on the yield of tomatoes. T4 had adverse effect on the plant and yield as indicated, which recorded the lowest yield of 3.11 t/ha in the first experiment and 2.10 t/ha in the second experiment. The model did not accurately simulate the yield of tomatoes under deficit irrigation. In the case of T4, however, the level of accuracy was high at 18.09 %. The model was able to simulate the seasonal ETc for T₂ at 9.88 % in Experiment 1 but not for the others.

Source: UCC
Call Centre Outsourcing: Comparative Assessment of Ghana’s Readiness as a Provider

Many multinational companies are moving their back offices to developing countries where costs (especially labour) is low. The government of Ghana has therefore taken the initiative, through the Ghana Investment Promotions Centre (GIPC) and the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB), to develop the business process outsourcing (BPO) business including call centres. This paper assesses the readiness of Ghana as a competitive call centre outsourcing provider on the global market. Data is largely from primary sources and through questionnaire administration. Data relating to 23 call centre outsourcing provider-companies in Ghana, India, USA and UK were analysed. Most of the factors relating to Ghana were weighed against those of India, the most renowned call centre service provider-nation in the world. Outcome of the analysis together with economic indicators were then used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the Ghanaian call centre industry. The results show that in spite of favourable factors such as lower cost of labour, English language proficiency, and political stability, Ghana seems less capable of offering strong competition in the call centre outsourcing market if its telecommunication infrastructure, especially voice over internet protocol (VoIP); contracting strategies; and human skills are not upgraded

Source: UCC
A call for action to improve occupational health and safety in Ghana and a critical look at the existing legal requirement and legislation

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad field of professional practice, which involves specialists from different disciplines including but not limited to engineers, occupational health physicians, physical and biological scientists, economists, and statisticians. The preventive systems required to ensure workers are protected from injuries and illnesses dwell heavily on engineers; however, the extent to which the engineer can go regarding planning and implementing preventive measures is dependent on specifc legal requirements, leadership commitment from the company, organization, and nation. The objective of this paper is to identify the areas of opportunities for improvements in OHS management in Ghana with regard to the nation’s legal requirements, commitment of the Ghana government, and Ghanaian leadership as well as appropriate structuring of Ghanaian institutions responsible for monitoring and managing OHS in Ghana. This paper identified Ghana’s fragmented legal requirements concerning OHS, which are under different jurisdictions with unclear responsibilities and accountabilities. The paper also highlights the training needs of Ghanaian academic institutions regarding OHS. Among other recommendations made including structuring of Ghanaian institutions to manage OHS in line with the ILO-OSH 2001, this paper aligns the recommendations with the articles and elements of International Labor Organization convention number 155 and OHSAS 18001 elements

Source: UCC
Camfed’s Contributions to the Wellbeing of Women in the Ekumfi District of Ghana: Voices of Beneficiaries

The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that plays a significant role in improving the status and wellbeing of women in rural areas through education and entrepreneurship skills training. This study used a qualitative approach to examine how CAMFED policies and programs have contributed to the wellbeing of women in Ekumfi District, Central Region of Ghana. This was achieved through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 40 participants took part in the study. They were, CAMFED beneficiaries, parents of the beneficiaries, the District Planning Officer (DPO) of Ekumfi, the CAMFED Representative, and opinion leaders. The study revealed that CAMFED contributed to the empowerment of women by providing education, improving income generation activities and skills training. It is therefore recommended that NGOs should intensify outreach and orientation activities to highlight the importance of educating females. Their efforts could provide more opportunities for women to empower them socio-economically and allow them to have a greater voice in society.

Source: UCC
Campus shuttle experience and mobility concerns among students with disability in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Although Ghana's Persons with Disability Act 715 calls for the provision of an accessible environment, attention paid to the mobility needs of persons with disability has focused on their access to public facilities like libraries and schools without paying attention to the transport environment connecting the homes of commuters to these public facilities. This study was carried out to examine the road transport infrastructure and mobility needs of students with disability at the University of Cape Coast. Participants consisted of 31 people with visual impairment and one wheelchair user who were engaged through snowballing. Also, the Transport Officer and selected shuttle operators were engaged to ascertain transport support services to students. These were reached through purposive and convenient sampling, respectively. Findings from the study indicate that hostile reception from shuttle operators and the absence of disability‐friendly accessories on campus shuttles constitute a major barrier to participants' use of campus shuttles. The study recommends documentation and enforcement of the free shuttle services for students with disability as well as the modification of existing transport facilities

Source: UCC
Campus Sustainability Assessment: The Case of University of Cape Coast, Ghana

To assess buildings and their subsequent impact on land and energy use to validate campus sustainability. Department of Vocational & Technical Education, University of Cape Coast. A questionnaire was administered to conveniently select senior members and senior staff of the university. Questions covered issues on land/energy use versus building types. The Land surveyor, Quantity surveyor, Architect, Estate officer, grounds and maintenance representative and 5 other high ranking officials of the university were purposively interviewed to obtain information on indices that dictated siting of buildings on campus. A total of 60 questionnaires were retrieved and 10 in-depth interviews conducted. Findings showed a 25% land encroachment rate. About 33 buildings have been raised on campus since the year 2000 of which 72% are low rise 1-3 storey and 28% 3-4 storey. Building type was determined by financial factors followed by original university laid down designs and nature of land, and its availability. Horizontal land use was attributed to building especially along the periphery to curb encroachment. Respondents (72%) suggested the construction of more residence halls, libraries and laboratories to meet the needs of increased student populations on campus. Others suggested demolishing some existing structures to make room for high rise buildings. Finally, the officials interviewed stressed the need for government support to help the university erect more appropriate buildings and adopt ways of making activities on campus more sustainable. Horizontal rather than vertical land use practices and the type of buildings being put up on campus may not be sustainable in the long term. The university needs to take practical steps towards a more sustainable land use policy and planning hopefully with help from government and other stakeholders. Community engagement is highly recommended.

Source: UCC
Can a standards-based approach improve access to and quality of primary health care? Findings from an end-of-project evaluation in Ghana

Background Jhpiego implemented a 5-year project to strengthen the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) model in six coastal districts of Ghana’s Western Region. The project utilized a quality improvement approach (Standards-Based Management and Recognition [SBM-R]) to strengthen implementation fidelity of the CHPS model. This article presents findings from an end-of-project evaluation comparing quality, access to care, and experi- ence of care in intervention and comparison CHPS zones. Methods A non-equivalent, posttest–only, end-of-project evaluation compared 12 randomly selected intervention zones with 12 matched comparison zones. Data from standards-based assess- ments measured provision of care in three categories: community engagement, clinical ser- vices, and facility readiness and management. Access to and experience of care were assessed using a household survey of 426 randomly selected community members from the selected CHPS zones. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare performance on these measures between intervention and comparison CHPS zones. Results Overall, intervention zones outperformed comparison zones on achievement of standards (83.6% vs 58.8%) across all three assessment categories, with strongest results in commu- nity engagement (85.7% vs. 41.4%). Respondents in intervention zones were more than twice as likely to have received a home visit from a community health officer, three times as likely to have a home visit from a community health volunteer, and more likely to have attended a health talk (41.9% vs. 27.0%). Client experiences of care were reported as posi- tive in both study arms. Conclusions The evaluation demonstrated improved access to quality care; however, there were very few differences in client experience of care between intervention and comparison zones. As Ghana and other countries are committed to scaling up universal health care, a pragmatic approach such as SBM-R could prove useful to engage both facility- and community-based service providers, as well as community members, to improve provision of care.

Source: UCC
Can Access to Microfinance Reduce HIV Prevalence among Women? Evidence from the Literature

Microfinance has been heralded by many as the magic bullet, able to empower marginalized populations by investing into their agency. It has been growing at an average rate of about 40%, and providers have shown interest in reducing HIV prevalence and promoting health educational attainment among beneficiaries’ children especially among women who are vulnerable in most societies. Advocates of microfinance interventions have often stated it aims at improving lives by enabling clients to launch and nurture their own small businesses and enterprises so that they can become independent and improve their livelihoods. However, complementary to microfinance strategy is to assist clients in generating income and growing assets from the impact of crises events such as HIV and related diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Sub-Saharan Africa as compared to the rest of the world faces a serious HIV epidemic and the poor in general and women in particular are mostly at risk. This group of people is also the target for microfinance initiatives. The study reviews some theoretical and empirical literature about poverty, HIV and microfinance. The chapter establishes the fact that if microfinance can reduce poverty then it could also be used as a tool for preventing HIV infection. Policy recommendation that will enable microfinance institutions to contribute to the prevention of HIV, and its related diseases are offered

Source: UCC
Can Stocks Hedge against Inflation in the Long Run? Evidence from Ghana Stock Market

Based on Fisher (1930) hypothesis, we test whether Ghana stock market can provide hedge against inflation in the long run using cointegration analysis. Using data for the Databank stock Index (DSI) from January 1991 to December 2007, the results give strong support for the hedge property. Thus Ghana stock market provides full hedge against inflation. The outcome of this study holds important lesson for the market participants in developing market (many of which have experienced decades of higher inflation) that current inflation may not necessarily be associated with expectations of lower future returns.

Source: UCC