ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the decision making processes of financial managers of oil marketing companies in Ghana.

Large firms tend to make considerable amounts of expenditures for new plants and equipment, which may require the use of more capital budgeting techniques. The focus of this study was to find out what factors affect the capital financing decision of oil marketing firms, to examine the relevance of the financing decision options, as well as, the factors that influence financing decision and how the financing decision influences the performance of oil marketing companies. The study was designed with mixed approach which considered both qualitative and quantitative research approach. The target population of the study was all the management position members of Petrobay Oil Limited and Total Petroleum Ghana Limited. The sample size for the study was twenty (20) management employees. In this research, non-probability sampling methods were used and the specific type used being purposive sampling. The primary data was collected from the respondents through survey by administration of questionnaires. The method employed in the analysis of data collected was qualitative method of data analysis. Frequencies and percentages were used in the analysis. The findings disclosed that capital budgeting as a vehicle for development plans was relevant in financing decisions of oil marketing companies. Similarly, economic policy on the allocation of resources in government was found to be important to financing decisions of oil marketing companies. The study recommended that the capital budgeting process should be strictly adhered to so as to help determine the kind of resources to be allocated to projects and the likely financial benefits to be derived from such projects embarked on by the oil marketing company. The factors which influence the performance of oil marketing companies such as the number of years of the project should also be taken into consideration before signing the project.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial performance of listed banks in Ghana; a case of some selected universal banks on the Ghana stock exchange.

The objective of the study is to determine the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on financial performance of listed Universal Banks on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Seven (7) universal banks out of total number of eight (8) listed on the GSE are used for the period of 2006 to 2015 based on availability of data. Secondary data are obtained from published annual reports of selected universal banks and Ghana Stock Exchange facts book. Line graphs have been used to analyze CSR expenditure trend of selected universal banks. Fixed and Random effects panel regression techniques have been used to examine the impact of CSR on Return on assets (ROA) and Return on equity (ROE) respectively. A positive and statistically significant relationship is found in the case of CSR and ROE of selected banks whereas a negative and statistically not significant relationship was found for CSR and ROA of selected universal banks over the period under review. The study concludes that CSR has improved the profitability of selected universal banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange over the period under review. The study recommends that, it is worthwhile for Universal Banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange to embrace the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in their business strategy. This would help impact positively on their profitability.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of the determinants of mutual fund performance in ghana

Mutual fund operators in Ghana have been very influential in the development of the capital markets. They provide advisory services; serve as placement agents and brokers to private clients, government and other companies. Mutual Funds have been widely acclaimed as an effectual way for investing in the financial markets in low cost and low risk manner. Several factors affect the performance of mutual fund and several studies have been conducted to analyses the determinants of mutual fund performance globally and in specific countries such as India, Vietnam, USA and many other countries. This study sought to evaluate what determines performance of mutual fund in Ghana. In an attempt to analyses the fund factors as well as the country level factors, the researcher selected diverse funds which has operated for more than three years in Ghana were selected for the purpose of this review. The data set includes 15 mutual funds operating during the period from 2017 to 20121. It was observed that, there is a positive relationship between macroeconomics and mutual funds’ performance. The review indicated that as Ghana scores better on country-level governance such as regulation effectiveness, political stability, economic growth and financial development, the annual return on mutual fund improves. However, the impact of fund-level factors is diverse with no significant impact of board size and fund age on mutual fund’s performance. Fund managers are recommended to up their game by having thorough understanding of portfolio and risk management so that they can achieve the best returns for their customers. They should also expand awareness of mutual funds through comprehensive advertisement on the print and electronic media and if possible, engage the services of agents and brokers who have adequate product knowledge to embark on directing selling whiles ensuring a minimum operating expense. The research results also suggest that investors should pay attention to the types of funds and operating expense when making an investment decision in mutual funds.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of the prospects and challenges of entrepreneurship in the informal economy: a case of the central market, koforidua in the eastern region.

The aim of this study was to find out about the prospects and challenges of entrepreneurship in the informal sector. Entrepreneurship has increasingly gained grounds in the informal sector over the last decade for various reasons. The informal entrepreneurs in koforidua central market were interviewed with the help of an interview guide to get information on entrepreneurship for the study. The research revealed that majority of people who enter into the informal sector, have little or no formal education and do not possess any certificate for formal jobs. These entrepreneurs usually face a lot of challenges from city authorities but their iii major challenge is land and space acquisition for business operation. The research also revealed that though the economy is tough and slow currently, most people would still opt for entrepreneurship in the informal sector since they acquire their source of livelihood from there. The research then recommended that policies should include stringent rules and laws to govern the sector and encourage easy formalization of businesses among others

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of the performance appraisal system in the public sector: a case study of Ghana revenue authority (GRA), Kumasi.

Performance appraisals improve the work performance of employees by helping them realize their full potentials in carrying out their firm's mission and also, to provide information to employees and managers for use in making work-related decisions. They, also, provide feedback to employees and thereby serve as a vehicle for personal and career development. Performance appraisals, however, are beset with difficulties as a result of their complex nature. The general objective of the study, therefore, was to evaluate the performance appraisal system of the GRA. The research design used in the study was the case study because it was appropriate for the achievement of the research objectives. A sample size of 100 respondents was selected using the non random (Judgmental) sampling method. Questionnaires were used as instruments for the study and out of 100 questionnaires distributed, 80 of them were retrieved from respondents. The data was analyzed with tables, bar charts and pie charts. Among the main findings of the study was that the GRA did not have a clear cut policy on the conduct of performance appraisal. This has in its wake, culminated in the low commitment of both appraisers and appraises in the conduct of performance appraisals. It is recommended in the study that there should a clear cut policy on the conduct of performance appraisal in the GRA in order to improve on its conduct. Again, it is recommended that funds be earmarked for the conduct of performance appraisals.

Source: KNUST
An evaluation of the implementation of e-procurement in the western regional health directorate of Ghana

The general objective of this study is to evaluate the implementation of e-procurement in the western regional health directorate of Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to; identify the e-procurement process in place at western regional health directorate; assess the benefits of e-procurement to western regional health directorate; determine the challenges of eprocurement at western regional health directorate and to establish the relationship between e-procurement and organizational performance. The study was purely quantitative and was descriptive in nature. The population of the study were all employees of western regional health directorate who are directly or indirectly involved with the procurement process at the directorate. They are fifteen (15) in number. Looking at the small number of the population, all fifteen (15) employees were sampled out for the study. Purposive sample was chosen as the sampling technique. A questionnaire was chosen as the data collection instrument. Statistical package of social sciences (spss.v.21.0) was used to analyze the data gathered. In spite of its e-procurement importance, it is faced with many challenges which need to be tackled to make the procurement unit of institutions more vibrant as their activities go a long to impact on the performance of the whole organization or institution. For this reason, the e-procurement method has been adopted to replace the traditional procurement method so as to address most of the challenges in this unit. The study revealed that there was a positive relationship between e-procurement and organisational performance. The study concludes that the western regional health directorate is using the ghaneps platform for its e-procurement processes and that the e-procurement is duly implemented at the directorate. It was recommended that there should be a strong commitment on the part of government in the key area of e-procurement infrastructure development in the country. Proper policies, legislations and regulations should also be put in place to safe guide the whole system of e-procurement, in that e-procurement comes with own security issues.

Source: KNUST
An examination of credit management practices of microfinance institutions in Ghana: a case study of Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Limited.

Credit Management is one of the most important activities in any organization and cannot be overlooked by any economic enterprise engaged in lending. As with any financial institution, the biggest risk in microfinance is lending money and not getting it back. The study sought to examine credit management practices in microfinance institutions in Ghana using Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans limited as a case study. A questionnaire was administered to the Head of Credit of Sinipi Aba Savings and Limited. Descriptive Statistics were used to analyze data. Furthermore, descriptions were made based on the results of the tables and charts. The study established that there is a relationship between credit terms and loan performance of Microfinance Institutions. The study recommends that microfinance institutions take a greater consideration on character of the client, capacity of the customer to repay, collateral attached as security, history of repayment before loans are granted.

Source: KNUST
An examination of economic benefits expectations from Mining activities by fringe communities in Ghana- case Study of Edikan Perseus Mining Ghana limited – Ayanfuri.

In the recent times, the doubt about why Mining Companies are under increasing pressure, from the members of fringe communities in addressing economic expectations and life transforming relevant issues due to a perceived nature of the mining companies’ inability to honour the said expectations. This sometimes leads to conflicts usually perceived to have been driven by community genuine demands on lack of employment, non-payment of compensations, unfulfilled promises, unfair management and sharing of community resources, and the very meaning of ‘‘development’. This usually results in community upraising, preventing mines workers through illegal road blockade to work, vandalising of mines properties and also chasing out of mines workers living in these communities hence, a loss of man-hour which affects production output and revenue. Arguably, these indications should not to be allowed to spill over into our fringe communities which could hinder development due to the denier of direct foreign investments aid in contributing so much to Employments and the coshing of macroeconomics factors. In the light of this background, the study seeks to examine the economic expectations of the people in the fringe communities, examine economic value additions fringe communities gained so far, examine the respondent opinions of overall economic and social performances in the fringe communities, examine the causes of the persistent conflicts between the mines and the fringe communities and to examine the existing arrangements for equitable distributions of economic benefits. To achieve these objectives, the deductive research approach was employed. I conducted a survey to obtain data, used a descriptive survey for the analysis and held panel discussions. Non –probability sampling was used to sample the various communities and/or the research population by employing purposive sampling. It was found out that lack of employment and lack of education are the major cause of the conflicts.

Source: KNUST
An examination of knowledge management practices at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

Over the years, companies from all sectors of the economy are becoming aware of Knowledge Management Concepts and its significance for their strategic vision. In order for organizations to thrive in a competitive world, there is the need for them to be familiar with all concepts pertaining to its intellectual assets. It is against the background that the study sought to examine how knowledge management is practiced at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). A convenient sampling technique was employed to sample 71 staff and 10 branch managers of the bank’s branches in the Brong Ahafo region. With the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) descriptive statistics and multiple regression techniques were employed to analyze the data collected from the field. The result revealed that the bank has adopted modern information technology practices to effectively manage knowledge. Also, there are policies and programs in place at the bank to ensure that knowledge management becomes integral part of its organization culture. The regression analysis shows that knowledge management dimensions culture, Leadership, Employee motivation, Technology usage) have positive significant effect on the bank’s performance [Fstatistic (19.724)>F-critical (2.54)] at 1% level of significant. The study further revealed that logistical constraints, lack of understanding of knowledge management benefits and failure of management to accept the concept are some of the challenges militating against the smooth implementation of knowledge management concepts at ADB. The study recommends that the leadership of the bank should organize training programs for workers to understand the importance of knowledge management practices. Also, the study should be replicated in other banks to determine whether there are variations in the findings.

Source: KNUST
An examination of the contribution of mobile money towards an inclusive financial system in Kumasi metropolis

The importance of an inclusive financial system is widely recognised in policy circles and recently financial inclusion has become a policy priority in many countries. Access to appropriate financial services can significantly improve the day-to-day management of finances. The study examined the extent to which mobile money service helps improve financial inclusion in Ghana, providing evidence from Kumasi Metropolis. The study adopted the quantitative approach and the survey research design to examine the phenomenon. Using the convenience sampling technique, 200 mobile money users were sampled in the Kumasi Metropolis. Primary data specifically questionnaire was the main data collection instrument in this study. Data was analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics including frequencies, mean analysis, and cross tabulation. The findings of the study suggest a positive effects of mobile money services on savings behaviour of users and that mobile money services helps to improve the welfare of users in Ghana. Nonetheless, we found some challenges mobile money users in Ghana face including high level of fraud, higher interest rate, high costs of transaction and inadequate loan amounts. We recommend that laws should be enacted to guide the mobile money service from fraud and other dubious activities to encourage an extensive use of the facility to improve financial inclusion and social welfare in Ghana.

Source: KNUST
An Exhibition Design for Visual Art Education in Senior High Schools

Exhibition is an aspect of Art education that cannot be underestimated at any level of education. It is embedded in all the syllabi of every Visual Art subjects with all the potential intention to equip students with the interest and the confidence to articulate their works to their audiences in the course of their future career development. For such reason, exhibition is meant to be taught and practised at school far long before students graduate. This study sought to document and analyse the knowledge for organising exhibition, propose and test an exhibition framework in TI Ahmadiyya Senior High School and Kumasi Anglican Senior High School all in Kumasi Metropolis, Ashanti Region, Ghana. The study adopted qualitative research method with descriptive and action research methodologies to study the knowledge and organisation of the exhibition in the selected schools. The various instruments used included questionnaire, observation and interview to solicit for data. After collecting data for analysis, exhibition model was created and tested through organising exhibition for the students’ understudy. The exhibition model served as a scheme or guide which engaged all participants who acted as artists, curators, audiences, exhibition designer, planner and even security. The study discovered the various reasons which became stumbling blocks for exhibition organisation in schools. Some of these reasons are, lack of expertise among teachers, unawareness of exhibition design, finances and discrimination of subject viability from school leadership. Teachers associate exhibition with events such as Speech Day and Anniversaries which seriously deny students the joy of displaying their works. The study recommended adaptation of the exhibition model (BEDM) into the curriculum to serve as a guide for organisation of exhibitions in Senior High Schools.

Source: KNUST
An exploratory assessment of the management of pediatric traumatic brain injury in three centers in Africa

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hospital care practices of pediatric TBI patients in LMICs are unknown. Our objective was to report on hospital management and outcomes of children with TBI in three centers in LMICs. Methods: We completed a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study in children (<18 years) over a 4-week period. Outcome was determined by Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) score; an unfavorable score was defined as PCPC > 2 or an increase of two points from baseline. Data were compared using Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Fifty-six children presented with TBI (age 0–17 y), most commonly due to falls (43%, n = 24). Emergency department Glasgow Coma Scale scores were ≤8 in 21% (n = 12). Head computed tomography was performed in 79% (n = 44) of patients. Forty (71%) children were admitted to the hospital, 25 (63%) of whom were treated for suspected intracranial hypertension. Intracranial pressure monitoring was unavailable. Five (9%, n = 5) children died and 10 (28%, n = 36) inpatient survivors had a newly diagnosed unfavorable outcome on discharge. Conclusion: Inpatient management and monitoring capability of pediatric TBI patients in 3 LMIC-based tertiary hospitals was varied. Results support the need for prospective studies to inform development of evidence-based TBI management guidelines tailored to the unique needs and resources in LMICs

Source: KNUST
An explorative study on the potential of green roofs providing thermal comfort conditions for indoor spaces in Kumasi, Ghana

Purpose As the global population keeps increasing with its associated urbanisation and climate change issues being experienced in various degrees worldwide, there is the need to find mitigating measures to improve thermal conditions within spaces. The study aimed to evaluate green roofs to determine whether they could provide thermal comfort within residential buildings. Design/methodology/approach Forty-two-year weather data were retrieved from the Kumasi weather station to establish the pattern of the climatic variables. Furthermore, an experiment was conducted by constructing test cells to determine the potential of vegetation/green roofs on temperature development within spaces. This approach led to a simulation-based exploration of the thermal performance of the test cells to probe variables that could lead to the reduction in temperature after the models in the software (design-builder) had been validated. Findings The results on the 42 years (1976–2018) weather data showed a significant (p = 0.05) mean temperature increment of 2.0 °C. The constructed test cell with Setcreasea purpurea (Purple Heart) vegetation showed an annual mean temperature reduction of 0.4 °C (p = 0.05). In addition, the exploration using the simulation application showed combinations of various soil depth (70–500 mm) and leaf area indices (leaf area index of 2–5) having a potential to lower indoor temperature by 1.5 °C and its associated reduction in energy use. The option of green roofs as a valuable alternative to conventional roofs, given their potential in mitigating climate change, must be encouraged. A survey of occupants in six selected neighbourhoods in Kumasi showed varying subjective perceptions of several green issues (24–98%) and increases in temperature values because of the loss of greenery in the city. Originality/value Empirical data that point to the significant reduction of indoor temperature values and a subsequent reduction in energy use have been unearthed. Therefore, built environment professionals together with city authorities could invest in these sustainable measures to help humanity.

Source: KNUST