University of Cape Coast Journals
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WFC Work-Family Conflict and Employee Performance in Ghanaian Universities: A Multivariate Analysis of Mediating and Moderating Variables
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of work-family conflict on employee performance in Ghanaian universities, exploring mediating and moderating factors. Three mediating variables (affective commitment, family-related factors, and work-related factors) and one moderating variable (sex) were examined concerning the impact of work-family conflict on employee performance. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 310 respondents from the senior staff of the University of Cape Coast. The questionnaire was used to gather data, which was analysed using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Key findings revealed that family-related and work-related factors fully mediate the work-family conflict-staff performance relationship. Hence, to ensure optimal employee performance, the University of Cape Coast should encourage workers to effectively balance their work-related and family-related factors. Additionally, the moderating role of sex in the work-family conflict-performance link indicates that work-family conflict affects female senior staff performance at the university than their male counterparts. This study highlights novel mechanisms (family-related factors, work-related factors, sex) through which work-family conflict impacts employee performance. The study recommends that organisations should adopt balanced approaches to reduce work-family conflict. This study contributes to understanding work-family conflict\u27s impact on employee performance, emphasizing the need for balanced work-life approaches in Ghanaian universities. By addressing work-family conflict, organisations can promote optimal employee performance and gain a competitive advantage
Determinants of audit automation adoption among audit firms in Ghana
Get PDFAutomation is widely recognised to be revolutionising the auditing profession. Despite the known benefits, it is reported that auditors are not fully leveraging the potential value of certain automated tools and techniques. To understand why, this study aims to draw on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to empirically examine the determinants of audit automation adoption by audit firms in Ghana. The study conforms to the positivist paradigm which agrees with the quantitative approach and an explanatory research design; structured questionnaires were administered to 190 respondents from various audit firms in good standing with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) using Google Forms. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) via Smart PLS was used for the analysis and testing of the hypotheses. Importance performance map analysis (IPMA) was conducted to enhance a deeper understanding of the findings. Performance expectancy and effort expectancy have a positive and significant influence on audit automation adoption by audit firms in Ghana. This implies that auditors will be willing to use audit automation when they perceive that it will enhance their performance and that the use of audit automation will mean less effort will be required from the auditors. The study contributes to the literature by advancing the understanding of the importance of performance expectancy and effort expectancy as determinants of audit automation adoption. This extends the theoretical understanding of the UTAUT model
EXPLORING NARRATIVE DISTANCE IN CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S HALF OF A YELLOW SUN
Get PDFDespite the growing attention given to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s works, especially Half of a Yellow Sun, criticisms about the structure and narrative techniques she adopts in this text are still marginal to the amount of critical review and assessment she has received over the years. For a number of reasons, the bulk of criticism on her works has focused on thematic and ideological issues to the neglect of other equally significant concerns like narrative technique. This study, therefore, explores her adroit use of narrative mood in her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun to highlight and intensify the diegesis of this narrative. By employing one of Genette’s (1980) narrative categories, mood (perspective and distance) as the analytical framework, the study explores the narrative’s particular use of distance and how this distance aids in realising a cohesive and coherent narrative. By examining the characteristics and other particulars of narrative distance, the authors clarify the mechanisms used in the narrative act and identify the methodological choices the author makes in order to present her story. The study contributes to theory by demonstrating the extent to which Genette’s theory of narratology is useful to the analysis of the African novel. The study is also significant in that it has pedagogical implications, as it will, among other things, serve as a material to facilitate the teaching of narrative analysis, especially narrative technique
Entrepreneurial Intentions of Tourism and Hospitality Graduates: An Application of the Entrepreneurial Event Model
Get PDFGhana’s unemployment rate now stands at 14.7%, and entrepreneurship is seen as a solution to the growing graduate unemployment problem. This study therefore examines the entrepreneurial intentions of tourism and hospitality (T&H) graduates in Ghana, using data from 941 graduates. Quantitative methodology was employed for this study, and the data collection was done using snowball sampling. Using questionnaires, the data were collected between February and April 2023 from T&H graduates. The partial least-squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test seven hypotheses. The findings show that propensity to act, innovativeness, self-efficacy, and opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influence graduates’ entrepreneurial intentions. However, they do not see entrepreneurship as a feasible career option. To increase the entrepreneurship intentions of T&H graduates, the study recommends, among others, that universities should teach soft skills like opportunity recognition, business development, and problem-solving through mentorship seminars and pitching activities. Also, graduates should be encouraged to form partnerships to access funding from government initiatives like YouStart and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation programmes
The Devil is in the Tails - Modeling the Fat-Tails in Sub-Saharan Africa Equity Markets Using Extreme Value Theorem
Get PDFThis paper investigates the presence and implications of fat-tailed return distributions in Sub-Saharan African equity markets using Extreme Value Theory (EVT). While traditional asset pricing models often assume normality, frontier markets, characterised by low liquidity, regulatory asymmetries, and episodic volatility in returns, frequently exhibit return dynamics that deviate from Gaussian assumptions. We apply both block maxima and peaks-over-threshold approaches to daily equity index returns from selected Sub-Saharan exchanges, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Botswana, over a 6-year period. Our findings reveal statistically significant tail heaviness and asymmetric risk exposures across markets, with implications for Value-at-Risk (VaR) estimation, portfolio optimisation, and systemic risk monitoring. The EVT-based models consistently outperform conventional parametric alternatives in capturing extreme downside risk. These results drive home the importance of tail-sensitive risk management frameworks in sub-Saharan stock markets and offer new insights into the structural fragility and resilience of frontier financial systems. The paper contributes to the literature by extending EVT applications to under-represented markets and by providing a robust empirical foundation for regulatory stress testing and financial innovation in the region
COLLABORATIVE FRENEMIES: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND COMPETITION LAW IN GHANA
Get PDFIntellectual property rights generally put right holders in a dominant position in the marketplace, and rightly so, as their rights grant them some time-limited monopolies. Competition policy, on the other hand, seeks to prevent the abuse of a dominant position by regulating competition to ensure a fair market. In view of the aforesaid, there appears to be a conflict between the two legal frameworks. There are, however, some attempts at responding to the concerns of competition policy in intellectual property laws. The paper recognizes the absence of a comprehensive competition regime in Ghana. Employing a doctrinal approach to data collection and analysis, the paper reviews the points of convergence and divergence between intellectual property laws and competition policy in Ghana. The paper briefly explores the successful and challenging resolution of IP and competition law conflicts in some African countries. The paper concludes that the attempts at addressing competition concerns by the use of intellectual property legal regimes are not enough. The paper calls for proactive steps to be taken toward the passage of a comprehensive competition legal regime to ensure a fairer market, thereby promoting free trade in Africa
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NIGERIA DATA PROTECTION ACT 2023: ELEVATING STANDARDS TO GLOBAL NORMS
Get PDFThe Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 marks a pivotal advancement in Nigeria\u27s regulatory framework for data protection. This article critically examines the NDPA, highlighting its alignment with the European Union\u27s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its implications for Nigeria. Employing a doctrinal research methodology, the analysis delves into the Act\u27s provisions, including definitions, data subject rights, data controller obligations, and the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). Comparisons with the GDPR underscore both the strengths and potential challenges of the NDPA, particularly in areas such as extraterritoriality, independence of the regulatory authority, and enforcement mechanisms. The article also explores the socio-economic and legal contexts that influence the Act\u27s implementation. Recommendations are provided to enhance the effectiveness of the NDPA in safeguarding privacy rights and fostering trust in Nigeria\u27s digital econom
INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Get PDFNegotiation is a very vital tool for resolving disputes amicably and ensuring harmony in international relations. Further, it is the process of engaging in ‘dialogues or discussions’ with the sole object of reaching an acceptable agreement by the parties involved in a dispute. Essentially, negotiation aims to achieve fairness and security among states. It is voluntary, non-adjudicative, informal and flexible. This article seeks to identify and analyse the challenges and limitations African countries face in negotiating with international bodies and other countries as well as propose strategies, approaches and attitudes they must adopt to ensure a more favourable negotiation outcome. The paper is divided into eight sections, which are based on secondary data analysis and literature review that covers the area of study in addition to other theoretical and legislative enactments on international negotiation in Africa. The review of the literature examined information from several important sources which covers the major area of the paper
Navigating the Dual Demands: The Impact of Polychronicity, Work-School Facilitation, and Organisational Support on Academic Performance among Ghanaian Postgraduate Students.
Get PDFThis study investigated the impact of polychronicity, work-school facilitation, and organisational support on the academic performance of postgraduate distance students in Ghana. The quantitative approach and explanatory research design were employed. The researchers collected data from 341 postgraduate students across three universities offering distance education programs via a structured questionnaire. The research utilised a three-wave survey approach and analysed the data using structural equation modelling. The results showed that polychronicity does not significantly affect academic performance. The study found that work-school facilitation fully mediates the relationship between polychronicity and academic performance of postgraduate students. Finally, organisational support significantly moderates the relationship between polychronicity and both academic performance and work-school facilitation. The findings suggest that organisational support is crucial in mitigating the potential stress associated with multitasking and in easing better academic outcomes. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of organisational support and work-school facilitation in enhancing academic performance. It provides practical implications for educational institutions and employers to create supportive environments that can improve student outcomes
Promoting grassroots mediation as a mechanism for peace reinforcement: Promoting grassroots mediation as a mechanism for peace reinforcement
No full textThis study reports findings on ethnographic research done in three counties in Kenya from January to June 2023. Two levels of exploration were applied. First, based on participant observation of 31 local trials, the study reports on how the affable ways of settling disputes provide a stage-setting for peacemaking and reconciliation. Second, through 62 interviews, 10 of which were with jurists in Nairobi, and 52 with local mediators in the three research counties, descriptive accounts of the merits of mediation, including its harmony-focused goal, help to clarify and further substantiate the peacemaking perspective in criminology, which advocates understanding, compassion, peace, and social justice. The underlying focus of the study was to learn why Alternative Dispute Resolution, in particular mediation, resonates profoundly among a significant number of Kenyans. Some key reasons are the celerity, convenience, congeniality, and cost efficiency, among others, entailed in mediating cases. A few limitations of the study are reported, including a less-than-robust sample and the absence of interviews with litigants