University of Cape Coast Journals
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Influence of Human Resource Management Practices on Organisational Performance at Atwima Mponua Rural Bank Limited
Get PDFThis study examined the effect of human management practices on organisational performance at Atwima Mponua Rural Bank Limited in Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive survey design from the quantitative approached. A census technique was deployed to sample all the 120 staf from all branches of the bank. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and data were analysed with mean and standard deviation, Peason correlation matrix and multiple standard regression. The study found that the three most important variables/factors under human resource practices that strongly influenced the organisational performance of banks were recruitment and selection, performance appraisal and employee participation. Therefore, it is recommended that the management of Atwima Mponua Rural Bank Limited in Ghana should establish a dedicated human resource management department to formulate, implement and monitor a proper recruitment and selection methods, modern appraisal system and involve employees in decisions that affect workers to enhance organisational performance of the bank
WhatsApp Usage in Administrative Processes of College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Get PDFIn Ghana, little is known about the educational values of WhatsApp usage as a multidimensional communication tool. WhatsApp usage is unguided and generally left in the hands of the juvenile for exploration. This article established how WhatsApp application could promote administrative processes and support for the College of Distance Education (CoDE), University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The theories informing this study were adopted from the synthetic model of motivation (Turner, 1987) and Activity Theory by Vygotsky (1978). The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used for the study. Data collection was quantitatively done with a questionnaire as the research instrument. Census technique was employed to gather data from all the 72 Study Centre Co-ordinators of CoDE. The two objectives and four hypotheses that guided the study were analysed with frequencies and percentages, ANOVA, independent sample t-test, and multiple standard regression. The study found that most of the respondents were satisfied with WhatsApp’s use to facilitate communication among stakeholders at CoDE. It further emerged that WhatsApp messaging enables rapid feedback among the key stakeholders (administrators, course tutors and students) of CoDE. However, few co-ordinators expressed disappointment regarding members sending irrelevant information and heavy videos sometimes in ungodly hours. It was recommended that enforceable user-guidelines and policies be made explicit for members to adhere to WhatsApp platforms’ use. Also, WhatsApp groups should be organised based on homogeneous interests while usage should be supported, regulated and promoted by the management of CoDE
Political instability and tourism in Ghana (1966-1981)
Get PDFIn the 1960s most governments in West Africa, including Ghana which was under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana began to incorporate tourism into their economic development plans. The idea was to diversify the economy in order to provide infrastructural development, economic and social prosperity for populace. Unfortunately, Nkrumah’s government was toppled in 1966. In the subsequent years, Ghana experienced a period of political instability. This paper takes a critical look at the efforts of the various governments in Ghana (from 1957 to 1981) to develop tourism in terms of their policies and their roles as agents of tourism development; the creation of a conducive environment for tourism to flourish, the involvement of the private sector both foreign and local, the provision of tourism infrastructure and how political instability impacted negatively on tourism development in terms of the flow of international tourist arrivals, potential investors, tourism product development and delivery, and tourism receptive facilities
Factors influencing household energy choices in the Kumasi Metropolitan area of Ghana: Factors influencing household energy choices in the Kumasi Metropolitan area of Ghana
No full textReforms in the energy sector are expected to bring about essential efciency gains, which could result in energy diversifcation and welfare improvements among households. However, there are other unintended social and environmental consequences associated with the process. One signifcant social concern is the likely impact on how low-income families access new energy. The study used a cross-sectional design to undertake a comparative analysis of domestic energy choices. Data was collected from 405 households’ decision makers. An interview schedule and a guide were used for the data collection. The results showed that modern fuels are by far the most predominant source of energy for high and medium class residential households in Kumasi. However, residents in low-class areas preferred to use biomass fuel as their primary energy choice. Contextual variations revealed that general factors such as afordability and accessibility of energy source were exogenous determinants of energy choice. The fndings of the study also lend support to the energy ladder hypothesis that household income is a signifcant determinant of household energy choice. Further, social and demographic factors are critical determinants of cooking fuel type in residential zones. The study recommends the promotion of modern fuels through developing dependable energy distribution systems, and public education campaigns by the Energy Commission of Ghana
Unpacking Africa as a dynamic continent: insights from contemporary development issues in Ghana: Unpacking Africa as a dynamic continent: insights from contemporary development issues in Ghana
No full textSince the last formal vestiges of colonial rule disappeared in 1994, the democratically elected governments on the African continent have been experimenting with developmental strategies and policies. These experiments come at the backdrop that Africa’s output per head is notoriously among the lowest in the world and has, on the average, expanded slowly and haltingly since 1960, albeit, with some critical changes, and variations over place, space and time. The structural adjustment programme (SAP) in the 1980s, for example, marked a watershed: a fundamental shift from administrative to market means of resource allocation. This opinion piece, appearing in this Special Issue of the Oguaa Journal of Social Sciences on the theme “Developmental issues in contemporary Ghana”, provides an overview of Africa’s development trajectories as presented by the collection of articles, using Ghana as a test-tube
Does labour matter in reforms? Indications from Ghana’s environmental sanitation policy: Does labour matter in reforms? Indications from Ghana’s environmental sanitation policy
No full textRecent policy debates point to public service privatisation as a solution to the problems of state indebtedness, non-performance, and inefciency of the public sector. This privatisation agenda has raised concerns about the implications for jobs and working conditions. In developing countries like Ghana, where markets are weak or exhibit signs of failure, state policy becomes a vital avenue for securing decent working conditions for workers. Using an appraisal of Ghana’s Environmental Sanitation Policy and through the lens of institutional theory, the paper argues that the extent to which employment rights are framed, even at the policy stage, signals how labour rights will be impacted within privatised employment spaces. The analysis shows that the environmental sanitation policy ignores the interests of labour. The paper, therefore, recommends the need for inputs of labour market institutions such as trade unions at the policy stage. This is because trade unions remain the most credible source of response to the unrestrained exploitative tendencies of capital at the expense of labour
Basic school teachers’ attitude and confidence level in teaching the new standards-based computing curriculum in Ghana: Basic school teachers’ attitude and confidence level in teaching the new standards-based computing curriculum in Ghana
No full textThis study assessed the attitude and level of confidence of Basic 1-6 teachers in Ghana in implementing the new standard-based computing curriculum. The study employed the survey design. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling were used to select 127 teachers from five regions in Ghana. Frequencies, percentages and Pearson correlation statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The findings showed that most of the teachers have high confidence in handling the revised computing curriculum. In addition, most teachers have positive attitude towards using ICT tools for teaching and learning. Availability of ICT resources in basic schools in Ghana remains a challenge. The findings further indicated that some basic school teachers had taken academic courses to improve their academic qualifications within the last three years. However, most teachers said they had not attended any ICT-based workshop in the last one year. The study recommended more in-service training for teachers who teach computing to bring them up to speed on the computing curriculum
Meaningful learning in Ghanaian basic schools: critical contextual evidence of stakeholder participation: Meaningful learning in Ghanaian basic schools: critical contextual evidence of stakeholder participation
No full textBasic education has received much attention in national and international discourses, with the formulation of national policies on free and compulsory basic education. In many Ghanaian communities, the assumption is that the government is the sole financier of public basic education. Therefore, parents take almost no responsibility for their wards’ education. This study used the mixed method approach to explore the perspectives of stakeholders at the basic school level to understand the teaching and learning contexts for evidence of patterns of practice and innovative strategies that promote stakeholder involvement towards meaningful learning. In three different settlement areas and school types, copies of a questionnaire were administered to 384 teachers and head teachers in 28 schools; interviews were conducted with 28 head teachers and 9 focus group discussions were held with primary 6 pupils. Some key findings were that due to delayed government supplies, schools experienced inadequate basic resources which hampered smooth running of academic work. While some head teachers solicited for assistance from old students, philanthropists and Non-Governmental Organisations, others did nothing about the situation but waited for the government supplies. The study therefore concluded that irrespective of school type and settlement area, it takes a proactive school leader to initiate strategies that involve stakeholders in order to obtain resources for meaningful learning to take place. The study makes recommendations towards the training of head teachers and more awareness creation among stakeholders about their roles towards basic schools in their communities and their wards’ learning, in spite of the fee-free policy
Massive open online courses (MOOCS) for university education: a study on students’ experiences at the University of Ghana: Massive open online courses (MOOCS) for university education: a study on students’ experiences at the University of Ghana
No full textThe objective of this study was to examine students’ experiences in participating in MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) at the University of Ghana. The study employed the qualitative research method. All the 12 students of the University of Ghana’s Department of Adult Education and Human Resource Studies who enrolled in a MOOC course participated in the study. The study revealed that students are mostly attracted to Coursera and edx than other available MOOC platforms. Students view MOOC as affordable, accessible and of quality. MOOC challenge mostly cited by students is intermittent internet connectivity. In anticipation of the increase in enrollment in Ghanaian Universities in 2020 and beyond due to the Free Senior High School programme of the government, the study recommended that Universities and other tertiary institutions convert some of their study courses registered by students into MOOCs to create more lecture spaces for prospective students
Enhancing access to institutional financial support for small and medium enterprises in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of Ghana
Get PDFThis paper discusses the factors which affect access to financial support by small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in Sekondi-Takoradi. Financial resources are crucial in the life of all businesses including SMEs. However, access to financial support comes with the problems of information asymmetry, moral hazard and adverse selection. The factors that influence access to financial support are investigated using a non-interventional cross-sectional study design. Quantitative data were collected from 303 randomly selected SMEs using interview schedules, while qualitative data, using an interview guide, were obtained from 21 institutions offering financial support to SMEs in Sekondi- Takoradi. With the use of interpretations of the qualitative data, and descriptive statistics including cross tabulations, the results showed that interest rates, collateral, guarantors and, business and financial information, and financial literacy play a role in the access of institutional financial support by SMEs