University of Cape Coast Journals
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Social capital: The missing link in Ghana’s development: Social capital: The missing link in Ghana’s development
No full textDevelopment practitioners in recent times have recognised that the general factors of production
determine only partially the process of economic growth because they overlook the way in which
economic actors interact and organise themselves to generate economic growth. In 2006, the World Bank publication cited developing countries as having the least amount of intangible capital compared to the developed nations. However, among the components of intangible capital, social capital has attracted considerable attention among social scientists in general and development economists in particular because there is growing evidence that social capital can have impacts on development outcomes. Using primarily desk studies, the paper examines current literature on social capital and how they provide some answers to the missing link in Ghana’s development. We conclude that while micro-level social capital is important and predominates in Ghana’s development, its success largely depends on macro-level social capital.This implies that an enabling socio-economic environment is very vital for all sectors to function properly. In essence, social capital – like natural, physical and human capital – has limited value if it is not combined with other forms of capital, because social capital makes the other types of capital and their productive combination more efficient
Family stressors and depression among women in the Ketu-South Municipality in the Volta region of Ghana: counselling implications: Family stressors and depression among women in the Ketu-South Municipality in the Volta region of Ghana: counselling implications
No full textThis study investigated the influence of family stressors on depression among women in the Ketu-South Municipality in the Volta Region. The study used the descriptive survey design. The census method was used to select a sample of 70 women for the study. The Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes (FILE) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI II) were used to collect data for the study. The data collected were analysed using means, standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Linear Multiple Regression. The study revealed that the prominent family stressor among the women experiencing depression in the Ketu-South Municipality is loss of family members (overall mean of 4.22). In addition, the study revealed that family stressors significantly contribute to depression among women (R=.749, p=.039) with loss of family members being the highest contributor to depression (Beta=2.123, p=.037). The study recommended that government and nongovernmental agencies should control family stressors among women living with depression
A safety and security audit of the Kakum National Park: observed reality versus managerial perspectives
Get PDFAlthough Safety and Security (SnS) is a popular theme in the existing literature, the narrative has mostly focused on the broader destination and relatively, little is known of the SnS situation at the level of the individual components. This paper sought to appraise the safety and security situation at Ghana’s most visited attraction- the Kakum National Park, using a heuristic adaptation of the World Tourism Organization’s safety and security checklist. Through observations and interviews with management, an assessment of the safety and security situation at KNP was undertaken. It was found that even though safety and security measures at the park are generally inadequate, management does not consider the park to be under any real threat. The study also found that the Park management had a deliberative assessment of the security situation which reflected in three mindsets of collective security, passiveness and cautious security. The study recommends a change in philosophical outlook from passiveness to proactivity as an important first step towards making the KNP safer. Along with this philosophy, change would be the specific interventions in the areas of documentation, equipment and training
Demographic factors and online sexual behaviours of tertiary institution students in Osun State, nigeria: counselling implications: Demographic factors and online sexual behaviours of tertiary institution students in Osun State, nigeria: counselling implications
No full textThe study examined the dimension of online sexual behaviour of tertiary institution students in Osun State, Nigeria. It also investigated the predictive contribution of demographic factors on online sexual behaviour of students. Descriptive correlational design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of all tertiary institution students in Osun State. A sample of 1600 students was selected to participate in the study. Online Sexual Behaviour Scale (OSBS) was the instrument designed and used to collect data for the study. Frequency counts was used to answer the research question while linear regression analysis used to test the research hypothesis. The findings showed that 34.1% of students sampled have experienced partnered-arousal with another person while 48.5% of them have experienced nonarousal. Only 17.4% of them have had experience of solitary arousal with another person. The result also showed that place of residence was the strongest predictor of online sexual behaviour among students (B = 12.164; t = 10.091; p < 0.05). This study concluded that demographic factors were predictive factors of online sexual behavior among tertiary institution students. Thus, appropriate counselling implications were made, and it was recommended that counselling psychologists and sex educators should develop a comprehensive programme that will specifically promote safe online sexual practices among students
Public sector wage reforms in the light of equity principles: Public sector wage reforms in the light of equity principles
No full textSince 1967 seven committees and commissions have been set up to review disparities, distortions
and anomalies inherent in the pay policy and wages in the public sector in Ghana. The introduction of the Single Spine Pay Policy in the year 2010 was meant to address these anomalies but has been bedevilled with several unrests at the labour front. This has manifested itself in various ways such as strike actions, protests, petitions, legal actions, and appeals to the Labour Commission and other stakeholders. Several attempts at resolving these agitations since independence have not yielded the expected outcome which would have led to a more stable labour front. The literature on the various pay reforms in Ghana has not addressed the equity issues inherent in them. The aim of this article therefore, is to review the pay policies, in the light of equity principles and propose solutions to minimise the labour unrest associated with public sector wage reforms. The article uses Adams Equity theory of motivation to explain the frequency of labour unrest in Ghana and proposes the application of the tenets of equity theory as a solution. We use documentary analysis to examine the various reforms and propose a theoretical approach to resolve the canker within and among the labour groups. We conclude this article by arguing that the frequent labour unrest within the public service in Ghana is mainly as a result of perceived inequity in the implementations of the public sector wage reforms
Gradation of stakeholder participation in water resources management in the Densu Basin in Ghana: Gradation of stakeholder participation in water resources management in the Densu Basin in Ghana
No full textThe literature shows that degrading water resources is partly due to the lack of stakeholder participation in its management. It also underscores that intensive stakeholder participation is vital for democracy, good governance, and sustainable development in water resources management. However, the gradation of stakeholder participation in water resources management has not been widely studied. I applied the extended ladder of participation in water resource management in the Densu Basin in Ghana. I collected data through 123 interviews and 26 focus group discussions in addition to an examination of policy and legal documents on water resource management. My findings show that the activities that affect the lives of the communities influence the intensity of their participation in the Densu Basin. I therefore recommend that for local people to manage their water resources sustainably and intensively, government and non-governmental agencies must link management activities with local livelihoods and create awareness of the importance of the ecosystem to community sustenance. My findings again show that inducing communities through economic incentives is only appropriate for short term water resource management needs as such incentives cannot be sustained. However, an approach that stimulates communities to participate through their own initiatives after being helped to identify their needs is likely to lead to intensive and sustainable participation in water resource management
Employees\u27 perceptions of the effects of green training and practices on hotel sustainability in Ilorin, Nigeria
Get PDFThe current ozone layer degradation and constant environmental pollution occasioned by the activities of tourists and hotel operators among others have continuously endangered human survival in recent times. Despite various attempts by the governments and other stakeholders to mitigate the situation through policies and green practices orientation, the results have not been significantly felt in Nigeria. This paper explores the effects of employees’ perceptions of green training and practices on hotel sustainability. Data were collected from a selected sample of 100 employees of four leading hotels in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State of Nigeria. Hypotheses were tested using Regression analysis. Data were presented through, frequencies means and standard deviation. The results show significant relationships between green practice and sustainability on one hand, and between green training and sustainability on the other hand. The study also found that hotel employees are willing to implement the training acquired. The study among others recommends green staff training as it could bring about employees’ commitment and promote customer retention and increased productivity
Examining food safety knowledge and the microbiological quality of school meals in Ghana
Get PDFFood safety studies have received much empirical investigation; however, limited studies regarding food safety and the microbiological quality of meals in boarding senior high schools exist. This study examined the food safety knowledge, the microbiological quality of school meals, as well as the barriers to food safety practices among food handlers in boarding senior high schools (SHS) in the Volta Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study, using questionnaires to collect data from 97 food handlers in five boarding senior high schools in Volta Region, Ghana. A total of sixty samples of four cooked foods were collected and subjected to laboratory analysis. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results of the study revealed that respondents had good food safety knowledge. The laboratory results revealed the presence of rod and cocci shaped bacteria, where some of these isolates were identified as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus cereus which are possible pathogens. The barriers to food safety practices revealed inadequate provision of equipment and irregular water supply. Findings of this study have implication for stakeholders involved in the management of SHS. Administrators of SHSs must design and implement food hygiene training and sanitation programmes for food handlers in schools. Also, more stringent supervision during food preparation processes is recommended
Does gender exacerbate the effect of Work-family conflict on employee Satisfaction in the hotel industry? Does gender exacerbate the effect of Work-family conflict on employee Satisfaction in the hotel industry?
No full textHotel employees, in recent times, put in more effort at work, working for long hours and even on holidays and weekends. As a result, they find it difficult to efficiently meet the demands of both their work and personal life. This study used a cross-sectional research design to examine work-family conflict and its effects on job satisfaction and life satisfaction of hotel staff. The study also sought to examine the moderating effect of gender on the relationships between work-family conflict, job satisfaction and life satisfaction. A diverse sample of 286 respondents, conveniently selected, completed a structured questionnaire. Generally, the results of a PLS-SEM analysis showed that work-family conflict is not significantly related to job satisfaction but with employees’ life satisfaction. Specifically, work-to-family conflict has no significant relationship with job satisfaction whereas work-to-family and family-to-work conflict were uniquely associated with life satisfaction. The interference of family demands with the work of a hotel employee positively affects life satisfaction irrespective of the gender of employees. However, job satisfaction significantly relates to life satisfaction. Gender fully moderated employee work interfering with family and job satisfaction relationship. Theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future studies were discussed in the paper
Strategic HRM and competitiveness of Hotels in the Central Region of Ghana: the Mediating role of employee competencies: Strategic HRM and competitiveness of Hotels in the Central Region of Ghana: the Mediating role of employee competencies
No full textThe main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of strategic HR practices on the competitiveness of hotels in the Central Region of Ghana. A secondary objective was to assess the mediating role of employee competencies on the link between strategic HR practices and competitive advantage. The study adopted an explanatory research design, using a purely quantitative approach. The target population comprised of all managers of registered hotels in the Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire. The available data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling. It was established that strategic HRM practices have a positive influence on employee competencies, which in turn has a significant positive effect on competitive advantage. As a consequence, it was concluded that internal capabilities and competencies are the major sources of sustainable competitive advantage in the hospitality industry in Ghana. The effect of strategic HR practices on competitive advantage was, however, found to be insignificant. These findings require managers in the hospitality industry to continuously employ strategic HR practices such as training and development activities, linking incentive pay to performance, providing staff with a flexible compensation structure and promoting skill-based pay elements in employees’ pay package