9 research outputs found
Factors influencing parental choice of centre-based provision for early childhood care and education in Ghana
No full textDeterminants of choice of credit source among clients of microfinance systems in the Upper West Region of Ghana
No full textMicrofinance institutions must understand what influences their clients’ choice of credit source in order to design and provide adequate and appropriate credit facilities to their clients. This paper explores the determinants of the choice of credit source among beneficiaries of microfinance systems in the Upper West Region of Ghana. An interview guide and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The study employed the multinomial probit model to analyse the data. The study revealed that gender, arable crop farming, household size, dependency ratio, access to microfinance information, repayment period, group size, interest rate, distance, loan amount, borrowing experience, household assets, and household members employed were the main determinants of the choice of credit source among beneficiaries. The study recommends that the Bank of Ghana, through the Apex Bank, standardise repayment periods and procedures such that banks compete on innovative methods of sourcing borrowers, which could result in efficiency in the lending industry
Strengthening local autonomy in development: composite budgeting, expenditure planning and implementation in Nanumba South district, Ghana
No full textIncluding local citizens in decision-making about the use of local resources is crucial to improving the generation of locally raised funds. This study illustrates the positive effects of composite budgeting – a participatory process – in meeting local people’s development interest and needs, and in promoting expenditure autonomy. Using a case study approach and drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, the study found that Ghana’s system of district assemblies – which are largely made up of elected members – appears to be relatively successful in delivering the capacity and independence required to make funding decisions that benefit local people and the development of their area. The paper suggests a link between citizens’ confidence in the working of their assembly and their willingness to contribute to locally generated funds
A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF PRE-TERTIARY EDUCATION POLICY REFORMS ON EDUCATIONAL QUALITY IN GHANA: THE CASE OF THE FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL POLICY
No full textThis review aims to critically explore the impact of various policy reforms on educational quality in Ghana, with a particular emphasis on the Free Senior High School policy. It seeks to evaluate how these reforms have shaped the quality of the programme, identify the key factors influencing educational resources and results, and highlight major future challenges and priorities for the initiative. A thorough review of the academic literature was conducted, with duplicate studies excluded. From the 115 papers assessed, 12 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for in-depth analysis. Covering the period from January 2007 to June 2025, the systematic review highlighted the significant impact of administrative reforms in improving access to learning materials and teacher-centered initiatives, which led to notable enhancements in teaching practices. Many participants reported an increase in student enrollment at both the Senior High School and University levels. Nevertheless, the implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy has exerted substantial pressure on existing school infrastructure. Despite the implementation of the policy, there has been minimal improvement in the quality of education and student academic performance. Although numerous studies have explored the Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative and education quality in Ghana, none have specifically examined the educational reforms linked to the FSHS policy or focused on how particular reforms contribute to improving education quality. The findings suggest that while the FSHS reforms have had some impact on senior high school education, significant challenges remain. Students consistently underperformed across all core subjects. As a result, several recommendations have been proposed to address these ongoing issues and enhance the effectiveness of the policy. Article visualizations
Comparing Weighting Approaches in Scalogram Analysis in the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana
No full textThis study examined and compared the objectively-weighted, expert-based-weighted and stakeholder-based weighted Scalogram approaches based on their centrality indices and factors considered in assigning weights to the functions. A mixed-method approach, comprising both quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed to gather primary and secondary data for the study. All the three Scalograms with different weighting techniques were analyzed in Microsoft Excel, focusing on centrality and weighted centrality indices and simple linear regression models. The study discovered that the grand total centrality index of the objective Scalogram is 4,105.60, the expert-based Scalogram is 10,294.2 while the stakeholder-based one is 10,429.80. The co-efficients of determination for the three are 0.9892, 0.9757 and 0.9812 respectively, giving explanatory powers of 98.92%, 97.57% and 98.12% respectively. It is recommended that due to resource constraints, planners should rely more on the objective-based approach, followed by the stakeholder-based approach and then the expert-based approach, since the latter approach has rather reduced the explanatory power of population by increasing values of the centrality indices. Again, bottlenecks to the development of Area Council headquarters (intermediate settlements between Wa and lower-level settlements) should be tackled for efficient spatial distribution of functions. The contribution of this article to the spatial and development planning literature is its juxtaposition of the three techniques in Scalogram analysis
Challenges of the Targeting Approach to Social Protection: An assessment of the Ghana Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme in the Wa Municipality of Ghana
No full textChallenges of the Targeting Approach to Social Protection: An assessment of the Ghana Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme in the Wa Municipality of Ghana
No full textGlobal debates on social protection have raised concerns about the appropriateness of the targeting approach for better inclusion. This study contributes to these debates by exploring the specific challenges associated with the targeting mechanism adopted by the Ghana Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme within the Upper West Regional programme district of Wa Municipality of Ghana. Qualitative data on beneficiaries’ perceptions and experiences with the LEAP programme were collected through in-depth interviews with 30 LEAP beneficiaries and key informant interviews with three LEAP implementers. The findings reveal widespread perceptions of inclusion errors associated with the targeting approach adopted by LEAP. These perceived inclusion errors are as a result of lack of transparency in the handling of procedures, political interference in the selection process and poor data on household’s poverty statuses. Unintended consequences of the approach include poverty-labeling, stigmatization and envy of beneficiaries leading to hatred and conflicts which are capable of destroying social cohesion in rural beneficiary communities. A sense of beneficiary powerlessness to question the ‘ills’ in the operations of programme is also a challenge inherent in the targeting approach. To ensure effective targeting, there is the need for education to be provided on the purpose, selection process and benefits of the programme, particularly, at the community level. There is also the need to strengthen the monitoring of the selection process. It is important that civil society organizations provide complementary interventions to empower beneficiaries to demand for their entitlements from the programme.Keywords: Social Protection, Cash Transfers, Targeting Approach, Challenges, Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty, Ghan
