College of Humanities & Social Sciences

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    An assessment of demand and supply of corporate social investments in the mining industry: A case of AngloGold Ashanti
    (KNUST, 2016-10) Mahama, Iddrisu
    ABSTRACT The notion of corporate social Investment (CSI) has gained momentum as it is currently of strategic importance for many companies. The aim of this study was therefore to enquire into the demand and supply of corporate social investment in the mining industry, with special reference to Anglogold Ashanti. The research design adopted was descriptive. The population for the study comprised staff, management and communities affected by AGA operations. Using convenience sampling technique, 77 staff of AngloGold Ashanti was selected. Also, by purposive sampling technique, 120 community leaders were also selected for the study. The study found that more often the regulator as stakeholder was more concerned about adherence of the mining firms (AngloGold) to legal parameters. Employees on the other hand were more concerned about fair procedures for employee assessment and reward, informational justice, appropriate staff benefits and motivational packages, commitment to employee training and development programs, improving fire safety measures and priority for employee security. For the larger community especially those close to mining sites, their expectation about CSR include contributing to local community infrastructure projects, support for poverty reduction initiatives, assisting in the provision of safe water supply for communities, creating employment opportunities and scholarship programmes for needy students. When it comes to AngloGold’s investment in social infrastructural projects, the study found a consistent rise in budget allocations to developing social infrastructure in mining communities. It is therefore recommended that mining firms improve on their CSR practices and further pay more attention to sustainable business operations
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    Assessing occupational safety culture among workers in the printing industry in Kumasi
    (KNUST, 2016-08) Ntiamoah-Sarpong, Lesley
    ABSTRACT The industrial sector including the printing industry in Ghana contributes significantly to the gross national product (GDP) and employment. It is also an industry where employees are doing tasks that are likely to expose them to equipment, machinery or chemicals that can be hazardous to health and in turn cause effect on employees. Although there are some studies on health issues in this industry, not much has been written on safety culture. Therefore, the study focused on assessing occupational safety culture among workers in the printing industry in Kumasi. The objectives of the study were to assess occupational safety culture among workers in the printing industry, identify various occupational safety practices, identify the factors that influence occupational safety culture, and find out the challenges associated with occupational safety practices in the printing industry. A total of 130 respondents were considered for the study, out of which 100 responses were received representing 76.92% response rate. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The study adopted the purposive sampling technique in selecting respondents. Pearson correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The study showed that the occupational safety practices in the printing industry in Kumasi mainly ensured that, proper machine handling procedures were undertaken. The study also showed that training, employee attitudes, organizational policies on safety, the provision of adequate preventive measures, and adequate information on safety precautions, adequate guarding and safe interventions on machine works, management commitment to safety, constant communication about emergency exit procedures influence a culture of safety. The challenges associated with occupational safety practices in the printing industry in Kumasi were time pressure, pressures of organizational cost cutting, overly strong pursuit for success, management indifference to hazards, lack of clear safety policies and lack of planning and risk assessment. The study recommended establishing the lines of authority for safety; developing a safety policy that includes workplace safety, and includes safety responsibilities in the job descriptions and performance plans of all employees. Also, building awareness and caring for safety by emphasizing safety throughout the company safety policy and practically throughout the company.
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    Exploring the impact of managerial leadership practices on the performance levels of employees at Forewin Ghana Limited
    (KNUST, 2016-08) Awuah, Lawrencia Boahemaa,
    ABSTRACT This study takes a systematic approach to explore the impact of Managerial Leadership Practices in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry specifically at Forewin Ghana Limited to ascertain the impact on employees‘ performance levels in the company. The general objective of the study was to determine how Managerial Leadership Practices impact the performance levels of employees at Forewin Ghana Limited. The research design is exploratory; the study made use qualitative research approach to analyze data and adopted the use of interviews as data collection instrument. The population of the study is characterized by middle and senior level managerial staff of FGL, summing up to 93 members. Using random probability sampling as a sampling technique; the researcher randomly selected 20 members of the population to form the sample for the study. The study was able to establish that the respondents or the managerial staffs were familiar with Managerial Leadership Practices. It also showed that, these Managerial Leadership Practices are applied at Forewin Ghana Limited in general. Finally, it was revealed that, the performance levels of the company are only averagely high but there is a belief among majority of the management staff that, an improvement in the implementation of the Managerial Leadership Practices will improve the performance levels. The findings of the study led the researcher to recommend the improved implementation of Managerial Leadership in the company and also a recommendation for the Managerial Leadership Practices to be implemented by competitors, so they can also develop in terms of performance levels. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this study to my dearest mother: Madam Anna Awuah; who taught me that; determination is the key to success. I am truly thankful for her constant source of support, prayers and encouragement during the challenges of graduate school and life. iii
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    The effects of financial stress on employee performance, case study of Barcc
    (KNUST, 2016-08) Hashim, Latifah
    ABSTRACT Any situation where demands on a person exceed that person‟s resources or ability to cope, such demands can be referred to as stress. Stress can be triggered by our day to day activities such as a difficult boss, separations or divorce, financial incapability and sometimes when we come across something unexpected that has adverse effect on our goals or objectives. Stress has various forms and each form affects people differently. One aspect of stress that employees go through which has not received much attention in this country is financial stress. Several studies have been carried out on financial stress but none conducted in the case study organization of this research. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to determine the effects of financial stress on employee performance at the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council. The target population for this research was all employees of the BARCC with a sample of 181 employees. Proportional sampling method was used to obtain the sample from the sampling frame. The researcher employed a descriptive study and used both quantitative and qualitative data analysis in assessing the effect of financial stress on employee performance in the BARCC. Respondents shared that when they have financial problems they think a lot about it and sometimes engage in long conversations with co-workers about their financial situation. They lose concentration at work, take long breaks and sometimes stay away from work in order to solve their financial situations which adversely affect performance at work. The study recommended work place financial education for staff in order to reduce the financial stress level and also the organization could out-source services of non critical staff when the need be in other to avoid paying staff for no work done. This would help ease the organization of its huge financial burden so that it could consider an upward adjustment of its salary structure.
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    An assessment of the effectiveness of local content in Ghana’s Oil and gas industry: a case study of Rigworld International Services Ltd
    (KNUST, 2016-08) Arthur, Isaac
    ABSTRACT The discovery of any natural resource in every country often times comes with great exhilaration and a sense of anticipated positive impact because of the expected opportunities that are normally associated with the exploitation of these resources. The study seeks to assess the effectiveness of Ghana's local content policies in Ghana’s oil and gas industry. Since the researcher seeks to delve deeper into the topic, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed for this study. The totalsample size for the study involves 80 respondentsfrom IOCs and staff of Rigworld International Services Ltd. The sampling technique used for this study was purposive sampling with selected respondents from IOCs, civil societies and staff of Rigworld International Services Ltd. The study found out that, majority of the respondents stated that local content legislation is in line with its intended goals and objectives. Concerning the practicality of the goals and objectives of the LC legislation, most of the respondents indicated the impracticality of the goals and objectives of the LC legislation. The study further revealed that there are a number of barriers impeding the activities of indigenous companies in the industry, these include- inadequate financing, lack of requisite human capital, lack of technological know-how. In addition, majority of the respondents held the view that the implementation of LC policies have inured to the benefit of indigenous companies, to the extent that one of the indigenous companies has had its management systems certified by International Standards Organization (ISO). The study recommended that the government through the ministries of Trade and Industry and Petroleum sho uld help universities and polytechnics establish training courses in line with the oil and gas industry. Secondly, the study recommends the revision of the LC policies to help address the impracticality and the abuse perpetrated by some OICs. Lastly, there is a recommendation for government to set up Venture Capital Fund iii iv to assist indigenous companies finance their capital intensive projects and expand their operations.