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Conference Proceedings This Community features the proceedings of conferences hosted by the KNUST or other bodies but had staff from KNUST attending and making presentationsJournal of Science and Technology (JUST) Research Articles from the members of KNUST submitted to the JUSTKumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR) Lectures **Lectures** are structured presentations or talks delivered by an instructor, professor, or expert to convey knowledge on a specific subject.Research Articles
Recent Submissions
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Assessing the performance of equity mutual funds: A case study of some selected funds in Ghana.
(KNUST, 2016-10) POKU, ABENA BOATEMAA
Mutual funds are investment vehicles made up of a pool of funds collected from many
investors for the purpose of investing in securities such as stocks, bonds and money
market instruments. Equity mutual funds refer to financial service providers that pool
investor monies and invest them in domestic and international equity and fixedincome
securities. However, equity mutual funds are not allowed to be invested directly in real
(tangible) assets thus; real estates, antiquities, commodities. The research measured
how the equity mutual funds in Ghana have relatively performed against the Ghana
Stock Exchange. Accordingly, the study sought to measure the following objectives; to
find out whether the funds outperformed the Ghana Stock Exchange Index within the
study period, to establish the impact of fund manager skills on equity mutual funds
performance and finally to find out whether investment in mutual fund is better off than
investment in a risk free rate fund. All the forty-six mutual funds operating in Ghana
including the Government of Ghana 90-days T-bills returns (which acted as the risk free investment option) and finally the Ghana Stock Exchange return (as the benchmark
investment index) constituted the study population. The study employed purposive
sampling technique hence the study sample came from Databank Epack investment,
SAS Fund and HFC Equity trust fund since they had a complete dataset for the whole
eight-year period of the study time interval. It became evident that the mean return for
all the three funds ranges from 2.30 to 7.49.The study found out that out of the three
funds, HFC Equity trust outperformed both the Ghana Stock Exchange and the interest
free rate investment options by a margin of 7.2 and 5.9 respectively. Also the study
found out that the other two funds thus Databank Epack investment and SAS Fund
performances all fell below the GSE market index and the T-bill rate average annual
returns.
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An assessment of the new pension scheme under the National Pensions act 766 (2008): a case study of the Kumasi Metropolis.
(KNUST, 2016-08) YIADOM, YAA KONADU
In Ghana, concerns have been raised and agitations made over inadequacies in the
existing pension schemes in the country due to factors such as discrepancies in the
benefits enjoyed by retirees under the hitherto, two existing pension schemes, the Cap 30
and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust. It was in recognition of the need
for reforms to ensure a universal pension scheme for all employees in the country that
the new National Pension Act 766 was promulgated in 2008. The objectives of this study
were to: analyse the awareness levels of workers; assess the benefits of the new pension
scheme; determine the perception of workers; and assess the challenges facing the
implementation of the new pension scheme. The study adopted descriptive research
design. The population of the study were formal sector workers in Kumasi. A sample size
of 300 was used. Questionnaire was employed for the data collection. Quantitative data
analysis technique (such as Mean, Standard deviation, frequency, and percentages) and
qualitative data analysis technique such as content analysis, and logical deduction and
induction were used to analyse and discuss collected data. It was found out that: the
respondents are fairly aware of the existence of the new scheme; the respondents
accepted that the new scheme has brought some economic benefits to contributors and
the country; respondents have a positive perception about the new pension scheme; and
the major challenges that face the implementation of the new scheme are low rates of
pension fund returns and lack of knowledge of the new pension scheme. It was
recommended that: intensive public education should be embarked on by the NPRA and
the regulations governing the new pension scheme be rigidly enforced.
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Effect of working capital management on firm profitability: the case of listed manufacturing firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange.
(KNUST, 2016-07) ASAFO – ADJEI, WILLIAM
The impact of working capital management on the profitability of manufacturing firms
has attracted the attention of researchers in different countries of the world in recent
times. Working capital is needed for day-to-day operations of a firm. This research
expands the horizon of knowledge in this area by shedding more light on working capital
management as measured by the cash conversion cycle and how the individual
components of the cash conversion cycle influence the profitability of listed
manufacturing firms in Ghana. The primary purpose of this research was therefore to
examine the effect of working capital management on firm profitability. More
manufacturing firms would have been covered for the study, but due to lack of complete
data on some of the manufacturing firms, only seven listed manufacturing firms were
selected. ROA was used to measure profitability. The descriptive statistics, correlation
matrix of the variables and the regression analysis were based on a panel sample of listed
manufacturing firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The results revealed a negative
relationship between number of days accounts receivable, number of days inventory, the
cash conversion cycle: and the profitability. In addition, there was a positive relationship
between the number of days accounts payable and the profitability. Therefore managers
can increase the profitability of their firms by shortening the number of days accounts
receivable, number of days inventory and the cash conversion cycle. However, the
number of days accounts payable is expected to be relatively longer than the number of
days accounts receivable in order to increase profitability. In the nut shell, the outcome
of the research clearly pinpoint that working capital management as represented by the
cash conversion cycle accompanied by the control variables influence firm profitability.
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Studies on evaluation of internal accounting control system in commercial banks: A case study of Ecobank Ghana limited.
(KNUST, 2016-08) Teku, Emmanuel Heduvor
The Centre piece of control systems of organizations including financial institutions is
the internal accounting control systems. This study seeks to evaluate the nature of the
internal accounting control system of Ecobank Ghana. A qualitative descriptive case
study with purposive sampling technique methodology was used. The main instrument
employed was a questionnaire to solicit the opinions of management and employees of
Ecobank Ghana and a sample size of 150 was used. Frequency tables, pie charts and
bar graphs were used in the discussion of the responses to the questionnaire. The
findings indicated that Ecobank Ghana has established a carefully formulated and
technologically automated dual accounting control system. However, the bank has
failed to effectively monitor the level of compliance with the system. The
recommendations made from the study were that Ecobank Ghana should make
conscious effort to sensitise all the employees on the bank’s internal accounting control
manual to enable the employees to have fundamental knowledge of the accounting
control system. Finally, the bank should periodically update the employees through
circulars, e-mails and workshops on the reviews and changes made in its internal
accounting control system.
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Assessing the impact of internally generated funds on Developmental projects in Ghana: a case of Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
(KNUST, 2016-08) AMPOFO, SETH
A major role of the central government in most emerging economies is to provide the
needs of the people at the local level. In furtherance of this role, central governments
set up sub-governmental structures such as Metropolitan, Municipal and District
Assemblies at the local level. By large, local government bodies are empowered to
undertake revenue mobilization functions to complement the developmental agenda of
central governments. A primary source of revenue of local governmental bodies derives
from the area of Internally Generated funds (IGF). Building on current literature, this
research study was primarily undertaken to assess the capacity of a local governmental
authority, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly in the mobilization of IGF. In particular,
the research objectives were to examine the trends of the mobilization of IGF spanning
2010-2014, identify other potential sources of IGF, the challenges of revenue
mobilization and the overall effect IGF has on developmental projects. The study
employs both quantitative and qualitative research designs in its analysis of data. Both
primary and secondary sources of data were adopted in the study. The secondary data
was adapted from the official records of the Assembly pertaining to its collection and
usage of IGF. The primary data was generated through interviews and questionnaires.
Based on the outcome of the study, it was established that the Assembly has witnessed
an increase in the trends of revenue generation over the sampling period. The potential
sources of revenue were established to comprise, private hostels in the various tertiary
campuses, mobile money vendors, betting companies, estate agents, and also to
consider revaluation of properties at regular intervals. The challenges of revenue
mobilization were found to be the lack of enforcement of tax regulations,
misappropriation of funds, inadequate logistics and lack of trained personnel. Further
it was found out that IGF play a key role in the execution of developmental projects
such as clinics, classrooms and market buildings. From a policy perspective, the
findings of the study suggest the need for the Assembly to train personnel for effective
revenue mobilization, enforce tax regulations and punish corrupt officials.
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Assessing career progression among female health workers in the Ghana health service in the Kumasi Metropolis.
(KNUST, 2016-11) DUODU, SANDRA
The career development of women over the years has seen several consistent limitations. This
paper assesses the career progression of female health workers in the Ghana Health services. The
research was guided by four specific objectives; effects of social roles on career progression,
impact of social support on career progression, effects of perceived organizational support on
career progression, and lastly the effects of personality on career progression. The study was
basically quantitative and it sought to explain the relationship among the variables. A total of two
hundred (200) selected from five (5) hospitals and Metro Health Directorate answered the
questionnaire. Primary data was gathered through questionnaire whiles secondary data was
collected through other researches among others. The data collected was analyzed using statistical
package for social scientist (SPSS). Correlation and Linear Regression were used to analyze the
data. The results showed that while the effect of social role (B=-0.014; p=0.783) is not significant
and as such cannot be used to predict career progression all the remaining factors, social support
(B=-0.377; p=0.000), perceived organizational support (B=-0.189: p=0.007) and personality (B=-
0.342: p=0.000) are statistically significant and can be used to predict career progression. The
study recommended that the society must offer support to women in the form of husbands and in laws helping them in taking care of their children and discharging their household duties since it
helps them to get time to progress in their career. Organizations should create the enabling
environment to help the female worker progress as well as organize workshops and refresher
courses for their female workers periodically. Lastly the study recommends that women should
have a positive attitude towards themselves by avoiding inferiority complex.
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School Feeding Programmes and Physical Nutrition Outcomes of Primary School Children in Developing Countries
(Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research, 2022) Yussi, Mustapha Titi; Adocta, Vincent Awuah; Apprey, Charles; Annan, Reginald A.; Galseku, Prosper; 0000-0002-4071-5049
Context: School feeding programmes have been widely implemented and particularly in developing countries with the aim to improve school
enrolment and attendance especially of girls and to reduce short term hunger to improve children’s performance in school. Beyond the first 1000
days of the lives of children, school feeding programmes remain one of the critical interventions that have used schools as a platform to contribute to
the ful¿lment of their nutritional needs though the evidence to this effect is little and mixed.
Objective: This review focused on assessing the impact of school feeding programmes on reduction in underweight, thinness, and stunting among
primary school children in developing countries. Data sources: Electronic searches were carried out in PUBMED, SCOPUS and Cochrane library. The WHO clinical trials registry as well as reference lists of relevant articles were also hand searched.
Data Extraction: Data was extracted from included studies which have been published in the past 10 years (2010 - August 2021) from original
research where the main intervention was the provision of school based meals.
Data analysis: Meta-analysis was conducted to determine changes in height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ) z scores. A random effects model was applied to determine the mean difference in all outcomes of interest which were evaluated as continuous variables.
Results: Children aged 3-16 years were enrolled in the included studies and the number of participants ranged between 321 and 2,869 across
studies. Of the included studies, the feeding intervention provided for a minimum of 30% RDA for the age group with the intervention lasting up
to a maximum of 34 weeks. The impact of school feeding intervention on HAZ, BAZ and WAZ showed statistically non-significant (p>0.05) mean
differences of 0.02 (95% CI, -0.06 to 0.10), 0.11 (95% CI, -0.01 to 0.23) and 0.06 (95% CI, -0.04 to 0.16) respectively.
Conclusion: School feeding interventions have not shown any significant positive effect on the physical nutrition outcomes of primary school
children. Short duration of intervention during the studies, poor compliance to feeding and substitution of school meals could have accounted for the
weak effect sizes.