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- ItemOrganizational change as a tool for enhancing organization development. A case study of Coca-Cola Bottling Company Limited.(August, 2015) Donkor, StephenChange is seen as an essential ingredient for the growth and development of organizations. The purpose of the study was to assess change as a tool for enhancing organizational development in Coca Cola Bottling Company Ltd. In terms of methods, a Case study explanatory design was adopted for the study. The mixed approach was used in analyzing the data for the study. Sources of data were from both primary and secondary sources. One hundred and fifty of management, staff and customers (suppliers) of Coca Cola Bottling Company Ltd were sampled for the study. The results of the study indicated that Coca Cola Bottling Company Ltd has undergone some changes. Some of the changes were: changes in line of reporting, changes in the parking of finished products, reshuffling of employees and management and introduction of new product line. Both management and employees were involved in the decision for change process. It was established that most commonly used measures for the achievement of results are effective communication, employees’ commitment, leadership effectiveness, employees’ care, sense of accountability, customer centricity and organizational learning and innovation. It was also seen that high ranking officials of Coca Cola Bottling Company Ltd. resist to changes that will affect them but employees believe that the change will have great significant impact on the company. Junior employees, however, felt that their involvement for the change was significant and should be encouraged. The study recommended that top managements should be sensitized on the importance of accepting organizational change. Change embraced by the company should be in line with the trend in technology. The company should also monitor measures for effective implementation of change to ensure high level of productivity.
- ItemThe potential of indigenous fungi in bioremediation of heavy metals in the Chemu Lagoon, Ghana(2015-11-16) Doku, Emmanuel TettehThe release of industrial effluents laden with heavy metals has polluted the quality of aquatic ecosystems. The Chemu lagoon located in Tema has served as a sink for both untreated and semi-treated industrial and municipal effluents. This study was conducted on the Chemu lagoon and selected nearby industries from November, 2011 to October, 2012. Physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations of selected industrial point sources, lagoon water and sediments at three selected sites (upstream, midstream and downstream) were determined. Fungi were also isolated, sub cultured and grown on lagoon water-agar medium to determine their heavy metal bioaccumulation potential. The mean BOD, pH, conductivity, temperature, nitrate, sulphate and phosphate ranged from 149.67-4765mg/l, 5.67-11.47, 9.3-261.53 μS/cm and 36.3-38.97˚C, 0.127-3.633mg/l, 1.04-88.69mg/l and 0.014-237.98mg/l respectively. Majority of observed physicochemical parameters were above stipulated WHO standards. The Dry season (V1 and V2) recorded higher concentrations of heavy metals compared to Wet (V2 and V3) season. Mean range of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in lagoon and industrial effluents were 0.036-2.854mg/l, 0.043-0.202mg/l, 0.0013-0.08mg/l, 0.0017-0.027mg/l and 0.003-0.055mg/l respectively. The observed concentrations of these heavy metals in the effluents varied significantly and were mostly above WHO (2004) drinking water quality limits. Mean range of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) concentrations in lagoon sediments were 55.57-179.97mg/l, 0.154-5.09mg/l, 0.163-4.267mg/l, 0.013-1.38mg/l and 0.067-1.51mg/l respectively. With the exception of Cadmium (Cd) all observed ranges of heavy metal concentrations in sediments were within Canadian Sediment Quality Guideline (CSQG) limits. Total Viable Counts (TVC) (expressed in as mean logarithm) in lagoon effluents and sediments ranged from log 4.49-5.98 CFU/100ml and log 6.72-8.97 CFU/100ml respectively. The population of total coliforms recorded indicated significant pollution of lagoon effluents and sediments. Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tamarii, Mucor rouxii, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus spp were isolated from lagoon sediments. The potential of A. niger and A. fumigatus in bioaccumulation of heavy metals were highest in 1:1 and 1:5 media respectively. The bioaccumulation potential of Aspergillus niger was in decreasing order; Iron (Fe) 130.9% >Arsenic (As) 53.7% >Zinc (Zn) 44.3% > Lead (Pb) 36.9% > Cadmium (Cd) 18.1%. Iron (Fe) had the highest bioaccumulation potential for Aspergillus fumigatus followed by Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) in decreasing order 128.3% > 71.5% > 62.8% > 40% > 6.4% respectively. Selected fungi showed excellent bioaccumulation potential and thus their molecular and physiological mechanisms of bioaccumulation could be studied to improve their levels of heavy metals removal on the large industrial scale.
- ItemAssessment of maize ear rot in major maize growing areas of Ashanti Region of Ghana(2014-11-17) Kieh, Herbert KMaize ear rots reduce grain yield quality with implication on food security and health. Information on the types and prevalence of maize ear rots in the major maize growing areas of Ashanti Region of Ghana is scanty. A survey was, therefore, conducted during the major and minor maize growing seasons to determine the prevalence of maize ear rots and types of fungal pathogens associated in this region. The survey considered 39 and 20 communities in metropolis, municipals and districts during the major and minor seasons, respectively. A total of 44 farmers were interviewed during the survey. The field survey showed a 70% female dominance amongst respondents and a predominantly middle-age farming population. Majority (77%) of the farmers interviewed had only primary school education and about 43% had over two decades of experience with maize cultivation. Most of the farmers obtained their seeds from the Ghana Seed Company, and Obaatanpa appeared to be the variety of choice amongst farmers in the region. About 66% of the respondents alluded to planting their seeds in the month of April and majority (84%) of the farmers observed symptoms of maize ear rot at maturity of the crop. The survey also considered management practices used by farmers to combat maize ear rot. The results showed that majority (68%) of the farmers had no prior knowledge of any fungicides. Roundup, a weedicide, appeared to be the chemical of choice but none of the farmers interviewed used a fungicide. Sun drying of debris appeared to be the popular control method used in the region. The maize samples collected from the communities were taken to the laboratory and analyzed for ear rot pathogens. During the major season, a total of seven fungal pathogens were isolated. For this period, the prevalent fungal pathogen of maize ear rot was Aspergillus flavus, followed by Colletotrichum sp. and the least being Curvularia sp. For the minor season, a total of five fungal pathogens were isolated. During this period, the prevalent fungal pathogen of maize ear rot was Colletotrichum sp., followed by A. flavus and the least being Penicillium sp. The types of maize ear rot identified were Aspergillus flavus, Colletotrichum sp., Trichoderma sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Curvularia sp. Results from the field survey showed that majority of the farmers did not perceive the occurrence and impact of maize ear rots.
- ItemAssessment of Bookkeeping Practices and its relevance to SMEs in New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana(2011) Suraj, AbubakarGhana’s economy is characterized by a relatively small large firm segment, a very large number of micro enterprises, and in between lie small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The unique feature of most SMEs is that, they can be easily established since their requirement in terms of capital, technology; management and even utilities are not as demanding as it is the case of large enterprises. Consequently, small enterprise sector is one of the leading employers (next only to peasant agriculture) in Ghana and has been recognized as significant sector in employment creation, income generation, poverty alleviation and a base for industrial development. It is estimated that there are over two million enterprises in the sector employing between 5 to 6 million people. Despite the enormous potential of the private sector, poor record keeping is identified as a constraint hampering its growth in Ghana. Businesses are unable to keep track of daily activities and banks are unwilling to lend to SMEs all due to lack of financial information. Hence, this study seeks to investigate whether SMEs practice bookkeeping or not, and the contributions of bookkeeping to the growth of SMEs in the New Juaben Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The study considered a total population of 450 comprising SMEs, 15 Banks as well as NBSSI office in the Municipality. Out of this figure, a simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 136 for the study. From the findings of the study, it was revealed that, 80.8% SMEs were practicing bookkeeping and the manual system was predominantly used. The recommendations however were that, NBSSI must be strengthen and well resourced by government to offer support services in the area of organizing effective training programmes for SMEs operators. There must also be an intensive publicity in the local dialect through the mass media to sensitize SME operators on the need to maintain proper books of records.