Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 5 of 7513
- ItemMoney Supply, Government Borrowing and Inflation Nexus: Case of Ghana(AUGUST, 2016) Mensah, Geoffrey KusiThis study examined the relationship between money supply, government borrowing and inflation in Ghana from 1981 to 2013. The study adopts a quantitative methodology framework and specifically employs econometric technique (Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag Models) to investigate the relationship between money supply, government borrowing and inflation in Ghana. The stationarity test done using the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Philip Peron (PP) tests reveals that the variables under study were stationary at the levels and first difference hence justifying the use of the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag Models (ARDL).The ARDL technique to cointegration shows that there is long run relationship among the variables. The long run results reveal that External Debt Stock is positively related to Inflation, however not significant. Furthermore, Broad Money Supply and Interest Rate are positively and significantly related to Inflation. Exchange Rate on the other hand is negatively and significantly related to Inflation. Contrary to the long run, External Debt Stock in the short run was positively and significantly related to Inflation. Broad Money Supply and Exchange Rate were negatively and significantly related to Inflation. Interest Rate was positively and significantly related to Inflation in the short run. The estimated coefficient of ECM of -0.7410 reveals that about 74.10% of the errors in the short run are corrected in the long run. The study therefore recommends that in order to maintain low levels of inflation, the government of Ghana should control borrowing and the supply of money in the economy.
- ItemAn investigation into the operations of microfinance institutions within the Kumasi Metropolis(2017-01-25) Tandoh, FelixMicrofinance services in the financial sector have spread all over the nation to serve the needs of the poor and the community as a whole. The industry also emerged as an innovation in lending to the rural poor in Africa. But lack of due diligence and effective management practices has led to the collapse of most microfinance institutions within the Kumasi metropolis. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore operations of microfinance institutions within the Kumasi metropolis. The specific objectives were to identify the challenges effecting the effective operational management of microfinance institutions within the Kumasi metropolis, to evaluate factors which attributed to the collapse of some microfinance institutions within the Kumasi metropolis and to identify the strategic approaches for effective operational management of microfinance institutions within Kumasi metropolis. Through a thorough literature review questionnaire was developed and administered to ten (10) microfinance institutions involving five (5) operational staffs within each setup. Data generated from the survey were further analysed using descriptive statistics involving percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviation. The following were revealed as the challenges to effective operational management of microfinance institutions, namely: dishonest employees, lack of understanding in the definition and concept of microfinance by the clients, lack of standardize reporting and performance monitoring system for microfinance institutions were the major Moreover, most causes in the collapse of microfinance institutions was as a result of mismanagement, illegal operation with unethical practices and disregard of due diligence. Based on the above finding the following recommendations were deem necessary. Circumspection in recruitment and selection of the right and qualify human personnel, Due diligence by management in the legal operation with ethical practices and control of public rumor in avoiding panic withdrawal. Periodic customer’s seminar by management on various services and policy guidance to prospective customer on their business guidance and operations with respective financial institutions.
- ItemThe role of African traditional practices in sustainable forest management and conservation: A case study of the Malshegu Sacred Grove in the Northern Region of Ghana.(2017-01-24) Atanga, Francis CalebForest resources of Ghana are very vital for the country’s sustainable development and several forestry initiatives have been executed to improve governance in the sector. Traditional forest management approach such as the protection of traditional areas (sacred groves, trees species and non-forest products) in Ghana aims at achieving effective management and sustainability of natural resources, especially off reserves that falls under traditional communities. The study aimed at investigating the contribution of African Traditional Practices (ATPs) in forest management and conservation. The bond between traditional practices in forest management of the study area and a set of socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed. The effectiveness of traditional practices, reasons for adherence to these practices and the challenges faced in traditional forest management were also identified. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques were used to collect data from the community. A total sample of 105 respondents comprising 94 household individuals, 8 traditional authorities, the Gundana (land/forest chief) and 2 officials (each from EPA and FSD) were interviewed. Data analysis were done using mainly descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and the pairwise ranking method (was used to determine the effectiveness of the traditional practices). The result revealed that 73% of the respondents agreed that traditional practices were effective in protecting the sacred grove, 15% disagreed and 13% neither agreed nor disagreed to the assertion. Some of the perceptions revealed from the study showed the contributions of traditional practices to forest management and conservation included; the sustainable conservation of the Malshegu sacred grove as a cultural heritage to the people and the chieftaincy system of Dagomba and adherence to traditional practices as a sign of respect to the gods (resulting in bumper harvest and blessings). Furthermore, the study results showed that only men participated in forest management decisions and related activities. The results also indicated that 28% of the respondents participated in management decisions or meetings, 16% had access only to the sacred grove whiles only 12% had both access and control (direct managers) over it and this category included the Chief, the Gundana (land/forest chief) and the chief/fetish priest. The main policy implication drawn from the findings are that resource managers and policy makers need to be sensitive to create more practical integrated management approach or policies to ensure meaningful participation from forest-dependent communities. The success of this approach relies heavily on a positive relationship between forest-dependent communities and resource managers. In designing participatory integrated management approach, differences in socio-demographic variables (gender and age) and capacity building interventions should be considered by resource managers to ensure extensive grass-root participation. The study concludes that traditional practices can still play key role in forest management and conservation if integrated into modern forest management policies given the fact that these practices have stood the test of time. However, poor interest in traditional practices (amongst the youth) due to the stigmatization from the influx of Islam and Christianity and low grass-root participation (because of gender and age biasness) in traditional forest resource management are major lapses or challenges which have limited adherence and control of traditional leaders over their subjects and hence negative implications on the sustainability of forest resources in Ghana especially traditional community forests.
- ItemMeasuring cost and technical efficiency in the operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana: the case study of Ashanti Region(2017-01-24) Akpiok, EbenezerMeasuring cost and technical efficiency in the operations of the NHIS in Ghana is a vital issue. The study used DEA-Technical Efficiency Model and DEA-Cost Efficiency Model to estimate the technical and cost efficiency levels of the NHIS. A regression was also adopted to determine which factors are responsible for variation of technical and cost efficiency in the operations of the NHIS over the period (2009-2012). The findings indicates that only one NHIS of the sample units (NHIS) operates at its optimal from 2009-2012 in the case of technical efficiency while for cost efficiency results, none of the sample units operates at optimal level from 2009-2012. The technical efficiency result reveals that on average, efficiency results are higher, thus 0.719, 0.704, 0.701 and 0.730 respectively from 2009-2012 while the cost efficiency results suggests that on average, the efficiency results are low, thus 0.555, 0.441, 0.404 and 0.419 respectively from 2009- 2012. The determinant of technical efficiency results indicates that only AGE, Total Assets (TASSETS) and Location (LOC) that are inversely related to technical efficiency while only Total Premium (TPRM), Loss Ratio (LR), and Total Subsidy (TSUBSIDY) that relates positively to technical efficiency. In the case of cost efficiency, the determinants results shows that only AGE, Total Assets (TASSETS) and Total Subsidy (TSUBSIDY) that are negatively related with cost efficiency while only Total Premium (TPRM), Loss Ratio (LR), and Location (LOC) that relates positively with cost efficiency. The study concludes that AGE, TASSETS, TPRM, and LR except TSUBSIDY and LOC are all significant determinants of the NHIS’s operations in terms of cost and technical efficiency as they influence the operations of the NHIS in one way or the other over the period (2009-2012).
- ItemDeterminants of financial performance of savings and loans companies in Ghana: A case of Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited(2017-01-24) Adu Asabereh, Samuel OpokuThe main purpose of this study was to examine the determinants influencing financial performance of savings and loans companies in Ghana: A case of Opportunity International savings and Loans Company limited. The study specifically identified the factors influencing the performance of Opportunity International and further examined the financial products and services the institution offers. Lastly, the study assessed the challenges facing Opportunity International. The research revealed that capital adequacy ratio is non-stationary at the 5 percent significance level but became stationary after first-difference. Thus, capital adequacy ratio is integrated of order one ( I(1)). Also, credit risk is non-stationary even at the level. It attained the stationary status after first-difference, thus being an I (1) series. Inflation is non-stationary at the level and become stationary after first difference and Management inefficiency at 1 percent level of significance is stationary. Log of Net profit at the 5 percent level of significance is non-stationary but became stationary after first –difference and hence an I (1) series. Cointegration test was carried out to determine whether there is a level of relationship between profitability of Opportunity Savings and Loan Limited and its determinants. In the long run, management inefficiency was statistically significant. In the short run, capital adequacy was statistically significant and a meaningful addition to the model because changes in the predictor’s value are related to changes in the variable. From the survey group and individual loan products are the most widely patronized products in Opportunity International representing 30% and 23% respectively. Multiple borrowing from same clients across several organizations but with no data on the credit reference bureau and poor addressing systems were among the challenges identified.