Research Publications

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Examining the Preparedness of an Emerging Economy Towards e-Government Implementations: SWOT Analysis
(Southwest Decision Sciences Institute Conference, 2011) Andoh-Baidoo, Francis Kofi; Agyepong, Lawrencia
The last decade has witnessed a number of governments around the world working to capture the vast potential of the Internet to improve government processes. Egovernment development very often aims to improve public service delivery capability, as well as public administration governance, transparency, and accountability through the development of e-government service delivery capability. E-government has established itself as the transforming element in the way government services are offered to citizens in developed countries. Although this phenomenon is beginning to show promising results in many developing countries, countries like Ghana are still grappling with the challenge to embrace the opportunities that e-governance presents in order to meet the public needs and expectations while being cost-effective. The purpose of this paper therefore is to present a SWOT analysis of e-government implementation in Ghana.
The Metaphor: A Rhetorical Tool in Some Selected Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Kwame Nkrumah
(Language in India, 2011-04-04) Opoku, Mensah Eric
The metaphor, together with other rhetorical figures, was first identified and discussed over two thousand years ago in classical antiquity (Todorov, 1982) and has been effectively used by politicians and has thus become the subject of rhetorical studies in modern times. It is a prominent tool in the political discourse of King and Nkrumah who have been considered as great speakers of their time. Taking a qualitative approach, the study examines the place of metaphor in the political discourse of these two speakers. In particular, this paper is informed by the following questions: What role does metaphor play in the rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr. and Kwame Nkrumah? Are there some major similarities and differences in their use of the metaphor in their political discourse? Is there a relationship between their backgrounds and their choice of metaphors?
Situating Language at the Centre of Journalism Training: The Case for Broadening the Spheres of English Teaching and Learning in Journalism Training Institutions in Ghana
(Global Media Journal: African Edition, 2011-11) Fosu, Modestus
This paper derives its impetus from the consensus today that the media play an indispensable role indemocratic governance for sustained development. The media foster, most importantly, accountability,transparency, rule of law, respect for human rights, and civic participation, which are vital in securing theeconomic well-being of a people. Language, as the main vehicle that drives communication or journalisticimperatives to the “consumer”, thus becomes a critical factor.The focus here is on the effective and appropriate use of English (Ghana’s official language) innewspapers in Ghana. It is argued that the majority of newspapers display linguistic ineptitude, therebyweakening their capacity to package and make development-oriented messages accessible to the reader.Specifically, the majority of newspapers present news in grammatically faulty and semantically confusingconstructions that blur meaning. Thus, through a comparative study of the English and English-relatedcourses in four journalism training institutions in Ghana and the English provisions in the latest UNESCOjournalism curricula for Africa (2007), the study shows that English competence appears to be taken forgranted in the training institutions.This paper therefore argues for journalism education in Ghana to focus on helping trainee journalists toacquire English language competency. A more worthwhile complement will be to de-emphasise the“core” journalism or media knowledge and skills students are made to focus all their attention on in theschools and rather emphasise English use and usage. The paper suggests a reorganisation of Englishstudies including institutional structure, curriculum and syllabus development, infrastructure, teaching,and learning methodology as ways of broadening English language pedagogy to produce the calibre ofjournalists who can really champion the democratic and developmental aspirations of Ghana and Africa.
Reality Versus Desire: The Case of GIJ Library Users’ Expectations
(The Committee of University Librarians and their Deputies (CULD), 2012) Nyantakyi-Baah, Lydia; Afachao, Ernest
The paper looks at users‘ expectations and their view of library services at the Ghana Institute of Journalism library. The study identifies the GIJ library users‘ expectations by adopting the LibQUAL model propositions to collect data from 20% of the Bachelors degree students. The objective of the paper is to find out how service delivery is currently experienced by users. The paper also offers the evidence to managers of the Institute the need to improve services to meet increasing demands of users‘ expectations. Findings indicate that the dimensions in which users expressed the highest expectations were ‗access to information‘ and affect of services‘: materials that are relevant to their study at GIJ, easy access to electronic information, and staff who are courteous. Findings suggest that the library is well perceived regarding staff services‘: staff who are willing to help users. However, it emerged that the library did not meet the users‘ expectations in some of the propositions in all the three dimensions. Recommendations are made to guide the library strategically and operationally to better meet users‘ expectations.
Resource Sharing among Polytechnic Libraries in Ghana
(International Journal of Technology and Management Research, 2012) Barfi, Faustina Kyerewaa
The paper presents a synthesis on resource sharing among polytechnic libraries in Ghana. It explores how resource sharing would provide opportunities for the consolidation of strengths and minimize weakness among the polytechnic libraries. The main objective of resource sharing is to maximise the availability of materials and services and to minimize expenses and duplication. The paper further exposed some of the factors which make resource sharing imperative among the polytechnic libraries. These concerns include the proliferation of knowledge on the World Wide Web, issues of distance education, open access and instruction service. It also highlighted some of the resources that could be shared among the polytechnic libraries which include personnel, electronic service, tools, professional activities, policies, etc. Finally techniques that would foster resource sharing activities among the polytechnic libraries were discussed and these include communication, increase in the use of information communication technology, resource mobilisation and capacity building on the part of librarians.
The Yutong Bus: Representations of a New Ghanaian Political Metaphor
(Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2012-01) Opoku, Mensah Eric
Over last decade, the Ghanaian political discourse has been characterized by insults. This has been of major concern to media commentators, civil society, and other stakeholders in governance in Ghana. One fundamental key in Ghana’s political discourse has been the use of metaphor. Using Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) theory of metaphor, the study examines a bus metaphor in recent Ghanaian political speeches. The analysis of the metaphor reveals that the use of metaphors can minimize direct vilification in Ghanaian political communication. The analysis also demonstrates that features of conceptual sources can be manipulated by politicians to achieve positive rhetorical ends. Furthermore, the study supports the fact that positive or negative associations of source domain over a period of time can become a natural part of any given source domain The study has implication(s) for the relationship between political language and human cognition.
Impact of Information Centres on Scientific Research: A Case Study of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
(Journal of Communications, Media & Society, 2012-03) Nyantakyi-Baah, Lydia
Information centres are of prime concern as far as managing information is concerned. They have become significant in the provision of scientific and technical resources for scientists. Hence there is the need for information centres to process and repackage information in a suitable format that will satisfy and meet users’ information needs. This study looked at the impact of information centres on scientific research with reference to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. The impact of any information centre’s services on research or on a parent organization depends on the satisfaction users derive through the services. The study adopted the expectation disconfirmation theory, a customer satisfaction model, and used the survey method, employing the semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from 60 library users and 20 information centre staff. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to present the analysis. Findings from the study show that the Library is used frequently and patronage is very high. The information resources were found to be reliable, current and produced in a timely manner. Users derive a lot of benefits in using the Information Centre and this has increased research output. However, there are areas of dissatisfaction like the poor nature of Internet connectivity, inadequate information resources and limited funding.
e-Government Readiness in Ghana: a SWOT and PEST Analyses
(Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. (Electronic Government, An International Journal), 2012-10) Andoh-Baidoo, Francis Kofi; Babb, Jeffry Stephen; Agyepong, Lawrencia
E-Government has transformed how governments provide effi cient and effective services to citizens, businesses and other government agencies in both developed and developing nations. For developing nations, a context-oriented approach should be considered for a successful implementation of e-government. The paper examines the e-government readiness of Ghana, a developing nation in Africa. We employ a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) analysis of Ghana’s readiness to successfully implement e-government. We provide implications for practice and research. The analysis framework used in this study can be applied for other South-Saharan Nations.
Convergence, Citizens Engagement and Democratic Sustainability in Emerging Democracies: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria
(Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, 2012-12) Fosu, Modestus; Ufuoma, Akpojivi
In this era of globalisation, information accessibility is becoming more and more crucial to empower citizens in their political, economic and socio-cultural engagements. However, in emerging democracies there are certain factors, that is, economic, cultural and political, which are still hindering the vast majority of the population from being included in the media and democratic discourse. Nevertheless, a new phenomenon of communication convergence is evolving in emerging democracies like Ghana and Nigeria, which is providing platforms for wide citizen engagements in the political and social discourse in societies. Communication convergence here involves the interaction of radio, television, newspapers, mobile phones and audiences as participants at the same forum in the media sphere. This phenomenon has radically enhanced citizens’ participation in the democratic processes in Ghana and Nigeria respectively. Proceeding from a phenomenological perspective, this paper shall discuss the media convergence practices in Ghana and Nigeria in relation to political engagements as well as citizens engagements using case studies of a regular radio programme (Kokrokoo, on Peace FM) in Ghana and a regular TV programme (Sunrise Daily, on Channel TV) in Nigeria. The paper will argue that citizens’ engagements as a result of the convergence of the mass media are central to the survival of democracy in both countries if properly harnessed.
Neopatrimonial Logic and National Programmatic Policies in Ghana: A Case of Rice Importation and Production Policies under the Administrations of J.A. Kufuor And J.E.A. Mills
(African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 2013-10) Adu-Bempah Brobbey, Collins
Ghana’s 1992 constitution requires a party’s candidate to obtain 50% plus one valid vote to win presidential elections. However, no party has ever secured such valid votes in the respective stronghold alone. This study explores whether or not political parties in Ghana are emerging as programmatic parties, and the implications of the lack of programmatic parties for a party’s credibility and the deepening of democracy. To undertake this analysis, multidimensional construction of neopatrimonial logic is adopted and NPP’s Rice Importation Tariffs and NDC’s Savanna Accelerated Development Programme were extrapolated. Findings demonstrated that implementation of these policies has been occasioned by neopatrimonial logic as none of them is a programmatic party. This led to hypothesize that a non programmatic party leads to no credible national policy and programme, and consequently no democratic deepening. Using secondary data and interviews with 2 policy experts, 3 politicians and some respondents selected from among NGOs specialize in governance issues. This study concluded that Kufuor and Mills’ rice policies were populist rather than programmatic. Findings from the views of Ghanaians confirmed that the absence of programmatic parties opposes national policy and programmes, in that social interventionist policy of one regime faced implementation challenges in another. This situation often worsens the already dilapidated social conditions.
Advancing Innovation and Technology through Patent Information: A Case Study of Accra Polytechnic
(Information and Knowledge Management, 2014) Barfi, Faustina Kyerewaa; Kotey, Frederick Ashaley
This paper presents the outcome of a research carried out at the Accra Polytechnic on the role patent information plays in promoting innovation and technology. The study highlighted on some of the usefulness of patent information and explored its efficacy in teaching and learning. The objectives for the development of polytechnic education in Ghana is to create the manpower need for innovations and also to provide the technical expertise on the job market by ways of modifying and implementing ideas.The outcome of the study revealed that, majority of the students had no knowledge about patent Information and those who had knowledge about it find it difficult accessing and contributing to it. Though the various departments of the polytechnic invent ideas, patenting them becomes difficult.The study responses further indicated that, the aim of the polytechnic is to support research to increase in the availability of scientific and technical information yet the diverse ways of innovation and inventions has not gain the needed support. The study revealed that, the use of patent information in teaching and learning would foster development.Despite the enormous advantages patent plays in technology, the study has buttressed a research report by the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO (2010) that, Africa is the least continent that utilizes patent information and this has resulted in a decline in innovation and invention. Further, the limited usage of patent information among polytechnics students and the idea of intellectual property were new to them.The study adopted the simple random sampling approach, using the structured questionnaires
Local Revenue Mobilization Mechanisms: Evidence from the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in Ghana
(Developing Country Studies, 2014) Opoku, Ernest; Kyeremeh, Christian; Odoom, Daniel
This paper examined the local revenue mobilization mechanisms in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in Ghana. A total of 214 respondents made up of 20 officials of the Assembly and 194 tax payers were involved in the study. The study demonstrated that despite the availability of other sources of local revenue, the Assembly was yet to take advantage of them. The strength of the Assembly’s local revenue collection measures included revenue collectors’ inclusion in tax decisions, house-to-house collection, and database. However, the weaknesses included poor taxpayer participation in tax decisions, inadequate personnel for revenue mobilization and poor cash management systems and accountability mechanisms at the Assembly. Some of the challenges the Assembly faced in improving local revenue generation were unwillingness on the part of the taxpayers to meet tax obligation, low pace of development and political considerations. It is recommended that the Assembly should put in place strong monitoring and supervisory mechanisms to check the revenue collectors, sanctions defaulting collectors, and also create room for private participation in local revenue collection.
Global Media and the End of the Nation-State: Myth or Reality?
(Samar Habib, 2014-04) Coker, Wincharles; Opoku, Mensah Eric
Debates about the influence of international media moguls on feeble African nation-states in particular often focus on whether the end of state sovereignty is a hyperbolic myth or a literal truth. This paper argues that, far from being an either/or question, contemplations of the phenomenon can be effectively enhanced if we adopt a middle-ground. Such a posture requires that we examine the dialectic between so-called global media and the nation-state within the orbit of critical theories such as Marxist political economy, in understanding their implications for sub-Saharan African states.
Human Resource Capacity Needs at the District Assemblies: A Study at Assin South District Assembly in Ghana
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2014-09) Odoom, Daniel; Kyeremeh, Christian; Opoku, Ernest
The study examined the human resource (HR) capacity needs at the Assin South District Assembly using the descriptive and non-interventional research design. Purposive and quota sampling techniques were used to select 53 respondents with interview schedule and interview guide as the research instruments. The study revealed that the existing institutional arrangements in Ghana’s decentralized government system did not allow the Assembly to properly address its HR capacity needs. Besides, poor staff attraction, low remuneration, poor accommodation facilities and inadequate training and development contributed to the Assembly’s HR capacity needs. The study recommended that the government should decentralize the HR arrangements at the DAs to grant autonomy to the Personnel Management Department at the Assembly to actively address its own HR capacity needs. The government must effectively collaborate with the Assembly to provide adequate logistics, attractive incentives and social amenities so as to attract well-qualified personnel for smooth decentralization.
Trial of Democracy Versus Democratic Triumphalism: A Focus on Ghana
(European Scientific Journal, ESJ (2nd Eurasian Multidisciplinary Forum, EMF 2014, 23-26 October, Tbilisi, Georgia), 2014-12) Adu-Bempah Brobbey, Collins
The volume of empirical literature on Ghana’s democratization is overwhelming. Two contrasting positions have come to dominate the Ghanaian democratization political discourses. While some Afro-optimist scholars argue that Ghana is the model of democracy in Africa and hence it is in the era of democratic triumphalism, on the contrary, other Afro-pessimist scholars contend that Ghana has since independence been experiencing a complex and contradictory historical legacy of democratic governance - where liberalism exists side by side with patronage politics and hence it is still in the era of trial of democracy. Thegoal of this paper is to investigate how Ghana’s democratic governance exists side by side with widespread cronyism and nepotism. The data for this paper came from scholarly articles, newspaper reports, and in-depth interviews.. This paper draws a number of conclusions. First, on the theoretical level, Ghana has a beacon of democratic rule and hence it is a model of Africa’s democracy. Second, empirically, the country’s relative electoral democratic success story is largely cosmetic due to pervasive cronyism and nepotism which impede active civic political participation. It thus, recommends institutional reforms not only to promote domestication and socialization of democratic norms, culture and values but also making it internalizeable and enforceable.
Establishing Ethos and Envisioning a New Africa: Kwame Nkrumah’s Invention at the 1958 All-African People’s Conference
(Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2015) Opoku, Mensah Eric
In 1958, Kwame Nkrumah, the Prime Minister of Ghana, called for a conference of independent heads of state in Africa. It was a novelty in Africa. The conference was to provide a formal continental platform for the political deliberation of Africa by Africans. The paper carefully focuses on the nuances and purpose of Nkrumah’s invention. First, the work argues that Nkrumah strategically invented a rhetoric which sought to establish his ethos as a Pan Africanist whose leadership was crucial in the quest to free Africa from colonial domination. Secondly, the paper examines, through Nkrumah’s rhetoric, how the deliberative nature of the Accra conference was turned into an epideictic one. This paper has implication(s) for the role of rhetoric in the decolonisation of Africa.
The Logic of Neopatrimonialism and Democratic Deepening: A Case of Ghana's Fourth Republic
(US-China Law Review, 2015) Adu-Bempah Brobbey, Collins
Africa’s quest for effective governance in the first two decades after independence yielded in different shades of political organizations ranging from radical socialism, militarism, military and/or civil authoritarianism and one party democracy. After the collapse of Berlin Wall and the demise of communism, most African states overwhelmingly joined what Huntington called the “Third Wave” of democratization of which Ghana was no exception. Although Ghana’s decades of democratizing state institutions and its politics have yielded relatively significant electoral democratic gains, democratic rule in Ghana still faces challenges of legitimization. While some Africanist scholars admit that Ghana is a neopatrimonial state, none of these scholars has drawn a linkage between neopatrimonial logic and political legitimacy crisis in Ghana. As an exploratory research design, this paper employed in-depth interview method to investigate the nexus between neopatrimonial logic and democratic deepening in Ghana. Findings reveal that in spite of Ghana’s several attempts at democratizing its state institutions and politics, legitimacy crisis still persists. This paper thus, concluded that the disruptive potentiality of neopatrimoniallogic bears inordinate (holding all other factors constant) responsibility.
The Role of Strategy in a Competitive Business Environment: A Case Study of Ecobank Ghana Limited
(European Journal of Business and Management, 2015) Sarpong, Loretta; Tandoh, Isaac
The financial systems in Ghana tend to evolve around the banking system. The banking sector is experiencing increased competitions in the new deregulated market. Competition in the banking sector matters for a number of reasons. Operating in the competitive banking environment is very challenging. Formulating a consistent strategy is an intricacy for many management teams, making that strategy work is even more complex. The aim of this study is to examine the role of strategy in competitive business environment. A case study research design was adopted for easy assessment of the role of strategy in a competitive environment. Ecobank Ghana Limited, the Pan African bank was adopted for the case study area. Both primary and secondary source data was used with a sample size of 320 respondents. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from Management of Ecobank. The study therefore found that the competitive strategies of Ecobank Ghana are effective and that the strategies have contributed to high financial performance of the bank. The impact of competitive strategies on the performance of the bank are increasing sales volume; profit efficiency, increase productivity, increase in ROE, businesses and sustainable growth increased market share, enhanced customer service and increased of customer waiver of charges. The study recommends that the bank should work hard to build and sustain its competitive advantage and be prepared for the next wave of market reforms and restructuring by applying new methods of information technology and upgrading the skills of staff and management.
The Impact of Sales Promotions on the Performance of Auto-Mobile Industries in Ghana: A Case Study of PHC Motors (Accra-Ghana)
(European Journal of Business and Management, 2015) Tandoh, Isaac; Sarpong, Loretta
The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of sales promotion on organisational performance in the auto mobile industry in Ghana. The study was conducted at PHC Motors Ghana’s Retail Outlet in Accra, Ghana. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between sales promotion and organisational performance, to examine the effect of sales promotion in the automobile market, and to identify the challenges hindering sales promotions effectiveness.The study used descriptive research approach and the data was purely quantitative. In order to achieve this objective, thirty (30) respondents were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. The Data was analysing using SPSS obtained from the field. The research revealed that the impact of sales promotion on organizational performance in PHC is intense. Also, from the management perspective most of the respondents agree that sale promotion provides extra incentives to purchase as well as stimulating resellers demand and effectiveness. The study devoted to conclude the relationship between sale promotion and the organizational performance, most sales promotion provide extra incentives to purchase as well as stimulating resellers demand and effectiveness. It revealed that effective sales promotion increase sales. The researcher therefore recommended that, management of PHC Motors should embark on more strategic sale promotion in order to increase their market share and profitability.
Dynamics of Savings Culture in Ghana
(South American Journal of Management, 2015) Tandoh, Isaac; Tandoh, Victor
In Ghana and most developing parts of the world, families feel that it’s troublesome or skirting on hard to save as a result of low levels of wages (Boateng, 1994). The low profit of Ghanaian families is a result of the low levels of budgetary improvement consolidated with distinctive components, for instance, unlucky deficiency of training. The purpose of the study was to find out the determinants of savings culture in Kumasi, the second capital of Ghana. Quantitative methodology was used and sample was obtained from selected households in Kumasi. The study assembled and made utilization of primary data through the organization of organized surveys. Questionnaires were used as a data collection tool and SPSS a statically tool was used to analyze the data. It was discovered in the study that, relatively high level of savings culture among the people of Kumasi metropolis. Respondents preferred to save more for the future, they planned life ahead of time, saving money was a virtue, respondents paid close attention to how much money they spend, and before they purchased anything, they compared prices on similar items. The study recommends that financial institutions improve their operational and marketing strategies to attract all persons in the qualified age bracket being it male and female and also governing bodies like the Bank of Ghana, must take drastic measures to close down all these illegal financial institutions in the system that is dragging the reputation of the rest into the mud.

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