Search

Commercial passenger motor tricycles are a recent addition to the vehicle mix in urban areas of Ghana having been introduced in about 2015. While they serve a good purpose and fill a niche in the transport market in Ghanaian cities, this mode of transport is characterized by several road crashes that sometimes result in fatalities. Consequently, the objective of this study was to understand social and economic factors as well as motor tricycles’ operational characteristics and related crashes. A detailed study of this mode of transport in the study area revealed that the socio-economic factors that contribute to crashes involving commercial motor tricycles include the revenue per day, amount spent on fuel per day, and operating days, but with a negative relationship between daily revenue and amount spent on fuel and crash severity. Operational characteristics studied revealed a general improvement in operators’ level of education, a situation where owner-operators are more careful with their vehicles, patrons’ preference for new tricycles, and relatively good returns from operations of these vehicles. Operators also work for long hours and on all days of the week. Further analysis of the data revealed that there are major safety concerns. While the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) reports a fatality share of 28% with an annual increase of 3.9% for motorcycle-related crashes in Ghana, the National Road Safety Authority, in the year 2010, indicated a crash rate of more than 50% which is yet to be updated. Recent data for 2019 published by the BRRI estimate a rate of 8.15 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles with a total of 829 total crashes in 2019 for motorcycles, tricycles, and rickshaws and 2.7 motorcycle fatalities per 10,000 vehicles. Similar data are yet to be estimated for motorcycles and commercial tricycles in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. However, our study revealed a crash rate of 67% for motor tricycle operators in the study area on account of an increase in population, low initial capital cost, and the ability to maneuver in inaccessible areas. It is recommended that, in view of the preponderance of passenger tricycles in the study area, massive educational campaigns involving all stakeholders be pursued.

This study empirically examines the impact of working capital management (WCM) on the profitability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of a developing economy, Ghana. We analyzed data on 366 SMEs over a 10-year period, spanning 2007 to 2016. Generalized method of moment (GMM) estimation was employed. The results reveal a positive relationship between trade payable period and profitability. The inventory conversion period and cash conversion cycle show a negative association with profitability. The results show an inverted U-shaped relationship between trade receivables collection period and corporate profitability, an indication of an optimal trade receivables collection period that maximizes profitability. Further check suggests a deviation from the optimal trade receivables collection period significantly and negatively affects corporate profitability. The study reveals the need for firms to ensure efficient management of working capital to maximize profitability.

This research studies the effect of new product introduction prize (NPIP) announcements on firm value, applying event study methodology to 509 NPIP announcements between the period of 2001-2015. Specifically, the study focuses on NPIP announcements made in the computer, electronic and communication industry (CECI). It analyzes the short-term effect of market value caused by NPIP announcements within two-day event window (Days -1 and 0) by using market model. We established that NPIP announcements are perceived by investors as positive news, resulting in significant positive cumulative abnormal returns (CARs). Having controlled for firm-specific effects, (reputation and R&D intensity), we observed that stock market responds more positively to NPIPs attained by small-sized firms than large-sized firms. In addition, stock market reaction to firms that won NPIP from third-party prize schemes is more positive than winning from prize schemes within the firms’ supply chain. Due to the indispensable financial rewards accumulated by firms winning NPIPs, the conclusions of this research are very valuable to managers in the allocation of more resources towards augmenting their firms’ new product development capabilities.

Several studies have evolved to deal with the determinants of stock market volatility. However, there exists a gap in literature with regards to the interrelation among the broad categories of factors that trigger stock market reaction namely company fundaments, technical factors and market sentiments. This paper provides a holistic and comprehensive theoretical review of drivers of stock markets’ reaction as well as designs an interrelated conceptual framework of the factors that influence investors’ decision making to fill the gap in literature. Brexit is presented as a case study to illustrate how investors and stock markets are affected by new events or information. This study will reveal some of the global staggering effects of Brexit at the end of trading on June 24, 2016 in areas such as currencies, stock markets, banks, commodities, bonds, automakers and homebuilders as well as hedge fund. Barely 24 hours after the results of Brexit were declared; global stock markets lost about $2 trillion in value. The British pound plunged to almost $1.33, its lowest level in over 30 years against the US dollar and gold proved to be one of the few safe havens for investors on that day. In order for investors to insulate themselves against loses from Black Swans events, the conclusion of this study recommends some protective mechanisms for investors which include avoidance of overexposure and stockpiling of cash.

The paper investigates the challenges faced by Non-Executive and Independent Directors in ensuring that good corporate governance practices are adhered to in non-listed Ghanaian family business at all times using non-listed family business in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The findings revealed that the presence of non-executive and independent directors had no significant effect on the performance of non-listed family businesses in Ghana since they were dormant in most of the roles expected to be discharged by them and active in only few responsibilities or roles. It is also discovered that the boards of non-listed family businesses meet only when there is a problem to solve and not regularly. The owner-manager-chief executive office-board chairman, makes all decisions and ensures its implementation. The results draw the attention of policy makers to the position of non-executive and independent directors in family businesses given the enormous positive contribution they play to the economic development of the nations and their contributions to the society in general.

Introduction : early diagnosis of cancer is critical for ensuring treatment success. Important components of early diagnosis include education (knowledge) and encouragement of the target population to participate in early diagnostic procedures. Statistics from Cancer Namibia (CAN) showed that 221 and 271 prostate cancer (PCa) cases were reported in 2013 and 2014. This study examined knowledge, attitudes and practices of men regarding PCa among men attending Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO). Methods : we conducted a cross-sectional study among men aged between 18-72 years attending IHO Outpatients Department. We enrolled 384 participants using systematic random sampling. Frequencies and proportions were generated. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine factors affecting the level of knowledge and attitudes; factors found to be significant were further analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to generate Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence intervals. Results : the mean age for the participants was 30.4, ± 12.5 SD and range 18-72. Majority 219 (57%) of participants lived in urban areas while 271 (70.6%) were single. The most common source of information was through the radio. Overall, 269 (70.1%) participants had inadequate knowledge, positive attitudes 331 (86.2%) and low screening uptake 16/ 76 (21%) among eligible men (>45years). Being married or involved in a co-habitation (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.07-2.79), having tertiary education (OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.43-5.94), being a civil servant (OR=4.07, 95% C.I = 1.22-13.53) and earning more than US$ 200 per month (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.24-3.19) were found to be associated with adequate knowledge at the bi-variate level. Tertiary education (AOR=2.24, 95% CI=1.06-4.73) was the independent risk factor for adequate knowledge after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion : there was generally poor knowledge and low level of screening among the participants. Advance level of education (tertiary education) was the major predictor of adequate knowledge. There is a need for exploration of new platforms for creating awareness on PCa in the community and inclusion of PCa screening in routine medical check-ups for early diagnosis in eligible men.

The increasing use of tem porary workers (dispatched labour) has become contentious in China since the implementation of China’s Labour Contract Law in 2008. Supporters of the Temporary Staffing Agency Employment (TSAE) industry in China, consider it as a cost - cutting, human resour ce - management tool for solving unemployment whiles its critics consider the industry as a means for companies to make workers more “flexible” with less protection. This study uses individual level analysis to assess the impact of the human factors (commitme nt to firm and agency, job security, job satisfaction and job stress) on the overall performance or output of dispatched or temporary workers in Temporary Staffing Agencies Employment (TSAE) in China. The study finds a statistically significant positive re lation between job security and performance, commitment to Firm

It has been established that Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) play significant roles in the economic development of most countries in terms of job creation, innovation of new ideas, contribution to Gross Domestic Product and welfare, but the ability of SMEs to implement growth and developmental programs highly depend on access to external finance among other factors. Against this backdrop, the persistence citing of limited access to finance by SMEs in the Sub-Saharan African countries which places impediments on their business activities is worrisome to both the entrepreneurs and the State. In spite of several efforts by various governments and relevant institutions in rolling out support policies and initiatives in making access to external finance by SMEs more accessible, the problem still persist and SMEs maybe are yet to reap the full benefits from such initiatives. This research work does not rule out the fact that there exist alternative ways of financing SMEs outside the formal financial system, but this research focuses on the accessibility of the informal financial systems, with much emphasis on family and friends, their effectiveness, and how to meet the criteria for accessing the finance. The results show that SMEs that meet the requirements (trust, reputation, relation (family affiliation), religious affiliation,) of the lenders have easy access to alternative external finance, but the major challenges SMEs face when accessing the funds are the limited size of the loan and how to meet the demands of the lenders. On the lenders side, high defaulting rate is their major challenge. With careful modification without compromising the traditions involving the system, informal financial system will play significant role in providing the financial needs of SMEs.

Two-hundred eighty matched bulk stool and anatomically designed flocked rectal swab samples were collected from children admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea in Botswana. Their parents were asked about the acceptability of the swab collection method compared with bulk stool sampling. All samples underwent identical testing with a validated 15-target (9 bacterial, 3 viral, and 3 parasite) commercial multiplex PCR assay. The flocked swabs had a 12% higher yield for bacterial pathogen targets (241 versus 212; P = 0.003) compared with that of stool samples, as well as similar yields for viral targets (110 versus 113; P = 0.701) and parasite targets (59 versus 65; P = 0.345). One hundred sixty-four of the flocked swab-stool pairs were also tested with separate laboratory-developed bacterial and viral multiplex assays, and the flocked rectal swabs had a performance that was similar to that seen with commercial assay testing. Almost all parents/guardians found the swabs acceptable. Flocked rectal swabs significantly facilitate the molecular diagnosis of diarrheal disease in children.

Financing Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to achieve the desirable growth and expansion has been topical for governments, policymakers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), financial and non-financial institutions. The recent upsurge in the interest of finding ways of bridging the financing gap faced by SMEs by these stakeholders have been necessitated by the enormous contributions of SMEs to the economic development and growth of countries in areas of job creation, GDP and entrepreneurial skill development. This research therefore sought to access the role of one of the stakeholders, microfinance institutions (MFIs) in helping to bridge the financing gap faced by SMEs in Ghana. The research established that there was indeed the existence of SME financing gap in the country as most of them were denied access to credit by commercial banks and other financial institutions. The research revealed that the operations of microfinance institutions (MFIs) are having positive impact on SMEs. The study also revealed some risk mitigation tools used by MFIs in granting loans to SMEs which included provision of collateral security in the form of land or any other valuable asset, business records, credit history among others. The research concluded with some recommendations on how the SME financing gap can further be bridged by MFIs and other stakeholders which included provision of support services to SMEs by MFIs such as training services in credit management as well as the need for MFIs to improve service delivery such as faster loan approval times.