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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
Item
An assessment of demand and supply of corporate social investments in the mining industry: A case of AngloGold Ashanti
(KNUST, 2016-10) Mahama, Iddrisu
ABSTRACT
The notion of corporate social Investment (CSI) has gained momentum as it is currently of
strategic importance for many companies. The aim of this study was therefore to enquire into the
demand and supply of corporate social investment in the mining industry, with special reference
to Anglogold Ashanti. The research design adopted was descriptive. The population for the study
comprised staff, management and communities affected by AGA operations. Using convenience
sampling technique, 77 staff of AngloGold Ashanti was selected. Also, by purposive sampling
technique, 120 community leaders were also selected for the study. The study found that more
often the regulator as stakeholder was more concerned about adherence of the mining firms
(AngloGold) to legal parameters. Employees on the other hand were more concerned about fair
procedures for employee assessment and reward, informational justice, appropriate staff benefits
and motivational packages, commitment to employee training and development programs,
improving fire safety measures and priority for employee security. For the larger community
especially those close to mining sites, their expectation about CSR include contributing to local
community infrastructure projects, support for poverty reduction initiatives, assisting in the
provision of safe water supply for communities, creating employment opportunities and
scholarship programmes for needy students. When it comes to AngloGold’s investment in social
infrastructural projects, the study found a consistent rise in budget allocations to developing
social infrastructure in mining communities. It is therefore recommended that mining firms
improve on their CSR practices and further pay more attention to sustainable business
operations
Item
Assessing occupational safety culture among workers in the printing industry in Kumasi
(KNUST, 2016-08) Ntiamoah-Sarpong, Lesley
ABSTRACT
The industrial sector including the printing industry in Ghana contributes significantly
to the gross national product (GDP) and employment. It is also an industry where
employees are doing tasks that are likely to expose them to equipment, machinery or
chemicals that can be hazardous to health and in turn cause effect on employees.
Although there are some studies on health issues in this industry, not much has been
written on safety culture. Therefore, the study focused on assessing occupational
safety culture among workers in the printing industry in Kumasi. The objectives of the
study were to assess occupational safety culture among workers in the printing
industry, identify various occupational safety practices, identify the factors that
influence occupational safety culture, and find out the challenges associated with
occupational safety practices in the printing industry. A total of 130 respondents were
considered for the study, out of which 100 responses were received representing
76.92% response rate. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The study adopted the
purposive sampling technique in selecting respondents. Pearson correlation and
descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The study showed that the
occupational safety practices in the printing industry in Kumasi mainly ensured that,
proper machine handling procedures were undertaken. The study also showed that
training, employee attitudes, organizational policies on safety, the provision of
adequate preventive measures, and adequate information on safety precautions,
adequate guarding and safe interventions on machine works, management
commitment to safety, constant communication about emergency exit procedures
influence a culture of safety. The challenges associated with occupational safety
practices in the printing industry in Kumasi were time pressure, pressures of
organizational cost cutting, overly strong pursuit for success, management
indifference to hazards, lack of clear safety policies and lack of planning and risk
assessment. The study recommended establishing the lines of authority for safety;
developing a safety policy that includes workplace safety, and includes safety
responsibilities in the job descriptions and performance plans of all employees. Also,
building awareness and caring for safety by emphasizing safety throughout the
company safety policy and practically throughout the company.
Item
Exploring the impact of managerial leadership practices on the performance levels of employees at Forewin Ghana Limited
(KNUST, 2016-08) Awuah, Lawrencia Boahemaa,
ABSTRACT
This study takes a systematic approach to explore the impact of Managerial Leadership
Practices in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry specifically at Forewin
Ghana Limited to ascertain the impact on employees‘ performance levels in the company.
The general objective of the study was to determine how Managerial Leadership
Practices impact the performance levels of employees at Forewin Ghana Limited. The
research design is exploratory; the study made use qualitative research approach to
analyze data and adopted the use of interviews as data collection instrument. The
population of the study is characterized by middle and senior level managerial staff of
FGL, summing up to 93 members. Using random probability sampling as a sampling
technique; the researcher randomly selected 20 members of the population to form the
sample for the study. The study was able to establish that the respondents or the
managerial staffs were familiar with Managerial Leadership Practices. It also showed
that, these Managerial Leadership Practices are applied at Forewin Ghana Limited in
general. Finally, it was revealed that, the performance levels of the company are only
averagely high but there is a belief among majority of the management staff that, an
improvement in the implementation of the Managerial Leadership Practices will improve
the performance levels. The findings of the study led the researcher to recommend the
improved implementation of Managerial Leadership in the company and also a
recommendation for the Managerial Leadership Practices to be implemented by
competitors, so they can also develop in terms of performance levels.
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this study to my dearest mother: Madam Anna Awuah; who taught me that;
determination is the key to success. I am truly thankful for her constant source of support,
prayers and encouragement during the challenges of graduate school and life.
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Item
The effects of financial stress on employee performance, case study of Barcc
(KNUST, 2016-08) Hashim, Latifah
ABSTRACT
Any situation where demands on a person exceed that person‟s resources or ability to
cope, such demands can be referred to as stress. Stress can be triggered by our day to
day activities such as a difficult boss, separations or divorce, financial incapability
and sometimes when we come across something unexpected that has adverse effect
on our goals or objectives. Stress has various forms and each form affects people
differently. One aspect of stress that employees go through which has not received
much attention in this country is financial stress. Several studies have been carried
out on financial stress but none conducted in the case study organization of this
research. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to determine the effects of
financial stress on employee performance at the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating
Council. The target population for this research was all employees of the BARCC
with a sample of 181 employees. Proportional sampling method was used to obtain
the sample from the sampling frame. The researcher employed a descriptive study
and used both quantitative and qualitative data analysis in assessing the effect of
financial stress on employee performance in the BARCC. Respondents shared that
when they have financial problems they think a lot about it and sometimes engage in
long conversations with co-workers about their financial situation. They lose
concentration at work, take long breaks and sometimes stay away from work in order
to solve their financial situations which adversely affect performance at work. The
study recommended work place financial education for staff in order to reduce the
financial stress level and also the organization could out-source services of non critical staff when the need be in other to avoid paying staff for no work done. This
would help ease the organization of its huge financial burden so that it could
consider an upward adjustment of its salary structure.
Item
An assessment of the effectiveness of local content in Ghana’s Oil and gas industry: a case study of Rigworld International Services Ltd
(KNUST, 2016-08) Arthur, Isaac
ABSTRACT
The discovery of any natural resource in every country often times comes with great
exhilaration and a sense of anticipated positive impact because of the expected opportunities
that are normally associated with the exploitation of these resources. The study seeks to assess
the effectiveness of Ghana's local content policies in Ghana’s oil and gas industry. Since the
researcher seeks to delve deeper into the topic, both quantitative and qualitative methods were
employed for this study. The totalsample size for the study involves 80 respondentsfrom IOCs
and staff of Rigworld International Services Ltd. The sampling technique used for this study
was purposive sampling with selected respondents from IOCs, civil societies and staff of
Rigworld International Services Ltd. The study found out that, majority of the respondents
stated that local content legislation is in line with its intended goals and objectives. Concerning
the practicality of the goals and objectives of the LC legislation, most of the respondents
indicated the impracticality of the goals and objectives of the LC legislation. The study further
revealed that there are a number of barriers impeding the activities of indigenous companies in
the industry, these include- inadequate financing, lack of requisite human capital, lack of
technological know-how. In addition, majority of the respondents held the view that the
implementation of LC policies have inured to the benefit of indigenous companies, to the extent
that one of the indigenous companies has had its management systems certified by International
Standards Organization (ISO). The study recommended that the government through the
ministries of Trade and Industry and Petroleum sho uld help universities and polytechnics
establish training courses in line with the oil and gas industry. Secondly, the study recommends
the revision of the LC policies to help address the impracticality and the abuse perpetrated by
some OICs. Lastly, there is a recommendation for government to set up Venture Capital Fund
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to assist indigenous companies finance their capital intensive projects and expand their
operations.
Item
Challenges in accessing credit facilities in developing micro and small enterprises: a case study of Suame area in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
(KNUST, 2016-07) Otchere-Antwi, Gladys
ABSTRACT
This study explores the challenges in accessing credit facilities in developing small and medium
scale enterprises in the Suame area of the Ashanti region of Ghana. The study uses descriptive
statistics for the presentation and the analysis of findings. Stratified sampling technique was used
to select a sample of respondents from a population of over . The results show that
of the respondents operate as sole proprietors, whiles as partnership. The results again show
that majority of the respondents operate spare parts business. From the study, most of the
respondents have experienced rejection in applying for loan in the course of the operation and
cited lack of collateral as the major reason. The respondents complained of high cost of
borrowing which does not allow them to borrow huge amounts to operate their business. The
study recommends that collateral as requirement for giving of loans must be lenient by financial
institutions. Financial institutions must also consider lowering their interest rates to enable MSEs
borrow more.
Item
The theory of planned behavior: a conceptual approach to assessing emergencies among selected Ghanaian public Universities.
(KNUST, 2016-08) Dzage,Emmanuel Jeffrey
Why do people behave the way they do in emergency situations that require some
urgency? Drawing on the planned behavioral theory, it is understood that, individuals
engage in behaviors that are formed out of their beliefs. These beliefs are hinged on
three pre-conditions; the actor‟s belief in his ability to intervene (attitude), his
perception of what significant others may think about his conduct (subjective norms)
and his assessment of the presence of factors that may facilitate or inhibit his conduct
(perceived behavioral control). This study set out to assess the theory of planned
behavior in emergencies among students, staff and management members of selected
Ghanaian public universities. The research had as its objectives, the following intents;
to examine the levels of awareness of emergency preparedness on public university
campuses, to assess the mediating effect of behavioral intentions in the relationship
between attitude and commitment to emergency preparedness, to assess the mediating
effect of behavioral intentions in the relationship between subjective norms and
commitment to emergency preparedness and to assess the mediating effect of
behavioral intentions in the relationship between perceived behavioral control and
commitment to emergency preparedness. The study involved a total of 379
respondents with a breakdown of 270 students, 77 staff and 32 management members
across the three selected university campuses sampled by a combination of quota,
purposive and convenience sampling methods. The analysis of data was conducted in
basic descriptive statistics, paired sample T test analyses and linear regression models.
The study‟s findings reveal that, the levels of emergency awareness on these
campuses did not differ between students, staff and management. Further
demonstrating that, behavioral intention positively influence the relationships between
attitude with commitment, subjective norms with commitment and perceived
behavioral control on commitment. Consequently, behavioral intention was found to
be the most influential factor that affects behavioral commitment