scholarly journals Fiscal Policy Reforms and Their Effects on the Economic Viability of Mineral Projects in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Peter Arroja Eshun
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Fiscal Policies ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
African Region ◽  
Mineral Industry ◽  
Mineral Sector ◽  
Cash Flow Sensitivity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government

Mineral sector regulatory and fiscal policies in Ghana have undergone a lot of reforms over the past three decades in an effort to attract the much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the mineral sector and also to maximise the returns from the exploitation of mineral asset to the country. This paper puts in perspective the effect of changes in fiscal policies on the viability of mineral projects and assesses the general risk associated with investing in the mineral industry of Ghana, using the Sikaman Gold Mining (SGM) Project as a test case. Cash flow, sensitivity and risk analyses of the SGM Project under three fiscal regimes namely: PNDCL 153, Act 703, and amendments to Act 703, indicated the second regime as the most economically favourable as it gave the highest NPV and lowest risk. It is recommended that the government should involve the mineral industry players during such reviews to show all-inclusiveness. Furthermore, mineral investors are advised to explore stability and development agreements to protect their investments in the wake of changes in fiscal policies in the mineral industry of Ghana. Future research could consider comparing the current fiscal regime of Ghana with those of the competing countries within the Sub-Saharan African region to assess whether Ghana could continue to pride itself as a preferred investment destination within the sub-region.

Contemporary Employee Recruitment Practices and Areas of Future Research in Indian Railways

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 745-763
Author(s):  
Akhila Rao ◽  
Shailashri V. T ◽  
Molly Sanjay Chaudhuri ◽  
Kondru Sudheer Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Manpower Planning ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Employee Recruitment ◽  
Recruitment Practices ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
The Government ◽  
Recruitment And Selection

The modern business milieu is highly competitive due to vast technological advancement which makes employees a vital source of competitive advantage. Precisely, the recruitment process has become a key determinant of an organization’s success and a logistic capital resource to the human resource; thus, the process should be entirely modern. A conventional recruitment and selection process comprises of job analysis, manpower planning, and recruitment and selection. The current study seeks to explore employee recruitment practices and proposes areas of future research in Indian Railways using secondary data. It also gives recommendations on how to improve the recruitment practices in the government-owned Indian Railways. The trends investigated in the study include the applicant tracking software (ATS), use of video resumes, Chatbots, the utilization of social networks, and increased focus on passive candidates.

Land Reform in Zimbabwe: a Balance of Political Expediency and Economic Inevitability?

2020 ◽  
pp. 14-29
Author(s):  
Lyubov Prokopenko
Keyword(s):  
Land Reform ◽  
Union Leader ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
The Political ◽  
African Region ◽  
Political Aspect ◽  
National Union ◽  
Reform Program ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

The article considers the political aspect of land reform in the Republic of Zimbabwe. The problem of land reform has been one of the crucial ones in the history of this African country, which celebrated 40 years of independence on April 18, 2020. In recent decades, it has been constantly in the spotlight of political and electoral processes. The land issue was one of the key points of the political program from the very beginning of Robert Mugabe’s reign in 1980. The political aspect of land reform began to manifest itself clearly with the growth of the opposition movement in the late 1990s. In 2000–2002 the country implemented the Fast Track Land Reform Program (FTLRP), the essence of which was the compulsory acquisition of land from white owners without compensation. The expropriation of white farmers’ lands in the 2000s led to a serious reconfiguration of land ownership, which helped to maintain in power the ruling party, the African National Union of Zimbabwe – Patriotic Front (ZANU – PF). The government was carrying out its land reform in the context of a sharp confrontation with the opposition, especially with the Party for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by trade union leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The land issue was on the agenda of all the election campaigns (including the elections in July 2018); this fact denotes its politicization, hence the timeliness of this article. The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe in the 2000–2010s was the most noticeable phenomenon in the South African region. The analysis of foreign and domestic sources allows us to conclude that the accelerated land reform served as one of its main triggers. The practical steps of the new Zimbabwean president, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, indicate that he is aware of the importance of resolving land reform-related issues for further economic recovery. At the beginning of March 2020, the government adopted new regulations defining the conditions for compensation to farmers. On April 18, 2020, speaking on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the independence of Zimbabwe, Mr. E. Mnangagwa stated that the land reform program remains the cornerstone of the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The Zoning System for Strategy Development of SMEs Go Online: A Literature Review

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumitro Sarkum
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Online Marketing ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
The Government ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Marketing Information ◽  
Relationship Of

This study aims to figure out what the relationship of empowerment of SMEs through methods of zoning as marketing strategy of SMEs in two different markets (offline and online). The zoning strategy with information and communication system integrated brings together socialization and promotion in a market. This system can help the government in taking and formulating policies to unite SMEs in a new market by not leaving the old market. The method in this study uses qualitative descriptive. There are three propositions produced in this initial research, the first; Offline and online marketing is very relevant for SMEs in Indonesia. Second; marketing information system is access for SMEs to find out the demand or market needs both domestically and internationally. And third; The zoning system can be used as an online development strategy for SMEs to synchronize two different markets, namely offline and online. Further research is needed to validate the propositions found, to generate hypotheses and empirical evidence, we recommend using mix methods for future research.

A benchmarking study of Indian seaports

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-102
Author(s):  
Sajeev Abraham George ◽  
Anurag C. Tumma
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Port Authorities ◽  
Financial Performance Measures ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to benchmark the operational and financial performances of the major Indian seaports to help derive useful insights to improve their performance. Design/methodology/approach A two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology has been used with the help of data collected on the 13 major seaports of India. The first stage of the DEA captured the operational efficiencies, while the second stage the financial performance. Findings A window analysis over a period of three years revealed that no port was able to score an overall average efficiency of 100 per cent. The study identified the better performing units among their peers in both the stages. The contrasting results of the study with the traditional operational and financial performance measures used by the ports helped to derive useful insights. Research limitations/implications The data used in the study were majorly limited to the available sources in the public domain. Also, the study was limited to the major seaports which are under the Government of India and no comparisons were carried out with other local or international ports. Practical implications There is a need to prioritize investments and improvement efforts where they are most needed, instead of following a generalized approach. Once the benchmark ports are identified, the port authorities and other relevant stakeholders should work in detail on the factors causing inefficiencies, for possible improvements in performance. Originality/value This paper carried out a two-stage DEA that helped to derive useful insights on operational efficiency and financial performance of the India seaports. A combination of the financial and operational parameters, along with a comparison of the DEA results with the traditional measures, provided a different perspective on the Indian seaport performance. Considering the scarcity of research papers reported in the literature on DEA-based benchmarking studies of seaports in the Indian context, it has the potential to attract future research in this field.

scholarly journals Charcoal and Wood Biomass Utilization in Uganda: The Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics and Implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8337
Author(s):  
Dastan Bamwesigye ◽  
Petr Kupec ◽  
Georges Chekuimo ◽  
Jindrich Pavlis ◽  
Obed Asamoah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Fuel Use ◽  
Wood Fuel ◽  
Biomass Utilization ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government

Charcoal and firewood fuel biomass utilization is thought to be the main cause of deforestation in Uganda. Moreover, the practice of utilizing charcoal and wood fuel in Uganda is said to impact the health of many women and children in the region. The goal of this study was to comprehensively analyze charcoal and wood fuel utilization processes in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa and the environmental and socioeconomic dynamics and implications. The study equally intended to model out some possible improvements to wood fuel use while conserving natural forests. Both qualitative and qualitative approaches were used to study the charcoal and wood fuel energy situation in Uganda. The study collected field data (sample size: 199) which was subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings show that over 90% of households in Uganda and the sub- Saharan region use firewood and charcoal wood fuel, and that this fuel use creates social and environmental hazards. Our findings are also in agreement with numerous empirical studies showing that firewood and charcoal biomass are among the major causes of deforestation in Uganda and the sub-Saharan region. Ceteris paribus, we propose the adoption of Improved Eco-Stoves (ICE), which not only enable comprehensive combustion but also lessen the quantity of firewood used by more than 60%, together with policy decisions on the government of Uganda, given peoples willingness to take on alternative energy sources such as gas and electricity.

scholarly journals Prevalence and determinants of chronic kidney disease in women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Nigeria: a cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salisu M. Ishaku ◽  
Timothy Olusegun Olanrewaju ◽  
Joyce L. Browne ◽  
Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch ◽  
Gbenga A. Kayode ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hypertensive Disorders ◽  
Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract Background Worldwide, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) complicate between 5 and 10% of pregnancies. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is disproportionately affected by a high burden of HDPs and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite mounting evidence associating HDPs with the development of CKD, data from SSA are scarce. Methods Women with HDPs (n = 410) and normotensive women (n = 78) were recruited at delivery and prospectively followed-up at 9 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postpartum. Serum creatinine was measured at all time points and the estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) using CKD-Epidemiology equation determined. CKD was defined as decreased eGFR< 60 mL/min/1.73m2 lasting for ≥ 3 months. Prevalence of CKD at 6 months and 1 year after delivery was estimated. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate risk factors for CKD at 6 months and 1 year postpartum. Results Within 24 h of delivery, 9 weeks, and 6 months postpartum, women with HDPs were more likely to have a decreased eGFR compared to normotensive women (12, 5.7, 4.3% versus 0, 2 and 2.4%, respectively). The prevalence of CKD in HDPs at 6 months and 1 year postpartum was 6.1 and 7.6%, respectively, as opposed to zero prevalence in the normotensive women for the corresponding periods. Proportions of decreased eGFR varied with HDP sub-types and intervening postpartum time since delivery, with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia showing higher prevalence than chronic and gestational hypertension. Only maternal age was independently shown to be a risk factor for decreased eGFR at 6 months postpartum (aOR = 1.18/year; 95%CI 1.04–1.34). Conclusion Prior HDP was associated with risk of future CKD, with prior HDPs being more likely to experience evidence of CKD over periods of postpartum follow-up. Routine screening of women following HDP-complicated pregnancies should be part of a postpartum monitoring program to identify women at higher risk. Future research should report on both the eGFR and total urinary albumin excretion to enable detection of women at risk of future deterioration of renal function.

(In)effective leadership? Exploring the interplay of challenges, goals and measures in the context of school improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Böse ◽  
Stefan Brauckmann-Sajkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
School Effectiveness ◽  
School Quality ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Context ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis study aims to explore the extent to which schools principals serving disadvantaged communities in Germany are able to set appropriate goals and choose suitable measures for improving their schools according to the specific challenges they face. The authors determine whether principals are able to identify their schools' challenges or whether they merely follow “universal recipes” of the school effectiveness research paradigm regardless of their particular school context. This effectiveness-driven accountability approach requires an in-depth evaluation of the school and its stakeholders and might lead to a new attitude toward failure that sees it as an essential part of developing effective school improvement plans.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted descriptive and correlative analyses as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using longitudinal data of 164 school principals. Through cross-sectional analyses, the authors investigated the connection among challenges, goals and measures and how they correlated with (self-reported) improvements.FindingsFrom a leadership perspective, priorities for school improvement should be aligned with the school-specific challenges they identify and the goals they set to address them.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which legislation concerning individual school quality development programs can translate into feasible and effective actions is unclear. Caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of this study, as they reflect school principals' self-selected evaluation measures and therefore might be biased.Practical implicationsIn future research, emphasis should be placed on school management processes, in particular, the development of strategic decision-making, structuring of target perspectives and derivation of steps in school improvement and instructional development. The authors recommend the government offer school principals appropriate and adequate training and support services to prevent them from overburdening their staff.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a deeper understanding of processes concerning strategic leadership, as opposed to operative management, of schools by revealing context-sensitive considerations.

Factors limiting the adoption of hemp as an alternative sustainable material for green building delivery in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kofi Agyekum ◽  
Emmanuel Adinyira ◽  
James Anthony Oppon
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Material ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government

PurposeThe increased awareness of global environmental threats like climate change has created an upsurge of interest in low embodied carbon building materials for green building delivery. Though the literature advocates for the use of hemp-based building materials, there is no evidence of studies to explore its potential use in Ghana. Therefore, this study explores the potential factors that limit the adoption of hemp as an alternative sustainable material for green building delivery in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to solicit the views of built environment professionals operating in construction, consulting and developer firms. The questions were developed through a comparative review of the related literature and complemented with a pilot review. Data were analysed via descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsOn the average, the majority of the respondents showed a moderate level of awareness of hemp and its related uses in the construction industry. Also, certain key factors like the perceived association of hemp with marijuana, lack of expertise in the production of hemp-related building materials, farmers not getting the needed clearance for the cultivation of hemp, lack of legislation by the government in the legalisation of hemp and the inadequate knowledge of consumers on the benefits of hemp-based building materials were identified as potential limitations to the adoption of hemp as an alternative sustainable material for green building delivery.Originality/valueThe findings from this study provide insights into a less investigated area in sub-Saharan Africa and further provide new and additional information to the current state-of-the-art on the potential for the use of hemp in the building construction sector.

Marketization of Public Universities: Lessons from a Developing Economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 227853372110215
Author(s):  
Andy Fred Wali ◽  
AGYO Atswenbuma ◽  
Emmanuel A. Amangala ◽  
Obabuike Ikeni Nkpurukwe
Keyword(s):  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Template Analysis ◽  
New Findings ◽  
The Government ◽  
Group Interviews

This study investigates the marketization of public universities in a developing economy with the aim of providing findings for repositioning public universities for global attraction. It adopts a qualitative approach, and the sample population comprise undergraduate and postgraduate students from four public universities (two federal- and two state-owned) in Nigeria. Purposive sampling was used to identify the students selected from each of these universities, and focus group interviews were conducted. We employed content and thematic template analysis techniques to analyze the generated data with NVivo 11. The findings show that the key themes that shape interviewees’ experiences include: infrastructure deficit, poor tutor commitment, unprofessionalism, and inadequate training. Policy recommendations were suggested for the tripartite work relationship between the government, university leadership and the academic staff union for repositioning public universities. The study is limited to a single research paradigm but offers future research opportunities using alternative strategy for strengthening emerging themes and new findings.

Entrepreneurs’ Perception of Banks’ Social Responsibility : A Haitian Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bénédique Paul ◽  
◽  
Ahmad H. Juma'h ◽  
Florys Dorante ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Banking Industry ◽  
Financial Intermediaries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Government ◽  
Corporate Social

Banks are the pillars of entrepreneurship expansion and economic development. In developing countries, where there is little public financial support for entrepreneurs, it is clear that banks, among other financial institutions, should be part of the solution to the problem of financing economic activity. As financial intermediaries, commercial banks need to enjoy good perception among entrepreneurs to improve their profitability. To achieve such objective, banks sometimes adopt social responsibility strategies to influence public perception of banks’ behavior. How do Haitian entrepreneurs perceive Haitian banks’ social responsibility? To answer this question, we collect empirical data among entrepreneurs of all size (micro, small and large). The findings help interesting discussions of banks perception among entrepreneurs divided by demographic (gender, location) and economic (sector, size, assets) characteristics. Among the main conclusions, we find that banks enjoy very bad perception among entrepreneurs (all size). Also, the special concessions given by the Government and other international institutions to the banking industry in Haiti help very few to increase the financial services for Haitian entrepreneurs. From our conclusion arise questions for future research to study the relations between entrepreneurs’ own practices of corporate social responsibility and their perception of banks social responsibility.

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