Ghana

Corporate Farud: Causes, Effects and Deterence on Financial Institutions in Ghana (Review Completed - Accepted)

The purpose of the study is to find out the causes, effects and deterrence and prevention of corporate fraud in financial institution of Ghana. In particular, we examine the effects of fraud on firm’s financial performance. A cross sectional model was used to find the effects of financial institutions fraud on financial performance. It was revealed that, fraud has a significant negative effects on financial performance i.e. Return on Assets of financial institutions in Ghana. However, structured questionnaires was also used to find out the perception of Accountants, Auditors and management on the main causes of banking fraud and  deterrence and prevention methods in curbing the menace. It was revealed that weaker internal control, inadequate training and fraud policies, failed Documents and proper Remuneration are the strong arsenal that causes fraud in financial institutions of Ghana. Moreover, organizational use of password protection, Good Remuneration, Employees background Checks, adequate fraud training were perceived as the most deterrence and prevention method in fighting fraud in financial institutions. Our results have practical implication for management, accountants, Auditors and all stakeholders in financial institutions on the effects of fraud on firms financial performance and in mounting fool proof methods in curbing this canker and reducing it to bearest minimum. The study contributes deterrence and prevention methods aim at improving it effectiveness in reducing fraud in Ghana and West Africa.

Keywords: Fraud, Ghana, Return on Assets, deterrence and prevention, financial institutions

Socio-Cultural and Environmental Determinants of Youth Gambling: Evidence from Ghana (Published)

The gambling behaviour of the youth is among the least explored research areas in Ghana. Most previous study focused on youth and employment, youth and development, youth and politics, youth empowerment, youth and education, youth and HIV/AIDS and more recently youth and agriculture. The big question is how much do we know about youth and problem gambling as Ghanaians? This study deployed social learning theory and social conflict theory by Albert Bandura and Karl Max respectively as the underpinning philosophies to assess youth gambling attitude in Ghana in order to fill this knowledge gap. A cross sectional descriptive survey approach was adopted for this study. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 200 youth from all the nine sub metro within Kumasi metropolis. Structured questionnaire was the main instrument used in gathering primary data. Data were analyzed with Predictive Analytic Software (PASW) for windows. The results were presented using regression, correlation, ANOVA and percentages. The study revealed that all the factors outlined to predict youth gambling behaviour were significant (R² = 0.822, ANOVA < 0.05). Furtherance, 1% change in familial factors will bring 70.7% (0.841²) in youth attitude towards gambling. Moreover, 1% change in social factors will bring 22.9% (0.479²) change in youth attitude towards gambling. Also, a unit change in cultural and demographic factors will bring 4.7% (0.219²) change in youth attitude towards gambling. Finally, a unite change in environmental factor will bring 2% (0.142²) change in youth attitude towards gambling. It is recommended that future studies should consider factors such as cognitive and economic factors to determine youth gambling behaviour.

Keywords: Cultural and Environmental factors, Gambling, Ghana, Social, Youth, attitude

Socio-Economic and Political Context of Domestic Violence in Ghana (Published)

This study examined the prevalence of domestic violence in the socio-economic and political context in Ghana. The study conveniently sampled 200 women within Kumasi metropolis as participants. Data for the study came from both primary and secondary sources. Structured questionnaires were face-to-face administered to the respondents. The data were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows. The study revealed that the prevalence of Cultural factors had been agreed by respondents as scourge of domestic violence. Acceptability of violence as means to resolve conflict (M=4.7), bride price and dowry (M=4.2), Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles (M=4.25), Belief in the inherent superiority of males (M=4.3). Prevalence of economic factors were agreed by respondents as follows: Women’s economic dependence on men (M=5.0) limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors (4.26) discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights, use of communal lands (4.2). Prevalence of Political factors were agreed by respondents as follows: Under-representation of women in power, politics, media and in the legal and medical profession (M=4.17), Risk of challenge to status-quo/religious laws (M=4.35). Legal factors included: laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance (M=4.31) insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary (M=4.91). More than halve of the respondents indicated that they have even been assaulted by men. The study revealed a significant association between ever been assaulted and employment status (X²=76.9, p-value<0.05, df =6). Again there is a significant relationship between ever been assaulted and education attainment (X²=35.25, p-value<0.05, df =8). There are relationship between females ever been assaulted and age X²=21.13, p-value<0.05, df =8). Policy intervention and reinforcement of the existing legislation is imperative in the civility of these findings.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Ghana, Political, Prevalence, Socio-Economic, Women

The Sins and the Punishments: Towards the Incidence of Domestic Violence and Its Extenuating Circumstances in Ghana (Published)

This paper was carried out to examine the prevalence of domestic violence and possible extenuating circumstance in the Kintampo South District of Ghana. The target population of the study was predominately women. 200 of these women were selected purposively to participate in the study. Structured questionnaires were used to gather primary data. Secondary data were obtained from academic research data bases including EBSCO, Google Scholar and Cross-Ref. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the field data. Respondent’s participations were purely voluntary. The study revealed forms of domestic violence as follows: Rape, Torture, Molestation, Battering, Forced Labor, and feticide. Extenuating Circumstances were discovered as follows: Medical response, Counseling Law enforcement, Public education, Media blitz, Role of Gender Activists and psychologist. Also it was found that there is a significant (X² = 98.19, df = 8, p-value < 0.05) association between women educational level and rape experience. Moreover, the study revealed a significant association between women age and rape experience. Again, there is a significant (df = 16, X² = 248.14, p-value<0.05) association between women educational level and force marriage experience. There is a significant association between women age and forced marriage experience. It is concluded that nobody should ever think that the blight of domestic violence is over neither in Ghana nor many other developing countries. The domestic violence scourger still lives. The proposed extenuating measures should be taken serious by policy maker to avert the situation. Development psychologists are also needed to aid behavioural studies.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Extenuating Circumstances, Ghana, Incidence, Women

WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK HARD FOR CAREER PROGRESSION: A STUDY OF CORPORATE MANAGERS IN GHANA (Published)

Managerial career success is largely a function of two important career experiences: human capital, including hard work, and organizational support sponsorship. Whereas attracting and obtaining sponsorship reflects a more political explanation for career success, hard work represents a merit based and psychological explanation. However, little attention has been given to research that explores internally generated facets and psychological factors of hard work which facilitate career success. Using qualitative approach, this study was therefore conducted to explore managers’ conceptualization of hard work for career progression and success. Fifty-eight managers drawn from twelve public and private organizations in Ghana completed an open ended questionnaire on what it means to work hard for their career progression. Thematic content analysis of the data showed that four main themes underlie hard work for career progression: motivation and goal/achievement orientation; work capability/efficacy; work commitment/perseverance; and investing maximum input/extra effort. Findings are discussed within the frameworks of career achievement motivation, goal setting, self-efficacy and self-regulation theories.

Keywords: : Human Capital, Career Development, Ghana, Self-Efficacy, self-development, self-regulation

LONELINESS AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GHANA (Published)

The experience of loneliness varies across cultures. This study explored loneliness among students in two metropolitan senior high schools in Ghana. A sample of 244 students (40.5% males, 59.5% females; mean age =18.4 years) completed Revised University of California Los Angeles (R-UCLA) Loneliness Scale developed by Russell (1982). A series of one-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA) were used to determine the existence of any significant differences among variables. The results of the findings indicate that the mean R-UCLA scores among the senior high school students fell in the lower range (N=244; M=45.81; SD=10.001). There were significant differences in gender F (1, 240) = 7.858, p = .005. ; In age, F (1, 240) = 4.958, p = .0027, and religious affiliation F (1, 240) = 9.030, p = .003. The results of this study indicate that varying degrees of loneliness is felt in different cultures because the way people live and approach problem solving in their social context are different. This paper explains why this new knowledge can be used to inform parents, school administrators and counselors appreciate the effect of other demographic variables on loneliness in the life of Ghanaian adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents, Ghana, Loneliness, Senior High Students