Mobilizing Believers Through an Intentional, Sequential and Relational Approach to Discipleship Training at Calvary Baptist Church, Accra, Ghana

Calvary Baptist Church has historically been a disciple making church. In recent years, however, interest and attendance has waned and church growth has plateaued. In an attempt to encourage new growth, revitalize small group discipleship training, and direct new leadership into ministry opportunities, this dissertation asserts that spiritual growth developed through a relational approach to sequential and intentional discipleship training for spiritual formation will help Christian leaders mobilize believers for ministry Chapter two examines the disciple making approaches of both the Old and New Testaments with Jesus\u27 process being the primary example. Chapter three analyzes the discipleship methodology of John Wesley and contemporary practitioners who focus on the sequential, intentional, and relational aspects of discipleship. Chapter four illustrates how discipleship has been the driving force in influencing the establishment, ministry and growth of Calvary Baptist Church. In conclusion, action plans and innovative procedures are outlined which, when implemented, will revitalize the discipleship program of Calvary Baptist Church through new administrative structures, a revised discipleship curricula, and dynamic leadership training

Impact of board gender diversity on social and environmental performance of firms: Evidence from Sub-Sahara Africa

In the 21st century board gender diversity is expected. However few women are appointed to board positions in Africa. There has been a scanty study on board gender diversity and firm performances as well as the study of women on boards impact on Corporate Social Responsibility. This dissertation analyses the impact of board gender diversity on the social and environmental performance of companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Secondary data was obtained from the annual reports of 25 companies over the years 2012 to 2016. Data were analyzed quantitatively with Return on Equity (ROE) as a measure of financial performance and Corporate Social Responsibility disclosure (CSRD) as the dependent variables, with Board gender diversity (WOB), Board Independence (IND. BOD) and Board Size (BS) as the independent variables. The two hypotheses tested revealed that board gender diversity (Women on Board) is positively related to CSR disclosure. The findings imply that, with an increase in WOB by one person, while other variables remained constant there will be an increase in the firms’ CSR performance disclosure. This implies that, as more women serve on the board, it will increase CSR performance disclosure of listed Ghanaian Companies. Whereas no significant relationship was found between board gender diversity (women on Board) and firm financial performance. However, there were some limitations such as the use of data from only listed firms from the Ghana Stock Exchange. This study can be inproved with data from listed and non-listed firms.No século 21, espera-se que haja diversidade de género conselhos de gestão, mas não é esse o caso. Verifica-se que poucas mulheres são nomeadas para cargos de diretoria em África, sendo ainda escassos os estudos sobre a diversidade de género em cargos de gestão, bem como sobre o impacto das mulheres na Responsabilidade Social Corporativa. Esta dissertaçãoo impacto da diversidade de género em conselhos de direção no desempenho social e ambiental das empresas cotadas na Bolsa de Valores do Gana. Os dados foram obtidos dos relatórios anuais de 25 empresas entre 2012 e 2016 e foram analisados quantitativamente, sendo o retorno sobre o património líquido (ROE) como medida de desempenho financeiro e a divulgação de responsabilidade social corporativa (CSRD) as variáveis dependentes e a diversidade de género do conselho de gestão (WOB), independência do conselho (IND. BOD) e tamanho do conselho (BS) as variáveis independentes. As duas hipóteses testadas revelaram que a diversidade de género está positivamente relacionada à Responsabilidade Social Corporativa. Os resultados indicam que, com um aumento no WOB por uma pessoa, enquanto outras variáveis permaneceram constantes, haverá um melhor desempenho de responsabilidade social nas empresas. Nenhuma relação significativa foi encontrada entre a diversidade de género nos conselhos de gestão e o desempenho financeiro da empresa. No entanto, houve algumas limitações, como o uso de dados secundários de empresas apenas cotadas na Bolsa de Valores de Gana. Este estudo pode ser ampliado usando dados de empresas cotadas e não cotadas

The Relationship between Service Quality and Customer Loyalty in the Kenyan Mobile Telecommunication Service Industry

Customer loyalty has been presented as an indicator of successful quality management practices in both the manufacturing and the service sectors. Due to the rapid growth of the services sector in most economies, there is need to understand how this concept is associated with business practices for supporting quality in the services sector. The study examined the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in the Kenyan Mobile Telecommunication Service Sector. The SERVQUAL model was adopted in the study. Kenyatta University students drawn from five of its campuses were selected for the population of the study. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and regression analyses were the parametric statistical tools used to test the association and effect in the study. A significant relationship was found between service quality and customer loyalty r(313) = 0.47, p<0.05. The SERVQUAL model explained a significant proportion of variance in customer loyalty scores with R2 = 0.306, F(4, 308) = 33.93, p < 0.05. The dimensions in the model predicted different values on customer loyalty: Reliability b = 0.19, t(313) = 2.89, p<0.05, Assurance  b = 0.25 t(313) = 3.50, p < 0.05, Empathy b = 0.35 t(313) = 4.90, p<0.05 and  Reliability b = 0.37, t(313) = 0.54, p>0.05. In sum, service quality has a positive relationship with customer loyalty. These findings hold implications for industry operators on key areas to pay attention to in order to support the quality of services offered so as to guarantee sustained customer loyalty. Keywords: Service quality, Customer satisfaction, SERVQUAL model, Kenyatta University, Customer loyalt

Mathematics learning through classroom assessment: Evaluating the value of weekly class tests

This study adopted a descriptive case study to explore the impact of weekly class test alongside two other modes of assessment strategies: use of project work and class presentation on learning outcomes in mathematics among 145 year-one high school students in the Central Region of Ghana. Subject evaluation questionnaire and scores obtained in weekly class test, end of term examination, class presentation and project work were the main sources of data collected for the study. The results indicated that scores obtained from all the modes of assessment (class test, class presentation and project work) used in the study correlated with end of term examination; however, the best predictor of end of term examination was class test. Thus, the study revealed that employing class test as an approach in the classroom drives students to deepen their understanding of concepts taught, encourage students to review their notes ahead of each new class session and consequently enhance their learning outcomes. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that students who were most committed in the subject, as evidenced by participation in all class tests, fared significantly better in the end of term examination than those who failed to participate in most of the class tests and those who participated mid-way. Consequently, the study reiterates that increased frequency of class test has the potential to impart student learning outcomes.

Content Analysis of the Computer Applications Courses in Business Studies Programs in Micronesian Colleges

Occupational and Adult Educatio

Effectiveness of Recruitment and Selection Practices in Public Sector Higher Education Institutions: Evidence from Ghana

The purpose of this paper is to assess the recruitment and selection practices of public sector higher education institutions in Ghana. The research employed quantitative research approach with a descriptive survey design. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 128 respondents. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample from the targeted population. Data processing was done using SPSS version 22. Results of the analyses showed, inter alia, the following; (a) Public sector higher education institutions in Ghana predominantly relies on recommendation as its main mode of employment; (b) Identification of available vacancies and delay in feedback after interviews were the two main challenges with the public sector higher education institutions in Ghana recruitment and selection practices. It is recommended that employee referrals (recommendation) though a good idea should be reduced, public sector higher education institutions in Ghana should make use of adverts (either print or electronic or both) in publicising its vacant positions

Investigating the Challenges Facing the Teaching and Learning of Science and Technology in Selected Schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

The heightening public apprehension about instructional deliveries and the learning of science in Ghanaian schools have taken a different dimension as many shareholders keep interrogating the Government's pledge to ensure equity and quality science education for primary schools in the country. The study explored and defined the standing and quality of teaching, learning, and assessment of science and technology while finding the challenges faced by science educators at the JHS level in selected schools in the Ashanti region. The study randomly sampled science teachers' views and students in 27 schools from the 27 districts in the Ashanti Region in Ghana. Fourteen (14) and thirteen (13) schools were sampled from rural and urban areas. It was found that Government inadequately funds most schools. As a result, few qualified science teachers can handle the integrated science topics, among many other setbacks. It was concluded that the lack of infrastructure, TLMs, and other factors make the teaching and learning of science practically impossible. These challenges can be mitigated when specific, well-defined measures such as the provision of required infrastructure, teaching, learning materials (TLMs), and a few more are urgently implemented

Education and Employment Outcomes in Ghana through the Lens of the Capability Approach

Existing literature on education and employment confirms that in Ghana educational qualification largely influences the type of work. Through the lens of the Capability Approach, which sees human development in terms of the expansion of freedoms and opportunities, this paper identifies, for a cross-section of Ghanaians, the array of employment opportunities between and within education endowments. “Between endowments” refers to differentials in opportunities for individuals with different levels of educational qualifications, while “within endowments” considers the differentials for individuals with the same level of education. The source of data is the 2005/06 Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS5). Results show that education is not enough to erase inequalities. Multinomial regression analysis demonstrates that functionings differ according to the individual’s context, household and personal conversion factors. This is explained by inequalities in the requirements for a particular job (between educational endowments) and by job accessibility due to personal characteristics (within educational endowments)

The Incidence of Dysfunctional Internet Usage in Ghana: An Exploratory Study

Despite the potential and tremendous opportunities the internet offers for employees to improve their work and productivity, the internet has become a source of unproductiveness given the potential for its misuse. Most of the literature on the dysfunctional use of the internet amongst employees tends to focus solely on advanced economies. Given the fact that the phenomenon of employers placing internet on employees’ desktops is relatively new in Ghana and the possible cultural influences on the type and extent of internet use, this paper investigated the non-work-related use of the internet amongst employees of Ghanaian organizations in both the private and public sector. We found that the use of the internet for non-work-related activities amongst Ghanaian employees is widespread and there exists an association between this case of dysfunctional internet usage and man-hour losses. Amongst other things, we recommend that managers employ internet use policies and prohibitions in dealing with the problem since the study found that these interventions are not in place. Keywords: Internet, internet use, Ghana, employee productivity, man-hour losses, employee

Foreword

The globalization process constantly spawns new ideas, and researchers are generally willing to share and adapt them. It can be recalled that UNDP report no. 1/1990 saw the basic objective of human development as the enlargement of the range of people’s choices, which are not fixed forever. There have been many approaches to the study of human development. For instance, Classical Economics measures human development using the size of a country’s GDP or per capita income. The Welfare Approach uses income and consumption. The Utilitarian Approach focuses on happiness, good and pleasure, while the Basic Needs Approach measures access to water, shelter, food and sanitation, among others. It is impressive that, just ten years later, Amartya Sen managed to pull all these ideas together into a single framework called the Capability Approach. This new concept of measuring human development focuses on freedom as development. Although nowadays widely known, the Capability Approach is still rarely used in population studies and policies, and this is especially true for Africa. This volume is therefore welcome, but in addition it is timely, and this for at least two reasons