Credit Risk Management and Financial Performance of Listed Banks in Ghana

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of credit risk management on the performance of selected listed commercial banks in Ghana. The study used secondary data collected from seven (7) banks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange for a period of ten (10) years covering 2007-2016 with a total of seventy (70) observations. The credit risk management variables (independent variables) used were non-performing loans, loan loss provision, capital adequacy, with bank size (as controlling variable) whiles the financial performance of commercial banks (as dependent variable) was measured using return on asset. The data was examined using standard descriptive statistics and fixed effect model for hypothesis testing. Based on the test conducted on the data collected and the analyses of the results, this study found a significant relationship between the credit risk management variables (NPL, CAR and SIZE) and the profitability of listed banks in Ghana. In general, banks need to maintain an optimum level of CAR as per regulatory requirement so that they will not have difficulty in meeting their financial obligations, be able to absorb any financial shocks that may arise, protect their depositors’ investment and thus promotes the stability of the financial system. The study further recommends for banks in Ghana to control and monitor NPL, and keep the level of NPL as low as possible by emphasizing more on the ability of customers to pay back before credit approvals are given, a practice that will enable banks to achieve higher performance. Keywords: Non- Performing Loans, Loan Loss Provision, Capital Adequacy Ratio, Return on Assets, Ghana Stock Exchange, Fixed Effect, Random Effect. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Re-Examining the Akan Gold Weight and its Possible Reuse

Generally Gold weights called mrammou in the Akan language are weights made of brass and used as a measuring system by the people of Akan in West Africa This was used for weighing gold dust which was the currency until that was replaced by paper money and coins These gold weights look like miniature models of everyday objects In the Akan society gold weights have played a significant part so far as the tradition and culture and the economy are concerned The gold weights have several cultural and symbolic undertones that require a study and an understanding by modern society Hence the study was conducted to revealed philosophical cultural and an outstanding value attached to the gold weight

Demographic differences in sources of stress in higher educational institutions in Ghana

Purpose: The current research aimed to investigate demographic differences in job stress prevalence and job stress causes among the staff of universities. Research methodology: The study is based on a descriptive, quantitative, and cross-sectional research design. A sample of 100 respondents, from Sunyani Technical University, were sampled using the convenience sample method. Data were collected in a survey using a questionnaire which was designed by the researchers and administered to the respondents at their workplaces. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and One-Way Analysis of Variance. Results were presented in Tables. Results: The findings indicate that significant demographic differences exist in job stress prevalence and job stress causes. The management of universities should take into account the current findings of the research in dealing with job stress. Appropriate policies are recommended to be put in place to deal with stress related to the job to improve staff output, so as not to have a deleterious effect on staff professional work and personal welfare. Limitations: Some respondents felt reluctant to take part in the survey. The causal conclusions cannot be made based on the current findings since a causal investigation was not the focus of the study, and hence was not done. Some respondents also did not answer all the questions asked. Contributions: The paper contributes to the literature in the area of job stress sources and the role demographic factors in job stress causes in higher institutions. The work is the first of its kinds in the study institution on the role of culture and belief on job stress

Dry Season Phytoplankton Composition Of Ibiekuma Dam, Ekpoma, Edo State

In this study, the phytoplankton composition of Ibiekuma dam, Ekpoma was investigated between January and February, 2010. A total of 20 phytoplankton taxa belonging to three divisions; Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Euglenophyta were observed. All the species of Bacillariophyta observed were pennate forms. Only Surirella elegans was observed in the three areas studied in the dam while Synedra acus,was observed in SW2 (inside dam) and Pinnularia viridis in SW3(downstream of dam). The taxa was dominated qualitatively by green algae(desmids).SW2 accounted for most of the desmids encountered. Generally the division Chlorophyta had the highest percentage composition (55%), followed by Bacillariophyta (40%) and Euglenophyta (5%). In the physico-chemical parameters studied, temperature fluctuated between a mean of 27.25°C (SW3) to 28.75°C (SW1 and SW2). pH values of the three areas studied had a mean range of 6.41 to 7.01 and there was slight variation in mean conductivity values (SW1, 31.53μScm-1; SW2, 30.58μScm-1; SW3, 30.15μScm-1). Total dissolved solids ranged from 14.9mgl-1 (SW3) to 15.28mgl-1 (SW1).Key words: Phytoplankton, Ibiekuma, dam, taxa, desmid

Effects of salinity on germination, growth and yield of five groundnut genotypes

The effects of salinity on germination, growth and yield parameters as well as phenotypic variance and heritability of five groundnut genotypes (Ex-Dakar, RRB 12, RMP 12, RMP 91 and Esan Local) wereinvestigated. Saline treatments were imposed by irrigating the seeds and plants with varying concentrations of brackish water having electrical conductivities of 0.015, 1.50, 2.60, 4.68, 8.90 and 17.0mS/cm. The results revealed that salinity significantly delayed germination and also reduced the final percentages at electrical conductivities greater than 2.60 mS/cm. Seedling emergence, radicleelongation, plant height and dry matter weight also tended to decrease with increasing salinity. Agronomic characters such as number of leaves/plant and number of branches/plant were significantlyreduced with salinities higher than 2.60 mS/cm. The genotypes under study proved more salt tolerant during the germination than during the vegetative stage of growth and the result identified Esan- Local,Ex-Dakar and RRB 12 as being more salt tolerant than the other genotypes under study. Treated plants maintained high heritability and genetic advance values in characters such as 100 seed weight,pods/plant and seeds/pod, indicating that the characters under study were controlled by additive genes and could be improved by selection. Thus salt tolerant traits from the tolerant genotypes (Esan-Local,RRB 12 and Ex-Dakar) could be a source for developing salt tolerant variants in groundnut

A Study into the Nature of Emotional Intelligence in Public and Private Institutions in Ghana

The purpose of the study is to examine the nature of emotional intelligence in a survey using respondents from both public and private institutions. The study design is quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research. The sample size for the study was 140 sampled using the convenience sample method. The questionnaire for the collection of data was designed by the researchers using the Likert Scale format. The reliability of the scales and the dimensions of the scales were investigated using reliability, and factor analysis tests respectively. The data was analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 26. The results show the responses were reliable and the scales were also unidimensional. Various dimensions of emotional intelligence were identified as awareness of own emotions; management of emotions; awareness of others’ emotions; and management of others’ emotions. Management of institutions should consider in their organisational strategies, the findings of the present research to ensure the efficient running of the institutions. The role of demographic features in emotional intelligence is a recommended direction for future studies

Applying a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to Demand Considerations of Households Opting for Mortgage Loans

The need for high economic development across the entire globe and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular has led to the awareness of the need to increase the housing base across the continent. The astronomical increase in population and urbanisation and its associated problems of accommodation call for the need to provide good housing for the people of Ghana; the provision of which could depends largely on the availability of mortgage facilities. However, obtaining the right mortgage is as crucial as obtaining the right home, yet buyers seemingly do not invest as much time and effort in a mortgage search as in house searches. It is against this backdrop that this study investigates factors considered by households before acquiring mortgage loans. A questionnaire was administered within the Accra metropolis, the area of Ghana with the most mortgage loan providers. We employed the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to analyze the thought processes of households when making their decisions on acquiring a mortgage loan. The results indicated that factors considered by households when opting for a mortgage loan, ordered based on their degree of importance, were "Employment", "Housing Market Conditions", "Personal Factors", "Economic Factors", "Mortgage Lender Policy", "Housing Alternatives", "Knowledge", and "Social Factors". The weights of the first four factors were as high as 70.99% (Buckley’s method) and 69.70% (Chang’s method). These four items, have the most impact on household demand considerations when opting for a mortgage loan. If these factors are significantly improved, then, they can have a positive microeconomic impact on actual households demand for mortgage loans, in turn making the mortgage market a lucrative business

The effects of sodium azide and colchicine treatments on morphological and yield traits of sesame seed (Sesame indicum L.)

Seeds of Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) were exposed to varying concentrations of sodium azide and colchicine solutions ranging from 0 - 0.250% (w/v). Variations in the percentage germination and survival,number of days to maturity, plant heights, total leaf area/plant, chlorophyll content, pollen sterility, dry matter and fruit size were recorded in the C1 and C2 generations. The frequency of mutation/injury increased with increasing concentrations of the mutagens. The LC50 values based on survival percentages in the M1 generation were fixed at 0.0776 and 0.0473% for sodium azide and colchicine respectively. There were dose related effects of the mutagenic treatments on quantitative traits resulting in reductions in traits such as germination and survival percentages, plant height, number of fruit/plant, but increases in leaf area, maturity time and fruit size. Colchicine treatment produced shortened internodes, deformed leaves, and chlorophyll mutants. Low doses of both mutagens

The Limnological Status of an Old Intermitent Pond during the Wet Season in Ekpoma, Southern Nigeria

The limnological status of an intermitent borrow pit pond in Ekpoma, EdoState of Nigeria was studied between June and September 2005 (wet season). In situ measurements of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity,transparency and total dissolved solids (TDS) were recorded together withthe dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), totalsuspended solids (TSS), primary productivity and the phytoplankton species composition for the pond water. The study revealed that the pond was slightly alkaline (pH 7.9 – 8.4) and fresh with low electrical conductivities of 91.8 – 114.1ìS/cm and TDS of 46.4 – 57.2mg/l. Water temperature ranged from 26.0 – 32.10C and the pond was well oxygenated (DO values = 6.0 – 9.23mg/l) but slightly polluted with high BOD5 values (4.33 – 7.43mg/l) and highly turbid (TSS = 13.4 – 20.0mg/l). The high TSS was associated with run-offs and allochthonous inputs from the surrounding environment. The Gross Primary Productivity was low and ranged from 2.47 – 6.60mgO2/m3/day while the respiratory activities ranged from 1.8 – 5.23mgO2/m3/day. The distribution of phytoplankton was irregular but characterized by high densities and species diversity. The phytoplankton population was dominated by the Bacillariophyceae. These attributes are typical of an intermitent pond.Key words: Limnological status, intermittent pond, physicochemistry,phytoplankton, productivity

Applying a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to Demand Considerations of Households Opting for Mortgage Loans

The need for high economic development across the entire globe and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular has led to the awareness of the need to increase the housing base across the continent. The astronomical increase in population and urbanisation and its associated problems of accommodation call for the need to provide good housing for the people of Ghana; the provision of which could depends largely on the availability of mortgage facilities. However, obtaining the right mortgage is as crucial as obtaining the right home, yet buyers seemingly do not invest as much time and effort in a mortgage search as in house searches. It is against this backdrop that this study investigates factors considered by households before acquiring mortgage loans. A questionnaire was administered within the Accra metropolis, the area of Ghana with the most mortgage loan providers. We employed the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to analyze the thought processes of households when making their decisions on acquiring a mortgage loan. The results indicated that factors considered by households when opting for a mortgage loan, ordered based on their degree of importance, were "Employment", "Housing Market Conditions", "Personal Factors", "Economic Factors", "Mortgage Lender Policy", "Housing Alternatives", "Knowledge", and "Social Factors". The weights of the first four factors were as high as 70.99% (Buckley’s method) and 69.70% (Chang’s method). These four items, have the most impact on household demand considerations when opting for a mortgage loan. If these factors are significantly improved, then, they can have a positive microeconomic impact on actual households demand for mortgage loans, in turn making the mortgage market a lucrative business