Investigating the Moderating Role of Social Support in Online Shopping Intentions

Relationship building plays a crucial role in business success because of the saturated nature of the market. Thus, there has been stronger competition because many businesses offer similar products for sale on an online shopping platform. This has given online consumers a wide range of alternatives when shopping online. This present study aimed to investigate the influence of relationship quality on purchase intention among Ghanaian consumers in an online shopping platform while moderated by social support. A convenience sampling method was employed to collect 304 responses from the respondents via web-survey. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to assess the structural model. The findings reveal that customer trust and customer satisfaction did not significantly influence purchase intention. Furthermore, Customer commitment and social support had a significant and positive influence on purchase intention. Also, social support moderated the relationship between customer trust and purchase intention but had no moderation effect on the relationship between customer satisfaction and purchase intention and customer commitment and purchase intention. This article ends with theoretical and practical implications. Keywords: Relationship Quality, Consumer Behavior, Purchase Intention, Social Support, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/78-04 Publication date: April 30th 202

Adoption of IFRS / IAS in Ghana: Impact on the Qualityof Corporate Financial Reporting and Related Corporate Tax Burden

The application of IFRSs reflects the combined effects of features ofthe financial reporting system, including standards interpretation, recognitionsand measurement and disclosures in the financial statements. We examine whetherapplication of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs), associatedwith higher quality of disclosure has any association with corporate taxesburdens. This study adopted thedisclosure index approach to examine the financial reports of 22 Ghana StockExchange listed company to ascertain the disclosure quality levels of theirfinancial reports before and after adoption of IFRSs. The main standard at thecentre of the studies was IAS 12. Using Pearson’s correlation, we observed asignificant positive correlation between the disclosure quality (based on thequalitative characteristics of relevance, understandability, comparability andfaithful presentation) of listed firms following the adoption of IFRSs. Weconcluded that the quality of disclosure based on IAS 12 improved significantlyfollowing the adoption of IFRSs. Companies wishing make quality disclosure should continue to comply withthe IFRSs rigorously.     Keywords:DisclosureQuality Levels, Financial Reports, IFRS / IAS, Corporate Taxe

Social Cash Transfers: Some Underlying Debates and Implications for Policy Making

Social cash transfers as a strategy for poverty reduction acquired prominence in Latin America but spread later to the rest of the developing world because earlier poverty reduction strategies did not make many gains. Most studies on cash transfer schemes seem tilted towards evaluating their impacts while neglecting the arguments surrounding their design and operations. As such, this paper reviews some of the debates that engulf social cash transfers as a form of social assistance. The review showed that debates about social cash transfers generally centre on targeting, affordability, conditionalities, poverty reduction ability, utilisation of cash, market effect, cash versus food stamp, and dependency. It is concluded that the debates are crucial as they lay the pedestal upon which policy makers take the decision as to whether to set up, change or end an existing cash transfer programme.Keywords: Social, Cash, Transfer, Debate, Poverty, Conditiona

Radio Listenership Among the Elite in Cape Coast Metropolis

The paper investigated into the radio listenership among the elite in Cape Coast Metropolis (CCM). The study employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The population of the study comprised 379 elite from the public and the private sectors. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed to select respondents from the various strata and to administer self administered survey questionnaire. Quantitative data collected was analysed with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and one - way analysis. The study found that majority of elite listeners of radio in CCM were 20-25 years, males, government employees and first-degree holders. The best three radio stations in CCM were Atlantic Fm, Cape FM, and Eagle FM. The major programme of interest to listeners of radio in CCM was the morning show. Respondents in CCM listened to the radio more in the morning and evening (before work and after work) as compared to during working hours. The level of satisfaction for radio in CCM by respondents was very good; however, they also listened to other radio stations outside CCM largely from Accra, for which respondents’ level of satisfaction was rather excellent. It was therefore recommended that management of radio stations in CCM continue to partner with radio stations in Accra for broadcasting their major news; and introduce new and interesting programmes to capture and retain listeners during working hours and for listeners within the age bracket of 41 and above. Keywords: Radio, Listenership, Elite, Metropolis, Programmes and Factors DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/94-03 Publication date: December 31st 202

Contribution of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors to Teacher Motivation

Teachers feel their work is becoming increasingly stressful and their status is falling leading to less job satisfaction with a concomitant loss in motivation. This study sought to find out in quantitative terms, the amount of motivation that the intrinsic and extrinsic socio-economic factors make to teacher motivation. The research design employed for this research is quasi-experimental. Two thousand and ninety-eight (2,098) teachers were selected from the Upper East Region of Ghana. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected. The results showed that intrinsic and extrinsic socio-economic factors do motivate teachers in the execution of their work. However, not a strong association exist between teacher motivation and the intrinsic and extrinsic socio-economic variables. Not much of teacher motivation depends on socio-economic factors. Per the findings of the study, the association between the degree of motivation that teachers receive from the intrinsic and extrinsic socio-economic factors, M€, and the percentage of respondents that claim they are motivated by the factors, f€, could be represented by the polynomial relation, M€ = µ3(f€)3 - µ2(f€)2 + µ1(f€) - µ0. Intrinsic and extrinsic (socio-economic) factors cannot sustain the motivation of teachers permanently, even though the lack of them will lead to demotivation of teachers

Education for Sustainable Development: Understanding Students' Choice of Business Education Program

Career choice is inevitable for many students all over the world. The career they choose will determine the Program they will read in school. This study explores the rationale that drives students to study the Business Education Program at the tertiary level by expanding the theory of planned behavior. The study also examined the trends in Business Education enrolment for ten years. PLS-SEM was used to analyze 342 responses obtained, and trend analysis was used to assess the student enrolment data. The findings highlight some variations in the factors that affect student choice of the Business Education Program; revealing a gradual decline in enrolment, and the Programs continue to be dominated by males. As such, the relevant stakeholders should employ interventions aimed at improving student enrolment and making the Program attractive

Household economic burden of type-2 diabetes and hypertension comorbidity care in urban-poor Ghana:a mixed methods study

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) predispose households to exorbitant healthcare expenditures in health systems where there is no access to effective financial protection for healthcare. This study assessed the economic burden associated with the rising burden of type-2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension comorbidity management, and its implications for healthcare seeking in urban Accra. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used. Quantitative sociodemographic and cost data were collected through survey from a random community-based sample of 120 adults aged 25 years and older and living with comorbid T2D and hypertension in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana in November and December 2022. The monthly economic cost of T2D and hypertension comorbidity care was estimated using a descriptive cost-of-illness analysis technique from the perspective of patients. Thirteen focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among community members with and without comorbid T2D and hypertension. The FGDs were analysed using deductive and inductive thematic approaches. Findings from the survey and qualitative study were integrated in the discussion. Results: Out of a total of 120 respondents who self-reported comorbid T2D and hypertension, 23 (19.2%) provided complete healthcare cost data. The direct cost of managing T2D and hypertension comorbidity constituted almost 94% of the monthly economic cost of care, and the median direct cost of care was US$19.30 (IQR:10.55–118.88). Almost a quarter of the respondents pay for their healthcare through co-payment and insurance jointly, and 42.9% pay out-of-pocket (OOP). Patients with lower socioeconomic status incurred a higher direct cost burden compared to those in the higher socioeconomic bracket. The implications of the high economic burden resulting from self-funding of healthcare were found from the qualitative study to be: 1) poor access to quality healthcare; (2) poor medication adherence; (3) aggravated direct non-medical and indirect cost; and (4) psychosocial support to help cope with the cost burden. Conclusion: The economic burden associated with healthcare in instances of comorbid T2D and hypertension can significantly impact household budget and cause financial difficulty or impoverishment. Policies targeted at effectively managing NCDs should focus on strengthening a comprehensive and reliable National Health Insurance Scheme coverage for care of chronic conditions

A Comparative Analysis of Productivity among Organic and Non-Organic farms in the West Mamprusi District of Ghana

The study was conducted in organic and conventional crop farms in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region of Ghana. The key issue the study sought to determine was whether there are productivity differences among organic and conventional crop farms and what factors account for these differences. The results indeed revealed that there are productivity differences among organic and conventional crop farms. However, both had negative total factor productivity growth, largely accounted for by a negative technical change over the period considered. The technical efficiency change, however, was positive for both but much higher for organic farms than conventional farms. More importantly, the study revealed that the type of agriculture practiced by farmers is not the most critical problem confronting farmers as indicated by the negative total productivity growth for both. Major constraints confronting farmers that need to be addressed include better organization on the farmers’ front, improved access to extension and improved access to farm inputs. These challenges notwithstanding, the study revealed that organic agriculture has the potential, in the long run, to achieve much more progress in total factor productivity, compared to conventional agriculture, if the right conditions exist for its uptake and optimal application