Fortress Ghana? Exploring Marginality and Enterprising Behaviour among Migrants in Kumasi Zongos

The study sought to establish if Ghana was seen as fortress by migrants in zongo communities and the implications for enterprising behaviour among these migrants. The study reviewed the marginality theory, enterprising behaviour and further developed a conceptual framework for testing in the study area. The study collected data quantitative from 212 micro-entrepreneurs in the study area. The data was then analyzed using quantitative data analysis techniques such as frequencies, chi-square and the linear regression. The study found that Ghana is not seen as a fortress by most migrants in the zongo communities. The study found that migrants were not marginalised politically, economically or socially. The study also found that the level of economic and political marginality is positively linked to enterprising behaviour while in terms of reactions to marginality the defiant was the only reaction positively linked to enterprising behaviour. The study suggests that migrants in zongo communities feel a sense of belonging and citizenship to Ghana. However, further studies are needed to see if Ghana should be made a fortress, so migrants can be become very entrepreneurial and contribute significantly to the economic development of the country. Keywords: Marginality, Migration, Enterprises, Zongo, Ghan

Impact of firm-level factors and market entry mode on performance: A study of service MNCs in an emerging economy

The study examined the market entry strategies of multinational services companies into Ghana’s service sector and the linkages to firm level performance after entry. Literature was reviewed on market entry strategies, internationalisation, globalisation of service firms and resource-based theory. The study adopted a combination of both quantitative and qualitative research approaches in this study. The qualitative approach was for deeper enquiry and quantitative for empirical testing. The study found that firm specific factors affect the market entry strategy while the entry strategy also affects performance after it enters the market. Home country factors and the features of services are also seen to moderate on the effects mentioned. Respondents also indicated that the features of services were an industry wide issue not so much consideration is given to it

Are SME Owner-Managers Entrepreneurs? Evidence from Ghana

This study seeks to examine whether SME owner-managers are entrepreneurs. This is a particularly essential question in light of the term ‘entrepreneur,’ being ‘loosely’ used in most entrepreneurial studies to refer to SME owner-managers. The study adopts Covin and Slevin’s entrepreneurial orientation concept. The concept presents a good scale (comprising risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness) for measuring an SME owner-manager’s entrepreneurial ability. Using a systematic sampling approach the study interviewed 300 SME owner mangers in Accra, Ghana in various sectors such as services, trade, manufacturing and agro-processing. The study found that SME owner-managers are not innovative and do not take risks although very proactive. Consequently, this study concludes that SME owner-managers are not entrepreneurially oriented and as such cannot be labelled as entrepreneurs. Appropriately, they should be labelled as businesspersons.   Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneur, SME owner-manager, risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness

Gender Differences in Entrepreneurial Orientation: Evidence from Ghana

This study explores the differences in the entrepreneurial orientation between men and women using data from a survey of 300 small and medium-scale (SMEs) enterprises from Accra, Ghana, using the Covin and Slevin entrepreneurial orientation scale. The findings of the study indicate that there are significant differences between the levels of entrepreneurial orientation among the two genders. These differences are in risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness. Men are found to be more entrepreneurial oriented than women. This is mainly attributable to the different socio-economic conditions that men and women are exposed to. The study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurial and gender theory. The findings imply that policies aimed at developing entrepreneurs should be gender sensitive. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Orientation, Gender, Small Business, Enterprise, Ghana

Psychological Factors That Influence Teachers’ Perception of Head Teachers’ Leadership Styles in the Dormaa East District

The activities in the schools as well as the interactions that took place in the schools influenced teachers’ perception of head teachers’ leadership styles the most. The purpose of the study was to investigate the psychological factors that influence teachers’ perception of head teachers’ leadership styles. The study adopted an exploratory approach using a descriptive survey design. The study was carried out in 50 basic schools with a sample size of 217 teachers. The proportional random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The study showed that situation-specific factors namely; school culture, relationship with other teachers, interpersonal relationship with the head teacher, head teacher support, and GES policies being implemented influenced teachers’ perception of head teachers’ leadership styles. The study found no statistically significant difference between males and females in terms of factors influencing teachers’ perception of head teachers’ leadership style. It was recommended that the training of head teachers should include how to build healthy school culture in the schools. Keywords: Headteacher, Leadership style, Perception, Situation-Specific Factors DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-21-08 Publication date:June 30th 202

Improving the competitiveness and marketability of locally-produced rice in Ghana

Irrigated rice has been grown over a number of decades in Ghana on state-sponsored government irrigation projects. Over the years these projects have received extensive state support, as the government has attempted, through various initiatives, to achieve food self-sufficiency. The emphasis on promoting domestic rice production was enhanced by the growing importance of rice in the diet of the urban population, combined with technical assistance provided by donors, such as the Chinese. In addition, the promotion of state-sponsored, input-intensive agriculture reflected the Ghanaian government's past adherence to socialist development models

Measuring the Performance of Automobile Services Sector in Ghana: A Pricing Orientation Approach

This study examines the role of pricing orientation in firm performance – focusing on specific components such as value-oriented pricing, costoriented pricing, competition- oriented pricing, demand-oriented pricing and customer oriented pricing. The study sample comprised of Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) automobile services firms in Ghana. 498 firms participated in the study. A hierarchical regression was conducted to estimate the paths between pricing orientation and firm performance. All the pricing orientation components; value, cost, competition, demand, and customer oriented prices were found to have positively and statistically significant effects on the outcome of the firm performance. Some limitations of the study were identified, and areas for future studies have been duly provided to aid the continuous research into the operations of SMEs automobile services industry

Association of genetic variants with prostate cancer in Africa: A concise review

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where the genetic contribution has been documented, and knowledge about the molecular genetics of the disease is increasing. However, the extent and aspects to which genetic variants explain PCa heritability in Africa are limited. Main body: In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified genetic variants explain differences in PCa incidence and presentation across ethnic groups. We also present the knowledge gaps in PCa genetics in Africa and why Africa represents an untapped potential ground for genetic studies on PCa. A significant number of genome-wide association studies, linkage, and fine-mapping analyses have been conducted globally, and that explains 30–33% of PCa heritability. The African ancestry has a significant mention in PCa incidence and presentation. To date, the candidate gene approach has replicated 23 polymorphisms including dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats in 16 genes. CYP17-rs743572, CYP3A4-rs2740574, CYP3A5-rs776746, CYP3A43-rs501275, and haplotype blocks, containing these variants, are significantly associated with PCa among some population groups but not others. With the few existing studies, the extent of genetic diversity in Africa suggests that genetic associations of PCa to African ancestry go beyond nucleotide sequence polymorphisms, to a level of environmental adaptation, which may interpret genetic risk profiles. Also, the shreds of evidence suggest that evolutionary history contributes to the high rates of PCa relative to African ancestry, and genetic associations do not always replicate across populations. Conclusion: The genetic architecture of PCa in Africa provides important contributions to the global understanding of PCa specifically the African-ancestry hypothesis. There is a need for more prostate cancer consortiums to justify the heritable certainties of PCa among Africans, and emphasis should be placed on the genetic epidemiological model of PCa in Africa

Lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia among Ghanaian men: a hospital-based cross-sectional prospective study

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common in the elderly. This study sought to determine the prevalence of LUTS among patients visiting the urology clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana and to explore its presentation patterns.Methods: Simple randomized sampling technique was used to recruit 225 subjects with a mean age of 67.96±14.57 (range=40-100years) in a prospective cross-sectional study. LUTS related characteristics and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire were employed to obtain relevant data.Results: The average IPSS of the studied participants was 17.52±7.83. Based on the IPSS, the prevalence of LUTS suggestive of BPH was 88.89%. Bladder storage symptoms were also recorded at 88.59% whilst prostate enlargement based on digital rectal examination (DRE) was 60.4% among the studied subjects.  PSA levels ≥4.0ng/ml gave a prevalence of 81.5%. The prevalence of prostate enlargement defined as PSA ≥1.5ng/ml was 85.23% among the studied subjects whilst 63.11% of the subjects examined had troublesome LUTS. Urgency was the most predominantly reported LUTS (93.3%) among the subjects studied.Conclusions: This study has clearly shown that, the most prevalent urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia were bladder storage symptoms and urgency. These symptoms when present clinically therefore, suggest benign prostatic hyperplasia and that the prevalence estimates of LUTS in older men are relatively higher at diagnosis.

Zero malaria: a mirage or reality for populations of sub-Saharan Africa in health transition

The global burden of malaria continues to be a significant public health concern. Despite advances made in therapeutics for malaria, there continues to be high morbidity and mortality associated with this infectious disease. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected by the disease, but unfortunately the region is burdened with indigent health systems. With the recent increase in lifestyle diseases, the region is currently in a health transition, complicating the situation by posing a double challenge to the already ailing health sector. In answer to the continuous challenge of malaria, the African Union has started a "zero malaria starts with me” campaign that seeks to personalize malaria prevention and bring it down to the grass-root level. This review discusses the contribution of sub-Saharan Africa, whose population is in a health transition, to malaria elimination. In addition, the review explores the challenges that health systems in these countries face, that may hinder the attainment of a zero-malaria goal