Celebrity Selection Strategies in the Automobile Industry A Review of Related Literature

Practitioners continually face the difficulty of strategically executing their marketing communications in order to draw consumer attention and influence consumer judgments. One of the strategies among the barrage of options proposed to companies yearning to achieve competitive edge is these companies careful and tactical use of marcoms activities such as strategic advertising to promote both corporate and brands image. This paper seeks to assess Celebrity Selection Strategies as effective Marketing Communications tool in the Automobile industry. The specific activities to be carried out in the process of this current study are: To identify effective strategic options to be adopted by automakers and their ad agencies to select celebrities to endorse their products or brands; explore strategic options automakers adopt to achieve the right “congruence” or “fit” between the endorsed brands and the celebrity endorsers; identify how automakers gain sales’ benefits through the adoption of celebrity endorsement to promote their products or brands; determine potential risks associated with celebrity endorsements, and their effects on the entire endorsement contracts signed by automakers and explore strategic options automakers adopt to reduce the risks associated with celebrity endorsements. Both theoretical and empirical literature are reviewed. Conclusions are drawn based on the findings. Keywords: Celebrity, celebrity endorsement, celebrity selection strategies, automobile products or brands, Ghana, Nigeria, France, Germany

Assessing the Impact of Work-Related Attitudes on Performance in the Private and Public Sector of Employment in Ghana

This paper examines employee attitudes and how it promotes overall performance at the workplace. The paper is an outcome from questionnaires administered to 39 respondents: teaching and non-teaching staff in the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. Using Herzberg’s two-factor theory, expectancy theory and theories of job satisfaction and organizational commitment, this paper sheds light on the factors that make employees develop positive work attitudes and motivation on the job, it likewise assesses the place of higher remuneration and effective supervision towards employee work attitude. The findings from the research show that employees in the private sector of employment showed higher levels of job involvement and enjoyed enormous job security than those in the public sector. In addition, supervision was effective in the private sector than in the public sector of employment. We therefore recommend the improvement in infrastructure and the provision of enabling working environment and good working conditions for efficient employee output. Keywords: Public Sector, Private Sector, Attitudes, Performance, Expectancy Theory, Herzberg Theory, Motivation, Supervision, Employees, Environment DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-22-12 Publication date: November 30th 202

Curriculum Feuding and Implementation Challenges: The Case of Senior High School (SHS) Social Studies in Ghana

The subject Social Studies in the Senior High Schools (SHS) curricula (3 & 4 year policy) in Ghana is taught mostly by graduate teachers from the country’s two teacher preparation universities-University of Cape Coast and University of Education (i.e. UCC and UEW) and graduates from other universities. Documentary analysis of their programmes reveals differences in how the subject is structured to prepare teachers to teach it at the SHS level. Qualitatively, an interpretative design was used. Documents of Social Studies course structures were analysed vis-à-vis the SHS Social Studies syllabus. The study revealed that: (a) Teacher Training Institutions (i.e. UCC & UEW) subscribe and use a particular conception of Social Studies curriculum for the production of Social Studies education graduates; and (b) Although social studies is seen as an integrated body of knowledge, there is an issue of acceptable level of integration. It was recommended that Social Studies curricula of both universities should be harmonized to focus more on attitudes and values cultivation as well as skills development of students. Key-words: Conceptions of Social Studies. Social Studies curriculum. Social Studies curriculum implementation

Influence of the Differences in Social Studies Teachers’ Curriculum Conceptions on Curriculum Implementation in Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana: Implication for Curriculum Policy

Practitioners of Social Studies believe that its introduction in schools is inextricably link with national development if students are imbued with the ideals of society. As a subject in the SHS curriculum in Ghana, it is mostly taught by graduate teachers from the country’s two public teacher preparation universities: University of Cape Coast and University of Education, Winneba (i.e. UCC and UEW) and graduates from other universities. Analysis of their programmes reveals differences in curriculum policy on how the subject is structured to prepare teachers to teach it at the SHS level. A sequential mixed method design was used. Data from questionnaire was triangulated with interviews and classroom observation of pedagogues who are products of UCC and UEW. The Pearson Chi-Square was used in finding significant differences. The p-value is the probability for showing differences and a critical value of alpha=.05 was adopted. The study revealed that teachers’ conception about Social Studies has influence on their classroom activities. It was recommended that courses on methodology and content for Social Studies student-teachers must reflect not only the teaching of the cognitive but also the affective and skills development. Key-words: Social Studies. Social Studies curriculum. Curriculum conceptions. Curriculum implementation. Curriculum policy

Chlorine dioxide and ozone facilitated disinfection of selected bacteria in aqueous systems.

Doctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Chlorination is the most commonly used disinfection technology for the control of pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water or wastewater treatment. However, the reactions of chlorine with natural organic matter in water have been found to produce harmful by-products including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and haloacetonitriles. Regulations on these deleterious disinfection by-products keep increasing and have consequently focussed considerable attention on the use of alternative chemical disinfectants. The design and operation of an efficient disinfection system at a water treatment facility aim at providing adequate control of microbial threats and simultaneously satisfying regulatory requirements on by-products. Achieving these require an in-depth understanding of the inactivation kinetics of the disinfectant on potential target organisms. In this study, the microbial inactivation kinetics of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) as an alternative chemical disinfectant for water treatment was monitored on two Gram-negative bacterial species: Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and a gram-positive: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC29313) under varied conditions of disinfectant concentration, pH, temperature and bacterial density in an oxidant demand free water. Further studies were conducted to investigate the effect of ClO2 on bacterial outer cell membrane permeability, the cytoplasmic membrane integrity, inhibition of intracellular enzyme activity and changes in cell morphology by TEM to elucidate the bactericidal mechanism of action of ClO2. In addition, autochnous bacteria from urban wastewater were exposed to chlorine dioxide and the susceptibilities monitored and compared by a culture-dependent heterotrophic plate count technique and culture-independent 16S rRNA gene-directed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Furthermore, the influence of four organic solvents commonly discharged from industrial lines into wastewater systems, namely, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on ozone absorption, stability and consequent inactivation of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25218) and Staphylococcus aureus (29213) in water were also examined. Chlorine dioxide showed strong and rapid disinfection capabilities at relatively lower dosages with significant influences by pH and temperature. However, the efficiency generally appeared unaffected by changes in bacterial density. The PCR- DGGE technique showed that 1.0 mg/L was sufficient to inactivate three predominant bacterial species from an urban wastewateridentified as Arcobacter suis F41, Pseudomonas sp strain QBA5 and Pseudomonas sp B-AS- 44, whereas a significant population of other species such as Pseudomonas sp CCI2E was observed to presumably remain viable to 5.0 mg/L chlorine dioxide whilst the heterotrophic plate count method indicated complete elimination of bacteria at 3.0 mg/L. ClO2 was not found to inactivate bacteria by inflicting gross morphological damages to the cell wall, but instead, increases the permeability of the outer cell membrane, disrupts the integrity of the inner cytoplasmic membrane which leads to the efflux of intracellular contents of the cell and hence, resulting in the overall cell death. The presence of ethyl acetate and DMSO were observed to significantly enhance ozone absorption and stability in water with a consequent increase in bacteria inactivation efficiency whilst methanol-containing water rather accelerated the decomposition of ozone. The findings herein provide further knowledge to enhance the disinfection operations at a water treatment plant when ClO2 or O3 is applied

Using Activity – Based Instructional Approach to Change Students’ Attitude Towards the Study of Science in the Colleges of Education in Ashanti Region of Ghana

The study investigated the attitude of teacher trainees towards the study of science in the colleges of education. The study sought to look at students’ attitude from four (4) significant perspectives namely; interest to do science, motivation to do science, level of students’ involvement in science lessons and the type of interpersonal relationship between science teachers and students. The study also considered gender and attitude of students towards science as well as teachers’ pedagogical strategies and students’ attitude towards science as other issues worth investigating. A twenty nine (29)-item questionnaire on a five (5) likert-scale for students was used to collect data on students’ attitude towards science. An instructional intervention activity was also carried out. The information gathered was analyzed under the four (4) main perspectives of attitude and under the two related issues considered using descriptive statistics. (Mean score values).The study revealed that students’ attitude towards the study of science was not encouraging, per the perspectives considered. The male students were of the view that gender has no influence on students’ attitude to study science whilst the females’ response was in the affirmative. There was also an indication that science teachers’ instructional methods did not suit students learning style and as such influenced their disinterest in science, hence their poor attitude towards the subject. It is recommended that science teachers, especially those in the colleges of education, adopted Activity-based instructional approach in the teaching and learning of science. Again, stakeholders in education in the country are requested to periodically organize in-service training courses to improve teachers’ self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy. Arguments supporting the need for better science education in elementary schools have been based on the desire to develop in today's students the knowledge, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required for the rapidly changing and technology based society (Plourde, 2002). Keywords: ICSU, MESS, Attitude Motivation, Interest, Healthy interpersonal relationship, Classroom Environment, Performance, Optimal, Emotionally, Behavior, Minimizing, Elaborate, Regurgitate, Achievement.

An Assessment of Tax Compliance Level of Small Enterprises in Ghana

In the wake of fiscal consolidation and the quest to maximise government revenue for economic development, it is vital to assess the tax compliance level of firms. An understanding of the behaviour and compliance level of businesses provides important policy implications for tax reformations and revenue mobilisation. This paper assesses the tax compliance level of small businesses in the Sunyani Municipality. The study uses a total sample size of 500 small businesses. Using Probit regression models, our findings show that lack of tax education, computational issues and lack of book keeping negatively influence the level of tax compliance amongst small businesses in Ghana.  The results also show that age, duration of business operations, liability assessment and business incorporation are important factors that influence tax compliance among small businesses.  We conclude that continuous tax education at the local level would improve small businesses tax compliance level in Ghana. Keywords: Ghana; Sunyani Municipality; Taxation; Tax compliance; Tax educatio

Formative Assessment Techniques Tutors use to Assess Teacher-Trainees’ Learning in Social Studies in Colleges of Education in Ghana

Internal assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning in Social Studies in the Colleges of Education in Ghana and is beneficial to both students and tutors if use formatively. It is therefore important for teachers to be abreast with formative assessment techniques and how to use them in their classroom activities in order to win back public confidence. This could be achieved if, tutors try to follow the laid down procedures in administering formative assessment in their colleges. There is therefore the need to conduct a study into formative assessment techniques tutors use to assess teacher-trainees learning in Social Studies.Case study research design was used. The study was carried out in three Colleges of Education in Central Region of Ghana. The data were used together to form one case. Both the tutors and the colleges were purposively and conveniently selected for the study. Interview guide and classroom observation checklists were administered to nine (9) Social Studies tutors of Colleges of Education.The research found out that due to hasty nature in formulating formative assessment and scoring, tutors laid emphasis on cognitive domain to the neglect of affective and psychomotor domains which are also of paramount importance. Formative assessment should cover the three learning domains but in setting and scoring questions importance is attach to cognitive domain to the neglect of the affective and psychomotor domains. This make students pass through the academic system without acquiring needed skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to right the wrong in society using appropriate tools. Keywords: Formative assessment techniques in social studies. Diagnostic assessment. Peer assessment

Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction of Employees in the Construction Supply Chain in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Job satisfaction has received immense attention in organizational research. It is proven as one of the key factors that contribute to productivity. The focus of this study was to examine factors affecting job satisfaction of employees in the local building construction industry in Ghana. Quantitative survey based research approach was used in the study. One hundred and fifty eight (158) employees working in selected construction organisations in the Ashanti Region of Ghana were involved in the study. Primary data was collected through questionnaire instrument and analysed using descriptive statistical tool with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The findings indicated that non-wage based factors such as recognition, task itself, work environment, supervision and job security appeared to influence job satisfaction than wage paid to the employees in the construction sector. Managers in construction supply chain should make policies and incorporate factors that allow employees to achieve their high-order individual goals in job design to secure employee’s loyalty and improve productivity. Keywords: Construction Supply Chain, Job Satisfaction, Employees, Building Industry, Ghan

Towards Building Shared Prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Does the Effect of Economic Integration Compare to Social Equity Policies?

The debate on the need for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries to foster inclusive growth has intensified following the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. A conspicuous lacuna in the literature is a lack of rigorous empirical work(s) exploring: (1) the joint effect of economic integration and resource allocation, and (2) social equity policies on inclusive growth in SSA. Using data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and the Global Consumption and Income Project (1980–2019) for 43 SSA countries, I provide evidence robust to several econometric techniques the fixed-effect, random-effect, and the system generalized method of moments estimators to show that: (1) though economic integration induces inclusive growth, the effect is higher in the presence of greater financial deepening and productive government expenditure; (2) relative to economic integration, social equity policies are rather remarkable in enhancing inclusive growth. Policy recommendations are provided in line with the AfCFTA and the reversals of welfare gains due to the coronavirus pandemic