Strategic Lay Leadership Involvement in the Social Mission of a Western Ontario Denomination

Several Ontario communities face challenges requiring harnessing multisectorial partnerships to bring about community transformation. The church has the capacity to contribute to the community transformation needs of its community, but a particular denomination in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) appeared to be unaware of how to fulfil its social mission of community transformation. The purpose of this case study was to understand how members of the clergy perceived the lay leadership vacuum in the denomination and how these perceptions appear to inhibit the denomination\u27s achievement of its social mission. The theoretical framework was Akingbola\u27s strategic nonprofit human resource management theory. A qualitative case study was employed, using semistructured interviews of 10 clergy in the GTA. Data from the interviews were coded and categorized for thematic analysis and constant comparison. Findings indicated a lay leadership vacuum in the studied denomination. Participants concurred that the vacuum was influenced by the perceptions of the clergy, which inhibit the denomination\u27s capacity to address the needs of the community. The results of this study could lead to positive social change through providing an understanding of the obstacles denominations and similar nonprofit organizations may need to overcome to effectively identify, nurture, and deploy their volunteers for the benefit of community transformation

Ghana’s Deposit Protection Act: Are Depositors Protected?

A Deposit Protection or Insurance as the name suggests is intended to provide a sustainable funding to reimburse depositors should an insured act(s) be triggered. Over time, it helps build confidence in the financial ecosystem thereby facilitating a strong and robust financial system. Ghana enacted a Deposit Protection Act in 2016 (the “Act”) and added some new sections in 2018 aimed at protecting small depositors, and create faith and stability in the financial system. However, the Act in its present form can neither protect small depositors nor build any faith and stability in the financial system in Ghana. It is not suggested that a deposit insurance alone can create a stable financial system but the part envisaged by the Deposit Protection Act in creating a stable financial system is seriously undermined by sections in the Act itself. Keywords: Deposit Protection Act, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/105-06 Publication date: January 31st 202

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE STUDENT’S DECISION TO PURSUE, SUSTAIN OR TERMINATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY

The overall purpose of the study is to determine key factors that influence students in the quest to continue their relationship with their university or to quit. The study employed the use of the descriptive design. Data was collected from three private and public universities in Ghana. These were to ensure equal representation from both sectors. The study used standardized questionnaires as the main source of data collection instrument. In terms of the analysis of data, the study employed the use of the statistical package for social sciences version 21. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. it is evident that fulfilment was significant in determining student continues relationship with university (β= 0.713, p=0.014). Furthermore, the table also reveals that there was a positive and significant relationship between maximum academic support individuals had and their continuous relationship with university (β= 0.511, p=0.000). Thus, maximum academic support individuals had was significant to their investment behavior after controlling for all other demographics. This was in line with the assertions of Tandoh (2011) when he indicated that factors such as fulfilment, reward for hardwork, fulfilment and the likes can affect hugely the continuous relationship with university by individuals. Article visualizations

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CUSTOMER ORIENTATION ATTITUDE OF SELECTED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN GHANA

The overall objective of the study was to compare the customer orientation attitude of selected private and public Universities in Ghana. Besides, the study also examined the probability of private or public Universities being more customer oriented than the other. The study employed the use of the descriptive design. Data was collected from three private and public Universities in Ghana. The study used standardized questionnaires as the main source of data collection instrument. In terms of the analysis of data, the study employed the use of the statistical package for social sciences version 21. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The findings revealed that that there is a statistically significant difference in the customer orientation behaviour (t (420)= -1.049, p>.05) of private universities (M= 6.78, SD= 0.002) and public universities ((M= 7.02, SD= 0.82). Again, the predicted odds that a student from a public university is Exp(B) =0.303, however since the coefficient is (-1.192), that is negative, thus, a student from a public university is 30% less than likely to perceive themselves as customers compared with a student from a private university. Recommendations as well as areas for further study have been presented. Article visualizations

Agricultural Decisions after Relaxing Credit and Risk Constraints

AbstractThe investment decisions of small-scale farmers in developing countries are conditioned by their financial environment. Binding credit market constraints and incomplete insurance can limit investment in activities with high expected profits. We conducted several experiments in northern Ghana in which farmers were randomly assigned to receive cash grants, grants of or opportunities to purchase rainfall index insurance, or a combination of the two. Demand for index insurance is strong, and insurance leads to significantly larger agricultural investment and riskier production choices in agriculture. The binding constraint to farmer investment is uninsured risk: when provided with insurance against the primary catastrophic risk they face, farmers are able to find resources to increase expenditure on their farms. Demand for insurance in subsequent years is strongly increasing with the farmer’s own receipt of insurance payouts, with the receipt of payouts by others in the farmer’s social network and with recent poor rain in the village. Both investment patterns and the demand for index insurance are consistent with the presence of important basis risk associated with the index insurance, imperfect trust that promised payouts will be delivered and overweighting recent events.</jats:p

The Influence of Service Marketing Mix on Customer Choice of Repeat Purchase of Restaurant in Kumasi, Ghana

The study focuses on the influence of service marketing mix on customers’ choice of registered restaurants in the Kumasi Metropolis-Ghana. Nine service marketing mix attributes have been identified by many scholars but the study focused on 7ps, including product, price, place, process, promotion, people and physical evidence. The study used quantitative research approach and primary data were collected through administration of questionnaire to 293 customers of five registered restaurants in the Kumasi Metropolis. The restaurants were stratified into grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 restaurants and 1 restaurant was selected from grade 1, 2 restaurants were from grade 2 and 3 each. The data collected were analyzed with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Chi-square and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient were used to test independency and relationship of service marketing mix and customer choice of repeat purchase. Process (χ2=96.465; p&lt;0.01) had the greatest influence on customer’s decision to repeat purchase. All other attributes, except place significantly influence decision to repeat purchase. The study recommended that restaurant operators should limit investment on opening of many branches but they should think of making the existing ones more accessible using signage to direct customers. Restaurants operators should increase their investment on the extended 3p’s (process, people and physical evidence), especially process by ensuring speedy delivery of service, home delivery and having opening and closing time consistent with customers’ life style. Keywords: Service marketing mix, customer choice

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

Youth and Their Health in Ghana

Youth and Their Health in Ghan

Sensory and Physicochemical Properties of Pasteurized Coconut Water from Two Varieties of Coconut

Coconut water is traditionally consumed fresh and is widely patronized by all and sundry. Storage of coconut water has however become a challenge due to it susceptibility to microbial attack coupled with several biochemical changes that takes place to alter it properties. Pasteurization is a mild thermal process used for fruit juice and beverage preservation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pasteurization on the qualities of coconut water. Coconut water was extracted from two varieties, Malayan Green and Malayan Yellow and each variety was pasteurized at 90oC for 5 minutes, 80oC for 15 minutes and 70oC for 25 minutes. Sensory evaluation was conducted and the most preferred pasteurized sample for each variety was selected. Total soluble sugars (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), total phenols and vitamin C of the most preferred pasteurized sample and the control for each variety were determined. Findings from the study revealed that, panellists mostly preferred the Malayan Green and Malayan Yellow samples pasteurized at 90oC for 5 minutes and 80oC for 15 minutes respectively. A higher TSS of 5.8 oBrix and pH of 4.78 were recorded for unpasteurized Malayan Yellow sample. The Malayan Green recorded higher values in all the other physicochemical properties analyzed. It recorded 0.14% of TA, 95.15 mg/L for total phenols and 30.18 μg/mL for vitamin C content. Reduction in the properties occurred in pasteurized samples of both varieties. This indicates that pasteurization had a reducing effect on microbes, sensory and nutritional value of coconut water. However, the Malayan Green variety was found to be more stable to pasteurization conditions compared to the Malayan Yellow variety. Keywords: Malayan Yellow coconut, Malayan Green coconut, pasteurized coconut water, sensory evaluation, physicochemical propertie