Assessing the Influence of Religiosity and Spirituality Practices on Human Resources Performances at Workplaces, Ghana

The way workers react to instructions, devote time for productive activities and leisure, dress codes, sharing of resources and responses to organisational calls, attitudes and behaviours are determined by their religion and spiritual beliefs. These practices at the working environment will either impede or enhance productivity. Religiosity and spirituality either positively or negatively affects employee’s performance in an organisational setting. Questionnaire, interview, observation and Focus Group Discussions were the main data collection techniques used in this study. Simple random sampling and simple proportion formula were used in selecting sample size for each organisation studied. The study revealed that there is highly significant association between religiosity/spirituality and employee’s performance which positively influenced productivity at workplaces. Benefits such as commitment, honesty and creativity enhanced productivity. It was empharcized that majority of employees who are highly religious and spiritual communicate with their Divine every day before they commenced their official functions at work places. Nevertheless, the study discovered that too much religiosity and spirituality reduced productivity because working hours will be used for practicing religion. The study therefore recommend that management must designate special areas for religious activities like prayers and meditations for the employees to dialogue with their maker and organisation’s policies must be reviewed to shape religious practices and spiritual activities at work places to reduce its influence on productivity in Ghana. Keywords: Religiosity, Spirituality, Human Resources performances DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-10-09 Publication date:May 31st 202

Assessment of financial control practices in Polytechnics in Ghana. A case study of Sunyani Polytechnic

The study sought to assess the financial Control systems of Polytechnics in Ghana and suggest ways of improving them. Financial control systems exist to help organizations meet their goals and objectives, promote efficiency, reduce the risk of loss, and help ensure financial statement reliability and compliance with laws and regulations. The study adopts the case study design using Sunyani Polytechnic in the Brong Ahafo region, Ghana. A sample size of 50 staff members was selected for the study using the convenience sampling. The sources of data for the study were both primary and secondary data. The study found out that three (3) major financial control systems, namely, preventive, directive and detective control systems are in existence in the Sunyani Polytechnic. Effectively, realistic budgets are established and results are actively monitored. It was discovered from the findings that there was existence of internal financial controls regulated by Financial Administration, Procurement, Internal Audit Agency Acts and indirect application of Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). It was revealed that the level of compliance was high and this is very commendable and must be encouraged. It was also discovered there was a fair amount of compliance but sanctions are rarely given to a person who does not comply with the laws and conventions of internal financial control. It was recommended that pre-audit should be done for all transactions and seriousness need to be attached to it. It was recommended that audit units need to be strengthened in the Polytechnics. It was recommended that review of internal control needs to be done from time to time, so that new standards can be embraced for performance and improvement. Regular training programmes should be organized for workers on the financial management and control of the Polytechnic activities for its sustainability and growth. There should be in-depth investigations into the accounting system to eliminate all identified weaknesses

Assessment of financial control practices in Polytechnics in Ghana. A case study of Sunyani Polytechnic

The study sought to assess the financial Control systems of Polytechnics in Ghana and suggest ways of improving them. Financial control systems exist to help organizations meet their goals and objectives, promote efficiency, reduce the risk of loss, and help ensure financial statement reliability and compliance with laws and regulations. The study adopts the case study design using Sunyani Polytechnic in the Brong Ahafo region, Ghana. A sample size of 50 staff members was selected for the study using the convenience sampling. The sources of data for the study were both primary and secondary data. The study found out that three (3) major financial control systems, namely, preventive, directive and detective control systems are in existence in the Sunyani Polytechnic. Effectively, realistic budgets are established and results are actively monitored. It was discovered from the findings that there was existence of internal financial controls regulated by Financial Administration, Procurement, Internal Audit Agency Acts and indirect application of Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). It was revealed that the level of compliance was high and this is very commendable and must be encouraged. It was also discovered there was a fair amount of compliance but sanctions are rarely given to a person who does not comply with the laws and conventions of internal financial control. It was recommended that pre-audit should be done for all transactions and seriousness need to be attached to it. It was recommended that audit units need to be strengthened in the Polytechnics. It was recommended that review of internal control needs to be done from time to time, so that new standards can be embraced for performance and improvement. Regular training programmes should be organized for workers on the financial management and control of the Polytechnic activities for its sustainability and growth. There should be in-depth investigations into the accounting system to eliminate all identified weaknesses

Morphological diversity and relationships among the IPGRI maize (Zea mays L) landraces held in IITA

Genetic variability estimates in maize (Zea mays L) landraces is an important information for trait improvement for food and nutrition security. Genetic diversity information in the Sub-Sahara African maize landraces is lack- ing. Agromorphological trait evaluation is a practical approach for genetic diversity estimation. Our objective was to assess genetic diversity among 60 IPGRI maize landraces held in IITA, Ibadan, against a check, «Obatanpa GH». Twenty-one quantitative traits and five qualitative traits were field-evaluated in Ghana in 2011 and 2012 wet seasons in a three-replicated randomized complete block design experiment. Large phenotypic variation was identified in all traits except cob colour, principal grain colour, and number of ears per plant. A moderate within population variation based on pooled Shannon Diversity Index was 0.68 ± 0.28. Between population variation was largest in earliness, anthesis-silking interval, and grain yield. Genetic similarity of 0.11 ± 0.00 based on squared correlation coefficient confirmed a large variability among accessions. Two major clusters, I and II, were separated on the basis of maturity characteristics, anthesis-silking interval, plant and ear heights, and grain yield. The first two principal components explained 67.89 % of the total variance. Four genotypes, TZm-1125 and TZm-1117 (5.0 Mg ha-1), TZm-1119 (5.4 Mg ha-1), and TZm-1139 (6.2 Mg ha-1) competed with the check (5.8 Mg ha-1) in grain yield. The IPGRI genotypes represent a large genetic reserve awaiting exploitation for trait improvement

Professionalisation of traditional medicine in Zambia

Project number related to IDRC support could not be determine

Chemosensitivity analysis of tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.) using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and colchicine mutagens

Four hundred tubers of four genotypes, two brown and two black tiger nuts were subjected to Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) and Colchicine treatments at concentrations of 0 %, 0.1 %, 0.25 %, 0.5 % and 1.0 % for 24 h. Each genotype had twenty tubers treated with each of the five different concentrations and were planted using Complete Randomized Design (CRD) in a greenhouse. Quantitative data was collected and LD50 and RD50 were analysed using Excell 2016 and Genstat 11.2. A general decreasing trend in percentage germination and plant height was observed with increasing concentrations of mutagens applied. An EMS treatment had LD50 and RD50 values of 0.97 % and 1.49 % for black and 0.63 % and 1.63 % for brown genotypes.Similarly, the percentage colchicine treatment had LD50 and RD50 values of 1.65 % and 19.51 % concentrations for black and 0.91 % and 1.71 % concentrations for brown genotypes