Applying a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to Demand Considerations of Households Opting for Mortgage Loans

The need for high economic development across the entire globe and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular has led to the awareness of the need to increase the housing base across the continent. The astronomical increase in population and urbanisation and its associated problems of accommodation call for the need to provide good housing for the people of Ghana; the provision of which could depends largely on the availability of mortgage facilities. However, obtaining the right mortgage is as crucial as obtaining the right home, yet buyers seemingly do not invest as much time and effort in a mortgage search as in house searches. It is against this backdrop that this study investigates factors considered by households before acquiring mortgage loans. A questionnaire was administered within the Accra metropolis, the area of Ghana with the most mortgage loan providers. We employed the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to analyze the thought processes of households when making their decisions on acquiring a mortgage loan. The results indicated that factors considered by households when opting for a mortgage loan, ordered based on their degree of importance, were "Employment", "Housing Market Conditions", "Personal Factors", "Economic Factors", "Mortgage Lender Policy", "Housing Alternatives", "Knowledge", and "Social Factors". The weights of the first four factors were as high as 70.99% (Buckley’s method) and 69.70% (Chang’s method). These four items, have the most impact on household demand considerations when opting for a mortgage loan. If these factors are significantly improved, then, they can have a positive microeconomic impact on actual households demand for mortgage loans, in turn making the mortgage market a lucrative business

Applying a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to Demand Considerations of Households Opting for Mortgage Loans

The need for high economic development across the entire globe and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular has led to the awareness of the need to increase the housing base across the continent. The astronomical increase in population and urbanisation and its associated problems of accommodation call for the need to provide good housing for the people of Ghana; the provision of which could depends largely on the availability of mortgage facilities. However, obtaining the right mortgage is as crucial as obtaining the right home, yet buyers seemingly do not invest as much time and effort in a mortgage search as in house searches. It is against this backdrop that this study investigates factors considered by households before acquiring mortgage loans. A questionnaire was administered within the Accra metropolis, the area of Ghana with the most mortgage loan providers. We employed the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to analyze the thought processes of households when making their decisions on acquiring a mortgage loan. The results indicated that factors considered by households when opting for a mortgage loan, ordered based on their degree of importance, were "Employment", "Housing Market Conditions", "Personal Factors", "Economic Factors", "Mortgage Lender Policy", "Housing Alternatives", "Knowledge", and "Social Factors". The weights of the first four factors were as high as 70.99% (Buckley’s method) and 69.70% (Chang’s method). These four items, have the most impact on household demand considerations when opting for a mortgage loan. If these factors are significantly improved, then, they can have a positive microeconomic impact on actual households demand for mortgage loans, in turn making the mortgage market a lucrative business

Assessing the Influence of Total Quality Management on Customer Satisfaction in the Telecom Industry: A TQM–SERVQUAL Perspective

Total quality management (TQM) has become a reliable quality and customer satisfaction approach that can meet or exceed customer satisfaction. Previous studies have not really tied total quality management in the aspects of SERVQUAL as the major influence on customer satisfaction in the Ghanaian telecommunication sector, thus the need for this research. As customer satisfaction continues to rise, telecommunication customers expect service quality to improve to meet their satisfaction. The quality of service determines the customer satisfaction level in a service industry, such as telecom. Effective total quality management would result in better service quality. SERVQUAL is arguably the model to assess the effectiveness of customer satisfaction in the service industry. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of total quality management on customer satisfaction in the telecom industry from a TQM–SERVQUAL perspective. The study relied on questionnaires to gather data about the TQM services on customer satisfaction. A self-completion questionnaire was administered to customers and employees of MTN Ghana and Vodafone Ghana. Both companies operate with the same procedures and equipment, hence the need to use the same apparatus for all contacted customers and employees. There were 800 respondents from both companies’ employees and customers, although 850 questionnaires were administered. Descriptive statistical analysis was used through the questionnaire. The investigators also ran preliminary tests such as reliability, validity, and multicollinearity tests to ascertain if the received data were reasonable enough for the research and would fit the expected model. The data collected were analyzed and the inference was drawn in the study. The key finding states that total quality management had a significant impact on service quality and customer satisfaction. It is also concluded that service quality has a positive influence on customer satisfaction. Moreover, service quality has been detected as a major variable of TQM in achieving customer satisfaction in telecommunication companies in Ghana

Effects of COVID-19 disease on PAI-1 antigen and haematological parameters during disease management: A prospective cross-sectional study in a regional Hospital in Ghana.

BackgroundIndividuals with COVID-19 experience thrombotic events probably due to the associated hypofibrinolysis resulting from the upregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen. This study evaluated plasma PAI-1 antigen levels and haematological parameters before treatment and after recovery from severe COVID-19 in Ghana.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at Sunyani Regional Hospital, and recruited 51 patients who had RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2. Participants' sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics were taken from the hospital records. Venous blood was taken before COVID-19 treatment commenced for FBC, PAI-1 and ferritin assays. FBC was assessed using an automated haematology analyzer, whilst plasma PAI-1 Ag and serum ferritin levels were assessed with sandwich ELISA. All the tests were repeated immediately after participants recovered from COVID-19.ResultsOf the 51 participants recruited into the study, 78.4% (40) had non-severe COVID-19 whiles 21.6% (11) experienced a severe form of the disease. Severe COVID-19 participants had significantly lower haemoglobin (g/dL): 8.1 (7.3-8.4) vs 11.8 (11.0-12.5), pConclusionPlasma PAI-1 Ag level was higher among severe COVID-19 participants. The COVID-19-associated inflammation could affect red blood cell parameters and platelets. Successful recovery from COVID-19, with reduced inflammatory response as observed in the decline of serum ferritin levels restores the haematological parameters. Plasma levels of PAI-1 should be assessed during the management of severe COVID-19 in Ghana. This will enhance the early detection of probable thrombotic events and prompts Physicians to provide interventions to prevent thrombotic complications associated with COVID-19