Modelling an information management system for the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana was introduced to alleviate the problem of citizens having to pay for healthcare at the point of delivery, given that many did not have the financial resources needed to do so, and as such were unable to adequately access healthcare services. The scheme is managed from the national headquarters in the capital Accra, through satellite offices located in districts right across the length and breadth of the country. It is the job of these offices to oversee the operations of the scheme within that particular district. Current literature however shows us that there is a digital divide that exists between the rural and urban areas of the country which has led to differences in the management of information within urban-based and rural-based districts. This thesis reviews the variables affecting the management of information within the scheme, and proposes an information management model to eliminate identified bottlenecks in the current information management model. The thesis begins by reviewing the theory of health insurance, information management and then finally the rural-urban digital divide. In addition to semi-structured interviews with key personnel within the scheme and observation, a survey questionnaire was also handed out to staff in nine different district schemes to obtain the raw data for this study. In identifying any issues with the current information management system, a comparative analysis was made between the current information management model and the real-world system in place to determine the changes needed to improve the current information management system in the NHIS. The changes discovered formed an input into developing the proposed information management system with the assistance of Natural Conceptual Modelling Language (NCML). The use of a mixed methodology in conducting the study, in addition to the employment of NCML was an innovation, and is the first of its kind in studying the NHIS in Ghana. This study is also the first to look at the differences in information management within the NHIS given the rural-urban digital divide

Idiopathic (immune) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

If not for profit, for what and how? Interuniversity Attraction Pole (IAP) on Social Enterprise (SOCENT) 2012-2017 and Social Entrepreneurship: Effectuation and Bricolage Approaches to Venture Establishment in West Africa

Abstract Abstract Abstract Abstract How can a social entrepreneur overcome resource constraints in an uncertain environment? According t

Artificial Neural Network Model for Low Strength RC Beam Shear Capacity

This research was to investigate how the shear strength prediction of low strength reinforced concrete beams will improve under an ANN model. An existing database of 310 reinforced concrete beams without web reinforcement was divided into three sets of training, validation and testing. A total of 224 different architectural networks were tried, considering networks with one hidden layer as well as two hidden layers. Error measures of strength ratios were used to select the best ANN model which was then compared with 3 conventional design code equations in predicting the shear strength of 26 low strength RC beams. Even though the ANN was the most accurate, it was less conservative compared with the design code equations. A model reduction factor based on the characteristic strength concept is derived in this research and used to modify the ANN output. The modified ANN model is conservative in terms of safety and economy but not overly conservative as the conventional design equations. The procedure has been automated such that when new experimental sets are added to the database, the model can be updated and a new model could be developed

The impact of ICT on Financial Sector Policy Reforms in Post-Financial crisis era in Ghana:: An institutional theory perspective

Ghana, like most other developing countries, is not isolated from the global financial crisis through the impact of such a crisis on economies. This paper examines the financial sector reforms and its effect on the Ghanaian economy, within the developing country context in general and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in particular. The paper seeks to enhance the understanding of relevant policy measures and reflects on what else could be done. The article further studies the effect of change in the institutional environment on bank governance practices primarily to improve the industry’s supervision and regulation, related to the post-crisis exit strategies. This paper discusses the development of ICT infrastructure and application as a basis for the main dimension of Ghana’s digital transformation in financial services. This paper is, therefore, motivated by the lack of empirical studies that examines how the impact of the banking reforms play a substantial role in promoting innovative digital payment systems to replace cash transactions. From the perspective of institutional theory, the study looked at why (and how) a number of policy measures have a significant impact on the financial performance of banks? And how the applications of e-finance in ICT and financial practices, provides several benefits within the banking sector improve the sector’s image and leads to a broader, faster and more efficient market? The application of Koppenjan and Groenewegen (2005) ‘s four-layer model ‘levels of institutional analysis’ perspective seems to be the most useful starting point, which provides the basis for an improved understanding of revealing the inefficient delivery of Ghanaian banking industry in the past. A combination of a review of secondary and empirical data, interviewed used in the analysis. Findings indicate that the financial and banking sector reforms help the industry   advance digital banking culture and impact on the general expansion of the financial and the infusion of financial inclusion in Ghana. These conclusions would be particularly useful in a similar picture in other developing countries, as well as by the bank authorities to create their future policy. It also joins the debate on the impact of the banking reform, a key turning point towards better regulation to refine crisis prevention and resolution mechanisms

Large mammal Fauna of the Afadjato and Agumatsa range in Ghana: An important bird area

The Mount Afadjato and Agumatsa Range Conservation Area (AACA) is one of the globally important bird area in Ghana, currently being managed through community-based conservation actions by local people with the support of the Ghana Wildlife Society. As in many other Ghanaian communities the mammal fauna of the site continue to decline as a result of many factors, basically anthropogenic in origin. The aim of the study was to assess the status of large mammals in the area in terms of their diversity, relative abundance, density, and species of local, national and international conservation concern, and the factors likely to affect these variables. The diversity, relative abundance and densities of mammal species at the site are one of the lowest in Ghanaian forests. There is every indication that the major factors causing the decline in mammal population in the area are habitat degradation and hunting pressure. As in many other communities in the West African sub-region, all mammals are negatively impacted upon by human activities. Consequently, given that whatever activities being proposed by the locally initiated community-based conservation programme will greatly depend on availability of wildlife, especially for ecotourism, there is a need for a more pragmatic approach to conserve the remaining wildlife without further delay

Examining the Relationships between Supply Chain Integration, Information Sharing, and Supply Chain Performance: A Replication Study

This study performs a conceptual replication of the study of Koçoğlu et al. (2011) which explored the effect of Supply Chain Integration (SCI) on Supply Chain Performance (SCP) and Information Sharing using manufacturing firms in Turkey. The replicated study explored the same relationships but considered manufacturing and service firms belonging to one giant supply chain in Ghana. Whilst the results of the measurement model of replicated study are valid and reliable, the structural model results were different from that of the original study. The original study observed a positive significant effect of SCI on SCP which was not confirmed in our study. Instead, a mediating effect of Information Sharing on the relationship between SCI and SCP was observed. The differences in the structural model results may have arisen due to the different conceptualization of the SCP construct, or the existence of different contextual and/or environmental factors

Impact of ERP Implementation on Business Process Outcomes: A Replication of a United States Study in a Sub-Saharan African Nation

This study is a conceptual replication of Karimi et al.’s (2007) study on the impact of ERP implementations on business process outcomes among US manufacturing firms in a Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nation. The results of the measurement model are valid and reliable, which are consistent and comparable with that of the original study, enhancing the external validity of the constructs proposed in the original model. However, only one of the four hypotheses tested in the structural model was confirmed in the current study although all four were supported in the original study. While the original model was tested on manufacturing firms in the US, the replicated study was carried out in several industries in Ghana, a SSA nation. Thus the differences in the structural model results do not invalidate the original model but suggest the need for capturing contextual or environmental variables such as culture, industry, ethical behavior, and data culture in order to enhance the external validity and theoretical contribution of the original model in the SSA context

Equations for Predicting Flexural Strength and Compressive Strength of Plastic Concrete Pavement Blocks

The influence of plastic content within the range of 0% - 60% as replacement for sand volume, water cement (w/c) ratio of 0.30 – 0.50 and curing age of 7 days – 28 days on flexural strength and compressive strength of plastic concrete pavement blocks (PCPBs) was investigated. All the mixtures were proportioned with a fixed aggregate / cement ratio of 4.5. Based on the experimental results, the flexural strength and the compressive strength of the PCPBs were calculated by considering the predictor variables (water cement ratio, curing age and plastic content). Equations derived based on the results from the experimental work are proposed to predict the flexural strength and the compressive strength of the developed PCPBs. The effect of water cement ratio, curing age and plastic content on flexural strength and compressive strength of PCPBs was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The equations are only capable of predicting the flexural strength and the compressive strength of plastic concrete products, if the w/c ratio, the curing age and the aggregate cement ratio used are within the tested range. Keywords: water cement ratio, plastics, curing age, flexural strength, compressive strength.

Environmental Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining: A case study of Nkaseim Community - Ghana

Artisanal gold mining [AGM] has numerous socio-economic benefits to communities involved. However, the four environmental variables or constructs used revealed that AGM significantly affects the environment. In other words; despite a source of livelihood; AGM communities are besieged with issues such as water pollution, land degradation and air pollution which affect almost all facets of the environment including humans. Most miners have no idea about alternative technologies to make AGM sustainable, yet Ghana ranks next to South Africa as the highest producers of gold in Africa. This paper, therefore, discusses the consequences of AGM for stakeholders to regularize AGM activities; and adopt alternative methods to mitigate the damage caused to the environment. Keywords: Artisanal gold mining, environmental impacts, regularize, pollutio