<p><strong>Purpose</strong>: This research work is to discuss the various forces/ factors that affect the business environment of Ghana which impacts investing in marketing and processing of cocoa beans in Ghana. In order to determine or classify Ghana as an attractive destination or otherwise to invest in cocoa marketing and processing there is the need to discuss the prevailing macro business environmental forces which little is known about to investors, managers and policy makers in cocoa trade. These mentioned parties have been under increasing pressures to assess the various forces prevailing in Ghana before considering investing in cocoa marketing and processing in Ghana. The work therefore looks as the various macro environmental factors Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Physical Environment and Legal (PESTEL) forces in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing and processing which makes Ghana an attractive base or otherwise to invest in cocoa marketing and processing.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Research Questions: </strong>The specific questions that the research aims at solving are as follows: what are the external and environmental forces that will influence investing in cocoa marketing and processing in Ghana? Is Ghana a safe and attractive base to invest in cocoa marketing and processing?</p><p> </p><p><strong>Research method: </strong>In carrying this research I made use of both secondary and primary data. Primary data was gathered through face interviews and administrating questionnaires to illicit response from stakeholders in Ghana’s cocoa. The paper also presents a review of literature on PESTEL which has influence or features in Ghana’s business environment which are important in cocoa marketing and processing.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Research Findings: </strong>Empirical findings and review of PESTEL model reported in the work suggests that the PESTEL will impact on the strategy of organizations and policy makers who are into cocoa marketing and processing. Also gives suggestions on how the various environmental forces (PESTEL) will be applied to further improve upon the business environment which makes marketing and processing of cocoa in Ghana attractive.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Research Implications and Limitations: </strong>The discussions and analyses of the macro environmental forces prevailing in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing produces a frame work to analyze current threats and opportunities in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing and processing for people contemplating on investing in marketing and processing of cocoa in Ghana as well as other practical lessons for policy makers in cocoa. The work overlooks the micro environmental forces in Ghana that impacts cocoa marketing and processing. Further research into such area will help give an understanding of the micro factors that impact the business environment of Ghana. Also the work has a limited empirical data base as most information gathered were inconsistent and unreliable which raises concerns about investment information. These have been minimized thro3ugh cross checks with primary data.</p>

Atlantic billfish include sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), white marlin (Kajikia albida, formerly Tetrapturus albidus) and the spearfishes (Tetrapturus); these fishes are found in tropical and subtropical waters. The spearfishes include the longbill spearfish (T. pfluegeri), the Mediterranean spearfish (T. belone) and the roundscale spearfish (T. georgii). The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the regional fishery management organization that conducts research to determine the condition of tuna and billfish resources and supports international cooperative management. ICCAT has determined that blue marlin and white marlin are overfished; the status of sailfish and spearfish are unknown, but overfishing is thought to be occurring. Management of these resources is complicated by uncertainty in the biological models, but uncertainty about the fishers who target these resources. This dissertation studied artisanal fishing fleets that target Atlantic billfish in Venezuela and Ghana, as well as studied recreational charter boat fishing fleets in South Florida and Senegal. The information from these fleets was used to develop performance indicators that evaluate the socioeconomic performance of these fleets. An allocation model was developed to determine the optimal allocation of billfish resources among recreational and artisanal fishers in Ghana, West Africa. Finally, the issues and challenges of managing Atlantic billfish were identified as well as a possible future framework. Results indicate that performance indicators can be used to contrast fleets with different operational objectives. Fishers do produce positive fishing profits in both artisanal and recreational fleets; however, Senegalese recreational anglers are particularly sensitive to fuel costs. Results of the allocation model suggest that the artisanal sector should be allocated 95% of the quota in Ghana. There is the possibility to over-allocate quota to the recreational sector due to methodological differences in determining benefit f and the practice of catch-and-release. ICCAT's limited purview over socioeconomics was identified as the major impediment to effective billfish management. Therefore, it is recommended that the institutional structure for billfish management be modified to include socioeconomic issues, most especially strengthening the link to local institutions in fishing communities.

The focus of this study is to examine the factors that lead to growth in small firms in a Least Developed Country (LDC). The research is based on the manufacturing sector in Ghana. The main objectives of the research are to identify the key variables that lead to small firms' growth and to ascertain the critical barriers that impede growth. A research model which is developed out of an initial exploratory research and existing literature focuses on how the characteristics of the owner/manager, the characteristics of the firm and the business strategy variables interact to affect growth in employment. In addition factors that are perceived to have constrained the growth of the small firms during the study period are ascertained and discussed. To properly test the hypotheses developed a face to face interview survey involving 122 owner/managers of small manufacturing firms is conducted. This resulted in a range of variables that allowed for the construction of a comprehensive multivariate model of small firm growth. A resulting regression model provides about 68 percent of the explanation for the growth of the small firms sampled. It also indicates that the owner/manager characteristics variables offer the most powerful explanation to small firm growth. We find that the owner/manager's growth aspiration is the most influential factor in achieving growth. The other owner/manager characteristics variables that have positive influence on growth are level of education, prior industry experience and entrepreneurial family background. Owner/managers with local experience and/or with other business interests are less likely to achieve faster growth. Foreign owned/managed firms grow faster. Younger and smaller firms appear to grow faster. While firms with multiple ownerships tend to grow at a slower rate than firms owned and managed by one person. Business planning, marketing and export have positive and significant impacts on growth. Other business strategies such as innovations and staff training also have direct relationships with growth but not significant. Some of the main constraining factors to growth are cost of borrowing, lack of access to credit, high cost of inputs, lack of trust within the business community, high bureaucracy, late payments and lack of efficient support system. While the external environment plays important role in small firm growth and development, the behaviours, response and strategies pursued by individual owner/manager are significant factors that determine the rate at which a firm will grow. / Ghana Leasing Company Limited

The general purpose of this project is two in one; to analyze and assess gender mainstreaming and sustainable women development policies of the two main political parties in Ghana, and to evaluate the contribution of gender biased NGOs to the course of women empowerment in Ghana. This thesis, by applying the methodological techniques of qualitative content analysis and discourse analysis explores and examines the strength and weakness of the parties’ political manifestoes. It also explores and examines the activities of the NGOs- while evaluating some of projects they have undertaken in the development of Ghanaian women. The paper also offered suggestions that will help to achieve effective sustainable women development when adopted by the political parties and the concerned NGOs. Women in Development (WID) and Gender and Development (GAD), the most widely used theoretical frameworks in gender and development studies; provide the conceptual frames for the analysis in this thesis. They are widely applied throughout the analyses of this paper and form the foundation for realizing the aims and objectives of this work. The conclusion of this paper is able to identify pragmatic measures for ensuring gender mainstreaming and achieving effective affirmative action for Ghanaian women; it calls upon the political parties to exhibit effective commitment to gender mainstreaming by initiating policies that will give women a fair representation and participation in decision making processes in Ghana at all levels. The women NGOs on the other hand, should depart from over concentration on service provision activities and refocus their programmes and projects toward encouraging and preparing women to enter politics at local, districts and national levels. These measures, as identified by the analyses; are the strongest weapons for achieving effective women empowerment in Ghana

<p>Hence, in this mini-thesis I argue that community participation does not automatically facilitate gains for the poor. My main assumption is that internal rigidities in communities, such as weak social capital, culture, trust and reciprocity, affect mutual cooperation towards collective community gains. I used two communities, where a community empowerment project is implemented, as a case study to demonstrate that the success of community participation is contingent on the stocks of social capital in the community. The results show that the responsiveness of the two communities to the project activities differs with the stocks of social capital. I found that trust among community members facilitates information flow in the community. The level of trust is also related to the sources of information of community members about development activities in the community. I also found that solidarity is an important dimension of social capital, which determines community members&rsquo / willingness to help one another and to participate in activities towards collective community gain. The research also demonstrated that perception of community members about target beneficiaries of projects&ndash / whether they represent the interest of the majority of the community or only the interest of community leaders &ndash / influences the level of confidence and ownership of the project. From my research findings, I concluded that, in order for community participation to work successfully, development managers need to identify the stocks of social capital in the community that will form the basis to determine the level of engagement with community members in the participatory process.</p>

<p>Health security is increasingly being seen as integral to any poverty reduction strategy. Health is viewed not only as an end in itself but also as an indispensable input into the development process because there is a positive link between health and development. Of all the risks facing poor households, health risks probably pose the greatest threat to their lives and livelihoods. Against this background, this research examines the vital subject of participation in mutual health insurance as a poverty reduction strategy at the rural community level. It has been accepted that community-based initiatives play important roles in improving poor people s risk-sharing arrangements. The extent to which these community-based initiatives are able to address the problem of social exclusion in local communities is far from being clear.</p>

Purpose: This research work is to discuss the various forces/ factors that affect the business environment of Ghana which impacts investing in marketing and processing of cocoa beans in Ghana. In order to determine or classify Ghana as an attractive destination or otherwise to invest in cocoa marketing and processing there is the need to discuss the prevailing macro business environmental forces which little is known about to investors, managers and policy makers in cocoa trade. These mentioned parties have been under increasing pressures to assess the various forces prevailing in Ghana before considering investing in cocoa marketing and processing in Ghana. The work therefore looks as the various macro environmental factors Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Physical Environment and Legal (PESTEL) forces in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing and processing which makes Ghana an attractive base or otherwise to invest in cocoa marketing and processing.   Research Questions: The specific questions that the research aims at solving are as follows: what are the external and environmental forces that will influence investing in cocoa marketing and processing in Ghana? Is Ghana a safe and attractive base to invest in cocoa marketing and processing?   Research method: In carrying this research I made use of both secondary and primary data. Primary data was gathered through face interviews and administrating questionnaires to illicit response from stakeholders in Ghana’s cocoa. The paper also presents a review of literature on PESTEL which has influence or features in Ghana’s business environment which are important in cocoa marketing and processing.   Research Findings: Empirical findings and review of PESTEL model reported in the work suggests that the PESTEL will impact on the strategy of organizations and policy makers who are into cocoa marketing and processing. Also gives suggestions on how the various environmental forces (PESTEL) will be applied to further improve upon the business environment which makes marketing and processing of cocoa in Ghana attractive.   Research Implications and Limitations: The discussions and analyses of the macro environmental forces prevailing in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing produces a frame work to analyze current threats and opportunities in Ghana’s business environment which impacts cocoa marketing and processing for people contemplating on investing in marketing and processing of cocoa in Ghana as well as other practical lessons for policy makers in cocoa. The work overlooks the micro environmental forces in Ghana that impacts cocoa marketing and processing. Further research into such area will help give an understanding of the micro factors that impact the business environment of Ghana. Also the work has a limited empirical data base as most information gathered were inconsistent and unreliable which raises concerns about investment information. These have been minimized thro3ugh cross checks with primary data.

This is a qualitative study based on fieldwork carried out in Accra, Ghana April 3 – May 29, 2010. The aim was to shed light on how a selected number of female Ghanaian journalists experience their working conditions from a gender based perspective. The material consists of eight semi-structured interviews ranging from 20 minutes to 1 hour 12 minutes. The interviewees are female, Ghanaian journalists between 23 and 46 years old working in print or broadcast media in Ghana.  The interviews were analyzed thematically resulting in seven sub-headings, all relating to my research questions, which were: - Is being a female journalist in Ghana today in any way a disadvantage/advantage? - How do female journalists in Ghana experience their opportunities to advance and be promoted? - Do female journalists in Ghana experience any differences between them and their male colleagues? Do they report on different kinds of subjects? My analysis conclude there are a number of disadvantages being female within the media in Ghana: there is a perception of female journalists being flirtatious and less professional than male journalists, it is challenging for female journalists to start a family since journalism is a very time-consuming profession and the responsibility for domestic work is still primarily on the woman and, finally, the interviewees experience they have to distinguish themselves from their male colleagues and make their mark as competent and professional to really be taken seriously. Concerning the opportunity to get promoted there is a contradiction; the interviewees all experience they have the opportunity to get promoted as long as they work hard, nevertheless they recognize a male-domination among their executives and expresses an awareness of gender based promotions. The interviewees claim they can report on whatever subjects they want, but they all express an awareness of the distinction between topics primarily covered by women and others by men. This contradiction is similar to the one articulated above. To sum up, there is a discrepancy between how the interviewees felt about their own situation and how they perceive the inequality issues surrounding them.

<p>The generation of large volumes of solid and liquid wastes in urban and periurban areas of Ghana is a big problem for the people and government of Ghana. It contributes to the outbreak of many diseases in the country such as malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid fever. In managing the situation, a new concept called ecological sanitation (ecosan), which focuses on reuse of waste, has been introduced in the country. The objectives of the thesis were to criticise the environmental sanitation policy&nbsp / by analysing its content in relation to policy implementation arrangements, to discuss programmes and projects identified under the policy, to critically examine the implementation of an ecosan project as a way of achieving the goal and objectives by outlining its implementation processes, prospects and challenges, and to make appropriate recommendations. The analysis and discussion of the thesis were based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data, on one hand, were collected on the prospects and challenges that exist in the implementation of ecosan projects from Kumasi metropolis. The secondary data, on the other hand, were from&nbsp / books, journals and websites. From the research analysis, it emerged that the policy allows the implementation of many sanitation projects including ecosan. Secondly, stakeholders see ecosanto be a good approach to reduce waste generation in the country. However, the main challenges that exist in promoting the concept are inadequate financial support, unavailability of implementation guidelines and lack of knowledge about concept details. It is therefore argued that financial support, implementation guidelines and awareness-creation activities should be available in the implementation of ecosan in the metropolis. Government, private organisations, companies and individuals should each contribute their quota in the support and processes.</p>

The study was conducted in northern Ghana to determine the scope of male partner violence (MPV) against women, identify the factors associated with this problem as well as point out the health implications of MPV. In a sample of 443 married women drawn from outpatient populations across six district health centers we found that nearly 7 out of 10 women have experienced some MPV: 62% have experienced psychological violence; 29% have experienced physical violence; and 34% have experienced sexual violence. A multiple regression analysis showed that male controlling behavior, number of children, presence of concubines, partner appreciation, and very good health significantly predicted Total Violence. The results showed that the more controlling a husband is the more likely his wife is to experience severe violence and that more children in the marriage is associated with more violence for the women. Marriage duration was significantly positively correlated with violence, indicating that the longer the time since a woman got married, the more likely she experiences violence. Husband’s education was significantly negatively correlated with violence, indicating that husband education has a decreased effect on violence. Logistic regression and ANOVA models identified a number of socio-demographic factors as significant correlates of MPV. These include couple’s unemployment, particularly husband unemployment, being young – under 30 years and being younger than the husband, presence of concubines, being Muslim or Traditional, living in a rural setting, husband alcohol use, being a healthy woman, and not being appreciated by the husband. We found that MPV is associated with physical and mental health difficulties among women. Some 47 women reported having sustained multiple injuries, including sprains, broken bones and teeth, cuts, and burns. Mental health difficulties among these women included partner phobia, sleep deprivation, and thoughts of suicide. We make recommendations that call on government and other stakeholders to initiate policy that provides services to women experiencing MPV and that implements education and campaign programs to eventually eliminate MPV in Ghana generally.