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Decentralized approaches to solid waste management (SWM) have gained global attention because of their provision for the effective participation of local communities. This study investigates community participation in decentralized solid waste management policy-making processes, drawing insights from Ghana. Using mixed methods, the study reveals that community participation only takes place at the policy implementation stage and takes the form of planning and managing community-led solid waste management initiatives such as occasional community clean-up exercise during festivals and public holidays, which are usually organized on a frequent basis. Regarding the factors that promote the solid waste management policy-making process, it was realized that “including the community in the solid waste management policy-making process” was the most important factor for the community to participate in the solid waste management policy-making process. Based on these findings, the top-down approach in solid waste management policy should be reversed to bottom-up approaches.

This study examines how formal and informal institutional pressures influence public sector financial reporting quality in Ghana. Despite ongoing public financial management reforms, challenges such as weak enforcement of standards, inconsistent disclosures, and limited transparency continue to undermine reporting quality. Existing research has largely emphasised technical and administrative determinants, with limited attention to the role of institutional pressures in shaping reporting behaviour. Grounded in Institutional Theory, the study adopts a quantitative approach and collects data from 344 senior finance officers across ministries, departments, and agencies in Ghana. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is employed to analyse the relationships between regulatory environment, government structure, societal expectations, stakeholder expectations, and financial reporting quality. The results indicate that government structure and societal expectations significantly enhance financial reporting quality, while the regulatory environment and stakeholder expectations have no significant direct effects. The study contributes to institutional theory by demonstrating that formal and informal pressures exert unequal influence in a developing-country public sector context. It also extends public sector accounting literature by providing large-sample empirical evidence from Ghana. The findings suggest that improving reporting quality requires strengthening governance structures, enhancing civic accountability mechanisms, and improving enforcement capacity.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the enforcement mechanisms and compliance challenges in Africa’s Continental Trade Regime. This study employed the qualitative doctrinal and policy research design to explore the issue of the enforcement of transport services regulatory matters within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The study adopted a doctrinal analysis of the AfCFTA instruments with a combination of thematic policy reviews; hence, it relied exclusively on secondary qualitative data obtained from authoritative legal and institutional sources. Primary data sources and materials comprise the AfCFTA Agreement, Protocol on Trade in Services, the Dispute Settlement Protocol, and relevant annexes that govern regulatory cooperation, market access, and nontariff barriers. The data collection procedure involved a systematic desk review and thematic analysis for qualitative studies to analyse the data. The review shows four main enforcement mechanisms of the regulatory framework of transport services under the AfCFTA. These include legal obligations and notification requirements, institutional oversight by AfCFTA bodies, peer review and political accountability, and dispute settlement mechanisms are some of the most outstanding aspects of the AfCFTA Agreement. Factors including regulation fragmentation, the absence of enforcement powers, non-transparency, and restrictive market access conditions, insufficient professional standards in commonality, insecurity, and transport barriers challenges the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms. The authors conclude that the design of the AfCFTA alone is not adequate in facilitating the opening of the transport service. The study therefore provides pragmatic measures to strengthen the institutional capacity, harmonise the regulations, and monitor compliance better. These reforms can influence the reduction of trade costs, the improvement of supply chain reliability, and the attainment of the AfCFTA's broader aim of economic integration across the continent.

Technology, innovation, and economic shocks have transformed global financial markets. The latest global health pandemic has been compared to the 2008 global financial crisis, as investors, lawmakers, and regulators worldwide worried about economic collapse. Johannesburg Stock Exchange is Africa's largest. The JSE names SIFIs, whose failure would threaten SA's economy. Uncertainty increases failure risk, as seen in the GFC and COVID-19. This study examined how economic shocks affected investor confidence in South Africa's growing financial market, the JSE 15 Index. Analysis of data from January 1999 to December 2023 examined short- and long-term stock market impacts, the role of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in stability, and investor conduct during crises. The two economic shocks' effects on JSE 15 index stock prices were examined using Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) and correlation analysis. ARDL determines short- and long-term macroeconomic cointegration. Three macroeconomic variables—interest rates (T-Bills), inflation (CPI), and real effective exchange rate (REER)—are used to track their fluctuation during crises. The analysis shows a shift in investor confidence reflected in a considerable decline in financial performance throughout the crisis. As investors' risk tolerance differs, diversification benefits made abnormal returns unimportant. SARB's monetary and fiscal policies mitigated the pandemic. South African investors were also wary due to internal issues. The study shows that global commodity prices and currency rate volatility affect investor confidence more than domestic policy in emerging economies, adding to behavioural finance.

This study examines the correlation between market culture and the dimensions of sustainability performance—economic, environmental, and social—within African Civil Aviation Authorities (ACAAs), while also exploring the mediating influence of corporate governance. A quantitative, cross-sectional methodology was utilised, incorporating data from 371 managers across 54 ACAAs. Data were evaluated with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that market culture exerts a substantial beneficial impact on all three aspects of sustainability performance: economic, environmental, and social. Corporate governance did not act as a mediator in the interaction between market culture and economic sustainability. Furthermore, corporate governance substantially mediated the links between market culture and both environmental and social sustainability performance among ACAAs. The findings underscore the necessity of synchronising organisational culture with governance frameworks to attain holistic sustainability results in the civil aviation sector. This study advances institutional theory by highlighting the interaction between internal cultural and governance structures and institutional forces, hence improving legitimacy and performance in the civil aviation sector.

As African countries continue to improve their healthcare quality, a study of this nature that sought to examine satisfaction with healthcare services from the perspective of healthcare users cannot be overemphasized, as the findings serve as a benchmark to guide policy decisions in the healthcare sector. This study assessed perception of satisfaction on the quality of decentralised healthcare service delivery from a positivist research orientation. A total of 408 users of healthcare services from 10 districts of Lesotho were selected to respond to a set of questionnaires and a researcher-administered survey developed from the six World Health Organisation–defined dimensions of quality healthcare: safety, equity, acceptability, accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysing the data obtained. The findings of the study revealed mixed feelings among users of healthcare services in Lesotho. For example, healthcare users were generally satisfied with how receptive service providers were to innovative service delivery, honesty, and the overall competence of healthcare service providers. However, significant deficits were observed in treatment safety, record-keeping, equitable geographic service distribution, and timely access. Particularly worrying were concerns about drug administration, rural service equity, and duplication of health procedures. There were no significant differences in the respondents’ satisfaction regarding healthcare services despite variations in their sexual orientation and age distribution. The study highlights the systemic inequalities and inefficiencies that counter the desired objectives of decentralised healthcare and the critical need for participatory health governance, digital health systems, improved communication strategies, health infrastructure investments and adaptive governance frameworks to bridge the disconnect between the lived experiences of healthcare users and decentralised health policy frameworks. The results offer evidence-based insights for healthcare administrators, donors, health communicators and policymakers seeking to enhance equity and quality in healthcare in resource-constrained African settings.

This paper examines the effect of indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship in further advancing socioeconomic development in Ghana. It emphasizes how culturally imbibe knowledge systems and traditional practices contribute to long-term development. Specifically in tourism-related industries like agriculture, crafts, and traditional medicine. A quantitative survey was conducted with 362 indigenous entrepreneurs from three administrative regions of Ghana. Structured questionnaires were employed to gather data about innovative techniques and socioeconomic results. The data was asses using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to find the underlying scope of the innovation and multiple regression analysis. This focus on the relationship between indigenous innovation and socioeconomic factors. The results show a significant relationship between indigenous innovation techniques and major socioeconomic outcomes. The study findings portray a significant and positive correlation between indigenous innovation practices and key socio-economic outcomes, such as employment generation , income growth and cultural continuity. The relationship was significant at p < 0.001. These findings point out that indigenous innovation is not only as a driver of local economic development, but rather is a vehicle for preserving cultural identity and community resilience. The study presents novel empirical evidence from the Global South, challenging conventional innovation paradigms in stressing the socio-cultural relevance of indigenous knowledge systems. It provides new insights on how grassroots entrepreneurial behaviors anchored in tradition can supplement national development initiatives and enhance the broader debate on inclusive innovation.

The aim of this study is to assess educational engagement as a mediator of familial and school-based social care on psychological well-being of school students in India. Cross-sectional survey of students of Kashmir-Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India was taken using validated self-report measures to assess educational engagement, social care within home and school contexts, teamwork dynamics, and psychological well-being. Standard descriptive statistics were utilized to determine mean values along with corresponding standard deviations. A structural equation model (SEM) was also employed to assess direct and indirect effects of determinants on psychological well-being considering that neither multi-group nor univariate conditions of normality had been met. A robust maximum likelihood estimator (RMLE) was, therefore, utilized accordingly. Students display moderate levels of engagement (M = 20.95, SD = 5.91), friendship support (M = 16.39, SD = 6.78), familial support (M = 15.82, SD = 4.64), and institutional support (M = 14.99, SD = 4.63). The inner team climate (M = 28.35, SD = 8.01) is also moderately supportive. Psychological well-being (M = 52.26, SD = 12.68). The structural model indicated good fit, indicating good explanatory power regarding psychological well-being (R² = 0.71) and engagement (R² = 0.61). Family support (p < 0.001), institutional support (p = 0.002), and inner team environment (p = 0.040) were identified to have a positive associative relationship with engagement. For psychological well-being, friendship support had a positive associative relationship with engagement (p = 0.002). Finally, within psychological well-being, engagement functioned as a mediator of the impacts of family support (Indirect effect = 0.18, p < 0.001) and of institutional support (Indirect effect = 0.12, p = 0.017). This research calls for better mental health care to improve students' engagement and resilience. Future researchers need to give priority to these issues.

The dearth of studies in sub-Saharan Africa on how eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) enhances disclosure quality necessitated this study. Thus, this study aims to provide an overview of XBRL in the financial reporting space of sub-Saharan Africa-listed firms. This study discusses the evolution of corporate financial reporting and relates it to how business reporting software enhances the quality of information disclosure and transparency. Based on previous studies, we assessed XBRL in its format for reporting and cost implications from a global perspective. The findings indicated that by reporting using XBRL, we make the case for opening up sub-Saharan African investment markets and improving corporate governance quality in the global investors’ view. In other words, listed firms in the sub-region currently have a periodic and manual reporting approach to financial reporting, which makes it quite difficult for investors to have an up-to-the-minute view of the listed firms for investment purposes. Researchers and business firms need to understand the availability of XBRL technology and its application to enable voluntary corporate disclosures. In addition to the information disclosed, it is important for their search to determine how the software employs information in financial reporting. To the best of our knowledge, this study is one of the few in Africa, especially in the context of sub-Saharan Africa exchanges, to use the review to understand how prior studies involved XBRL reporting to enhance the transparency of listed firms.

This study investigates the intricate factors shaping landlords' compliance with rental income tax in Ghana. Utilizing a survey research approach, the research reveals a complex interplay of socio-economic and demographic determinants influencing landlords' tax payment behavior. Notably, older landlords display a greater willingness to fulfill their tax obligations, contrasting common perceptions that older taxpayers are less compliant. Conversely, landlords with larger households are less inclined to pay taxes, potentially due to increased financial responsibilities. Surprisingly, an upsurge in the number of tenants corresponds with reduced tax compliance, possibly stemming from higher rental income resulting in increased tax obligations. Higher awareness of rental income tax significantly bolsters compliance, as does the proximity of tax collection centers. Education plays a pivotal role, with higher levels of education positively influencing tax compliance. However, formal sector employment diminishes tax compliance, perhaps due to perceived tax burdens. Married landlords are more inclined to comply with rental income tax, emphasizing the role of family responsibilities in incentivizing tax compliance. Tailored tax education programs, public awareness campaigns, electronic payment options, comprehensive strategies, effective communication, and continuous evaluation are recommended measures to enhance tax compliance among landlords.

This study examined the direct and mediating relationships between lecturer’s emotional intelligence, work-life balance, workplace environment and job satisfaction among higher learning institutions in Ghana. The study adopted cross-sectional explanatory and correlational research approach. A total of two hundred and forty-eight (248) lecturers were sampled from twenty (20) randomly selected colleges of education in Ghana to participate in the study. Questionnaires served as the data collection instruments. Seven (7) hypotheses were tested for direct and mediating relationships among the variables using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling. For direct effects, the following were found: Significant positive relationships existed between lecturer’s emotional intelligence and job satisfaction as well as lecturer’s emotional intelligence and workplace environment. The results also indicated that, a significant positive relationship exists between lecturer emotional intelligence and work-life balance. Moreover, significant positive relationships were found to exist between work-life balance and job satisfaction as well as workplace environment and job satisfaction among lecturers. For indirect effects, it was found that work-life balance and workplace environment mediated the relationships between lecturer’s emotional intelligence and job satisfaction. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence from the Ghanaian context and highlights the need for higher education institutions to prioritize emotional intelligence development among their staff. Practical implications include recommendations for training programs and supportive policies aimed at fostering emotional intelligence, promoting a positive work culture, and enhancing overall job satisfaction among lecturers. Future research directions include longitudinal studies and investigations into other cultural, institutional and contextual factors that influence job satisfaction in academic settings.

Given the critical role of financial characteristics in determining Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs’) access to debt finance, it is essential to understand how these characteristics influence lending decisions, particularly from a developing market context. This study aims to examine the key financial characteristics that significantly influence MSEs’ ability to access debt finance. Using systematic sampling technique, we collect data from 171 Ghanaian MSEs that are registered with Ghana Enterprise Agency. The data was analyzed using SPSS linear regression version 24. The result shows financial management experience and profitability as the significant financial characteristics that influence MSEs ability to access debt finance. The result further shows that equity structure and financial statement have negative significant influence on MSEs ability to access debt finance. Asset tangibility, liquidity, debt service coverage ratio, and working capital has no significant influence on MSEs’ access to debt financing.

Over the years, governments in Ghana have provided various stimulus packages for local entrepreneurs to rejuvenate and expand their businesses while setting up new companies. The question is, how talented are the youth in entrepreneurship? This paper sought to review the extant literature on the impact of skill acquisition on entrepreneurship development and progress in Ghana. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach was used to search for relevant journal articles from Scopus, Emerald Insight, and Google Scholar search engines. The search criteria were limited to journal articles with the keywords “skill acquisition”, “entrepreneurship,” and entrepreneurship development” from 1970 to 2020. Using the SLR technique, a total of 45 articles were identified, and 21 were relevant to the research focus. The review identified that skill acquisition significantly influences entrepreneurship development. It is recommended that entrepreneurship skill acquisition should be integrated in the Ghanaian education system right from the elementary level. Again, tertiary institutions in Ghana should have entrepreneurial centers for practical sessions.

This study examines the link between bank performance and bank stability in the context of African countries. Using the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator and panel data from 16 selected African countries covering the period 2002–2019, this study considers whether the banking sector's performance influences the banking system's financial stability. The findings reveal a significant positive long-run relationship between ROA and financial stability. This was the case when the AMG estimator was employed and when the CCEMG was employed to check for robustness. Inflation was initially negative and insignificant but a highly significant determinant when a more robust method (CCEMG) was used. Economic growth has a negative relationship using both estimators but is insignificant, while trade openness and non-interest income had insignificant coefficients in both estimators. The granger causality results show a one-way causality established to bank stability in the case of bank performance and trade openness. In addition, there was a non-causal relationship between bank stability, non-interest income and inflation as against a double-track causation between bank stability and economic growth. African countries should strive to improve bank performance to enhance the stability of the sector.

Entrepreneurial orientation (ENO), social network ties (SOT) and market intelligence generation (MIT) are independently modeled as distinct antecedents of entrepreneurial intention (EIN). However, the intervening variables for such models are typically under-explored in their applicability to university students in sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the present study argues that ENO impacts EIN, primarily explained by SOT and MIT. Using cross-sectional data gathered from university students in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country, our findings reveal that ENO has both direct and indirect relationships with EIN. Thus, this relationship is mainly mediated when students build and develop social network ties (SOT) instead of gathering marketing intelligence (MIT).

This study was premised on the Community of Inquiry model and a qualitative method approach was used with an online individual semi-structured interview protocol as the data collection instrument to collect and analyse data gathered from the respondents’ individual interviews. A case study design was used with six participants (3 lecturers and 3 students) being sampled. The participants comprising three (3) Mathematics education lecturers, and three (3) Mathematics education students (preservice teachers) either in the first, second or third year of study in Mathematics education. Interviews were conducted online with the participants through Skype and Zoom. A thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns. The findings of the study revealed that the participants, understanding the use of social media, have transformed their teaching and learning in higher education institutions. Apart from making the shift from face-to-face teaching to teaching online using a technology-based independent mode to continue teaching in the Covid-era, lecturers have experienced academic well-being through a change in their pedagogy and teaching approaches as Mathematics lecturers. This change has ensured that students are exposed to a more student-centred approach through the use of social media platforms which has enhanced students’ learning of Mathematics. Recommendations are made.

A high level of brand awareness and brand image enhances customers` favourable word-of-mouth referrals which in turn, strengthens their WTP a high price for a brand. Despite the increasing importance of brand awareness and brand image to customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, there are limited studies on the mediated role of brand image in the influence of brand awareness on customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, particularly in the herbal industry. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the mediated role of brand image in the impact of brand awareness on word-of-mouth referrals and WTP a high price in the herbal industry. Using a systematic sampling strategy, data were collected from 265 samples of customers in the Cape Coast herbal market. The research hypotheses were statistically tested via structural equation modelling with the help of smart PLS 3.3.3. The study establishes that the relationship between brand awareness, word-of-mouth and WTP a high price is partly attributed to the influence of brand image. Besides, the study found that word-of-mouth contributes partially to the influence of brand awareness and brand image on WTP a high price. The study confirmed that brand image is critical in developing brand awareness to strengthen customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price in the herbal industry.

Human capital is a significant element in the attainment of sustained competitive advantage and economic survival of organizations. The study explored whether human capital mediates the nexus of human resource management practices and organizational performance. A field study was conducted among 11 internationally and 4 indigenously owned banks. The hypothesized relationships were supported by the data. The results show that the association between selective staffing with the levels of human capital was significant. The results also show that the levels of human capital influenced organizational performance significantly. The results further show that human capital mediated the nexus of HRM practices and organizational performance. The generalizability of the results obtained may be constrained since the present study focused on the banking industry. The study suggests the creation and maintenance of valuable human capital promote competitiveness and sustained competitive advantage. The study contributes to the extant literature by empirically evidencing that human capital mediated the nexus of HRM practice and organizational performance.  

Customer satisfaction is an indicator of an organization's overall health and future prospects.  The study evaluated the impact of customer satisfaction attributes on hospitality services. Data were collected from 680 guests of one to three star rated hotels in the Greater Accra Region. The hypothesized relationships were supported by the data. The results show an insignificant relationship between accessibility and hospitability services. Reliability had an insignificant relationship with hospitability services. The results also show that competence had a significant relationship with hospitability services. The results further show that friendliness had an insignificant relationship with hospitality services. The generalizability of the results obtained may be constrained since the present study focused on the hotel industry with its unique characteristics. The study suggests the enhancement of customer satisfaction to establish customer loyalty, improve brand reputation and competitive advantage. The study adds to the extant literature by empirically evidencing that customer satisfaction attributes significantly impact hospitality services.

Globalization and rapid technological change have made knowledge a critical determinant of competitiveness in the world’s economy. Online education has been auspicious and adjustable even to students with tight schedules. However several critical success factors need to be improved in order to enhance the effective learner experience. This paper is aimed at uncovering the impact of three critical success factors namely; instructional design, learner interaction and learner technology adaptation on learner experience. Hence, the discretions of 300 students were diagnosed using the Likert scale questionnaire ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The Holm Bonferroni method from R- package version 0.88 (2021 edition), was engaged to reduce the family-wise error (FWER) associated with multiple hypothesis comparison. It was observed that at a 5% level of significance, the alternative hypothesis was acceptable in favor of the null hypothesis and the conclusion was that instructional design, learner interaction, and technology adaptation, have a direct impact on the learning experience of the learner. The adopted models for the three critical success factors were validated by the Fornell and Larcker's (1981) convergent reliability test and tolerable with high composite reliability of 0.71. In accordance with the adopted model, a well instructional design is suggested for compliance.