FEATURED RESEARCH

This study investigates the strategic capacity for the implementation of Open University programs in Ghana, focusing on the opportunities and challenges within the political, legal, economic, cultural, and technological environments. Employing a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews were analyzed to assess the feasibility and sustainability of these educational initiatives. Key findings reveal significant barriers, including inadequate internet infrastructure, high technology costs, and insufficient faculty training. Conversely, notable opportunities such as the growing demand for flexible education, technological advancements, and international collaborations present potential for growth. The study proposes critical guidelines for success, emphasizing government support, reliable digital infrastructure, financial accessibility, and curriculum adaptation to local contexts. These findings contribute to the development of a robust framework for the implementation of Open Universities in Ghana, offering insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders aiming to expand access to higher education in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

This study investigates the relationship between Human Resource (HR) policies and Organizational Productivity (OP), with a particular focus on the mediating role of Organizational Culture (OC) within the Ghana Education Service (GES). Using an explanatory research design, structured questionnaires were administered to GES employees to assess key variables related to HR policies, OC, and OP. The data were analyzed using the Process Macro Regression method in SPSS to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings reveal that HR policies significantly influence OP and that OC plays a mediating role, enhancing the effectiveness of these policies. When HR practices are implemented within a supportive organizational culture, productivity outcomes improve, highlighting the interconnected nature of internal policy and culture. While the study offers practical insights for educational managers and policymakers, particularly in optimizing workplace culture to reinforce HR efforts, its findings are context-specific and may have limited generalizability beyond similar educational institutions. Nonetheless, this research contributes to the literature by emphasizing the importance of cultural alignment in maximizing the impact of HR policies on organizational performance.

This study investigates the interrelationships among labor regulations, job satisfaction, and job productivity within pre-tertiary educational institutions in Ghana’s Central Region. Specifically, it examines the direct effects of labor regulations on job satisfaction and job productivity, as well as the mediating role of job satisfaction in the labor regulations–job productivity nexus. Adopting a quantitative and causal research design, data were collected from 197 teaching and non-teaching staff through structured questionnaires. The analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS 4.0. Findings indicate that labor regulations have a statistically significant and positive influence on both job satisfaction and job productivity. Moreover, job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between labor regulations and job productivity. The study highlights the importance of fair and supportive labor regulations in enhancing employee satisfaction and performance. It recommends that educational managers develop balanced regulatory frameworks and foster conducive work environments to optimize productivity. The study contributes to existing literature by reinforcing agency and social exchange theories, demonstrating how institutional labor policies shape workplace outcomes through the mechanism of job satisfaction.

Succession planning is an essential strategy for ensuring leadership continuity, talent development, and sustainable growth within organizations. In the financial sector, particularly banking institutions, succession planning plays a critical role in maintaining operational stability and addressing leadership transitions. This study examines the effectiveness of succession planning strategies at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) Ghana, assessing the influence of demographic factors, budget and funding availability, and leadership commitment on succession planning outcomes. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, data was collected from employees across multiple branches of ADB Ghana through structured questionnaires. The findings reveal that while the bank has implemented succession planning policies and procedures, gaps exist in strategic execution, financial support, and leadership involvement. Statistical analyses confirm that budget allocation and leadership commitment significantly moderate succession planning effectiveness, operational continuity, and sustainable growth. Moreover, demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and tenure influence employee perceptions of succession planning initiatives. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing succession planning through improved policy implementation, increased funding, leadership engagement, and inclusive career development strategies. The proposed framework serves as a model for strengthening succession planning efforts in financial institutions, ensuring long-term business sustainability and leadership continuity.

The transition from secondary education to higher institutions presents significant academic, social, and emotional challenges that impact student success. This study examines the alignment between Senior High School (SHS) exit requirements and university entry requirements within the Namibian education system, emphasizing curriculum redesign to facilitate smoother academic progression. Utilizing a mixed method approach, the study integrates quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights from interviews with educators, curriculum developers, and university lecturers. The findings indicate that while SHS graduates generally perceive their academic preparation in English, Mathematics, and Social Studies as sufficient, disparities exist in preparedness levels, particularly in social adaptation and critical thinking skills. Regression analyses reveal a significant relationship between SHS exit proficiency and university entry requirements (R = 0.466, p = 0.000), with student profiles—including academic performance, socioeconomic background, and institutional support—serving as key determinants of transitioning readiness. Additionally, moderating factors such as age, gender, and educational attainment influence students' academic performance and social preparedness. The study underscores the need for curriculum reforms emphasizing interdisciplinary learning, experiential education, and stronger institutional collaboration. Recommendations include curriculum realignment, enhancement of pedagogical strategies, and increased support for student readiness through career guidance, bridging programs, and socio-emotional learning initiatives. By addressing identified gaps, the study contributes to the broader discourse on education policy and curriculum development, ensuring that students are better equipped for university life and future career pathways.

This study investigates the strategic direction towards improving learners' academic achievement in senior secondary schools in Namibia, focusing on the involvement of direct stakeholders, including parents, teachers, learners, and school principals. Despite reforms in Namibia’s education system, a noticeable gap remains in the effective implementation of strategies that engage these stakeholders in school improvement. This research aims to fill this gap by exploring how the active participation of stakeholders can enhance the academic performance of learners. The study employs a quantitative descriptive design, gathering numerical data through surveys to analyze trends, correlations, and patterns. The sample consisted of 17 participants, including parents, teachers, learners, heads of departments, and the school principal. The study finds that strategic direction, including clear goals, curriculum instruction, and professional development, positively influences academic achievement. Additionally, the involvement of stakeholders such as parents and teachers plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between strategic direction and academic success. Key findings indicate that curriculum instruction, professional development for teachers, and stakeholder involvement are critical factors in improving learners' academic outcomes. The results highlight the importance of creating a supportive educational environment where all stakeholders are actively engaged in the decision-making process. The study concludes that improving learners' academic achievement in senior secondary schools requires a clear strategic direction, continuous professional development for teachers, and an active partnership with stakeholders.

This study aims to develop an Entrepreneurial Business Canvas Model (EBCM) to enhance the healthcare delivery system within the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). The research investigates the current implementation of the business canvas model in CHAG’s healthcare facilities, evaluating key components such as customer segments, value propositions, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, resources, activities, and cost structures. Statistical analyses, including regression and t-tests, identified key drivers of performance, such as Customer Segment, Customer Relationship, Key Activities, and Key Partners, as significant factors influencing healthcare delivery outcomes. The study found that while CHAG’s healthcare system performs well in community engagement and patient relationships, there are gaps in digital communication and financial diversification. The research highlights the importance of improving communication channels, diversifying revenue streams, and optimizing key activities and partnerships. A revised Business Canvas Model is proposed, focusing on these areas to improve service delivery, enhance patient satisfaction, and ensure long-term financial sustainability for CHAG’s healthcare system.

This study investigates the planning and implementation processes of management in achieving the mission and vision of a public secondary school in Namibia. Despite the presence of formal vision and mission statements, the research identifies significant gaps in translating these declarations into practice. Using a quantitative descriptive design, data were gathered from 18 school personnel (one principal, two heads of department, and fifteen teachers) through structured questionnaires. The study is grounded in Stakeholder Theory and Management by Objectives (MBO), which emphasize collaborative leadership, goal alignment, and stakeholder accountability. Results reveal that mission, vision, and planning processes are moderately to highly implemented, especially in areas like teacher autonomy and instructional quality. However, key gaps persist in learner achievement, attendance, professional development, and parental engagement. While both planning and implementation moderately influence the realization of vision and mission, regression analysis indicates that implementation has a more significant impact on delivering quality education. Conversely, planning alone shows no statistically significant effect unless supported by effective execution strategies. The study concludes that implementation mechanisms—such as accountability structures, stakeholder involvement, and professional development—play a crucial role in translating strategic intentions into educational outcomes. Recommendations include reinforcing monitoring and evaluation systems, enhancing stakeholder participation, linking planning to data-driven decisions, and conducting capacity building initiatives for educators. These findings contribute to educational leadership discourse by offering a practical framework for improving management practices in under-resourced school settings.

Effective procurement policy implementation is critical to the operational readiness and strategic objectives of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). This study explores the influence of Strategic Supplier Relationships (SSR) on procurement performance in the GAF, identifying both barriers and enablers within the procurement ecosystem. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), Strategic Sourcing Theory, Trust Theory, and the E-Procurement Systems Framework, the study employed a descriptive quantitative design involving 156 respondents across various procurement and logistics departments of the GAF. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure proportional representation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the proposed conceptual framework. Findings revealed that over-reliance on central government funding, technological obsolescence, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and political interference are statistically significant challenges hindering effective supplier engagement. Conversely, strategic alliances, transparency and accountability, long-term planning, and local sourcing emerged as the most relevant opportunities for enhancing SSR. Key components of supplier relationship management—communication, mutual trust, and supplier performance—were found to significantly contribute to procurement policy effectiveness. Moreover, the study established that the Public Procurement Law (Act 663, as amended by Act 914) and GAF procurement procedures significantly moderate the influence of these variables on policy implementation. The study contributes a refined theoretical framework tailored to the defense sector in Ghana, offering practical implications for military procurement managers, policymakers, and suppliers. It recommends the institutionalization of strategic alliances, investment in technology, and streamlining of bureaucratic processes to foster responsive, ethical, and resilient procurement systems. These findings are essential for ensuring sustainable procurement practices that align with national security goals.

Public procurement is a critical function of government, accounting for a significant portion of national budgets and directly influencing service delivery and institutional accountability. In Ghana, despite the implementation of reforms such as the Public Procurement Act (Act 663, as amended) and the establishment of the Public Procurement Authority, technical universities continue to face challenges in achieving transparency and compliance in procurement practices. This study investigates the extent of implementation of procurement management systems, performance assessment mechanisms, and the moderating role of regulatory and monitoring committees in ten technical universities across Ghana. Guided by the theories of transparency, governance, and accountability, a descriptive quantitative survey design was employed. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 109 personnel from procurement, finance, and internal audit units across the institutions, yielding a 98% response rate. The findings revealed moderate discrepancies between expected and implemented procurement practices, particularly in areas such as monitoring, bid evaluation, contract management, and audit compliance. Regression analysis demonstrated that the procurement management system significantly influenced performance reviews, with transparency serving as a critical mediating factor. The study concludes by proposing a transparent procurement management model tailored for technical universities, emphasizing system integration, capacity building, and active regulatory oversight. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, procurement practitioners, and academic leaders aiming to foster transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement within the higher education sector in Ghana.

This study investigates the relationship between supply chain integration and operational performance within the Ghanaian pharmaceutical industry. Utilizing a descriptive case study approach, the research draws on primary data from 120 administrators and managers across twelve top-performing pharmaceutical firms in Ghana. The study explores four key dimensions of supply chain integration— supplier integration, customer integration, internal integration, and information technology integration—and evaluates their impact on operational performance indicators such as cost, flexibility, speed, and product quality. Despite its recognized importance, customer integration practices were found to be limited, suggesting a gap between strategic intent and execution. The study also identifies several critical challenges impeding integration efforts, including price volatility, weak policy support, and regulatory bottlenecks. The research highlights the need for enhanced customer engagement strategies and improved regulatory frameworks to fully leverage integration efforts. Recommendations include revising supplier collaboration protocols, expanding IT-driven solutions, and fostering a more coordinated policy environment. These insights contribute to both academic literature and practical reforms in pharmaceutical supply chain management in emerging economies.

This study examines healthcare delivery and beneficiary satisfaction in private hospitals in Gaborone, Botswana, with a specific focus on Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH). As Botswana's healthcare sector undergoes transformation driven by digital health technologies, results-based financing, and increased private sector involvement, disparities in access, affordability, and quality persist. The research aims to evaluate key healthcare system components—including human resources, health financing, health information management, standards, medical products and technologies, access, and responsiveness—to assess their relationship with patient satisfaction. The study employs a quantitative-descriptive research design, gathering data from 200 respondents, including healthcare providers and patients. Findings indicate that while operational improvements in the healthcare system enhance efficiency, they do not significantly influence beneficiary satisfaction. Instead, patient-centered factors such as cleanliness, provider communication, and personalized care play a more crucial role in shaping satisfaction levels. Regression analysis reveals no statistically significant correlation between healthcare system components and beneficiary satisfaction, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that integrates both structural improvements and patient engagement strategies. Based on the findings, the study proposes the Integrated Healthcare Delivery and Satisfaction Model (IHDSM), which emphasizes workforce development, systematic healthcare assessments, patient engagement strategies, strategic healthcare integration, and equitable access. By adopting this model, Botswana’s private hospitals can enhance service quality, optimize efficiency, and ensure a patient-centered approach to healthcare delivery. The research underscores the necessity of balancing systemic healthcare advancements with improved patient-provider interactions to achieve sustainable improvements in healthcare satisfaction.