Browsing by Author "Amoah, B."

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Boosting antenatal care attendance and number of hospital deliveries among pregnant women in rural communities: A community initiative in Ghana based on mobile phones applications and portable ultrasound scans
(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Amoah, B.; Anto, E.A.; Osei, P.K.; Pieterson, K.; Crimi, A.
Background: The World Health Organization has recommended at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits and skilled attendants at birth. Most pregnant women in rural communities in low-income countries do not achieve the minimum recommended visits and deliver without skilled attendants. With the aim of increasing number of ANC visits, reducing home deliveries, and supplementing care given by ANC clinics, a proposed system based on low-cost mobile phones and portable ultrasound scan machines was piloted. Methods: A sample of 323 pregnant women from four rural communities in the Central Region of Ghana were followed within a 11-month project. In each community, at least one health worker was trained and equipped with a mobile phone to promote ANC and hospital deliveries in her own community. If women cannot attend ANC, technicians acquired scans by using portable ultrasound machines in her community directly and sent them almost in real time to be analyzed by a gynecologist in an urban hospital. A preliminary survey to assess ANC status preceding the pilot study was conducted. During this, one hundred women who had had pregnancies within five years prior to the study were interviewed. Results: The preliminary survey showed that women who attended ANC were less likely to have a miscarriage and more likely to have delivery at hospital or clinic than those who did not, and women who attained at least four ANC visits were less likely to practice self-medication. Among the women involved in the project, 40 gave birth during the period of observation. The proposed prenatal care approach showed that 62.5 % of pregnant women who gave birth during the observation period included in the project (n=40) had their labor attended in clinics or hospitals as against 37.5 % among the cases reported in the pre-survey. One case of ectopic and two cases of breech pregnancies were detected during the pilot through the proposed approach, and appropriate medical interventions were sought. Conclusion: Our results show that the proposed prenatal care approach can make quality ANC accessible in rural communities where pregnant women have not been able to access proper ANC.
Central bank independence, elections and fiscal policy in Africa: Examining the moderating role of political institutions
(International Journal of Emerging Markets, 2019-12-02) Agoba, A.M.; Abor, J.Y.; Osei, K.; Sa-Aadu, J.; Amoah, B.; Dzeha, G.C.O.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to primarily investigate the ability of independent central banks (central bank independence (CBI)) to improve fiscal performances in Africa, accounting for election years, and also to examine whether the effectiveness of CBI in improving fiscal performance is enhanced by higher political institutional quality. Design/methodology/approach – Using recent CBI data from Garriga (2016) on 48 African countries, 90 other developing countries and 40 developed countries over the period 1970–2012, the authors apply a two stage system GMM with Windmeijer (2005) small sample robust correction estimator to examine the impact of CBI and elections on fiscal policy in Africa, other developing countries and developed countries. Findings – The authors provide evidence that unlike in other developing countries and developed countries, CBI does not significantly improve fiscal performance in Africa. However, the effectiveness of CBI in improving fiscal performance in Africa is enhanced by higher levels of institutional quality. Although elections directly worsen fiscal performance in Africa, institutional quality enhances CBI’s effect on improving fiscal performance in election years across Africa, other developing countries and developed countries. Practical implications – The findings of the study are significant as they provide insight into the benefits of having strong institutions to complement independent central banks in order to control fiscal indiscipline in election years. Originality/value – The study is the first among the studies of CBI-fiscal policy nexus, to measure fiscal policy using net central bank claims on government as a percentage of GDP. In addition to the use of fiscal balance, this study also uses cyclically adjusted fiscal balance as a measure of fiscal policy. This is a critical channel through which independent central banks can constrain govern
Drivers of income diversification in credit unions: Do size, resource, liquidity, and environment matter?
(M.D.E., 2021) Bokpin, G.A.; Amoah, B.; Ohene-Asare, K.; et al.
Abstract This paper investigates income diversification in credit unions in Ghana. We make use of the random effect, Hausman–Taylor, and fractional regression to assess income diversification. We find empirical support that there exist differences between workplace credit union income diversification and other types of credit union. We also find that within nonfinancial income, size, liquidity, loan portfolio, net worth, and economic growth are important. For within liquid financial investment diversification, size, liquidity, resource usage, age, net interest margin, bank concentration, inflation, and economic growth matter. We recommend that with excess reserves, credit unions should pursue liquid financial investment.
Efficiency and Risk-Taking Behaviour of Ghanaian Banks
(2012) Isshaq, Z.,; Bokpin, G. A.; Amoah, B.
Firm Specific, Financial Development and Macroeconomic Determinants of Credit Union Lending
(Journal of International Development, 2018-10) Amoah, B.; Aboagye, A.Q.Q.; Bokpin, G.A.; Ohene-Asare, K.
Credit unions are set up to providefinancial services, especially loans to members in acooperative setting. The increasing competition from banking and non-bankingfinancial institutionsimplies credit unions must providefinancial products and services with a clear understanding offactors that interact in this competitive industry. This paper evaluates the discretional and non-discretional factors that tend to influence loans credit unions grant their members. Fromfixed effectmodel estimate, discretional factors such as size, profitability, management quality and solvencypositively associate with credit union loan business whiles loan loss, net worth, non-loan incomeand non-loan activities associate negatively. Contractionary monetary policy creates an increase inloan demand in the credit union. Credit union managers should monitor developments taking placein the loanable funds market as increasing overhead cost of banks may imply a possible increasein loan demand leading to diseconomies of scale. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Income Diversification, Lending and Efficiency on Credit Union Financial Performance in Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2017-12) Amoah, B.
Available global statistics show that credit unions have, and continue to gain more grounds as penetration rates, asset size and savings levels suggest. Yet traditional depository institutions, especially banks, still present strong competition in the areas of revenue generation, lending and efficiency for the credit union industry. Using data on 61 credit unions in Ghana over the period 2008-2014, this thesis analyses the connections between non-loan income, credit union lending and efficiency in the credit union business without leaving out banking sector development. Specifically we analyse the relationship between non-loan income and credit union performance, examine the determinants of non-loan income. Further we examine discretional and non-discretional factors on credit union lending. Finally, we probe into credit union efficiency and assess the intra and extra determinants over the sample period. We employ the random effect, Hausman-Taylor and truncated Tobit panel data models on risk adjusted return on asset and risk adjusted return on equity to assess how credit union factors influence non-loan diversification income and diversification within the liquid-financial investment activities. For credit union lending we use the fixed effect and random effect model to evaluate discretional and non-discretional factors on credit union. For our objective on cost efficiency and technical efficiency we used a two stage method, we first estimate cost efficiency using Tone’s measure in the Data Envelopment Analysis method and technical efficiency in a variable returns to scale setting for the period 2008 to 2014. For the second stage we estimate a Mixed-effects and Two-Limit Truncated University of Tobit regression to examine credit union specific, banking industry and macroeconomic conditions on efficiency. We find empirical support that non-financial income plays a role in diversifying credit union income. There exists a complementing effect on income from combined non-loan income and investment in liquid-financial asset. Our results suggest that in the case of non-financial income, size, liquidity, loan portfolio, resource usage and net worth are important. For liquid-financial investment, liquidity, age, and net interest margin play a critical role. With respect to loan portfolio, discretional factors such as size, return on equity, management quality and solvency positively associate with credit union lending business. On the other hand, factors such as loan loss, non-loan income diversification activities and lending rates negatively relate to credit union loan portfolio. For the non-discretional factors, increase in banking sector inefficiency would imply more loan business for credit unions. The results also show the presence of a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between credit union lending and the size of the credit union. Credit unions’ cost efficiency averaged 38.9 percent whiles average technical efficiency level was 54.4 percent. These efficiencies are mostly influenced by internal factors and the banking industry. A monopolized and inefficient banking sector does not challenge efficiency improvement in the credit union industry. We also find that technical efficiency does not necessarily translate into cost efficiency for credit unions. We recommend that if management’s goal is diversification, then non-financial income is the best option to pursue against investment in liquid-financial asset, especially for smaller sized credit unions. On the other hand, if the objective is to supplement income, then management should consider liquid-financial investment irrespective of the size of the credit union. Credit union managers should monitor developments taking place in the loanable funds market as banks’ increasing overhead cost may mean a possible increase in loan demand in the credit union. Additionally, managers of credit unions should increase loan portfolio carefully so as not to experience any diseconomies of scale from the loan business. We suggest that when targeting cost efficiency, credit union managers should make technical efficiency a priority. Also credit union managers should observe and monitor the activities of the big banks, since their activities have an implication for the adoption of strategies that would help improve overall efficiency in the credit union.
Is an all-inclusive educational policy a determinant of voting behaviour in Ghana?
(International Journal of Social Economics, 2022) Amoah, A.; Amoah, B.; Kwablah, E.; Taayeli, A.K.
Purpose: In this study, the authors investigate Ghana’s Free Senior High School policy as an all-inclusive development policy that drives voting behaviour. Design, methodology, and approach: using the snowball sampling technique and a statistically representative sample size of 413 eligible voters from Ghana, the authors estimate a multinomial logistic regression with its marginal effects. Findings: The results show that as the number of Free Senior High School beneficiaries per household increases, the more the voters in that household are likely to vote for the policy implementor. Similarly, voters who believe that the Free Senior High School policy has had an impact on students’ performance are more likely to vote for the policy implementor. By implication, an all-inclusive development policy such as the Free Senior High School educational policy has the probability of influencing voting behaviour in favour of the policy implementor. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the nexus between an all-inclusive Free Senior High School educational policy and voting behaviour in Ghana.
Technical efficiency: the pathway to credit union cost efficiency in Ghana
(Managerial Finance, 2018-10) Amoah, B.; Ohene-Asare, K.; Bokpin, G.A.; Aboagye, A.Q.Q.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that tend to influence credit union efficiency, specifically examining cost efficiency (CE) and technical efficiency. Design/methodology/approach Using a two-stage method, the authors first estimate CE using Tones’ SBM data envelopment analysis method and technical efficiency in a variable returns to scale setting during the period 2008–2014. The authors estimate a mixed-effects and two-limit Tobit regression to examine the effect of credit union specific characteristics, banking industry and macroeconomic conditions, on efficiency. Findings Credit unions’ CE averaged 38.9 percent compared to 54.4 percent for technical efficiency. The authors find that technical efficiency does not translate into CE and vice versa. Practical implications The authors suggest that when targeting CE, credit union managers would have to make technical efficiency a priority. A monopolized and inefficient banking sector does not challenge efficiency improvement in the credit unions industry. Originality/value This study employs data from a frontier market.
Willingness to pay for electronic transaction levy: empirical evidence from Ghana
(African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2023) Amoah, A.; Kwablah, E.; Amoah, B.; Adjei-Mantey, K.
Purpose – In countries where the electronic levy (e-levy) has been implemented, one question that resonates with the populace is, “how much would you want to pay for e-levy per transaction?” In response, varied perspectives have been shared with no convergence. Against this background, this study seeks to estimate people’s willingness to pay (WTP) for electronic transaction levy in Ghana, while analysing the associated determinants. Design/methodology/approach – This study relies on a survey of 2,810 respondents obtained from February 9 to 16, 2022 in Ghana. A multivariate logit model was estimated with its marginal effects. Further, a robustness check was undertaken using the linear probability model to validate the results. Findings – With respect to the sample, the authors find evidence that approximately 46% of the respondents are not willing to pay any amount per transaction for the e-levy. Second, about 21% of the respondents are willing to pay Ghs0.5% as e-levy per transaction. Furthermore, about 10% of the respondents are willing to pay 1% per transaction as e-levy. Those who indicated that they would pay rates above 1% (specifically, 1.50%– 1.75%) per transaction are less than 5%. For flat rates, approximately 10% of the respondents were willing to pay Ghs5 per month for all transactions above Ghs100. All others who are interested in other flat rates together are less than 5% of the respondents. The key statistically significant determinants of the probability that an individual would be willing to pay for the e-levy are also provided. This study recommends a comprehensive dialogue between the government and all stakeholders to reach a reasonable conclusion on an acceptable e-levy rate and by extension, implementation strategies. Originality/value – To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study that estimates individuals’ willingness to pay for e-levy on electronic transactions in a developing country.