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Item The Effect of Mobile Payment Technology Fraud Perception on Customer Intention to Continously Use the Service: A Study Moderated by Generation X, Y, and Z from a Developing Economy(University of Ghana, 2023) Gyaisey, A. P.The issue of mobile payment technology fraud or mobile money (MM) Fraud is relatively new in the context of the general concept of traditional fraud, as it is almost two decades old. Although fairly new, the subject of MM Fraud is of particular interest to the MM service as the service has been a revolutionary tool in transforming financial service delivery on the African continent and in developing economies (DE) across the globe. However, the subject of fraud, although is of interest to service providers, is yet to gain much traction in information systems (IS) research due to a number of reasons. The following has been ranked among the possible reasons: first, researchers’ constant preoccupation with the success story of MM service in enabling financial inclusion regardless of geographical location, second, the persistent focus on making MM service technology adoption easy and to gain wider reach and then third, the general lack of focus from investment into research to understand the subject matter. This neglect has possible ramifications on customer trust and future sustainability and viability of the service. This thesis, hence, examines the possible effect of the perception of mobile payment technology fraud on customer intention to continuously use the service in the context of a developing economy and moderated by customer’s or user’s generation. In this thesis, four key objectives were therefore spelt out to be achieved. The first objective was to “undertake an empirical examination of the current perceptual state of MM service users” in the face of incessant fraud attackers. Second, the researcher sought to “examine how this current perceptual state of users affect their possible avoidance behaviour” due to fraud attacks. The third objective was to further “examine the effect of user’s possible avoidance behaviour on their future continuous use of the service”. Then finally, the possible “moderating effect of MM service users’ generation group on the relationship between their threat perception and avoidance behaviour”. The purpose is to provide both practical and theoretical understanding of the issue of MM fraud and its potential effect on the sustainability of the service. Three main theories were used as a basis in order to achieve the purpose, the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory (TTAT), the Generational Theory, and the Theory of Intention to Continuously Use a Technology. By adopting a positivist paradigm, a quantitative research approach through a survey method was adopted to test 21 hypotheses using data collected from 384 mobile payment technology or mobile money users in Ghana. In achieving the first objective, data from respondents were empirically examined based on concepts of rate of subscription or registration, specificity of use, and frequency of use. Ownership of social media account served as prelude to familiarity with modern technology. The research found ownership of social media account to be eighty-two per cent [82%] depicting high rate of technology familiarity among respondents. The rate of subscription or registration was found to be above ninety six percent [96.4%], and the rate of specificity of use was i.e., whether a user actually uses mobile payment system or MM for transactions, recorded over ninety six percent [96.6%]. In addition, regularity or frequency of use recorded above six percent [6.3%] for low, thirty percent [30.7%] for moderate, and sixty three percent [63%] for high. It was empirically established that the current perceptual state of MM is a positive one as there is still high patronage of the service. To achieve the second objective, six constructs were used to examine users threat perception: perceived security threat, susceptibility threat, severity threat, perceived effectiveness, and self efficacy. With respect to perceived security threat, the study found that perceived security threat has an effect on the avoidance behaviour of the MM user. The higher the perceived security threat, the more likely a user will avoid using the service. Regarding susceptibility threat, the study established that the more users felt susceptible to MM fraud attacks, the more likely they are to avoid using the service. For severity threat, the study found that there was a negative relationship between the severity of the threat and avoidance behaviour, thus the more severe MM fraud attacks maybe on the user, the less likelihood of they avoiding the service. For self-efficacy, the study established that when self-efficacy among respondents is high the level of avoidance reduces. With regards to perceived effectiveness, it was also established that the higher the perceived effectiveness of MM fraud preventive measures, the lower or less likely the avoidance behaviour. Overall, it was established that based on the stated constructs, perception of MM fraud no matter how much or the nature of it has a consequential effect on avoidance behaviour. For the third objective, the study established that the higher the avoidance behaviour today, the less likely it is that users will continually use or return to use the service in the future. As a predictor to the future patronage of the service, the continuous use of the service provided an insight into the future sustainability or viability of the service in the face of current fraud issues. For the final objective that sought to examine whether there will be differences in the relationship between threat perception and avoidance behaviour among users when put under various generational cohorts. Users were grouped under three generation cohorts i.e., Generation X, Y and Z, and were examined on each of the six constructs. Overall, the study did not find a significant effect of a user’s generation on the relationship between their threat perception and avoidance behaviour. Differences were established through a multi-group analysis among the three generations although findings were not significant In all, the study found that the issue of MM fraud perception, did not significantly affect the behaviour of users to avoid using the service. This was an interesting finding as it was in contradiction to TTAT’s position that the threat associated with a technology will cause avoidance from the user. However, it also partially supports the TTAT’s assertion that in the event where the technology cannot be avoided, the user will adopt a coping strategy or mechanism to minimize the possibly negative effect or pain associated with using the said technology. In the event the technology is avoided by the user, the study found that avoidance today was a good predictor of the user’s intention to continuously avoid using the technology in the future. The findings of this study, makes contribution to research, theory, policy, and practice in the following regard. First, this study makes major contribution to research by expanding the MM research from financial inclusion and economic gain to the issue of fraud and sustainability of the service in the long term. Theoretically, the study introduces and incorporates the concept of generation differences to the TTAT when studying technology adoption and use, as well as establishing whether the TTAT applicability and adaptability to the specific technology of mobile money payment due to it near indispensability. It further contributes to the postulation of that current avoidance behaviours distinct to future continuous use. Regarding policy contributions, this study provides an empirical evidence and confirmation on the level of subscription or patronage and degree of use of the service. With the service experiencing great success, the need for drastic measures to be taken to deal with the constant issue of fraud and its consequential effect in the long term cannot be overemphasized.Item Economic freedom, competition and bank stability in Sub Saharan Africa(International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2020) Sarpong-Kumankoma, E.; Abor, J.Y.; Aboagye, A.Q.Q.; Amidu, M.Purpose – This study aims to analyze the potential implications of economic freedom and competition for bank stability. Design/methodology/approach – Using system generalized method of moments and data from 139 banks across 11 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries during the period 2006–2012, this study considers whether the degree of economic freedom affects the relationship between competition and bank stability. Findings – The results show evidence of the competition-fragility hypothesis in SSA banking but suggest that beyond a setting threshold, market power increases may also damage bank stability. Financial freedom hurts bank stability, implying that banks operating in environments with greater financial freedom generally tend to be less stable or more risky. The authors also find evidence of a conditional effect of economic freedom on the competition–stability relationship, implying that bank failure is more likely to occur in countries with greater economic freedom but low competition in the banking sector. Practical implications – The results suggest to policymakers that a moderate level of competition and economic freedom may be the appropriate policy to ensure the stability of banks. Originality/value – The study provides insight into the competition–bank stability relationship, by providing new empirical evidence on the effect of economic freedom, which has not been previously considered.Item Prospects and Feasibility of Diaspora Bond: The Case of Ghana(International Journal of Financial Research, 2019) Mensah, L.This study sought to establish the rationale, feasibility, conditions, determinants, and hindrances of a successful issuance of a diaspora bond by Ghana as a sovereign economic entity. The study also sought to assess the willingness of the Ghanaian diaspora to patronize a diaspora bond. A total of 12 financial institutions within Accra and 113 Ghanaians living in the diaspora were contacted using the purposive sampling method. The study finds that Ghana has patriotic citizens in the diaspora who are ready to patronize its diaspora bonds. It was also found that prospective investors of Ghana‟s diaspora bond find GDP growth and political stability as the most favorable indicators in pulling investors. The study concludes that though internal weaknesses and external threats exist, Ghana stands a good chance for a successful diaspora bond issue with an anticipated high patronage by Ghanaians in the diaspora.Item Drivers of income inequality in Africa: Does institutional quality matter?(African Development Review, 2020) Kunawotor, M.E.; Bokpin, G.A.; Barnor, C.This paper examines the role institutional quality plays among the empirical drivers of income inequality in Africa. Using a dynamic two‐step difference GMM with robust standard errors over the period 1990–2017, we find no statistically significant effect of institutions in general, on income inequality. However, we find that institutional quality indicators such as control of corruption and the strict enforcement of the rule of law significantly reduce income inequality. We also find no statistically significant effects of the other institutional quality indicators such as government effectiveness, voice and accountability, regulatory quality, and political stability on income inequality in our sample. We suggest that more premium be placed on corruption control and the stringent adherence to the rule of law in ensuring equitable distribution of income in Africa. Furthermore, we re‐echo suggestions that promote institutional development in Africa as institutions in general remain very weak.Item Experiences of COVID-19 in Africa(Nature Human Behaviour, 2021) Asuming, P.O.Timely information for understanding the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 in low-income countries is very limited. A recent paper by Josephson, Kilic, and Michler reveals large and disproportionate socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic and provides useful insights to inform an appropriate policy response.Item The Drivers, Processes, And Outcomes Of The Digital Transformation Of Smes In Developing Countries(University of Ghana, 2023-02) Anim-Yeboah, S. S.Digital technologies are reshaping the models, processes, culture, and customer experiences of organisations. This reshaping of organisations with fundamental changes resulting from the adoption of digital technologies and digitalisation is known as digital transformation (DT). Digital transformation tends to matter to all organisations, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not left out. However, the review of extant literature concerning DT reveals SMEs' vulnerability, particularly those in developing countries (DCs). It shows that there is room for SMEs to gain more from DT, with three significant gaps that need research attention. First, there is a lack of agreement in the literature regarding what constitutes the DT drivers, processes and outcomes. Second, studies on DT, examine drivers, processes, and outcomes as independent constructs, and there is a paucity of research examining their interrelationships. Third, the current studies on DT in SMEs are silent on how the firms' managerial and organisational capabilities and capacities influence the drivers processes and outcomes. Lastly, in this regard, a theoretically grounded and practice-oriented framework for the DT of SMEs is lacking. Hence, most SMEs in DCs tend to trail the DT path arbitrarily. In response, this doctoral thesis seeks to address the above gaps and develop the framework by exploring the drivers, processes and outcomes of DT and the relationships among them while considering the influence of the capabilities and capacities of SMEs in DCs. To achieve this purpose, the following questions are asked: (i) What are the drivers, processes, and outcomes of the DT of SMEs in DCs? (ii) How do the drivers, processes, and outcomes influence one another, in the DT of SMEs in DCs? (iii) How do the SMEs capabilities and capacities influence the drivers, processes, and outcomes of the DT in DCs? University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iii Such a study would be a strategic assessment of how to approach DT and achieve the desired outcomes. This assessment is critical in the current era, where digital innovation proliferation and social, economic and health challenges (including the COVID-19 pandemic) are compelling organisations to embrace DT. Hence, developing a framework to guide DT research and SMEs' practice of DT in DCs is a timely endeavour. To respond to the research questions, the study utilised the Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) to conceptualise the DT drivers, processes, and outcomes. AST is appropriate because it highlights drivers of DT from both technological and organisational perspectives while focusing on the technology and organisation interaction processes as structuration and appropriation, resulting in the outcomes. The study further considered other literature to conceptualise the capabilities and capacities of SMEs. To facilitate the exploration, the study’s research strategy utilised a qualitative Delphi methodology from a critical realism perspective, with responses from sixteen purposively selected DT experts from six DCs. DT is a contemporary phenomenon with structures that need to be unearthed and explored to clarify its understanding and applications. Coupled with the lack of agreement on DT factors and the incomplete knowledge of the DT phenomenon, the research strategy was justified. In responding to the first research question, the study unearthed typologies of the DT drivers, processes, and outcomes to offer new insight into studying DT. The study revealed six dimensions of the drivers of DT. Among them, the technological, organisational, and environmental-related drivers have been previously established in literature. However, the dimensions of work tasks, emergent outputs and new rules and resources were found as newly University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh iv identified drivers of DT in this study, which hitherto were absent in literature. Again, the findings offer a novel classification of the technological-related drivers as dynamic (changing), steady (fixed), and spirit (goals and values) features. The steady features are the inherent and fixed structural attributes, such as comprehensiveness and accessibility. The dynamic features are the changing and improving attributes, like updatability, customisability and changing trends. The spirit features are the overall intentions regarding goals and values fundamental to the structural features, such as efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy. The findings outline five DT processes: decision-making and adoption, implementation and use, changes in function and resources, adjustment and adaptation, and strategic shifts and positioning. Though application in practice may vary, most DT studies do not clearly define stepwise and sequential processes. The stepwise and sequential nature of the processes from this study is being advocated as an adaptable guide. Moreover, the findings reveal six DT outcomes: business image and value, work processes and functions, resources and abilities improvements, customer and stakeholder satisfaction, productivity and profitability, and undesirable consequences of technology use. However, embracing undesirable consequences as one of the possible outcomes is scarcely mentioned in DT literature. For the second research question, the study reveals the relationships and influences among the factors. These effects are the influence of drivers on processes, the influence of drivers on outcomes, the influence of processes on outcomes, and the influence of outcomes on drivers. These influences were hitherto not established in literature. For example, technological features drivers influence the decision-making and adoption, implementation and use, and adjustment and adaptation processes. In contrast, work-task drivers influence the changes in functions and resources alone. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh v Regarding the third research question, the study determined four major dimensions of SMEs capabilities and capacities, which influences the DT drivers, processes, and outcomes. The study also identifies novel classifications of capabilities and capacities as intrinsic and extrinsic, and managerial capabilities as attributes and relationships. These findings offer the opportunity to know which capabilities and capacities to leverage and infuse and how they influence the drivers and processes to achieve the desired outcomes. For example, whiles the managerial capacities influence the decision-making and adoption, implementation and use, and adjustment and adaptation, the organisational capacity instead influences the changes in function and resources, adjustment and adaptation, and strategic shifts and positioning. The findings culminate into a theoretical and practice-based framework (DPOCC Framework), with simplified steps and two-pronged approaches: Driver-led approach is to identify the compelling drivers and optimise the matching processes to achieve corresponding outcomes while considering the capabilities and capacities influence. The outcome-led approach is to specify the desired outcomes and optimise matching processes with corresponding drivers while considering the effects of capabilities and outcomes. This framework offers SME owners, entrepreneurs, and managers the opportunity to critically examine and improve their DT practices. Its successful post-study evaluation affirmed this thesis’ contribution to practice. Policy-wise, the findings guide stakeholders such as government and industry to appreciate the DT of SMEs regarding the drivers, processes, outcomes, capabilities, and capacities. The study also inures itself as a guiding solution to the need for DT arising from the new normal of business stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, this study is critical in providing strategic digital growth and sustenance directions. The study’s contributions have been published as two journal articles, three book chapters and two conference papersItem Local economic development and poverty reduction in developing societies: The experience of the ILO decent work project in Ghana(Local Economy, 2019) Azunu, R.; Mensah, J.K.There have been a series of contest analyses of the developmental role of international development partners in sub-Saharan Africa. However, evidence abounds that while international development partners have over the past three decades participated actively in local economic development the academic literature has barely focused on this area. As a result, very little is known about how development partners-led local economic development has translated into poverty reduction and economic prosperity. Through a qualitative case study of the ILO decent work project in Ghana, this study provides an empirical assessment and impact of development partners’ role in conceptualizing, implementing, and monitoring local economic development interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings show that ILO decent work project has led to the creation of jobs, enabled participants to improve their businesses, improve their economic situation, and meet their health needs and also adopt strategies to pull themselves out of poverty. The outcome of this paper is useful for both national and international development agencies in their attempt to improve societal development.Item Urban social assistance: Evidence, challenges and the way forward, with application to Ghana(Development Policy Review, 2020) Cuesta, J.; Abdulai, A.G.; Devereux, S.; et.alMotivation: Urban areas are growing as is urban poverty, yet few countries have developed comprehensive programmes for social assistance in urban areas. Those programmes that exist, moreover, are often extensions or duplicates of rural schemes. Urban social protection needs to reflect the distinct characteristics and vulnerabilities of the urban poor, especially since they usually work in informal activities and face higher living costs than rural dwellers. Purpose: This article addresses two questions: what is the current evidence on effective social assistance programmes in urban areas? How can such programmes be designed and implemented in practice? The article surveys the challenges of designing social assistance programmes in urban areas, focusing on specific urban vulnerabilities, targeting the urban poor, and setting appropriate payments. Approach and methods: Existing evidence on programmes for urban social assistance, including cases from seven countries, are reviewed. Issues are examined in detail for Ghana, a rapidly urbanizing country. Findings: Ghana’s flagship social assistance programme, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which operates largely in rural areas, can and should be adjusted to urban areas. Registration by using community leaders is less effective in urban than rural areas. Instead, advertising, (social) media, direct text messaging, and identification through local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) would be better options. Targeting can be improved by developing an urban-specific proxy means test. Cash benefits should be increased, and then adjusted regularly to counter inflation. These benefits should possibly be accompanied by subsidies for utilities and services. Policy implications: Several principles to consider when designing urban social assistance emerge. Benefit levels should reflect higher living costs in urban areas and respond to inflation, especially for food and other necessities. Urban social assistance should go beyond cash transfers to focus on generating jobs (especially for young people and women), and to ensure basic services such as health care reach the urban poor, through subsidies, vouchers, or case management. Urban contexts also offer more opportunities to deliver and target social assistance through digital technologies such as mobile phones and automatic teller machines (ATM).Item Competitive clientelism, donors and the politics of social protection uptake in Ghana(Critical Social Policy, 2021) Abdulai, A.G.Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme has been widely characterised as ‘homegrown’. This article challenges such accounts of the LEAP by showing how donors used their financial muscle to shape the LEAP both at the level of programme adoption and implementation. However, the extent to which donor interests and ideas influenced the programme’s design and implementation depended on the degree to which such interests were aligned with those of domestic political elites. While it was donors who first pushed cash transfers on the agenda of the Ghanaian government, electoral calculus took centre stage in driving the programme’s subsequent expansion and institutionalisation. The article suggests the need to move beyond the donor-driven versus the state-led type of arguments to explore the complex ways in which transnational factors and the formal and informal aspects of domestic politics interact to produce different levels and types of commitment to social protection in Africa.Item Left Behind, but Included: The Case of Migrant Remittances and Financial Inclusion in Ghana(The African Finance Journal, 2019) Amidu, M.; Abor, J.Y.; Issahaku, H.Migration is often viewed negatively because of the homelessness, city congestion, and other ills it has often been tagged with. But, ‘Every coin has a flipside’. Using data from the Ghana Living Standard Survey (Round 6), this study explores how remittances sent by migrants promote access to and usage of a broad range of financial services. We employ a novel econometric methodology, the endogenous switching probit regression which effectively handles selection on observables and unobservables as well as endogeneity. Treatment effect predictions show that remittances increase the probability of receiving households owning an account, saving, accessing credit, and holding insurance policy by 14 percentage points, 8 percentage points, 4 percentage points, and 11 percentage points respectively compared to analogous non-receiving households. Remittances confer similar financial inclusion benefits on a randomly selected household and the counterfactual –the financial inclusion level of those households that did not receive remittances had they received remittances. This implies that remittances foster the financial inclusion of the left behind. This unambiguous impact of remittances on financial inclusion calls for a more balanced view by policymakers and other stakeholders regarding both internal and external migration.