Simon K. Harvey

Community-based study on knowledge, attitude and practice on the mode of transmission, prevention and treatment of the Buruli ulcer in Ga West District, Ghana

Buruli ulcer disease (BUD), a devastating tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, occurs in more than 80% of the administrative districts of Ghana. To elucidate community perceptions and understanding of the aetiology of BUD, attitudes towards Buruli patients and treatment‐seeking behaviours, we conducted a survey with 504 heads of households and seven focus group discussions in Ga West District, Ghana. Although 67% of participants regarded BUD as a health problem, 53% did not know its cause. Sixteen per cent attributed the cause to drinking non‐potable water, 8.1% mentioned poor personal hygiene or dirty surroundings, and 5.5% identified swimming or wading in ponds as a risk factor. About 5.2% thought that witchcraft and curses cause BUD, and 71.8% indicated that BU sufferers first seek treatment from herbalists and only refer to the hospital as a last resort. The main reasons were prospects of prolonged hospital stay, cost of transport, loss of earnings and opportunity associated with parents attending their childrens hospitalization over extended period, delays in being attended by medical staff, and not knowing the cause of the disease or required treatment. The level of acceptance of BUD sufferers was high in adults but less so in children. The challenge facing health workers is to break the vicious cycle of poor medical outcomes leading to poor attitudes to hospital treatment in the community. Because herbalists are often the first people consulted by those who contract the disease, they need to be trained in early recognition of the pre‐ulcerative stage of Buruli lesions.

Fiscal policy, private investment and economic growth: the case of Ghana

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the relationships between disaggregated government fiscal policy variables; private capital investment and economic growth in Ghana, as well as the similarities and differences in the impact of these variables on private investment (PI) and economic growth. Design/methodology/approach - Cointegration and an error-correction models are used, with time series properties of the variables investigate using augmented Dickey-Fuller test and cointegration of the variables tested using Engel-Granger two step procedure. Findings - The findings indicate that changes in government recurrent expenditure, current government capital expenditure and international trade taxes are significant for growth while changes in tax on domestic goods and services, tax on international trade and tax on income and property matter for private capital investment. The major difference between the impact of fiscal policy on PI and economic growth, however, lies in the direction of impact. Practical implications - Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that different policies be pursued in the promotion of PI and economic growth. Also, given the low correlation between PI and economic growth, it is recommended that the Ghanaian private sector be focused on and fully developed in order for it to perform its role as an engine of growth. Originality/value - Growth has been shown to be influenced by government expenditure and international trade taxes while private capital investment is influenced by taxes on domestic goods and services, international trade and on income and property. Fiscal policy authorities will find these useful.

Foreign direct investment and employment: host country experience

This study investigates the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on employment creation and wages in Ghana. A simultaneous panel regression model is used in estimating the effect FDI has on employment and wages. The results of this study indicate that FDI has a statistically significant and positive effect on employment levels in Ghana, but has an insignificant effect on wages. FDI can greatly augment domestic efforts by creating more jobs in the economy. The results clearly demonstrate that FDI flows affect employment quantitatively, but not necessarily qualitatively. The study identifies other factors including, productivity, wages, sub-sector, and location as important in influencing employment levels. Also, productivity, labour union, firm size, sub-sector, and location are noted as significant in affecting wages in Ghana. The main value of this paper is in respect of the fact that it provides insight into the effects of FDI flow on employment from a host country perspective. The study recommends that FDI should be considered as an integral part of the Ghanaian economic policy in order to spur on economic growth.

Determinants of inward foreign direct investment in the Ghanaian manufacturing sector

This study investigates the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Ghanaian manufacturing sector, using the Regional Project on Enterprise Development (RPED) dataset. The study adopts a binary logistic regression model in which the dependent variable, FDI, is expressed as a function of firm-level characteristics and location variables. The results of this study showed that firm size, capital requirement, skill intensity, labour cost, technological capability and unionisation of a firms workers positively affect FDI inflows. The results, however, revealed that firm age negatively affect FDI. We also found that the location and sub-sector of the firm influence FDI inflows. The main findings of this study are that, larger firms are more likely to attract FDI in the manufacturing sector. Also, firms with high capital base, skilled labour force, improved technological capability and unionised labour are often in the position to attract more FDI into the manufacturing sector.

Do remittances promote financial development in Africa

The paper seeks to establish whether or not remittances promoted financial developments and explore the traceable causality between remittances and financial developments in some countries in Africa. We examine the association between remittances received and how they affect the availability of credit to private sector, bank deposits intermediated by financial institutions and money supply. We also question whether the development in the financial sector causes higher levels or otherwise of remittances received. This paper uses data on remittance flows to 50 developing countries in Africa from 1990 to 2011 to explore the nexus. The study uses fixed effects and random effect estimations as well as Vector Error Correction Model method on the panel data. The study shows that remittances promote certain aspects of financial development to some extent and better financial system foster receipts of remittances. The effect of causality is seen in the short run and not in the long-run. The study alludes to literature that remittances could promote financial development in the short run and the development of the financial sector helps increase the propensity to remit via formal channels.

Financial stability and economic growth: a cross-country study

The study examines the relationship between financial stability and economic growth in Africa. Using a dynamic fixed-effect model, the results reveal that financial stability impacts positively on economic growth. Specifically, the results indicate that capital adequacy, liquidity and asset quality have significant effects on the GDP growth rate both in the long and the short run. It is recommended that the agencies concerned, mainly the central banks and the governments of African countries, should pursue policies that enhance the stability of their financial systems in order to spur economic growth in their respective countries.