We revisit the flight-to-quality (FTQ) and flight-from-quality (FFQ) occurrences vis-à-vis the stock-bond nexus across differing investment time scales in the COVID-19 era, using a novel technique hinged on a denoised frequency-domain transfer entropy. Our findings divulge that flights, both FTQ and FFQ, could be attained during stress periods. Generally, in the intermediate term of the COVID-19 pandemic, both Islamic and conventional bonds could act as safe havens, diversifiers, and hedges for international equities, and the same could be observed for international equities. We reiterate empirically that flights may improve the financial system’s stability and robustness by allowing diversity to be effective when it is most required. The findings have financial and portfolio implications for investors considering how to deploy their investments in the COVID-19 era. Our findings may impact policymakers’ responses to changes in various asset classes, allowing them to better monitor financial markets and adjust macroeconomic policies.

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The main thrust of this study is to find out the relationship between dividend policy and performance of banks in Ghana. The study used panel data constructed from the financial statements of 16 commercial banks in Ghana for a period of 5 years, from 1999-2003. These financial statements were obtained from the Banking Supervision department of Bank of Ghana. STATA was used for the data analysis. From the results of the study, the average dividend paid by banks over the study period was 24.65%. Also, it is apparent that banks that pay dividend increase their performance. The results also reinforce earlier findings that leverage, size of a bank and bank growth enhance the performance of banks. The age factor presents mixed results. Generally, the result is in tandem with earlier studies that dividend policy has an effect on firm value.

This paper examines the determinants of internal audit effectiveness in decentralized local government administrative systems of Ghana. Ghana's local government system is structured into metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs). For the purpose of the study, we focused on the Ashanti region of Ghana which has the highest number of MMDAs. The motivation for the study is derived from the increased interest in the internal audits of local government units. Using a descriptive survey, the data gathered, through the use of questionnaire, revealed that majority of the internal audit staff of MMDAs in the Ashanti Region of Ghana possess the requisite professional proficiency. Contrary to the perception that audit quality in the public sector is usually compromised, the study revealed that there exists high quality of audit work due to compliance with the international standards on auditing and local audit legislations. Professional proficiency, organizational independence, and career advancement were found to have statistically significant positive relationship with internal audit effectiveness, whiles top management support was found to have no effect on internal audit effectiveness.

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