Background Ghana’s smallholder share area under cultivation is witnessing a gradual decline, relative to the share of farmland under medium scale that is growing rapidly. Little attention has, however, been given to examining the drivers that influence scale of operation. Method Using survey data from 231 farmers, this study employed the binary probit regression to assess factors that influence scale of farm operation among cassava and maize farmers in Ghana’s Eastern Region. Results The findings showed that factors that were significant and positively related to farm size were age, secondary education, land acquisition for maize farmers, and tertiary education for cassava farmers. On the other hand, factors that were significant and negatively related to farm size were gender, marital status, access to extension services for cassava farmers, and household size, membership of farmer-based organization and access to credit for maize farmers. Conclusion The study recommends the provision of mechanization support for medium-scale farmers coupled with the improvement of extension service delivery to medium-scale farmers. With messages focused on the adoption of improved technologies and mechanization of farm operations.

PurposeThis paper analysed the motives behind farmers' savings with Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) and the effect of these savings on rice yield in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region of Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA multi-stage sampling approach was used to draw a random sample of 222 rice farmers, and a structured questionnaire was employed to collect cross-sectional data. A Likert scale was used to rank the motive behind farmers' savings while the endogenous switching regression model was used to estimate the effect of savings on rice yield.FindingsThe results of the study showed that most farmers mobilise savings to enhance farm investment which is critical to increasing rice productivity. Improved labour and fertiliser use had a positive influence on rice yield, while farm size had an inverse relation with rice yield. Further, the findings show that savings with RCBs help mobilise the necessary finance to enhance rice productivity. In terms of the treatment effect of savings, the results indicate that farmers who patronise saving products of RCBs recorded a statistically significant average yield of 1.41 Mt/ha more than those not patronising saving products from any bank.Practical implicationsWhile the literature on agricultural finance focuses largely on credit, this study demonstrates that savings hold significant benefits for the development of agriculture through productivity gains. The importance of this demonstration is further shown by the fact that credit access depends on the ability to save in most developing countries.Social implicationsThere is a need to educate farmers about the essence of patronising formal savings products.Originality/valueThis study represents the first attempt at linking farmers' savings to agricultural productivity using an econometric methodology in Ghana. The study serves as a foundation paper and for that matter will serve as a guide to future research on savings mobilisation and agricultural productivity nexus.

Background: Healthcare in Ghana is characterised by high expenditures, multiple professions and specialties, complicated processes, and diverse workforces, all of which highlight the importance of evaluating service efficiency through a robust performance appraisal system. Objective of the study: This study aimed to assess the efficiency of four regional hospitals in Ghana in 2020. Method: Secondary data of four regional hospitals on bed occupancy rates, average length of stay and bed turnover rates, among others, were collected from District Health Information Management System (DHIMS) for further analysis. Pabón Lasso charts were drawn using Microsoft Excel 2019 to evaluate the efficiency level of hospitals and wards. Results and conclusion: The study compared the performance of regional hospitals in 2020. The results showed that the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo were inefficient, the upper East regional hospital was less efficient while the Eastern regional hospital was efficient. It was also found that the medical, maternity and surgical wards of the Brong Ahafo hospital were inefficient. The emergency ward was the most efficient unit in the eastern regional hospital while that of the Upper East region was inefficient. The medical and surgical units of the Greater Accra regional hospital were less efficient.