Using structural equation modelling (SEM) we analysed the link between corruption and effective internal audit function (EIAF) in Ghana through a survey of directors and managers of selected public sector organizations. A decade after the promulgation of the Internal Audit Agency Act (IAAA), 2003 (Act 658) as an instrument to fight administrative corruption in Ghana, there is little empirical evidence to show its impact on corruption, though anecdotal evidence suggests it has played a critical role in maintaining financial discipline and public sector accountability and transparency. We established that full implementation of Act 658, size of the internal audit department and independence of the audit department significantly affect the effectiveness of the internal audit function which negatively impact on corruption. We conclude that strict adherence to and the implementation of regulations and laws as well as independence of the internal audit function will help fight administrative corruption in Ghana.

The level of project management awareness and recognition of the standards and knowledge sharing among professionals is on the rise. Despite this many projects continue to fail. Ameliorating project failure requires project management maturity among practitioners. Project management maturity is the progressive development of an enterprise-wide project management approach, methodology, strategy, and decision-making process. To ascertain the level of maturity among project oriented organisations in Ghana the following research questions were raised: Is the concept of PM maturity understood in Ghana? What are Project Management Maturity levels in Ghana? What maturity models are in use? Are there differences in project management maturity levels in industries in Ghana? The study was exploratory in nature and utilized a questionnaire survey method to collect data on project management Maturity in Ghanaian organizations. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 200 managers from different economic sectors. The findings showed that differences exist in the current project management maturity levels across each phase of the project life cycle for all organisations. The study also showed that most of the practitioners expect their respective organisations to attain higher levels of project management maturity (PMM) albeit at various levels. Organisations operating in the non-profit (NGO) category exhibited relatively higher levels of maturity compared to the other categories of organisations in all the five phases of the project management life cycle. Firms in the public sector of Ghana recorded low levels of maturity in most of the phases of the project management life cycle. This may be attributed to the low level of project management expertise in the sector, with possible dire consequence to the country’s development since the public sector accounts for a large percentage of projects executed in Ghana. Overall, the findings seem to indicate that project management maturity occurs in phases; PM maturity does not occur as an event but is an ongoing process that is interlinked. The implication therefore is that organisations cannot claim to be mature in one area and neglect the other; it becomes imperative for project implementing organisations in Ghana to strive to attain maturity in all the five phase of the project management life cycle in order to attain the full benefits of the projects they implement

This paper examines some aspects of the regulatory regime affecting corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Ghana. It seeks to assess the relationship between law and the actions of corporate organisations and its implications for corporate responsibility in Ghana. Corporations are critical actors in the political, economic, -social and cultural development of all countries. Besides providing goods and services, they are a source of livelihood for many and contribute to government revenue through the payment of taxes. They also impact on the physical and socio-economic environment of a nation. CSR has over the years changed from voluntary practice to more obligatory policies due to pressure from external stakeholders and the law. In recent times, various laws and legal standards seem to play a vital role in the development, implementation and enforcement of CSR. The law serves CSR by providing a means for CSR to adhere to some very essential practices for instance the protection of the rights of employees among others while at the same time allowing organisations to make their own decisions concerning how to give back to the community.It suggests that even though CSR is to a large extent influenced by various regulatory regimes in Ghana, its efficiency is often adversely affected by deficiencies in the enforcement of the relevant laws. It is thus suggested that the enforcement agencies should be empowered to ensure compliance with the laws to enable an effective delivery of CSR in Ghana.

Genetic Modification (GM) is a rapidly growing technology that can improve productivity and profitability for producers.The study assessed consumer acceptance of GM foods in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The study is based on a survey conducted in three districts of the Greater Accra Region namely, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Ga East (GE) and Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) using purposive sampling method. A qualitative choice (Logit) model was used to estimate the effect of various factors on consumer acceptance of GM foods. The results obtained showed that, about 90% of the respondents had heard or read something about GM foods indicating a high level awareness among respondents' in the Greater Accra Region. The results also show that 85% of the respondents were willing to accept GM foods. From the logit model, consumers with age groups 31-40 and above 50 years, were more likely to accept GM foods in the study area where as male respondents were less likely to accept GMFs. In addition, respondents with secondary and tertiary levels of education were likely to accept GM foods. Household size 1 to 5, reading product labels as well as understanding of science and technology were also significant variables in explaining consumer acceptance of GM foods in the Greater Accra Region. Obviously awareness and education was shown to be a necessary condition for acceptability of GM foods. The recommendation of this study is to promote effective education about the benefits of GM foods to increase the potential for acceptance.

The price of oil has a great influence on prices of recycled plastics and, therefore, plastic recycling efforts. Here, we analyze the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on crude oil price and how this, in turn, is likely to affect the degree of plastic recycling that takes place. Impulse response functions and variance decompositions, calculated from the structural vector autoregression, suggest that changes in crude oil prices are key drivers of the price of recycled plastics. The findings highlight that because plastics are made from the by-products of oil, falling oil prices increase the cost of recycling. Therefore, the price of recycled plastics should be supported using taxes while encouraging sustained behavioral changes among consumers and producers to selectively collect and recycle personal protective equipment so that they do not clog our landfills or end up in our water bodies as plastic waste.