The study investigated the determinants of employee retention in Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Kumasi. Various factors that contribute to employee retention such as organizational factors, human resource factors, organizational benefits, commitment, employees' retention and job satisfaction were examined. Quantitative research design, specifically a correlational design was used. Primary data were collected from 98 employees comprising senior and junior staff, through questionnaire administration. The data were analyzed by using Spearman correlation and step-wise regression tools in Statistical Product and Service Solutions (version 17). The findings of the study revealed significant relationships among policies, job satisfaction and employee retention. Some of the specific determinants of retention were job satisfaction, training and development, communication, justice and fairness. This implies that any policy initiative that is aimed at employee retention should focus on these determinants. It is therefore recommended that employees and branch managers should cooperate and review the existing benefits by paying more attention to policies that will influence job satisfaction, training and development, communication and justice and fairness.

The study was designed to examine the contribution of Kakum Rural Bank (KRB) to poverty reduction in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality (KEEA). The study employed descriptive and evaluative designs. All four agencies in the KEEA municipality were included in the study. The systematic random sampling technique was used to draw 370 customers and 14 members of staff of Kakum Rural Bank who were purposively sampled for the study. Questionnaires were principally used to collect data from respondents. Graphs and tables were used to present descriptive aspects of the results while non-parametric inferential procedure was used to present the evaluative aspect. The results of the study revealed that KRB, with its financial and non-financial services, has helped in poverty reduction in the KEEA Municipality. Data gathered from the respondents showed a significant improvement in most of the poverty indicators, with the exception of provision of potable water and clothing for families. Judging by the potential that KRB has for reducing poverty, it is recommended that the bank should expand its coverage in the municipality

Development practitioners in recent times have recognised that the general factors of production determine only partially the process of economic growth because they overlook the way in which economic actors interact and organise themselves to generate economic growth. In 2006, the World Bank publication cited developing countries as having the least amount of intangible capital compared to the developed nations. However, among the components of intangible capital, social capital has attracted considerable attention among social scientists in general and development economists in particular because there is growing evidence that social capital can have impacts on development outcomes. Using primarily desk studies, the paper examines current literature on social capital and how they provide some answers to the missing link in Ghana’s development. We conclude that while micro-level social capital is important and predominates in Ghana’s development, its success largely depends on macro-level social capital.This implies that an enabling socio-economic environment is very vital for all sectors to function properly. In essence, social capital – like natural, physical and human capital – has limited value if it is not combined with other forms of capital, because social capital makes the other types of capital and their productive combination more efficient.

Educating and training of small-scale entrepreneurs has been identified as key determinants in the establishment, growth, and survival of businesses which ultimately reduce poverty levels. In spite of the relationship that exists between education and training and poverty reduction among small-scale entrepreneurs, very little empirical examination has been done. This informed the current study to examine how educating and training of small-scale entrepreneurs by the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), a promotional institution, contribute to poverty reduction in the Nkoranza South Municipality (NSM). The study employed descriptive and evaluative designs. All the small-scale entrepreneurs who were registered with the BAC were included in the study. The systematic and purposive sampling methods were used to draw 278 small-scale entrepreneurs and three members of staff of the BAC. Questionnaires, interviews guide and focus group discussion guide were principally used to collect data from the respondents. The results from the study showed that the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), with its education and training programmes in the municipality has, to a large extent helped reduce the poverty levels among entrepreneurs. This was observed in increased outputs, incomes and levels of savings among the respondents. The study recommends to the BAC to increase the coverage and intensifies its education and training within the municipality.

Access to credit has been consistently cited as a major constraint to the growth of micro and small-scale enterprises. Research has shown that enterprises that are not able to access credit from banks often rely on non-bank sources. It is based on this that the study set out to examine the accessibility of MSEs to non-bank credit and how non-bank credit affects their growth. In order to achieve the set objectives, 96 MSEs of five non-bank financial institutions were sampled for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data from both the non-bank financial instutions and the MSEs. Data from the study were mainly analysed using the Chi-Square Test of Independence and log linear resgression analysis. Findings show that MSEs’ accessibility to non-bank credit was affected by inadequate information about credit availability, high interest rates and cumbersome procedure for credit acquisition. Most of the non-bank credit advanced to MSEs were inadequate and were often disbursed at wrong times. Credit received by MSEs mainly went to increasing working capital. This was attributed to the high rate of inflation that forces MSEs to demand credit for re-capitalisation. Firms that accessed larger amount of credit experienced increases in profits. Based on the findings the study recommends to non-bank financial institutions to make the procedures for credit acquisition less cumbersome, provide information about credit availability and to grant adequate and timely loans to MSEs. In order to access credit in time, MSEs are to put in timely application of credit as this will give non-bank credit institution amply time to process the application.