UDS International Journal of Development

Editorial

2026-05-04T09:34:11+00:00

The first issue of Volume 12 of the UDS International Journal of Development (UDSIJD) has been published. The articles published in this issue span various disciplines in the humanities. The editorial team acknowledges the significant and growing influence of artificial intelligence on academia and ensures that authors adhere to standards. The editorial team therefore wishes to caution authors and researchers to adhere to ethical standards when submitting manuscripts to the journal. The editorial team extends its gratitude to the Management of the University, reviewers and all who contributed to making this a success.

Editor-in-Chief
Prof. G. A. Teye

STRUCTURAL BREAKS AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS IN THE REMITTANCE-ECONOMIC GROWTH NEXUS IN GHANA

2024-06-24T10:52:24+00:00

The direction and degree of association between inward remittances and growth in economic growth literature has been largely inconclusive in the literature. Findings from Ghana are no different even in the presence of various moderating variables. Based on the aggregate Cobb-Douglas production relationship, this research seeks to address this lack of consensus by considering the role that structural breaks play in the remittance–growth relationship in the presence of socioeconomic factors that proxy as institutional variables in Ghana. First, we conduct the Johannsen cointegration analysis using data from 1984 to 2019. We find that although there are two cointegrating relationships among all the variables tested, there's no significant relationship between remittance and growth using both FMOLS and DOLS estimators. Second, when a level structural break is introduced into the unit root tests, the I (1) properties of all variables are non-existent and OLS regressions provide ample evidence that remittances and socioeconomic factors have a strong, positive and significant impact on economic growth in Ghana. The evidence suggests that there is a need to include structural breaks when investigating the remittance–growth relationship in Ghana to avoid misspecifying models and hence making inaccurate forecasts and policy decisions.

Keywords: Remittances, Economic growth, Structural breaks, Cointegration, Cobb-Douglas function

DESTINATION MARKETING AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF CROSS RIVER STATE IN NIGERIA

2024-12-18T11:53:48+00:00

Nigeria's Cross River State, one of the travel destinations with a wealth of resources, does not seem to have made the most of them to effectively compete with other African and global travel destinations. Thus, the rationale behind this research was to investigate how destination marketing influences tourism development. In light of this, the study's specific goal was to investigate the impact of advertising sales promotion and direct marketing on tourism development. The study, which was conducted in Nigeria's Cross River State, used a survey research approach. Using the Yamane (1967) sample size calculation procedure, a sample size of 65 respondents was calculated from the study population of 77 managers and employees of three tourism centres in the study area who were chosen at random. Nonetheless, 45 respondents' responses were deemed legitimate and utilized. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the replies. The multiple regression model used to test the hypothesis was tested for significance using the F-statistics. It was determined that advertising, sales promotion and direct marketing as destination marketing tools had significant influence on tourism development. It was therefore recommended that tourism marketing staff should be trained on the use of effective destination marketing tools to enhance tourism development. It was also recommended that government should make efforts to effectively address the security challenges in the country, to attract more tourists and enhance their safety.

Keywords: Destination marketing, advertising, sales promotions, direct marketing, tourism development

CHALLENGES TO FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA: CRITICAL REFLECTIONS

2024-06-13T10:25:27+00:00

The transformation of food systems includes shifting from a linear model of production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste to a circular model that prioritizes sustainability and resilience. This involves increasing the efficiency of resource use, reducing food waste, promoting local and regional food systems, incorporating new technologies, enhancing supply chain transparency, and improving food safety and nutrition. Overall, the goal is to create a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food system for all. Thus, the systemic transition of African food systems unto sustainable Farm-to-Fork paths will no doubt address historical nutrition, health, environmental, income, and policy issues linked to the systems. However, the diverse complex and multi-dimensional foci will require an equivalent long-term transformation strategy through engagement and priority setting to achieve landmark shifts in all key aspects of the system. Here, we critically examined the challenges to food systems transformation in Africa. We argue that the underdeveloped agricultural sector that over-relies on primary production with little or no value addition is one of the key challenges to food systems transformation in the continent. Other critical challenges to food systems transformation in Africa are poor market access, poor infrastructure, globalization, repressive policies, and climate change.

Keywords: Food systems, Food security, Food transformation, Sustainability, Food issues

PREDICTION OF CLIENT SATISFACTION LEVELS WITH GHANA’S LAND ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM: USING A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH

2026-02-16T15:49:48+00:00

Ghana’s first digital Land Administration System (LAS), known as the Client Service Access Unit (CSAU) managed by the Lands Commission (LC) is responsible for the provision of all land documentation procedures and is the one-stop shop for land transactions. However, since its creation as a result of Ghana’s Land Administration Projects (LAP 1 and LAP 2), there is no system available to determine the satisfaction levels of clients to maintain client loyalty to the system. This study aims to develop predictive models to forecast client satisfaction (CS) with the CSAU using machine learning (ML) algorithms including Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), Naive Bayes (NB) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) using Jupyter NoteBook Software and to determine the most important factors influencing client satisfaction with the services rendered by the CSAU, based on 199 responses. Among the ML algorithms, Random Forest and Decision Tree had the highest predictive accuracy of 85%, and among the eleven (11) latent factors used in the study, Value for Money had the strongest influence on CS with the services provided by the CSAU. These findings provide the basics of incorporating machine learning algorithms into real-time client satisfaction analysis dashboards to enable the service providers of the CSAU to identify areas for improvement and the overall satisfaction of clients with the services they provide. This study further contributes to the general world of research on leveraging advanced ML algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve problems in the field of service delivery assessment and client satisfaction.

Keywords: Land Administration Systems (LAS), Client Service Access Unit (CSAU), Client Satisfaction (CS), Classification, Machine Learning (ML) Algorithm

OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES OF THE DISABILITY FUND IN GHANA: THE CASE OF DAFFIAMA-BUSSIE-ISSA DISTRICT

2026-02-15T15:51:42+00:00

The disability fund, sourced from the district assembly common fund, provides social protection for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana. However, the fund's operations are challenging. Although some earlier research explored the challenges associated with implementing the fund, it was not comprehensive, as it did not combine PWDs' views with those of the disability fund Management Committee members. As such, the fund's challenges are explored from the perspectives of beneficiaries and implementers. A qualitative research approach was employed, with a sample of 36 respondents, and data were gathered using an interview guide and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that inefficiencies and irregularities, political interference and corruption, financial inadequacy, poor quality of assistive devices, and transportation as challenges to the disability fund. It was recommended that the current implementation arrangements of the disability fund be reviewed.

Keywords: Social Protection, Social Assistance, Disability Fund, Persons with Disabilities, Challenges