University of Professional Studies

Purpose: This paper examines how ancestral geography, defined through cultural lineage persistence, historical settlement continuity, mobility structures, and governance quality, shapes contemporary global earnings inequality. The study aims to determine whether inequality is primarily driven by long-standing historical forces rather than only modern economic dynamics. Methodology: The study harmonizes cross-national datasets from seven countries covering the period 2010 to 2024. Data were drawn from the World Inequality Database, United Nations demographic and migration databases, UNESCO cultural records, UN geospatial settlement archives, and the V-Dem governance dataset. Variables were standardized on a 0 to 1 scale. Linear interaction models were employed to estimate the direct and moderating effects of ancestral geography and governance on multiple dimensions of earnings inequality. Results/Analysis: Findings indicate that strong cultural lineage persistence and dense historical settlement continuity are positively associated with wider wage distribution gaps, greater occupational stratification, lower intergenerational mobility, and higher regional income divergence. Mobility, both internal and international, weakens inherited structural disparities. Governance quality moderates the relationship between ancestral structures and inequality by reducing the transmission of historical rigidities into present-day wage differentials. The results confirm that historical identity and spatial persistence exert measurable long-term effects on income distribution. Originality/Value: The study introduces the concept of ancestral geography as an integrated framework combining lineage continuity, settlement systems, mobility patterns, and institutional quality. Unlike prior research that treats these factors separately, this work consolidates them into a unified empirical model to explain global earnings inequality. It extends inequality theory by demonstrating how historical, cultural, and spatial persistence interact with governance to shape contemporary labor market outcomes. Type of paper: Empirical research paper.

Globalization has fostered increased integration across information, finance, and technology sectors worldwide, fuelling economic expansion. However, this interconnectedness has also introduced heightened risks, with money laundering emerging as a critical global issue. While Ghana has set up preventative systems, the actual vigour of enforcement and clarity on the prosecution of offenders remain questionable. The aim of this research is to assess Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and compliance among financial institutions. The study sampled 874 participants from 34 financial institutions in Ghana. Structural Equation Modelling was employed to examine the link between legal enforcement mechanisms and AML compliance, considering organizational capacity and ethical leadership as mediators. It was found that if the AML regulations will succeed in making an impact in the financial sector, then financial institutions must prioritize building organizational capacity, as this variable mediates the relationship between AML regulations and compliance. Interestingly, the study found that ethical leadership did not moderate the relationships between AML regulations, institutional capacity, and compliance. The findings enrich ongoing dialogues surrounding AML compliance and its symbiotic relationship with AML adoption. The findings are instrumental in carving robust AML policy blueprints both for Ghana and its neighbouring regions, offering pivotal guidance to regulatory entities and policymakers in amplifying their AML endeavours.

Abstract The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked a transformative revolution across numerous industries, and the tourism and hospitality sector is no exception. This paper delves into the profound impact of AI on customer experience within tourism and hospitality, aiming to elucidate the extent to which AI technologies have reshaped various facets of customer interactions, service delivery and overall satisfaction within this domain. This study seeks to uncover insights into how AI has revolutionised the customer journey in tourism and hospitality through an exhaustive review of existing literature encompassing peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, white papers and reports published between 2017 and 2024. In the authors’ quest of synthesising key findings, identifying emerging trends and highlighting challenges and opportunities, this review not only provides valuable insights for industry practitioners seeking to adapt to the AI-driven landscape but also serves as a roadmap for researchers and policymakers keen on understanding the implications of AI adoption within the tourism and hospitality industry. From personalised recommendations and AI-driven chatbots to predictive analytics and robotics, the study explores how AI technologies have redefined customer experiences, offering unparalleled innovation and efficiency optimisation opportunities. Through a critical examination of the existing literature, this review sets the stage for future research endeavours, identifying gaps in knowledge and proposing a comprehensive research agenda to further elucidate the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of tourism and hospitality.

The Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, launched in Ghana in 2017, expanded access to secondary education but excluded private SHSs. Such a situation has been raised as a concern in light of equity and inclusivity. This study examines how private SHS leaders experience and respond to the exclusion; the strategies they adopt to sustain inclusivity, and their engagement in the policy process. Using a qualitative case study design, the study interviewed 16 private SHS principals and 4 officials from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES). Thematic analysis showed that private SHS leaders felt marginalized and reported decreases in both enrollment and finances. Nevertheless, the strategies employed by these private SHSs include outreach programmes, scholarships, and curriculum changes to promote inclusivity. Officials from the MoE and GES acknowledged the unintended consequences of exclusion and spoke to some pilot programmes towards cautious integration. The study therefore recommends more formalized PPPs in order to develop equity, sustainability, and co-leadership across the secondary education landscape in Ghana.

Purpose This study explores the lived experiences of women with disabilities who have attained leadership roles in Ghana. This study aims to identify the unique barriers faced by these women and the strategies they employ to navigate a leadership terrain often shaped by cultural, social, and structural inequalities. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative phenomenological research design, the study draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12 women leaders with disabilities affiliated with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD). Thematic analysis was used to extract the core themes from the narratives. Findings The study revealed that women with disabilities encounter intersecting barriers, including gendered ableism, cultural stigma, restricted professional networks and inaccessible work environments. These constraints were reinforced by deeply rooted sociocultural beliefs about disability and leadership. Despite these challenges, the participants demonstrated strategic resilience, relational leadership and strong professional competence. They employed adaptive coping strategies, emotional intelligence and high-performance standards to navigate exclusion, negotiate legitimacy and influence decision-making processes. The findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive leadership development initiatives, accessibility reforms and targeted mentorship programs to support women with disabilities in professional and political leadership positions. Originality/value This paper fills a significant gap in the literature by centring the voices of women with disabilities in leadership, a group often excluded from mainstream leadership and gender equity discourse. It offers a valuable intersectional perspective for scholars, practitioners and policymakers interested in inclusive leadership and social justice.

Purpose Earlier researchers have used slack as a boundary condition to resolve conflicting perspectives in the speed–performance relationship. However, a challenge arises in finding the optimal level of operational slack, creating a “slack paradox”. Too little slack, and a firm loses the benefits; too much, and it wastes resources unnecessarily. This study introduces sustainability control systems as a resolution. This study aims to empirically investigate how sustainability control systems moderate the moderating role of supply chain slack on the relationship between supply chain speed and strategic supply chain performance. Design/methodology/approach The study develops a three-way contingency-based supply chain slack framework, which is then tested using time-lagged data from 355 managers across 5 industries in an emerging economy, leveraging the product indicator method of the PLS-SEM technique of Smart PLS 4.1.1.2. Findings The pressure associated with supply chain speed drives firms to improve strategic supply chain performance (β = 0.395, p = 0.000, t = 5.319). When supply chain slack is high, firms find the buffering capacity that enables simultaneous pursuit of speed and strategic performance and vice versa (β = 0.022, p = 0.010, t = 3.188). Sustainability control systems obtain a negative and significant three-way moderation effect (β = −0.036, p = 0.030, t = 2.309), implying that firms with effective sustainability controls are more capable of efficiently using supply chain slack – minimising waste and potential complacency – to produce strategic supply chain performance as supply chain speed pressures increase. Research limitations/implications Further research should explore how interactive versus diagnostic control systems may be configured to influence the moderating role of supply chain slack in the relationship between supply chain speed and strategic supply chain performance. Practical implications Operations and supply chain managers should avoid fixed slack allocation. Instead, they should develop dynamic slack management approaches based on sustainability control capabilities. For example, Amazon maintains higher inventory slack during peak seasons but only when supported by their sophisticated sustainability tracking systems that prevent waste. Supply chain partners and suppliers should develop collaborative control systems. Universities should teach operations and sustainability as a combined subject. Originality/value This study develops and tests a sophisticated three-way contingency-based framework that resolves the “slack paradox”, showing when and why slack becomes productive. It demonstrates how sustainability and efficiency can work together effectively using sustainability control systems, thereby making a methodological contribution to the operations and supply chain management fields.

This study analyses leadership patterns in Ghana's health and security institutions since 1992, with a particular emphasis on the sex composition of senior positions in the Ghana Health Service, the Armed Forces, and the Police Service. A mixed-methods approach was employed, comprising a qualitative literature review, quantitative analysis of the Ghana Police Service rank hierarchies, assessment of the Military Occupational Physical Assessment Test in relation to Military Occupational Specialties, and content analysis of relevant sections of the Affirmative Action Act (2024). In 2025, women represented 39% of doctors (5,068/12,900), 30% of police officers (12,945/43,968), and 15% of soldiers (2,400/16,000) in Ghana. Leadership in the Ghana Armed Forces remained male-dominated, with fewer than five female Generals among 115 in the forces and only one female Inspector-General of Police since 1992. Statistical analysis of police rank distribution showed a significant association between sex and rank (χ², p < 0.05), indicating persistent disparities in career progression. Findings highlight systemic institutional barriers affecting women's advancement in Ghana's health and security sectors. Targeted institutional reforms aligned with the requirements and merit-based principles of the Affirmative Action Act (2024) are necessary to address the disparities and strengthen equitable representation.

With its rapid development, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant factor influencing contemporary business, with important implications across various organizational domains. By mapping the literature on the impact of AI on modern business, this article seeks to identify relevant studies and classify them according to key areas of application, including business efficiency and innovation, user experience, data analysis and decision-making, as well as issues related to ethics, security, and the risks of AI adoption. The study is based on a systematic approach to reviewing existing literature, applying established scoping review methodologies to identify and select relevant studies and research. We have highlighted certain limitations and gaps in the existing body of research, which could serve as a foundation and starting point for further investigation. Finally, the article presents a set of conclusions and proposes potential directions for future research.