International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies

Number I-II, 2014

26-36
Socio-Economic Determinants of Small and Medium Enterprises’ (Smes) Access to Credit from the Barclays Bank in Tamale-Ghana

Authors: Fatawu Alhassan & Ahmed Sakara

Abstract

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A review of the literature dealing with financing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) indicates there is a significant gap in knowledge of the determinants of access to finance by the SMEs in Ghana. Therefore, this study examined the socio-economic factors that determine access to bank finance by SMEs in Tamale, Ghana. The population for the study was members of the Association of Small Scale Industries (ASSI), the branch Manager and credit officer of the Barclays bank Tamale, the Regional Manager and Accountant of National Board for Small Scale Industries and a Project Officer of macrofinance and small loan centre (MASLOC) .The results indicated that, the number of employees, experience in credit use, number of fixed assets possessed, attitude towards risk, business size, form of business and sector of business in the economy are the critical success factors in accessing bank finance. The study also identified Management expertise, high default rate and monitoring as the challenges banks faced in giving credit to SMEs. In terms of policy, the findings of this study will provide banks, training institutions and policy makers with new insights on investigation of loan evaluation process, tailoring new training programmes for entrepreneurs and developing relationships with business associations. Key words: Enterprises, Small-scale, Medium-scale, Tamale, Barclays Bank and Entrepreneurs

37-41
Home as the Site of Violence: Social and Judicial Ambience and the Role of Curriculum

Authors: Mousumi Chowdhury

Abstract

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Number of views: 1534

Oppression of a woman in the very sanctuary of her own home was under theorized until feminists addressed it. The wider intellectual sphere also consciously evaded the issue. In spite of its wide prevalence, it remained largely invisible in public domain because of its insidious nature. Domestic Violence dates back to the establishment of family system. Our epics cite innumerable cases of the same. In the independent nation state also home remains the principal site of violence. In 2005 the Government of India framed an act entitled The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence. But the gesture remains a specious one, for; it’s repressive state Apparatuses (like army and police) and ‘ideological State Apparatuses’ (like school, the church, the family and media) assist in the reproduction of the dominant patriarchal system. The paper investigates how curriculum may help to get rid of this malady. Key Words: Repressive state apparatus, ideological state apparatus, social anxiety disorder, self accusation syndrome, divide and rule.