Evaluation of recruitment methods in rural banking sector in Ghana. (a focus on Kumawuman rural bank limited)

Abstract

Recruitment, as a human resource management function, is one of the activities that have the greatest impact on the performance of an organization. While it is understood generally that poor recruitment practices can retard organizational performance and stifle goal achievement, many organizations are yet to take pragmatic steps to evaluate their recruitments methods with the view to identify and implement new, effective hiring strategies. This study had the following objectives: to identify and evaluate the recruitment methods of Rural banking sector of Ghana focusing on Kumawuman Rural Bank Limited, and to offer recommendations to improve recruitments methods of the bank. To achieve these goals a questionnaire were designed based on the objectives. The questionnaire was personally delivered to Eighty (80) respondents drawn from the selected branches of the bank, namely, Amakom Branch, Bomso Branch, Asafo Branch, Alabar Branch and Tafo Branch. The completed questionnaires were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) system. The findings indicated that the banks used several recruitment methods to attract potential job seekers for employment. The popular recruiting strategies identified included job advertisement, walk-in applicants, employee referrals, specialized recruitment firms and educational institutes. The methods were evaluated relative to the quantity and quality of applicants, cost effectiveness, time consideration, retention, return on investment and compliance with regulations. The findings further highlighted the issues of poaching and the Ghanaian “whom you know” syndrome which has become the major barrier to effective recruitment in the banks. The study concluded that e-recruitments and multiple sourcing strategies hold the key to effective recruitment in Rural Banking Sector.