Assessing Perception and Practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Energy Sector Firms in Ghana

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in Ghana are spearheaded by large-scale multi-national companies and have gained momentum in recent years possibly due to the discovery of oil. The goal of this study is to learn more about how energy companies in Ghana view and practise CSR. A mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted for this study. Structured questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data from selected energy companies and inhabitants. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and content analysis were the analytical tools adopted. The findings suggest that CSR was seen as a voluntary activity in the Ghanaian energy supply industry, with enterprises being obliged to work within societal norms rather than regulatory standards in the country. In the lens of the level of CSR practiced by the energy supply company, the findings indicate that the companies do practice CSR but based on their own planned policy objectives with most of the interventions geared towards social interventions like education, provision of potable water for communities, scholarship schemes, and road development. Policymakers will make use of the findings of the research to inform their knowledge in designing policies related to CSR. The outcome will also guide corporate firms in the energy sector to make decisions to either consider stakeholders as vital movers of development in the communities they operate, or they are being a hindrance to their CSR mandate. This study is unique as it extends knowledge on CSR in the energy sector of Ghana.