Frank Annoh-Dompreh calls for institutionalizing CSR in Ghana

Frank Annoh-Dompreh is the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyire in the Eastern Region. He has called for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to be institutionalized through legislation in Ghana.

In Parliament, he stressed the need for a structured CSR policy. This policy would promote sustainable economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship. Mr. Annoh-Dompreh believes CSR should be seen as a strategic necessity, not just philanthropy.

He provided examples from other countries with successful CSR legislation. In India, the Companies Act of 2013 requires significant corporations to spend on CSR. This has improved corporate reputation and social impact.

South Africa’s B-BBEE Act has increased black ownership and job creation. Nigeria’s NCDMB Act mandates local content investment by companies. Kenya’s Companies Act 2015 requires firms to disclose their CSR activities.

Mr. Annoh-Dompreh noted that Ghana has made some progress in CSR, especially in mining. However, there is no comprehensive national CSR policy, leading to a fragmented approach. Currently, CSR engagement in Ghana is mostly voluntary with no mandatory reporting.

Data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines shows that the mining sector spent over GHS 1.4 billion on CSR initiatives in 2020. This was an increase from GHS 1.1 billion in 2019. Despite these investments, many view CSR as discretionary rather than essential governance.

He highlighted that weak enforcement mechanisms hinder effective CSR implementation in Ghana. The Ghana Environmental Protection Agency reported minimal penalties for corporate environmental violations, which do not deter non-compliance.

Mr. Annoh-Dompreh proposed several legislative measures for better CSR practices. These include mandatory reporting and clear benchmarks for companies. He also suggested empowering regulatory bodies and ensuring stakeholder engagement.

He argued that a national CSR policy would align corporate contributions with national development goals. This would foster sustainable development and improve corporate accountability.

In conclusion, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh urged Parliament to act decisively on institutionalizing CSR legislation to enhance corporate responsibility and support Ghana's socio-economic growth.