The impact of corporate social responsibility on community development: Evidence from Ghana

Abstract

Corporate bodies have come to the realisation that establishing a strong rapport with surrounding communities is vital for the growth, success and survival of their organisations. This article delves into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of business organisations operating in Ghana. Specifically, it looks at how CSR initiatives of sampled companies contribute to community development (CD). To attain this aim, both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were adopted. The purposive sampling technique was used to select companies operating in three main sectors of the economy. Secondary data sources such as companies’ periodicals, annual reports, websites, newspapers and publications by government agencies were used. The findings of the study reveal that the selected companies engaged in various forms of CSR activities that contribute to CD. There general focus of these companies is on education, health and people empowerment. It is recommended that stakeholders’ engagement needs to be fully practised in the course of CSR implementation.

Keywords: Community, community development, corporate social responsibility.