Local Communities’ Needs and Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr) Payments. A Case Study of Mining Company in Birim North District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Ofori JK

Published on: 2022-08-29

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility has been a subject of debate and of interest in most part of the world as a result of companies operational impacts on communities in which they operate. Over the years mining companies have embarked on specific payments as their corporate social responsibilities to improve conditions of people in their operational areas. In all these, beneficiary community’s plight and needs must be decided in order for payments sustainability to be achieved. The impacts of these CSR payments on beneficiary communities as well as the companies themselves over the years have been diverse.  In recent times there have been some agitations against mining companies by mining affected communities due to mining companies’ failure to fulfil their corporate social responsibility obligations which affects companies’ society- friendly and ethical relationship with the communities. It is on this note that the study sought to look at local communities’ needs and corporate social responsibility payments in Birem North District in the Eastern region of Ghana.  The study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gather the data. Chi square tests and cross tabulation analysis were employed in the data analysis. The study revealed that communities’ ultimate needs include employment, educational health facilities, quality road networks, community library, teachers’ quarters and portable drinking water. Also the ability of CSR payments to address community needs showed that more than half of community respondents believed payments have met communities’ needs to a very small extent.