Corporate firms and institutions have been called upon to ensure that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities are integral and core in their operations but not a one off event or activity.
The call was made at the 7th Conference for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) held in Accra.
The resource personnel at the conference collectively agreed that, CSR needs to be embedded in the very fabric of every organization.
The conference which was a day event focused on harnessing local partnership among stakeholder, for CSR and Sustainability projects and causes.
And brought together major stakeholders in the CSR spectrum including academia, business associations, private sector, regulatory agencies, civil society and the media.
The 7th CSR Conference reinforces and aligns with the seventeenth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): Partnership for the Goals.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Mrs Jemima Nunoo, a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) indicated that, CSR needs to be integrated into the overall business strategy, with a clear vision, goals, metrics and strong executive sponsorship.
Adding that, critical internal stakeholders such as management and employees should be made to understand the position of the business in the areas of responsibility and sustainability.
Dr Numoo also reiterated how companies could reap many benefits including positive brand, sales boost and good business reputation from engaging in an impactful CRS.
“When a company has a good reputation, it improves sales, attracts talented and best human resource to work towards the growth of the company,” she noted.
On his part, the Co-Founder and Lead Proje t Manager for the Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) West Africa , Mr Kojo Williams pointed out that, there is a global reduction in the level of support for non-governmental organisations and that there is the need to look inward and harness the local power of partnership.
“Some players in the local private sector are living up to their expectations in devising and implementing projects that benefit society, other players in the CSR spectrum could tap into these existing projects and enhance the value for humanity and society as a whole,’ he said.
Mr Solomon TesfaMariam, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana addin up to his colleagues statements, revealed that, his organisation have initiated developmental projects aimed at improving the lives of people, especially children and the girl-child, across the country.
“By extension, family units and communities are benefitting from the Economic Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Health and Education projects being implemented by Plan International,” he acknowledged.
For him, the Accra Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo urged the government to guarantee incentive packages for organisations, to enable them to support communities.
Therefore used the ocassion to call for more education of basic schools on CSR to enlighten the students on the need to give back to societies when they find themselves in the corporate world of work.
“The AGI in its efforts would continue to support CRS and sustainability in the country’ he concluded.
Source: Ishmael Barfi
