Abstract:
This study explores the effect of social medial usage on employees’ performance at
Ghana Cocoa Board, Kumasi branch. The quantitative study involving questionnaire
survey of 300 employees of the board selected by census, found that all the staff are using
more than one social media platform. Facebook and WhatsApp are used quite extensively
by all the staff at the station while Instagram is used by about 68% of the workers. The
other social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Snap Chat are less
popular among the staff. The performance level of the staff with regards to accurate
counting of stocks, proper stacking, accurate data entering and report, filling accuracy,
timely delivery on task, and accurate performance of other job related activities was
generally above average, however, the most popular social media platform among the
staff (Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram) were found to be having significant negative
effect on staff performance. It is highly recommended that COCOBOD takes measures
to maximize the positive potentials of social media while eliminating or reducing its
negative effects on employees’ performance.
