Abstract:
Mining companies in Ghana receive criticism from inter alia the
media, civil society organizations, Governments and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) for not properly responding to the challenge of
corporate social responsibility (CSR) to compensate for the negative effects of
their activities in host communities. Although some mining companies plan
and prosecute CSR policies and projects to improve their public image and
increase economic opportunities and improve social welfare of people living
in mining communities, these are perceived to be inadequate. This study
examined CSR activities undertaken by Golden Star (Wassa) Limited.
Using a purposive sampling technique, the researcher sampled 100
respondents and used mixed research methods including observations,
administration of questionnaires and conduct of interviews, data on GSWL’s
CSR activities in its catchment communities were gathered and analysed. The
results were discussed and the study findings were arrived at. It was found that
GSWL has CSR policies that shape its social responsibility activities and serve
as workable set of criteria for assessing and benchmarking its CSR
achievement in its catchment communities. GSWL maintains good relations
with the communities it operates in by its CSR activities. However challenges
were found to impede the implementation of CSR policies.
It is recommended that GSWL’s implementation of CSR policies and
projects with the catchment communities should take a wider participatory
approach of involving local associations, chiefs, and opinion heads. CSR
projects should be carried out by GSWL with the local community to promote
collaboration and increase local learning and knowledge transfer.
