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PurposeDespite several years of its implementation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy of Tullow Ghana has not been able to produce the desired results for host coastal communities in south-western Ghana. This inability has resulted in many community agitations, mistrust and unresolved conflicts between Tullow and the beneficiary communities of its CSR initiative. This paper aims to examine Tullow's CSR programme by juxtaposing the company's annual reports with beneficiary views on CSR need satisfaction in proximate communities to determine the effectiveness of the company's communication strategy and its impact on the performance of the programme.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted using both secondary and primary data. The secondary data comprised CSR reports from Tullow Oil Plc. and reflected the company's attempts at addressing social, environmental and economic issues in its host communities of southwestern Ghana. At the time of this research (February-March 2015), only the 2012 and 2013 CSR reports were available, and so the researchers relied on the two reports for secondary data. These annual reports and other relevant documents were downloaded from the company's website, as advised by officials of the company's CSR programme. The primary data for the research were, however, collected using face-to-face interviews with leaders of the company's host communities, and focus group discussions with a cross-section of ordinary residents of affected communities. In all, 20 community leaders (five chiefs, five stool secretaries and ten youth leaders) were interviewed on the nature and impact of Tullow?s CSR programme on the socio-economic development of host communities.FindingsThe study revealed that although Tullow's reports show considerable CSR success in Ghana, the experiences of fishing communities in the country's western region were largely inconsistent with the company's reports on its CSR interventions for the fisher folks. The study also suggested that an improved community-outreach strategy is required to sanitise the relationship between Tullow and its CSR beneficiaries.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of the study is that there are no current CSR reports of the company. Moreover, researchers would have wished to talk directly to company officials instead of relying on the company's website for reports.Practical implicationsThis study has unearthed a new pathway to improving Tullow Ghana's CSR strategy. Unlike previous studies that have proposed a top-down approach (Ackah-Baidoo, 2012, 2013; Hilson, 2014) or a bottom-up redress (Andrews, 2013) of the conflict between Tullow Ghana and its host communities, these researchers have argued that the conflict between Tullow and its beneficiaries is a communicative one and that mistrust is one of the underlying factors of such community agitations.Social implicationsThe study has pointed out that achieving an effective communication strategy is a shared responsibility between Tullow, the coastal fishing communities and third parties – NGOs, CSOs, and others. Tullow can help pursue this strategy by adopting a more inclusive CSR reporting and education. The current practice of uploading global reports on the company's website is not helpful to the fishing community.Originality/valueThis study is an original piece of work with primary data collected directly from beneficiaries of the company's activities. The study will contribute to CSR practice in Ghana particularly in the extractive sector.

Purpose
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained global prominence in recent years. This is because businesses have seen the need to consider the interests of stakeholders not only to enhance their corporate image but also to live good neighbourly lives with the communities in which they operate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the value of engaging stakeholders and recommend multinational corporations not to take over the governance of countries in which they operate as a result of their financial muscle but to play complementary roles to help in the development of those countries. Although CSR is no longer new in Africa according to recent studies, it is suffering from identity crisis, as it has been used generally and severally to refer to different issues. This conceptual paper discusses the notion of CSR practice in Africa and the major issues and debates around it. It looks at the role of government and civil society organisations that are at the forefront playing watchdog and vigilante roles for the benefit of the society.


Design/methodology/approach
This is a conceptual paper.


Findings
The paper argues that business and society cannot exist without working together and that responsible business is key to sustainable development. It traces the roots of CSR and the emergence of the concept. It advises that what is required in Africa is for the media and civil society organizations to play watchdog and vigilante roles in ensuring that businesses are socially responsible, accountable and transparent. If governments and businesses are transparent and accountable, then the citizens become the greatest beneficiary. The profit margins of businesses will also increase and there will be sustainable development. The paper also indicates that the concept of CSR is gaining grounds in Africa and is no longer new as indicated by previous studies. It recommends that Africa should have its own CSR programmes designed to fit into the African setting. The paper examines the major issues and debates on CSR and concludes that any attempt to introduce uniform laws to ensure responsible business operations universally will not work as situations differ from country to country. The overreliance on corporate entities, particularly Multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporation (TNCs), for the direct development of African economies is not sustainable, as these corporate entities cannot continue to fulfil these obligations meant for the development of infrastructure and still be expected to provide basic amenities for communities under the guise of fulfilling CSR. This process of national development is unsustainable.


Originality/value
The paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach in designing and implementing CSR programmes. The government, civil society, community and the company should collaborate and constantly have stakeholder engagements as that are the only way of attaining a win-win benefit. MNCs and TNCs should see the government and other stakeholders as partners in development and not lord it over them as a result of their financial muscle. It is recommended that more research work be done in CSR education in Africa. This is to enable business operators and communities understand the true meaning of CSR and to know that the concept goes beyond philanthropy or donations. It will also help them understand that the concept goes beyond community relations to include issues such as human rights, child labour, environmental governance and corporate tax among others.

Development agencies often promote decentralization as a solution for poverty reduction and a means of addressing the unique needs of local populations in developing countries. This manuscript examines the District Assembly system's effectiveness in delivering services within the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study employs a mixed-methods approach to illuminate two contrasting perspectives on the local assembly's service provision. On one hand, citizens generally express satisfaction with the delivery of services related to health infrastructure, education, electricity, and water supply. On the other hand, a significant portion of the population is dissatisfied with the local assembly's performance in governance, sanitation, gender-related issues, and addressing vulnerability. Notably, the study also uncovers that despite the intended objective of decentralization to empower local citizens, a degree of central government control and influence undermines its effectiveness. This study presents practical and theoretical implications and identifies avenues for future research in this field.

Executive Summary Drawing on qualitative interviews that are complemented by the analysis of government policy documents, this study examines statelessness in Ghana. It addresses a range of policy, legal, institutional, administrative, and other politico-socioeconomic matters attendant to the concept. The study defines statelessness in its strict legal sense. It recognizes populations at risk of statelessness that may be restricted from benefiting from the protection and privileges of their host state. Persons identified by the study as stateless or at risk of statelessness include persons from traditionally nomadic migratory communities, former refugees, persons residing in border communities, members of Zongo communities, trafficked persons, and those affected by gaps in previous constitutions. The study also identifies the consequences of statelessness, including lack of access to healthcare, education, justice, and work. The study offers several recommendations to prevent and reduce statelessness in Ghana.

Introduction. The Nexus of Business, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development in Africa / Uwafiokun Idemudia, Francis Xavier Tuokuu, Tahiru Azaaviele Liedong -- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development in Africa: A Critical Overview / Uwafiokun Idemudia -- Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights / Raymond A. Atuguba -- Corporate Social Responsibility and Conflicts in Africa / Francois Lenfant -- Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development in Africa: Issues and Prospects / Uwafiokun Idemudia, Francis Xavier Tuokuu, Marcellinus Essah, Emmanuel Graham -- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Taxation in Africa: The Battle for the Ethics of Tax and Responsible Governance / Adaeze Okoye -- Tackling Climate Change in Africa Through Corporate Social Responsibility / Tahiru Azaaviele Liedong, Olushola Emmanuel Ajide, Oluyomi Abayomi Osobajo -- Corporate Social Responsibility and Institutional Strengthening: A RARE Model for Anti-Corruption in Africa / Tahiru Azaaviele Liedong -- CSR and Environmental Sustainability Implementation in Mining: Perspectives from Ghana / Prince Amoah and Gabriel Eweje -- Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Corporate Social Responsibility / Uwem E. Ite.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to contribute to the discourse on livelihood access and challenges of fisherfolks and farmers within coastal communities in Ghana. Insights from such studies can help to create win-win outcomes between communities and oil companies and give the latter social license to operate. Also, it will help to identify the existing knowledge gaps that still need to be filled and contribute to the overall management of Ghana's oil resources. It will further contribute to the government's livelihood diversification programs in oil-producing communities.


Design/methodology/approach
The study employed the use of qualitative research paradigm to collect primary data in oil- and gas-producing communities in the Western Region of Ghana. Specifically, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted among diverse stakeholders.


Findings
Findings from the study show that several people and households along the coast of Ghana's Western Region depend on the fishing industry as their livelihoods. However, fisherfolks are facing several challenges due to oil production. For instance, the quantity of fish harvest has reduced drastically since oil production started in 2010. Farming activities have also been adversely affected. The study has unearthed that the existing social and economic infrastructure are very limited to support the development of the coastal communities in Ghana's Western Region. The study suggests that to deal with some of the challenges faced by coastal communities, livelihood diversification programs should be introduced.


Research limitations/implications
Not every community within the oil and gas areas in the Western Region was covered. Future work will address this limitation.


Practical implications
The study has revealed that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies need to expedite the process of conducting a comprehensive needs assessment of communities and capture them in their medium-term development plans.


Social implications
The corporate social responsibility programs will create win-win outcomes between oil companies and communities.


Originality/value
The study is an original piece of work with data collected from the field. The study will contribute to the efficient management of natural resources in Ghana and other developing countries.

AbstractFossil fuel divestment movements have gained momentum since 2011, aimed at ending fossil fuel use and a move toward a cleaner, affordable, and sustainable energy system, for business and society. The present study investigates the direct impact of fossil fuel divestment announcements on stock prices of firms listed on the United States' stock exchanges. Using an event study and guided by the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs), we test the effects of 116 divestments announcements between 2014 and 2019 on 51 publicly traded fossil fuel companies. Our results suggest that there is a negative effect of these announcements on fossil fuel firm stock prices. Also, we find that the type of fossil fuel firm (coal or oil and gas), the type of divestment (partial, coal only, or full), the timing of the announcement, and the size of the divesting investor have some explanatory power in relation to the (cumulative) abnormal returns following the divestment announcements. While the negative impact on stock prices is not surprising, the reaction from the divested firms after such large divestitures is not consistent with what may be expected, given past reactions to divestitures seeking to achieve different social goals. Given the SDGs, it seems clear why investors are divesting themselves from fossil fuel firms, but why has the reaction to the 116 divestments led to very little change in the way these publicly traded fossil fuel firms do business given their direct and growing impacts on society? We conclude the study with some suggestions for future research.