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Purpose– The aim of this paper is to set a baseline understanding of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) concept amongst the different stakeholders in the mining industry in Ghana and further examine their appreciation of issues of occupational health and safety. It explored the integration of issues of health and safety of employees into the broader CSR agenda through a stakeholder analysis.Design/methodology/approach– The study population comprised various stakeholders operating in the mining industry of Ghana. The purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of the organisations/institutions that participated in the study. In all, 35 people were interviewed, and the interview data were analysed using thematic-content analysis.Findings– The findings provide an insight into how the various stakeholders in the mining industry in Ghana understood the CSR concept and how they went about practising it. Appreciation of issues health and safety by the various stakeholders also received considerable attention. All the stakeholders equated CSR to community relations. In all the cases, respondents referred to the local community as their focal point when discussing the concept.Originality/value– On the basis of this paper, it appears that mining companies in Ghana have looked upon the concept as a strategic challenge and not as a series of high-profile initiatives aimed at ensuring a responsible business practice. This paper adds to the literature by providing a perspective on how CSR associates with health and safety.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to trace the path to achieving the millennium development goals (MDG) in developing countries through the lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organisation health and safety (OHS).Design/methodology/approachThe paper employed discourse analysis of views of participants of the workshop on CSR‐OHS project in Accra, funded by the British Council's Development Partnership in Higher Education (DelPHE). The analysis was shaped by the various theorizations and conceptualisations of CSR and OHS in developed and developing countries, in order to establish any link between CSR‐OHS and the MDG.FindingsThe paper established some linkage between CSR, OHS and the MDG. Although the paper observed divergence in practice between the two concepts of CSR and OHS, Ghanaians viewed OHS as a key competing dimension of CSR. Problem areas were identified with respect to OHS implementation and regulations and standardization proposed for its improvement. The paper calls for the provision of effective and efficient OHS services and the introduction of OHS courses in the curricula of higher educational institutions as a national strategy.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the relevance of OHS in the CSR concept as a tool for achieving the MDGs.

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.

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine the potential impact of the presence of oil resource on the Ghanaian society. Specifically, the paper investigates the relationship between key stakeholders in the oil sector, how stakeholder interactions create the potential for collision and advances measures aimed at turning possible collision into cooperation.


Design/methodology/approach
– The paper uses a literature review-based approach, drawing on existing literature in a number of areas including corporate social responsibility (CSR), oil and gas industry in Ghana and Nigeria as well as communication.


Findings
– The paper advances that expectations of stakeholders as regards oil being a panacea to all their problems must be managed to avoid possible collision. Additionally, Ghana's oil industry must identify and engage all stakeholders in planning suitable and sustainable CSR programmes for economic development, thus fostering a friendly environment for oil companies. Transparency and accountability are also needed to promote cooperation rather than collision among stakeholders in Ghana's oil industry.


Originality/value
– This paper raises and brings to the fore critical issues that can lead to potential collisions in the oil and gas industry in Ghana if not well-managed, and thus an innovative work in that regard.