Abstract:
This study examined how a mining company in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Newmont Golden
Ridge Limited (NGRL), integrates stakeholder approaches in its CSR to ensure sustainability
of CSR outcomes. A qualitative approach using a single case study of NGRL was adopted. The
study purposively selected thirty five (35) key participants including officials of NGRL,
selected chiefs, selected officials of two regulatory bodies, and community members. The main
instruments for the primary data collection involved face-to-face in-depth interviews,
observations and focus group discussions (FGDs). Both interviews and focus group discussions
revealed that the nature and form of CSR outcomes targeted the tangible and intangible needs
of community members. The study found that NGRL has made a strategic move to heighten
sustainability of CSR by establishing Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAkDeF)
which plans development projects with the communities. The company has adopted three key
strategies comprising involvement, consultation and collaborative processes as its stakeholder
engagement approach to enhance effective maintenance and sustainability of projects.
However, the study observed a number of challenges that beset community engagement in
CSR. These challenges include extreme demand from stakeholders, poor voluntary
participation on the part of stakeholders and high dependency on the company. The study
recommends that NGRL should actively manage the demands and expectations of their
various stakeholder groups. It was also recommended that management should educate
stakeholders on actual issues of corporate mining. Furthermore, we recommend that top
management should involve themselves in the selection of strategic projects as well as the
selection of stakeholder representatives for the communities.
