Okyenehene supports CSR Foundation Ghana

Okyenehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has pledged to support the CSR Foundation Ghana (CSRFG) to promote the conservation of the environment and  sustain corporate social responsibility activities in the country.

This came to light when the foundation officially visited him at his palace in Accra to introduce themselves and the rationale behind the formation  of the foundation and to formally invite him to chair the CSRFG maiden annual national CSR conference to be held in November and December this year.

Okyenehene, with pleasure expressed interest in supporting the foundation to protect the environment and hold corporate individuals accountable for their activities in the country.

Osagyefuo Amoatia, who is an environmentalist complained, with passion about the way politicians personalised  developmental policies which was the key contributing factor to underdevelopment in the country.

Ms Fauziatu Adam, Programmes officer, CSRFG introducing herself to Okyenehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin

Ms Fauziatu Adam in a handshake with Okyenehene

Members of CSRFG in a photograph with Okyenehene

He called on the government to decentralize public and socio economic activities to other regional capitals to decongest the capital city and help in the economic wealth of the other regions to accelerate the total development of the country. 

Osagyeufo Ofori Panin further stated that the recent floods that hit the nation's capital and parts of the country should not be described as a natural disaster but a man-made disaster created by numb public and government officials.
"It was now time individuals took responsibility in conserving their environment  and put in place the right structures to taking care of the community and the people as a whole," he added.

Okyenehene expressed his interest in the foundation and promised that his office would be readily available to promote CSR initiatives in the country.

Briefing the Okyenehene, Mr Joseph Emmanuel Allotey -Pappoe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation who led the delegation stressed the need for a partnership  of  business, civil society and government for the country to deepen the CSR culture and reap its full benefits.

"It was for this reason that the CSRFG had been set up with a vision  to create a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate  citizens and individuals which would be pursued through advocacy, training, conferences, awards, research, publications and advisory services," he stated. 

Explaining more about the conference, Mr Allotey-Pappoe said that, it was aimed at initiating a platform for national deliberation on CSR in Ghana and to adopt the communiqués at the end of the conference to encourage action from government, corporate organisations, civil society organisations, communities and society to form partnerships for the sustainable development in the country.

" CSR Foundation Ghana’s Annual National CSR Conference is one of the vehicles to be used by the Foundation to initiate and promote deliberations on responsible corporate behaviour and to create a society of CSR committed and compliant corporate citizens and individuals in Ghana" he added.

He added that the first day of the conference would strategically focus on Ghana and the facilitators and presenters have been chosen from experts in the area of CSR in the country.

"The Speakers include Dr. Joyce Aryee, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines, Mr. Kweku Rockson ,a former acting rector of Ghana Institute of Journalism and a researcher in CSR and Professor Robert Hinson, Head of Marketing Department, University of Ghana Business School, both Board Members of CSR Foundation Ghana" he noted.

"Other speakers include, Mr. Kwamena Anaman, former corporate affairs director of Ashanti Goldfields Company, Mr. Bishop Akolgo Executive Director of Integrated Social Development Center, (ISODEC)", he said. 

"Some of the topics to be discussed are 'Corporate Social Responsibility: A Key Component for Sustainable Development through Partnership', 'Corporate Social Responsibility A Historical Overview', 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Legislation and the Role of Government', 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Voluntary Action and the Role of Corporations - The Corporate Credibility implications', 'The Role of Civil Society Organisations in the CSR Partnership Sustainable development', 'The scientific approach to ranking CSR Performance in Ghana-The CSR Foundation Ghana Methodology', he noted.

He added that the conference was expected to attract CEO’s and Corporate Affairs Directors from Ghana and beyond and will help deepen CSR practice, share knowledge as well provide critical information on global perspectives on CSR.

AGI TO PARTNER CSR FOUNDATION GHANA

CSR Foundation Ghana (CSRFG) and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)have agreed in principle to form a partnership to promote corporate social responsibility in Ghana.

Chairman of CSR Foundation Ghana, Mr Allotey-Pappoe presenting a copy of the CSR WAtch Magazine to Mr Seth Twum, Executive Director of AGI 

This is the outcome of discussions at a courtesy call by the board of trustees of CSRFG on the management of the AGI in Accra.

Briefing the executives of AGI, Mr Joseph Emmanuel Allotey Pappoe, chairman of the board of trustees of the foundation who led the delegation stressed the need for a partnership  of  business, civil society and government for the country to deepen the CSR culture and reap its full benefits.

 He said time has come for business to embrace CSR, not as a policy of tokenism and volunteerism, but as a business philosophy and a planned, systematic and ethical corporate behaviour that meets statutory and regulatory requirements beyond an organisation's mission statement , noting that it should also satisfy the needs of all stakeholders and social imperatives in a transparent and sustainable manner for development.

He stated that it is for this reason that the CSRFG has been set up with a vision  to create a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate  citizens and individuals which would be pursued through advocacy, training, conferences, awards, research, publications and advisory services.

Mr. Allotey-Pappoe revealed that in addition to the publication by the Foundation of the maiden issue of CSR Watch magazine last month, the Foundation would shortly advertise the first annual national CSR conference to be held in Ghana at the end of November this year adding that he would look forward to  AG's massive participation.  

In his response,  Mr. Seth Twum Akwaboah,  Executive Director of AGI expressed the Association's appreciation for the visit, noting that the Council of AGI, after considering the profile of the Foundation and its plans, was sure that the Foundation had a mission worth supporting. He accordingly pledged the Association's support for the Foundation's projects and programmes.  

Mr. Allotey-Pappoe presented copies of the CSR Watch magazine to the AGI.