Day two, afternoon session

Day Two. Afternoon Session – Panel Presentations from Private Corporations / Businesses and NGOs/CSO collaboration: opportunities and challenges

Goal: To obtain perspectives on corporate social responsibility, explore avenues for collaboration between NGOs and the private sector

Venue: OICI Conference Room, East Legon

Panelists: Carla Denizard (OICI); Abdulai Darimani (Third World Network); Cecilia Dei-Annang (Nestle Ghana Limited)

Moderator: Mr. Wilson Atta Kroffah – Private Enterprise Foundation

The presentation by OICI gave an overview of OICI’s mission and work through out the world, then focusing on its work in Ghana, particularly the mining sector and OICI’s role and work with a number of mining companies in ensuring Corporate Social Responsibility. The companies include, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd and AnlgoGold Ashanti Ltd. The presentation concluded with an outline of results and impacts achieved in 2005. Some of which included a $2.5 million dollar investment by mining companies in OICI community development programs in Ghana; over 10,000 mine impacted people’s quality of life and economic opportunities improved and Newmont, the largest gold mining company in the world espouses Global Sullivan Principles.

The presentation by Nestle gave an overview of its origin and establishment in Ghana, its mission and works through out the world. As an organization, Nestle is focusing only on the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th points of the Millennium Development Goals.

Its presentation touched on its participation in the eradication of child labour and the campaign against child labour. Nestle voiced out that it is a recognized participant of the protection of children from economic exploitation and the child labour support programmes which have appropriately adapted to local conditions

The presentations from Third World Network also touched on various perspectives of Corporate Social Responsibility such as the social, environmental, and corporate governance. Possible areas for co-orporation with NGOs and CSOs were highlighted such as employee relationships, Customer relations, community relations, health related issues and environmental assessments.

Questions / Comments / Clarifications

Private Sector is misleading us into thinking that they are doing us a favour through CSR. The fact that they pay their taxes and still have money for CSR shows they have exploited cheap labour in Africa. Additionally, by pursuing CSR, they have intentionally avoided numbers 1,2,7 and 8 of MDG
The co-operation between CSOs and corporate bodies should have been initiated long ago
Private bodies seem to be biased in their partnerships. They seem to be more willing to work with International NGOs vis-à-vis local NGOs

Panellists responded by noting that most local NGOs bring their proposals at a time coporate bodies have already budgeted for the year. Also there is the issue if local NGOs not meeting minimum standards to qualify for support and collaboration.

Contents