The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh says the submission of a Private Member’s motion before parliament to streamline Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Ghana is a much-awaited venture.

According to the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, the absence of such a legal framework “consciously dedicated” for the enforcement of CSR in Ghana has been detrimental to the development of the country.

He said, “It, therefore, has become like a knee-jerk reaction. When the community people complain then the companies come and drop anything in their pan and I do not think that is the way to go.”

The MP explained that the new bill would order CSRs in the country and ensure that companies contribute their quotas to the development of the country in a rather structured manner, other than the reactionary and haphazard manner they are used to.

“We should have a well-defined legal framework which will be monitored by an institution to ensure we generate the necessary help from these corporate bodies,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh said.

“Again, giving back to the country should not be at the discretion of these companies. Why is it that a company goes to build a two-bedroom house for a whole community and they feel they have executed on corporate social responsibility?” he added.

Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri further revealed that the drawing of the bill was done in collaboration with Ghana’s corporate sector and thus expects compliance to the bill when it is finally passed into law.

He further stated that the bill is coming at a very appropriate time as the country has started to receive a lot more attention from the Global North.

The Majority Chief Whip explained that the enactment of the CSR legal framework would position the country to rake in the needed benefits from this renewed interest from the Global North.

“What it tells me is that we on the continent must also position ourselves to be able to buy into this dramatic show of interest in Africa,” the MP stated.

The Corporate Social Responsibility bill is a bipartisan motion being initiated by members of Parliament to ensure cogent, equitable, and sustainable national development.