Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Involvement in Cameroon’s Mining Sector: A Legal Appraisal

Nkumbe Ebong Mekede

doi:10.47814/ijssrr.v9i5.3400

Nkumbe Ebong Mekede Faculty of Laws and Political Science, Department of English Law, University of Douala, Cameroon

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v9i5.3400

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; Stakeholder Involvement; Mining Sector; Mining Code; Cameroon

Abstract

Even though the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been applauded for several decades, the concept of stakeholder involvement is relatively new to the Cameroonian mining law sector especially with respect to solid minerals. This study investigates the CSR process of an extractive company and examines how stakeholders are engaged in CSR. Using purposive and snowball sampling in identifying its respondents, data was gathered through various stakeholder groups and documents such as sustainability annual reports were analyzed. It was discovered that Mines has consistently had a prominent CSR drive in Cameroon for several years and stakeholder involvement in CSR is important for implementing relevant CSR programs in accordance with the Mining Code. Findings of this study contribute to the building of empirical reference which will serve as guidelines for management practitioners dealing with stakeholder relations and CSR in Cameroon’s mining sector. Therefore, it is recommended that the mining sector put immense effort in engaging various stakeholders in their CSR initiatives.

References

1) Adnan, S. M. D. and Van, C. J. (2018), The influence of culture and corporate governance on corporate social responsibility disclosure: A cross country analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, pp. 820–832.
2) Amoako, G. K. (2017), Relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance (CG): The case of some selected companies in Ghana, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 151–174.
3) Bice, S. and Pforr, C. (2017), Putting social license to operate on the map: A social, actuarial and political risk and licensing model (SAP model). Resources Policy, 53, pp. 46–55.
4) Coffie, W. and Musah, A. (2018), Corporate social responsibility disclosures (CSRD), corporate governance and the degree of multinational activities, Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 8(1), pp. 106–123.
5) Brooks, C. and Oikonomou, I. J. (2018), The effects of environmental, social and governance disclosures and performance on firm value: A review of the literature in accounting and finance. The British Accounting Review, 50(1), pp. 1–15.
6) Brueckner, M. and Eabrasu, M. (2018), Pinning down the social license to operate (SLO): The problem of normative complexity. Resources Policy, 59, pp. 217–226.
7) Kucharska, W. and Kowalczyk, R. (2019), How to achieve sustainability?—Employee's point of view on company's culture and CSR practice. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol. 26, No.2, pp. 453–467.
8) Lamb, S. (2017), The evolving role of CSR in international development: Evidence from Canadian extractive companies’ involvement in community health initiatives in low-income countries. The Extractive Industries and Society, 4(3), pp. 614–621.
9) Lee, L. and Chan, K. (2017), Practices of CSR in China and Hong Kong. In Handbook of integrated CSR communication, pp. 317–341. Switzerland: Springer
10) Marfo, E. and Amoako, K. (2017), Corporate social responsibility: Institutional behavior differences in extractive industry Paper presented at the International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa, p.13.
11) Morsing, M. and Schultz, M. (2006), Corporate social responsibility communication: Stakeholder information, response and involvement strategies. Business Ethics: A European review, 15(4), pp. 323–338.
12) Nave, A. and Ferreira, J. (2019), Corporate social responsibility strategies: Past research and future challenges. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 885–901.
13) Nichols, P. M., and Dowden, P. E. (2019), Maximizing stakeholder trust as a tool for controlling corruption. Crime, Law and Social Change, Vol.71, No.2, pp. 171–195.
14) Ofori, D. F. and Debrah, Y. (2014), Corporate social responsibility in sub-Saharan Africa: Hindering and supporting factors. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 5(1), pp. 93–113.
15) Ranängen, H. (2017). Stakeholder management theory meets CSR practice in Swedish mining. Mineral Economics, 30(1), pp. 15–29.
16) Sajjad, A. and Eweje, G. (2014), Corporate social responsibility in Pakistan: Current trends and future directions’, corporate social responsibility and sustainability: Emerging trends in developing economies, Oxford University Press, Oxford, p.89.
17) Sarpong, S. (2017), Corporate social responsibility in Ghana: Issues and concerns, Greenleaf Press, New york pp. 191–205.
18) White, C. L. and Fitzpatrick, K. R. (2018), Corporate perspectives on the role of global public relations in public diplomacy. The Public Relations Journal, 11(4), pp. 313–331.