Madam Joyce Abdulai, Senior Human Resource Officer at the GIPC, speaking as a panelist at an International Labour Organisation (ILO) high-level corporate national dialogue for the realisation of decent work in Ghana in multinational enterprises (MNEs), said corporate social responsibility must start with the employees.

Madam Abdulai stated that. “CSR is not only philanthropic work. What about your employees? It should be first to the employee before the operational area. Ensure that the employees have good working conditions, among other things needed for them to work effectively.”

She indicated that as part of investing in Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865) and the Technology Transfer Regulations, 1992 (L.I. 1547), require multinational enterprises to present a Technology Transfer Agreement, which ensures that such establishments train Ghanaians to take up positions in the companies.

She said under the agreement, the companies must state how they intend to conduct such training and skill transfer activities.

The senior HR officer reiterated that, under the laws, Ghanaian citizens should be given priority over expatriates with the same qualifications and experience.

Madam Abdulai commended Fan Milk Limited and other companies for ensuring that Ghanaians were part of their management level based on the Technology Transfer Agreement.
She, however, bemoaned the lack of requisite skills and qualifications among the local workforce in some communities, making it difficult for such companies to provide them with the necessary employment.

Answering a question on the information such investors received before setting up in Ghana, she indicated that all the required laws, including the rights of workers, are made available to investors and also posted on the GIPC’s website for their perusal.