The United Nations Global Compact invited GOPAC to participate in their CEO Roundtable on corporate sustainability, 19 February, in Accra, Ghana. The event was hosted by the Ghana chapter of Global Compact and the Ghana Chamber of Mines and brought together over 50 industry leaders from the banking, mining and manufacturing sectors amongst others. The Honourable Emmanuel Kwasi Bandua, Vice Chair of APNAC-Ghana and the Honourable Joseph Osei-Owusu, member of APNAC-Ghana, participated on behalf of GOPAC. Also in attendance were Daniel Batidam, Executive Director of APNAC and Fabrice Fifonsi, Program Officer at the APNAC Secretariat.

The discussion focused on the realities of integrating global standards of corporate sustainability into the Ghanaian economy. The lack of a strong supportive enabling environment was cited as a huge stumbling block to the consistent integration of corporate sustainability frameworks, such as the UNGC, by business in Ghana and across Africa. Participants challenged the widespread business stance that corporate social responsibility is an external cost to core business function. They suggested the need for coordinated efforts, in partnership with well-established Multi-National Enterprises, to raise awareness and build capacity of companies, particularly SMEs, to deliver on their commitments to corporate sustainability through the UN Global Compact.

 The need for African businesses to take their place at the frontline of the discussions about corporate sustainability in Africa is increasingly evident. Country-specific challenges in the business environment across Africa are not often understood by western investors leading to negative misconceptions.  Corporate sustainability platforms such as the UN Global Compact encourage good corporate citizenship, building a stable investor platform and enhancing long term business sustainability in Ghana and across Africa.

GOPAC became an official participant in the United Nations Global Compact in January. The initiative, with over 10,000 participants in 145 countries around the world, is a leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible and sustainable corporate policies and practices. In joining the initiative, participants commit to ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.