The Effect of Philanthropic Corporate Social Responsibility on Local CSR Awareness: Examining the Role of Corporate Transparency in Ghana

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to a broad spectrum of an organization's societal responsibilities. Philanthropic CSR initiatives, which go beyond legal and ethical duties, are increasingly seen as critical to improving CSR outcomes. However, the extent to which such initiatives influence local CSR awareness, particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana, and the role of corporate transparency in mediating this relationship leaves a gap in literature. This study used a quantitative research approach to estimate the effect of philanthropic CSR on local CSR awareness among Chinese companies operating in Ghana, with a particular emphasis on the mediating role of corporate transparency. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM) were used to investigate the hypothesized relationships and assess the proposed model's fit. There is a significant positive relationship (β = 0.202, p < 0.001) between philanthropic CSR and local CSR awareness. The relationship between philanthropic CSR and CSR awareness was also found to be mediated by corporate transparency, with a substantial indirect effect (= 0.268, p 0.001). The study concludes that philanthropic corporate social responsibility has a partial mediation effect on local CSR awareness via corporate transparency. The findings provide practical insights for corporations working in emerging economies, emphasizing the significance of improving their stance on corporate transparency in regards to undertaking philanthropic CSR initiatives with an expected outcome of raising local CSR awareness.