Developing A Framework For Communicating Sustainability: A Study Of The Ghanaian Extractive Sector

Abstract

Ghana’s extractive sector, comprising mining and oil/gas, contributes significantly to national GDP but faces persistent environmental and social challenges requiring effective sustainability communication. Despite the adoption of global frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), major communication gaps remain, shaped by technical limitations, cultural disconnects, and the exclusion of local voices. This study explored how practitioners conceptualise and implement sustainability communication, identified gaps, and examined evaluation practices. Using a qualitative approach, 20 experts, including sustainability managers, CSR directors, consultants, and public affairs officers from multinational and local companies, were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed four core patterns: (i) communication is dominated by compliance, with effectiveness defined by regulatory reporting rather than dialogue; (ii) stakeholder engagement is fragmented and largely crisis-driven; (iii) cultural and linguistic barriers undermine connection with communities that prefer oral and participatory forms of engagement; and (iv) evaluation systems are weak, with little structured learning. The study proposes a Participatory Sustainability Communication Framework, integrating five dimensions: strategic purpose, stakeholder mapping, culturally responsive messaging, dialogic engagement, and evaluation. The framework addresses systemic gaps by embedding cultural responsiveness and accountability, offering a developmental pathway toward credibility, inclusivity, and trust.