Research paper

Corporate Governance and Strategic Leadership for Sustainability in Contemporary Corporate Institutions: A Meta-Analysis of Sub-Saharan African Evidence and Multinational Corporate Practice

Contemporary corporate institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) operate in a governance environment of unprecedented complexity, characterised by volatile regulatory landscapes, expanding sustainability mandates, growing investor ESG scrutiny, and the persistent structural tensions between global governance frameworks and local institutional realities. This paper synthesises evidence from three major normative governance frameworks, ISO 37000:2021 (Governance of Organisations), the Institute of Directors in South Africa's King Reports (most recently King V, October 2025), and the Bank of Ghana's Corporate Governance Directive (2018) and Corporate Governance Disclosure Directive (2022), with a systematic meta-analysis of empirical governance research from across Sub-Saharan Africa. It further conducts a detailed comparative analysis of the corporate governance practices of six major corporations operating across Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa: Newmont Corporation, MTN Group, Gold Fields Limited, Dangote Industries Limited, Nestlé S.A., and KFC/Yum Brands. The paper advances an integrated framework for strategic leadership for sustainability, arguing that effective corporate governance in contemporary SSA institutions demands a paradigmatic shift from compliance-oriented board stewardship to purpose-driven, sustainability-embedded strategic leadership. The paper concludes with a set of governance recommendations for corporate boards, regulators, and institutional investors in SSA.

Author

Institute of Sustainability, Governance and Management

Publication date

31 July 2026

Related ISGM program

ISGM Certified Corporate Governance Specialist (ISGM-CCGS)