Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This study aims to examine the effects of board mechanisms (board size, board independence, board gender, board educational background, board tenure, foreign directors on board, board leadership–CEO duality, board sub-committees, frequency of board meetings and CEO power) on the sustainabil...

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Main Authors: Peter Kwarteng, Kingsley Opoku Appiah, Bismark Addai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2023-10-01
Series:Future Business Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-023-00258-5
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author Peter Kwarteng
Kingsley Opoku Appiah
Bismark Addai
author_facet Peter Kwarteng
Kingsley Opoku Appiah
Bismark Addai
author_sort Peter Kwarteng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aims to examine the effects of board mechanisms (board size, board independence, board gender, board educational background, board tenure, foreign directors on board, board leadership–CEO duality, board sub-committees, frequency of board meetings and CEO power) on the sustainability performance (SP) of listed Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) firms during 2010–2019. The study employed a two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique to test the hypothesised relationships among the variables. The results indicate that a positive and significant relationship exists between board tenure and environmental and economic SP. Board size and frequency of board meetings are positively linked with environmental and social SP. Additionally, the number of board sub-committees is positively correlated with social and economic SP. However, the board of directors’ educational background is negatively associated with both social and economic SP. Diversely, board independence, educational background, and frequency of board meetings displayed a positive connection with the combined SP. These results suggest that board mechanisms have a significant influence on sustainability performance. Our findings offer useful insights for companies, regulatory bodies, and varied stakeholder groups in SSA countries to promote the connection between board mechanisms and SP beyond the present frontiers because it suggests thinking around specific board mechanisms that meet the demand for greater accountability for sustainability performance.
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spelling doaj.art-fd64584cea6f49948ced774041e84eba2023-11-26T13:27:07ZengSpringerOpenFuture Business Journal2314-72102023-10-019112410.1186/s43093-023-00258-5Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan AfricaPeter Kwarteng0Kingsley Opoku Appiah1Bismark AddaiDepartment of Secretaryship and Management Studies, Sunyani Technical UniversityDepartment of Accounting and Finance, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyAbstract This study aims to examine the effects of board mechanisms (board size, board independence, board gender, board educational background, board tenure, foreign directors on board, board leadership–CEO duality, board sub-committees, frequency of board meetings and CEO power) on the sustainability performance (SP) of listed Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) firms during 2010–2019. The study employed a two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique to test the hypothesised relationships among the variables. The results indicate that a positive and significant relationship exists between board tenure and environmental and economic SP. Board size and frequency of board meetings are positively linked with environmental and social SP. Additionally, the number of board sub-committees is positively correlated with social and economic SP. However, the board of directors’ educational background is negatively associated with both social and economic SP. Diversely, board independence, educational background, and frequency of board meetings displayed a positive connection with the combined SP. These results suggest that board mechanisms have a significant influence on sustainability performance. Our findings offer useful insights for companies, regulatory bodies, and varied stakeholder groups in SSA countries to promote the connection between board mechanisms and SP beyond the present frontiers because it suggests thinking around specific board mechanisms that meet the demand for greater accountability for sustainability performance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-023-00258-5Board mechanismsSustainability performanceSub-Saharan AfricaTriple bottom lineCorporate governance
spellingShingle Peter Kwarteng
Kingsley Opoku Appiah
Bismark Addai
Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
Future Business Journal
Board mechanisms
Sustainability performance
Sub-Saharan Africa
Triple bottom line
Corporate governance
title Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_short Influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort influence of board mechanisms on sustainability performance for listed firms in sub saharan africa
topic Board mechanisms
Sustainability performance
Sub-Saharan Africa
Triple bottom line
Corporate governance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-023-00258-5
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AT bismarkaddai influenceofboardmechanismsonsustainabilityperformanceforlistedfirmsinsubsaharanafrica