Accra, July 30, GNA - Kasapa Telecom Limited on Thursday signed onto the Ghana Business Code (GHBC) becoming the only telecommunication service provider to do so since the set of rules to guide ethical business practice and corporate social responsibility was introduced some three years ago.

Kasapa Limited has thus become the 151st company which had so far signed onto the code.

The Ghana Business Code, formulated on the basis of United Nations Global Compact, seeks to set standards for the conduct of business in the country based on international best practices. The Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ghana Employers Association came out with the guidelines to ensure that companies do not only live by profits but are also alive to their social and environmental responsibilities. Mr Ben Oduro, Manager Ghana Business Code, said ethical business practice had become key global business and Ghanaian companies could not afford to exempt themselves from it.

He said the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility practice had also moved beyond the show of philanthropy and community investment initiatives to encompass responsibility within organizations themselves in respect of human rights, good labour practices, care for the environment and anti corruption practices.

While lauding Kasapa for signing onto the code, Mr Oduro said attention must be paid to the implementation of the tenets within the organization.

"Your business might not necessarily be compliant on all fronts but what is important is to continue to improve on your compliance and eventually attain full compliance," he said.

He urged companies, which had not yet signed onto the code, to do so to improve the culture of doing business in the country. Mr Robert Palitz, Managing Director of Kasapa, said the tenets of the code were in line with the company's goals hence the decision to sign so that an external body can help to keep us doing things the way it should be done.

He said the management of the company had developed and maintained good relationship with staff and customers. Attention is also being paid to environmental issues, resulting in the company acquiring radiation measurement equipment to measure and confirm radiation exposure near towers.

Mr Palitz said radiation near towers is kept far below limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr Nat Quarcoopome, Director Finance and Administration, AGI said adherence to ethical standards and corporate governance so far had been limited to a few large companies and called for assistance to enable small businesses to adopt acceptable business practices.