Disclosure and corporate governance in developing countries: evidence from Ghana

Purpose – Following previous studies the paper seeks to use disclosure scores to examine corporate governance practices of Ghanaian listed firms. The study is motivated by the dearth of literature on corporate governance practices in the developing world despite the increasing interests in the topic in both the developed and the developing world. Design/methodology/approach – The data for the analysis are gathered from 22 listed companies on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE representing 95 percent of the Ghanaian market capitalization). The paper also examines the extent to which factors such as ownership structure, dispersion of shareholding, firm size, and leverage influence disclosure practices. Findings – Consistent with findings reported in studies from other developing countries the study finds that the level of disclosure in Ghana is low. Furthermore, ownership structure, dispersion of shareholding, and firm size (measured as total assets and market capitalization) all have significant effect on disclosure. However, the correlation between disclosure and leverage is insignificant. Research limitations/implications – The findings of the research will help policy makers and practitioners in formulating corporate governance policies. However, this research is limited because it focuses on only companies listed on the GSE. The results may therefore not be representative of all companies operating in Ghana. Originality/value – The study is important because of the recent surge in international capital into the developing world (including Ghana) as a result of the ongoing World Bank and IMF led economic reforms. These reforms have emphasized transparency and accountability. There is therefore the need to understand corporate governance practices in these environments.