Sustainability reporting and corporate performance; exploring the interactive role of stakeholder perception.

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (sustainability) sustainability reporting on corporate performance, focusing on the moderating role of stakeholder perception within the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) secretariats. Guided by stakeholder, legitimacy, and signalling theories, the research explores how sustainability disclosures influence organizational outcomes. A quantitative research design was employed, involving 200 participants, including employees and key stakeholders, drawn from GSS offices across the Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, and statistical analyses, including regression modelling, were applied to assess the relationships among sustainability reporting dimensions, stakeholder perception, and corporate performance. The findings reveal that sustainability reporting significantly enhances corporate performance across environmental, social, and governance dimensions. Additionally, stakeholder perception plays a pivotal role in amplifying these positive effects, as organizations perceived to be genuinely committed to sustainability achieve better operational efficiency, risk management, and reputational standing. The study emphasizes the importance of transparent and meaningful sustainability disclosures in building trust and fostering stakeholder engagement. This research makes a valuable contribution by addressing the limited empirical evidence on sustainability reporting in the public sector of developing economies. It recommends the adoption of robust sustainability reporting frameworks and active stakeholder involvement to sustain performance improvements. Public sector entities like the GSS are encouraged to integrate sustainability reporting principles into their strategic operations to enhance accountability, legitimacy, and stakeholder confidence. This alignment not only strengthens corporate performance but also advances sustainable development goals, ensuring long-term institutional resilience and public trust.