Multinationals, Local Capacity Building and Development

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) are everywhere and the perception of their engagement in myriad activities ranges between extremely positive and extremely negative. Based on original comprehensive research, this groundbreaking book examines the impact of Chinese and European MNEs in the African context. Sharing knowledge and insights from the authors’ empirical research, Multinationals, Local Capacity Building and Development uses Ghana as a case study to analyse trends in MNEs and assess the advantages and disadvantages of their involvement.

The book examines the role of MNEs in Ghana’s industrial sector, their management practices and the effects of skill transfer from foreign managers to local workers. The authors explore the impact MNEs are having on the development of local capabilities, the contribution of MNEs to sustainable development goals, and the benefits and drawbacks of foreign direct investment in Ghana. The roles of work and social networks, and the differences between European and Chinese MNEs, all subjects previously unaddressed in the field are exposed in depth.

The insights presented in this book will be of significant interest to policy makers, both public and private sector development practitioners, and students of development, as well as any readers concerned with addressing better engagement with key economic actors on the African continent.

Xiaolan Fu, Department of International Development, Oxford University, UK, George Owusu Essegbey and Godfred Kwasi Frempong, Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPRI), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Accra, Ghana