Corporate governance and financial performance: Evidence from commercial banks in Tanzania

This study looks at mechanisms for improving and stabilising the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania. More specifically, this study aimed to assess corporate governance’s influence on financial performance regarding asset quality, efficiency use of equity, earning ability, capital adequacy, and liquidity. The study included the board aspect of governance and board control, constructs which have not been studied previously in assessing the influence of corporate governance on the performance of commercial banks. Other constructs included are the board’s gender diversity, board size, directors’ shareholding, board control, board members’ over boarding, board activities, and the existence of important board committees. Panel data were collected from published reports of 15 commercial banks covering a period of 17 and employing multiple linear regression analysis to establish causal-effect relationships among the study variables. The findings revealed that corporate governance (board aspects of governance, board members over-boarding) positively influences the financial performance of commercial banks in terms of their earning ability, asset quality, and capital adequacy. Corporate governance also negatively influences the efficient use of equity and liquidity through board gender diversity, board aspects of governance, and board control. The study recommends that corporate governance principles and mechanisms be enhanced to improve the financial performance of commercial banks.