STAR Ghana Foundation has held an engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) on ensuring inclusive access to high-quality, accountable public services for all Ghanaian citizens.
The event forms part of activities to mark Star-Ghana Foundation’s fifth anniversary celebrations themed: ‘5 years of promoting active citizenship and local philanthropy for inclusive development’.
It sought to encourage citizens to see themselves as a source of change, advance democracy, accountability, and social inclusion.
The Foundation transitioned from the 10-year multi-donor funded STAR-Ghana Programme five years to STAR-Ghana Foundation, focused on the strengthening of Parliament and civil society and strengthening the nexus for increased transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in governance at local and national levels.
The Foundation works to strengthen civil society and enable citizens to engage with the state to ensure accountable, transparent and responsive governance at both local and national levels.
It also provides grants and technical support to civil society organizations (CSOs) to build their capacity and deliver greater impact as well create platforms for ordinary people, particularly the most marginalized in society, to become active citizens for positive change.
More than 230 CSOs have benefitted from its activities since 2010, with activities centred on promoting inclusive governance and elections, anti-corruption, media and the right to information, local philanthropy and active citizenship, gender equality, and social inclusion.
Some activities earmarked for the anniversary include: the official launch of the 5th anniversary on Tuesday August 22, 2023 at the Foundation, a mini launch in Tamale in the Northern Region on September 5, 2023, a speaker’s breakfast Forum on September 20, 2023, a stakeholder dialogue, the launch of a volunteerism programme, a soiree and the climax – the annual general meeting.
Speaking at the ceremony in Tamale, Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu said the support of the foundation has helped build the capacity of the Regional Security and Peace Council, promoting peace and tranquility in the region.
Vice Chancellor of University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof Seidu Al-Hasaan, stressed the need for more educated, skilled, well informed and morally sound youth for national development.
“We need to re-organize ourselves as a nation and have confidence that we can do it. We need to be accountable,” he said
On his part, Board Chair for Northern Development Authority (NDA) Dr. Sulemana Abdulai, said the work of the Foundation has helped strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians and other policy makers over the years.
“We should not see the Foundation as a source of funding but as a partner in promoting responsible citizenship for national development,” he said.
Executive Director at Star-Ghana Foundation, Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, said the rationale for the establishment of the Foundation is to help improve the quality of civil society coordination, and its interface with state and non-state actors.
“We also aim to support a vibrant civil society that engages constructively with the government and drives forward a transformative development agenda that will leave nobody behind,” he added.
