By Bright Agamah and Edmond Tetteh
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, says the Ministry’s focus on youth volunteerism is crucial for national development.
According to him, volunteerism fosters social cohesion, promotes active citizenship, and develops valuable skills among young people. He said it is therefore a key component of the Ministry’s strategy to empower youth and promote sports development.
This Minister stated this in an address read on his behalf at the 2024 Ghana Philanthropy Conference in Accra.
The two-day event being spearheaded by Star-Ghana Foundation is looking at volunteerism opportunities to address critical social and national challenges. It assembled NGOs, CSOs, Identifiable Groups and Individuals from across the Country to deliberate on Philanthropy and volunteerism, particularly among the youth.
The Head of Programmes, Star-Ghana Foundation, Eunice Agbenyadzi told reporters that the conference is also examining the need to support citizens, especially the youth, to become active in community development, so that Ghana benefits greatly from informal and formal volunteerism.
“When you see a need, how do you step up and fill it? But even more importantly, to discuss how we collaborate with the government to ensure an environment that, incentivizes people to give”
She added, “If we look at the National Service, it’s one of the formal frameworks or institutions for promoting volunteering.
She commended the National Youth Authority for introducing national volunteerism projects and programmes which encourages all regardless of educational status to volunteer their time to the country’s development.
Madam Agbenyadzi, called for more of such interventions to encourage patriotism among the citizenry, especially the youth.
Former Parish Priest of Christ The King Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, spoke about the transformative power of volunteerism and philanthropy, to make the world a better place. He asked volunteers not to give up, but strive to help others in society, despite challenges.
Father Campbell was concerned about the decreasing willingness of people to make sacrifices for their homeland.
“Our youth today, they want things too easily, instant happiness. They have to be taught to give”
There were plenary sessions, with each focusing on unique perspectives of volunteerism, such as Volunteerism & Social Justice, Youth & Volunteerism, Volunteerism and Research, as well as Volunteerism & Technology.