By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, UDS, Professor Seidu Alhassan, has touted STAR Ghana Foundation for its role in promoting good governance and active participation in shaping issues of public discourse over the years.
He has therefore urged the foundation not to relent on its effort at renewing commitments towards tackling the evolving socio-economic concerns that affect the Government’s social agenda.
Prof. Seidu said this at the launch of activities to mark STAR -Ghana Foundation’s 5th anniversary celebration in Tamale.
The launch was on the theme, “5 Years of Promoting Active Citizenship and Local Philanthropy for Inclusive Development”.
STAR-Ghana Foundation, a national centre for active citizenship and philanthropy, was registered as an independent Ghanaian civil society organisation (CSO) in November 2018.
The Foundation transitioned from the 10-year multi-donor funded STAR-Ghana Programme, which focused on the strengthening of Parliament and civil society and strengthening the nexus between them for increased transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in governance at local and national levels. STAR-Ghana Foundation’s Mission is to increase the effectiveness of citizen influence for change that advances democracy, accountability, and social inclusion, building on the results, networks and lessons learned of the STAR-Ghana programme.
The rationale for the establishment of the Foundation lay in the need for a mechanism to help improve the quality of civil society coordination, and its interface with state and non-state actors and the strengthening of the sustainability and effectiveness of the civil society sector. The Foundation will be five years old in November 2023.
While five years is a relatively short period of time, in the wider scheme of things, surviving and thriving against the challenges of its inception and a difficult external context makes this a significant milestone.
The significance of the milestone also lies in the lessons the Foundation’s journey holds for the strengthening and sustainability of the civil society sector in Ghana in particular, and Africa in general given that its transition is the first of its kind in Ghana and the 3rd in Anglophone Africa.
Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, UDS, Professor Seidu Alhassan, in his keynote address said active participation goes hand in hand with sustainable development and in order to achieve an active role, the voice of the people must be heard. Prof Seidu further indicated that stakeholders need to note that the voice of the people enjoins them to take strategies that will address vulnerabilities of its people, organization of resources and law and order, innovation, communication and development with morality. He urged Star-Ghana Foundation to continue to offer support systems to civil society organisations, CSOs, to bring societal development.
Executive Director of Star-Ghana Foundation, Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim Tanko, said the journey has not been easy for the past 5 years and commended the board and staff of the foundation for their commitment in achieving massive results. He said the foundation stood steadily as a mechanism for local governance and Inclusive development.
Board Chair of Northern Development Authority, NDA, Dr. Sulemana Abdullah, who is also Star-Ghana Foundation’s subscriber, commended the foundation and its partners for devoting time and resources to empower CSOs and state actors to strengthen capacity towards formulating the right policies to benefit society.
He said Star-Ghana Foundation’s programmes and activities have gone a long way to making the government responsible, accountable, transparent and inclusive of national discourse.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, recalled several periodic activities organised by STAR -Ghana Foundation that brought regional ministers of the 5 regions of the North, Peace Council, RCCs and REGSEC together to discuss crucial and critical issues concerning Northern Ghana.
He said several activities spearheaded by the foundation have impacted positively on good governance, social protection, gender and security.
Activities marking STAR-Ghana Foundation’s 5th Anniversary include Studio appearance sessions, mini launch in Tamale, Speaker’s Breakfast Forum on September 20, 2023, Stakeholder dialogue, launch of a volunteerism programme, soiree and climax of its Annual General Meeting.