Bolgatanga, Ghana – The STAR Ghana Foundation (SGF), a prominent Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) dedicated to fostering active citizens for change, has introduced a comprehensive strategy to stimulate local philanthropy, with the aim of contributing to transformative national development.
This new local philanthropy strategy, envisioned as a five-year medium-term plan, is built upon four fundamental pillars: promoting local philanthropy, developing philanthropic infrastructure, fostering partnerships and coordination, and establishing an ecosystem to enhance capacity building.
The primary objective of this strategy is to enhance coordination among philanthropic stakeholders to harness their collective efforts for the advancement of local philanthropy, creating a platform where local citizens can pool their resources for the common good.
During a validation workshop held in Bolgatanga to introduce the strategy to various NGOs, Ms Eunice Agbenyadzi, the Head of Programmes at SGF, highlighted the limited presence of formal strategies geared towards encouraging local philanthropists to contribute to national development.
She pointed out that the heavy reliance on international donors by NGOs often left them vulnerable to uncertainties when donor priorities shifted. Therefore, it has become imperative to establish mechanisms for mobilising funds locally.
SGF, as the national hub for active citizenship and philanthropy, is committed to ensuring inclusive access to high-quality and accountable public services for all Ghanaian citizens.
Mr. Alhassan Issahaku, the Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, stressed the pivotal role of local philanthropy in fostering well-informed and vibrant social activism.
He urged NGOs to actively support and promote the strategy, emphasising the importance of sustainability in local philanthropy to reduce overdependence on international donors.
Participants at the workshop, including Ms Yakubu Hamdiatu, a communication officer for Youth Empowerment for Life (YEFL) Ghana, recognised the significance of the SGF's strategy in guiding philanthropic activities in the country.
They viewed this strategy as a valuable document that would shape the philanthropic landscape in Ghana and expressed their commitment to contributing to its implementation to enhance the expected development outcomes.