BY: ANGELA ADU-ASOMANING AND ALBERTA ASANEWA DWIRAH
Chair of the Coordinating Committee of the Ghana Civil Society Forum, Beauty Emefa Narteh, has urged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to take proactive steps to be sustainable amid a sharp decline in donor funding and external support.
Speaking at the 3rd Ghana Civil Society Forum, Ms. Narteh called on CSOs to regulate their operations, mobilise their own resources, and work collaboratively to overcome funding challenges.
She stressed that the traditional reliance on donor support is no longer sufficient and encouraged organizations to develop innovative and independent funding strategies to sustain their impact.
The Ghana Civil Society Forum is a national platform that brings together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from across the country to engage in dialogue and deliberation on critical national issues, such as good governance, inclusive development and long-term sustainability.
Chair of the Coordinating Committee, Beauty Emefa Narteh, emphasized the need for civil society organizations (CSOs) to shift their focus toward domestic resource mobilization and reduce their reliance on external aid.
Ms. Narteh underscored the need for the passage of the Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO) Bill, describing it as a critical step toward creating a more enabling and secure operating environment for CSOs in Ghana. 鈥淲e have also been able to work on the NPO BILL, which is the Not-for-profit Bill where we think that it is important for us civil society to make input in that bill to ensure that the is bill civil society friendly鈥 She added
Executive Director of STAR-Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, noted that, the Forum operates through four specialized working groups, each playing a vital role in achieving the Forum鈥檚 vision. 鈥淲e have four working groups, that take forward the recommendations in the different areas. We have working groups on civil accountability, one on sustainability, one on effectiveness which looks at value for money. And we are also working across to see how we can sustain these actions.鈥 He assured.
One of the Forum鈥檚 key thematic groups, The Enabling Environment Working Group has stated its position on the proposed Not-for-Profit Organisation bill currently under consideration and their expectations. 鈥淲e call upon law makers, policy makers to commit, to collaborate ensure, inclusive and transparent approach in the financing of the NPO Bill.鈥
Participants at the Forum expressed hope that the gathering would move beyond mere dialogue and result in concrete, collective strategies to rethink civil society financing while actively supporting the passage of the Not-for-profit Bil (NPO bill).
Source link