STAR-Ghana Foundation has renewed calls for volunteerism to be placed at the centre of Ghana’s national development agenda, describing it as a sustainable tool for strengthening governance, community development, and citizen participation.
The national non-profit organisation, which promotes inclusive development through active citizenship and local philanthropy, believes informed, engaged, and empowered citizens can drive meaningful change in governance and public service delivery.
The appeal was made during a two-day programme that brought together civil society organisations (CSOs), volunteers, and other stakeholders to deliberate on volunteerism and strategies to ensure that all voices—particularly those of marginalised groups and communities—are reflected in decisions affecting their lives.
Currently, STAR-Ghana Foundation works directly with 18 CSO partners across 10 regions, who in turn collaborate with community-based organisations. The foundation says it intends to expand its partnerships while deepening grassroots participation.
The programme also marked the culmination of an 18-month volunteerism project implemented in 91 communities across the country.
Executive Director of STAR-Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim Tanko-Amidu, said volunteerism presents a sustainable path for Ghana’s development and should be integrated into national workforce planning.
“Volunteerism offers a sustainable way forward for this country, and we need to make efforts to place it at the centre of the national development workforce, so that it provides a resource—whether we are talking about young people or retired people,” he said. “They are there, and we need to mobilise them.”
Mr Tanko-Amidu noted that volunteerism has long been embedded in Ghanaian culture and community development, adding that the project was designed to mobilise local resources rather than rely solely on external donors.
According to him, funding community initiatives should also involve district assemblies, private sector institutions, and community members through local philanthropy.
Touching on youth participation, he observed that many young people have become disengaged from volunteerism due to unemployment and dissatisfaction with democratic outcomes.
“There are a lot of things around youth disengagement. Most of them are not seeing the dividends of democracy and decentralisation. We have voted over and over, but we are not seeing improvement, so they do not see the point in getting involved or even voting,” he said.
He also pointed to high youth unemployment as a major factor, noting that many young people are focused on job seeking and livelihood creation.
“Our culture does not empower young people, and we are not creating enough opportunities for them to get involved,” he added.
Despite limited funding and a relatively short implementation period, Mr Tanko-Amidu said the project has delivered significant impact by mobilising communities and strengthening participation in health, education, social accountability, and local governance.
Project Officer of the Volunteer Project, Allswell Hooper-Garbrah, encouraged young people to embrace volunteerism and recognise the resources within their communities.
“Throughout the implementation period, we have realised that our support has enabled communities to identify resources. It is not just about financial resources; there are resources in various forms, including group capacities and individual skills. Recognising this is key to community development,” she said.
Program Advisor at NORSAAC, Mohammed Sumaila, also highlighted the positive outcomes of the initiative and called for stronger support to revive volunteerism nationwide.
“I call on stakeholders to come on board to support the culture of volunteerism so that our communities can revive this spirit. Volunteerism is not limited to unskilled people but includes skilled individuals as well,” he said.
The foundation said the initiative has reached 91 communities over 18 months, demonstrating the potential of citizen-led action in advancing inclusive and sustainable development.
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