By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, April 12, GNA – The third edition of the Northern Ghana Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Forum has been held bringing together stakeholders to strategise on mutual partnerships for sustainable development.
The forum, held under the theme: “Enhancing Coordination and Mutual Accountability in Northern Ghana,” sought to strengthen coordination amongst CSOs to ensure effective development interventions in the regions.
It was led by STAR Ghana Foundation and attracted representatives from prominent CSOs including Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), Oxfam in Ghana, ActionAid Ghana, Norsaac, Sung Foundation, School for Life amongst others.
Since its inception in 2021, the Northern Ghana CSOs Forum has provided a unique platform for CSOs to share experiences, discuss challenges, and chart a path toward inclusivity and strategic partnerships that promote sustainable development.
This year’s edition focused on enhancing effective coordination and partnerships, especially given dwindling funding support for CSOs.
Alhaji Osman Abdel-Rahman, Executive Director of GDCA and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Forum, speaking during the forum in Tamale on Thursday, said it was to analyse the implications of the shrinking funding landscape in Northern Ghana and identify innovative strategies for securing alternative funding sources.
He said the forum would also foster stronger engagements between CSOs and state institutions such as the Northern Development Authority and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council especially around the Northern Ghana Development Summit as a sustainable framework for mutual accountability and advocacy.
He added that the forum also sought to gather collective CSO perspectives to influence the ongoing constitutional review process.
He emphasised that “We are hopeful that by the end of this forum, we will have elected delegates for the Governing Body of the Ghana Civil Society Forum, who will monitor the implementation of government policies and programmes.”
Mr Frederick Nuuri-Teg, Northern Ghana Projects Manager, STAR Ghana Foundation said although many CSOs operated in Northern Ghana, their interventions often lacked coordination leading to mismatches in development outcomes.
He said the forum was meant to address such gaps and help maximise the impact of CSOs in local communities.
Mr Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, Country Director, Oxfam in Ghana touched on the importance of partnership saying, “For decades, well-meaning interventions have been implemented in the north, from government programmes to donor-funded initiatives, from NGOs to private sector ventures, but too often these efforts operate in silos.”
He said many of those projects suffered from weak monitoring and evaluation systems resulting in fragmented and duplicated efforts within communities.
He said “We must resist the temptation of short-term wins. True sustainable development requires patience, persistence, and participation. It calls for systemic change, not just service delivery. We must strive to build resilient institutions and empowered communities.”
Alhaji Mohammed Awal Alhassan, Executive Director of Norsaac, speaking on innovative funding strategies, said “The days of working in silos are over. We must build partnerships and collaborate to create greater impact in our communities.”
Hajia Fati Seidu Tambro, Executive Director, Sung Foundation commended STAR Ghana Foundation for convening the forum and expressed optimism that its outcome would result in effective implementation of CSOs’ interventions in Northern Ghana.
GNA
EA/LAA