By Christiana Afua Nyarko
Accra, Oct. 27, GNA – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged Ghana to develop an evidence-based national philanthropy and social investment policy to mobilise domestic resources for sustainable development.
They said the policy should strengthen philanthropy and social investment by addressing regulatory and fiscal conditions, incentives, data, volunteerism, local giving and stakeholder coordination.
Mr Kwami Edem Senanu, a Development Management Expert and Civil Society Leader, made the call at a high-level consultation on Ghana’s National Philanthropy and Social Investment Policy organised by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) in Accra on Tuesday.
He said the initiative stemmed from the 2022 Ghana Giving Summit, themed “Unlocking Local Giving,” which led to the formation of a working group to build broader stakeholder ownership.
Consultations, Mr Senanu.said, have since involved government institutions, faith-based organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders, but the process needed to move beyond discussions to joint policy development and action.
He stressed that the policy should not become “a document sitting somewhere,” but must be locally owned, transparently validated and supported by mechanisms for implementation, monitoring and periodic review.
Ms Jacqueline Asiimwe, Chief Executive Officer of CivSource Africa, a Ugandan CSO said African societies had long practised various forms of giving, although these were often not adequately recognised, documented or measured.
Drawing on Uganda’s experience, she said evidence, research and storytelling were essential to challenging the perception that Africans were not significant givers.
Philanthropy extended beyond monetary donations to include time, labour, volunteering and other forms of community support.
Ms Asiimwe said Ghana’s policy discussions should consider broader governance issues, particularly public trust and corruption, because philanthropy operated within the wider institutional environment.
She also urged stakeholders to explore artificial intelligence and other technologies to strengthen giving, improve evidence gathering and assess the impact of philanthropic interventions.
The consultation, organised as part of Ghana Philanthropy Week 2026, brought together representatives of government, civil society, academia, the private sector, philanthropy and development organisations to discuss an enabling environment for local giving and social investment.
The week is being held under the theme: “Beyond Aid: Financing Ghana’s Future Through Local Philanthropy and Social Investment.”
The consultation is expected to extend engagement to communities, regions and sector networks before the working group and its technical advisers review existing evidence and research to inform the proposed policy framework.
Organisers said the initiative would complement the existing regulatory framework for non-profit organisations by focusing specifically on promoting philanthropy and social investment.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko