Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Programme Manager of STAR-Ghana has stated that Ghana is at a critical stage as the country is about to experience significant cut down in donor support.
He cited Ghana’s attainment of a middle income status and the world economic meltdown as major reasons why most of the “big time players in the donor community” would either withdraw their support completely or cut down their support by 50 per cent.
Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko, who stated this during an interaction with the media in Wa, said the country must start exploring possible ways of funding its own organizations to overcome the situation.
The STAR-Ghana Programme Manager suggested the establishment of a National Endowment Fund where all Ghanaians would contribute into, to finance Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to enable it to continue with the good work of empowering rural communities.
He however underscored the need for CSOs to develop the attitude of being more accountable to their people rather than their donors, as had always being the case.
This, according to him would erase the perception that CSOs were serving more of their interests than the needs of the rural poor communities.
Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko noted that to date, STAR-Ghana had committed approximately 36 million dollars to support projects targeted at promoting responsiveness and accountability in the country.
Over 150 civil society projects are being funded in the programme’s priority areas of health, education, oil and gas, access to justice and democratic governance.
STAR-Ghana is also supporting the Parliament of Ghana to enhance its capacity to fulfil its mandate, particularly, the exercise of its oversight role.
Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko again disclosed that STAR-Ghana supported 24 media organizations with grants to the tune of approximately 2.5 million dollars to develop and implement programmes aimed at advocating for more inclusive access to quality public services for all Ghanaians and to strengthen democratic governance in the country.
He announced that the phase one of STAR-Ghana programme would come to an end in May 2015, and that, they have begun the process of taking stock and documenting the lessons, ahead of the phase two.
He said the visit to the Upper West Region was to afford them the opportunity “to hear from our partners, what had worked and what had not to enable us to see how best we could consolidate the gains for the future.”
Source: GNA