Civil Society Organizations converge in Accra to strategize for increased legitimacy, effectiveness, and sustainability

 In Ghana, this significance was prominently underscored at the recent Ghana Civil Society Forum, where over 30 CSOs converged at the Swiss Alisa hotel in Accra. The event, organized by the Star Ghana Foundation (SGF) in partnership with the United Nations (UN) in Ghana and other stakeholders, focused on the theme "Civil Society at an Inflection Point; Strategizing for Increased Legitimacy, Effectiveness, and Sustainability.”

Speaking at the event, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani, highlighted the role of CSOs as the backbone of all collective efforts to bring about the desired results in the growth and development of a country. He reaffirmed the UN's commitment to engaging closely with CSOs under its United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2025, emphasizing the need for inclusive and participatory solutions to national challenges. “We must prioritize building strong relationships, fostering diversity and inclusion, and investing in ourselves and our organizations,” he stated. Mr. Abani also urged them to use innovative technological approaches in their day-to-day work.

The Executive Director of the International Development Economics Associate (IDEAs) and Vice Chairman of the Governing Council of SGF, Mr. Charles Abugre, outlined the role of CSOs in identifying real issues and finding the needed solutions. “Civil Society Organizations need to pay a lot more attention and discuss the society we want to see...we need to invest a little bit in understanding our macroeconomy and what an alternative macroeconomic framework looks like,” he stated.

During the breakout sessions, the United Nations in Ghana, led by Communications & Knowledge Management Officer at UN-Habitat, Madam Ewurama Greenslade, and Communications Assistant at UN-International Organization for Migration (UN-IOM), Madam Angela Bortey, presented on Branding and Communicating Impact. The forty-five-minute presentation engaged participants actively, exploring effective communication strategies crucial for sustainability and impactful branding such as understanding the audience's preferences and behaviour, and leveraging various channels and platforms to make communication more efficient.

The two-day event enabled participants to deliberate on three sub-themes: ensuring legitimacy with constituents and stakeholders, achieving effectiveness as organizations, and ensuring sustainable operations, revenues, and impacts. Additionally, it called for Ghana to adopt alternative economic models to address the country's economic crisis, citing the need for more inclusive and sustainable policies.