Volunteerism key to building inclusive, equitable civil society — Charles Abugri

The Vice Chair of the Governing Council at STAR Ghana Foundation, Charles Abugri, has highlighted the importance of volunteerism as a cornerstone of civil society.

He emphasised that volunteerism extended beyond monetary contributions, encompassing the giving of time and effort, creating spaces for others, and attending to community needs, all of which strengthened civil society.

“Philanthropy, we observe, is essential for a civil society, for the essence of a civil society is that it's a society that is caring, a society that is peaceful, a society that is inclusive, a society that collectively moves forward, a society that leaves no one behind and a society that is relatively equitable,” he stated.

Mr Abugri made these remarks at the second edition of the Ghana Philanthropy Conference, which was on the theme, “Volunteerism as Civic Action”, which sought to spotlight volunteerism as a crucial aspect of philanthropy.

Philanthropy conference

The conference was in collaboration with STAR-Ghana Foundation, the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, the National Youth Authority, the Ghana Philanthropy Forum, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the University of Ghana Centre for Social Policy Studies.

The event provided a platform for dialogue among stakeholders to strengthen collaborative efforts, promote exchanges, and advance philanthropy development in Ghana.

The conference aimed to elevate volunteerism as a form of solidarity, fulfilling social and civic responsibilities.

It sought to highlight and examine volunteering practices and opportunities, while addressing critical social and national challenges and also served as a pivotal moment for reflecting on the policy and regulatory environment needed in Ghana to develop this sector and position it as a key contributor to national development.

Giving

Mr Abugri explained that although individuals made significant contributions to volunteerism and philanthropy, a lack of trust in giving remained an obstacle.

He noted the need to build greater trust and accountability and encouraged the wealthy to establish foundations to support philanthropic efforts.

“We are all putting our hands in our pockets in one form or the other, but it's more difficult to find foundations and associations, and those of you trying to raise some money to support community work increasingly find it very difficult to do so,” he added.

Catholic missionary priest, Very Rev. Father Andrew Campbell, encouraged the public to embrace volunteerism as a powerful means of bringing positive change to their communities.

He highlighted that volunteerism was not only an act of goodwill but also a civic duty that united communities.

"The happiest people in the world are those who give, who share, who volunteer," he said.

Sharing his personal experiences with volunteerism, Very Rev Fr Campbell recounted how architects, engineers, and surveyors had contributed their skills and time, free of charge, to help build hospitals, schools, and churches across Ghana.

Their willingness to contribute without expectation of payment, he noted, was a true blessing that enabled the development of essential community infrastructure.

Development

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, underscored the importance of volunteerism in advancing Ghana’s development.

Mr Ussif acknowledged that while the National Youth Authority had made significant progress in encouraging volunteerism among Ghanaian youth, challenges remained, such as limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient training for volunteers.

He, therefore, stressed the need for collaboration and partnership to enhance capacity building, resource mobilisation, and information sharing, aiming to fully unlock the potential of volunteerism to drive sustainable development and peace.