Institute calls for action on governance, security issues in West Africa
The Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Dr Nana Afadzinu, has expressed concern about the recurring governance and security problems in the sub-region.
That, she said, included unconstitutional changes of government and the spread of false information, but stressed the role of CSOs in helping to ensure peace, security and sustainable development in the troubled parts of the sub-region and the continent as a whole.
“Communities continue to struggle under economic hardship and climate vulnerabilities, from Burkina Faso to Guinea, from Senegal to Tunisia and citizens demand responsible leadership and accountability.
“Yet, across these complex relatives, civil society has remained a powerful force for good,” she said.
WASCI anniversary
She was speaking at the launch of the 20th anniversary of the institute in Accra last Monday.
The week-long anniversary on the theme “WACSI at 20: Celebrating Two Decades of Impact: In and beyond West Africa”, would provide a platform to reflect, learn and chart the next chapter of civil society in West Africa.
The celebration would be marked with events to discuss the state of civil freedoms, the rise of citizens' movements, the role of technology in advocacy and the partnerships required to secure a more peaceful and democratic region.
Impact
Dr Nana Afadzinu said WACSI had built a regional ecosystem of capacity development, policy engagement, technology support and philanthropy, serving thousands of organisations and leaders across West Africa.
She thanked their partners, civil society organisations and WACSI staff for the institute's growth and survival. She reiterated WACSI’s commitment to continue strengthening civil society, protecting democratic values, and ensuring that every voice matters in West Africa.
Governance
The Board Chair of WASCI, Oladayo Olaide, called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in West Africa to adopt a collaborative approach with their governments to promote democracy and good governance in the sub-region.
He commended CSOs for being instrumental in facilitating and creating spaces for engagements, saying that an active and informed civil society was crucial to address the challenges of the current democracy in the sub-region.
He said that as long as democracy existed in the sub-region, the need for civil society groups would continue to grow and WACSI's contributions would remain significant.
Activities
The Head of Policy Influencing and Advocacy, Omolara Balogun, outlined activities for the celebration, including a community clean-up, a health talk with free screenings and donations to a primary school.
She added that there would be a West Africa Civil Society Week event, a dinner and awards night to honour contributors and a thanksgiving service.
She said the Institute would continue to offer coaching and mentorship to civil society groups, support policy development and help civil society find alternative resources to champion their cause.
