Stakeholders at the Ghana Philanthropy Conference 2024 have called on the government to implement a deliberate national strategy and policy to foster a culture of volunteerism in Ghana among citizens.

The stakeholders made the demand in a communique after a two-day conference held at the Alisa Swiss Hotel, which brought together representatives from civil society organizations, government institutions, the private sector, and volunteer groups.

On the theme: “Volunteerism as Civic Action”, the conference, focused on volunteerism in Ghana, convened by STAR-Ghana Foundation in collaboration with key organizations such as the University of Ghana’s Centre for Social Policy Studies, Ghana Philanthropy Forum, and the National Youth Authority, highlighted the critical role volunteerism in Ghana plays in community development, social justice, and nation-building.

The participants said volunteerism in Ghana served as a catalyst for mobilizing citizens, strengthening civic engagement, and addressing community challenges at the grassroots level.

They noted that collective efforts from individuals, institutions, and the state were essential for volunteerism to thrive in Ghana.

The communique called for the establishment of a National Policy on Volunteerism to formalize and structure volunteer efforts across the country.

The proposed policy would provide a framework for incentivizing individual and corporate volunteering while ensuring that programmes for volunteerism in Ghana, particularly for youth, are well-supported and impactful, the communique said.

Participants also recommended incorporating volunteerism into the national educational curriculum to nurture active citizenship from a young age.

Additionally, they advocated for a National Volunteerism Week to promote and celebrate volunteer efforts nationwide.

To further support volunteer initiatives, stakeholders urged the Government to finalize and implement the Not-for-Profit Organizations Bill – a legislation expected to create a supportive legal environment for the operations of civil society organizations (CSOs) and volunteer groups.

Recognizing the energy and potential of young people, the conference stressed the importance of creating opportunities for youth involvement in volunteerism in Ghana.

Participants, therefore, proposed leveraging digital platforms such as LinkedIn and gogivetime.org to connect volunteers with organizations and initiatives requiring their services.

Read the full article about volunteerism in Ghana at Ghana Business News.