State of Civil Society in Ghana after 50 Years of Independence (Ghana at 50) - 2007

‘Reflecting on Civil Society’sRegional Seminar

Evolution in Ghana overthe Last 50 Years’

No. 202 Yiyiwa StreetP. O. Box AT 1956, Achimota, AccraTel: 233 21- 778917/18 Fax: 233-21-764727Website: www.wacsi.org

La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana8-9 November, 2007

ContentsList of Acronyms ......................................................................................................................1

Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................2

Introduction ...........................................................................................................................4

Background .............................................................................................................................6

Donor/Civil Society Relations and the Effectiveness of Aid in Ghana .................................................9

Civil Society’s Role in the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals ................................... 12

Linkages between Civil Society and Traditional Systems of Governance ............................................ 15

The Role of Civil Society in Peace-building and Conflict Prevention in West Africa ............................. 17

The State of the Ghanaian Media .............................................................................................. 20

Regional Collaborations towards Democracy, Peace and Security in the Sub-region ........................... 23

Civil Society and Private Sector Relations ................................................................................... 25

Women’s Role in Ghana: Past, Present and Future ........................................................................ 28

Safeguarding Human Rights in Ghana ........................................................................................ 31

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 33

Appendices ........................................................................................................................... 35

COMMUNIQUÉ: Regional Seminar on “Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years” La Palm Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana; November 8 – 9, 2007 .......................................................... 36

Agenda – Day 1 ..................................................................................................................... 38Agenda – Day 2 ..................................................................................................................... 39

List of Participants ................................................................................................................. 40

‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’REGIONAL SEMINAR

AU African UnionBUSAC Business Advocacy ChallengeCDD Centre for Democratic

DevelopmentCEPA Centre for Policy AnalysisCHRAJ Commission on Human Rights

and Administrative JusticeCSOs Civil Society Organisations DFID Department for International

DevelopmentDVC Domestic Violence CoalitionECOWAS Economic Community of West

African StatesEPA Economic Partnership AgreementsEU European UnionFGM Female Genital Mutilation FIDA Federation of Women Lawyers FOSDA Foundation for Security and

Development in AfricaGAPVOD Ghana Association of Private

Voluntary Organisations in Development

GII Ghana Integrity InitiativeGPRS Ghana Poverty Reduction StrategyG-RAP Ghana Research Advocacy

ProgrammeGTLC Ghana Trade and Livelihoods

CoalitionICISS International Commission on

Intervention and State SovereigntyIDEG Institute for democratic

GovernanceIEA Institute of Economic AffairsIFI International Financial InstitutionsINGOs International Non-Governmental

OrganisationsISODEC Integrated Social Development

Centre

KAIPTC Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre

MDBS Multi-Donor Budgetary SupportMDGs Millennium Development GoalsMMYE Ministry of Manpower, Youth and

EmploymentNCA National Communications

AuthorityNEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s

Development NETRIGHT Network for Women’s Rights in

GhanaNGOs Non-Governmental Organisations NMC National Media CommissionNUGS National Union of Ghana StudentsOSIWA Open Society Institute of West

AfricaPRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy PaperRAVI Rights and Voice InitiativeSYTO Student and Youth Travel

OrganisationTWN Third World NetworkUN United NationsUNCT United Nations Country TeamUNDP United Nations Development

ProgrammeUSAID United States Agency for

International Development WACSI West Africa Civil Society InstituteWACSOF West Africa Civil Society ForumWADR West African Democratic RadioWANEP West Africa Network for Peace-

buildingWASU West African Students Union

List of Acronyms1 ‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’

REGIONAL SEMINAR

Presentations and panel discussions at the seminar covered the following key thematic areas:

The emergence of structured civil society in •Ghana Civil society’s role in the achievement of the •Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Linkages between civil society and traditional •systems of governance Human rights in Ghana •The state of the Ghanaian media •The role of women in Ghana’s past, present and •future Civil society and private sector relations in •Ghana Donor/Civi l society relat ions and the •effectiveness of aid Regional collaborations to democracy, peace •and security in the sub-regionPeace and conflict resolution in West Africa •

The following recommendations emerged from the seminar: National Level

Government should hasten the implementation •and achievement of the MDGs. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should systematically be involved in the monitoring and evaluation of progress made on issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and gender equality in the MDGs. Comprehensive documentation should be carried •out on civil society’s contribution in Ghana, for ease of reference and to build credibility. Mobilisation and active engagement of civil •society in pre-election advocacy, election monitoring and observation particularly during the upcoming 2008 Ghanaian elections. Donor agencies and organisations should ensure •that their relationships with civil society are not only financial but practical as well, by engaging CSOs in the realisation of their work as well as their impact in Ghana. The principles which underpin the relations •between civil society and donors require clear definition. Civil society should take strategic steps to negotiate with donors in this direction. Civil society must redefine its position and •continuously evaluate its operations in areas of accountability, transparency and internal governance. The capacity of Ghanaian civil society should •

Executive SummaryThe West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) established by the Open Society for West Africa (OSIWA) and the United Nations Development Programme’s Civil Society Resource Centre in Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Private

Voluntary Organisations in Development (GAPVOD) organised a two day Regional Seminar on the theme “Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years” in Accra, Ghana from the 8-9 November, 2007.

The objective of the seminar was to provide a platform for a cross-section of over 100 civil-society actors to reflect on the progress, challenges and future of civil society in Ghana. Participants at the seminar were drawn from Ghana and across the West African sub-region and included government representatives, donor agencies and organisations, UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

2‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’REGIONAL SEMINAR

be strengthened to mediate in conflict through conflict resolution training, mediation services and dialogue facilitation. Civil society must also work to alleviate social tensions by challenging racism, xenophobia and discrimination, whilst promoting tolerance and a culture of peace. Civil society must advocate for National •Broadcasting legislation, to regulate the sector.Private sector and civil society alliances should •be forged for community development. Col laborat ions bet ween c iv i l soc ie t y •organisations working on human rights and government agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) should be forged and sustained. Civil society should use the inf luence and •potential of the traditional systems of governance to make significant inroads in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and violence against women.

Regional Level Civil society in Ghana must continue to play a •critical role in peace-building and the prevention of conf licts across West Africa bearing in mind Ghana’s historical background. Issues of structural violence must be tackled by promoting human security through initiatives for social and economic development. Other activities include human rights monitoring, promotion of the rule of law, prevention of environmental degradation, participation in political processes, policy dialogue, mentoring,

advocacy, campaigns and protests. These would have the effect of making the government and state structures more responsive to the needs of their citizenry. There is a need for civil society to improve their •knowledge base of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), its provision for CSOs and its workings in areas of peace and security.Stakeholders should be engaged in the •functionality of the ECOWARN1. There should be formation of sub-groups on •thematic areas to forge stronger engagements in sub regional activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation Activities Equal Opportunities Commissions, Gender •Commissions, the media, civil society and research institutions should be watchdogs monitoring the implementation of the MDGs and the implementation of regional and international mechanisms.

Capacity Building ActivitiesStrengthening of the col laborat ion of •networks across the region through training programmes.Legal and judicial awareness must be developed •in Ghana through the setting up of a People’s Law School. Build the capacity of civil society on legal issues •and governmental policies on the implementation of international charters and protocols.

1The ECOWARN is essentially an information system operating from hub (Abuja) and receiving information from ECOWAS’s sub regional platform in Ouagadougou, Monrovia, Banjul and Cotonou. The system functions through a collaboration between ECOWARN and the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP), where the national WANEP chapters feed information into the elaborate warning system via the sub regional hubs. The system faced challenges of conveying information in a timely manner from the field monitors on the ground to the situation room in Abuja, where the reports are analysed and passed to the Commissioner and then the President of the Commission. This lengthy process, caused delays and often by the time action is taken, it is no longer early warning.

3 ‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’REGIONAL SEMINAR

The seminar created a regional platform for different stakeholders and policy makers in the sub-region to re-examine strategies for strengthening collaborations. Also reviewed were the following: progress made by governments and civil society in addressing issues of human rights, the attainment of gender equity, the realisation of the MDG obligations, enhancement of the role of the media as an integral part of civil society, the evolution of donor/civil society relations, as well as CSO roles in peacemaking, conflict prevention and post-settlement peace building. The meeting further provided an opportunity for representatives of civil society to share best practices and experiences in preparation for their contributions over the next fifty years.

The main objectives of the seminars were: 1. To provide a platform for a cross-section of

actors to reflect on the progress, challenges and future of civil society in Ghana;

2. To identify strategies for strengthening collaborations and partnerships amongst civil society organisations in Ghana; and

3. To evaluate and improve the relationships between civil society and other sectors, e.g. private sector, donor agencies and government.

Key opening statements made by dignitaries are summarised below.

Honourable Mrs. Frema Osei Opare, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment (MMYE).

S olidarity statements were g iven

a t t he op en i n g ceremony by the Deputy Minister, wh ich c r i t ic a l ly set the tone for d i s c u s s i o n s o n how well Ghanaian civil society organisations contributed and would continue to contribute to fostering democracy, governance, peace and socio-economic development in Ghana. She reiterated the Ghanaian government’s support to civil society in issues of transparency and accountability, partnerships in skills training, and improving the regulatory framework for the operation of civil society organisations. The Deputy Minister also mentioned the restructuring of the Department of Social Welfare to play a central role in addressing the social and development needs of target groups in the society. The Deputy Minister however noted that civil society must endeavour to address its accountability issues as it is of grave concern to donors, government and most importantly their constituents. She concluded her address by stating that CSOs should respond positively to the participatory process that the government has adopted to develop a law to guide the operations of CSOs.

IntroductionThe WACSI established by the Open Society for West Africa (OSIWA) and the United Nations Development Programme’s Civil Society Resource Centre in Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organisations in

Development (GAPVOD) organised a two-day Regional Seminar on the 8th-9th of November 2007 on the following theme-“Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years” in Accra, Ghana.


Ms. Thelma Ekiyor, Executive Director of WACSI

I n her welcome address, Ms Ekiyor highlighted the fact that the seminar was organised not only to assess the role of civil society in the

last fifty years, but also to strategise for the next fifty years. She identified the need to answer the practical as well as conceptual questions of who and what CSOs are. The answers to these questions in her opinion would considerably enhance the future

ac t iv it ies of t he CSO community. S h e f u r t h e r acknowledged the extensive role that G h a n a i a n c i v i l society organisations have played in the areas of governance, gender and human rights. There was

therefore the need for accountability, transparency, self regulation and confidence building by CSOs in a proactive manner. The Executive Director recognised the presence of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) and the West African Democratic Radio (WADR) and confirmed that they and WACSI collaborated together on a regional level as a means of projecting a positive civil society image in the sub-region. WACSI was therefore committed to strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of CSOs to engage in policy formulation, implementation and the promotion of democratic values and principles in West Africa.

Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, Representative of the UNDP Country Office in Ghana

D r . O j i e l o noted that civil society

wa s a n i nteg ra l par t of U NDP’s work in Ghana. The centrality of CSOs to the mission of the United Nations (UN) led to the setting up of a Civil Society Resource Centre, managed by UNDP country office in Ghana. The UN had also set up an advisory panel to establish the best ways of engaging with CSOs as key partners in the development process. The MDGs currently face huge obstacles and its objectives could only be fully achieved with the tenacious efforts of civil society. UNDP’s partnership with civil society was to ensure that the role of CSOs was not restricted in policy making and development programmes. Dr. Ojielo stated that there was undoubtedly the need for institutionalised and not ad-hoc partnership with government as a technical pilot of quality dialogue in terms of development plans.

Currently, UNDP Ghana was partnering with CSOs for the creation of web pages as part of the larger database of credible CSOs. There were plans for the conduct of a High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in September 2008 and collaborations for the upcoming Ghana elections in December 2008.

Mr. Kofi Adu, Executive Secretary, GAPVOD

M r. Adu re-emphasised the fact that the seminar was meant to create a roadmap for the advancement of CSOs in the next fifty

years. The seminar was also intended to analyse the challenges facing CSOs as its role in Ghana evolved, bearing in mind the negative image held of CSOs by a small percentage of the public.


Civil society has played various roles in Ghana’s history and political metamorphosis. The evolution of popular participation in Ghana’s development predates its independence.

The pre-independence periodOrganised groupings of Ghanaians through associations and pressure groups were involved in shaping governance structures as far back as the 18th century. These groups consisting of traditional rulers, youths and women posed a direct threat to British colonial rule. Examples of opposit ion to colonial ism by ordinary Ghanaians were evident across the country. In Northern Ghana, communities protested against warrant chiefs and the hut tax of the colonial administrators. Market women openly and collectively showed their resentment to local

police, who were agents of the colonial rulers by presenting their case against the police to the traditional rulers. In 1938, associations of indigenous cocoa producers organised a successful protest against the monopoly of the commodity market by the expatriate-controlled association of West African Merchants.

The independence period and afterThere were large number of voluntary self-help associations, dating as far back as the interwar period and expanding rapidly in the period after World War II and independence in 1957. The struggle for freedom and justice that eventually led to independence was largely fought by civil society organisations represented by youths and student groups, political movements, traditional rulers, etc. Since the military overthrow of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1966, Ghana has seen a mix of military dictatorships and civilian government with civil society leading the struggle for return to civilian rule. The growth of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the 1980’s caused tensions and suspicion between the government and these organisations. The perceptions of NGOs as puppets of foreign governments through the umbilical cord of donor funding was rife at this time. This perception gradually changed as many NGOs became recognised as credible think tanks, research institutions, community organisers and human rights advocates. Thus civil society in Ghana had become a key player in strengthening and deepening state-society relations. This was done through civil society activities in linking citizens to the state through formal and informal bridging mechanisms, as well as bonding citizens

Background‘Partnerships with civil society organisations are no longer an option but a necessity’ Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General.

‘It is people mobilised as you are, more than any government initiatives or scientific breakthrough, who can overcome the obstacle to a better world… the civil society movement continues to grow and make its mark.’ Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, Civil Society Forum, Brazil, June 13, 2004.

Prof. Kwesi Jonah presenting the keynote


to one another. In many cases, CSOs offered the only opportunity for ordinary citizens to engage in state affairs.

Present state2007 marks fifty years of Ghana’s independence. The country became the first nation in Africa, south of the Sahara to gain independence from

colonial rule and the country’s theme for the celebrations is ‘Championing African Excellence’. This theme captures the veracity that Ghana’s attainment of independence and the subsequent ideological support it extended to other colonised countries on the continent, culminated in the emancipation of many of these countries from colonial rule.

Fifty years on, Ghana is experiencing an unprecedented period of political freedom. This period also coincides with an exponential increase in the number and contributions of CSO’s towards economic and social development, empowerment of the citizenry, promotion and awareness creation and protection of the rights of the marginalised and poor. CSOs in Ghana have complemented, informed, inf luenced and challenged government – a role often referred to as the ‘demand side of governance’, by pressing for public services, pushing government to improve the performance of the state, lobbying for the rights of excluded groups as well as campaigning against corruption and engaging in public-private partnerships.

Civil society has also contributed significantly to altering the traditional conceptualisation of governance in Ghana and across Africa. Governance

is no longer the sole domain of government, as the growing participation and influence of non-state actors has enhanced human rights, democracy and reshaped multilateralism. Civil society has been described as the arena outside the family, the state and the market where people associate to advance common interests. This description finds resonance in civil society’s experience in Ghana and has provided a platform for shared identity and ideology for a wide section of actors.

Though Ghana, like most countries in Africa, has been marred by human rights violations dating back to colonial times, civil society actors have emerged as vocal advocates for human rights in the country, calling for reforms in the police, judicial practices, press freedoms, women’s rights and respect for the rule of law. The enactment of the 1992 Constitution and the re-introduction of democracy in Ghana led to a legislative restoration of the people’s civil and political rights. More still needs to be done as the judicial processes within the country are still very slow and legal literacy of the citizens and their fundamental rights is very low.

The Ghanaian civil society has also been able to engage the government on issues of national interest and relevance. CSOs are currently working on the ground to help achieve the MDGs though at a quantitative rather than qualitative level. Civil society’s involvement has also led to major advances in legislation and practices that promote women’s rights. However, the gap between policy formulation and implementation, on one hand, and awareness raising and action, on the other, is still a major cause for concern.

Previously, Ghana’s role as host of the Liberian peace talks in 2003 resulted in a collaboration between Liberian and Ghanaian civil society calling for an end to the war. Ghanaian civil society has also been closely involved in regional integration activities and the strengthening of the ECOWAS. There is however still need for CSOs to form sub-groups on thematic areas to forge stronger engagements in sub regional activities.

With the growing role of civil society in the

Ghana like most countries in Africa, has been marred by human rights violations dating back to colonial times, civil society actors have emerged as vocal advocates for human rights in the country, calling for reforms in the police, judicial practices, press freedoms, women’s rights and respect for the rule of law.


development agenda, the donor/aid community has engaged in active support for CSOs and the development of civil society in general. The donor emphasis on building civil society in poor countries assumes that such support will eventually benefit the poorest sections of these societies. Effective aid is based on the principle of local ownership – the democratic accountability of aid to its recipients. In Ghana, donor relations with civil society have evolved greatly. Majority of the donors are involved in direct budget funding with the World Bank, the European Union (EU), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) as the four major funding agencies.

In summary, challenges persist despite the laudable steps taken at the national level for collaborations between government and the civil society. Particularly, the number of CSOs working directly towards policy change is minimal which

compromises the impact of civil society as a watchdog. Furthermore, at all phases of Ghana’s evolution, civil society’s legitimacy has often been disputed with questions relating to its mandate and transparency.

Thus, as Ghana celebrates and reflects on fifty years of independence, it is imperative that civil society which has been intrinsically involved in the country’s growth and development, review its own evolution and contributions made over the last fifty years. This review should involve a balanced assessment of where improvements can be made for the future. The WACSI, UNDP, and GAPVOD seminar provided a platform for critical analysis of these.

The seminar centred its presentations and panel discussions on the following themes:

Donor/civil society relations and the effectiveness •of aid Civil society’s role in the achievement of the •MDGs Linkages between civil society and traditional •systems of governance Human rights in Ghana •The state of the Ghanaian media •The role of women in Ghana’s past, present and •future Civil society and private sector relations in •Ghana Regional collaborations to democracy, peace and •security in the sub-region Peace and conflict resolution in West Africa•


It has been recognised that effective aid is based on the principle of local ownership. This means, recipients believe in the principles of accountability for the projects that donor funds support. In this vein, the donor community continues to appreciate the growing role of civil society in the development agenda, and has engaged in the active support of CSOs and the development of civil society in general. This emphasis on building civil society in poor countries assumes that such support will eventually benefit the poorest sections of these societies. The relationship between donors and CSOs has grown to be very dynamic in recent times. It is no longer just about funding and dependency but an emerging sense of genuine partnership between the donor community and CSOs.

Current aid strategies In recent years aid strategies by donors all over the world have recognised that governments in poorer countries must be the leaders in any long-term programme of poverty reduction (as defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper [PRSP]). Consequently, there has been an increase in direct budget support to governments of developing countries with priority laid on, good

governance, democracy, political transparency and accountability. Instead of seeking to drive governmental reforms, funding is given towards supporting governmental reforms. The aim of this policy is not to drive government reforms but to support government policy and reforms. It is significant that though supporting governmental budgets alongside International Financial Institutions (IFI) loans is not a new concept for bilateral donors, the rationale for doing so has changed towards more dialogue and monitoring; for instance Ghana, in the use of the Millennium Challenge Account and the Global Fund by the United States government4 .

The signing of the Paris Declaration by 120 donor countries marked a significant step in donor- recipient government relations. In that document, donor and recipient countries were enjoined to ensure that aid was provided within a context of national ownership which would be reflected in national development strategies. Furthermore, aid would be aligned towards countries which had reliable procurement and financial management systems and sound government budgets and priorities.

Donor/Civil Society Relations and the Effectiveness of Aid in Ghana2

As with most African countries, there has been a significant inflow of aid into Ghana. However, this has been quite unpredictable. Aid flows over the years appear to have led to low domestic resource mobilisation and have consequently reduced Ghana to a

country heavily dependent on aid. In an attempt to improve aid effectiveness, donors tied aid to objectives aimed at the promotion of commercial interests and also to projects that were directly linked with poverty alleviation. However, this did not yield the expected results. In an effort to improve the effectiveness of aid, the government of Ghana and its development partners recently agreed on an aid package dubbed the Multi-Donor Budgetary Support (MDBS), which would ensure continuous flow of aid to finance the government’s poverty related expenditures3.

2Ms. Taaka Awori Former Country Director ActionAid Ghana, introduced the theme: “Donor- Civil Society Relations & the Effectiveness of Aid in Ghana”, at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.3Quartey P. (2005) “Innovative Ways of Making Aid Effective In Ghana: Tied Aid versus Direct Budgetary Support”, WIDER Conference on Sharing Global prosperity, 6-7 September 2005s4The United States government funding since the September 11th 2001 attack on the World Trade Center statistically more related to security rather than poverty reduction


Presentations at the seminar also noted that hitherto in 1980s-1990s, CSOs were seen as the preferred partner in the provision of social services. However the practice has changed across West Africa except in post-conflict countries e.g. Liberia, Southern Sudan, and Sierra Leone. The aid architecture has also seen an increase in

funding to NGOs based in donor countries and International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs). There has also been an increased effort to reduce transaction costs, through larger funds to fewer NGOs, outsourcing through sub-contracting grant management and pooling of funds to CSOs. There has also been a change of focus from service delivery to a focus on advocacy and policy engagement.

The case of Ghana

I n Ghana, donor relations with civil society have evolved greatly. Majority of the donors are involved in direct budget funding with

the World Bank, EU, DFID and USAID as the four major funding agencies. Svensson5 defines direct budget support as funds channelled through local accounting systems directly to partner governments; it is not linked to specific project

activity and is quickly disbursed. Budget support is a financial aid programme and may take two forms:i) General budget support, which refers to

financial assistance or contribution towards the overall budget and conditionality is directed towards policy measures which relate to the overall budget priorities. Within this category, funds may be spent on certain sectors but there is no formal limitation as to where they should be spent; and

ii) Specific budget support, i.e., aid given for specific sectors such as health and education. Financial aid is targeted at a discreet sector or sectors, with any conditionality relating to these sectors. Normally, government accounting may be augmented with additional sector reporting.

Recently, efforts are being made to align aid with Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy II as reflected in the Ghana Partnership Strategy (which provides a framework for how donors support government to achieve measurable outcomes) and the Ghana Joint Assistance Strategy. There has also been

5Svensson, J. (2000). When Is Foreign Aid Policy Credible: Aid Dependence and Conditionality?’ Journal of Development Economics, 61: 61-84

Actual and projected inflows to Ghana (billions of cedis)

Years Inflows Projected Inflows Shortfall %

1999 2385.5 1498.1 17.5

2000 1275.0 2978.9 19.9

2001 3739.4 3784.6 1.2

2002 2868.6 4706.3 39.1

Source: Government of Ghana’s Annual Budget Statements, 1998 – 2003

In Ghana, donor relations with civil society have evolved greatly. Majority of the donors are involved in direct budget funding with the World Bank, EU, DFID and USAID as the four major funding agencies.


increased effort to do more with less–i.e. minimise administration and transactional costs.

Worthy of note is the fact that a significant proportion of direct sizeable funding of CSOs is to INGOs and well-established Accra based organisations usually for advocacy and capacity building. In the same vein, most embassies in Ghana have small grant schemes providing small grants to NGOs usually for service delivery. There has also been increased outsourcing of grant management and pooled funding e.g. Business Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC), Ghana Research Advocacy Programme (G-RAP) and Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI).

It is however necessary that in order for there to be a strong synergy between CSOs and donor organisations and agencies, there is need for certain principles to be adopted by both parties.

They include the following:Donors must ensure that relationships with •CSOs are not only financial but practical, by engaging with CSOs to learn more about the realities of CSOs work in Ghana. They must also support an enabling environment for CSOs to work in terms of the regulatory environment and the creation of space at policy tables. The effectiveness of aid will be better felt if •donors ensure that support is not only given to professional urban NGOs but also to community/grassroots level and rural based organisations. Donors must work with local partners to develop accountability mechanisms that promote accountability to donors as well as constituents. Currently the trend is for donor

organisations to fund INGOs and Accra-based organisations for advocacy and capacity building without recourse to what actually occurs in the rural areas.The establishment of a diversity of funding •mechanisms (responsive short term funds vs. long term strategic funds) cannot be over-emphasised. This will assure long-term predictable funding, permitting core project and programme support. Reporting mechanisms set in place by donors •require simplification. The complexity of reporting requirements is problematic for CSOs.CSOs on the other hand, must define their •priorities and these must be developed from the opinions and needs of those on whose behalf they work for. (The issue of accountability in this regard was discussed extensively at the seminar. Civil society is constantly being challenged to engage in continuous self evaluation and be seen to be leading the way in the area of good governance, credibility and integrity).Strategic negotiations must be undertaken •between CSOs and donors on the application of funding and desired outcomes. This would curb the criticism often made of donors that the agendas of CSOs are disregarded as their priorities often change without notice. There is a need for donors and CSOs to understand the underlying issues in their relationship: Who defines the development agenda? Who and what gets funding and why? Do professional NGOs or membership-based organisations get priority? Who bears support or programme costs? All these must be properly determined in order to ensure that funding has the proper impact on established targets.


These eight goals are set to encourage all countries, to focus on human development problems. They have been carefully selected with the help of the UN agencies and other international organisations. They include 18 feasible straightforward targets to be met through country policies and programmes, international aid, and civil society engagement. These targets are set to be achieved in a 25-

year period from 1990 to 2015. International Development Targets, which preceded the MDGs, were derived from a series of UN global conferences held during the 1990s.

Ghana has established a relatively good track record for governance and in managing its economy. The seminar noted that Ghana has recognised the MDGs as the minimum development requirements for any country to come out of extreme poverty and enable wealth creation as such, the government has demonstrated a commitment to achieving the MDGs. The establishment of the National MDGs Committee in Ghana is the UN Resident Coordinating Unit’s initiative adopted by the government of Ghana to do the initial thinking on the MDG agenda for Ghana. It will also undertake advocacy activities to forge closer relationships between government, private sector and other development partners. One of the roles of the Committee has been the carrying out of a MDGs Needs Assessment exercise. The Committee, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, comprises of high-ranking representatives of the government, representatives from academia, technical experts from civil society organisations and the private

Civil Society’s Role in the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals6

September 2000 saw 189 Heads of States and Governments gathered at the United Nations in New York at the Millennium Summit and adopting what is now known as the MDGs and Targets. As a set of time-bound goals, the MDGs are an embodiment of wider

human concerns and issues that are ‘people-centred’ and measure human progress. The MDGs are intended to engender national initiatives and strategies geared towards alleviating poverty and improving the standard of living of the poorest of the poor across the globe. Although the global challenge to alleviate poverty is overwhelming, these leaders decided to concentrate on eight crucial goals that touch upon food, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, environmental sustainability, and global partnerships.

6Mr. Nii Moi Thompson, Executive Director, Development Policy Institute, Accra, Ghana. “Civil Society’s Role in the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals” Presented at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.

Mr. Nii Moi Thompson, Executive Director, Development Policy Institute


sector; representatives of bilateral and multi-lateral donors, Breton Woods Institutions and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT)7.

A recent national household survey indicates that Ghana has come close to meet its MDG target on improving the incomes of the poor and is close to meeting its targets on universal primary education and admission of girls into school. However,

800,000 children still remain out of school, improvements in health are not materialising despite a lot of investment, and progress on improving sanitation is poor. Inequality between and within regions has also increased as has poverty in urban areas. In Ghana, available evidence shows that a steady increase in both education and health spending has not been matched by improved outcomes. The proportion of trained teachers at the

7Boateng J. “Promoting the Millennium Development Goals: Report on Ghana’s Experience, Accra Ghana, May 2005.

Millennium Development Goals

Goals Targets

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less •than one dollar a day.Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. •

Achieve universal primary education Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to •complete a full course of primary schooling.

Promote gender equality and empower women

Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferable by •2005 and to all levels of education no later than 2015.

Reduce child mortality Reduce by two-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the under-5 mortality ratio. •

Improve maternal health Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.•

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.•Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other •major diseases.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and •programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe •drinking water. By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 •million slum dwellers.

Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Develop further an open rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and •financial system (including a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction-both nationally and internationally.Address the special needs of the least developed countries (including tariff-•and-quota free access for exports, enhance program of debt relief for and cancellation of official bilateral debt, and more generous official development assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction).Address special needs of land-locked countries and small islands developing •states.Deal comprehensively with the debt problem of developing countries through •national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term.In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for •decent and productive work for youth.In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable •essential drugs in developing countries.In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new •technologies, especially informal and communications technologies.

Source: Millennium Development Goals, 2000


primary school level, for example is about the same as it was in 1987, when the last education reforms were launched, despite increased spending in recent years, including increases in teachers’ salaries. The story is not much different in the health sectors, where infants under five and neonatal mortality rates have all deteriorated in recent years, following a decade or so of modest improvements

Ghana has made mixed progress in the area of MDGs reporting. Positively, Ghana is ranked among the very few African countries that have produced an MDG report. Notwithstanding these achievements, there is a major weakness in the MDG reporting in Ghana. The first is the non-existent action plans that are expected to guide the completion and launch of subsequent Millennium Development Goals Reports (MDGRs).

Awareness raising and advocacy on the MDGs is also considerably very low. Presently, the tools for raising awareness and advocating for actions around the MDGs are concentrated on workshops, seminars, TV/radio interviews and occasionally press features. Effective and focused MDGs awareness creation tools that could yield maximum impact are yet to be employed in the country. They include:

MDG quiz and debates in schools;•MDG TV spots and documentaries; •Publication and distribution of promotional •materials like posters, brochures, cards, pens, billboards, stamps etc.; Formation of MDG Press Clubs; •Organising MDG cultural events such as •concerts, art festivals/contests and drama; UN Days with a special focus on MDG in •schools; MDG sports competition; Youth

Forum on MDG; Ghana MDG website; Competition for journalists on MDG promotion; •Translation of the MDGs into local languages •among others.

The role of civil societyCSOs can help in the achievement of the MDGs in Ghana and their associated targets by providing critical and independent assessment of programmes in the country, linking in particular, government expenditures not just to outputs but to outcomes and impact. For instance, increased spending on education may lead to higher enrolment (one of the MDGs) but not a commensurate improvement in the quality of education within the country. The outputs of government’s spending must be qualified with regard to classroom space, more teachers, higher salaries, etc. Civil society therefore, needs to investigate these paradoxes of high spending and declining outcomes through cases studies and participatory research.

The key challenge facing civil society is technical capacity to handle the challenges of the MDGs. CSOs must build their capacity to monitor and evaluate government expenditure as allocated for projects and government reports. They should carry out qualitative research on progress made on the MDGs as well as engage government on ways to eradicate illiteracy using the World School Programme as a reference tool. The importance of documenting their activities in advocacy and development cannot be overemphasised. Since the MDGs do not constitute the totality of our development objectives, CSOs need to also examine broader issues such as culture and wealth creation as well.


This has given rise to the relegation of traditional authorities to the status of custodians of the tradition and customs of their subjects in all the post-colonial constitutions. Their role in the socio-economic development of their communities is minimal since the nation-state has taken this role upon itself and the corresponding authority to

collect taxes to meet this objective. They have also been marginalised politically. 1982 to 1992 saw an erosion of the influence and powers available to traditional authorities and institutions with the creation of People’s Defence Committees (PDC)/Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) which gave way to the Unit Committees under the government ’s decentra l isat ion

programme9 . The 1992 Constitution went further to categorically bar traditional authorities from engaging in party politics.

Though the office of traditional rulers has evolved over time, traditional rulers still have considerable influence on the psyche and fabric of society. The

Linkages between Civil Society and Traditional Systems of Governance8

Traditional systems of governance are integral to Ghanaian society and remain the custodians of culture in the country. Historically, traditional rulers provided moral and spiritual leadership in communities and structures that protected people’s rights. For

example, citizens’ rights in areas such as property ownership and the right to life were protected within the community and actions that violated the sanctity of the community were censured. However, it is also important to recall the struggle between the new nation state and the traditional states that preceded them. The colonial nation-state sought to use the traditional authorities to govern at the lowest unit (community) of the state (indirect rule) to serve their interests. The post-colonial state on the other hand perceived them as collaborators of the colonial oppressors and for that and other reasons not to be trusted or given any major role in the new nation-state.

8Dr. K.B. Asante introduced the theme at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years. November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.9Bern Guri. “Strengthening The Capacity Of Traditional Authorities For Good Governance And Development At The Local Level”, Centre for Indigenous Knowledge And Organisational Development (CIKOD) Madina, Accra, Ghana.

Though the office of traditional rulers has evolved over time, traditional rulers still have considerable influence on the psyche and fabric of society. The demands of 21st century Ghana have meant that traditional rulers have of necessity had to redefine their roles and lose some of their powers.Dr. K.B. Asante


demands of 21st century Ghana have meant that traditional rulers have of necessity had to redefine their roles and lose some of their powers. This transformation has resulted in traditional rulers acting as allies in developmental processes by being initiators and catalysts for change. For example, traditional leaders are at the forefront of drawing attention to infrastructural development needed in communities and have been leading voices in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS while providing a support networks for affected persons within the community.

Traditional structures have deep roots in Ghana’s associational culture and as a result should be an important actor within civil society. However, conventional understanding of civil society often excludes the role of traditional rulers in society, resulting in an underutilisation of their influence

and potential to bring about social change. Recently, some traditional authorities have decided to assert their authority as leaders of their people and accept some level of responsibility for their welfare. This change is being spearheaded by the Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, since his enthronement in 1999, as evidenced by his various social and economic development initiatives. The Okyenhene (Paramount Chief of the Akyems) is also well recognised for his activism in environmental protection and HIV/AIDS prevention with resources from external sources. The World Bank in support of their initiatives has developed and is implementing in parts of Southern Ghana, a special lending facility termed the Learning and Innovation Loan (LIL) whose main purpose is to ‘test approaches to substantially integrate and improve deprived remote and rural communities led by the traditional authority and help focus the contributions/influence of traditional authorities in socio-economic development.’

What these traditional leaders have achieved so far goes to affirm that, if certain measures are put in place to ensure that there are checks and balances, there are roles for traditional authorities to play, at least in the socio-economic development of their communities. Civil society must engage government and traditional authorit ies in a dialogue on a policy framework that will incorporate the work of the traditional systems into national initiatives.

Traditional rulers participating in the discussion


The concept of conf l ict prevention is an ambiguous framework that has transformed over time. The former UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali described conflict prevention as preventive diplomacy, an “action to prevent disputes from arising between parties, to prevent existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and limit the spread of the latter when they occur.”

Prevention has also been further grouped into:

Structural prevention (or root causes prevention) - addressing root causes such as poverty, political

repression and uneven distribution of resources, which can, if left unattended to, escalate into violence.

Operational prevention (or direct prevention) - are measures to address immediate crises such as sending high-level diplomatic missions to mediate between parties, using economic tools such as sanctions, inducements, or collecting weapons.

In West Africa, a number of countries in the region have developed mechanisms for addressing conflicts but most are reactionary and ad hoc. At the regional level efforts have been made to address the conflicts before they erupt, mitigate them when they do, or prevent their resurgence.

ECOWAS is the lead inter-governmental organisation in terms of the attainment of sub-regional peace and security. The mandate for ECOWAS’ current conf lict prevention mechanism emerged from several instruments; The 1993 Revised ECOWAS Treaty called for the establishment of a regional peace and security observation system. This was substantially strengthened by the 1999 protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management,

The Role of Civil Society in Peace-building and Conflict Prevention in West Africa10

West Africa has been the epicentre of violent conflicts and civil wars for decades. The region has hosted a number of protracted intra-state conflicts as occurred in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau. Each with debilitating effects on the

populations of those countries and cross border implications resulting in the sub-regionalisation of conflicts and the creation of conflict systems. Aside these large scale conflicts, various countries in the region have also experienced sporadic and intense conflagrations that threaten overall security. Specifically, internal crises in the Casamance region of Senegal, incessant uprisings in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, political tensions in Guinea and communal tensions in Ghana, to name a few, point to the need for a comprehensive system to prevent or mitigate conflicts and their ensuing effects in West Africa.

10Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo introduced “The Role of Civil Society in Peace building and Conflict Prevention in West Africa” at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.

Ms. Dorothy Gordon, Director General, KAIPTC chairing panel presentation, and Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, Senior Governance Advisor UNDP


11Thelma Ekiyor, The challenges of conflict prevention for West Africa and Ghana. A paper presented At the Annual Conference of Members of the German Development Corporation in Ghana, 2 October, 2007

Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, and the 2001 supplementary protocol on good governance and democracy. But it was really the 1999 protocol that kick-started a serious drive to prevent conflict through its main objectives of preventing, and resolving internal and inter-state conflicts, and the institutionalising of a Sub-regional peace and security observation system (Early Warning System). Early warning systems are regarded as an important tool in the prevention of conflicts, and the ECOWAS Early Warning system, as it is known, stands as the main area where tangible strides have been made by ECOWAS to erect a structure that would allow structural and operational prevention to occur.

The role of civil society has been integral to the processes, CSOs proximity to local populations has been crucial to challenging marginalisation and discrimination, whilst promoting tolerance and a culture of peace. Civil society has also played central roles in strengthening local capacities for peace by raising the profile of indigenous mediation and reconciliation in communities.

Though civil society cannot ‘replace’ the State in providing peace and security, the ability of CSOs to set a compelling agenda, particularly on environmental, social, economic and security issues, has been a significant force in addressing structural causes of conflicts. Furthermore, the active involvement of civil society in formal peace processes has brought insights usually not considered by the parties in conflict. Notably, the role of Liberian civil society and in particular women’s groups in non-violent activism during the Accra peace talks in 2003 ensured that the needs of ordinary Liberians were at the centre of the talks and that parties remained engaged until an agreement was signed. This was regarded as a key factor in the eventual success of the talks.

The seminar noted that CSOs in Ghana should learn from the experiences in the region and become more engaged in peacebuilding and conflict prevention processes. Though Ghana is

enjoying a period of relative stability, the country has been host to bitter ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts, predominantly in its Northern regions. The north is comparatively less developed than the rest of the country and has conflicts rooted in a scramble for traditional and political power.

Conf l icts between the Kokomba and the Nanumba, and the Kusasis and the Mamprusis have collectively led to thousands of deaths and still have the capacity of igniting violence11.

There has also been a proliferation of small arms in Ghana. The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms estimates that there are 100,000 illicit weapons in circulation in the country. Porous borders causing arms to be brought in from Ghana’s neighbours have been cited as the reasons for these large numbers but some studies have also stated that there is a burgeoning local manufacturing market.

More recently, Ghana has also been identified as a passageway for the trafficking of illegal drugs. All these conditions illustrate that stability in Ghana should not be taken for granted, and any efforts to prevent violence should be promoted.

There have been many attempts to prevent and mitigate violence in the North, some are locally generated such as the Bawku Peace Initiative and the activities implemented through the Unity Center at Damongo. Others have been inspired by regional and international actors such as the UNDP project, known as “Strengthening

The active involvement of civil society in formal peace processes has brought insights usually not considered by the parties in conflict. Notably, the role of Liberian civil society and in particular women’s groups in non-violent activism during the Accra peace talks in 2003, are regarded as a key factor in the eventual success of the talks.


National Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution in Ghana”. This is a noteworthy step by UNDP in recognition that conflict and poverty are closely inter-related and that to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), conflict management and peace building are critical components of sustainable development in Ghana.

The U NDP projec t a s s i s ted Gha na i n instutionalising peacebuilding through the establishment of a Peace Building Support Unit, otherwise referred to as the Department of Peace in the Ministry of Interior. If properly operated, such a unit can serve as a point of partnership between state actors and civil society in promoting conf lict prevention and peacebuilding in the country. Another very important structure is the bi-partisan 11 member council called the national architecture of peace; which is to serve as a conflict prevention body to provide early responses to emerging conf licts. The architecture brings civil society groups, community organisations, professional bodies and faith based organisations together with governance structures and security agencies, into a national framework for anticipating and responding to signs of conflict. This structure is the outcome of a pilot project to build and mitigate conflicts in the North, following the Dagbon crisis in 2002. The success of the pilot project led to the creation of the National architecture which is work at 3 levels;

1. The first is the National Peace Council (NPC), which was recently constituted following consultations with all stakeholders including political associations. The NPC brings together very renowned and respected Ghanaians of distinction including Roman Catholic Cardinal Peter Turkson; Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Movement; the National Chief Imam, Sheik Sharabutu; Bishop Lodonu; Pastor Mensah Otabil; Professor Irene Odotei, among others. This independent and non-partisan statutory body provides a national platform for consensus building on potentially

divisive issues, as well as promoting national reconciliation.

2. The second level is the establishment of Regional Peace Advisory Councils (RPAC). The RPAC’s include distinguished Ghanaians within the regions who mediate inter-district and community-level conflicts, facilitate trust and confidence building among groups as well as promote reconciliation. Underpinning the work of the RPAC’s is the recruitment, training and deployment of Peace Promotion Officers (the nucleus of a national cadre of mediators) in each of the ten regions. The PPO’s provide technical expertise to the regional governments, communities and groups in the resolution of conflicts. In conjunction with the RPAC’s they organise capacity building for community members to expand the base of peace builders in the communities. Six RPAC’s have been established in six regions. The remaining four will be established within the first quarter of 2007.

3. The third level is District Peace Advisory Councils (DPACs). The DPAC’s include members of the District Assemblies and other community elders. The DPAC’s promote community dia logue and mobil ise a l l stakeholders to ensure local ownership of peace building initiatives. They advise the district administrations on socio-economic initiatives that could give excluded groups a stake in the local economies. The establishment of DPAC’s will commence in mid-2007.

This architecture will be particularly relevant in developing any conflict prevention strategy leading up to Ghana’s elections in 2008. The link between elections and conflict is tendentious. Elections in West Africa have yielded varied results, and as Ghana positions itself for general elections in 2008, it is important for civil society and sectors to re-examine the conditions for peace and conflict in the country and proactively analyse if there are any indicators that can potentially lead to instability12 .

12Thelma Ekiyor, The challenges of conflict prevention for West Africa and Ghana


The Ghanaian press has a long history, beginning with the appearance in 1857 of the Accra Herald, one of Africa’s first newspapers (published by an African). Until independence in 1957, the press played an important role in bringing colonial rule to an end. Ghana’s first Prime Minister, Kwame Nkrumah, used the media as a revolutionary tool of African liberation. He provided practical guidance on how best to promote the independence struggle in the Accra Evening News which he founded in 1948. He also founded The Ghana News Agency in 1957 in order to correct the distortions about the continent in the international media. In 1963, the

first Newspaper Licensing Law was enacted14.

Since the return of democratic governance in 1993, there are an ever-increasing number of print and broadcast outlets. Prior to 1995, only about 13 newspapers were making sporadic appearances, depending on the goodwill and disposition of the military government of the time. But by the end of 2005, more than 90 newspapers, magazines and journals had been registered with the media oversight body, National Media Commission (NMC). In the year 2005 alone, 37 newspapers and 26 magazines had been registered.

State-owned newspapers have nat ionwide circulation. Though, rural regions in the country receive newspapers one full day or more after their publication dates. Apart from a few private newspapers and the state-owned media, which carried significant amounts of advertisements, the rest of the private newspapers survive almost entirely on subscription and news stand sales.

The number of broadcast media outlets also experienced significant growth. The National Communications Authority (NCA), the regulatory authority charged with allocating frequencies, had by the end of 2004 granted frequencies to about 127 FM stations. As at March 2005, 84 of the radio stations were actually operational. The NCA had also within the same period given 28 approvals for television stations, but only six were

The State of the Ghanaian Media13

The media in Ghana plays a central role in fostering public dialogue. Ghana currently has a strong and vibrant media that facilitates exchange of views on socio-political issues affecting the nation. The emergence of a mixture of state-owned and

independent media in the country with a zeal for investigative journalism has served as a regulator, not only of government but other institutions. The liberalisation of the media in 1995 saw an increase in the number of radio and television stations and newspapers which enhanced public discourse on political issues and served as an efficient vehicle for civil society’s voices to be heard.

13Prof Kwame Karikari. Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa, introduced the theme “The state of Ghanaian Media” at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.14Catherine de Gale: Africa Media Debates – Ghana, 2000

Prof. Kwame Karikari. Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa


operational. One very significant contribution of the new FM stations is the use of Ghanaian languages in broadcasting.

Beyond the repeal of the criminal libel law, the government dragged its feet in legislating a Right to Information Bill. Two main media regulatory institutions exist in Ghana. These are the NMC, which deals mainly with media content, and the NCA, which is mainly responsible for frequency regulation infrastructure development.

The NMC has an oversight mandate on the media-to promote and safeguard the freedom and independence of the media, encourage responsible practice and investigate, mediate and settle complaints made against the press or other mass media. The NCA mandate on the other is to promote broadcast pluralism, to oversee the allocation, administration and utilisation of the country’s frequency spectrum and to ensure that as far as practicable and reasonably necessary to

satisfy demand for services, communications services are provided throughout Ghana.

Despite its gains, the media is still wrought with problems of weak infrastructure, poor management and lack of qualified and skilled personnel. The print media sector in particular did not witness

significant qualitative improvements in format and content. Many of the private newspapers continued to be characterised by poor packaging, sensational headlines, poor grammar and factual inaccuracies.

However, the media in Ghana have played their expected roles in ensuring that the citizens have access to government functionaries. This has been possible through phone-in segments during electronic media programmes and letters addressed to editors in the print media which affords the citizens the opportunity to also make their concerns known. Though the media plays a critical role within civil society, there is the tendency to categorise the media as being separate from civil society. Conceptually, a broad definition of civil society should incorporate the activities of the media as media ideals of freedom of expression and association, transparency and accountability are cornerstones of civil society. However, narrow interpretations of civil society as being predominantly a sphere for NGOs has resulted in sidelining the media. CSOs engagement of the media will enable plurality of voices and diversity of opinions on issues of national interest.

Civil society in partnership with the media can make a significant difference in improving governance – as innovators in service provision, developers of pro-poor policies, investigators of state abuses, monitors and overseers of state institutions, and advocates of marginalised people. A strong and independent media working

Hon. Mrs. Frema Osei Opare Dep Minister, Ministry of Youth & Employment

Dr. Esi Sutherland Addy, Member of WACSI Board of Directors


15DFID Practice Paper, September 2007

within the umbrella of civil society will contribute to building an effective state that protects human rights, support economic growth, tackle corruption and provide security and basic services like education and health care15. For the media to become a visible part of civil society there needs to be targeted initiatives that interest the media, and the use of the media beyond simply covering CSO activities. CSOs should also have media units within their organisations to enhance their operations. The media on its part must enhance its visibility at the grassroots level. Civil society must be empowered by knowledge and public support.

The seminar stressed that the need for National Broadcasting Legislation in Ghana cannot be overemphasised as this will streamline the activities and conduct of the media. The seminar also called on CSOs to encourage the establishment of community radio stations and papers since it will afford people in such communities the

opportunity to effectively make their problems known to government. Such community radio stations and papers will help the underprivileged who cannot access the commercial media as a result of the huge amounts involved to also access an equally effective one.

In the same vein, the seminar argued that the time has come for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to be transformed into a public broadcasting service as done in many developed countries since it would create the platform for those who are unable to access the private ones to also access it. This transformation would help break the monopoly of politicians and businessmen who have hijacked the airwaves at the detriment of the underprivileged in society.

The seminar urged CSOs to partner with people advocating for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill since such a bill would help in the fight against corruption.


During the pro-independence movement in the 1960s, the role of civil society in the Ghana’s independence inspired other countries on the verge of ending colonialism. In recent times, Ghanaian civil society organisations have been instrumental in promoting peace and democratisation in countries in West Africa. Though based in Ghana, many CSOs have a regional and global outlook and implement initiatives

that promote good governance, democratisation and peace across the sub-region. Notably, Ghana’s role as host of the Liberian peace talks in 2003 resulted in a collaboration between Liberian and Ghanaian civil society communities calling for an end to the war. On a wider scale, Ghanaian civil society organisations have been closely involved in regional integration activities and the strengthening of the ECOWAS.

The seminar noted that Ghana was a key player in sub-regional and continental fora. As the first country to attain independence in West Africa, the role of Ghana in shaping continental organisations cannot be underestimated. As an example of its key position in the politics of Africa, Ghana hosted in July 2007, the African Union (AU) Summit where African Heads of States gathered to examine the future of Africa. Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah took the lead in 1963 by bringing African countries together to build Pan Africanist ideals. Subsequent events in the area of continental integration, and the creation of ECOWAS, built on these ideals. Building and strengthening peace and democracy and promoting security in West Africa require more than just the resolution of isolated

Regional Collaborations towards Democracy, Peace and Security in the Sub-region16

During the pro-independence movement in the 1960s, the role of civil society in the Ghana’s independence stirred up hope in other countries on the verge of ending colonialism. In recent times, Ghanaian civil society organisations have been

instrumental in promoting peace and democratisation in countries in West Africa. Though based in Ghana, many CSOs have a regional and global outlook and implement initiatives that promote good governance, democratisation and peace across the sub-region. Notably, Ghana’s role as host of the Liberian peace talks in 2003 resulted in a collaboration between Liberian and Ghanaian civil society communities calling for an end to the war. On a wider scale, Ghanaian civil society organisations have been closely involved in regional integration activities and the strengthening of the ECOWAS.

16Prof. Oumar Ndongo, General Secretary, WACSOF, introduced the theme “Regional Collaborations and Challenges: An assessment of Ghanaian civil society’s contributions to democracy, peace and security in the sub region” at the at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.

Prof. Oumar Ndongo, General Secretary, the West African Civil Society Forum


conflicts. It is essential to examine the dynamics of change (demographic, policy-related, economic, cultural and institutional) in West African societies that are, to a great extent, at the origins of many ongoing conflicts and impact on the modalities of exit from crises. Some of the factors for the spread of conflicts at the local, national, cross-border and regional levels include: the regional and spatial dimensions related to the forced movement of populations, illegal trade in raw materials and light weapons, and links between the political elite and rebel groups of neighbouring countries.

WACSOF was established to provide a role for CSOs to contribute towards addressing these challenges.The Forum is the institutionalised platform for CSOs to interface with ECOWAS on issues of democracy, governance, and security. The Executive Committee of WACSOF organised a retreat in August 2007 to seek ways, through a SWOT analysis, to move to a higher level of engagement with the development of national platforms in the 15 ECOWAS member states.

Other transnational networks with bases in Ghana such as WANEP and Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) have significantly raised the level of CSOs’ involvement in peace building and policy reformulation across West Africa. Actions undertaken by CSOs under the leadership of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in 2004 to stop government decision to privatise the water supply serve as good examples of how civil society operate as an effective pressure group or watchdog. The Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC) and the Third World Network (TWN) have also played tremendous roles in galvanising civil society support against the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with the European Union. In 2004, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) embarked on a campaign to promote good neighbourliness within the sub-region. This effort, which led to a visit to the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, culminated in the revival of the West African Students Union (WASU).

The seminar further noted that Ghana’s presence

at the regional level is also felt through the large constituency of its CSO/NGO networks for increased advocacy of issues at national and sub-regional levels. The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), and the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) are professional entities which have gained credibility and respect in and outside the country.

Despite these achievements, challenges persist. Ghanaian CSOs, like most CSOs in West Africa are donor-driven and are particularly weak in networking. The fight over funding opportunities accounts for the lack of stronger and more viable entities. The seminar noted the need for stronger networks to better influence policies at national and sub-regional levels. It was stressed that while Ghanaian organisations have competent and talented human resources, weak internal accountability mechanisms have compromised CSOs demand for accountability, transparency and sound management practices from public office holders or government officials.

Critically, WACSOF’s national platform in Ghana should be strengthened. Regional organisations’ credibility should be on the ability to integrate grassroots actors. Much the same way, information from the sub-regional level should filter down to strengthen synergies and facilitate empowerment of community based organisations which are closer local populations.

Mr. Chirtian Lawrence, Senior Programme Officer, CGG Sierra Leone


As the government, private sector, civil society, and international development agencies seek more effective ways to cooperate, the need to assess the relationship between these groups becomes expedient. A well functioning state consists of collaboration between the state, private sector and civil society. All three are essential for sustaining human development. In Ghana, whereas the collaboration and partnership between government and the private sector is visible and often close, the relationship between the private sector and civil society is characterised either by suspicion or indifference. The private sector is largely suspicious of civil society’s agenda and motives resulting in very limited interaction and collaboration between both sectors.

The state creates conducive political and legal environment, the private sector generates jobs and income, whilst civil society facilitates political and social interaction by mobilising groups to participate in economic, social and political activities. The rising popularity of CSOs is largely in response to the widespread disillusionment with the performance of the public sector in some developing countries. In fact, even governments are now increasingly viewing CSOs as an integral part of the institutional structure particularly for addressing the problem of rising poverty. This is reflected in the poverty reduction strategies instituted action by governments in most developing countries.

In Ghana, the private sector has contributed immensely in the payment of taxes, creation of employment opportunities, infrastructural development as well as community based support to rural communities. The demands by civil society for “Corporate Social Responsibility” by the private sector have further brought to light the role of the private sector in Ghana. The private sector has basically represented the non-public sector ownership and control of organisations or structures usually found in the field of commerce or business. The necessity for group activity and group influence has given rise to these human creations as vessels through which programmes and strategies for the attainment of various goals became priorities. There has been the emergence of some institutions such as Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ghana Employers Association, Ghana

Civil Society and Private Sector Relations17

In Ghana, the private sector has contributed immensely in the payment of taxes, creation of employment opportunities, infrastructural development as well as community based support to rural communities.

17Mr. Jesse Clottey, Private Enterprise Corporation introduced the theme :“Civil Society and Private Sector Relations in Ghana” Paper presented at the Regional Seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s evolution in the last fifty years” November 8-9, 2007; Accra, Ghana.

Mr. Jesse Clottey, Private Enterprise Corporation


Association of Bankers, etc. These organisations formed the Private Enterprise Foundation. This initiative was formed with a view to influencing government policies and regulations as Information Technology (IT) affects the private sector.

There have been collaborations between the private sector and civil society though very few and far apart. In 1997 for instance, during the energy crisis, the two groups mobilised forces and influence to work towards reliable solutions. The strategy adopted was to have a meeting to deliberate on how to restore a more reliable and cost effective energy sources in Ghana.

With the development agenda largely moderated by the Budget and Economic Policy Document, the GPRS l & II and the Millennium Development Goals, there is space for the participation of the private sector and the civil society in issues of development. However, there are constraints for the civil society as it neither has the conceptual/real structures of representation nor generally accepted articulation of its priorities. The private sector on the other hand has mechanisms to respond to the invitation of the Ministry of Finance to provide inputs for consideration as source material for the budget.

The seminar noted that CSOs in Ghana must endeavour to form linkages with the private sector through dialogue. The interests of the private and public sector must be coordinated. The current state of the relationship maybe attributed to organisational lapses and not mere suspicion or indifference. Whilst building l inkages, civi l society must streamline its activities along initial collaborations between GAPVOD, the faith-based groups, the private

sector, etc. The spirit of ‘isolated activities’ must be replaced by more co-ordinated private sector-civil society relations.

The seminar further recommended that the focus should be on mobilising groups to participate in economic, social and political activism. Since so much depends on the reliability of funding sources, it may be necessary to emphasise on the quality of civil society monitoring and evaluation. This would thereby justify the provision of resources by the private sector to regularise and internalise the monitoring activities of civil society groups who are professionally equipped and are supervised to deliver good services.

The culture of monitoring and evaluation that is prevalent in the private sector and the civil society should be ingrained in the way things are done in Ghana. This is a useful input the collaboration of the private sector and civil society would introduce into the system. There is presently no regular opportunity in Ghana for civil society and government to exchange ideas, skills, and best practices on public sector performance. Suggestions were made that a forum involving representatives of government and civil society should be held annually. These events would bring to the table best practices on performance assessment during the course of the year, including joint performance assessment activities undertaken on a sectoral or cross-sectoral basis18. Regular interactions and exchanges between both sectors will assist in alleviating some challenges, such as:

Lack of awareness in civil society of mechanisms •

The private sector has basically represented the non-public sector ownership and control of organisations or structures usually found in the field of commerce or business.

18“The Role of Civil Society in Assessing Private Sector Performance in Ghana”. World Bank Workshop Report 2000.


to access information on the public sector and of their right to such information; Lack of a strong activist tradition;•A general lack of capacity (skills and knowledge) •as well as lack of access to resources (information, funds, and the like);The general perception of CSOs (especially •NGOs) that they are service and welfare providers, not “watchdogs” or advocates of public sector performance.

In Ghana, the prevailing perception is that public goods and services are provided by a benevolent government, and civil society does not have a right to criticise its performance. There is also an absence of direct benefits from participating in public sector processes. Civil society often pays a heavy price in project delays or lack of completion as a result of slow and inefficient service delivery.

Where participation has been a condition for obtaining resources, an inordinate amount of time has been demanded from the “beneficiaries,” sometimes with no pay-off. Another major constraint in this relationship is the culture of control of information in public institutions and in the Official Secrecy Act in Ghana, which prevents easy access to public sector information. There is the need therefore for the private sector to create opportunities for engaging on policy issues, to strengthen the capacities of CSOs, form partnerships with CSOs- both as sources and recipients of information, and build a strong coalition around key issues. The private sector could initiate a funding mechanism to strengthen the capacity of civil society as well as collaborate in securing funding and partnerships for community and national development.


Colonisation utilised exiting forms of social relations between men and women and transformed them along the lines of Western Victorian values to enhance the economic exploitation agenda of the colonialists. Women’s roles as producers of a wide range of crops was undermined by their redefinition as housewives and the definition of men as ‘breadwinners’ and ‘head of households’. Women in pre-modern Ghanaian society were seen as bearers of children, retailers of fish, and farmers. Within the traditional sphere, the childbearing ability of women was explained as the means by

which lineage ancestors were allowed to be reborn. In pre-colonial times, polygamy was encouraged, especially for wealthy men. Anthropologists have explained the practice as a traditional method for well-to-do men to procreate additional labour. Given the male dominance in traditional society, some economic anthropologists have explained a female’s ability to reproduce as the most important means by which women ensured social and economic security for themselves, especially if they bore male children.

The consequences of these colonial practices were that women were largely unrepresented in the political, economic and social structures of the colonial state. However, women in Ghana advocated against status quo and participated actively in the anti-colonialist struggles, such as the cocoa hold-ups and boycotts of European merchants.

The transition into the modern world has been slow for women. On the one hand, the high rate of female fertility in Ghana in the 1980s showed that women’s primary role continued to be that of child-bearing. On the other hand, current research supported the view that, notwithstanding the Education Act of 1960, which expanded and required elementary education, some parents were reluctant to send their daughters to school because their labour was needed in the home and on farms. Resistance to female education also stemmed from

Women’s Role in Ghana: Past, Present and Future19

Women in Ghana played pivotal roles contributing to social and political life throughout Ghana’s pre and post-independence eras. Traditionally, women have always been active around social, economic, political issues. Some activities were around ushering young

women into puberty and adulthood while others were around cultural dances and music. Among the Akan people for instance, while the men went to war, the women performed ‘mmomomme’, which were dances and rites with military and religious connotations to assure the community of victory in battle.

19Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director, Abantu for Development introduced the Theme “The role of Women in Ghana’s past, present and future” Presented at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.

Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director, Abantu for Development


the conviction that women would be supported by their husbands. In some circles, there was the fear that a girl’s marriage prospects dimmed when she became educated. Statistics show that 41% of women have no formal education as opposed to 21.1% of men. Given that access to most positions in formal sector employment now require secondary or higher levels of education, statistics also show that currently only 5.7% women are working in this sector as against 15.8% of men.

The current enrolment figures do not give much room for optimism. The average enrolment rates for male students are 66.2% and 58.4% for females. More girls than boys drop out of education at all levels. For example, in 2003, only 2% of all tertiary students were female. Factors such as poverty, early marriage and teenage pregnancy prevent females from continuing their education to the tertiary level. The government actively campaigns for girls’ education and has established a girls’ education unit within the basic education division of the Ghana Educational Service.

A similar situation occurs in the political arena. Though the Representation Act of the People was passed in 1959, much has not been achieved in the last fifty years as the practice has been for women to be underrepresented at all levels of governance. This Act made provision for the election of

women as members of the National Assembly. It provided for ten women to hold office. This was an innovation in Ghana and Africa as a whole. Generally however, issues of state accountability and the extent to which civil society has pushed for political changes since the 1990s have created a chance for women in Ghana to advance their rights in areas of politics and national debates, though so much still remains to be done.

In spite of the pivotal roles Ghanaian women play within their communities, families and society in general, it is worrying to note that they do not occupy key decision making positions in all sectors of economic, social and political life. The prevailing practice for women is to be relegated to the background after supporting male counterparts in political parties. The ratio of female/male membership of both Parliament and District Assemblies, as well as public/private sectors and in corporate organisations does not reflect a population composed of over 51% women. Women account for only 11% in the public service. There are only 25 women in a 230-member Legislative, making only 9%. The figures at the District Assembly levels have grown over time but are still inadequate even when affirmative guidelines are applied. Women make up 16% in the Council of State, the body that advises the President on the critical challenges facing the Ghanaian nation.

The seminar highlighted the fact that economic policy reforms have not helped the situation of women in any remarkable way. Since 2002, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) has been used as the basic framework of promoting economic development. Critics assert that gender analysis was f lawed in the first GPRS (2002). Efforts were however made to address this in GPRS II by engaging more broadly with civil society institutions who work to promote the gender equality. Lack of access to water and sanitation are other areas that have implications for women’s experience of poverty. Women spend long hours walking long distances to fetch water and firewood for their families. This has had negative consequences on their health. Figures for 1997-2003 show negative trends in health

Mr. David Nii Addy, Technical Advisor, GTZ/KAIPTC


indicators: e.g. fact mortality rose from 57 in 1998 to 64 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003; child mortality also rose from 108 to 111 per live births in the same period while UNDP figures for maternal mortality for 2000 shows 540 per 100,000 live births.

Within civil society, women’s involvement in informal and formal organisations has increased and women have been on the forefront of advocating for gender equity and improvements in the socio-economic status of women in the country. This has led to major advancements in legislation and practices that promote women’s rights. Nevertheless, challenges of domestic violence against women, oppressive cultural practices and weak structures to address violations of women’s rights still persist. Customary law rules and beliefs, ideologies and practices of marriage discriminate against women. HIV/AIDS infections are also higher among women. The Ministry of Health in Ghana indicates that more than 90% of all HIV/AIDS cases are among women and men of ages 15 and 49 and two-thirds of those infected with the virus are female.

International women’s rights provisions have assisted Ghanaian women civil society at all levels to advocate for their rights. The seminar highlighted three key initiatives, namely:

The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) NETRIGHT has been active in working on economic justice issues such as the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy and Land rights. It has also recently advocated for recognition of the importance of women’s rights work through the advocacy work it embarked on in relation to the Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (GRAP). Through the effort of NETRIGHT, this pooled funding mechanism for Research and Advocacy organisations in Ghana is currently going through an engendering process.

The Domestic Violence Coalition (DVC) DVC was built around the then Domestic Violence Bill. Series of activities were embarked upon by the coalition to sensitise and create awareness in

the public and influence the bill’s early passage. Through the efforts of DVC, Ghana now has a Domestic Violence Law. Unique features of the Law include the mandatory duty placed on the police in the enforcement of domestic violence legislation. The law also provides for civil protection orders and defines sexual harassment. It also places a duty on the Minister of Justice to make regulations for the training of court and police off icers as well as the education and counselling of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.

The Women’s Manifesto for Ghana and the formation of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition (MWC) This idea emerged as an initiative from ABANTU for Development. Some of its objectives were:a. To demand from government, its agencies,

political parties and the general populace actions towards addressing the economic and socio-cultural environment that hinders the active participation of women in the processes of national development;

b. To provide information to those committed to becoming knowledgeable on what is needed to achieve gender equality;

c. To check and monitor political parties’ accountability and their attitudes in relation to issues of concern to women and the opportunities they create to promote women’s participation in politics and in decision-making processes.

Through the work of the Manifesto, the Domestic Violence (DV) Coalition, NETRIGHT, other CSO actors, and advocacy groups have built a strong base for addressing gender issues in Ghana, the sub-region and the rest of Africa and beyond. It is clear that CSOs in Ghana can pool their resources and capacities together to influence relevant change towards social transformation from a gender perspective. The importance of partnerships, both within the CSO ranks and with different constituencies–mass organisations, the media, and the private sector–cannot be underestimated. The maximisation of successful partnerships will enable CSOs in Ghana achieve their goals of consolidating the achievements of


gender equality in Ghana.This process is intricately linked to:

The constitutionalism, the rule of law and the •democratisation, The citizen participation in decision affecting •the citizenry, The limitation of the government power and the •protection of individual rights and liberties.

As such, Ghana is a constitutional democracy with a strong presidency and a unicameral 230-seat parliament since 1992. Like most countries

in West Africa, Ghana has a past that is marred by human rights violations dating back to colonial times. Subsequent post independence governments also oppressed Ghanaians through arbitrary arrests, detentions, and instituting a culture of fear in society, particularly during the country’s successive military regimes. The enactment of the 1992 Constitution and the re-introduction of democracy in Ghana led to legislative restoration of the people’s civil and political rights.

Currently, there has been significant progress recorded in Ghana in the upholding of human rights. There is marked increase in the signing and ratification of major international human rights mechanisms, for instance the Children’s Convention (Children’s Act). There have also been major law reforms as well.

The establishment of the vibrant Commission on Human Rights and Justice (CHRAJ) in 1993 is viewed as a major progressive step towards safeguarding human rights. This Commission exists to enhance good governance, democracy, integrity, peace and social development by promoting, protecting and enforcing fundamental human rights and freedoms and administrative justice for all persons in Ghana.

The objectives of CHRAJ are to:Ensure a culture of respect for the rights and •

Safeguarding Human Rights in Ghana20

The concept of human rights refers to the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Examples of rights and freedoms which are often thought of as human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life and liberty,

freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to participate in culture, the right to work, and the right to education. Safeguarding these rights is a long process that implies the promotion, the protection and the monitoring of the said rights.

20Prof. Kenneth A. Attafuah, Executive Director, The Justice and Human Rights Institute, Accra. “Civil Society’s role in safeguarding Human Rights” Paper presented at the Regional seminar on Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years, November 8-9 2007, Accra, Ghana.

Prof. Kenneth A. Attafuah, Executive Director, The Justice and Human Rights Institute


obligations of all people in Ghana. Dispense and promote justice in a free, informal •and relatively expeditious manner. Ensure fairness, efficiency, transparency and •application of best practices. Use a well-trained and motivated workforce and •the most modern technology.

Civil society actors have emerged as vocal advocates for human rights in the country, calling for reforms in police and judicial practices, press freedoms, women’s rights and respect for the rule of law. Ghana has witnessed the emergence of strong women’s groups such as the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), professional groups and faith-based organisations. These have made their impact felt through boycotts, publications, workshops/seminars, campaigns, petitions, parliamentary lobbying, demonstrations as well as press conferences and issuing of communiqués.

The seminar however identified that much still needs to be done by CSOs to promote civil societies in safeguarding human rights in Ghana. The need to broaden societal appreciation and acceptance of

human rights was reiterated. Emphasis should be placed on the promotion of the pillars of horizontal accountability, i.e. judicial accountability and parliamentary effectiveness. CSOs must also promote the pillars of vertical accountability through civic education for effective and robust citizenship. They should make civic demands for simple, effective laws as well as demand and work for the appropriate legal framework for fighting corruption through the promulgation of Freedom of Information Law, Whistle Blower legislation and repeal of Criminal Libel laws.

The seminar concluded that civil society must become a major driving force in popularising the contents of the 1992 Constitution. In particular, there should be no justification for any further delays in implementing the recommendations for mass human rights education and institutional reforms aimed at preventing the kind of egregious human rights violations heard by CHRAJ. Civil society must articulate and champion the demand for government to live up to its promises of upholding human rights in Ghana.


Such interaction between civil society and government (and donors) means that civil society is also an important potential user of information on the performance of government—i.e., on performance indicators and the f indings of evaluations and reviews. Civil society can also be instrumental in putting pressure on any government agencies which are suffering from corruption.

The following recommendations were made at the seminar:

National Level Government should hasten the implementation •and achievement of the MDGs. CSOs must be involved in the monitoring and •evaluation of progress made on issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and gender equality in the MDGs. The activities and successes of civil society •in Ghana in all areas of endeavour should be documented for ease of reference and to build credibility. Civil society should mobilise and actively engage •in pre-election advocacy, election monitoring and observation especially during the upcoming 2008 Ghanaian elections. Donor agencies and organisations should ensure •that their relationships with civil society are not only financial but practical, by engaging with CSOs on the realities of their work and impact in Ghana. Civi l society should clearly def ine and •strategically negotiate for the principles around which relations with donors are centred.

Civil society must redefine its position and •continuously evaluate its operations in area of accountability, transparency and internal governance. There is an urgent need to strengthen Ghana’s •civil society’s local capacities to mediate in conf lict and manage differences through conf l ict resolut ion tra ining, mediat ion services and dialogue facilitation as well as the alleviation of social tensions and conflicts by chal lenging racism, xenophobia and discrimination, whilst promoting tolerance and a culture of peace. Civil society must advocate for a National •Broadcasting legislation to regulate the national media. Private sector and civil society alliances should •be forged for community development. Col laborat ions bet ween c iv i l soc ie t y •organisations working on human rights and government agencies such as the CHRAJ should be forged and sustained. Civil society should use the inf luence and •potential of the traditional systems to forge in roads in areas of HIV/AIDS, FGM, and violence against women.

Regional Level Civil society must continue to play a critical •role in peace-building and the prevention of conflict bearing in mind Ghana’s history, by addressing issues of structural violence, promoting human security through initiatives for social and economic development, human rights monitoring; promotion of the rule of law and preventing environmental degradation;

ConclusionThe regional seminar highlighted the need for concerted efforts on the part of all involved – civil society, the government, the private sector, women groups, the traditional leaders, the media and all other agencies. As Ghana celebrates 50 years, it

is imperative that civil society analyses its strengths and weaknesses and engage government in building a common ground on all issues. Civil society in Ghana must continue to complement, inform, influence and challenge government by pushing government to improve the performance of the state, lobbying for the rights of excluded groups as well as campaigning against corruption and engaging in public-private partnerships.


participating in political processes, policy dialogues, mentoring, advocacy, campaigns and protests, thereby making governments and state structures more responsive to the needs of their citizenry. Focus should be placed on regional and alternate •resources for the funding and operations of civil society. There is need for civil society to improve their •knowledge base of ECOWAS, its provision for CSOs and its workings in areas of peace and security. Stakeholders should be engaged on the •functionality of the ECOWARN. There should be formation of sub-groups on •thematic areas to forge stronger engagements in sub-regional activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation CHRAJ, Equal Opportunities Commissions, •Gender Commissions, the media, civil society and research institutions should be watch-dogs monitoring the implementation of the MDGs and the implementation of regional and international mechanisms.

Capacity Building Strengthen the collaboration of networks across •the region through training. The setting up of a People’s Law School for basic •legal and judicial literacy within Ghana. Build the capacity of civil society on legal issues •and government policies on the implementation of international charters and protocols.


Appendices

COMMUNIQUÉRegional Seminar on “Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years” La Palm Beach Hotel, Accra Ghana; November 8 -9, 2007

We, the representatives of civil society actors in Ghana and across West Africa, government representatives, donor agencies, the media, and the private sector, gathered in Accra, Ghana to reflect on the evolution and contributions made over the last fifty years and formulate strategies for strengthening collaborations and partnerships in Ghana:

Recognising, the role of civil society in fostering democracy, good governance, peace-building, socio-economic development and gender equality in general,

Acknowledging the exponential increase in the number and contributions of civil society towards economic and social development, empowerment of the citizenry, promotion and awareness creation and protection of the rights of the marginalised and the poor,

Stressing the primary responsibility of the state to protect its citizens from human rights violations and crimes against humanity,

Concerned about the progress made in Ghana of the MDGs before 2015,

Noting the critical role of the media as an agent of democratisation in Ghana and its place within the civil society,

Commending the involvement of Ghanaian women in the promotion of gender equity, advancements in legislation and practices that promote women’s rights,

Realising the important role that traditional governance systems play within the Ghanaian society,

Acknowledging Ghana’s key position in the attainment of regional peace and stability within the sub region,

And noting that a lot still remains to be achieved in enhancing the contributions of civil society in Ghana and across West Africa,

Recommend that:

National Level Government should hasten the implementation •and achievement of the MDGs. CSOs must be involved in the monitoring and •evaluation of progress made on issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS and gender equality in the MDGs. The activities and successes of civil society •in Ghana in all areas of endeavour should be documented for ease of reference and to build credibility. Civil society should mobilise and actively engage •in pre-election advocacy, election monitoring and observation especially during the upcoming 2008 Ghanaian elections. Donor agencies and organisations should ensure •that their relationships with civil society are not only financial but practical, by engaging with CSOs on the realities of their work and impact in Ghana. Civi l society should clearly def ine and •strategically negotiate for the principles around which relations with donors are centred. Civil society must redefine its position and •continuously evaluate its operations in area of accountability, transparency and internal governance. There is an urgent need to strengthen Ghana’s •civil society’s local capacities to mediate in conf lict and manage differences through conflict resolution training, mediation services


and dialogue facilitation as well as the alleviation of social tensions and conflicts by challenging racism, xenophobia and discrimination, whilst promoting tolerance and a culture of peace. Civil society must advocate for a National •Broadcasting legislation to regulate the national media. Private sector and civil society alliances should •be forged for community development. Col laborat ions bet ween c iv i l soc ie t y •organisations working on human rights and government agencies such as the CHRAJ should be forged and sustained. Civil society should use the inf luence and •potential of the traditional systems to forge in roads in areas of HIV/AIDS, FGM, and violence against women.

Regional Level Civil society must continue to play a critical •role in peace-building and the prevention of conflict bearing in mind Ghana’s history, by addressing issues of structural violence, promoting human security through initiatives for social and economic development, human rights monitoring; promotion of the rule of law and preventing environmental degradation; participating in political processes, policy dialogues, mentoring, advocacy, campaigns and protests, thereby making governments and state structures more responsive to the needs of their citizenry. Focus should be placed on regional and alternate •resources for the funding and operations of civil society. There is need for civil society to improve their •knowledge base of ECOWAS, its provision for CSOs and its workings in areas of peace and security. Stakeholders should be engaged on the •functionality of the ECOWARN. There should be formation of sub-groups on •thematic areas to forge stronger engagements in sub-regional activities.

Monitoring and EvaluationCHRAJ, Equal Opportunities Commissions, •Gender Commissions, the media, civil society and research institutions should be watch dogs monitoring the implementation of the MDGs and the implementation of regional and international mechanisms.

Capacity Building Strengthen the collaboration of networks across •the region through training. The setting up of a People’s Law School for basic •legal and judicial literacy within Ghana. Build the capacity of civil society on legal issues •and government policies on the implementation of international charters and protocols.

Accra, GhanaNovember 09, 2007


Agenda – Day 1Day 1 Thursday 8 Nov 2007 Opening ceremony, Papers presentations and Plenary Discussions

8.30 – 9.00 Registration and seating of participants

9.00 – 9.30 Welcome remarksMC: Siapha Kamara- Country Director –Send Foundation WACSI•UNDP•GAPVOD•

9.30 – 10.00 Solidarity message: Hon. Mrs. Frema Osei Opare, Dep Minister, Ministry of Youth & Employment

10.00 – 10.30 Opening Address – Prof.Atsu Aryee“Before we were called Civil Society”: An overview of popular participation prior to the emergence of structured civil society in Ghana”.

10.30 – 11.00 Tea/Coffee

12.00 – 1.00 Panel Presentation I: Session Chair: Ms Dorothy Gordon-Director General , Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT Donor / civil society relations and the effectiveness of aid• Presenter:MsTaakaAwori,formerCountryDirector,ActionAidGhanaAssessing the role of civil society in the achievement of the MDGs• Presenter:Dr.NiiMoiThompsonThe role of civil society in peace-building and conflict prevention in West Africa• Presenter:Dr.OzonniaOjielo,SeniorGovernanceAdvisorUNDP

1.00 – 2.00 Lunch

2.00 – 3.00 Panel Presentations II: Session Chair: Dr Esi Sutherland AddyThe state of the Ghanaian Media• Presenter:Prof.KwameKarikariExecutiveDirector-MediaFoundationforWestAfricaRegional collaborations and challenges: ‘Enhancing collaboration among Ghanaian civil society and other actors in the sub region’• Presenter:Prof.Ndongo-SecretaryGeneral,WACSOFCivil society and private sector relations in Ghana• Presenter:Mr.JesseClottey,Director,GDF/IDEG

3.00 – 4.00 Plenary Discussions

4.00 – 4.30 Tea Break

5.00 Close


Day 2 Friday 9 Nov 2007 Presentations, Group work and Thematic Discussions

9.00 – 10.30 Panel Presentations III: Session Chair: Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu (OON), Secretary General , OATUU Panel Presentations 3:‘’Before we were called Civil Society”: An overview of popular participation prior to the emergence of structured civil society in Ghana• Presenter:Mr.KwesiJonah,PoliticalScienceDeptandScholar-in-ResidenceIDEGThe role of women in Ghana’s Past, Present and Future• Presenter:DrRoseMensah-Kutin,ExecutiveDirector,Abantu-ROWACivil Society’s Role in Safeguarding Human Rights• Presenter:ProfAttafuahExecutiveDirectoroftheJusticeandHumanRights

Institute and Legal Practitioner Kulendi@LawRelationship between civil society and traditional systems of governance • Presenter:Mr.K.B.Asante-RetiredDiplomat

10.30 – 11.30 Plenary Discussion

11.30 – 11.45 Tea/Coffee Break

11.45 – 1.45 Thematic Group Work sessions

1.45 – 2.30 Lunch

2.30 – 3.30 Group Work Presentations and discussionsChair: Lawrencia Adams, Executive Director, POSDEV

3.30 – 4.30 Strategies for the Way Forward- Communiqué- Rapporteur’s report and Recommendations

4.30 Tea/Close

Agenda – Day 239 ‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’

REGIONAL SEMINAR

List of Participants

Name ORGANISATION Position TEL NO EMAIL ADDRESS

ABRAHAM GARSHONG CRS HEAD OF AUDIT 027 7556085 [email protected]

ADU BOAHEN KUDU GAPVOD MEMBER 024 4855131 [email protected]

AJOA YEBOAH-AFARI GHANA TIMES EDITOR 021 224885 [email protected]

AKWASI ADDAE-BOAHENE

WUSC COUNTRY DIRECTOR

024 4413184 020 8159300

ALHAFI A. ABOLAI EANFORWARD EX. DIRECTOR 024 4370345

ALHASSAN UNUS CTF CD PROGRAMME OFFICER.

024 4213156 [email protected]

ALLAN LASSEY SHAWBELL CONSULTS SNR. MANAGER 024 2167687 [email protected]

ANTHONY MENSAH LANDLIFE/FOPGH CHAIRMAN 027 6155444 [email protected]

ATISU CHRISTIAN JNR. GENERATION CHANGERS DIRECTOR 024 2921585 [email protected]

BEATRICE BOAKYE-YIADOM

AWDF HIV/AIDS PR. OFF. 024 4672779 [email protected]

BECKY ADDA-DONTOH MOTHERS FOR ACTIVE NON-VOLENCE

PRESIDENT 024 4381104 [email protected]

BERNICE ADU OFEI EARTH SERVICE SECRETARY 024 3145552 [email protected]

BUDALI ISSAHAKU DFI GHANA SOCIAL DEPT. ADV.


CHRISTIAN LAWRENCE CGG (SIERRA LEONE) SENIOR PROG. OFF.


CHRISTIAN YIRENKYI UNITED NATIONS ASSO.GHANA

PUBLIC REG. OFF. 024 3391410 [email protected]

COMFORT ASANTE EDA EX.DIRECTOR 024 4410178 [email protected]

DANIEL YAO DOTSE UNIV. OF GHANA LEGON LOCAL NUGS. SEC 024 2326653 [email protected]

DANSO RAYMOND DATOH POLING OFFICER 024 4997044 [email protected]

DAPAA BERNICE EDIKANFO FOUNDATION PROG. MANAGER 024 47571772 [email protected]

DAVID NII ADDY GTZ/KAIPTC TECHNICAL ADV. 024 4334907 [email protected]

DAVID OBUOBI IMF (IMPACT MAKERS FOUNDATION)

PROGRAMME DIR. 024 4730437 [email protected]

DAVID WEREDU PROJECT DIRECTOR


DESEDUN MARTIN P.R.O 028 5055947 [email protected]

ELEN ANUWA-AMAH UNIV. COLLEGE RESEARCH STUDT. 027 7781218 [email protected]

ELISHA KYIREM GREEN EARTH ORG. PROJECT OFFICER 024 3421200 [email protected]

ELIZABETH A. BOATENG CHRISTIAN MOTHER ASSOC.

EX. DIRECTOR 020 8139288 [email protected]

ELIZABETH AKPALU ADVOCATES FOR GENDER EQUITY EX. DIR. 024 4885026 [email protected]

ENINESE AMUZU LRC EX. DIRECTOR 024 4228040 [email protected]

EUGENIA A. SAH CHRIST FOR ALL TODAY FOUNDATION

CEO 024 4602755 [email protected]

EUPHEMIA AKOS DZATHOR

WANEP/FOR IN PP AFRI. REG, CORD. 024 4838532 [email protected]

EVANS GYAMPOH LRC EX. DIRECTOR [email protected]


EVELYN B. SAMPSON OATUU GENDER/YOUTH 021 508855 [email protected]

FRANK BOAKYE-DANKWAH

GAPVOD BIZ MAR [email protected]

FRANK WILSON BOADZA WILDAF GHANA PROGRAMME OFF. 021 768349 [email protected]

GEORGE AHADZA GREEN EARTH ORG. EX. DIRECTOR 020 8184091 [email protected]

GEORGE YORKE PLAN GHANA ADVOCACY/ADV. 020 8766349 [email protected]

GERTRUDE ADU WACSOF EXCO MEMBER 024 3060221 [email protected]

H. TETE-DONKOR DEPT.OF SOC. WEIF ASST. DIRECTOR 021 684548 [email protected]

H.A. SUNMONU OATUU SECRETARY GEN. 021 508855 [email protected]

HANNAH SAI-JOHNSON SMART CARE FOUNDATION

EX. DIRECTOR 024 4331319 027 4051276

[email protected]

HON. AKOSUA FREMA OPARE

MMYE MINISTRIES DEPUTY MINISTER 024 4747436 [email protected]

INI ONUK INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

PROJECT OFFICER +234 0805 5665309 +251 911 683253

[email protected]

JESSE CLOTTEY GDF/IDEG DIRECTOR 024 4582828 [email protected]

JOSEPH M. AGSUKO FAIR RIVER EX. DIRECTOR 024 3107106 [email protected]

JULIE WUTA-EFEI MINO ASS. INFO. OFF. 024 6552807 [email protected]

JUSTICE ABDEL MAJEED AIDEZ SMALL PROJECT INT.

KARAMOKO THIOUNE WADR SENEGAL 221 776527583 [email protected]

KEN ATTAFUAH JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE

EX. DIRECTOR 024 4651917 [email protected]

KEN KINNEY THE DEV. INST. EX. DIRECTOR 020 8192239 [email protected]

KOFI ADU GAPVOD EX. DIRECTOR 020 8220812

KOFI MARRAH WORLD BANK WBI FOCAL 024 4544708 [email protected]

KOJO ANSAH CARE INT DESIGN MEAS.& LEARING CORD


KWAKU DARKO AFERI GH TUC HEAD PUBLIC AFF. 020 8235224 [email protected]

KWASI JONAH UNIV. OF GHANA SENOR LECTURER 024 4223984

LAWRENCIA ADAMS POSDEV CEO 024 4149106 [email protected]

LEYMAH GBOWEE WIPSEN-AFRICA EX. DIRECTOR 024 4213156 [email protected]

LUDU MALIK SYTO DIRECTOR 021 407122 [email protected]

MAHAMA SEIDU IBIS WEST AFRICA PROGRAMME FACILITATOR


MARTEY WILLIAM G HST COORDINATOR 020 8215569

MBOJE MHAMBA GHANA FEDERATION OF THE DISABLED

ADVOCACY OFF. 024 2860291 [email protected]

MOHAMMED ISSAH SEND FOUNDATION PROJECT OFFICER 021 716860 024 4560232

[email protected]

NANSATA YAKUBU CDC COORDINATOR 024 4663208 [email protected]

NII ADOKWEI CODJOE UNIV. OF GHANA LEGON SRC VICE PRESDT. 024 9220472 [email protected]

NII KPOBI TETEY TSUWU II

L.T.C LA MANTSE 021 772396

NII OKAI II GA TRADITION CHIEF 020 8153902

OSMAN AHMED OKYERE WEIJA PUBLIC LIBRARY CHAIRMAN 024 4776734 [email protected]


OZONNIA OJIELO UNDP SENIOR ADVISOR 081 773996

PHILIP D. ASARE SPD MEMBER 024 3166567 [email protected]

PRINCE DEH GINKS COORDINATOR 024 3425443 [email protected]

PRINCESS HAMMOND CARE INTERNATIONAL PROJ. COORDINATOR 024 4985156 [email protected]

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REV. HENRY O. MILLS SAFE HAVEN REHAB CENT.

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Notes43 ‘Reflecting on Civil Society’s Evolution in Ghana over the Last 50 Years’

REGIONAL SEMINAR

‘Reflecting on Civil Society’sRegional Seminar

Evolution in Ghana overthe Last 50 Years’

No. 202 Yiyiwa StreetP. O. Box AT 1956, Achimota, AccraTel: 233 21- 778917/18 Fax: 233-21-764727Website: www.wacsi.org

La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana8-9 November, 2007

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State of Civil Society in Ghana after 50 Years of Independence (Ghana at 50) - 2007

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