CHRAJ holds Anti-Corruption & Transparency Week in Ghana with support from STAR Ghana Foundation
The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has organised Anti-Corruption and Transparency Week (ACT) 2019 in Ghana. The celebrations took place between the 2nd and 9th of December 2019 on the theme: “NACAP: Mobilizing National Efforts and Resources to Combat Corruption, Five Years on.” The event brought together stakeholders from government, public and private sectors, academia, media, civil society, and the public among others.
The Launch of the week-long event was attended by the Guest of Honour, Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Anna Bossman who delivered the keynote address. She launched an Information Sheet on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).
In July 2014, the Parliament of Ghana unanimously passed the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) document as the country’s strategy in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that prescribed “coordinated anti-corruption policies” for countries which Ghana had ratified. Implementation of the strategy began in 2015 after the validation of a reporting tool to assist partners in the reporting of the execution of their roles under NACAP.The NACAP Info Sheet was developed by CHRAJ with support from STAR Ghana Foundation and funding from the UKAid, EU, and DANIDA.
Prior to the Launch of the Info Sheet, the Ag. Head of Policy and Programmes at STAR Ghana Foundation, Teiko Sabah, presented a brief background of the STAR Ghana Foundation and its predecessor programme – the STAR Ghana Programme. She expressed her optimism about the importance of the document by indicating that:
"we believe that this info sheet will provide relevant information to citizens s we work together against corruption.”
Speaking at the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) Conference on the 9th December 2019 in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Ian Walker in a brief statement bemoaned the effects of corruption to any nation. He said:
“Corruption deprives wealth. If economic growth is the engine of development, corruption is driving with the handbrake on,”
Further, he endorsed the work of NACAB and urged relevant stakeholders to do more in tackling corruption.
The week-long event was organised by CHRAJ in partnership with the Office of the President, the Attorney General’s Office, Judicial Service, EOCO, NCCE, Ghana Police Service, Bank of Ghana, FIC, GACC, PenPlusBytes, STAR Ghana Foundation, and other stakeholders, with the support of the European Union in Ghana through its Accountability Rule of law and Anti-corruption Programme (ARAP), implemented by the Spanish public foundation FIIAPP.
Office Closure and Seasons Greetings from all of us at STAR Ghana Foundation
The globe has revolved once again, the holiday season draws closer. The Foundation’s office will close on Wednesday 18th December 2019 and re-open on Wednesday 8th January 2020.
On behalf of the Chairperson, Members of the Governing Council, and the entire fraternity of the STAR Ghana Foundation, I would like to extend our appreciation to you for your cherished partnership with STAR Ghana Foundation.
Throughout 2019, your support has been a critical success factor for the Foundation and we are grateful for that.
We look forward to a more fruitful partnership and greater success in 2020.
STAR Ghana Foundation participates in Monitoring and Evaluation Conference
STAR Ghana Foundation is participating in a Monitoring and Evaluation Conference held at the Tomreik Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The event, scheduled from Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th December 2019 is being organized by the Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation Forum (GMEF) on the theme: "Over a Decade of Promoting M&E in Ghana: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects."
Mr. Frank Kwaku Amoateng, the Senior Monitoring, and Evaluation Manager, STAR Ghana Foundation is a speaker at the conference and will present a paper on the topic: `Result-Oriented M&E for Project Sustainability`.
The Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation Forum (GMEF) is a formal Voluntary Organization for Professional Evaluators (VOPE) in Ghana. As a VOPE, GMEF undertakes capacity building and advocacy on M&E through the organization of evaluation events such as conferences, workshops, and forums.
GMEF’s mission is to promote and enable the use of monitoring and evaluation in programme implementation and policy planning. The Forum has the following objectives: Share insight and experience in the art and practice of monitoring and evaluation; Promote Evidence-Based Decision Making; Support Continuing M&E Education; and Establish a national monitoring and evaluation repository.
Participants at the event include practitioners of monitoring and evaluation from various organizations including the public sector, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, students among others.
Election 2020 Call: 26 Organisations receive GHS9M from STAR Ghana Foundation to implement several projects
STAR Ghana Foundation, with funding from the Department for International Development (DFID), otherwise known as the UKAid, and the European Union (EU) has launched 26 projects under its Election 2020 Grant Call. The event, which witnessed the signing of grant documents was held at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra on Tuesday 26th November 2019.
Speaking at the launch of the event, Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of the STAR Ghana Foundation, in his welcome address, presented information on the grant process. He indicated that the projects funded focus on 3 key areas: tackling vigilantism, promoting inclusion, and manifesto monitoring.
“We received a total of 120 proposals out of which 26 have been selected for support to a tune of approximately GHS9m. The 26 projects comprise 11 under the strategic partnerships component, 10 under the Local or Community partnerships component and 5 under the managed component. The selected organisations will work constructively with the elections management bodies and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to a consolidation and deepening of democracy in Ghana.”
Further, he indicated that: to enhance the effectiveness of these actions, and ensure that they are not stand-alone projects, but add up to achieve results which are greater than the sum of their parts, the Foundation will provide additional technical support to the grantees. He said:
“The Foundation will in addition to the grants support of GHS9m, provide technical assistance to the grant partners, broker relationships and convene national conversations around key issues affecting our democracy, including dialogues on campaign financing, affirmative action and managing transitions among others. We will also continue to support the strengthening of the Community of Practice around Elections to ensure that lessons and good practices are shared, particularly against a backdrop of declining external donor support for governance programmes.”
Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu acknowledged the immense contributions of the UK government and the EU for their funding support to the STAR Ghana programme’s elections projects in 2012, 2016 and 2020, including a special project in 2013 around the Supreme Court adjudication of the presidential election petition. “Their support has contributed immensely to the deepening of our democracy,”he said. He called for the need to start a national conversation on how Ghanaians can contribute to support civil society actions towards transformational change and for inclusive development as we move into a Ghana Beyond Aid.
Dr. Esther Ofei-Aboagye, Chairperson of the STAR Ghana Foundation Governing Council delivered the Keynote address on the theme: Active citizenship and democratic governance: Experiences from previous elections and recommendations for Elections 2020. She proposed solutions to whipping up interest of the citizenry, especially young voters in participating in national elections.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Iain Walker, in his address, called on the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to tackle the spate of vigilantism during elections in the country to protect Ghana's high-earned reputation globally. He said:
“I acknowledge the efforts of the President of Ghana to deliver independent investigations under Parliament of Ghana and for passing the Vigilantism Act, however, I think with the impact and effectiveness of that, several measures are not yet untested and they will not be effective with the few commitment of political parties to resolving any issues with legal means…violence at elections not only harms the Ghanaian people, it really risks damaging Ghana’s hard fought and well-earned reputation globally”.
The Deputy Chairperson in charge of operations at the Electoral Commission (EC), Samuel Tettey, speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the EC, indicated that for the country to enjoy a free and fair election, electorates need to be well informed to equally take part in the electoral process and be law-abiding citizens.
In attendance was the head of the European Union Delegation in Ghana: H.E. Diana Acconcia; the Deputy Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in charge of Operations: Mr.Samuel Akuamoah; Executive Directors and representatives of Grant Partners (CSOs); the Media and Staff of the STAR Ghana Foundation. The launch of the projects will be followed by two (2) days of orientation for the successful grant applicants.
In August 2019, STAR Ghana Foundation launched its Elections 2020 Call for Proposals targeted at registered Ghanaian civil society organisations (including media). The purpose of the Call is to support a range of citizens’ actions and initiatives towards achieving credible, peaceful and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections in 2020 and a smooth transition subsequently.