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.
Related projects
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.
Speaker of Parliament Dialogues With Key Stakeholders on the passage of an Affirmative Action Law in Ghana
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye has engaged representatives of key stakeholder groups on the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill at the Parliament of Ghana in Accra, today Monday 25th November 2019.
The purpose of the engagement was to provide a platform for key stakeholders to appreciate the need for the Affirmative Action Law; critically identify key concerns and challenges on the implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill when passed into law; and share with Parliament, recommendations on mitigation strategies on any challenges that may arise after the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into Law.
Speaking on the theme: "Ghana's Journey on Affirmative Action Legislation: Examining the Role of Parliament," Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye called for a comprehensive review of the country’s affirmative action framework. He bemoaned what he says are gaping loopholes in the Bill, which he contends will hinder strict compliance.
“There are a number of gaping gaps. We cannot allow ourselves to be at the bottom of the world ladder when it comes to political representation… Affirmative Action is an instrument for using the law for sexual engineering. That is why I am telling the Gender Minister to let us revisit the proposed legislation. The compulsory aspect of affirmative action doesn’t bite. So we should make sure that by the law, we should employ the single paper agreement.”
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the STAR Ghana Foundation, Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye, Chairperson of STAR Ghana Foundation, recounted the mandate of the Foundation by stating that:
“At STAR Ghana Foundation we are interested in promoting the motive of active citizenship and it in this view that we work around Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and our collaboration with Parliament as the representatives of the people.
Dr. Ofei-Aboagye further expressed the Foundation’s appreciation to Parliament for its effort in promoting affirmative action.
“We are also very appreciative of the work that Parliament has done on this particular subject over the past few years. We acknowledge the Speaker’s interest and support for the issue… and to bring this up at a time when Parliament is very constrained with considerable business on its plate indicates to us that Parliament recognises that this matter cannot be put off further” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, the Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin indicated in the closing remarks, the necessary next steps for Parliament about promoting an affirmative action law. He remarked that:
“What will then happen after this forum? I have the authority of the Right Honourable Speaker, to direct the Acting Clark, with his team and that of the Parliamentary Front Office to make the report of this discussion available to the relevant Committees of Parliament and Ministries so that these rich presentations and contributions could be factored into deliberations on the floor of the House.”
Hon Bagbin further expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the event, civil society organisations spearheading the advocacy for an affirmative action law in Ghana and particularly to STAR Ghana Foundation and its funders for their support.
“Let me end by appreciating STAR Ghana Foundation for being the channel through which Parliament has been able to engage more with the citizens of this country. We are very grateful to you. We also want to express our gratitude to DFID (UKAID) and the EU for funding STAR Ghana to do this wonderful work for the people of this country.”
The bill, which has been pending for about 13 years, is expected to increase the participation of women in decision making. Ghana’s Affirmative Action Bill, when passed into Law, will require the government to ensure equitable gender representation at all levels of governance and decision-making in Ghana, as well as address other social and economic imbalances.
When passed, it is expected to affect women’s representation in the public service, ministerial positions, independent constitutional bodies, boards of state institutions, the security services, and political parties.
The final draft of the Bill received cabinet approval in 2016, but was not tabled in Parliament and, therefore, did not reach the consideration stage before the end of the 6th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
In attendance were the leadership of Parliament, MPs, representatives of: Civil Society Organisations including the Ghana Federation of Disability Associations; Ghana Journalists’ Association; the Ghana Bar Association; STAR Ghana Foundation; Student Parliaments among others.
The event forms part of activities under the Parliament- STAR Ghana Collaboration. STAR Ghana in June 2017 signed a partnership framework with the Parliament of Ghana to help deepen and consolidate democratic governance in Ghana. The partnership with Parliament aims at helping to enhance Parliament's effectiveness in discharging its constitutional mandate.
Gender and Children Committee of Parliament embarks on Oversight Monitoring to 5 regions with support from STAR Ghana Foundation
The Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children, with support from STAR Ghana Foundation, is visiting some selected schools in five (5) regions of the country as part of the Committee's oversight responsibility.
The Committee has the responsibility of examining all matters relating to gender and children to ensure that issues concerning gender and children are included in all appropriate legislation. It also considers proposals meant to enhance the pursuit of affirmative action and reports to the House of Parliament. Members of the committee receive feedback, first hand, about the perceptions people have of the effectiveness of government programmes such as the Free Senior High School, School Feeding Program and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).
The Committee is scheduled to visit selected schools in five regions of Ghana - Western, Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta Regions from Monday 4th November to Friday 8th December 2019. The Committee will also interact with key stakeholders such as Teachers, Students, Traditional Authorities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, relevant Heads of Departments at the respective Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies within the regions to inquire of the status of implementation of government policies and take feedback.
STAR Ghana in June 2017 signed a partnership framework with the Parliament of Ghana to help deepen and consolidate democratic governance in Ghana. The partnership with Parliament aims at helping to enhance Parliament's effectiveness in discharging its constitutional mandate.
