STAR Ghana Foundation, today Wednesday 9^th September 2020, received the running mate of the National Democratic Congress for the 2020 presidential elections in Ghana – Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemeng at the Foundation’s new office location at East Legon, Accra. She was in the company of leading members of the party and the media.

Speaking at the brief engagement, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemag indicated that the purpose of the visit was to familiarise herself with the work of the Foundation and to deliberate on issues of better governance, social justice, and all-inclusive governance as enshrined in the party’s manifesto. She said:

“STAR-Ghana Foundation has been a long-time advocate for better governance, social justice and a more inclusive society. Those define the character of our country. As social democrats, we in the NDC share those values. So it was a pleasure to meet the leadership at STAR Ghana this morning to discuss the NDC’s commitments on these issues, and how we intend to make those shared values a reality for 2021 and beyond.”

Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of STAR Ghana Foundation, speaking on behalf of the Foundation called for among others: the need to expedite action on the NGO Bill; regular interaction between Government and civil society; and the promotion of local philanthropy to facilitate the work of civil society in Ghana. He said:

“The legislation around NGOs has been on and off the table so many times and we think that its something that needs to be brought to a point of not a closure but to a point that we have a framework that supports the work of civil society… Across the length and breadth of this country, the challenge confronting civil society is the issue of resources, and we don’t think that we should continue to rely on external donors to fund the work of civil society. There are enough resources locally that if mobilized, could enable us support civil society…. We meet with candidates for political office during the campaign season , afterwards it becomes quite a huge challenge to have the kind of spaces that enable regular consultations, regular interactions, regular feedback for policy development and implementation”

In attendance was the Chair of the Governing Council of the STAR Ghana Foundation: Dr. Esther Ofei Aboagye. She presented a brief background of the Foundation and its work to the visiting team.