Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, MP for Ho West and a member of the STAR-Ghana steering committee, has launched the new STAR Ghana Foundation in the Volta region of Ghana.

At the launch event at the Freedom Hotel in the regional capital of Ho, Hon. Bedzrah asked citizens to be concerned with issues that affect their lives, play an active part in finding solutions, and hold duty bearers accountable to ensure good governance and meaningful development.

Volta Regional Minister Hon. Dr Archibald Yao Letsa also pledged his support to the new Foundation on behalf of the region.

‘I wish to once again express my appreciation for the initiative. We are ready to work with and support STAR Ghana Foundation to achieve its goals,’ he said, adding that he would be prepared to organise a forum for all municipal and district chief executives in the region to be fully briefed about the Foundation.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, the Local Government Network (LOGNET), STAR-Ghana grant partners and regional civil society organisations (CSOs).

Speaking on behalf of CSOs, John Stephen Agbenyo, executive director of Savana Signatures, expressed his optimism about the prospects of the new STAR Ghana Foundation and called for a focus on generating local solutions to challenges facing Ghanaians.

‘We are assured that STAR Ghana Foundation will succeed. It is important for us as CSOs that this new Foundation continues to educate, unite, strengthen and motivate citizens for it to benefit the ordinary Ghanaian,’ he said.

The launch event was followed by a public lecture from STAR-Ghana steering committee and STAR Ghana Foundation governing council member Francis Asong, on Active Citizenship: the role of CSOs, state actors and the private sector. He appealed to the private sector to partner and support the Foundation as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

‘A key role for the private sector in advancing active citizenship is for them to partner with the STAR Ghana Foundation and work with a Ghanaian-led organisation, which has a track record of working with the private sector and civil society,’ he said.

‘With the STAR Ghana Foundation, they are investing in initiatives with civil society, which promote accountability, tackle corruption and support the development of an enabling environment for the economy to grow.’

The event was chaired by Mama Agblatsu III, Afetornyonufia of Ho Bankoe. Also, in attendance were traditional authorities and religious leaders, MPs, the Ho municipal chief executive officer, regional directors and heads of departments, marginalised citizens including people with disabilities, market women, representatives of youth and student groups and STAR Ghana Foundation subscribers, among others.

Earlier, Nana Bakateyi, CEO of GLOWA and a STAR Ghana Foundation technical reference group member, in the company of some Staff of GLOWA and Mr Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei, representative of the Programme Management Team of STAR-Ghana, visited Dr Letsa’s office to brief him and his core team at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) on the Foundation’s vision and mission.

Dr Letsa challenged the Foundation to strengthen its capacity to raise funds from beyond the traditional donor community and called for partnership between the STAR Ghana Foundation and the VRCC in carrying out its programmes.