GACC calls for strengthening of civil society
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) said Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been in the forefront of support to the country’s current democratic and economic status.
It said CSOs had played a significant role in the design, preparation and implementation of development initiatives in addition to alternative efforts of governments and other international institutions.
Mr Roland Akabzaa, Lead Researcher of GACC, said this at an adaptation workshop for Civil Society Index-Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA) project in partnership with Civil Society Alliance and West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in Accra.
The adaptation phase is aimed at bringing stakeholders to dialogue and design the specifically adapted CSI-RA for Ghana.
Participants were drawn from the Trades Union Congress, project advisory groups, Non Governmental Organisations in specific thematic areas, associations and coalitions, youth and religious groups, development partners and the media.
Mr Akabzaa said the project was intended to support CSOs in Ghana in their self-assessments in order to enhance their strengthening and sustainability for a positive social change.
He said it would provide a platform for CSOs to better assess their own challenges, potentials and needs in a range of different situations and contexts.
Ms Beauty E. Narteh, Co-ordinator and Communications Officer of GACC, said the workshop would help CSOs to modify the CSI-RA tool and processes to fit the Ghanaian context and needs which would include assessment, mapping exercise, profiling and gap analysis.
She said Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal were almost concluding the CSOs Index under the auspices of Civil Society Alliance.
She said the WACSI coordinated the project in West Africa while GACC was responsible for the Ghana adaptation process.
The participants expressed the hope that the findings would be seeded into national dialogues, processes and other opportunities for advocacy and influence.
Source: GNA