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.
