Accra: Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, a Catholic Missionary Priest renowned for his humanitarian efforts, emphasized the transformative power of volunteerism and its pivotal role in national development during his address at the second Ghana Philanthropy Conference. Speaking on the theme ‘Volunteerism as a Civic Duty,’ Fr. Campbell urged Ghanaians to embrace volunteerism and positively impact society.
According to Ghana News Agency, Fr. Campbell, who is also the founder of the Lepers Aid Committee, stated that meaningful volunteer work begins with a desire to help and a commitment to serve with integrity and compassion. The conference, which convened over 200 participants from Civil Society Organisations and Volunteer groups, aimed to elevate volunteerism as a respected form of philanthropy and to discuss the challenges facing philanthropic organizations in Ghana.
Ghana’s philanthropic landscape is often informal and episodic, driven by empathy but lacking structured support. The two-day conference, convened by
STAR Ghana Foundation and its partners, sought to create awareness around these issues and inspire a more organized approach to community support, echoing Fr. Campbell’s call for commitment and compassion.
Rev. Fr. Campbell’s address aligned with the conference’s mission to highlight volunteerism as a crucial and often unrecognized form of philanthropy. Philanthropy encompasses more than financial contributions; it includes the donation of time, skills, and compassion to support others and improve communities. This broader definition aims to dispel the misconception that philanthropy is solely about monetary giving, reinforcing the value of volunteerism.
The World Giving Index presented at the conference indicates that 72 percent of the world’s adult population engaged in some form of giving in 2023, whether through donations, volunteer work, or assistance to strangers. Countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Kenya ranked high in volunteerism efforts, serving as models for Ghana to emulate.
These global
contexts, Fr. Campbell noted, require Ghanaians to actively contribute to their communities and strengthen the culture of volunteerism in the country for its development. Known for his empathetic approach, Rev. Fr. Campbell shared personal reflections on supporting humanity in any way possible and the transformative power of sharing.
Participants at the conference called for Ghana to develop a supportive policy framework and a collaborative approach to increase civic engagement and harness volunteerism as a key driver of social and national development. Mr. Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, highlighted strides made under the National Youth Authority Volunteerism Project but acknowledged challenges such as limited financial resources and inadequate infrastructure.
The Youth and Sports Minister urged stakeholders to support such programs through collaboration and partnership to improve capacity building, resource mobilization, and information exchange. By doing so, the potential of volunteerism fo
r fostering sustainable development and peace can be fully realized.
Mr. Charles Abugri, Vice Chair of the Governing Council of STAR-Ghana Foundation, emphasized that philanthropy is essential for a civil society. He highlighted the importance of giving and contributing to support those who are excluded and lack opportunities, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s civil society.