CUTS International Accra, a prominent think tank, has urged the government to urgently fund civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana, warning that the country’s governance and policy systems were at risk if the funding crisis persists.
The Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, stated, “For over six decades, CSOs have relied heavily on foreign donors, but this is no longer sustainable.
“As traditional donors shift focus to countries with governance challenges, Ghana’s CSOs face a funding squeeze, threatening their survival and the quality of public discourse.
Mr. Adomako emphasised CSOs’ crucial role in shaping reforms and legislation, citing laws like the Right to Information Act and Public Financial Management Act.
He warned that without robust CSOs, accountability and policy decisions will suffer, and critical voices on education, healthcare, and environmental protection will be silenced.
“The result is a funding squeeze that now threatens the very survival of independent CSOs and, by extension, the quality of our public discourse and policy-making process,” Adomako said.
The funding decline poses broader risks, beyond institutional survival, undermining Ghana’s socio-economic development.
