Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang has emphasized the critical role of civil society in shaping Ghana’s development future, calling for a renewed social contract grounded in shared accountability and citizen empowerment.
Speaking at the 3rd Ghana Civil Society Forum in Accra, she urged civic actors to remain central to national progress amid shifting development dynamics.
The Forum which served as a platform to evaluate new strategies for inclusive growth was themed “Reimagining Development Financing and Civic Action: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward.”
Acknowledging mounting fiscal pressures and dwindling international support, Professor Opoku Agyemang stressed the importance of a paradigm shift.
“We must now reimagine our approach by moving from dependency to ownership,” she stated, highlighting that resilience must come from within through domestic reforms and citizen engagement.
The Vice President outlined current government initiatives aimed at strengthening financial systems and expanding domestic revenue.
“We are undertaking reforms to broaden our tax base and improve public financial management,” she explained.
At the core of her message was the value of civic engagement beyond financial inputs.
“Development is not only about money, but also about agency. Civic actors must remain at the heart of our national progress. Their role in monitoring, advocacy, and delivering community-based solutions is indispensable.”
Professor Opoku Agyemang also pointed to untapped opportunities that could shape Ghana’s next development chapter, including its youthful population, digital innovation, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She stressed with a call for greater collaboration through the exercise.
“This forum was a reminder that inclusive development is possible when government, civil society, and communities work together to create lasting, citizen-focused change,” says the Vice President.
