Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Civil Society Forum in Accra, she emphasized the bill’s role in closing critical legislative gaps for CSOs, which currently operate without dedicated legal frameworks.

“The absence of specific laws stifles CSO development,” stated Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, outlining parallel reforms including tax incentives and streamlined NGO registration. These measures aim to boost domestic philanthropy and reduce foreign aid dependency amid Ghana’s constrained fiscal space, rising debt, and shrinking concessional funding.

STAR-Ghana Foundation Executive Director Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu echoed urgency, warning that dwindling international aid threatens CSO survival. He called for “reimagined civic engagement” leveraging youth innovation and diverse voices. The United Nations, represented by UNESCO’s Edmond Moukala, reaffirmed support for Ghana’s inclusive development partnerships.

The forum—themed “Reimagining Development Financing and Civil Action”—gathered CSOs, government officials, and development partners, signalling cross-sector alignment on the bill’s progress under the Mahama administration.