Bilateral donors support is based on political agenda

Accra, July 10, GNA - Dr Dale Rachmeler, Fund Manager of the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), an advocacy for the private sector, on Tuesday disclosed that donors, especially bilateral donor support was based on political agenda. "The fundamental basis for funding any project were basically influenced by the comparative advantage for attaining the political, social-economic and other milieu agenda of the funding institution or government, he stated in Accra.

Dr. Rachmeler, who was contributing to civil society dialoguing on Citizen Government Engagement on the disability law and towards the passage of a broadcasting law in Ghana urged developing countries to question the basis for funding.

He said mis-understanding and suspicion often associated with donor support could be eliminated "if civil society and other stakeholders ask the appropriate questions.

The BUSAC Fund is a project within the larger Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) funded Business Sector Programme Support (BSPS) that provides support in the form of grants to associations and groups from the formal and informal sectors of labour, business and media within the private sector to carry out their advocacy initiatives. The dialogue was organised by Ghana Civil Society Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI) a non-governmental organisation to expose representatives of government, donor community and NGOs to the benefits of Citizen Government Engagement (CGE).

It also aimed at using CGE as an effective tool for accelerated political, social and economic development and creating a platform for broadening civil society and government collaboration. Emphasising the need for Citizens Government Engagement, Ms Celia Marshall of RAVI said the changes in the social, political and economic make up of contemporary society had resulted in some disconnection between governments, decision makers and the citizenry. "For the reduction of the tension that characterizes such relationships it is important for a connection between government and citizens as well as among citizens to allow for greater integration and participation," she said.

Ms. Marshal said CGE was therefore a platform for the creation of networks at all levels based on the principles of inclusion, participation, dialogue and consensus building to enhance social connection among society and all stakeholders. She said Ghana's current democratic dispensation as well as the decentralisation policy also make it imperative for the use of engagement to ensure that the maximum gains were made from resources, projects and policies.

Other speakers were from the Ghana Federation of the Disabled and the Ghana Advocacy Steering Committee for National Broadcasting law who educated the participants on the usage of CGE for advocacy. 10 July 07