Sunyani: Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations (CSOs/NGOs) in the country have been urged to be more transparent and accountable to their operational communities to access more funding for community development in 2025. Mrs. Alima Bawah, the Co-founder of Cow Tribe Africa, provided this advice and expressed concern over the persistent funding challenges many NGOs and CSOs face due to the nation's recent attainment of middle-income status.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Bawah emphasized the importance of accountability at a time when the NGOs and CSOs community is grappling with reduced funding support from development partners. This drop in funding is attributed to Ghana's shift to a middle-income status, which has necessitated a reevaluation of funding strategies by development partners.

Cow Tribe Africa, which utilizes technology to deliver animal vaccines, serves as a testament to the innovative approaches NGOs can adopt. Mrs. Bawah highlighted that the funding community is small and interconnected, making accountability crucial for gaining trust and continued support. She noted that information about an organization's accountability practices spreads quickly within this network, impacting future funding opportunities.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, Mrs. Bawah, who is also the Board Chair of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), an anti-corruption and media advocacy NGO, stressed the importance of accountability for NGOs and CSOs seeking recommendations for funding support. She acknowledged that while many NGOs demonstrate good accountability practices, transparency remains a key factor in securing new projects.

Mrs. Bawah pointed out that unlike the public sector, where issues might go unresolved, the NGO sector requires stringent accountability to secure funding from development partners. She reiterated that, in general, the NGO area is highly accountable, but emphasized the need for continuous improvement to maintain and enhance funding channels.