12/02/2026
Philanthropy New Year School, the one event you CANNOT miss! We were enthused about the trends, tools, connections, and impact for NGOs, CSOs and givers.
Ghana Philanthropy Forum
Documentary TV
GHANA PHILANTHROPY FORUM CONVENES 5TH PHILANTHROPY NEW YEAR SCHOOL TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Accra, Ghana – January 21, 2026
The Ghana Philanthropy Forum (GPF) has successfully hosted the 5th edition of the Philanthropy New Year School (PNYS), held on January 20th and 21st, 2026, at the University of Ghana Graduate School in Accra. The two-day event convened an estimated 200 participants, with 85 attending in person and others joining virtually from across the country and beyond.
Held under the theme “From Silos to Systems: How Philanthropy Can Nurture Collaborative Development Ecosystems,” the 2026 PNYS focused on the urgent need for development actors to move beyond isolated efforts and embrace collaborative, accountable, and systems-based approaches to sustainable development in Ghana.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Ghana Philanthropy Forum, Dr. Ben Ocra, emphasized the importance of collective action in achieving long-term impact. He noted that sustainable development cannot be achieved when organizations operate in isolation and emphasized that the New Year School was designed to bridge knowledge gaps while strengthening networks that enable collective impact across Ghana’s development ecosystem.
The program featured a robust curriculum that connected theory with practice and addressed key operational and strategic challenges facing nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Participants engaged in sessions on strategic storytelling and donor stewardship, digital platforms and data sharing, the use of ICT tools for social impact, financial and regulatory compliance, financial inclusion for social enterprises, and emerging policy and regulatory updates affecting nonprofit organizations.
Resource persons included experts from academia, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and the nonprofit sector. Sessions covered safeguarding organizational funds in the era of cybercrime, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing obligations, and practical demonstrations of digital systems such as the Ghana Revenue Authority’s online portal. Participants also received critical updates on the evolving regulatory landscape from the National Non-Profit Organization Secretariat.
According to Dr. Ocra, the school’s ecosystem-based approach ensures that Ghanaian organizations are equipped not only to operate effectively but to remain sustainable, transparent, and accountable in an increasingly complex development environment.
The 2026 Philanthropy New Year School concluded with renewed commitment among participants to ethical nonprofit practice, stronger partnerships, and the strategic use of technology and compliance frameworks to enhance impact. The event reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and shared accountability as foundations for sustainable development in Ghana.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the program, Dr. Ocra described the school as a call to action for the sector. He stated that by aligning digital strategies, compliance standards, and development narratives, philanthropic and nonprofit organizations can move beyond survival and actively shape a resilient and inclusive development ecosystem for the country.
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