Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Akilagpa Sawyerr has urged Star-Ghana Foundation not to rest on its oars in developing the country.

He urged them to continue their commitment to tackling evolving socio-economic concerns that plague Ghana's developmental agenda.

Speaking at the launch of Star Ghana's five-year anniversary as a foundation in Accra, Prof Sawyerr said the foundation was formed based on the idea and the process of developing the country.

The former UG Vice Chancellor noted that members who were on the steering committee of the program spent as much time thinking about the foundation idea as delivering on the project.

"I recall when the first phase of the programme ended before the second phase started, we spent months of detailed consultations not just in Accra here but country-wide.

"This was to ensure that we’re not just pushing our ideas but we’re giving voice and body to ideas which reflect the reality of our conditions and which enable us to speak to authority from our positions as citizens of the country.

"It is simply to encourage the current leadership of Star-Ghana Foundation not to accept the programme as it is but constantly to think through making it better into our situations at any particular time.

"To think through of ways bringing on board more ignored sectors of society [and] give voice - but my point simply is that don’t stop exploring possibilities in moving forward," Prof Sawyer said.

On her side, the governing Council Chair of Star-Ghana Foundation, Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye noted that the role Star-Ghana Foundation play in Ghana's democracy is much more needed than before due to the prevailing socio-political-economic issues in Ghana and Africa.

"In anticipation of our future, we have taken steps to flesh out ideas and develop and share our strategy for promoting access citizenship, articulating how we feel and how we can add to stimulate local philanthropy and mulling over what we want our thought leadership contribution to look like.

"For a role for an entity such as Star-Ghana Foundation in Ghana as well as in the sub-region is required even more urgently now than before.

"Our pulse on the political, economic and social developments in the country and West Africa suggests that the alienation of the citizenry from the processes that have been pursued as democracy is a real possibility."

Dr Aboagye emphasised that actions that will amplify the voices of all sections of the population and identify opportunities for inclusive action, and broadening platforms for participation and engagement are urgently required.

She noted that the spectre of violence arising from natural resource-related conflicts, terrorist groups, the erosion of rights of good groups of people, political impunity and travesties of justice is looming and it will not respect boundaries.

"Therefore, we need to be able to mobilise energies, include young people more effectively, leverage and adapt technology and strategies, and work assiduously with partners of varying shades and with similar intent at the regional, national and subnational levels," she said.