Volunteerism - key tool to nation's development - VOLU Chairman

Kordiabe (G/A), March 26, GNA - Mr Kobina Donkoh, National Chairman of the Voluntary Work Camps Association of Ghana (VOLU), has observed that volunteerism is a critical tool for the nation's development, growth and prosperity.

Mr Donkoh, who made the observation at VOLU's 50/51 biennial congress at the VOLU Training Centre at Kordiabe, regretted however that the spirit of volunteerism was steadily dying among the youth.

The three-day congress had 'Volunteering, Development and Unity' as its theme.

The National Chairman of the Association pointed out that when well structured volunteerism would not only help the nation's infrastructural development but it would also be a tool for social cohesion and conflict management.

Mr Donkoh assured the Ministry of Youth and Sports that with a little support the Association could become an institution which would rekindle the spirit of volunteerism in the country.

'The value system under-pinning volunteerism promotes norms of reciprocity and fosters trustworthiness.'

Mr Donkoh said VOLU had a track record of youth mobilisation and therefore urged government to support the programmes of voluntary associations to enable them live up to expectation.

He advocated the establishment of a National Youth and Volunteer Fund from which organisations could present proposals of their programmes so that they could implement their activities.

In his report, Mr E.K. Sarpong, Acting General Secretary of the Association, said member organisations of the Coalition of Volunteer Organisations in Ghana, a voluntary organisation made up of about 25 members including VOLU, had agreed to patronise VOLU's Training Centre.

Since the establishment of VOLU 57 years ago, its biennial national congress has been a key platform on which issues affecting the development, growth and unity of the association, are dispassionately discussed.

GNA