Alumni Philanthropy in Ghana
Emmanuel Kumi, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana
Alumni philanthropy is an important component of philanthropic practices in Ghana; however, this topic has received limited attention and documentation in literature. In Ghana, there are diverse ways that alumni give back to their alma mater through financial and non-financial contributions. Alumni associations play a central role in supporting their alma mater through providing scholarships, supporting endowments, funding building projects, and volunteering to support the institutions.
Uniquely, alumni associations in Ghana also provide a space for expressing member solidarity beyond support to their alma mater. Alumni associations promote a communal spirit that engages members to support one another by contributing toward the development of each other in major life events, such as weddings, naming ceremonies, burials, or assistance with large medical bills. This reflects a traditional African giving practice of Nnoboa, where people mobilize resources to support each other through communality, trust, and reciprocity. Through this practice, members collectively promote development. Some alumni associations, such as the International Fellows Program Alumni Association of Ghana (IFPAAG), further extend their philanthropic support to national causes—for instance, promoting social justice causes in Ghana by advocating for the marginalized in society, like people with disabilities.
Alumni giving in Ghana has been practiced for a long time but has not been well documented. The potential of alumni philanthropy has not been fully tapped due to a lack of meaningful engagement between educational institutions in Ghana and alumni associations. Strong collaboration and engagement between different stakeholders could inspire increased alumni philanthropy in Ghana and the rest of Africa.
Note: This spotlight is excerpted from an article, Alumni Philanthropy in Ghana, written by Emmanuel Kumi and published by TrustAfrica. To read the full article, visit https://trustafrica.org/publication/alumni-philanthropy-in-ghana/.