The GhanaThink Foundation is marking the 13th edition of National Volunteer Day with a series of community service activities across Ghana, including sanitation, health, education and substance abuse interventions.
The activities, organised through the Foundation’s Ghana Volunteer Program, form part of National Volunteer Day 2026, an initiative established on September 21, 2013, to promote volunteerism and community service.
According to the Foundation, the initiative began with about 300 volunteers undertaking 40 projects and has since expanded into a multi-regional movement involving thousands of volunteers.
Co-founder and Director of the GhanaThink Foundation, Ato Ulzen-Appiah, said the initiative was established to encourage a culture in which people, particularly young people, take responsibility for addressing challenges within their communities.
“The thinking at the beginning was to work on, celebrate, mobilize, encourage, organize the persons who work on all sorts of activities, more than the activity. We wanted to build a culture where young people across Ghana realize that leadership begins with service, and that true progress happens when ordinary citizens take the initiative to solve problems right where they live,” he said in a statement.
As part of this year’s activities, GhanaThink organised Konnect meetups on September 19 in Accra, Tema, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Sunyani, Ho, Wa, Tamale, Bolgatanga and Kasoa.
The gatherings brought participants together to reflect on their volunteering experiences, network and plan community projects.
Other interventions include a sanitation exercise in Sagnerigu, a medical outreach in Wa and a national blood donation drive led by Rotaract District 9104.
Additional activities are expected to focus on environmental protection and recycling in Teshie, literacy support for more than 150 pupils at Ayeduase R/C School in Kumasi, youth employability training and support for the BAHASS Foundation facility in Wa.
In the Upper East Region, the BolgaKonnect team is expected to undertake a substance abuse sensitisation exercise at Bolgatanga Central Technical School.
BolgaKonnect Administrator Raymond Ayinne said the intervention would focus on educating young people about substance abuse and its consequences.
“I am really excited that the BolgaKonnect team will be sensitizing young people about substance abuse to curb the ever-rising incidence. By addressing mental health and addiction early, we give our youth a real chance to thrive,” he said.
The GhanaThink Foundation is encouraging individuals and organisations to make volunteering part of their regular activities through initiatives such as community cleanups, mentorship, blood donation, tree planting and offering professional services to communities.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Bolgatanga
