Shell Global Initiative Comes to Ghana

Shell lnternational, the multi-national energy company, is working closely with environmental NGOs and relevant Government departments to deliver positive life-changing projects at the community level.

That initiative came one step close last week when a meeting of Government, corporate and non-governmental organisations was held in Ghana to discuss the possibility of forging partnerships to deliver practical projects for sustainable development.

The initiative, christened "Linking Globally Acting Locally," I was outdoored at a two-day workshop held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra.

It was organised by the UK-based Living Earth Foundation and the Ghana branch of the Charities Aid Foundation.

It followed a series of interviews held in March, this year, which explored the potential for partnerships between Private, Government and Civil Society sectors.

The opening address by the Deputy Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Anna Nyamekye reminded participants that sustainable development included social and economic factors as well as environmental issues.

Mrs. Joyce Wereko-Brobby, Chief Executive of the Chamber of Mines, gave the business argument for cross-sectoral partnerships.

She stated that, "It is no longer enough for companies to be profitable and legal" and explained that companies who want to survive and prosper in the long term need to serve the interests of shareholders, customers and communities.

The workshop was part of an international initiative funded by Shell International and is a component of their global programme to promote partnerships for sustainable development.

Participants from a wide variety of NGOs, companies and Government departments explored concepts of good practice in partnership formation and development.

A key conclusion was that such partnerships make it more likely that many of the developmental issues facing Ghanaian society can be resolved.

This was no simple talking shop.

The group resolved to take the ideas forward into action. It was resolved to hold a second meeting in October to bring more organisations together in order to formalise a Cross-Sectoral Sustainable Development Forum.

That forum will promote and support partnerships among organisations from different sectors who wish to develop grass-rooted programmes for change.