Alumni Philanthropy in Ghana

In Ghana and other developing countries, there is a lack of scholarship on alumni philanthropy despite it constituting an important aspect of the giving practices. Many practitioners and scholars in Africa have paid relatively little attention and are unfamiliar with the giving patterns of alumni associations across many African countries including Ghana. While there is no comprehensive database on the number of alumni associations operating in Ghana or how far  back they go, we know that the formation of some alumni associations at the secondary school level, such as the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) and the Old Achimotan Association (OAA), predate Ghana’s independence. For instance, OAA was established in 1929. We also know that there are over 1200 senior high schools (i.e., secondary schools) in Ghana and that the majority have established alumni associations. Prominent among them include Presbyterian Boys Old Students Association (Ɔdadeɛ), Wesley Girls' High School - Old Girls' Association (WOGA), Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA), Adisadel Old Boys Association (Santaclausians) and Prempeh College Old Students Association (Amanfoo) among many others. With regards to higher education institutions, alumni associations such as the University of Ghana Alumni Association which was reconstituted in 1998 has over 400,000 memberships, while the Alumni Association of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was established in 1961.

The giving patterns of alumni associations are diverse. Some alumni associations, as part of their constitution, require members to pay fees or dues (e.g. on monthly or annual basis) while others mobilise resources or give on need basis. In addition, the alumni associations often rely on the services of volunteers who use their skills, knowledge and expertise in supporting their administration and in undertaking their activities. The giving patterns of alumni association comprises a mixture of cash and in-kind donations - which is a reflection of the traditional giving models in Ghana where individuals provide both financial and non-financial resources in supporting people and development in general.

Alumni Associations: Member Solidarity and Alma Mater Support

Many alumni associations in Ghana provide alma mater support – but they also serve as spaces for engaging in member-based solidarity by giving to, for instance, marriage, naming and funeral ceremonies etc. within their group.  The support given by alumni associations reflects traditional giving practices such as Nnoboa, where community members come together to support each other based on norms of trust, communality and reciprocity. Thus communal spirit is promoted through the alumni association where members support each other and also contribute collectively towards promoting development.

Alumni Philanthropy and National Development

Alumni associations through their philanthropic activities have played significant roles in supporting their alma mater and education in general in Ghana through for example, the provision of scholarship schemes, establishment of endowment funds, infrastructural projects, volunteering and providing networking opportunities. In particular, in Ghana, alumni’s significant impact has been in the areas of fundraising (i.e., alumni donation through for example, organizing dinner and reunion meetings) and volunteering.

While there is no comprehensive data on charitable giving to higher education by alumni associations in Ghana, anecdotal evidence suggests that alumni associations have contributed significant financial and non-financial resources towards the development of their alma mater. For instance, alumni groups have made donations and embarked on medical outreaches to support healthcare delivery while others have embarked on infrastructural projects. Importantly, alumni associations and their related philanthropic activities have also contributed to promoting social justice issues in Ghana such as advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and influencing government policies. An example is the International Fellows Programme Alumni Association of Ghana (IFPAAG) formed in 2007 as part of the Ford’s Foundation International Fellows Programme (IFP). IFPAAG undertakes activities to promote social justice and human rights in Ghana by serving as forum or platform to raise awareness about social issues and also engage with government policy. Thus, their aim is to bring members together to share their experiences, knowledge and supporting each other in championing social justice issues.

Going Forward

While alumni philanthropy is an old tradition which represents an important dimension of the Ghanaian philanthropic landscape, it has received relatively little or limited attention. The philanthropic activities of alumni associations have not been documented and represent a gap in knowledge needing urgent attention. Moreover, while Ghanaians have a rich culture of giving, the potential of alumni philanthropy for national development has not fully been tapped, in part, due to the inability of educational institutions in Ghana to meaningfully engage with their alumni associations. This therefore requires stronger stakeholder collaborations and alumni engagements. In going forward, given the lack of scholarship on alumni philanthropy in the context of Ghana and other African countries, there is the need for systematic efforts to document the dynamics of alumni philanthropy including motivating factors, giving practices and impact on the development of the African continent.

Contributor: Emmanuel Kumi