ACCRA, Nov 5 (The African Portal) – Northern Ghana-based non-governmental organisation RISE-Ghana has been named the Outstanding Local NGO in Rights-Based Health and Governance Initiatives at the 2025 Ghana Philanthropy Awards.
The NGO was honoured for its work in promoting healthy lives, women’s and girls’ rights, good governance, and accountability, particularly in northern Ghana.
Founded in 2011, RISE-Ghana is a human rights and sustainable development NGO established by young people concerned about poverty, inequality, and the limited use of rights-based approaches in development programmes.
It has since become a key local partner for state agencies, international donors, and multilateral organisations working in human rights, health, and governance.
The awards ceremony was held on October 30, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, where several organisations and institutions were recognised for their contributions to national development.
Speaking after receiving the award, RISE-Ghana’s Executive Director, Alhaji Awal Ahmed Kariama, thanked the organisers for acknowledging the NGO’s contributions to Ghana’s development, especially in the north.
“This award is a call to action to increase our impact. I am humbled by the recognition,” he said.
He added: “Actors in the philanthropic space rarely get recognised and celebrated, so any effort toward that must be commended. This has been possible because of the work of a great team — past and current staff, donors, communities, and partners, including dedicated media friends who helped showcase our work.”
Alhaji Kariama reflected on the organisation’s challenges and milestones, recalling one project in particular: “I remember when we were building and furnishing a 20-bed maternity unit for the Chuchulga community, funded by the Australian High Commission. After a follow-up thank-you visit by the chief and then health director Samuel Anyogdem for a WASH project, a woman and her husband released their farmland to resolve a land dispute caused by the usual ‘not in my backyard’ syndrome, which nearly stalled the project.”
He dedicated the award to RISE-Ghana’s staff and partners. “I dedicate this to staff past and present, our donors and partners — CDD-Ghana, UNICEF-Ghana, and the Australian High Commission — and also the Ghana Health Service,” he said.
Kariama also acknowledged retired former Builsa North District Health Director Samuel Anyogdem and the then Regional TB Coordinator for the Upper East Region for their early support.
“Their recommendations in 2012 led to funding from the Stop TB Partnership/Global Fund, which helped us pivot into our current strong human rights and health system strengthening programmes,” he said.
