The GhanaThink Foundation successfully marked the 12th Annual National Volunteer Day (NVDay) on Sunday, September 21, with youth-led activities across Ghana, showing the power of volunteerism in shaping Ghana’s future.
Since its inception in 2013, NVDay has mobilized more than 10,000 volunteers nationwide through the Ghana Volunteer Program, cultivating a strong culture of service and leadership among young people. Timed each year to coincide with Founder’s Day, the initiative honoured Ghana’s nation-builders while empowering youth to address pressing community challenges.
This year’s celebration reflected both the scale and diversity of volunteer projects. From school renovations and literacy programs to health screenings and environmental clean-ups, thousands of Ghanaians took part in activities designed to create sustainable impact in their communities.
For the first time, NVDay partnered with GoGiveTime.org, a digital platform that allowed volunteers to log their service hours, document skills, and receive formal recognition. Organizers said the partnership offered a new way to connect volunteerism to employability, helping young people turn service into professional opportunities.
With youth unemployment in Ghana estimated at 23.7 percent for those aged 15–24, the innovation was timely. GoGiveTime.org not only tracked participation in real time but also validated skills such as project management, teamwork, and community outreach; skills employers seek but many young people struggle to demonstrate on paper.
Highlights from NVDay 2025
NVDay 2025 featured a wide range of activities across Ghana’s regions. In Wa, Wa Konnect organized school outreach programs, while in Tamale, local organizations led a health walk and screening exercise. Volunteers in Bolgatanga conducted a clean-up at the lorry station, and Kasoa Konnect launched the #CleanAirGhana campaign.
Speaking after the event, Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Director of the GhanaThink Foundation, reflected on the importance of NVDay. “NVDay was inspired by the need for better leadership in Ghana. Our founders did something great for this nation, and we marked September 21 by empowering youth to serve their communities,” he said.
Other initiatives included a beach clean-up in Sogakope organized by Fafali & friends; a surgical and medical outreach in Keta by VivaHealth Medical Foundation; blood donation exercises in Kumasi, Accra, and Tamale spearheaded by Rotaract Clubs; digital literacy and STEM engagement session at Krutiase School in the Eastern Region by Young At Heart Ghana; and community sensitization in West Mamprusi and recycling workshops in Navrongo.
Seyram Ahiabor, Head of Online for GhanaThink, noted the growing momentum of the initiative. “For #NVDay2025, our expectations were higher — and they were met. We mobilized more volunteers, expanded into new communities, and amplified the collective spirit of service that has always defined NVDay,” he said.
Volunteers also shared their personal experiences. “Volunteerism isn’t just something I do — it’s a way of life for me,” said Hilda Adika, a Ghana Volunteer Program team member and Hohoe Konnect administrator. “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting smiles on people’s faces through simple acts of kindness. This year reminded me why NVDay matters.”
Organizers stressed that beyond community impact, NVDay is addressing Ghana’s unemployment challenge by equipping young people with practical experience. Studies have shown that youth who volunteer are 12 percent more likely to secure employment and can earn 4–8 percent higher wages in adulthood.
By mobilizing thousands across Ghana, NVDay 2025 reinforced the idea that volunteerism is not just charity work but an engine for skills development, professional growth, and national transformation.
GhanaThink Foundation has called on individuals, organizations, and corporations to continue supporting the movement beyond NVDay. Volunteers were encouraged to track their independent projects on GoGiveTime.org, whether tutoring children, mentoring peers, or organizing neighbourhood clean-ups, to gain recognition and build on the momentum of this year’s success.
Written by Oral Ofori
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
