Chief of Party for the USAID People for Health Project Siapha Kamara received the Outstanding Development Practitioner of the Year award from The National Philanthropy Forum on Friday for his work in livelihoods and policy advocacy in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

Ghana Philanthropy Forum President Dr. Ben Ocra presented a trophy and certificate to Kamara, who is also the SEND West Africa CEO, Kamara’s wife Nancy Drost and SEND Ghana Senior Program Officer Harriet Nuamah-Agyemang. The ceremony took place among other 2018 award recipients and distinguished members of the philanthropic community in Ghana.

“On behalf of the SEND-West Africa family, we are humbled, Dr. Ocra and your colleagues in the forum, for the honour done us, for this recognition,” Kamara said in his acceptance speech, adding that the honour comes during the 20^th anniversary year of SEND.

“We are challenged that you’ve given us an opportunity to continue to do what SEND Ghana has done for the last 20 years – holding the government of Ghana, holding government in Sierra Leone, Liberia, in other parts of Africa, accountable,” said Kamara. “If we are to go beyond aid, we at SEND are convinced that … we have to have good governance.

Kamara said that every citizen in Ghana is vulnerable to corruption, and that improving governance means greater accountability in the public sector and at the grassroots level. 

“As we celebrate, as we take this recognition from Dr. Ocra and his colleagues and his foundation, we will continue to remain the role model that you want us to be,” said Kamara. “To shine light and to hold power accountable.”

View the embedded video below for highlights from the ceremony and Kamara’s full acceptance speech.