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The data shows that Ghana’s charitable giving is relatively strongly influenced by religious traditions, family ties, and cultural values that emphasise solidarity and hospitality.
The World Giving Report consistently highlights Ghana as a country where generosity is expressed not only through formal donations but also through everyday acts of kindness. Religion plays a central role, with Christianity and Islam encouraging giving as a moral duty. Practices such as tithing in churches and zakat in mosques are not only acts of faith but also mechanisms through which faith-based institutions provide education, healthcare, and relief to the vulnerable. Religious institutions therefore serve as important channels for organised charity, while reinforcing the idea that giving is a spiritual responsibility.
The data also shows that family and social networks are equally significant in Ghana’s charitable landscape. The extended family system places a strong emphasis on supporting relatives, whether through school fees, medical expenses, or daily sustenance. Much of this giving is informal, taking place outside of structured organisations, and often manifests in contributions to funerals, community projects, or direct assistance to neighbours. This reflects a cultural expectation that one’s wellbeing is tied to the collective, and that generosity strengthens social bonds.
The motivations behind giving in Ghana are varied. Many people give out of a desire to make a difference in their communities. The report further shows that others see giving as a duty. In addition, unlike in countries where charity is largely institutionalised, Ghana’s giving is more personal and relational, embedded in everyday life and driven by faith, family, and community ties.
How often did you give money away in 2025, either to charity, a person or family in need, or to a religious organisation?
The average proportion of income people gave to each of the three donation routes, and overall.
What would you say are the main reasons that you gave / did not give money away in 2025?
Which cause(s) did you donate to / do unpaid voluntary work for in 2025?
Of the total value of your donations to charities in 2025, approximately how much went to each of the following?
To what extent, if at all, have charities had a positive or negative impact in your local community, or have they made no difference?
For the last charity that you gave money to, how did you first find out about them?
How trustworthy do you tend to find each of these types of charities?
How could charities encourage you to donate in 2026?
Of the xx% that did unpaid, voluntary work in 2025 that benefitted people other than their family or friends, how many shifts did they do?
Think about the opportunities you have to get involved in making positive changes to society (whether locally or further afield). Which best describes your perspective?
"The Government encourages people to give to charity." Do you...
The Ghana Philanthropy Forum (GPF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a robust culture of giving and community development throughout Ghana. Established with the vision of galvanizing philanthropic efforts for sustainable community development, GPF has grown into a central hub for philanthropy, civil society actors, and community foundations across the country.
GPF aims to build a strong ecosystem of peer philanthropy-serving organizations and communities by leveraging unique assets, sharing knowledge and resources, increasing trust in philanthropy, and ultimately advancing the greater good. The organization is committed to promoting participatory development, effective resource mobilization, and advocating for good governance.
Recognizing the need for a structured philanthropic environment, GPF has been instrumental in advocating for the development of a regulatory framework to promote accountability, standardization, and incentivization in the philanthropic sector.
The Ghana Philanthropy Forum (GPF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a robust culture of giving and community development throughout Ghana. Established with the vision of galvanizing philanthropic efforts for sustainable community development, GPF has grown into a central hub for philanthropy, civil society actors, and community foundations across the country.
GPF aims to build a strong ecosystem of peer philanthropy-serving organizations and communities by leveraging unique assets, sharing knowledge and resources, increasing trust in philanthropy, and ultimately advancing the greater good. The organization is committed to promoting participatory development, effective resource mobilization, and advocating for good governance.
Recognizing the need for a structured philanthropic environment, GPF has been instrumental in advocating for the development of a regulatory framework to promote accountability, standardization, and incentivization in the philanthropic sector.
