September 5 is not a major public holiday in Ghana, and you will not see the country shutting down for a nationwide festival on this date. But that does not mean the day has little meaning.

September 5 is known as the International Day of Charity, a United Nations observance that encourages people to think about giving, volunteering, and helping those who need support. The date was chosen in memory of Nobel Prize awardee, Honourable Mother Teresa, who died on September 5, 1997, after spending much of her life working with people living in poverty and distress.

For Ghana, the day can be looked at in a more personal way. Charity does not always have to mean writing a large cheque or donating to a major organisation. Sometimes it is helping a neighbour, supporting a student, sharing food, giving away something useful or simply giving your time.

And recent data suggests that giving is already part of life for many people in Ghana.

Ghana Has a Strong Culture of Giving

The CAF World Giving Report 2025 provides an interesting picture of how people in Ghana give.

In the report, 80% of the people surveyed in Ghana said that they gave money in 2025. 61% gave directly to a person or family in need, and 34% gave to a charity. Another 30% did voluntary work in the community or elsewhere without payment.

The numbers tell an important story.

In Ghana, giving isn’t limited to formal charities. A significant portion of the giving goes directly to people in need. Religious giving also plays an important role. In 2025, 52% of respondents said they’d given money to a religious organization or religious cause.

So, it is understandable to think outside the box of traditional fundraising when talking about charity in Ghana. For many people, charity can be something much closer to home.

What Does Charity Look Like in Everyday Ghanaian Life?

Imagine a family clearing out a cupboard before the new school term. There may be uniforms, shoes, books or school bags that are no longer needed.

Instead of throwing them away, those items could go to another child.

Or consider someone preparing dinner and deciding to make an extra portion for an elderly neighbour. It may not feel like a major charitable act, but for the person receiving it, that small gesture could mean a great deal.

The same applies to time. Someone who cannot afford to donate money can still volunteer, teach a skill, help a young person with schoolwork or assist with a community activity.

A Look at Charity Across Ghana’s Regions

Ghana’s needs are not identical from one region to another. The country’s 16 regions contain communities with very different economic and social circumstances.

The Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) provides a useful official source for understanding where vulnerable households are recorded. Its registry covers communities across all 16 regions and provides regional information on households classified as poor or extremely poor.

For example, the GNHR’s current regional figures show substantial numbers of households classified as extremely poor or poor in regions including Northern, Upper West, Upper East, North East, Savannah, Volta and Oti, among others.

They represent households captured and classified through the registry, rather than a simple ranking of which Ghanaian region “needs charity the most.” The GNHR itself is a social-protection register designed to identify and support poor and vulnerable households.

Instead of saying that one region is more charitable or another is less fortunate, the data reminds us that different communities may have different priorities and different forms of need.

In one community, educational support may be especially valuable. Somewhere else, food assistance, healthcare support, livelihood assistance, or help for vulnerable households may be more appropriate.

You Don’t Have to Be Wealthy to Give

There is sometimes an assumption that charity is mainly for people with plenty of money.

The numbers from Ghana challenge that idea.

The CAF data shows that people give through several different routes, including direct support to people in need, religious giving, formal charities and voluntary work. In 2025, the amount donated through the different channels was on average about 2.4% of Ghanaian respondents’ income, of which 1.1% went directly to persons in need, 0.9% through religious channels and 0.4% to charities.

However, money is simply one example of generosity.

A person can give:

• An hour of their time
• Unused but useful clothes
• School books or supplies
• A meal or food items
• Professional advice
• Digital or technical skills
• Encouragement to someone going through a difficult period
• Help with a community project

Sometimes, what a person needs most is not money but someone willing to show up and help.

Contribution of Young Ghanaians

Charity does not have to be an activity reserved for adults.

Schools, youth groups and families can use September 5 as an opportunity to introduce children and young people to the idea of community service.

A school could organise a book collection. Students could gather gently used learning materials for children who need them. Young people with digital skills could help others learn basic computer or online skills.

These activities have a benefit beyond the immediate donation.

They can help young people understand empathy, responsibility and the importance of contributing to the community.

Ghana’s own household survey data also recognises volunteering as something that can contribute to social well-being. Ghana Statistical Service data on volunteering identifies areas such as providing essential services, promoting selflessness and contributing to overall social good.

That makes volunteering particularly interesting for people who want to participate in charity without making a financial donation.

Simple Ways Organizations Can Participate in Community Service

If you are an organization and want to mark the International Day of Charity in Ghana, there is no need to organise a huge event. You can start with small community Service also in your office.

• Donate something useful: For many organizations, from time to time, interior change is crucial. You can donate your old sofas, stationery, file organizers,s and many more as per your business type.
• Help a student: Offer academic support, share learning materials, or help a young person develop a useful skill.
• Support someone directly: If you know someone who is experiencing a difficult period, a practical contribution by hiring them in your organization can be more useful than a symbolic gesture.
• Volunteer your skills: A designer, teacher, accountant, photographer, marketer, technician, or other professional can offer knowledge instead of money.
• Give your time: Visit an elderly person, help with a community activity with your employees on the weekend, or spend time supporting someone who may feel isolated.
• Support a trustworthy institution: If you are not sure of giving values directly, whom to check? Then finding reputable and trustworthy institutions is more beneficial. You can also invest in these institutions for the betterment of people living there.

These actions may look simple, but together they can create meaningful change and uplift the community.

Charity Should Be Responsible Too

Generosity is valuable, but responsible giving matters.

Before sending money to an organisation or an online fundraising campaign, people should check who is behind it and where the money is supposed to go. A good cause should not have to rely on pressure, confusion or exaggerated claims to receive support.

The same principle applies to donating physical items.

Give things that people can actually use. Clean clothes, functional household items, and relevant school supplies are much more helpful than unwanted items that simply transfer the disposal problem to someone else.

The goal should not be “I need to get rid of this.”

It should be:

“Could this genuinely help someone?”

Turning One Day Into a Habit

Perhaps the most valuable part of September 5 is that it does not have to end on September 5.

One donation can become a regular habit. One volunteering experience can lead to another. A child who learns the value of sharing at school may carry that lesson into adulthood.

The International Day of Charity is ultimately a reminder of something that does not belong to one particular country or culture: people can make life a little easier for one another.

And Ghana’s giving data suggests that many people are already doing exactly that.

Final Thoughts

The International Day of Charity may not be celebrated in Ghana with the excitement of a national holiday, but it still offers a meaningful opportunity to pause and think about the people around us.

The latest giving data shows that charitable behaviour in Ghana takes many forms. People give directly to those in need, support religious causes, donate to charities and volunteer their time.

That is perhaps the most important message for September 5.

You do not need to be wealthy to create support. You do not need to organise a huge event. And you do not have to wait for someone else to start.

A school book can help a child learn. A meal can help a family through a difficult day. A few hours of volunteering can support a community project. A useful skill can open a door for someone else. Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can leave the biggest impression. Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can leave the biggest impression.

This September 5, the real question is not how much you can give. It is what you can give that might genuinely make another person’s life a little better.