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Okyenhene Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Panin II has pledged to support the CSR Foundation Ghana (CSRFG) to promote conservation of the environment and sustain corporate social responsibility activities in the country. This came to light when the foundation officially visited him at his palace in Accra to introduce themselves and the rationale behind formation of the foundation, and to formally invite him to chair the CSRFG maiden annual national CSR conference to be held in November and December this year. Briefing the Okyenhene, Mr. Joseph Emmanuel Allotey Pappoe, chairman of the board of trustees of the foundation who led the delegation, stressed the need for a partnership of business, civil society and government for the country to deepen the CSR culture and reap its full benefits. He stated that it is for this reason that the CSRFG had been set up with the vision of creating a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate citizens and individuals, which would be pursued through advocacy, training, conferences, awards, research, publications and advisory services. Explaining more about the conference, Mr. Allotey-Pappoe said that it was aimed at initiating a platform for national deliberation on CSR in Ghana and to adopt the communiqu�s at the end of the conference to encourage action from government, corporate organisations, civil society organisations, communities and society to form partnerships for sustainable development in the country. "CSR Foundation Ghana�s Annual National CSR Conference is one of the vehicles to be used by the Foundation to initiate and promote deliberations on responsible corporate behavior, and to create a society of CSR-committed and compliant corporate citizens and individuals in Ghana." He added that the first day of the conference will strategically focus on Ghana, and the facilitators and presenters have been chosen from experts in the area of CSR in the country. "The Speakers include Dr. Joyce Aryee, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Mines; Mr. Kweku Rockson, a former acting rector of Ghana Institute of Journalism and a researcher in CSR; and Professor Robert Hinson, Head of Marketing Department, University of Ghana Business School, both board-members of CSR Foundation Ghana" he noted. "Other speakers include Mr. Kwamena Anaman, former corporate affairs director of Ashanti Goldfields Company; and Mr. Bishop Akolgo Executive Director of Integrated Social Development Centre, (ISODEC)," he said. The chairman added that presentations will feature high-profile keynote and special addresses by key ministers of state, plenary sessions and question and answer sessions -- and it will also involve networking events and include exhibitions of CSR initiatives. "Some of the topics to be discussed are 'Corporate Social Responsibility: A Key Component for Sustainable Development through Partnership'; 'Corporate Social Responsibility: A Historical Overview'; 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Legislation and the Role of Government'; 'CSR in Ghana: The Case for Voluntary Action�; and �The Role of Corporations: The Corporate Credibility implications'; 'The Role of Civil Society Organisations in the CSR Partnership Sustainable development'; 'The scientific approach to ranking CSR Performance in Ghana: The CSR Foundation Ghana Methodology', he noted. He added that the conference was expected to attract CEO�s and Corporate Affairs Directors from Ghana and beyond and will help deepen CSR practice and share knowledge as well as provide critical information on global perspectives of CSR. The Okyenhene expressed with pleasure interest in supporting the foundation to protect the environment and hold corporate individuals accountable for their activities in the country. Osagyefo Amotia, who is an environmentalist, complained with passion about the way politicians personalise developmental policies -- which is the key factor contributing to underdevelopment in the country. He called on the government to decentralise public and socio-economic activities to other regional capitals in order to decongest the capital city and help the economic wealth of the other regions, which would help accelerate the country�s total development. He added it is now time individuals take responsibility for conserving their environment and put in place the right structures to take care of the community and people as a whole. He stressed the need for sustainable development, which he explained should be owned by the people in the local area and not transferred to any external body because sustainable development is about the local people. The Okyehene expressed his interest in the foundation and promised that his office will be readily available to promote CSR initiatives in the country. Mr. Allotey-Pappoe presented copies of the CSR Watch magazine to the Okyenhene.