Network of Association of Registered NGOs inaugurated

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs has asked Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Foreign Missions and Development Partners in Ghana to collaborate with local NGOs to help improve living standards in the country. He said, "we all have one goal -improving the well-being of Ghanaians, and the best way to achieve this is to complement each other's efforts''.

Mr. Mpiani acknowledged that some NGOs had made inroads in all major sectors of the Ghanaians economy, including education, health, water, food and agriculture, sanitation, relief operations and said the effort must be supported.

Mr. Mpiani, who was inaugurating the Network of Associations of Registered NGOs in Ghana said it was for this reason that government recognised NGOs as strategic partners in the country's development efforts since activities of NGOs were currently visible throughout the country.

"Besides being a source of direct employment, some NGOs are providing credit facilities to many self-employed persons to improve their businesses and earn more income, all of which translate into improved conditions of living," he said.

Mr Mpiani, whose address was read for him by Mr. L .B. Tusoe, Chief Director at the Presidential Affairs Ministry also commended the role of some NGOs in the recent floods in the three Northern Regions and parts of some Districts in Ghana that left many people homeless. He said many of them demonstrated a lot of goodwill by not only promptly sending goods to the aid of the victims, but also providing the necessary support that enabled victims get on their feet. The Network, made up of 55 National Associations of NGOs would serve as a forum for the leadership of the various National Associations to discuss issues affecting membership and sensitise the general public on major government policies, programmes and projects. A three-member Board of Directors made up of Mr. Kofi Lucas, National President, Rev. Apostle Samuel Gyamfi, Member and Dr. Kofi Opam Adjei, Member was sworn in at the ceremony.

Mr. Mpiani said NGOs in Ghana had gained prominence lately in advocacy due to the prevailing atmosphere of free speech and participation, while being very articulate in commenting on government policies and influencing government to reconsider some programmes and policies.

He however, advised that while government recognized their right to free speech, NGOs in advocacy must always place the interest of the country at the centre of their actions in order not to cause damage to their reputation.

Mr. Mpiani said some NGOs malign the country in order to get foreign donor support, saying, "this practice is a very unhealthy development to which an immediate stop should be put." "We must therefore be watchful of those NGOs who hide behind some politics parties to frustrate or even sabotage government programmes in the name of advocacy" and advised that NGOs must be manifestly objective in whatever they did in order not to be perceived as being partisan.

He noted that because of the negative practice, some individuals and communities were not favourably disposed towards some NGOs in spite of the good work they may be doing, saying, to such communities, NGOs were only interested in siphoning money from donors to satisfy the selfish interest and needs of their owners.

Mr Mpiani charged the leadership of the Network to work hard to dispel such perceptions, suggesting a complete overhaul of the operations of NGOs, rather than making them appear like family businesses.

"They must be managed professionally, with positions occupied by qualified people and not family members and other relations. Audited accounts must be submitted on time while Board of Directors were properly constituted," he said. Mr Mpiani commended the Founding members of the Network for the initiative and expressed confidence that those entrusted with the responsibility of running the Network at any level would work hard to realize the vision of the initiators and the broad objectives it stood for.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, advised NGOs to promote peace and understanding with the communities in which they operated. He commended NGOs which were critical of Government policies, and said it was a sign of democratic governance but not to the perilous extent of causing disaffection of the people against the Government. The Finance Minister exhorted the Network to join the crusade in fighting against corruption in both public and private sectors of national development and further challenged member Associations of the Network to partner with the Government in the area of monitoring Government projects, programmes and activities.

Mrs Frema Opare, Deputy Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, who represented Nana Akomea, the Sector Minister, said five thousand NGOs had so far been registered with the Ministry, a healthy sign that the NGO concept was gaining ground in the country.

She however, advised all NGOs to work hard to promote socio-economic well-being of the communities in which they lived and operated.

Mrs. Opare who swore the Board of Directors into office noted that when NGOs were organized into Associations like the Network, it made it easier for the Ministry to supervise and monitor their activities rather than dealing with individual NGOs and also helped the Ministry to respond quickly to requests for information on local NGOs from their International counterparts.

The Deputy Minister hoped that the Network would contribute inputs into the Trust, Civil Society and Non-profit-making Organizations Bill.

She observed that hitherto, GAVOD had been the only Group of NGOs that the Ministry had been dealing with on the NGO Bill, but the Ministry would now engage the Network in its dealings. Mr. Kofi Lucas, the National President of the Network, said since NGOs sought the interest, welfare and benefit of the government, citizenry and the Communities they operated in, it behoved on them to work closely with Government and other agencies to translate government's policies, programmes and projects into realities. He explained that the Network was a supreme body, registered in Ghana and had been incorporated as a company limited by Guarantee and as an NGO which oversaw, monitored and coordinated 55 National Associations of NGOs.

He said the Network would introduce as part of its policy, integrity, transparency, and accountability into the NGO Community and help reverse the bad image some few NGOs had created for the NGO Community.

The National President said the Board of Directors would soon embark on a nationwide tour to put in place all the structures in June this year.