U.S. Embassy gives 94,000 dollars to NGOs

Accra (Greater Accra), 9 March, '99 -

Six non-govermental organisations were on Tuesday given a total of 94,000 dollars from the United States Embassy's Democracy and Human Rights Fund to support democratisation and human rights. Ghanalert had 22,000 dollars to finance election observation in the country. This will entail assessing and reporting on the political climate and media coverage around the country in the run-up to Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the year 2000. International Needs received 10,000 dollars to finance an education campaign involving drama troupes, school debates and publications against the practice of Trokosi. Legal Resources Centre got 10,000 dollars to fund a year- long series of legal education clinics in Nima and New Town, targeting youth and Women groups, chiefs and religious leaders. The Northern Peace Committee had 20,000 dollars to establish and maintain peace committees throughout the Northern region with the two-fold objective of furthering peace efforts and serving as early warning agents for conflict. Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) got 22,000 dollars to conduct a training courses for about 150 CHRAJ officers and publish manuals providing workers with guidelines on investigation, mediation and adjudication of human rights cases. FIDA had 10,000 dollars to finance a mobile legal aid clinic to visit 15 villages and towns in the Volta and Eastern regions and assist women with legal questions concerning issues such as marriage, maintenance of children, divorce, wills, succession and violence. US Ambassador Kathryn Dee Robinson said the fund was set up by the US Congress in 1991 to boost grants and aids to the grassroot level. She said since its inception, the Fund has disbursed 800,000 dollars to groups to support short term but effective human right institutions. The recipients thanked the US Embassy and pledged to work for the benefit of all Ghanaians.