Until recently, the activities and operations of non-governmental organisations [NGOs] had received commendations, not only from those who are the direct beneficiaries of their services, but also from the general public.
Most communities, especially the rural areas, have access to certain social amenities largely, due to the humanitarian activities of NGOs and for which they will forever remain grateful. Certain development projects would never have come their way but for an NGO.
Unfortunately, of late, the confidence which the people have developed the NGOs is gradually being eroded as a result of the activities of some latter-day groups, who operate in the name of an NGO theirs is to make money at the expense of the poor communities.
These are the NGOs, who are always seen at media houses, soliciting for publications so that they can send them abroad to deceive philanthropic organisations to get money to support non-existing development projects. They completely depart from the core business for which they were registered.
It is, against this background, that the Ghanaian Times strongly endorses the suggestion by the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Mabengba, for the establishment of a regulatory body with legislatives powers to monitor the activities of both local and foreign NGOs operating in the country.
According to him such a body should comprise representatives of NGOs and other major development partners to oversee their activities, and if possible, facilitate the passage of a law to make it mandatory for the organisations to register with the body.
We are of the strong opinion, that such a system, when put the operations of the NGOs. The situation where close to 10 of them, within the same geographical locality and offering the same services at the expense of other areas that also require their services would be eliminated.
The lack of transparency, which has characterized the operations of some of the groups parading as NGOs could, by such a system, be checked effectively.
Genuine NGOs should also see it as their social and moral responsibility to help weed out the bad ones among them so that they are not lumped together and crucified.
We also urge the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to enforce the law on the operations of NGOs, because their activities are causing embarrassment to the good people of Ghana in the eyes of the international community.
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