Ghana news–Madam Rose Sarfo, leader of House of Needy, a non-governmental organization (NGO) has reinforced the need for government to give import exemptions to philanthropic groups so as to help them get the items they bring in for the needy on time.
According to her, many NGO’s like hers continue to struggle to get hold of items meant for the vulnerable and needy in society.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper after donating some items including sets of furniture and two pianos to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Church of Pentecost at Frante, a town close to Sekyeredumasi, Madam Sarfo asked government to do more to support NGOs.
The government, she noted cannot solve the myriad of problems bedeviling the country alone, adding it will need the support of groups such as the House of Needy to help out.
‘’I am convinced that if government gives us exemptions to get the items we bring into the country many of the needy would receive prompt support from some of us’’, the philanthropist posited.
MONITORING:
The attitude where government agents at the port make the release of items difficult, she noted is discouraging and de-motivating many NGOs.
She insisted that rather than lumping together all NGOs as not living up to the duties they claim to be performing government can find a way to monitor the activities of each of the groups.
This, she noted will enable government to identify credible groups or NGOs from those who are not credible so that import exemptions could be provided for the genuine ones.
She asked government to redouble its monitoring effort to ensure that NGOs do exactly what the mandates their registration and certification enjoins them to do.
‘’You cannot deny all of us exemption just because one or two NGOs did not give the items they claimed was for the needy for the purpose it was released to them’’, Madam Sarfo noted.
OTHER DONATIONS:
Madam Sarfo has also donated six laptops to some needy pupils in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions.
Three of the needy pupils from Ashanti Region who received their laptops last Saturday were from the Frante Junior High and Koforidua Junior High Schools.
CHURCHES:
Speaking on behalf of the Churches and the needy at Frante, Elder Osei Kwaku of the SDA Church commended the efforts of the House of Needy group.
Their donations, he noted is bringing relief to many as well as the church as they can now enjoy service with the provision of the Pianos and good chairs.
He asked that people in the society emulates the example by the House of Needy so as to lessen the burden on the under-privileged and vulnerable in the society.
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