The Northern Network for Education Development (NNED) has called for the suspension of the NGO/CSO Coordinating and Harmonizing Operations Framework draft in the education sector.
The group noted that despite the framework promoting “efficiency and a reduction in the duplication of interventions”, its attempt to “regulate NGOs/CSOs may only aim at constricting the NGO/CSO space.”
NNED advised that “GES must be mindful not to undermine the freedoms of CSOs/NGOs since not all of them will be interested in being members of a coalition as proposed.”
Also, “the indication by GES to approve all project proposals of CSOs/NGOs before they secure funding as well as for NGOs/CSOs to disclose their sources of funding and bankers will be a duplication of work.”
The Northern Network for Education Development (NNED) therefore proposed six recommendations on the draft.
It stated that “the softcopy of the draft framework be shared with NGOs/CSOs for fine-tuning as was agreed by participants at the Kumasi meeting.”
“Social Welfare departments and the Register Generals Departments are the legally mandated bodies established by the companies code, 1963(Act179) to register and certify companies including NGOs/CSOs and should as such, be allowed to do so.”
“GES strengthens its structures at the District and Regional levels to perform better in coordinating the activities of NGOs/CSOs rather than the current desire to regulate NGOs/CSOs whose objectives includes demanding accountability from the same GES.”
“That GES’s intention to have all NGOs/CSOs working in Education be a part of a particular coalition as a prerequisite of being permitted to work in the educational sector will be a constriction of the freedom of association as provided by the Ghanaian constitution.”
“Asking that, NGOs/CSOs pay registration fees to GES will be duplication as similar fees are paid by NGOs/CSOs to the Department of Social Welfare and the Registrar General’s Department when renewing their certificates and filing annual returns, respectively. Approaches to achieving synergy and harmony cannot be realized through the current strategy by GES.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
