Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Upper West Region have called for the urgent implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill and Non-Profit Organization Bill to help correct gender imbalances and inclusion of CSOs in decision-making.
They made the call during an engagement in Wa organized by the Community Development Alliance (CDA) with support from the Star Ghana Foundation.
Speaking to Info Radio, the Executive Director for Necessary Aid Alliance, Mr Songsore Mulumba, urged the government to listen to their plea for the implementation of the Bill to address issues affecting women and people living with disabilities.
He said this is because women are the backbone of the country and also constitute the majority of the country’s population.
He said, “Its long over due, we’ve long talked about this Affirmative Action Bill and it is high time this is passed because a country that does not recognized or include women in its leadership is not a serious country.”
“Also, with the NPO, development partners which include CSOs are not competitors of the government, we augment the government in its development efforts.
It, therefore, does not make sense that you are making a constitution which will guide the day-to-day operation of nonprofit organizations and you are making things blur and you are not including the collective concerns of these organizations into a constitution that is going to affect their operation, that doesn’t sit down well with us.”
On behalf of the people living with disabilities in the region, Madam Christiana Ormuoh expressed worry over the Non-Profit Organization bill indicating the challenges they will face if NGOs are crippled in Ghana.
“If the government taxes CSOs in this country, it will be a punishment for people with disabilities (PWDs). Currently, we cannot identify any specific assistance or support that the government is providing for us."
Miss Hedahiatu Yahaya, a volunteer for Card Ghana, and member of the She Leads Movement, indicated her support for the call for the implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill and Non-Profit Organization Bill.
Comments