Difference between revisions of "Ghana NGO Sector"
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Until a definitive reported number exists, there are contrasting statistics from government, national, international, and independent sources. In its 2003 revised edition of the Directory of [[Africa]]n NGOs, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries (OSCAL), listed detailed information for 81 NGOs in Ghana, with additional contact information on hundreds of other groups . WANGO’s own directory, for example, currently lists 271 organizations . The Directory of Development Organizations (2007), published by an independent nonprofit company, lists 553 development organizations and international aid agencies operating in Ghana. | Until a definitive reported number exists, there are contrasting statistics from government, national, international, and independent sources. In its 2003 revised edition of the Directory of [[Africa]]n NGOs, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries (OSCAL), listed detailed information for 81 NGOs in Ghana, with additional contact information on hundreds of other groups . WANGO’s own directory, for example, currently lists 271 organizations . The Directory of Development Organizations (2007), published by an independent nonprofit company, lists 553 development organizations and international aid agencies operating in Ghana. | ||
| − | ==Types and | + | ==Types and Classification of Organizations in the Nonprofit Sector== |
| − | Civil society in Ghana is a diverse body which includes a wide variety of indigenous grassroots organizations, community-based organizations, religious organizations, local unions, | + | Civil society in Ghana is a diverse body which includes a wide variety of indigenous grassroots organizations, community-based organizations, religious organizations, local unions, [[Women's NGOs|women]]’s associations, and village associations. They are generally classified as follows: traditional associations, community-based organizations (CBO), religious, church-related or charitable institutions, voluntary organizations (VOLU), private voluntary organizations (PVO), and non-governmental organizations (NGO) (Atingdui, 1995). |
| − | An attempt to classify nonprofit organizations was made at a 1990 conference in Accra, placing groups into the following categories: local grassroots organizations without external affiliations | + | An attempt to classify nonprofit organizations was made at a 1990 conference in Accra, placing groups into the following categories: local grassroots organizations without external affiliations, national organizations without external affiliations, international organizations operating locally, and national affiliates of international organizations (Atingdui, 1995). |
In the early discussion of the national policy for NGOs, the Sector Ministry classified NGOs and civil society organizations as: | In the early discussion of the national policy for NGOs, the Sector Ministry classified NGOs and civil society organizations as: | ||
*Foundations | *Foundations | ||
*Community development | *Community development | ||
*Health | *Health | ||
| − | *Animal/environment | + | *Animal/[[Environmental NGOs|environment]] |
*Employment and job training | *Employment and job training | ||
*Education/Research | *Education/Research | ||
*Social Services | *Social Services | ||
*Arts/Culture | *Arts/Culture | ||
| − | *Human Rights and Criminal Justice | + | *[[Human Rights NGOs|Human Rights]] and Criminal Justice |
*Advocacy/Legal Services and | *Advocacy/Legal Services and | ||
*International | *International | ||
A further classification determined by a National Advisory Group working with CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, created a list of eighteen separate types of civil society organizations (CSO) in Ghana ranging across social, cultural and economic categories. Within these categories were three main tiers of civil society and their levels of influence, with the most influential being the trade union congresses, international NGOs, and the major political parties (New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress). The report identified faith-based organizations (Christian and Muslim), professional bodies, local NGOs and CBOs in the second tier, with women’s groups and consumer groups exerting the least influence (CIVICUS report: 26-27). | A further classification determined by a National Advisory Group working with CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, created a list of eighteen separate types of civil society organizations (CSO) in Ghana ranging across social, cultural and economic categories. Within these categories were three main tiers of civil society and their levels of influence, with the most influential being the trade union congresses, international NGOs, and the major political parties (New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress). The report identified faith-based organizations (Christian and Muslim), professional bodies, local NGOs and CBOs in the second tier, with women’s groups and consumer groups exerting the least influence (CIVICUS report: 26-27). | ||
| − | Generally, the nonprofit sector encompassing NGOs and CSOs/CBOs group Ghanaian civil society into three types: traditional, religious, and modern (Atingdui 3-7). | + | Generally, the nonprofit sector encompassing NGOs and CSOs/CBOs group Ghanaian civil society into three types: traditional, religious, and modern (Atingdui 3-7). |
==Traditional Groups== | ==Traditional Groups== | ||
Revision as of 09:45, 13 August 2008
As early as Ghana's pre-colonial era, civil society has shaped, and been shaped by, the country’s political developments. After independence in 1957, the government created economic and social reconstruction development plans. This included putting local development committees and the emerging nonprofit sector in charge of providing education, health and social services to the country’s citizens. During the period of political and economic instability that followed independence, citizens were dependent on humanitarian aid and emergency services provided by churches and charities (Atingdui 1995:11-12).
By the early 1980s, the country’s subsequent reorganization of the public and private sectors directly affected religious and church-related organizations, requiring them to reapply for registration with the government (Atingdui 1995:12). Despite the government’s move to exert more control over NGOs, local groups continued to grow and expand unabated. A sharp increase in international development assistance to Ghana occurred between 1989 and 1990, with a significant amount of funds going to the nonprofit sector (World Bank, World Tables). The 1990s saw an exponential growth in the non-profit sector and non-governmental organizations in Ghana, in both the number of groups and their range of activities. By the mid 1990s, the number of registered nonprofit organizations grew to over 700 (Atingdui 1995:15).
Today, the sector encompasses thousands of organizations of all sizes and types. Nonprofit organizations in Ghana are defined as “civil society organizations that are formed independently of the State but register voluntarily under specified laws in order to gain official recognition to pursue purposes that are not self-serving but oriented towards public benefit.” (NGC National Draft Policy). As Ghana moves into the 21st century, civil society in the country is a sector that is still growing and defining itself.
