NGOs require Government's assistance to reduce poverty

Abodahi(V/R), Nov. 26, GNA - Mr Richard Galliford, Chief Executive Director of Ghana Outlook a UK-based NGO, on Saturday called on Government to support activities of NGOs towards reducing rural poverty. He expressed concern about the lack of Government support to NGOs to clear goods at the entry ports for the development of rural communities, 93When such a situation persists it would affect development reaching the less privileged and make them poorer.=94

Mr Galliford made the appeal when inaugurating a 430-million-cedi Teachers Block for basic school teachers at Abodahi near Kpetoe in the Volta Region built by the NGO.

He noted that although some NGOs exploited their clients to make profit, Government should investigate activities of such NGOs to maximize efforts by genuine NGOs to assist in improving the living standards of rural dwellers.

"Some of us are dying for mankind and need the encouragement and support to assist rural dwellers," he added.

Mr Galliford noted that Government alone could not develop the country and expressed concern about some politicians and opinion leaders in the rural communities not showing interest in development projects being undertaken by NGOs in their areas.

"Some of them look mean on the development projects based on mere suspicions that NGOs are making money," he said. Mr Mawuli Dabi, Adaklu-Anyigbe District Chief Executive commended efforts by the NGO in the area and called on the people to revive their communal spirit to complete their projects on schedule. He urged teachers and communities to complement each other to raise standards of education in the area.

Mr Samuel Tumaku, Adaklu-Anyigbe District Director of Education pledged to transfer more teachers to the Abodahi community and was optimistic that the community's improved school infrastructure would reflect positively in its academic performance. Mr Joseph Achana, Chief Executive Director of Ghana Outlook (Ghana) took Mr Galliford round to inspect some development projects being undertaken by the NGO.

Mr Galliford presented learning and sporting kits to some schools and cut the sod for work to begin on a six-unit classroom block at Abodahi.