Ghanaians abroad plead for exemption of duty on donations

Ghanaians living outside the country have appealed to the government to exempt them from the payment of duty on items they donate to institutions and the needy in the country.

Mr Reginald Mensah, a native of Shama in the Western Region, based in the United States said many Ghanaians abroad are desirous of mobilizing materials for shipment as donations to the country but the huge duties normally discourages them.

Mr Mensah, Operation Director of his NGO, Restore Africa Health and Sanitation (RAHS), made the appeal when he donated 50,000 dollars worth of medical items to the Shama Health Centre at Shama, as the NGO's contribution to quality health care.

The items include surgical equipment, wheel chairs, beds, gloves, drip stands, infusion, stretches and syringes among others.

He said the process of clearing goods at the ports was so frustrating and appealed for relaxation of the procedure, adding that, he paid duty on this donation.

This, he noted, would not encourage those abroad to solicit for funds and other materials for donations to the needy.

Mr Mohammed Seidu, the Acting District Director of Health at Shama said the health centre has qualified staff to handle all cases; however, they are constrained by limited equipment to work with.

Mr Seidu said the situation has compelled them to refer most cases to the higher hospitals and appealed to the Ghana Health Service and other related agencies to ensure the expedition of work on the centre and upgrade it to a polyclinic to enable the facility to handle all cases.

Mr Enoch Kojo Appiah, the Shama District Chief Executive and Mr Gabriel Essifle, the MP, received the equipment of behalf of the hospital, and pledged to ensure their good use.

Meanwhile, the management of Zeal Environmental Technologies Limited based in the district had also donated quantities of working tools to support the national sanitation programme.

The materials include, racks, wellington boots, wheel barrows, long brooms and many others.

The Western Region is hosting today's national sanitation event.