Reduce duties on goods for charities - Remar Director

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Mr Baovedewagre Ouedraogou, Country Director of Remar Association, Ghana, a Christian charity organisation, has appealed to the Government to reduce import duties and other charges charity organisations and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) pay on items donated to them for their work. He said the long documentation processes involved in clearing of goods at the ports, which attracted daily rates as well as high duties, made it extremely difficult for charity organisations to access their donations in time and, therefore, adversely affected their smooth operations.

Mr Ouedraogou made the appeal when Ms Esther Afriyie Baiden, a Ghanaian based in London, presented used clothes, shoes, Christian literature, mattresses, material and cash of 100 pounds to the organisation. He said Remar rehabilitated the marginalized in society and had more than 500 people including orphans, alcoholics, drug addicts and school dropouts, among others, at their centres. "At least 200 of these children are in primary and junior secondary schools at our centres in Accra, Nsawam, Kumasi, Aflao and Tema. We feed, clothe, house as well as take care of their medical needs," he said.

The Director said Remar Ghana was maintained through donations and support from institutions and individuals in Ghana and abroad and appealed for support to enable them to improve their services to humanity. Ms Baiden said she was touched by the plight of people that Remar assisted and, therefore, solicited help from her church members, friends and families who contributed both in cash and in kind to support the Association.