General News of Wednesday, 24 November 1999

Source: Reuters

Ghana tells aid agencies not to send rubbish

ACCRA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Ghana told aid agencies on Wednesday to stop giving it poor quality goods after checks found large quantities of ``relief goods'' were either old or unfit for human consumption.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry directed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and religious bodies to pay for the re-export of shoddy goods they brought into the country.

``The ministry wishes to warn NGOs, both local and foreign, not to use Ghana as a dumping ground for expired, unwholesome and non-efficacious products,'' it said in a statement.

``Certainly Ghana is not a pauper nation and must be treated with respect and dignity by those who profess to be assisting in its welfare and development programmes,'' it added.