What is going on with all this red tapeism in Ghana for a benefactor to have his or her donation release to intended needy people or institutions in Ghana? It is really heart breaking for a concerned citizen to want to and in fact help one of our helpless schools only to find out the Ministry of Education really does not appreciate his caring gesture.
The government of Ghana, as if it cared so much for the welfare of the nation has consistently and repeatedly asked its citizen’s in the Diaspora to help redeem the ailing economy. It is very obvious or at least, becoming very obvious that our government is not sincere if it has still not put mechanisms in place to make benefactors comfortable to give. Or should we say when they talk of help, they imply financing their political agenda?
What about our ailing schools and hospitals on their last legs? What is an educational reform worth when students don’t even have roof over their heads and those who do don’t even have enough desks to write on? Yet our government (officials) would not appreciate any reasonable help.
You would think when you opt to help the said ministry or government official would extend the olive hand of gratitude. No. Rather they would frustrate you. Does the Ministry of Education need or expect a bribe before it accepts and or releases school desks to a school that desperately need them? An enquiring mind wants to know.
KA wrote:
“I have recently dispatched 75 desks to St Augustine's PRACTICE School, Cape Coast, our old middle school. They arrived in Ghana on 3rd April 2007. I shipped them myself at a cost of £400 and paid 4.5Million Cedis 'handling' charges to the Shipping Agency in Tema. I am currently battling with the Ministry of Education in Cape Coast to release them to the School without me having to pay another 6 Million Cedis in duties. I am told I should have obtained a letter from the Ministry of Education earlier; such is life.” (KA)
What kind of “hot air” is this? This story really calls for immediate investigation. At least the government should do well to absorb the duties if it were very sincere in helping our poor students and institutions. Many in the Diaspora don’t have problems or issues donating some infrastructure to our ailing schools and hospitals but the outrageous duties the CEPS would levy on them as the government looks on unconcerned. If the government really is sincere in asking citizens to help then it was only appropriate and rational that it waives all duties on donations especially those meant for educational institutions and hospitals.
On April 4, 2007 I read this note in Okyeame forum for the first time. It said
“I was wondering if you could help with something. We have someone who was given 20 therapy beds by her company that she wants to donate to Korle-Bu.... Can you get back to me at your convenience to discuss adding these items to a container if you're sending one out?”
Now I understand why no one in the forum responded or at least it’s taking so long.
It must be recalled that not long ago the Vice-President in his speech in the North admitted that the common trait of Ghanaians is poverty. If Ghana is that poor and cannot provide school desks for our students then why are they frustrating the efforts of those who care enough to help? Wake up Ghana Government! The problem is within not without.
It has been said over and over again that many Ghanaians in the Diaspora are willing to help their towns and villages but the government’s “inane” policies in accepting gifts (except for cash) is unbelievable. Although many would or may not mind giving cash, it has become the “gospel truth” in Ghana that when you give officials cash it ends up in their own pockets. So if the government is still making it difficult for citizens to give in kind-(infrastructure) - then it must as well stop asking citizens to help.
By this article, I beseech the Ministry of Education to not only release the desks immediately to St Augustine's PRACTICE School in Cape Coast but also to refund the money paid in duties to the said benefactor.
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