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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Oct 2010 : 19:38:43
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Foroyaa Editorial: The Government and NGOs
By Publisher on 15-10-10
The Government of the Gambia employs less than 20000 employees. The NGOs are a major source of development assistance, foreign exchange and employment. There are many Gambians today who would have sought greener pastures abroad if they did not pick up appointments with the Non Governmental Organisations.
It is very evident that most NGOs operate through the existing structures in the Country. If they work in the Countryside they are likely to involve the Village Heads, the Imams or Religious Leaders, the Village Development Committees, the Women or Youth groups, the Councillors and so on. People witness almost daily the inauguration of all sorts of institutions through donor support. It is therefore counterproductive to demonise NGOs or give them the cloak of an opposition force.
What the Government should be telling the people is that Good Governance is the separation of party and state and the creation of a level ground where the NGOs could partner with both Government and Opposition to serve the interest of the people. It is when the services of NGOs benefit all without distinction to party affiliation that they could be considered to be fulfilling their corporate mandate.
We want the Gambian people to know that what officials sign is often not conveyed to the grassroots. Consequently, many people feel that unless you declare allegiance to the ruling party one would not be entitled to support by NGOs. To the contrary many government departments cannot access certain funds until they could prove that political party representatives are to be treated equally.
Foroyaa for example has reliably gathered that women representatives of many parties are invited by the Women’s Bureau to a three day capacity building and sensitisation workshop for women in decision making and politics which is being held in Bwiam, at St Joseph’s Family Farm. Both the Women in decision making project and its successor “Women Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming Project” are funded by the UNDP which demands equal opportunity irrespective of party affiliation.
If the Women’s Bureau under the Vice President would involve all parties to access funds, what about the NGOs? Any NGO which allows others to manipulate it to treat people belonging to different parties unequally is preparing for its doom.
Mature governments are not afraid to create a level ground for multi party contest. Opposition and Government should compete as to which is more competent to create the environment which is more conducive for the operation of NGOs and the Media. Governments which create the worst environment for NGOS and The Media drive away good publicity and development.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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