Import Duties Affecting Donors Support in Ghana-NGO tells Govt

The Country Director of LIFE for Reliefs and Development, a United States of America (USA) based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim has appealed to the government to consider exempting import duties at the Ports for donor organizations to help develop the country.

According to him, the import duties that NGOs pay to clear goods meant for free distribution are discouraging donors and must be reviewed to save the country from losing many good voluntary donation items that would benefit the vulnerable in the country.

Mr. Ibrahim made the appeal when the organization in collaboration with the Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu donated over 25,000 reading books to basic schools within the La-Nkwatanang Municipality in Accra.

He said Life for Relief and Development is a Humanitarian organization that provides essential and life-saving support to people regardless of their race, religion, gender, and cultural values or background, but the cost of importing goods for such vulnerable members of society is discouraging.

In some cases, he said the Organisation has to divert goods meant for Ghanaian communities to other countries like Serria-Leone and Senegal due to the cost of clearing them at the ports.

“We don’t make a profit, we are not importing to sell, yet the cost of clearing goods we are to distribute free is costly more than the goods itself. In other countries, it is not like that. Some time ago, I had no option but to let the goods that were meant for Ghana go to other West Africa countries. So I am appealing to the government to do something that would be helpful to NGOs, so we can contribute to the country,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

**From Left to Right, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim of Life for Relief and Development presenting books to MP for Madina, Francis Sosu**

The Public Relations Officer of Life for Relief and Development, Sahani Ibn Yunus said the NGO aims to bring hope where it is needed most and built on the successful worldwide distribution of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and relief in over 55 countries.

The Organization, he said takes immense pride in its reputation for utmost positioning as one of the best not-for-profit organizations within the humanitarian aid and development sector.

He added that the Organisation remained committed to providing essential supplies and comfort to disaster victims, giving communities life-saving water and health, and securing the needs of orphans for a brighter future.