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Tamale, Ghana – Ahead of the Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, the Northern Regional Chairman of the Coalition is urging leadership and all members who are attending the event to grant autonomy to newly created regions across the country.
According to Cletus Zume, the creation of Coalition chapters was based on regions and since there had been a referendum leading to the creation of six new regions out of existing ten regions, it made sense to grant autonomy to the newly created regions so that they could contest for National Executive elections in future.
Speaking at the AGM of the Northern Regional chapter of the Coalition on Monday, he said the upcoming National AGM at Bolgatanga was the right opportunity for National and Regional Executives as well as members attending the event to unanimously agree to grant the Savannah and North East Regions autonomy.
“Next year, we’ll be going for National Executive elections. If the autonomy is not immediately granted the six new regions so that they can also hold elections and elect their own executives, members of these regions cannot contest for National positions. And since the AGM is the most powerful decision making body of the Coalition, I think it is important that critical decision is taken at the Bolgatanga AGM this week”, he emphasized.
Besides the call by the Northern Regional Coalition Chairman, all 24 members at the AGM unanimously voted in favour of the proposal to grant autonomy to the newly created regions.
The Tamale AGM sought to bring together all members of the Coalition in the region to enable leadership render accounts to them, brief them of current happenings and plans towards the National AGM.
The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) is a reputable not-for-profit Civil Society Organization (CSO) established in 2000.
As an umbrella and coordinating body of activities of all registered nongovernmental organisations and community-based organisations in the health sector in the country, GCNH currently has a membership of over 417 registered local organisations across the country with the Northern Region having 32 registered members.
GCNH also seeks to positively influence health policy as well as practice and empower its member organizations to ensure quality health delivery services for all people living in Ghana.
Mr. Zume who is also Executive Director of Centre for Women Opportunities (CENWOPP) cited lack of funding the biggest challenge of the Northern Regional Chapter of the Coalition to enable them to run health activities in the region.
He also mentioned unwillingness and delays associated with members paying dues and the lack of capacity of the GCNH to develop its own proposals for funding.
Going forward, Mr. Zume said the Norther Regional Chapter of the Coalition would partner with strategic institutions including Plan Ghana, CRS and UNICEF.
“We shall continue to lean on the Regional and District Health Directorates for their support and inspiration to carry on”, he noted.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Philip Liebs
