Veronica Mensah (second from L) among other panel members
Veronica Mensah, the Assistant Chief Company Inspector at the Registrar of Companies, has called on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to prioritize proper registration to access donor funding, government support, and ensure credibility.
Speaking at the Africa Non-Profit Summit 2025 in Accra on May 13, 2025, at the University of Ghana, she emphasised that many nonprofit organizations still operate outside the legal framework, limiting their ability to grow and make a lasting impact.
“There are some people who don’t even know that they have to be registered as an NGO If you haven’t registered with us, you can’t get donor funding, the government cannot support you, and people from outside can’t invest in your NGO because you are not legal. So, if you register and comply with the laws, it helps,” she said.
She explained that registration also includes disclosing the beneficial owners, appointing auditors, and establishing a verifiable physical office as required by law.
“Sometimes, organizations provide fake phone numbers, wrong locations, or even offices that don’t exist. It becomes difficult to monitor them,” Mensah added.
Dominic Naab, Assistant Commissioner at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), echoed her sentiments, praising NGOs for their role in national development while reminding them to comply with tax obligations.
“NGOs are doing well in supporting government interventions. But the law is clear, NGOs that are public in character must not engage in partisan politics or exist to benefit their founders,” Naab stated.
He noted that while donor funding is not taxed, NGOs must still file annual tax returns and obtain the necessary certificates, including tax exemptions from the GRA and operational certification from the Ministry of Gender.
“We expect every NGO to register with the GRA. This shows you are compliant and allows you to benefit from exemptions available to you,” he said.
The summit, themed “Advancing Nonprofits: Innovation and Action for Greater Impact,” was organized by IMPLEMENTERS in partnership with the National Consortium of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Ghana and the Partnership Bureau.
It brought together nonprofit leaders, funders, and policy advocates from across the continent to share ideas and build capacity.
Shirley Abedi Boafo of NCVO Ghana highlighted a major concern: inadequate training for NGOs.
“Unfortunately, most of the training we offer is only two to three hours long,” she said.
Shirley Abedi Boafo continued, “We focus on tax, SSNIT, and compliance, but we also have to help NGOs tell their stories, because they are the ones making sure children are in school and communities have toilets and clean water.”
Nancy Neizer Blessing, representing IMPLEMENTERS, noted that the organization’s role is to ensure the impact and sustainability of nonprofit work in Ghana.
“We support everything that helps nonprofits thrive. That includes capacity building and communications strategies to help NGOs reach more people and tell their story effectively,” she said.
Blessing J Okam, Communications and Engagement Manager at IMPLEMENTERS, added that her team was leading efforts in digital marketing and engagement training.
“We came on board as implementing partners and are happy to develop a strand focused on communication and digital tools. We look forward to helping all stakeholders maximize their impact.”
AM/KA
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