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Our Constitution
     
 

PREAMBLE


AWARE of the need to improve co-ordination and networking among Non-Governmental and Community Based Organizations(CBOs),which are engaged in the water and sanitation sector within Ghana;

DESIROUS of contributing to the development and implementation of water and sanitation sector policies, strategies, standards and guidelines at all levels;

CONSCIOUS of the need for improved collaboration between NGOs,Government departments at central and local government levels, the private sector and donors responsible for provision of water and sanitation services in Ghana;

COGNISANT of the fact that viable efforts should be made to alleviate poverty by increasing access to safe water and improved sanitation in Ghana, thereby promoting social justice, enhanced health status and development among the disadvantaged and marginalized;

EAGER to assist in building capacity of Community Based Organisations to enable them contribute effectively to the achievement of the water and sanitation sub-sector goals and improvement in the standard of living of the people within their respective areas of operation; and

PROPELLED further by the urgent need and desire to mobilize the required finances and resources to facilitate the establishment and sustenance of an organization that will address or concern itself with the aforesaid matters;

DO HEREBY resolve, subscribe our particulars hereto and give ourselves and future members this CONSTITUTION on this ………27th ……………….day of……..May………………………………..2003.

ARTICLE ONE
ESTABLISHMENT

  1. There is hereby established an Association to be know and called:

Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation.

 

ARTICLE TWO
FUNCTIONS
The functions of the Coalition shall be as follows:

  1. Be the link between its members and the government departments involved in the provision of water and sanitation services
  2. Affiliate to such bodies, government and non-governmental, national or international with similar objectives
  3. Be charitable and non-profit making body
  4. Be non-partisan and independent
  5. Keep within its mandate in accordance with the provisions of this constitution and governed by such other rules and regulations made hereunder.

ARTICLE THREE
REGISTERED OFFICES

  1. The registered head office of the Coalition will be situated in Accra, in the Greater Accra Region
  2. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing Article, the coalition will have regional and district representation in accordance with the decentralized system of governance and in such parts of Ghana as may be deemed appropriate for the better attainment of its objectives and performances of its functions.

ARTICLE FOUR
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Goal of the Coalition is to present one VOICE of NGOs to
feed into policy Guidelines Nationally and Globally.
This goal will be achieved through variety of objectives including:

    • Building a strong Coalition of NGOs in water, sanitation and hygiene sub sector in Ghana.
    • Attracting interested NGOs to become members of the Coalition and contribute to the development of the sector
    • Creating awareness on policies and issues related to the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene.
    • Facilitating the development of member organizations to become viable entities.
    • Seeking to influence policies of the sub-sector by contributing to its initiation, implementation and review.
    • Building alliances with relevant stakeholders to create synergy for the purpose of increasing access to water, sanitation and hygiene to the poor and vulnerable.
    • To develop a sound financial base for the sustainable operation of the Coalition.

    ARTICLE FIVE
    MEMBERSHIP
    Founding members
    The organizations whose names appear in appendix 1 attached shall be the founding members.
    The Coalition could also admit membership of the following:

    1. Non-governmental organizations which are actively involved in the water and sanitation sub sector for at least (1) year
    2. Community Based and Civil Society Organisations with objectives similar to those in ARTICLE four above.

    However, the Coalition:

    1. May confer an honorary membership on such support individual, body or agency for exceptional services rendered by the said individual body or agency to the coalition.
    2. Associate membership of any NGO which has potential benefit or whose activities are reasonably related to water and sanitation sub sector.
    3. Honorary member may participate in the proceedings of the General Assembly but will have no vote.
    4. All members of the coalition shall register their membership with the secretariat of the Coalition and shall provide all relevant documents of their legal status to the secretariat.

    ARTICLE SIX
    DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS
    All members of the coalition shall have the following duties and obligations:

    1. Uphold the good name of the coalition and promote the coalition’s objectives.
    2. Perform all such duties as may be assigned to members by the General Assembly.
    3. Meet all financial obligations as shall be determined, from time to time, by the General Assembly.
    4. Attend the meetings of the coalition.
    5. Participate in the activities of the coalition.

     

    ARTICLE SEVEN
    TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
    A member may have its membership terminated by the General Assembly under the following conditions/grounds:

    1. Where a member violates any resolution of the coalition, the General Assembly shall resolve at its next meeting to take appropriate actions against the offending member
    2. When members give notice of withdrawal.
    3. When a member is absent from Annual General Meeting for three (3) consecutive times without prior notification.

    ARTICLE EIGHT
    ORGANS OF THE COALITION
    The coalition will be composed of the following organs:

    1. General Assembly
    2. The Secretariat
    3. The Executive Committee

    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    The coalition shall have a General Assembly which shall be its
    Supreme governing body.

    THE SECRETARIAT

    1. The coalition shall have a secretariat made up of the
      1. Executive Secretary, and
      2. Administrative Assistant
    1. The secretariat shall be headed by the Executive Secretary and be accountable to the General Assembly.
    2. It shall coordinate the activities, projects and programmes of General Assembly and network with strategic partners and in addition shall implement all decisions as may be delegated by the General Assembly
    3. It shall maintain accurate financial records and ensure its proper management and regularly submit financial reports to the General Assembly.
    4. The secretariat shall perform other functions as authorized by the General Assembly.
    5. Submit financial records and reports of the secretariat to members of the coalition not less than 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting of the coalition.

    THE EXCUTIVE COMMITTEE
    There shall be an Executive Committee to serve as a TASK TEAM of the coalition to support the operation of the secretariat as specified below.

    The Committee shall, inter alia:

    1. Review the business Plan
    2. Review financial and technical reports
    3. Make recommendations to Annual General Meeting
    4. Perform any other task that may be specified by the General Assembly

    The Committee members shall be individuals not exceeding five in number and elected by the General Assembly for two-year tenure of office. The Committee shall comprise chairperson, vice chairperson and Three Zonal Representatives. They would meet twice a year and may hold emergency meetings. The executive secretary shall participate in all meetings of the Executive Committee, and act as secretary.

    ARTICLE NINE
    MEETNGS
    ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
    Annual General Meetings shall be presided over by the Chairperson and in his/her absence by the Vice Chairperson.
    AGMs shall be held for the following purposes:

    1. To approve policies, review and appraise the activities and operations of the coalition and its status
    2. To elect chairperson and vice chairperson where elections are due.
    3. To consider and approve or ratify decisions made by the secretariat and where necessary give directives.
    4. To consider the audited report of the account of the secretariat and approve the budget, and action plans for the ensuing year.
    5.  Approve the appointment of the Executive Secretary and Auditors of the coalition.
    6. To consider and vote upon any constitutional amendments, byelaws and motions properly tabled at the meeting.
    7. To identify regional focal organizations to serve as contact points and coordinate activities of members in the various regions.

    EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
    The Executive Secretary in consultation with the Chairman of the General Assembly may call for an Extraordinary General Meeting.
    One third of the membership of the coalition may call for an Extraordinary General Meeting and the Executive Secretary must act in accordance with their request.

    NOTICES
    For purposes of conveying meetings, the Executive Secretary shall circulate to all members notices not less than 30 days for Annual General Meeting and 10 days in the case of Extraordinary General Meeting.
    In the case of AGMs the Executive Secretary shall in addition attach copies of financial and annual reports.

    QUORUM
    One-third of members in good standing can initiate a meeting and two-thirds of the members present can pass a resolution.

    SOURCES OF FUNDING

    • Membership subscription and annual dues
    • Donations
    • Returns from Investments
    • Fundraising

    BANKERS
    This should be approved by the General Assembly

    SINATORIES
    The signatories of the account of the coalition shall be from the following, and their authority levels would be determined by the general assembly;

    • The Executive Secretary
    • Financial and Administrative Assistant
    • The Chairman

    ARTICLE TEN
    AMENDMENTS

    Amendments to this constitution may be effected only when:

    1. Three-fourth of members in good standing are present in a meeting and voting on the issue
    2. Up to two-thirds of voters vote in favor of the amendment

    The end

    APPENDIX 1 – LIST OF FOUNDING MEMBERS

    NO

    NAME OF ORGANISATION

    NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE

    SIGNATURE

    1

    Rural water and sanitation Development Project(Church of Christ)

     

     

    2

    Plan International

     

     

    3

    Akuapim Community Development Project (ACDEP)

     

     

    4

    NewEnergy

     

     

    5

    Rural Aid

     

     

    6

    ProNet

     

     

    7

    ProNet North

     

     

    8

    BACH

     

     

    9

    World Vision Ghana

     

     

    10

    APDO

     

     

    11

    ORAP

     

     

    12

    Foundation for Better Tomorrow

     

     

    13

    ADRA Ghana

     

     

    14

    ASAWA

     

     

    15

    RUWSS

     

     

    16

    Community Partnership for Health and Development

     

     

    17

    Association of Water and Sanitation Developments Boards-Tamale

     

     

    18

    KCODEC

     

     

    19

    ESDO

     

     

    20

    Water Vision Technology

     

     

    21

    TUMAKAVI

     

     

    22

    CLIP

     

     

    23

    DNI

     

     

    24

    CPHD

     

     

    APPENDIX 2 – LIST OF OTHER SECTORS PRESENT

    NO.

    NAME OF ORGANISATION

    NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE

    SIGNATURE

    1

    Water Aid Ghana

     

     

    2

    Ghana Plumbers Association

     

     

    3

    CWSA

     

     

    4

    UNIMEX

     

     

    5

    World Bank

     

     

    6

    DANIDA

     

     

    7

    Day Consult

     

     

    8

    Dery & Co.

     

     

    9

    Ministry of Works and Housing

     

     

    10

    Ministry of Manpower and Development Employment

     

     

     MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

    We the members gathered here, having deliberated on the issues of the Coalition and having accepted the Constitution as our legal binding document, hereby agree to establish henceforth the

    “Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation”.

    I move that the motion be accepted by the house and the Constitution be adopted.

    MOVED BY:                                               SECONDED BY

    BENJAMIN ARTHUR                                  SIGNATURE
                                                                        
    May 27, 2003                                             May 27, 2003

     

    DERY MARTIN
    FACILITATTOR
    25/05/03