GACC and Partners Empower NGOs Through Legal Compliance Workshop

Accra, Ghana – May 27, 2025, NGO leaders and practitioners from across Ghana convened in Accra, with many more joining virtually from various regions, for a timely and impactful workshop focused on strengthening legal compliance within the non-profit sector.

The event was hosted by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) in partnership with TrustLaw, the global pro bono legal network of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, and HB & O Legal, with support from the Hewlett Foundation. This collaborative effort aimed to build the legal capacity of NGOs, equipping them to meet their regulatory obligations and operate with increased transparency and accountability.

Under the theme “Enhancing NGO Legal Compliance in Ghana,” the two-hour session explored critical areas such as corporate governance, tax and employment laws, data protection, and real estate compliance, all tailored to the unique legal and operational context of Ghana’s civil society sector.

The workshop opened with Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of GACC, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of legal literacy in sustaining effective NGO operations. Her remarks set a thoughtful and collaborative tone for the event.

The main presentation was delivered by Madam Sally Hayfron-Benjamin of HB & O Legal. Leveraging her extensive legal expertise and local insight, Sally guided participants through the core pillars of legal compliance. She provided clear, actionable explanations of complex issues, from how to structure NGO boards and fulfill tax obligations to navigating employment laws, data protection requirements, and real estate considerations. Her presentation sparked rich engagement, with many attendees raising practical questions based on their own experiences.

Madam Sally Hayfron-Benjamin HB & O Legal during her presentation

The interactive Q&A session, also facilitated by Sally, allowed for deeper discussions and offered participants tailored legal guidance in response to their specific concerns.

Following this, Mr. John Mundia from TrustLaw introduced participants to the TrustLaw platform. He explained how NGOs can access free legal support through the network and encouraged organizations to register to benefit from bespoke pro bono legal assistance.

The workshop concluded with a feedback session and a vote of thanks, led by Beauty Narteh and Madam Gakii Mbae. Both extended their appreciation to the participants, speakers, and organizing teams for their engagement and commitment to advancing legal compliance within the sector.

As Ghana’s NGO landscape evolves in a dynamic regulatory environment, the need for robust legal understanding has never been more critical. The partners behind this initiative, GACC, Hewlett Foundation, TrustLaw, and HB & O Legal, remain dedicated to supporting the sector with knowledge, tools, and networks that ensure no organization is left behind.

“This workshop was truly beneficial,” said Mr. Timothy Mensah. “We need more of these platforms to strengthen our internal capacity and ensure we meet the standards expected of us.”

Gilbert Borketey Boyefio echoed this sentiment, adding, “This training helped us see that many of our practices as CSOs aren’t fully aligned with the law. It shouldn’t be limited to Accra; organisations in the regions need this support even more. I strongly encourage the organisers to take it nationwide”.

This successful session marks an important step toward building a more compliant, ethical, and effective civil society in Ghana.

Mr. John Mundia from TrustLaw presenting the TrustLaw platform

Mr. Solomon Nyankah

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Solomon Nyankah is the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the GACC. He is a hard-working, self-starter, team player, dedicated, and results-oriented person committed to rendering effective service to any organisation through continuous learning and self-development for the benefit of the organisation and society. He possesses excellent interpersonal, data collection, and management skills. Solomon is proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).

Prior to his appointment at GACC, Solomon worked with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as a technical planning analyst in the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Division. He joined the NDPC from 2017 to 2023. His duties included coordinating the preparation of the national Annual Progress Reports (APRs) from 2017 to 2022; the President's Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CPESDP) 2021–2024, and the National Medium Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) for 2018–2021 and 2022–2025. He also provided technical assistance in the preparation of the National Development Monitor; the SDG Voluntary National Review Reports (2019 and 2022; sector and district development plans and progress reports; and the mid-term evaluation of the medium-term National Development Policy Framework, "Agenda for Jobs, Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All, 2018 -2021". Solomon provided technical backstopping for district planning officers on participatory M&E; served as a national trainer on the District Development Data Platform (DDDP) for all regional economic planners, district planning officers, and MIS/statisticians in Ghana; and was a resource pe rson for an ECOWAS sensitization workshop on ECOWAS Protocols held in the Central Region. He also facilitated the mainstreaming of integrated social services indicators into district plans.

Solomon Nyankah holds a B.Sc. degree in Development Management from the University for Development Studies. Other training certificates include: Integrated Planning and Reporting Toolkit (IPRT) by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); SDG Toolkits Integration, Monitoring, and Evaluation; and Data Visualisation and Advanced Data Visualisation (Tableau and Canvas) by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)

The Parliament of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with the provisions of the Fourth Republican Constitution in October 1993 enacted the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act (Act 456), to establish the Commission.

The commission seeks to foster a culture of respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as administrative justice and fairness in Ghanaian society. The commission also exist to promote integrity and decency in Ghanaian public life by investigating corruption and educating the public about its high costs and, conversely, the significant pay-offs of a relatively corrupt free society.

Section 7(10)(a)-(h) of the Commission’s enabling statute Act 456 spells out the functions of the Commission as follows:

Investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment of any person by public officer in the exercise of his official duties;

Investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public Services Commission, the administrative Organs of the State, the Armed Forces, the Police Service in so far as complaints relate to the failure to achieve a balanced structuring of those services or equal access by all to the recruitment of those services or fair administration in relation to those services;

Investigate complaints concerning practices and actions by persons, private enterprises and other institutions where those complaints allege violations of fundamental rights and freedoms under this constitution;

Investigate allegations that a public officer has contravened or has not complied with a provision of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. The Code requires that public officers shall declare their assets and liabilities on assumption of office, every four years, and on leaving office;

Investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption and the misappropriation of public moneys by officials and to take appropriate steps, including reports to the Attorney-General and the Auditor General, results from such investigations;

Educate the public as to human rights and freedom by such means as the Commissioner may decide, including publications, lectures and symposia;

Investigate confiscation of property made by the two previous military regimes, the Armed forces Revolutionary Council and the Provisional National Defence;

Report annually to Parliament on the performance of its functions.

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National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)

Ms. Agnes Opoku Ayemang

Intern

Ms. Pamela Laourou

Intern

Ms. Dorcas Affum Tenkorang

Volunteer

Mr. Isaac Bakoe

Driver

Ms. Priscilla Opoku

Office Assistant

Mr. Christian Atteh Semekor

Finance Officer

Mr. Solomon Nyankah

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Mr. Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe

Programmes Officer

Mr. Godfred Oppong Amoako

Head of Finance & Admin

Mr. Bright Kwadwo Sowu

Head of Programmes & Deputy Executive Secretary

Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh

Executive Secretary

Private Enterprise Federation

Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD)

Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO)

Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)

Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP)

Good Governance Africa (GGA)

Public Procurement Authority (PPA)

Ghana Audit Service (GAS)