The so-called NGO in question, established around 2015, has long operated as a political extension of APNU. If we are serious about promoting transparency and accountability, then we must hold these organizations to the same standards they demand of others.
๐๐๐ค ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฝ๐ค๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐จ?
There is no publicly available information on their website regarding their governance structure, membership, or Board composition. This glaring omission raises serious concerns. These are not optional disclosuresโthey are fundamental requirements for meeting even the most basic standards of transparency and accountability. The absence of such information reflects a deliberate disregard for good governance practices and undermines the credibility of any organization claiming to represent civil society.
We cannot continue engaging with NGOs that are themselves non-compliant. They must adhere to basic governance principles:
โข ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ.
โข ๐๐ป๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐.
โข ๐๐ป๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ (๐๐๐ ๐) ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐.
Failure to comply with their own rulesโand more importantly, with the legislative and regulatory framework under which they operateโmust be met with appropriate penalties. Governance is not optional. It is a legal and ethical obligation.
Many of these entities are quick to criticize the Private Sector Commission (PSC), yet the PSC exemplifies transparent and accountable governance. It holds regular AGMs and publishes its annual reports without fail.
๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐โ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐โ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
They must enforce compliance, demand transparency, and hold these NGOs accountable under the law. Political masquerading under the guise of civil society must no longer be tolerated. The integrity of our democratic institutions depends on it.
Most of these NGOs operate under the guise of nonprofit status, yet fail to uphold the principles they claim to represent. They collect donor funds for projects, pay themselves exorbitant salaries, and exploit tax exemptionsโwithout delivering meaningful outcomes. It’s time we call out these sham organizations and demand transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in the nonprofit sector.