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• NGOs have become very common in Ghana and throughout the world.
• NGOs play an important role in various spheres of life in almost all countries.
• NGOs are sometimes known as Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs) or Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs).
• NGOs are voluntary organizations or bodies of people that may or may not be incorporated.
• NGOs are non-political, non-partisan, and non-profit.
• NGOs aim to improve the quality of life for a country's inhabitants.
• NGOs include foundations, profit-making organizations, educational institutions, churches and religious organizations, hospitals, medical organizations, labor unions and professional organizations, cooperatives, and cultural groups.
• NGOs are private groups that are not for profit or government entities.
• NGOs are at least partially formalized into an organization that people voluntarily join.
• NGOs address public issues and are oriented toward expressive or social services.
• NGOs are private non-profit groups that relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide social services, and encourage community development.

Essential Features of NGOs:

• Founded by private individuals.
• Independent of states.
• Oriented toward the rule of law.
• Pursue public interests.
• Possess an organization structure.
• NGOs are formed voluntarily, with no legal framework requiring or preventing their formation.
• They are controlled by their founders or boards of management, following societal laws.
• NGOs are not for personal profit, although employees may be paid.
• They aim to improve conditions for disadvantaged people, helping them realize their potential through direct or indirect actions.
• NGOs may engage in revenue-generating activities, but they do not distribute profits to shareholders.
• Revenue is solely used to pursue the organization's objectives.
• The Commonwealth Foundation calls NGOs charitable, independent, voluntary organizations that drives development-related activities.

Leonard's Classification (1982):

• NGOs encompass a variety of organizations with diverse scales and characteristics.
• NGOs comprise membership organizations (benefit themselves) and service organizations (help others).
• National NGOs have small staff that provides support and assistance to communities through information, management training and policy implementation
• International NGOs include development and relief agencies, and are purely service organizations.
• International NGOs have large budgets with field offices in multiple countries, similar to smaller African Governments.
• Community-based NGOs/associations are typically formed by a group of people with similar goals and motivations.
• These associations are small and primarily depend on limited quantities of resources at the primary level.

Department of Social Welfare's Classification:

• Community-Based
• National
• National NGO with International Affiliates
• International NGO operating locally

Stillman's Classification (2007):

• The legal structure of NGOs varies based on the laws and practices of each country.
• Unincorporated Associations, simplest form, formed by people pursuing non-commercial goals.
• Trusts, Charities, and Foundations are entities where a benefactor's assets are used for charitable or non-profit purposes.
• Companies Not For Profit, separate legal entities under company statutes designed for non-profit enterprises.
• Entities Formed or Registered Under Special NGO or NPO Laws benefit from specific legal frameworks for establishing or registering NGOs.

Salamon's Classification (1994):

• Classification is culturally, geographically bound and aligned with the project.
• Legal criteria is based on the legal capacity of the NGO.
• Economic criteria is based on income earned from the government, often impractical in developing countries due to limited government financial contributions.
• Purpose criteria depends on goals and objectives for which the NGOs were established
• Structural, operational criteria groups NGOs based on structure and operations.
• These posses characteristics such as formal organizations, non-gov, self governing and non-dividend paying etc.

Summary and Conclusion:

• NGOs are created individually and operate on a not-for-profit basis.
• NGOs exist to serve the interest of communities, rather than the individual interests.
• NGOs operate at international, national and local levels.
• NGOs exist for different reasons to undertake different activities.
• In Ghana, NGOs have become essential instruments for development.

Scope of NGO Activities:

• NGO activities extend through religion, development, and politics.
• Religious NGOs include the World Council of Churches, World Jewish Congress, and the International Muslim Union.
• Political NGOs include the Inter-parliamentary Union and the Socialist International.
• Cultural NGOs: Examples include the International Pen Club and the International Confederation of Authors and Composers.
• Human Rights NGOs: Amnesty International addresses human rights.
• Environment NGOs: Greenpeace covers environmental protection.
• Development aid; NGOs provides direct alternative for states.
• Sports- The International Olympic Committee, NGOs enhance quality of life through sports.
• By staging competitive activities, NGOs help unearth talent, develop potential and livelihoods in communities.
• Human rights: Amnesty International, NGOs are key actors in the protection of civil liberties, human rights and freedom. -Human rights NGOs acts for voiceless, via legal services, sensitization and advocacy.
• Environment protection follows similarly to the role of NGOs in human rights

Impact of Statehood on NGO Activities:

• NGO actively is carried out with state actors .
• States recognizes NGOs quasi-autonomy.
• States uses NGOs work to further its policies.
• NGOs protection of human rights and environment.

Importance of NGOs:

• They can play a significant role in the process of development and democratization.
• NGOs can meet global changes, due to migration overpopulation etc.
• NGOs are key actors in the socio-economic development
• NGOs drive innovation.
• NGOs drive innovation; stemming from benefits and diligence for community.
• NGOs are assisting the under-privileged communities.
• NGOs can play a strong role assisting developing countries.
• NGOs can play a strong role in education and healthcare.
• NGO activities intersect with all facets of society and development.
• NGOs don't compete with states.
• NGOs operate complementary to state efforts
• NGOs are critically important to local, national and international levels.

Historical Development of NGOs in Ghana:

• According to Katsriku (1996), NGOs emerged in the early 19th century in the developed world, aimed at the care and welfare to the poor and the disadvantage.
• Registered as welfare and charitable organizations, the philanthropist shifted from welfare to recognising groups that raise public awareness.
• Abolition of slave trade were crucial to NGOs activities that pushed movement into development.
• Currently NGOs focus on advocacy, research, empowerment, promotion of democracy.
• According to Katsriku (1996), Ghana has a long history of indigenous NGOs since independence era.
• Unlike the developed world those NGOs came to help the poor however in Ghana those activities were of mutual aid.
• Missionaries resulted in the establishment of health and educational facilities in remote Ghana.
• Ghanas NGOs eventually shifted to private organizations that involve developing rural area and the reduce of rural poverty.
• Communities mobilised with community development that facilitate popular participation.
• Ghana experience downfall from 1970s to 1980s this resulted in gaps with government revenue that impact development burden and welfare for the sectors of the population.
• 1980s government adopted strategic reforms through Economic Recovery and Structural Adjustment Programmes.
• NGOs gained government recognition in September 1989.
• Meeting between UNDP, government NGOs resulted to the National Advisory Council.
• Ghana NGOs currently provide environmental protection, children, elderly and women and sanitation.
• Ghana NGOs currently provide services for food security, resources, relief and education.
• Ghana's flexibility, resilience and involvement enable new grounds where government cannot go

NGO-Government Relationships:

• Since NGOs are characterised by flexibility, resilience and involvement at the grassroots, it enables them to break new grounds where government's stringent bureaucratic practice cannot permit easy access or prompt response.
• government has recognised that NGOs are better disposed to mobilising both local and external resources to supplement her efforts.
• In June 1990,a meeting held came with recommendations such that the Social Welfare should be legally empowered.
• the Social Welfare should work with relevant professional and technical bodies. and that NGO-desks form.
• The government of Ghana accepts the role of NGOs for collaboration and development.
• NGOs are better placed at the grassroots level.