CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTHERN GHANA DEVELOPMENT FORUM (NDF)
ARTICLE 1: THE NAME OF THE ORGANISATION.
The organisation shall be known and called:- NORTHERN GHANA DEVELOPMENT FORUM with the acronym as NDF.
ARTICLE 2: MOTTO OF THE ORGANISATION
The motto of the Forum is “our destiny in our hands”
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership of the organisation shall be opened to all persons who hail from any of the three Regions of Northern Ghana and are committed to the development of the three Regions of Northern Ghana (that is Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions).
(b) A person qualified to be a member shall be required to register with the organisation.
(c) A membership card shall be issued upon registration.
(d) A member shall be required to pay such dues, levies and fulfill such other financial obligations as may from time to time be decided by the organisation in general meeting.
(e) A person who is committed to the development of the three Regions of Northern Ghana but who does not hail from any of the three Regions of Northern Ghana may apply and be registered as an Associate Member and issued with a card as such.
(f) A member may lose membership of the organization for any conduct that brings the name of the organization into disrepute.
ARTICLE 4; AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
(a)To serve as a platform to galvanise support for and influence policy and programmes aimed at the development of the three Regions of Northern Ghana and their people.
(b)To undertake activities towards closing the developmental gap between the three Regions of Northern Ghana and Southern Ghana.
(c) To be an Advocacy group for the development of the three Regions of Northern Ghana
(d) To monitor the delivery of development programmes and initiatives intended for the economic and social development of the three Regions of Northern Ghana by governmental and non governmental agencies.
(e) Other aims and objectives as members shall add in accordance with the provisions of this constitution.
ARTICLE 5: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(a) The organisation shall elect an executive who shall be responsible for its day-to-day administration.
(b) In selecting members of the Executive the organization shall ensure that there is regional and gender balance in the composition of the executive.
(c) The executive committee shall be made up of the following;-
Chairperson
Vice-chairperson
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
Organising Secretary
Assistant Organizing Secretary
Protocol Officer
(d)Two persons from each of the three Regions of Northern Ghana as co-opted members of the executive.
ARTICLE 6: DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE
(a) The Chairperson shall;
(i) Convene and preside over all meetings of the organisation.
(ii) Be the chief spokesperson of the organisation.
(iii) Ensure that all decisions that require action are carried out promptly.
(b) The Vice-Chairperson.
(i) Assists the Chairperson in the management of the Forum and shall act as such in the absence of the Chairperson.
(c) The Secretary shall;
(i) Be responsible to take down and read out minutes at all meetings.
(ii) Be required to send out and receive any correspondence on behalf of the Forum.
(iii) Be responsible for the safe-keeping of all official records of the Forum.
(iv) Be required to represent the Forum at other meetings as and when he/she may be directed.
(d) The Assistant Secretary shall;
Assist the Secretary in the day-to-day administration of the Secretariat and act as such in his/her absence.
(e) The Treasurer shall;
(i) Be the custodian of all the monies of the Forum as well as cheque books.
(ii) Deposit all monies received to an accredited bank(s) of the Forum not later than three days upon receipt.
(iii) Disburse monies, only on the directives or orders of the Forum.
(f) The Financial secretary shall be;
(i) Ensure that members are not in arrears in all their financial obligations to the Forum.
(ii) Keep good and up-to-date records of all monies received or disbursed.
(iii) Required to present a financial statement at annual General meetings and at such times as may be required.
(g) The organizing secretary shall
(i) Organise conducive venues for meetings and other functions of the Forum.
(ii) Ensure that order and security prevails during meetings and other events of the Forum.
(iii) Respond to any other directives from the Executive Committee.
(h) Assistant Organising Secretary shall
Assist the Organizing Secretary in his/her duties and act as such in his/her absence
(i) The Protocol Officer shall;
(i) be responsible for public relations issues of the Forum.
(ii) be responsible for issues of the welfare of members.
(iii) also perform any other duties as may be directed.
(j) Regional Representatives;
(i) Shall be the link between the Executive Committee of the Forum and the regional branches.
ARTICLE 7; REGIONAL STRUCTURES OF THE ORGANISATION;
The organization shall establish such regional and lower structures as it deems fit for the performance of its activities
ARTICLE 8; ELECTIONS
(a) Only registered members of good standing are qualified to vote and to stand for election to any of the positions in the organisation.
(b) All elections shall be either through the ballot box or by acclamation.
(c) An elected member shall be required to receive a simple majority votes.
(d) The tenure of office of executive committee shall be two years and any member of the executive may be re-elected.
(e) Elections shall only be held at an Annual General Meeting.
ARTICLE 9: VACANCIES IN THE EXECUTIVE
(a) The executive, shall be empowered to nominate any member, to occupy any vacancy that shall arise as a result of death, transfers and resignations during the tenure of their office.
(b) The executive shall be empowered to constitute such committees as it deems fit and co-opt any member into the Committees for the purpose of carrying out duties that may arise from time to time.
ARTICLE 10: REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
(a) A member of the executive or of a committee may be removed from office on grounds of misconduct
(b) Misconduct shall include any conduct involving dishonesty or that brings the name of the organisation into disrepute
(c) There shall be established a five member Disciplinary Committee to which an allegation of misconduct against any member shall be referred for investigation and the report of that committee shall be the basis for removal from office.
ARTICLE 11: MEETINGS
(a) All members are required to attend all meetings of the organisation.
(b) The following meetings shall be convened by the chairman or his/her accredited representative;
Monthly Meetings, Annual General Meetings and Emergency Meetings.
(c) A quorum of one-third of all registered members of good standing shall be required for an Annual General Meeting.
ARTICLE 12: BYE LAWS
(a) The Forum shall have power to pass bye-laws to provide for the running of its affairs in any respect
(b) Bye-laws shall be passed by the approval of simple majority votes at a general meeting.
(c) Bye laws shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution.
ARTICLE 13: BANKING TRANSACTIONS
(a) The organisation shall open accounts and transact financial business with any licensed banking institution.
(b) The signatures of either the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson and the Secretary or Treasurer, shall be considered valid for the transaction of any business with the bank.
ARTICLE 14; SOURCES OF INCOME
The following have been identified as sources of income for the Forum:
(k) Registration fees.
(ii) Monthly Dues
(iii) Special Levies
(iv) Donations
(v) Loans
(vi) Fund Raising activities
(vii) Other legal sources
ARTICLE 15; PATRONS
(a) The Forum may appoint persons as Patrons.
(b) The number of patrons shall be determined by members at an Annual General Meeting.
(c) Names of patrons shall be proposed by the executive at an Annual General Meeting for consideration and approval.
(d) For a person to qualify to be appointed as a patron he or she should have a track record of achievement in development, be exemplary and upright in character, and be a person who can offer support for the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Forum.
(e) There shall be a bye law to provide in detail for the activities of the Patrons.
ARTICLE 16; AMENDMENTS
Amendment(s) to any portion of this Constitution, shall only be at an Annual General Meeting of the Forum with a two-third majority of votes of members in good standing in attendance approving it.
SIGNED AND SEALED BY AND ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHERN GHANA DEVELOPMENT FORUM-NDF.
EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY OF MAY 28TH, 2012
Signed by : CHAIRMAN and SECRETARY, NDF.