Islamic NGOs in Education in Ghana: Analysis of the Scope, Activities, and Revenue Portfolios

Abstract:In Ghana, religious organizations have a long history of both direct and collaborative approaches to education provision, ranging from school administration to consulting services, training educators, scholarships, and capital projects. As such, there are a variety of religious-based NGOs in Ghana working in education. First, this article explores the history and scope of Islamic NGOs in Ghana. Drawing from that analysis, the focus is narrowed to education-focused Islamic NGOs. Data on all NGOs registered with the government of Ghana during the years 2013-2015 are used to identify 63 Islamic NGOs—that is, NGOs adhering to Islamic principles in their mission or programmatic offerings. From this population, analysis examines the Islamic NGOs engaged in education, the scope of services, and revenue portfolios. Findings demonstrate the diversity of services and revenue sources for education-focused Islamic NGOs in Ghana.