Zakat and Sadaqat Trust Fund: A tool for redistribution of wealth

Little drops of water make a mighty ocean, and from a humble beginning in 2010, the Zakat and Sadaqat Trust Fund has recorded phenomenal growth to become a major sources of funding for interventions towards alleviating poverty and deprivation among needy individuals and communities.

The fund, which is being mobilised from the 2.5 per cent compulsory “tax” on the wealth of a Muslim and other voluntary contribution into the kitty, grew from GH¢480, 381.00 in 2020 to GH¢ 775,365.39 in 2021, representing 61 per cent.

Charity disbursements also increased from GH¢263,848.00 in 2020 to GH¢ 427,049.97 in 2021. This notwithstanding, the demand on the fund outweighs the inflows, giving the need for Muslims to honour their obligation by renewing their commitment to replenishing the fund for the cause of Allah.

BRIEF HISTORY

FUND PROFILE: The Zakat and Sadaqa Trust Fund of Ghana is an initiative of the Muslim Caucus and Staff of Parliament. It was launched in 2010 by the Caucus in collaboration with His Eminence, the National Chief Imam of Ghana and the National Imams of the various Islamic sects. The Fund was established to enable Muslim workers observe the Third Pillar of Islam (Zakat) in fulfilment of their faith in Allah (S.W.T.).

VISION STATEMENT: To provide a nation-wide institutional channel for the collection, management and disbursement of Zakat and Sadaqa to improve the welfare of the needy.

MISSION STATEMENT: Dedicated to providing welfare services to the needy and advocates for Muslims to honour their religious obligation of paying Zakat.

CORE VALUES: Trust, Dedication, Accountability and Faith.

FAITH OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of the Fund is to foster the welfare of the underprivileged persons in Ghana through pro-poor schemes such as educational support, scholarships, medical assistance, economic empowerment and technical/vocational support.
These schemes will assist the fund to: Improve enrolment of Muslim students in all levels of education especially tertiary, support and guarantee the upward educational mobility of Muslim students, build and operate schools modelled on achieving academic excellence, provide technical and vocational skills training to Ghanaian youth, build and operate satellite clinics and hospitals in deprived communities in Ghana, provide for the urgent needs of orphans and the depressed in Ghana, empower deprived widows economically and support the propagation of Islam.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: The Fund is committed to strong corporate governance practices that provide for effective oversight and management of the fund in a manner that satisfies subscribers. The fund has a dedicated and effective Board of Trustees who with management and staff ensures best management practices for an efficient Fund.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS
Mr Alhassan Andani, Chairman; Mr Mohammed Inusah, Vice-Chairman; Hajia Azara Abukari-Haroun, Chief Executive Officer; other members are Supt Husein Abdur Rahim, Abdul Somed Gunu, Sheikh Suleman Y. Bandago, Sheikh Abdul Wahab Issah, Sheikh Salman M. Allhassan, Alhaji Aminu Abdul Rahman, Mr Mohammed H. Nyagsi, Dr Zackaria Abraham, Hajia Ayisha Salifu

DIRECTORS: Alhaji Inusah Mohammed, Dr Abraham Ibn Zackaria, Mr Mohammed Hardi Nyagsi, Mr Amadu A. Sorogho, Alhaji Ibrahim Gombilla Hajia Ayisha Salifu Registered Office: House Number B 14 Sakumono MP’s Flats, Tema

GHANA AUDITORS: Prime Base Chartered Accountants, Nako House, 58 Forest Avenue off N1 Highway, Dzorwulu-Accra

SOME MAJOR INTERVENTIONS
Some of the major disbursement over the years included interventions to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the suffering of the underprivileged, education support targeted both new entrant students as well as continuing students already in tertiary institutions under the sponsorship and scholarship proposals.
The total Education Support also included vocational and technical support. The Fund supported 156 students across various tertiary institutions to the tune of GH¢ 169,692.97.
The management of the fund signed MoU with AIbukhary International University in Malaysia to offer scholarship opportunities to Ghanaian Muslim students to pursue undergraduate studies. The Fund has sponsored five Ghanaian students to study in Malaysia at a cost of GH¢ 18,482.50. The sponsorship has lessened the burden of brilliant but needy Muslim students so as to realise their future aspiration.
It has also organised seminar for Kumasi Imams and Zongo Chiefs since 2019 to engage with major stakeholders within the Muslim community. So far, the Fund has organised seminars in TamaIe, Bolgatanga and Takoradi, to review the fund.
The Fund organised a seminar for the chiefs, Imams and Muslim clerics in Kumasi on April 8, 2021 ahead of the establishment of office in the Ashanti Region. The Fund engaged and sensitised 150 major stakeholders on its modus operandi in the region at a cost of GH¢ 13,350.00.
Economic Empowerment- the Fund under this scheme supported 17 privileged beneficiaries to set up their own businesses at the cost of GH¢ 83,542.00
Under the medical support scheme, the fund supported 23 beneficiaries with different health conditions amounting to GH¢ 68,705.00.

RAMADAN PROVISIONS: The Zakat Fund donated assorted items worth GH¢20, 000.00 to Muslim students at St Peters Senior High School at Nkwatia, Agbogbloshie Market Women, Tamale Central Prisons, the Chief and Imam of Zieng in the Northern Region, lftar for the Security Services in Takoradi and some members of the board and staff of the fund in Accra, Tamale and Takoradi as part of its Ramadan Provisions Support.
The fund introduced the Feed the Poor Campaign in Ramadan 2021 to solicit for funds to support the needy in Ramadan. An amount of GH¢483, 500.00 was raised. The Zakat Fund donated assorted items worth GH¢ 20,990.00 to the needy nationwide.
The fund is a member of the World Zakat Forum and the CEO participated in the 10th Annual Global World Zakat Forum International Conference and Annual Meeting in Malaysia between December 4 and 5, 2021 via zoom.

BY SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN

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