positive change – empowering every voice!

Conscious of the importance ourselves,

of fostering friendship itp0q

Aware of the need to maintain contact with each other for social, intellectual and professional purposes,

Committed to the United Nations principles of mutual understanding and cooperation,

Appreciating the opportunities we have had to acquire skills and expertise beneficial for national development,

desirous of making a contribution towards the social anfi economic developmentofGhana,

to hereby come together to form this Association and to “” promulgate this Constitution.

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ARTICLE I — NAME OF THE ASSOC IAT ION.

The name of the ASSOC lation shall be GHAh A ASSOCIATION OF roR vrR INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERV ARTS (GAFICS)

‘ ARTICLE II — OBJECTIVES.

The objeclives of ltte Association include the following:

1. To develop and implement suitable programmes that would foster the social interests of members.

2. To assist members with special personal needs revolving around their resettlement, and adjustment upon returning home.

3. To develop and maintain a database on professional or specialist expertise of its members.

4. To encourage mcmbers to contribute to the social and economic development of the country by placing their skills and expertise at the disposal of the Government and non-governmental organizations and institutions.

S. To organizc lc lures, scmin‹irs, workshops and Otl›cr acliYitiCS which promote thc objectives or tlzc Association.

ARTICLE I II ME MBERSHIP OF TH E ASSOC I ATlOh

1. There shall b€ t» O Categories of inembersh ip.

1. J. ORDl N4RY MEMBERS.

Ordinap Merrlbers shall be Corner Ghanaian professionaleBjplq ¿,

the United Nations Sj stew and other International Intergo› t,q

Oi‘eanizations (IIGOs). former Technical Ads isers, Expcu»t d‹› 1„ Specialists including National Officers and former InternationaGl ; l ,;, Sern ice Staff with not less than five continuous years of Seri ice ii itb t UN or 1IGOs.

1.2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

Ghanaians who do not meet the criteria for ordinary membership btt have made exceptional technical and or professional contributions it their own fields of expertise to support and promote the objectives and ideals of the UN or IIGOs shall qualify for Associate Membership.

1.3 Non-Ghanaian citizens who would otherwise be eligible for ordina¿ membership may become AssOciate Members provided they have taker up residence in Ghana for at least one year after‘ separation front their organizations.

2. Code of Conduct

Members of the Associaf ion shulJ be expected to continue fo abide by the Code Of Conduct required of regular’ staff members of the United Nations System.

ARTICLE IV — STRUCTURE OF THE ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTE E.

1. There shall be an Executive Comrliittee of the Association

comprising of the following:

President

Vice-President Secretary Treasurer

Two Ordinary Members.

2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt and establish sub-committees as may be necessary to facilitate the efficient discharge of its functions.

3. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee called for the purpose of transacting its business.

ARTICLE V — MEETINGS.

1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting and not more than four Ordinary Meetings each year.

2. Extraordinary General Meeting.

2.1. The Executive Committee may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting as its own discretion.

2.2. The Executive Committee shall convene Extraordinary General Meeting within fourteen days of receiving a wrinen request signed by not less than ten ordinary members of the Association. Such a request should clearly state the reason or purpose for which the Extraordinary General Meeting is being requested.

• tne third of the c3istered

menihcrsliip shall constitutc a quorum t ,

AnnualGeneralMeetillgsas well as tic Extraordinary General Qypt

ARTICLEV { — ELECTIONS

t Election Of Officersof thC ASSociationshall be held every other y23t q| the AnflUñlGeneraMl eeting.

2. Only Ordinary Members who have met their financial obligations t0 the

Association in full Ilp 0 the time of the election shall be eligible to vote or stand for election.

3. Candidates for election must be proposed and seconded by ordinary members in good standing. Nominations shall only be accepted with the consent of the nominee.

4. All elections shall be supervised by a Returning Officer who is not standing for election and who has been nominated by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee.

5. Officers of the Association would normally hold office for a period of two years but may be cligiblc for re-election to the sari+e post pi ovided that the total period of scrvice docs not exceed four years.

6. A rnembcr of the lxccutivc Coininittcc would be cligible for election to another position on tlic Exccutivc Committee irrespective of thc numbCr of years (s)hc has s¢rved on the Com ittcc.

7. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE VII – FINANCE

Funds for running the Association to achieve its objective shall be derived from the following sources:

Enrolment Fees Annual Dues Special Levies

Donations and Voluntary Contributions Endowments

Proceeds from fund raising activities.

ARTICLE VIII -AMENDMENT OFTHE CONSTITUTION

1. A Two-thirds majority vote of fifty percent(50%) oFordinary members present and voting at a duly constituted Annual General Meeting shall be required for any amendment of the Constitution

2. Notice of a proposal to aiTlend the constitution shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least lhree calendar months prior to any meeting at which the proposed amendment shall be discussed. Such notice shall contain details ot’ the proposed amendment and must be signed by not less than ten ordinary members in good standing.