GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
REGISTERED CHARITY 1079399
GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
CHARITY INFORMATION
| Trustees | Claire Longley |
|---|---|
| Gill Norris | |
| Nelson Brany | |
| John Horseman | |
| Anna Maimi | |
| Julie Robinson | |
| Liz Challis | |
| Tom Morris | |
| Registered Office | 9 Byng Road |
| Tunbridge Wells | |
| Kent | |
| TN4 8EG | |
| Independent Examiner | Nash Harvey Group LLP |
| The Granary | |
| Hermitage Court | |
| Hermitage Lane | |
| Maidstone | |
| Kent ME16 9NT | |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank plc |
| 73/75 Calverley Road | |
| Tunbridge Wells | |
| Kent | |
| Charity Registration Number | 1079399 |
| Website | www.ghanaeducationproject.org.uk |
GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees Report | 1 - 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 - 11 |
GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
The trustees of Ghana Education Project present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st August 2021 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES,
Ghana Education Project (GEP) was established under deed in 2000, aiming to support education, equality and development in Northern Ghana. Its principal objective is the education of school children in the Nkwanta district of the Oti Region, with a specific focus on educating girls and young women.
GEP achieves this through the operation of its own girls school, the provision of teaching materials, training and support to other mixed-gender schools in the region – often working in partnership with other NGOs – and the development of complementary infrastructure for the wider community.
In the UK, GEP has in the past partnered in the personal development of girls from Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School (TWGGS), which had previously sent small teams of pupils to Ghana every two years. Due to COVID concerns it is not known when the next trip might happen, but the school has continued to play a key role in the charity’s fundraising activities.
The trustees give careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in setting its plans and objectives.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The charity’s flagship initiative is the Kyabobo Girls School (KGS), which opened as a Junior High School (JHS) in September 2013 and then launched its first Senior High School (SHS) year in September 2016 with an intake of 90 girls. At the start of the 2020/21 academic year KGS had 390 girls enrolled, 180 in JHS and 210 in SHS. GEP operates in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) who provide most of KGS’s teaching staff.
Following discussions with the Deputy Director of GES in early 2019, KGS was designated an experimental school with final confirmation of this being announced in July 2019. KGS now officially operates as one school comprised of Junior and Senior levels on one site. GES’s intention is that the school will have an overall head teacher and two deputies, currently we have a Headteacher and one Deputy Head. GES is hoping that, as well as staffing and building cost savings, the experiment will see better outcomes for pupils as degree qualified teachers will teach across the whole age range. KGS have received additional graduate teachers this year.
It has been another challenging year for the charity with fundraising activities severely curtailed. Schools in Ghana have been open, but the closure last year continues to have an impact on educational standards. Vaccination rates remain low and mask wearing is still very much observed.
Despite the disruption we were pleased with the exam results achieved by the 2020 cohort, a highlight being one of our pupils being awarded a Presidential award for her results, the award being presented by the President himself. Exams were delayed in 2021 and we have yet to receive full published results. The 2021 cohort were severely impacted by the year out of school, but we have done our best to facilitate catchup teaching for them. Results across the district have been impacted but we hope that we will maintain our high position in the district.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021 (CONTINUED)
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS (continued)
Over twenty KGS leavers have now started university or college courses including in Nursing, Engineering, Physics, Tourism Management, Journalism and Teacher Training, and several of these students are receiving bursaries provided by individual GEP donors. It is normal in Ghana for many girls to work after leaving school to save money for fees, so we hope that more of our first three cohorts will go on to further education.
The charity continues to support other projects in the wider community including a conservation programme which is run in conjunction with staff from the local Wildlife Department to develop youth understanding of the environment, team work and social responsibility.
FUTURE PLANS
The trustees are continuing with plans to expand enrolment at KGS and have agreed with Ghana Education Service (GES) that the school enrolment will increase to a maximum of 570 girls. The school has now secured Governors for the school with the Governing Body being inaugurated in April 2021. The Governing Body will lobby the Ghana Education Service to fund the construction of an administration block and conversion of existing facilities to classrooms.
GEP is looking forward to fully implementing the experimental school status of KGS which it hopes will become a model for the future in Ghanaian schools.
GES have now identified a feeder primary school for KGS and we look forward to supporting the staff and pupils at this school to ensure that the girls that come to us have a good primary grounding. We hope that our able pupils may be able to offer some extra support to the primary school teachers with literacy and numeracy skills.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021 (CONTINUED)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The financial statements show net incoming resources for the year of £37,509, a decrease on the previous year of 36%. The trustees confirm that all significant planned capital projects have been completed, and that all future income will be allocated to maintaining and running operations at KGS and the other activities of GEP in Nkwanta, as well as providing bursaries to selected students progressing to university or college. The trustees consider that the current level of fund raising, and built up reserves, will enable the charity to maintain a basic level of operations in Nkwanta but additional sustainable sources of funds will be necessary if KGS operations are to be maintained at the current high level in future years. Near term fund raising is expected to be particularly challenging as all visits to Nkwanta by TWGGS students have been cancelled until at least 2023.
The Kyabobo Guest House and Centre in Nkwanta operated at a loss of £853 for the year (2019/20 - £1,795 loss). The trustees consider this level of loss acceptable in a year when travel within Ghana was impacted by Covid restrictions. The financial viability of the guest house and the Kyabobo Centre continues to be monitored, but the trustees recognise the social benefit the facility provides to local people and to visitors to Nkwanta including the TWGGS Ghana teams and other volunteers from the UK.
The trustees are extremely grateful for all donations received during the year from private individuals and generous organisations including The Frank Jackson Foundation and Tunbridge Wells Round Table. Despite TWGGS being unable to send pupil teams to Ghana, GEP is very grateful for the contributions to the charity which continue to be made by pupils, their parents, and staff at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School.
RESERVES POLICY
The trustees plan to distribute, in accordance with the charity's objectives, all funds received. However, the trustees recognise that some balances must be held to cover unavoidable future operating costs and commitments in Ghana and thus the charity holds sufficient reserves in the United Kingdom to meet these costs.
As at 31[st] August 2021 the charity held balances totalling £57,486 in its UK bank accounts (2020 - £62,095).
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Ghana Education Project (GEP) was established under deed in 2000, and is an unincorporated association governed by its constitution which was last amended in November 2013 to reflect the charity’s specific areas of focus in Ghana.
One of the trustees, Gill Norris MBE, continues to manage activities in Nkwanta on a voluntary basis. Her work in Ghana is overseen by the board of trustees in the UK, who normally meet six times a year, including at least one meeting in person with Gill Norris. The UK trustees set and agree the financial plans for the charity based on recommendations from Gill Norris, and control the transfer of funds from the charity’s UK bank accounts to bank accounts controlled by GEP in Ghana. All expenditure in Ghana is under the direct control of Gill Norris.
In light of the particularly challenging current economic and global health environment, the trustees regularly review expenditure priorities in Ghana to ensure that ex-pupils who are dependent on contributions from GEP for their university or college education can continue to be supported.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021 (CONTINUED)
TRUSTEES
The appointment of trustees is made by means of election at the charity's annual general meeting. The trustees who served during the year were:
Claire Longley Gill Norris Founder Nelson Brany John Horseman Treasurer Anna Maimi Julie Robinson Fundraiser Liz Challis Secretary Tom Morris Chair
RISK MANAGEMENT
The trustees regularly review the risks to which the charity might be exposed and take steps to mitigate them. In particularly the trustees regularly review the charity’s Child Protection Policy and ensure this is acknowledged and implemented by all staff at KGS who have contact with pupils.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
Charity Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity and of its activities for that year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether the policies are in accordance with the Charities SORP and with applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 21[st] March 2022 and signed on its behalf
Tom Morris John Horseman
Trustee and Chair Trustee and Treasurer
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
We report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2021 which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act
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to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section145(5)(b) of the Act), and
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to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commision. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with our examination, no material matters have come to our attention which give us cause to believe that, in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Nash Harvey Group LLP
Chartered Accountants The Granary, Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 9NT
Date: 29/3/2022
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and Legacies 4 Other Trading Activities Charitable Activities Interest Total Income Expenditure on: Raising Funds Charitable Activities 3 Total Expenditure Net income / (expenditure) before gains / (losses) on foreign exchange Foreign Exchange Gain / (Loss) 2.8 Net Income / (Expenditure) Transfers between funds Net Movement in Funds Reconciliation of Funds: Fund Balances at 1 September 2020 Fund Balances at 31 August 2021 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 2,998 14,233 7,121 13 24,365 2,298 63,986 66,284 (41,919) 3 (41,916) - (41,916) 172,170 130,254 |
Restricted Funds £ 13,144 - - - 13,144 - 11,573 11,573 1,571 - 1,571 - 1,571 15,830 17,401 |
Total 2021 £ 16,142 14,233 7,121 13 37,509 2,298 75,559 77,857 (40,348) 3 (40,345) - (40,345) 188,000 147,655 |
Total 2020 £ 25,397 28,040 5,471 49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58,957 | ||||
| 313 77,203 |
||||
| 77,516 | ||||
| (18,559) 338 |
||||
| (18,221) - (18,221) |
||||
| 206,221 188,000 |
The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these accounts.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST AUGUST 2021
| Note Fixed Assets 6 Current Assets Balance at Bank Cash in Hand Debtors Liabilities Loan from Trustee 7 Net Assets Unrestricted Funds 2.6 General fund Designated fund – Fixed assets Restricted Funds 4 |
2021 £ 88,700 63,986 146 2,035 (7,212) 147,655 41,554 88,700 17,401 147,655 |
2020 £ 128,354 66,850 526 1,802 (9,532) |
|---|---|---|
| 188,000 | ||
| 43,816 128,354 15,830 |
||
| 188,000 |
The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 21[st] March 2022 and signed on its behalf
Tom Morris John Horseman
Trustee and Chair Trustee and Treasurer
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
1. Constitution
Ghana Education Project is a registered charity (No: 1079399) established under deed in 2000.
The charity is a public benefit entity as defined by the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
2. Accounting Policies
2.1 Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing accounts in accordance with the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the applicable accounting standards (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements do not include a cash flow statement as the charity is applying the disclosure exemption applicable to small entities under FRS102 section 1A.
These financial statements have been prepared on a cash basis in that income is included only as cash is received and on an accruals basis in so far as expenditure is included as it is incurred.
To comply with overseas local legislation, Ghana Education Project (GEP) is established as a separate legal entity in Ghana. This entity is fully controlled by GEP trustees and its financial transactions are included within the accounts of GEP on a branch accounting basis.
2.2 Donations and Legacies
Donations under Gift Aid, together with the associated income tax recovery, are recognised as income when the donations are received.
2.3 Other Trading Activities
Income from other trading activities includes income from the sale of donated goods and services at fundraising events organised by the charity’s volunteers.
2.4 Charitable Activities
Income from charitable activities represents income received from the operation of the charity’s guest house in Nkwanta, Ghana.
2.5 Raising Funds
Fund raising expenditure comprises costs incurred holding events designed to generate funds which are then applied to the charity's work, and costs incurred on banking and fund raising services necessary for the charity to fulfil its objectives.
2.6 Unrestricted Funds
The unrestricted funds consist of funds which the trustees can allocate to enable the charity to carry out its objectives. The designated fund represents funds allocated by the trustees to capital expenditure projects in Nkwanta including the Kyabobo community centre, the guest house and The Kyabobo Girls School, less accumulated depreciation charged on these assets. The general fund represents unrestricted funds available to meet future expenditure of the charity.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
2. Accounting Policies (continued)
2.7 Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation on buildings is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value over five years (school buildings – ten years). No depreciation is provided on assets in course of construction. Depreciation on fixtures and fittings is provided on a straight line basis at rates calculated to write off the cost over four years, including the year of acquisition (except where new school equipment is purchased in advance of, and for, the start of a new academic year).
2.8 Foreign Currencies
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the average rate obtained for all monies transferred to Ghana during the period. Foreign currency balances are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the Balance Sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses incurred in respect of operations in Ghana are included in the SOFA for the period in which they are incurred.
3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities
| Expenditure on Charitable Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| General Nkwanta Expenditure School Operating Costs Guest House Expenditure Depreciation Governance Costs Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities |
2021 £ 8,006 19,522 7,974 39,654 402 75,558 |
2020 £ 6,142 21,849 7,266 41,544 402 |
| 77,203 |
4. Restricted Funds
The restricted funds represent donations and grants received from donors who have requested the funds to be used for specific purposes, either capital or operational, relating to the Kyabobo Girls School.
Funds received under the GEP 300 fund raising campaign are used to support the running costs of the school. The trustees have agreed that the donation of £10,300 received from The Mvule Trust in 2013/14 will be used to help support senior high students who wish to apply to university after sitting their WASSCE exams.
| At 1 September 2020 Donations / grants received in year (inc Gift Aid) University and college bursaries School running cost / text books At 31 August 2021 |
GEP 300 The Mvule Trust Individual Donors The Frank Jackson Foundation Total £ £ £ £ £ - 10,145 5,685 - 15,830 375 - 5,769 7,000 13,144 - (4,198) - (4,198) (375) - - (7,000) (7,375) |
|---|---|
| - 10,145 7,256 - 17,401 |
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
5. Assets held in Ghana
Net assets held in Ghana by Ghana Education Project, registered locally as both a separate legal entity and as a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), were as follows:
| Fixed Assets at net book value Bank and cash balances Liabilities – Loan from Trustee Total Net Assets held in Ghana |
At 31 August 2021 £ 88,700 6,646 (7,212) 88,134 |
At 31 August 2020 £ 128,354 5,282 (9,532) |
|---|---|---|
| 124,104 |
| 6. | Fixed Assets Cost At 1 September 2020 Additions Transfer on Completion At 31 August 2021 Depreciation At 1 September 2020 Charge for the period At 31 August 2021 Net Book Value At 31 August 2020 At 31 August 2021 Notes: |
Buildings (Community) £ 100,272 - - 100,272 100,269 - 100,269 3 3 |
Buildings (School) £ 305,102 - - 305,102 186,133 30,510 216,643 118,969 88,459 |
Assets in course of construction £ 0 - 0 - - - 0 0 |
Fixtures and Fittings £ 79,813 - - 79,813 70,431 9,144 79,575 9,382 238 |
Total £ 485,187 - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 485,187 | ||||||
| 356,833 39,654 |
||||||
| 396,487 | ||||||
| 128,354 | ||||||
| 88,700 | ||||||
All tangible fixed assets are held for charitable use.
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GHANA EDUCATION PROJECT
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2021
7. Loan from Trustee
The Loan from Trustee of £7,212 represents money loaned locally to GEP by the resident trustee in Nkwanta in prior years to complete various charity projects, less expenses paid by the charity on the trustee’s behalf. During the year, the resident trustee was refunded £1,124 by the UK charity, and then withdrew £658 to meet personal expenses at the end of the year. No interest is required by the trustee on the outstanding balance of the loan account, and no other repayment terms or dates have been requested. The loan account is maintained in GHS and is revalued at the balance sheet date in accordance with the charity’s foreign exchange policy.
8. Trustees Remuneration and Expenses
No trustees received any remuneration or expenses during the year.
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