At the first ever meeting to assess the work of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), on Sunday at the presidential palace, President Ashraf Ghani said if NGOs do not report to government about their activities in future, their offices will be closed. 

The meeting was held to assess the role of NGOs in Afghanistan’s economic growth and poverty reduction efforts. 

Addressing representatives from NGOs, Ghani said in the last 17 years these organizations have implemented projects, but they failed to work effectively or produce good results. 

Ghani went on to say NGOs have not played an effective role in decreasing unemployment and poverty and that they should have a unified budget and report to government about their expenditures.

Host Marzia Hafizi discusses the topic with Integrity Watch Afghanistan executive director Sayed Ikram Afzali.