The world in which we live has different kinds of people. Some of these individuals have unending opportunities whilst others are limited in scope. Even in the area of wealth, we all are on different grounds. Based on this, it has become a norm for those with wealth to give to the needy; in the form of money, clothes, food, books, etc.

Many are the charitable organizations that make appeals for funds; some internationally known, others known only locally. And likewise many are the reasons why people give. Some give because they believe it is good business or because gifts are tax deductible. Others give because of feelings of guilt, as though by charity they would atone for their sins. And others give for religious or humanitarian reasons, because of feelings of compassion, empathy or pity.

Since almost everybody considers charity to be an act that is linked to blessings and happiness, is it always sensible to give to charity?

How would you feel about giving to a charity if only 1 to 5 percent of what you contributed went to needy ones, whereas all the rest was used to pay for other related expenses? How would you feel about giving to a charity if you knew that the president of the charitable organization received huge sum of money annually as salary and expenses?

You wouldn’t be pleased with it since you know where your money which is meant for a specific cause goes to. Such things do happen from time to time.

Some few years back, Ghana’s ace investigative journalist – Anas Aremeyaw Anas – did an undercover documentary on a particular children’s home. It emerged that, items and monies meant for the needy children which were donated by individuals and organizations were used by the caretakers themselves.

If for example a person donates 10 bags of rice, about 2 bags will be cooked and shared for the needy children. The remaining 8 will be in the houses of the employees; enjoying with their relatives.

Another way in which people give to charity is lend a helping hand to beggars. Begging in many of the large cities throughout the world has become a profitable way of making a living. Prominent among those resorting thereto are the unemployed (self-employed in their own way I should say).

The common among such people are the ones who plead for help because of blindness, lameness or poverty. You will be shocked to find out that not all those asserting to be blind, lame, etc. are what they claim to be. Some of them master the art of the game and use their intelligence to deceive whoever falls for the scam.

True, there may be times when the one begging is in genuine need, being willing to work but being either physically limited or unable to find employment. In times of natural disaster, famine, or severe economic collapse needy persons abound. Then it is a question of doing what one can with what one has to aid others in their need.

So now that it’s clear where our monies go and the kind of people who benefit from our charitable works, I ask again, is it always sensible to give to charity?