Churches and faith-based organisations have been charged to broaden their awareness of governance issues that affect their ministry in Ghana.
The importance of registering church branches, setting up constitutions, and even gazetting ministers for marriage was highlighted at the 2021 K.E.N. Ekklesia Roundtable series at the Accra Ridge Church on Thursday.
The series by the Kingdom Equip Network brought together these organsiatons and some representatives from the State to deliberate on the Companies Act 2019, tax waivers and the NPO Bill, and their Implications for them.
The essence of the gathering was conveyed by the keynote speaker and Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo.
In matters of governance, he stressed that faith-based groups “are to show concern.”
We cannot claim ignorance of laws and bills… We should also be bodies, individuals, churches, leaders who would obey the laws of this land.”
“The God we serve is a God of order. It is a God who instituted statues for his people, and they have to obey,” Rev. Boafo stressed.
Various resources persons took turns to shed some light on laws and proposed laws that are of interest to various faith-based institutions with detailed presentations.
They included the Registrar General, Jemima Oware; Tax Policy Unit Head of the Finance Minister, Daniel Nuer, and the Director of the Non-Profit Organization Secretariat, Dela Ashiagbor.
The resources persons indicated the state’s willingness to work with faith-based organisations to ensure compliance.
The Registrar General for example said her outfit was willing to facilitate sensitisation of misters on possible lapses in various churches.
“I will definitely see to it and ensure that we rapidly hold these training sessions for ministers to ensure they are gazzatted,” she assured during the programme.