1.0 PREAMBLE

Kingdom Equip Network (‘K.E.N.’) is a coalition of individuals and organizations seeking to promote good governance within and among Churches, Para-Church Institutions and the society as a whole.

The ‘Ekklesia Roundtable Series’(‘ERS’) is a K.E.N. initiative organized annually. It brings together stakeholders and experts in specific fields including; the clergy, the academia, media, and the general public, to build consensus on policy initiatives that enhance the governance of Churches and the nation as a whole.

Since 2017, K.E.N. has held the ‘ERS’ on the themes: ‘The Legal Status of the Church in Ghana’ (main paper presented by Mr. Ace Anan Ankomah), ‘Transitions and Succession in the Ghanaian Church’ (4 papers presented by a 4-member Panel) and ‘Ministerial Accountability in the Church’ (presented by 4 senior pastors on 4 sub-themes – Souls, Pulpit and Gifts, Power and, Financial Accountability- respectively).

The 2021 ‘ERS’ is the fourth in the series and it is being organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Registrar General’s Department and the Non-Profit Organization Secretariat (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection), on the theme: ‘The Companies Act 2019 and the Charities Bill; Implications for Churches and Religious Organizations’.

2.0 ABOUT EKKLESIA ROUNDTABLE SERIES, 2021 (‘ERS-4’ 2021)

In 2021, the government of Ghana passed the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) to replace the existing Companies Code 1963 (Act 179). This new Act introduces reforms to company registration and regulation with the overall aim of simplifying the regulatory framework surrounding the incorporation and operation of companies while improving existing corporate governance standards. Since this replacement, K.E.N. observes that many churches and religious bodies are yet to be conversant with its dictates.
Also in 2021, there is a proposal by the government to introduce new tax regulations for churches, religious bodies and Non-Profit Organizations under the ‘Charities Bill’.
In line with its mission of equipping the church to fulfill its mandate, K.E.N is seeking to partner with the relevant governmental and religious stakeholders to bring awareness and discourse closer to churches and related religious bodies so they can appropriately align with the current regulatory regime under the ‘ERS’-4 theme.

Under the theme, the Roundtable seeks to among others;
i. Expound on the Act 992 and the proposed Bill,
ii. Enlighten churches and religious bodies on the related impacts and implications of the Act 992 and proposed Bill,
iii. Engage the general public and solicit inputs into the proposed Bill,
iv. Provide an avenue to network and build relationships among stakeholders and the relevant regulatory bodies for relational benefits.

The details of ‘ERS-4’ 2021 are as follows:
– Date: Thursday 11th November, 2021
– Expected Participation: 400 participants (In-person &Online)
All Covid-19 protocols would be observed!
– Venue: Accra Ridge Church
– Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
– Fee: Free (open for sponsorship)

3.0 STRUCTURE OF ‘ERS-4’ 2021

The programme would be in three (3) main parts as detailed below:
o Opening: Welcome & Keynote address

o Part I – Presentations by Collaborating Partners:

– (i) The Companies Act 2019

– Registrar General’s Department

– (ii) New Tax Policies and Waivers

– The Ministry of Finance

– (iii) Institutional and Social Protection

– Non-Profit Organization Secretariat (MoGCSP)

o Part II: Discussions – Q & A Session

o Part III: Keynote inputs by Stakeholders

o Concluding comments and Closing

4.0 ‘ERS-4’ 2021 KEY COLLABORATING PARTNERS & RESOURCE PERSONS

Collaborating Partners:

o Registrar General’s Department
o The Ministry of Finance
o Non-Profit Organization Secretariat (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection)

5.0 ‘ERS-4’ 2021 PARTICIPANTS / STAKEHOLDERS

This Roundtable will bring together guests spanning the following groups;

A. Representatives of key State and Para-State Institutions:

o Ministry of Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs
o Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (Department of Social Welfare)
o The Ghana Revenue Authority

B. Leaders and Representatives of key Church Umbrella Groups:

o Christian Council of Ghana
o Council for African Instituted Churches
o Council of Independent Churches
o Ghana Baptist Convention
o Ghana Pentecostal & Charismatic Council (GPCC)
o National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches (NACCC)
o National Catholic Bishop’s Conference
o National Charismatic Bishop’s Conference
o National Clergy Association of Ghana

C. Christian Denominations

D. Para-Church and Civil Society Groups:

o Aglow Women’s Fellowship
o Civic Forum Initiative (CFI)
o Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship
o Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition
o Ghana Evangelism Committee
o Ghana Fellowship of Evangelical Students (GHAFES)
o Ghana Integrity Initiative
o PALI Center for Leadership
o Scripture Union
o Young Men Christian Association

E. The General Public

6.0 SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship is open for interested persons, organizations and media houses. Monetary donations are also welcome.

All donations should address:
Kingdom Equip Network
P. O. Box CT 1863, Cantonments Accra
Bank Details: Ecobank Burma Camp Branch| 144-100-129-1124
MoMo Details: 055 803 2376 – Kingdom Equip Network

For more information, please contact us:

Telephone: +233 (0)55 803 2376
Email: kingdomequipnetwork@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kingdomequip
www.kingdomequipnetwork.org