BACKGROUND:
FAITH in Ghana Alliance is a multi-faith network of both Christian and Muslim faith traditions. It is devoted to undertaking common and joint actions that promote Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony in the Ghanaian Society. It draws its membership from;

The Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), an NGO of The Catholic Knights and Ladies of Marshall
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Ghana (FOMWAG)
The Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI)
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC)
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana (AMM)
The National Catholic Secretariat of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (NCS/GCBC)
The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG); and
Caritas Ghana, which serves as its temporary Secretariat.

There are currently eight (8) similar Regional-based multi-faith Networks which are affiliated to the National Network (Northern, Upper-West, Upper-East, North-East, Savannah, Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra Regions). FAITH in Ghana Alliance was conceptualized in 2015 and became operational in 2016 with funding from STAR Ghana Foundation to engage with the 2016 General Elections for the promotion of peace. The Multi-Faith Network has since worked on common projects on Anti-corruption, Social and Behavior Change Communication on COVID-19, Anti-vigilantism, Anti-Land Grabbing, Public Policy Dialogue on managing Hazardous waste in Ghana etc. The Network is chaired by a Muslim Woman in the person of Hajia Ayishetu Abdul-Kadiri who is an Educationist. Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo has been Co-founder and National Coordinator since 2016. FAITH in Ghana Alliance is currently partnering with Faith in Action International, based in the USA to undertake a broad consultation towards its reorganization to enhance its impact and profile in Ghana.

OVERVIEW OF TERMS OF REFERENCE
Our responsibility as facilitators is to facilitate a participatory and consensus building of understanding around the following questions:
i. Telling our story: What makes us (FAITH in Ghana Alliance) credible?
ii. Organizing Better: How can we organize more effectively?
iii. Measuring our Future Impact: If we are successful, what will be different?

What improvement will:
a. You like to see for Members of the Alliance?
b. Others like to see for themselves?
c. Society like to see?

The terms of reference provided a total of ten(10) professional days of accompaniment from February to April 2022. During this period, the facilitator will be available to attend series of meetings, workshops, seminars, webinars etc. to be called at any time by FAITH in Ghana Alliance as a means of gathering relevant information. In addition, the facilitator was to undertake literature review, especially review relevant reports on previous work by FAITH in Ghana Alliance and Faith in Action International.

APPROACH ADOPTED
We, as independent Facilitators, have reviewed about seven years of existence of FAITH in Ghana Alliance. The media reports, testimonies of individuals, documentation of their own Lessons Learned, a record of some engagements and achievements since 2016, reflections on national and regional dialogues, webinars, interactive meetings with the Steering Committee and the National coordinator.

In general terms, our approaches encompassed literature review (existing records), facilitation of participatory processes (meetings and dialogues), attendance and active presence in ongoing programmes (webinars and workshops), focused group interviews and discussions (Executives, Key Informants and Partners),

We facilitated a national seminar which was attended by representatives of the diverse stakeholders. This seminar served as a forum to validate our draft report. In addition, it helped to build consensus on some unresolved issues and challenges. In all, our approach also helped FAITH in Ghana Alliance define a road map for its future in a participatory way.

SUMMARIES
i. SUMMARY FROM REGIONAL CONSULTATIONS
Eight other regions (Central, Upper West, Upper East, North East, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern and Savanna) held dialogue meetings and brought answers to the following questions:

1. Telling our story: What makes us (FAITH in Ghana Alliance) credible?
The regional consultations suggested the under listed points.
i. Some of the projects the group embarked on during the COVID-19 Pandemic (interacting with MMDAs and other NGOs) made the group a reputable one.
ii. Government agencies requesting for copies of the “I SHAME Corruption Project” Manual and Report make us reputable.
iii. Our cooperation with the NCCE during the last anti-corruption project also makes us reputable
iv. Different religious groups being able to work together in harmony as one body.
v. The partnership with a foreign based organization (Faith in Action International) also gives credibility to the organization.
vi. Strict monitoring of the COVID – 19 funds to the Assemblies and the strict adherence to the COVID – 19 protocols in the Municipal and District Assemblies.
vii. Increased sensitization of the COVID – 19 pandemic in the Regions through radio discussion and stakeholder engagement in the Region such as the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Assemblies, Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Security Services, Environmental Health Services etc.
viii. Strong network with the Regional Coordinating Council and the MMDAs
ix. The willingness of the various religious groups to meet under the umbrella of the Interreligious dialogue centre makes the Alliance credible.
x. The alliance is not bias based on political ideologies. The engagement was based on common religious values.
xi. The FAITH in Ghana Alliance public engagements are based on public policy and service delivery issues.
xii. The engagements of the alliance focused on the common good of the society.
xiii. The Alliance focuses on the most vulnerable and support government to ensure public policy delivery favours the poor, women, children and persons with disability.
xiv. Creation of awareness and impacting knowledge of anti-corruption using the basic schools as a tool was innovative and ground-breaking initiative that popularized our model of Faith organizing.

2. Organizing Better: How can we organize more effectively
i. Registering the Alliance with the Registrar General’s Department (Incorporation)
ii. Self – financing of our activities. Sustainability from within.
iii. Getting more visibility (taking advantage of social media)
iv. Develop a structured annual plan of action.
v. Regular monthly meetings- last Fridays of every month.
vi. Strengthen trust and bonding among network members
vii. Quarterly evaluation and reviews on project being implemented.
viii. Annual interregional conferences on performance evaluation with prizes attached.
ix. Formalize operations of the Alliance through constitutions, registrations to facilitate local level fundraising.
x. The House should not operate in vacuum. There should be a calendar of activities in accordance with the National program to direct the affairs of the House. These could be plans for each quarter or even the entire year.
xi. There should be clear information flow from the National level to the Regional levels.
xii. More messages on key national and social issues from the Alliance
xiii. Capacity building for Regional Leaders of the Network.

3. Measuring our Future Impact:
▪ If we are successful, what will be different?
▪ What improvement will:

YOU LIKE TO SEE FOR YOURSELF?
A disciplined society that will respond and work with the tenets of the organization in dealing with issues confronting our society.
We are objective and reflect the character of Faith-based organizations.

OTHERS LIKE TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES?
There should be behavioral change influence in the lives of individuals which must be self -recognizing. To see the network, move society forward through cooperation and shared values

SOCIETY LIKE TO SEE?
An enlightened and pro-active society living in harmony, that will stand up to collectively deal with issues confronting the society.
Society should see credibility in our service through sincerity.

5. (II) SUMMARY FROM DIALOGUE MEETINGS OF LEADERS OF FAITH GROUPS
Two dialogue meetings of Leaders of Faith Groups affiliated to FAITH in Ghana Alliance were held and facilitated by the Facilitators.
The first dialogue focused on the following: Answers provided to the guiding questions are also captured below.
a. Telling Our Story: What makes FAITH in Ghana Alliance credible?
b. Organizing Better: How can we organize more effectively?
c. Measuring our Future Impact: If we are successful, what will be different?

What makes FAITH in Ghana Alliance credible?
a. We are credible because we successfully organized projects and Programmes, which were partnered, by the Ghana Education Service, National Commission for Civic Education., and Local Government Authorities during COVID-19.
b. Working for the past seven years and institutionalized across the length and breadth of the country and currently in eight (8) regions.
c. Because we are people of faith, we appeal to a very large base, and therefore, our relevance is key.
d. The already existing achievement of fighting corruption, Human Trafficking, Political Vigilantism etc.
e. FAITH in Ghana Alliance is broad-based and present throughout the country.
f. The common purpose and goals have brought us together regardless of the diversity

How can we organize more effectively?
a. Using technology to be more visible on the social media landscape.
b. Well-established Secretariat to have an interface with the world. This would enable our social media presence.
c. Facilitating the top echelon of the Religious Groups and their Leaders to be visible to drive the agenda of FAITH in Ghana Alliance. We must allow them space to “own the Alliance” by their active involvement.
d. Governing Board or Trustees should be formed involving the top leadership of the religious groups.
e. We have to approve the recommendation of being registered officially before looking at the nature of governing body, technical capacity, etc.
f. Visibility and acceptability through the media.
g. Do more advocacy on relevant national issues.
h. A plan of where we want to go is identified to satisfy our achievement.
I. Strengthen the Regional Branches as the mouthpiece of the parent group at the national level.

Q3) If we are successful, what will be different?
a. To get the organization registered, get a legal structure to be able to interact with the public.
b. Using social media to work together with other networks of Faith Groups.
c. We have to commit ourselves to provide funding for the running of the Secretariat.
d. More significant credibility and acceptability in all social and national issues.
e. Behavioral change based on the influence of faith
f. Total societal transformation, once the individual is changed.

The Leaders present reaffirmed their expectations for the Multifaith Network as serving an important need, finding ways to consolidate the Network, making it more widely known and visible, promoting social cohesion, restoring hope in faith organizing after some past failures, and promote sustained capacity building for Leaders of Faith Groups to take timely actions for the common good.

The Leaders also confirmed their appreciation of the Network as a Partnership arrangement since 2016. However, more needs to be done to express this in a formal document which expresses commitments and responsibilities of the members. It was emphasized that mutual respect, equal participation and shared values were important to strengthen the Partnership.

The Leaders also endorsed the areas identified in the roll-up banner as providing the framework for a Roadmap for an Action Programme. It was suggested that, the National Stakeholders Seminar on 27th April, 2022 should be used to seek the opinion of the Faith Leaders on the identity of FAITH in Ghana Alliance. If registration becomes necessary, what form should it take? Also, the Roadmap of the suggested Action Programmes should be discussed.

5. (III) Summary from Other Processes
(Virtual Webinars and Media Reports, Etc.)

i. Human Trafficking Webinar: Speakers at the Human Trafficking webinar have stressed on the need for close collaboration of government, religious bodies, civil society and all well-meaning Ghanaians to stem the scourge of human trafficking in the country.

The Webinar on the theme Religious Leaders in Ghana organising for Faith and Practical Responses to the Scourge of Human Trafficking was organised by the Faith in Ghana Alliance.

ii. Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Development to halt a looming socioeconomic crisis! A call for Faith Leaders to lend a hand. Webinar held on Tuesday, 15TH March, 2022.

The webinar on the above theme sought to enhance the collaboration between diverse Faith Groups and the Government in addressing an emerging social problem of youth unemployment. Key outcomes were as follows: (Detailed Report of Webinar is available)

key conclusions as the need for more stakeholder engagement to help the population understand and to take advantage of the Government initiatives.

Also, that Faith Groups should find creative ways of supporting their Youth to develop their skills and be self-employed. Such measures could include mentoring, business incubation and redeploy their resources as venture capital for enterprising youth.

Meanwhile, the Multifaith Network, FAITH in Ghana Alliance was encouraged to do further follow up programmes on this theme.

5. (IV) Summary of NATIONAL SEMINAR
The Seminar, attended by representatives of member bodies, regional-based multi-faith networks which are affiliated to the National Network, and representatives of Faith in Action International – US and Rwanda, was held at the Assemblies of God Church Headquarters at Osu in Accra on 26 – 28 April, 2022.

Reorganizing and working together; especially at the National Seminar, there was general consensus on the need to REGISTER the FAITH in Ghana Alliance as a Legal Entity!

The need to put in place a management structure to control the activities of the Alliance and to have a written constitution to guide its smooth operation, to foster recognition, respect and harmony especially among member bodies.

There were CAVEATS about ensuring that the existing partnership is strengthened so that registration does not lead to disenchantment and falling out!
It was agreed that, the focus of next Six-month (July to December, 2022) must address both National-level needs and CONSOLIDATING Regional level FAITH organizing! Clarion call was that FAITH in Ghana Alliance has come to stay and must not allow any current challenges to detract our efforts! Faith in Action International committed to a long-term partnership with FAITH in Ghana Alliance with a pledge of another USD50,000 for the next Six-month operational phase. It has become necessary for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be established between Faith in Ghana Alliance and Caritas Ghana to continue to play their “SURROGATE MOTHER” role (receive and disburse funds for FAITH in Ghana Alliance) for the next six-month period. There is the need to explore other alternatives for support services to the Regions; especially ALL five Regions in Northern Ghana already covered.

The representatives of Faith in Action International from the United States of America, Rev. Juard Barnes and Gordon Whitman, who shared their thoughts on the work of Faith in Ghana Alliance commended the multi-faith groups for coming together to promote inclusion, transparency and harmony in the Ghanaian society. They encouraged them to stay together and build stronger bonds and regional alliances. The two stressed the need to pay particular attention especially to the vulnerable and those at the grassroots, “rope them in and empower them to contribute to a change in national development”.