This mid-week witnessed an engagement platform for TaMA and GIZ-sponsored consultancy services on the above stated subject matter.
The goal of this assignment is to improve the understanding of the roles of religious and traditional actors and the channels through which they exert influence on political decisions and social developments in Ghana. The specific objective of the assignment is as follows:
An assessment of the “landscape” of religious and traditional actors shall be produced, addressing the following questions: o Who are the most important religious groups and leading figures in different parts of Ghana, and how influential/ powerful are they in comparison to other influential actors?
What are the cultural and religious frameworks they act in? – To which extent are they part of larger religious contexts, and do they depend on interventions from outside the country?
How do they participate in the political process? – And how do these groups and actors interact with formal bodies (government, parliament/local assemblies, MDAs, MMDAs), as well as with traditional structures (chiefs, ethnic communities, etc.)?
How do religious groups (and their leaders) interact with each other? – Is the current peaceful coexistence and cooperation that is characteristic for Ghana sustainable over the longer term (e.g. in the light of current public debates on religious tolerance in educational institutions)?
What is the perception (and self-perception) of these groups and actors as part of the political process? – To which extent do they support the strengthening of government institutions to foster inclusive development?
How do citizens and government officials perceive the role of religious actors in local development? – How receptive are they?
What are the incentives for religious actors to engage as active participants and influencers of development at the local level.
How do traditional narratives relate traditional and religious leaders and structures to structures of local governance?
How do these groups and actors finance their activities? – And to which extent is their spending providing public services (welfare, health care, education, etc.)?
Which of these groups and actors are specifically suited to cooperate with the GovID programme and its partners to promote tax compliance, budget accountability and policies for inclusive development? – What are the associated risks?
