The 2024 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections in Ghana got me to reflect on so many happenings in our Ghanaian society.
From the declaration of intention by qualified Ghanaians who offered to serve in leadership capacities at both the parliamentary and presidential heights to the modus operandi of the Presidential candidates during the campaign process, baffled me.
Candidate John Mahama (now H.E. President John Mahama) of the National Democratic Congress and then Vice President and Candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, crisscrossed shrines of many bishops and prophets for what I guess was not mere appeal to the members of their congregations to vote for them or endorse them but also for “spiritual fortification.”
One mantra of the opposition NDC then was “re-setting Ghana.” That meant that the country was on a wrong path and must be set again or differently. Now the party has won the election and wields the power of the people. It must roll out its blueprint to re-set Ghana. But has religion any role in contributing to this “re-setting” agenda? (Whether you voted for “It is Possible” or “It is ZU,” the new leadership has been given the mandate to re-set Ghana, at least for the next four years.)
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My point really is the role religion, but in a narrow sense, Christianity, plays in our governance—the type of leaders we choose and rallying us towards nation-building and development.
One thing that has bothered me over the years is why we claim about 72% of the Ghanaian population are Christians, yet some claim Ghana is a secular state. I am sure I am not the only person who has been ruminating on this confusion.
The debate about the National Cathedral and use of state resources in funding it resurrected this debate a few years ago. Thankfully, in the case of Bomfeh v. Attorney General (2019) GHASC 2 (23 January 2019), the Supreme Court made the decision that the feature of a secular state is the existence of religious pluralism and diversity. Bomfeh had gone to the Supreme Court to state that because the state is secular, it is wrong to be engaged in the Hajj and the building of the National Cathedral.
Within the context of the secular state, the constitution allows and encourages the state’s recognition and accommodation of religion and religious identity. I introduce the secularity of the population in this argument to rightly place religion for the purpose of this write-up. I am convinced Christianity has played and continues to play a significant role in nation-building irrespective of the status or description of the population.
Christianity has shaped our cultural, educational, political, and spiritual perspectives and aspirations.
The introduction of Christianity in Ghana has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s social fabric. Tracing from the 15th century to the present, Christianity has immensely influenced the way Ghanaians see and experience religion, education, and governance.
The arrival of Christian missionaries and the subsequent spread of Christianity have left an indelible mark on Ghanaian society, contributing to the country’s religious landscape, educational system, and political dynamics.
One of such denominations is The Methodist Church Ghana. The Methodist Church Ghana turns 190 years this year. Although older than the nation Ghana, they have one thing in common—new beginnings and a re-set agenda. How can the two travel this new path together towards the good of society?
Two New Leaders Elected in 2024
The Most Reverend Professor Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu was elected as the new Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana at an election held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at the 51st and 13th Biennial Conference of The Methodist Church in Kumasi. The landmark election marked the beginning of a new chapter for the church as it continues its mission to spread the gospel and serve communities across the nation and beyond.
The people of the Republic of Ghana overwhelmingly elected His Excellency John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the 2024 Presidential Election at the December 7th polls.
Both the Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church and the President of the Republic came to office with high expectations from their people who expect nothing but great transformation in both their physical and spiritual lives. Trust the people to measure the impact of the two leaders at the end of their six-year (Presiding Bishop) and four-year term (President of Ghana) respectively.
The Methodist Church Ghana
The Methodist Church Ghana came into existence as a result of the missionary activities of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which was inaugurated with the arrival of the Rev’d Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in January 1835 in the Gold Coast (Ghana).
Like the mother Church, the Methodist Church in Ghana was established from a core of persons with an Anglican background. Missionaries, notably Roman Catholics and Anglicans, had come to the Gold Coast from the 15th century. Their activities did not see much success. What was left was a school established in Cape Coast by the Anglicans during the time of Rev’d Philip Quaque, a Ghanaian priest. Those who came out of this school had scriptural knowledge. They also had scriptural materials which were supplied by the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge. It was not surprising that one of the local Bible study groups was known by this name in addition to other names. It was a member of one of such Bible study groups, William De-Graft, who requested Bibles through one Captain Potter of the ship called ‘Congo’. Through Captain Potter’s instrumentality, not only were Bibles sent, but also a Methodist missionary.
In the first eight years of the Church’s life, 11 out of 21 missionaries who worked in the Gold Coast died.
Thomas Birch Freeman, who arrived at the Gold Coast in 1838, was a great pioneer of missionary expansion. Between 1838 and 1857, he carried Methodism from the coastal areas to Kumasi in the Asante hinterland of the Gold Coast.
He also established Methodist Societies in Badagry and Abeokuta in Nigeria with the assistance of William De-Graft. By 1854, the Church had been organized into circuits constituting a District with Rev’d T.B.
Freeman as Chairman. However, Rev’d Freeman was replaced in 1856 by Rev’d William West. On February 6, 1878, Synod took steps that were confirmed at the British Conference in July 1878, that the District should be divided into two for effective ministries. The District had then extended to include areas in the then Gold Coast and Nigeria.
Contribution to National Development (Social Justice)
The people called Methodists believe in doing their faith, not just talking about it. They are big on social justice, helping those in need, and standing for what is right. They believe in Jesus’s saying in Matthew 25:41 that says, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me.”
The Church reaches out through its General Directorate for Social Services, which provides services in the areas of relief, agriculture and environment, health, and gender advocacy.
Conclusion
Indeed, Church-State relationships can never be over-flogged. A nation's spiritual health is closely tied to its moral and social health, and the church has a critical role to play in promoting spiritual vitality and renewal.
Theologian John Stott rightly firmed up the strength of Church-State relationships when he said, "The church's role in nation-building is to promote unity, reconciliation, and healing, and to work towards creating a nation where all people can thrive."
May the Methodist Church Ghana remain that relevant voice that will guide Ghanaians toward justice, equality, and righteousness.
HAPPY 190TH ANNIVERSARY!!