Christian Universities and Politics

A recent lecture by the Founder of the ICGC International Central Gospel Church and Chancellor of the Central University (CU), Ghana’s largest private university with 8,400 undergraduate students, Rev. Dr Mensa Otabil, was reported in the Daily Graphic on 14 March. His lecture to CU students and staff - “How to bring about change in Africa — Some fundamental considerations” – was delivered on March 12 at CU’s Miotso Campus. 

Rev. Dr Mensa Otabil stated that Ghana’s “laws must be enforced rigorously to engender discipline and positive results in the efforts at national development”, including in relation to “the environment, sanitation, mining and forest resources.

The “state and other stakeholders”, he noted, should play a full role in “enforcement of laws to make the society a better place for all to thrive and develop in”. 

Coincidentally, on the same day, March 14, Michael Asharley reported for JoyOnline that “Ghana’s air is getting deadlier”.

The 2024 World Air Quality Report confirms that pollution levels in Ghana have worsened for the third year running. Today, Ghana is one of the world’s most polluted countries.

Toxic – that is, poisonous - air is now seven times above the World Health Organisation’s safe limit; consequently, millions of Ghanaians are breathing dangerous material every day.

It is clear that Ghana’s environment is seriously threatened in multiple ways.

The government and citizens must do more to ensure that development’s progress is not at the expense of the health and well-being of the country’s people and its environment.

Politics/Laws

This is by no means the first time that Rev. Dr Mensa Otabil has publicly commented on Ghana’s politics and laws. In the run-up to December’s elections, he publicly stated that God does not directly choose Ghana’s leaders; leadership is determined by popular choices.

This was an explicit put down of the numerous “prophets” claiming that God had personally – and exclusively? - told them what would happen in the elections.

Funnily enough, it appears that God was unclear about the outcome: some “prophets” said that the NPP would win, others that the NDC would triumph.

Rev. Dr Otabil’s recent remarks about problematic political prophecies and the dangers to Ghana’s environment point to the general importance of citizens adhering to laws if the country is to progress satisfactorily.

What is the best way to ensure that Ghanaians obey laws? Is it by pointing to their religious obligations or their secular ones? 

Ghana is well-known as a highly “religious” country. Some claim that the country is the most religious of all, not only in Africa but also perhaps globally.

Given the highly influential role of religion, especially Christianity, in Ghana, how should Rev. Dr. Otabil’s recent remarks be interpreted?

Was he speaking as the leader of one of Ghana’s most prominent charismatic churches or as the head of the country’s largest private university?

The Central University offers separate BA degree programmes in, among others, Theology, Law, and Natural Environment and Development.

The university does not offer a degree programme in political science.

This cannot be because there is no interest in such a degree in Ghana.

For example, the University of Ghana currently has thousands of undergraduate students studying political science.

Why is the lack of a political science degree at Central University and other Christian universities, such as Pentecost University, important?

If the aim of Ghana’s Christian universities is to produce well-rounded and expert graduates to go out into the world and lead businesses, non-governmental organisations, government departments and so on, then they must have a clear and informed knowledge of how Ghana’s politics work. 

Advocating that students and staff of Ghana’s Christian universities obey laws for the benefit of the natural environment and political “prophets” not to issue prophecies which might upset people, especially at election times, would have more impact if the target audience is aware of and informed about the relevant political context.

In other words, to understand political decisions and to obey laws, knowledge of theology and other aspects of religion on their own is insufficient. 

Religion vs Politics

Leaders of Ghana’s many Christian universities may be worried that teaching their students political science would unacceptably transcend the all but invisible barrier between religion and politics.

They may believe in addition that politics is a “dirty business” and that their students should not be besmirched by understanding how politics work in Ghana.

If so, they should not be worried: there is no inconsistency between being both a good Christian and someone who understands how Ghana’s politics work.

Ghana’s Christian universities are mainly Pentecostal-Charismatic institutions. During the Fourth Republic, such churches have joined the public sphere and many, such as Ghana’s largest, the Church of Pentecost, are consistently politically active.

The Central University’s mission is to provide an "integrated and biblically-based tertiary education with particular reference to the needs of the African continent.”

All is well and good.

But that alone is not enough if students are to understand how the world works.

The Bible alone cannot usefully teach university students how Ghana’s politics work and how decisions on the environment and other crucial areas are made by those in power.

To pretend otherwise is a disservice to young people – the leaders of Ghana tomorrow. 

The writer is an Emeritus Professor of Politics at London Metropolitan University, UK.

 tsjhayn1@londonmet.ac.uk