The Church has a significant influence on governance in Ghana.
During the Fourth Republic, candidates for elected office regarded it as essential to court the support of prominent Christian leaders.
For the latter, a close public relationship between themselves and senior politicians is not only evidence that they are public figures with an important role in governance, but it also offers the possibility of influencing policies via close personal relationships with power holders.
Christian leaders find it useful to publicly associate themselves with high-profile politicians to increase the cachet of their individual and institutional ‘brand’ and to add their thoughts on governance issues.
The Church’s important role in governance was made clear during the 1980s and the gradual return to democracy in 1992.
Then, concerted pressure from the historic mission churches - the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Baptist Church and the Seventh-day Adventist Church – was an important component in civil society’s challenge to the military-based government of Jerry John Rawlings. The Church spoke and acted with a united voice and the pressure to democratise was concerted and effective.
Since then, the church has continued to play a critical role in Ghana’s democratic space, though not on a united front.
Search for unity
Stemming from the above, since the return to democracy in the Fourth Republic, Church unity has not developed.
Today, the Church presents a disunited voice, with little agreement on how to work together effectively to pressure the government to rule according to good governance norms.
Church leaders must know that their corporate voice is louder and clearer when working together.
What is preventing Church unity? Part of the reason is that during the Fourth Republic, Ghana’s Christian landscape has been augmented by the creation of many new churches.
In addition, classical pentecostal churches such as The Church of Pentecost, the Assemblies of God, Ghana, and the Christ Apostolic Church International, with deep historical roots in the country from the early 20th century, have grown significantly, with centralised structures, pronounced community involvement and influence on national culture.
Yet, unity between the historic mission churches, the classical Pentecostal and newer Neo-Pentecostal churches seems difficult to achieve.
There is a growing call for greater ecumenical unity to further the Church’s public influence and to improve governance.
The country is undergoing a period of pronounced political and economic instability and many Ghanaians expect the Church to step up and do its bit to help improve things.
Working well with the government is crucial and the Church's capacity in this regard is diminished when it is unable to speak with a common voice to address Ghana’s myriad governance issues.
Corruption and ethics
The urgent need to establish a united Christian front is not merely a theoretical concept; it is essential in addressing the pressing ethical challenges the Ghanaian state currently faces.
A cohesive Church has a unique capacity to confront the widespread issue of high-level corruption.
When political leaders, regardless of party alignment, are perceived to engage in corrupt practices, a fragmented religious community can only muster disparate and easily disregarded criticisms.
In contrast, a coalition of historic and charismatic denominations, speaking as one authoritative voice, would form a moral constituency too significant for any government to ignore.
A collective moral stance should evolve beyond mere denunciation to seek to implement practical mechanisms for integrity, including advocating more robust anti-corruption agencies and spearheading national campaigns to promote ethical public service.
Such an alliance would act as a vital non-partisan check on political authority, making it highly challenging for officials to exploit religious affiliations while undermining the public good.
Galamsey
Ecumenical collaboration is necessary to address the environmental crisis caused by illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
This destructive practice has severely polluted Ghana's primary water sources, devastated agricultural land, and obliterated forest reserves, while jeopardising food and water security.
Church networks, from urban churches to remote village chapels, provide a unique platform for public education and social mobilisation.
A united ecclesiastical front should coordinate efforts to campaign against galamseyers: individuals who profit from community-destroying environmental degradation.
The Church should provide clearer ethical guidance to those tempted by galamsey for quick riches and more generally, advocate stringent enforcement of environmental protection laws.
Overall, the Church should deliver a comprehensive theological lesson on stewardship of creation: protecting the environment is a central, unwavering governance concern.
‘One-man’ churches
Unity must also encompass action to regulate what are popularly known as ‘one-man’ churches, as many promote what critics see as abusive interpretations of the prosperity gospel.
This not only exploits vulnerable congregants but also tarnishes the church’s reputation while undermining Christianity’s key social role: encouraging good governance, social justice and welfare.
While state regulatory intervention has a high risk of reducing religious liberty, a strong, self-regulated framework, led by a credible ecumenical council, does not carry this risk.
Such a council could establish minimum standards for financial transparency, promote pastoral training, encourage ethical conduct, and advocate for increased accountability.
By presenting a unified front that actively addresses internal abuses, the Church could fortify its moral legitimacy, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of its demands on the state regarding issues of corruption and environmental degradation.
The writers are an Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University, UK, and a Political Scientist.
