By Abena Kyere, Edwin Adjei Asa, and Ebenezer Bosomprah, University of Ghana-Legon, CIHA Blog Editorial Assistants and Luce Graduate Fellows
While the world continues to battle with coronavirus, the ‘little’ problems of the world continue to plague us and Ghana is no exception to this rule. In the case of Ghana though, the plague is the same old irksome question of the place of religion in public spaces such as our schools. While Ghana does not officially recognize itself as a Christian nation, the Christian population, comprising 70% of the people at the last census, tilts the nation toward Christianity. At Ghana’s 54th independence celebration in 2011, the nation was shocked when the traditional priest was not allowed to pour libation, as was the usual practice, by our supposed ‘Christian’ president, the late Prof. Atta Mills. The pouring of libation at national functions or celebrations resumed after he died in office and the national conversation ceased.
Recently, however, the country is again debating its religious identity, after one public school refused to admit Rastafarian students who would not cut their hair according to the norm in most public schools (Joy News, May 31, 2021; June 1, 2021) and another refused to allow Muslim students to fast during Ramadan (CitiNewsroom, May 7, 2021). These restrictions have led to a national conversation on religious tolerance and integration, including how to move forward in a multi-ethnic and religiously diverse country, as well as whether or not policies have changed (such as past regulations at Wesley Girls’ School that provided a space for students fasting during Ramadan). Today, the voices and divergent views as well as entrenched positions taken by influential bodies and commentators (MyNewsGh, May 7, 2021; Joy News, May 5, 2021; Joy News, March 24, 2021; Radio Univers, May 7, 2021) demonstrate that the time is ripe for the nation to have candid dialogue on its constitutional responsibilities regarding the place of religion in public life in Ghana.
Is there a “progressive” religious movement in Ghana. Like how Martin Luther King had the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and others pushing for civil rights and equality for all?
Indeed, there is the Christian Council and the Catholic Bishops Convention and the Charismatic and Pentecostal Councils. These bodies have been known to comment on such religious happenings in the country. The Christian Council and Bishops Convention have both madecomments on this issue ( please see other links in the article). They are however not without their critics and they have every now and then been accused of being politically motivated. They also sometimes face criticisms in the ways in which they approach certain issues, especially based on which political party is in power.