Christianity in Ghana has become "Cheap" - Socrate Sarfo

Controversial movie producer Socrate Sarfo blasted Ghanaians for making religion and Christianity in Ghana to be ‘so cheap.’

He made this statement on Peace FM’s entertainment review when he was given a time to make a submission as a panelist on Kwaku Manu’s call for Ghanaians to pray or face danger which later had Reverend Owusu Bempah defending Kwaku Manu’s stands.

Kwaku Manu who was interviewed earlier on the show about his viral video pronouncing doom for Ghana if Ghanaians don’t pray relating the recent riot at Old Tafo as a support to his claims was later supported by Rev. Owusu Bempah it is in that regard the popular movie producer stated that;

“I think religion and Christianity has become so cheap in Ghana every little issue and people are calling for prayers.”

The hot fork producer added that there have been countless riots in other parts of Ghana, therefore, Kwaku Manu’s alarm henceforth should be muted.

“There has been countless riots and chaos at various regions in Ghana and that didn’t raise an alarm for war in our country so why is this any different.” He queried.

In recent weeks, Christianity and Christians in Ghana have been in the news and not all of it good.

To all who are reading this, remember, the Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing. Every believer is called to pray, called as light to shine in a dark world, (Isaiah 60:1-3). Whether the Old Tafo clashes is an indication of doom for Ghana or not, believers have been called to pray.

Personally, I’m glad Socrates distinguished Christianity and Religion, true Christianity is not a religion, its not a set of dos and don’ts, but its a way of life, living the Christ kind of life.

The kind of life that is based on the grace of God, the life that says that Jesus loves us in spite of our imperfections, He has called us and made us Sons of God.

In all things believers must be led by the Holy Spirit and this demands our sensitivity to Him.

So, Remember;

All believers are light, meant to shine in this dark world and to show forth the Way

All believers are called to pray.

Please take note, the Bible encourages us to prove all things (1Thessalonians 5:21). The final authority on anything is God’s Word and not what any man says.

Christianity in Ghana has become "Cheap" - Socrate Sarfo

A Brief History Of Crusades in Ghana

When we say crusades in Africa, we don’t mean series of intermittent military campaigns sanctioned by various Popes in the Middle Ages, from 1096 to 1487 in which millions of people especially non-Christians lost their lives.

Crusades in Africa refer to a Christian denomination organizing an event to draw crowds of believers and non-believers into one place usually a park to hear the Word of God with the sole purpose of bringing many to Christ and in modern times, showing forth the Power of God through the working of miracles.

 

Ghanaians just like the other Africans are notoriously very religious. Festive activities and other programmes usually begin with an opening prayer either by a Christian minister or an Imam, and there is also the pouring of libation by the traditionalist. Religion, be it Christianity, Islam or traditional has dominated our national life for the past five decades. Christianity which is the main subject of this article has undergone many changes since Ghana attained statehood.

The Orthodox Christian churches led the evangelization crusade in Ghana in the 19th century onwards. These religious denominations were led by Europeans and the impact of these Christians institutions cannot be over emphasized. The late 1970s witnessed a second wave of religious crusade led by Ghanaians. These Charismatic churches for the past two decades have been making headlines with their healing and deliverance services

The Advent of Christianity in Ghana

By the mention of Orthodox Christian Churches in Ghana, one refers to the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Basel (now Presbyterian), Bremen or North German (now Evangelical Presbyterian) and Wesleyan Methodist Missions. Since the advent of these churches in Ghana at various times, these Christian institutions have contributed in varying dimensions to the cultural, economic, moral,social,spiritual and political transformation of the people of Ghana. The Catholic Church is one of the mainstream Christian religious missions in Ghana. In fact it is the first mission that was established by Europeans on the Ghanaian soil. This was done at Elmina (El Mina-the gold mines) in 1482 by some Catholic priests who accompanied the Portuguese immigrants who arrived in the Gold Coast in January 1482 to build Fort St.George (Sao Jaogo), the present day Elmina Castle. However, in 1642, the Calvinist Dutch proscribed the Catholic Church. This action was necessitated by the capture of all Portuguese possessions throughout the West Coast of Ghana between 1637 and 1642. The presence of the Dutch (1637-1872) in Ghana forced Catholicism into recession for two hundred and thirty eight years. The Catholic Church re-emerged in Ghana in May 1880 thus becoming the last of the major Christian denominations of the 19th century to be established in Ghana. The Rev.Frs. Auguste Moreau (33) and Eugene Murat (31), both French national and from the Society of the African Mission (S.M.A) are credited with the re-establishment of the Catholic Church in Ghana. After establishing a mission station at Elmina by 31, March, 1882, the S.M.A missionaries decided to extend the Catholic faith to Kumasi, the capital of the Asante state. They would, in due course spread the Catholic faith to other communities (Ahiable-Addo 2001:2). However, this intention was not possible and it took the Catholic missionaries twenty eighty years to found a formal church in Asante.

Before the re-entry of the Catholic Church in to the evangelization field, other religious denominations had already established their bases along the coastal regions of Ghana. One of such religious missions was the Wesleyan Methodist, presently the Methodist Church of Ghana. In terms of membership strength and geographical reach, the Methodist Church is the second largest church in Ghana.

Orthodox churches have now been overshadowed by Charismatic churches.

A Brief History Of Crusades in Ghana

Christianity In Ghana: The History

Ghana is known as a Christian nation and every corner in Ghana has a church. Its an undisputed fact that Ghanaians are very religious. In fact Religion is seen in all aspects of the Ghanaians’ life.

How did Ghana get to be known as Christian nation?

The History Of Christianity In Ghana

The arrival of the Europeans in 15th century into the then Gold Coast brought Christianity to the land. There were many different cultural groups across the West African region who were practicing different forms of spirituality. As the Europeans explored and took control of parts of the country during the colonial days, so did their religion. Christianity is the religion with the largest following in Ghana. Christian denominations include Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Seventh-Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Baptists etc.

According to the census figures of the year 2000, out of Ghana’s over 25 million people, Christians made up 71.2 per cent of the population of Ghana. A 2015 study estimated some 50,000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background

Early Christianity In Ghana

The Catholic Church is one of the mainstream Christian religious missions in Ghana. In fact, it is the first mission that was established by Europeans on the Ghanaian soil. This was done at Elmina (El Mina-the gold mines) in 1482 by some Catholic priests who accompanied the Portuguese immigrants who arrived in the Gold Coast in January 1482 to build Fort St.George (Sao Jaogo), the present day Elmina Castle. However, in 1642, the Calvinist Dutch proscribed the Catholic Church. This action was necessitated by the capture of all Portuguese possessions throughout the West Coast of Ghana between 1637 and 1642. The presence of the Dutch (1637-1872) in Ghana forced Catholicism into recession for two hundred and thirty eight years. The Catholic Church re-emerged in Ghana in May 1880 thus becoming the last of the major Christian denominations of the 19th century to be established in Ghana. The Rev. Frs. Auguste Moreau (33) and Eugene Murat (31), both French national and from the Society of the African Mission (S.M.A) are credited with the re-establishment of the Catholic Church in Ghana. After establishing a mission station at Elmina by 31, March, 1882, the S.M.A missionaries decided to extend the Catholic faith to Kumasi, the capital of the Asante state. They would, in due course spread the Catholic faith to other communities (Ahiable-Addo 2001:2). However, this intention was not possible and it took the Catholic missionaries twenty eighty years to found a formal church in Asante.

Before the re-entry of the Catholic Church in to the evangelization field, other religious denominations had already established their bases along the coastal regions of Ghana. One of such religious missions was the Wesleyan Methodist, presently the Methodist Church of Ghana. In terms of membership strength and geographical reach, the Methodist Church is the second largest church in Ghana. The Methodist Church was established in Cape Coast by the Rev. Mr. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in 1835. On March 26, 1835, he issued to fifty adherents, the first Methodist Church membership cards ever given in Ghana. This act marked the formal establishment of the Methodist Church in Ghana.

The early Christian missionaries in Ghana toed a chequered but successful path to find a footing in Ghana. The various Christian denominations have grown from their humble beginning in the 19th century into the mega-institutions that they are in the twenty first century Ghana.

The Methodist and Catholic church has now been overshadowed by Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

Christianity In Ghana: The History