Identity - Ahyɛnsodeɛ

Because each story has unique aspects, setting itself apart, let's take a look at some of the distinguishing features that form Ghanaian Christianity's distinctive identity.

Emmanuel Adomako, a local pastor in Ghana (who is currently seeking to further equip himself for ministry by studying Student Ministry at Lancaster Bible College), provides some insights as to what he considers makes Christianity in Ghana unique, both in doctrine and in praxis.

Fellowship

First of all, Adomako declares that in Ghana, Christians can "easily fellowship with other believers." While in many other places, including here in eastern Pennsylvania, the many denominations divide people and cause the believers to "struggle with reflecting the love of Christ," Adomako says that Christians in Ghana are "able to love each other despite denominations. 

Though this was not always so, men like Mensa Otabil (for Pentecostalism) worked to reestablish the "broken relations with other groups" (Shaw 169). So now, Ghanaian believers can work together with restored relationships.

A great example of this is shared by Adomako, who tells the story of how, at his wedding, a host of pastors gathered to pray around him and his bride--pastors from every denomination, whether Roman Catholic or Presbyterian, Charismatic or Orthodox. One man standing nearby told Adomako that his wedding had brought together the Body of Christ.
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Holy Spirit

Another aspect of Christianity that plays a key role in Ghanaian faith is the emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Adomako explains how the Spirit of God is the One that teaches, provides power, and gives grace for any and every circumstance. In addition to these, Adomako asserts that nearly all of the believers in Ghana consider the Spirit to also enable the gift of speaking in tongues (even in many Presbyterian churches).

As shown in this video from the Qodesh, Lighthouse Chapel International Accra, Ghana (Speaking in Tongues), believers and pastors like Bishop Dag Heward-Mills believe that speaking in tongues not only exists today, but it revives our spiritual walks.

Although not all Ghanaian Christians affirm this position, Adomako refers back to his earlier point concerning fellowship: "Though there's this division, there's harmony... [people say], 'When we come together to worship, we agree to disagree... we don't fight each other.'"

Mark Shaw, in his chapter on the neo-Pentecostal revival in Africa, supports Adomako's position that Ghanaian Christans tend to emphasize the Holy Spirit nowadays. Specifically, Shaw brings up Mensa Otabil,  a major leader in Ghana whom will be discussed in further detail below, and Otabil's "real love" for "pursuing the Spirit" and his "restless search for deeper spiritual experience" (166).

Leaders

As characters play a large part in a story, let us examine two of the many leaders who are significant in the Ghanaian faith community today.

First of all, as mentioned previously, there is Dr. Pastor Mensa Otabil, a leader in the Evangelical Charismatic Churches. Otabil's main contribution to not only Ghanaian Christianity but also African Christianity in general is his production of an "Afrocentric gospel," which utilizes "biblical history to produce a positive fatalism that empowers African Christians to engage in the mission of God without fear of failure" (Shaw 167). This new way of thinking helped Africans (Ghanaian Christians in particular) to dive headfirst into missions.

Another important leader to Christianity in Ghana is Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams. Williams, sounding somewhat self-important, claims credit for the existence of Charismatics in Ghana.

He declares, "Whatever [gift] I have, is the reason for all the Charismatic Churches in this country [...] When I came on the scene, there was not one Charismatic Church [in Ghana]" ("I'm the Godfather").

However, Williams's claims are not empty: "[h]e is known in many parts of the world as the “Apostle of Strategic Prayer” and is the Presiding Archbishop and General Overseer of Christian Action Faith Ministries, [which] has over 150 affiliate and branch churches located in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa" ("The Archbishop"). And Williams's listing off a long line of churches which he has had his hand in (in one way or another) provides further evidence that supports his statements ("I'm the Godfather").

And thus, both of these two men have had and continue to have a significant impact on the Christian faith in Ghana.