Berkley Center

It should have come as no surprise to me that I would be asked by complete strangers to accompany them to church services, what with Ghana being the most religious country on the planet. Ninety-six percent of Ghanaians self-describe themselves as being religious. But before discussing the influence of religion on a country, several points are worth mentioning. First, the poor tend to be more religious than the rich. Currently, Ghana is the 83rd largest economy in the world. Second, a 71% majority of Ghanaians identify as Christian while 18% are Muslims. The rest adhere to a number of traditional religions. Third, recent figures reveal that the number of religious peoples is declining on a global scale. The geographic location of Ghana is also important to note in terms of religiosity. Nigeria, the second most religious country, sits just two countries to the east of Ghana. Considering the recent terrorist attacks by Nigerian extremist groups demonstrates just how eclectic this region is in terms of faiths practiced. Simply put, western Africa is a hotbed of religiosity.

Nonetheless, the inverse relationship between a country’s economic prosperity and religiosity is not ubiquitous. Ghana has made major headway on the economic front since its independence from Great Britain in 1957 to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Though Ghana still has yet to reach its zenith both politically and economically, it has fared well when compared to other African states. It lives up to its former name of the Gold Coast as it is one of the world’s largest producers of gold, not to mention cocoa, petroleum, and natural gas, all of which are salient commodities in the global marketplace. Interestingly, as economic prosperity grows, so does the number of Ghanaians choosing to identify with a religion.

The sense of national identity in Ghana is undeniable. Last month I had the opportunity to attend a national soccer game versus Zambia. The pride with which every Ghanaian in the vicinity of the stadium wore their team’s jersey spoke to the formidable presence of nationalism in Ghanaian culture. That Ghana has seen such economic transformation in the past decade inspires nothing short of admiration from foreigners.

A plethora of languages are spoken throughout the whole of Africa and Ghana is no exception. The idea that roughly fifty languages and dialects are spoken in a country the size of Oregon may seem perplexing to some Americans. An array of tribes have called the Ghanaian land their home for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Some of the world’s most advanced ancient and medieval empires ruled over Ghana throughout the centuries.

It is for these reasons that the strong national identity in Ghana is so mystifying. Coming from a country that temporarily does not have an operating government because of two opposing political parties, it is difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea that such a heterogeneous population can function. The unifying capabilities of religion are undeniable. It is in churches, mosques, and private religious circles in homes that tribal barriers are being dissipated.

The ideals that have been conveyed through ancient Akan proverbs, myths, and folklore have manifested themselves as part of a larger Ghanaian culture. This is partially due to the amalgamation of people behind several religions, mainly Christianity and Islam. Though relations among folk in Ghana may not be entirely harmonious, it is impossible to ignore the sheer unifying power that religion can have. Unity is, after all, one of the most important facets of Akan ideology. As one proverb puts it, “Nsa baako nkura adesoa"—one hand cannot lift a heavy load; unity is strength.