Ghana is a secular state with a strong Christian presence on the global stage.
The visibility of Christianity in Ghana is evident not only in numbers but also in its significant contributions to national development.
There is a resurgence of an old issue in Ghana: the marginalization of Christianity, which seems rooted in sheer ignorance and bias. Some politicians, media, academia, traditionalists, followers of other religions, and even ordinary citizens appear fixated on their prejudices. They often take pleasure in belittling and undermining the church’s role in Ghana’s development. However, the positive impact of Christian missionaries on our national life—affecting areas such as architecture, dress, education, music, theater, cuisine, language, leadership, business, marriage, and faith—remains transformative and undeniable.
If Ghanaians were to overcome their biases against the church, we might be blessed with the spirit of discernment to fully appreciate the gift of Christianity to our nation.
Setting the records straight, the Christian missionaries were the first to:
- Develop our local alphabets.
Translate foreign languages into local languages in literature, as seen in the works of Johann Christaller and J.G. Akrofi in 1855.
Set up the first printing press in Ghana.
Establish a formal educational system in Ghana.
Create the credit union banking system in Ghana, which was also the first in Africa (initiated by Rev. Fr. John McNulty at Jirapa in the Northern region).
Influence the education of national political leaders like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia.
Introduce cocoa cultivation to Ghana at Akuapem Mampong, with Tetteh Quarshie later becoming the first Ghanaian to cultivate it. However, missionaries had already been growing cocoa beans in Ghana before his arrival.
EDUCATION:
Christian missionaries were also the first to:
- Establish a boarding school system (e.g., King John III Boys School).
Found private and major universities in Ghana. The church operates more schools than the Ghanaian government, with many notable churches contributing significantly to modern Ghanaian civilization.
Create vocational schools at Christianborg Castle, Osu, teaching skills like carpentry, pottery, shoemaking, basketry, bookbinding, masonry, and blacksmithing.
Build many of the best Senior High Schools in Ghana, most of which were founded by the church or are named after Christian saints (e.g., Achimota, St. Aquinas, Aburi Girls, Prempeh College, PRESEC, Holy Child, St. Augustine’s, KASS, Adisadel, St. Louis, St. Monica’s, etc.).
HEALTHCARE:
Christian missionaries pioneered healthcare facilities in areas like Agogo, Abokobi, Osu, Bawku, Bechem, and Dormaa Ahenkro, establishing mission hospitals across the country.
AGRICULTURE AND CUISINE:
The missionaries revolutionized Ghanaian agriculture and enriched the local diet by introducing new crops. Before their arrival, our ancestors mostly consumed native foods. They brought a variety of foods such as sweet potatoes, groundnuts, pineapples, guavas, sugarcane, corn, oranges, watermelons, lemons, avocados, cocoyam, breadfruit, mangoes, coconuts, and rice, which have since become part of our daily meals.
Whenever you enjoy any of these foods, remember the missionaries who introduced them to Ghana. And if any of them happens to be your favorite, express your gratitude to God and to the early Christian missionaries.
Imagine where Ghana would be today if God had not sent the Christian missionaries to our ancestors. Everything that involves reading, writing, printing, saving, eating, or economic activities tied to cocoa can trace its roots back to the contributions of these missionaries. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
No individual or group can erase the mark that Christianity has left on Ghana’s ongoing civilization.
Voting with Christian values in the upcoming election would be a fitting tribute to the legacy of the early Christian missionaries and their love for God and Ghana.
Sadly, Ghanaian historians often overlook the significant contributions of these missionaries, even as they narrate the nation’s history. Politicians, media figures, scholars, and others frequently attempt to rewrite Ghana’s past, erasing the church’s influence and its role in national development. It’s time to acknowledge that Christianity laid the foundation upon which Ghana’s modern civilization rests.
May God bless our homeland, Ghana, and make our nation great and strong, as we strive to uphold the principles of freedom and justice.
VOTING WITH CHRISTIAN VALUES — Part II.
Stay tuned!
Rev. Emmanuel Boachie
Country Director of Awesome Bible College and Head Pastor of Souls’ Pasture Church
Kumasi, Asuofua-Achiase, off Barekese Rd.
Source:Â Boateng Kakape Nana
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