Laurel

Re ligions and Religious Practices in Ghana The constitution of Ghana allows religious freedom to the people living under the Ghanaian government. There are a variety of religions which coexist among the Ghanaian people. Such religions are Christianity, Islam,        the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Ninchiren Shoshu Soka Gakkai, Sri Sathya Sai Baba Sera, Sat Sang, Eckanker, the Divine  Light Mission, Hare Krishna, Rastafarianism, and other traditional Ghanaian religions. Although the Ghanaian people have the right to choose and practice the religion of their choice freely, tensions do occur among religions or even branches of the same religion. According to a government consensus about 69% of the population of Ghana is of Christian religion, which means the majority of Ghana is Christian. Following the Christian religion, 15.6% is Muslim. The three main Islamic groups in Ghana are the Wahhabi-oriented Ahlussuna, the Tijanis, and the Ahmadis. Furthermore there is a small number of Shia Muslims living in Ghana. 15.4% of Ghana is of traditional religions and the rest of the population constitutes of other minor religions in Ghana mentioned above. In Ghana there is a practice which is unique to the country and is known by the name Zetahil. Zetahil combines features of both Christianity and Islam. All traditional Ghanaian religions believe in a higher, supreme being. The Supreme Being takes different names, by different ethnic groups. T he Akan ethnic group of Ghana calls the Supreme Being Nyame and the Ewe ethnic group calls him/her Mawu. They also believe in other gods, which are bellow, the Supreme Being. The lesser gods act as the go betweens of the Supreme Being and the human believers. People who believe in traditional religions also commonly worship ancestors as they believe that they act as a link to the Supreme Being after their death. As Christianity has priests, so do the traditional religions, who are trained in healing and divination. A religious practice known in Ghana is Trokoso or Fiashidi. In this religious practice a young virgin girl from a family is taken for a time period ranging from a couple of weeks up to three years and is offered for servitude in the shrines. At the shrines the girl is trained in traditional religion. If there is no girl to send for this act of atonement, a young male member of the family can take her place. Throughout the period of stay the girl becomes knows as a Trokosi or a Fiashidi and becomes “the property of the shrine god”. During her stay she can perform a variety of acts such as cleaning the shrine, drawing water or working in agriculture or household chores. The young female who is sent to pay of the family sins while still virgin, is not allowed to engage in sexual acts during her time at the shrine. The people who follow the Trokosi religion believe it to be traditional “African religious beliefs”, it is not recognized however by the government. Another common belief in Ghana is belief in witchcraft. Witchcraft however is looked down upon by many members in the Ghanaian society and women who are suspected for witchcraft may be banished. The women who are blamed of being involved in witchcraft are often of older age or widowed. They are blamed for being “ the cause of difficulties, such as illness, crop failure, or financial misfortune.” The religions in Ghana vary from the more popular religions such as Christianity and Islam, to unrecognized traditional religions such as the Trokoso religious practice. Sources: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35360.htm http://www.africaguide.com/country/ghana/culture.htm