The Catholic Church and peacemaking in Ghana: The role of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference.

Abstract

This research perceived that the Catholic Church promotes peace because the church has credibility, legitimacy, understanding of the local context, leverage as a spiritual leader and access to various levels of power. With all these attributes, conflict still persists in Ghana. The research aims to reveal how and why the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) makes peace in Ghana. Case study is the research design base on qualitative research approach for this study. Sampling method is theoretical with snow balling procedure. Data collection method is in-depth interview of ten (10) respondents comprising seven (7) bishops, two (2) priests and one (1) lay faithful to make up for primary data. Secondary data is also collected through review of communiqués, press statements and joint statements as well as apostolic letters and encyclicals issued by GCBC. Data analysis is done by thematic analysis. It emerged that the GCBC makes peace because of their divine mandate as baptized Christians, ordained priests and installed bishops. They also make peace because governments’ appoint them to do so. It is also revealed that the bishops make peace through the use of non-violent peacemaking methods such as advocacy, dialogues and mediation. It is recommended that communication must improve using technology, making follow ups after press releases, monitoring implementation of suggested solutions, government’s joint funding of peacemaking institutions, GCBC should appoint bishop to commissions upon government request and training of the bishops in peacemaking. Another recommendation is that research can be conducted into how and why other Christian denominations and religious organizations promote peace.