Inter-religious conflict between christianity and African indigenous religions in the Ga traditional area

Abstract

This research aimed to understand the inter-religious conflict between Christianity and Indigenous Religions in the Ga Traditional Area of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, focusing on their shared quest for spiritual fulfilment. This was done by exploring the causes, effects, dynamics, actors, threats to the resolution, and measures to resolve the conflict. The study was approached qualitatively and designed as a case study. A total of twenty (20) key informants participated in the study. Data was collected through indepth interviews and observation. Data was analysed using thematic template analysis. The study unearthed that the introduction of Christianity into the area, coupled with the settlement of different ethnic groups in the area, was the immediate cause of the conflict. The conflict had degenerated into a fierce struggle some years ago. However, the area is relatively calm. The introduction of ‘minority’ and ‘majority’ rhetoric and the subsequent disobedience by the non-Ga settlers for their Indigenous Religious celebrations served as some of the reasonable causes of the conflict. The study revealed that the conflict has strong socio-political, economic, security, and religious implications for the people in the Ga Traditional Area, irrespective of one’s religious affiliation. The study further found that apart from the primary conflict parties, there were state actors, traditional actors, group actors, and independent actors in the conflict. The dynamics of the conflict were informed by the continuous disrespect from the Christians, especially where the Akans are mostly dominated, actor interaction, and the conflict parties’ commitment to the conflict. Threats to the resolution of the conflict exist at the system level, actor level, political level, and traditional level. The study recommended that trust and confidence building in conflict parties by intervening parties should be ensured, politics should be decoupled from the conflict, respect for one’s religious belief must be prioritised, there should be non-interference of political figures in the conflict, sensitisation of the people in the Ga Traditional Area (both Christians and Indigenous Religious Believers) on the need to be peaceful and continuous security surveillance of the Ga community should be ensured. The study contributes to the understanding of conflict dynamics, actor interaction in conflict processes, and the possible measures for resolving the conflict in the area.