Features
Must we be divided over religious differences?
Many religious faiths and practices abound in various parts of the world, sometimes helping to bring people together especially those who share the same faith while those who practise different religions sometimes see themselves as different groups of people who are not related in any way.
Many a time, religious differences bring about fierce conflict among people and make them see themselves as enemies to the extent that they tend to condemn one another even though they are seen to be related biologically from distant relations. It is, therefore, important for people to note and understand the basis of religion and why they sometimes become divided over religious differences.
DIFFERENT RELIGIONS
There are different religions in the world and these include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and many others such as traditional African religion. Lack of knowledge that characterises the practices of each of the faiths make it difficult for non-members of that faith to see themselves as different from those who have accepted to practise that faith. For this reason religion makes people see themselves as unrelated in a number of ways.
To begin with, the faith exhibited by one religion makes it difficult for other members of different religious practices to see themselves as sharing common affinity with such religious groups. This is a common phenomenon that goes on in various parts of the world including this country, Ghana. For example, some Muslims may see themselves as different from Christians while Christians may also see themselves as different from Muslims.
What is interesting is that all religious faiths and practices emanate from the belief that God the Creator of the universe ought to be revered and worshipped in one way or the other. Understandably, followers of different religions see themselves as a special group of people whose behaviours are not in line with those of others whose perspectives are different.
ONENESS OF GOD
If, therefore, a Muslem sees himself or herself as different from a Christian and vice versa, we need to appreciate and acknowledge why such differences exist. We often hear people say that God is one yet we find different ways of worshipping this God as the exclusive truth when we move from religion to religion, making each religion stand out as superior to the other.
We need to note that our perceptions about God and the way we worship Him as the Creator of the universe may differ from person to person based on the peculiar beliefs and practices that we accept as the exclusive truth.
It is important to look at different religious perspectives in different parts of the world. As an example, if a new born child finds itself in a Muslim family or parents, when this child grows up, he or she is likely to be influenced to become a Muslim seeing that religiously and culturally, he or she will be introduced to the same faith and practices.
This situation applies to a Christian child born to a predominantly Christian home in Ghana, Nigeria or any of the European countries. Thus, as this child grows up, he or she will also be introduced to the Christian faith and practices to end up as a Christian. For this reason, we will come across new breed of persons whose religious beliefs and practices may be found as different from others we encounter in our neighbourhood.
It is important to recognise at this point that religious differences are bound to emerge but we should not in any way see ourselves as different from one another, ending up as enemies instead of complementing one another in our reverence to God the Creator.
DIFFERENT DEDICATION TO GOD
We may all be dedicated or committed to the same Almighty God but in different ways. Condemnation from one another which in the past led to religious wars instead of accepting other brothers and sisters as being part of the human race ought to stop immediately.
That is why it is good when we come across people of various religious faiths easily interacting with others who share different views and belong to different religions.
OPEN MINDEDNESS
There are many Christians who are open minded and will, therefore, not look down on other people who share different religious faiths. Such people would want to remain within their own faith but would not look down on others simply because of religious differences.
Ghana for example is made up of people of different faiths but the good thing among them is that they are able to live together in peace without creating religious havoc among themselves. If people sincerely understand their faith in God, they will never see themselves as enemies and fight one another on religious grounds. This simple truth has been recognised and accepted by all groups of people in this country irrespective of the basis of their religious faith.
DR. BAWUMIA’S EXAMPLE
There is one person in this country who is a devout Muslim but finds it easy to mingle with many Christians as well as others who belong to different religions. This person is the Vice President of the Republic, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Dr. Bawumia is working effectively with his boss H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo who is a Christian. These two gentlemen are moving along in an effective manner with other members of government to pursue the agenda of national development.
Dr. Bawumia, a devout Muslim has been found visiting various churches, sometimes with his wife, Hajia Samira, to worship and sing hymns at worshipping centres that are known to be Christian. The Vice President has never expressed disrespect for any Christian or group of Christians in this country. Rather, what he is noted for is the way he embraces Christians and people of different ethnic or religious groups, sharing a common vision with them in line with the attainment of national goals.
He has not only been found singing Christian hymns in Christian churches but quoted also portions of the Bible during his presentations to the congregation.
The man Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is one person who, though a devout Muslim, characteristically accepts and embraces all Ghanaians irrespective of their religious affiliation or belief. Some of the people he embraces and mingles with are the down trodden such as the poor, the deprived and people considered to be unimportant or underprivileged in society.
This pattern of lifestyle is very commendable and enviable and must be appreciated by everyone in this country and the rest of the world.
In other words, his personal beliefs and lifestyle shows that as a Muslim, he embraces all those he encounters in society as children of God who must be assisted in any way necessary.
Dr. Bawumia is one person who is not proud or pompous but humble enough to become a friend of any person in society. He is always full of smiles and ready to assist everyone irrespective of the person’s background, whether highly educated or not, whether a Muslim or not, whether rich or poor and does not look down on any person. These are the people or leaders we need to follow and identify with for their shining examples to the rest of society.
The point being made is that our religious differences are bound to occur but these differences, based on different circumstances, ought not influence us in any way to discriminate against other members of society. This is an admirable fact which throws light on the true nature of God and for which reason we must all come together and work hard as one people with one common destiny for our common good. In other words, our religious differences should never serve as a basis for us to behave in a discriminatory manner against other segments of society.
Contact email/whatsApp address of author:
Pradmat2013@gmail.com (0553318911)
By Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako
Today, I focus on the Apostolic Church International in Finland, as I continue with my description of institutions and personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The Apostolic Church International, Finland (or, Apostolic International Association Ry) was established in October 9, 2023. The Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments within the short time that it has been established in Finland, which must be highlighted.
History of the Church in Ghana
The Apostolic Church Ghana originated from the 1904–1905 Welsh revival, officially established in Ghana (then called Gold Coast) in 1935 following connections between a local prayer group in Asamankese (a town in southern Ghana), led by Peter Newman Anim, and the Apostolic Church, UK. There were historical splits in 1939 and 1953, but the Apostolic Church attained autonomy in 1985.
Today, the Church is headquartered in Accra. Last year (2025), it dedicated its new 10-storey headquarters, “The Apostolic Church Tower,” in Frafraha, Adenta West in Accra.
Activities of the Apostolic Church in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland conducts church service on Sundays. The service starts at 11a.m. in the morning and closes by 1 p.m. in the afternoon. There are no other activities during other days for now.
The Minister in charge of the church in Finland is also the Area Head of Italy Area. He is Pastor Daniel Kofi Addison who is the new Italy Area Head, and has just been transferred from UK South Area to Italy Area during the just-ended Council Meeting in March this year. Italy Area comprises Italy, which has 13 Assemblies, Germany, one Assembly, and Finland, one Assembly.
Elder Ebenezer Amoaning-Coffie is the Presiding Elder in charge of the Assembly in Finland. A Presiding Elder is responsible for day to day activities of the church (Assembly) and reports to the District Pastor, or in the absence of the District Pastor, reports to the Area Head.
Achievements
The Apostolic Church International, Finland was officially registered under the Finnish Law, guaranteeing freedom of worship and providing legal foundation for future growth. The church service is conducted in both English and Twi.
The church opens its doors to all people of every nation, especially Ghanaians who are in Finland and other African nationals. Now, the membership comprises Ghanaians, Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
The Church and the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland
The Apostolic Church in Finland plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the Apostolic Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
Elder Amoaning-Coffie said that the main and primary aim of the church is to bring people closer to God. “We aim to win souls for Christ. We aim to preach the gospel to the world. By propagating the gospel to the people, we are hopeful that they will turn away from any ungodly ways and be good individuals in the community and in society in general”, he stated.
He said that everything is going well so far. A key challenge, however, is how to get more members especially the youth. As a new Assembly, we are in need of instrumentalists, for example. We pray to God Almighty to help us do His work, the Elder disclosed.
Integration
By its activities, the Apostolic Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society. This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process in Finland.
As I mentioned some time ago, the role of migrant associations and groups such as the Apostolic Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
The landscape of the Ghanaian palate is shifting, and not necessarily for the better. In our bustling urban centres, from the streets of Accra to the suburbs of Kumasi, a quiet culinary revolution is taking place; one where the mortar and pestle are being replaced by the pizza oven and the deep fryer. This transition from traditional staple foods like fufu, banku, akple, kenkey, tuo zaafi, and ampesi toward “continental” dishes is more than just a change in appetite; it is a reflection of a deeper social struggle with identity and prestige.
The illusion of modernity
For many, “stepping out” for a meal has become synonymous with consuming foreign cuisine. There is an unspoken social hierarchy where a bowl of Abunuabunu is relegated to the village category, while burgers, pizzas are branded as prestigious choices. We have reached a stage where we equate foreign with modern and local with primitive.
This perception is a dangerous illusion. Our traditional dishes are marvels of culinary engineering complex, nutrient-dense, and deeply rooted in our history. When we choose a processed foreign import over a meal made from local tubers or fermented maize, we are not just changing our lunch; we are eroding the indigenous knowledge attached to our local ingredients and foods.
We need to turn the consumption of indigenous grains and tubers like millet, sorghum, and plantain into a statement of self-worth and national pride.
The cultural and health erosion
Every time a local dish disappears from a restaurant menu to make room for foreign fast food, we lose a piece of our cultural fabric. Traditional Ghanaian cooking is an art that requires patience and skill. By choosing the convenience of foreign fast food, we are raising a generation that may know the taste of a pepperoni pizza but cannot identify the rich, earthy profile of Prekese or the subtle tang of well-fermented dough dishes like corn porridge, banku, etew, abolo, agidi or kamfa, and kenkey.
Furthermore, we are at the crossroads of a nutrition transition. Replacing high-fiber, indigenous crops with calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foreign fast foods is driving a rise in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. We are trading our longevity for 15-minutes convenience or unhealthy diet.
A call for culinary patriotism
It is time for us to appreciate, preserve, and promote our indigenous foods and culinary traditions. We need to be proud of our local dishes, ingredients and cooking methods, rather than relying heavily on foreign or imported foods. We must stop viewing our local delicacies as low-class and start treating our culinary heritage as the high-end gastronomy it truly is.
True sophistication does not come from imitating Western fast food; it comes from innovation and adding values to our own resources. We see glimpses of this potential in the rise of branded Sobolo and the creative use of gluten-free plantain flour in modern baking of flour-based dishes such as bread, cakes, biscuits and others. This is the path forward. We must elevate our local dishes, making them as accessible, affordable, presentable and trendy as any foreign alternative.
To the hospitality industry: Innovate or stagnate
Our hotels and high-end restaurants must lead the charge. They must stop relegating local dishes to the “traditional corner” of the buffet, and apply the same culinary finesse given to imported dishes to our Fante Fante, apapransa, aborbi tadi, fetritoto, akple, abolo, yakayeke, fufu, ampesi, kokonte, wasawasa, tubani, apapransa, mpotompoto, kelewele, aliha, brukutu, pito, and other local dishes. The industry must enhance customer experiences making eating local dishes the ultimate luxury experience for both tourists and residents alike. We must elevate the presentation of our foods by using modern plating techniques to show that a bowl of light soup can be as visually stunning as a French consommé. We need to reclaim our Ghanaian plate before it is too late.
To the policy makers: Let us encourage buying of local ingredients to promote the local food industry and economy. There should be educational programmes and talks about the nutritional and cultural benefits of local foods so that people understand their value.
We need to encourage serving traditional dishes at school programmes, parties, and celebrations instead of only fast foods,
To the Youth: Let us value and appreciate our traditional dishes instead of always choosing foreign foods. There must be balance in our choice of local and foreign dishes. Confidence in our culture encourages others to respect it too. Our local dishes can also be promoted by sharing pictures, recipes, and videos on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to make them attractive and trendy.
Young citizens must learn from their parents and elders how to prepare local meals to keep the knowledge and cultural relevance alive. Local dishes can be modernised to appeal to younger generations and tourists.
Conclusion
We cannot afford to trade our heritage for foreign cuisines which are gaining grounds across the country at an alarming rate. We must disabuse our minds of the perception that anything foreign or imported is better than those locally made. Our health, economy, and identity are tied to the soil. It is time to stop apologising for our local flavours and start celebrating them. It is possible to embrace modernity without losing ourselves and our cultural identity. Let us make the Ghanaian kitchen the heart of our modern identity once again.
By: Marilyn Gadogbe
