university of ghana the mission of the seventh-day adventist church and politics in ghana

145 Pages·2017·4.4 MB·English

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UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

THE MISSION OF THE SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH AND POLITICS IN GHANA

BY

EMMANUEL KOJO MANU AWUAH
(10442754)

THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO UNIVERSITY OF GHANA,
LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR
THE AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (M.PHIL) STUDY OF
RELIGIONS DEGREE

JULY, 2016
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this thesis with the exception of references made from other
scholarly works which have been duly acknowledged, is the original product of the
researcher. This work was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-
Etego and Dr. Harry L. K. Agbanu of the Department for the Study of Religions,
University of Ghana. No part of this research has been presented in whole or in part to
other institutions for any award. The researcher bears responsibility for all errors in this
easy.

Signature…………………………………. ……………………………….
Emmanuel Kojo Manu Awuah Date
(Student)

Signature………………………………… ……………………………….
Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego Date
(Supervisor)

Signature…………………………………. ……………………………….
Dr. Harry L.K. Agbanu Date
(Supervisor)

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ABSTRACTS

This thesis deals with the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church and politics
in Ghana. Basically three schools of thought have been considered in this research namely
sectarianism, “Christendom”, and the “Position of Balance”. The underlying issues that
have been considered are: Adventist stances on voting, standing for elections, joining
political parties, holding political office, political activism, social causes and political
alignment of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
This research made use of multiple approaches including historical and
missiological approaches to explore the conflict that ensues among Adventists on the
subject of politics. Data collection was through primary and secondary sources. It was
observed by this research that, the religiosity of individual Ghanaian Adventists influence
their behaviour toward public issues. Though Adventists in Ghana have the same creed,
they do not have the same point of view. People who turn to be liberal in politics turn to be
liberal in religion. On the other hand, those who interpret the bible and the writings of
Ellen G. White literally, hold conservatives views in religion and politics. The issue is that
the political stand of Adventists in Ghana is not homogenous.
This thesis finds that pioneer Adventist had strong aversion for politics as shown in
various statements they made against political involvement in the formative years of the
church. However, there has been a shift in policies in line with the church’s relationship
with the secular world and other churches. As such they accept secular notions that are not
in conflict with their dogma. The thesis has established that politics has both perils and
opportunities for Christians. There are dangers of compromise of principle and corruption
of values when politics becomes all-absorbing. Conversely there are advantages for
missionary endeavours for the Adventist church in Ghana.
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this work to my wife Christiana Amoakowaa for her forbearance while I
wrote this essay. I also dedicate it to my children Kwasi Dankwa Awuah of Valley View
University, Yaa Kani Awuah also of V.V.U. and Adwoa Amoakowaa Awuah of Benkum
Senior High. Furthermore I dedicate this work also to my mother Yaa Bour, a retired
kitchen staff of Bagabaga College of Education, Tamale, and my late grandmother Afua
Bour for their investment in me.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My highest gratitude goes to the Transcendent One for the opportunity granted me
to add quality to my person through pursuance of higher education. I am happy to
acknowledge the generous attention of Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego whose comment
and criticism have done much to lessen the imperfections of this work.
I am indebted to the Department for the Study of Religion and its Head of
Department, Rev. Dr. G. Ossom-Batsa for enabling me in various ways to produce this
work. I also want to express my profound gratitude to my wife, Christiana Amoakowaa
and my children Kwasi, Yaa, and Adwoa for their support and understanding while I took
time to write this thesis.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ................................................................................................................... i
ABSTRACTS ........................................................................................................................ ii
DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... v

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 BACKGROUND TO STUDY .................................................................................. 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ........................................................................ 5
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ....................................................................................... 7
1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH .......................................................... 7
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY .................................................................................................. 8
1.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................ 8
1.7 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 10
1.8 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION ................................................................. 11
1.8.1 Primary Sources ........................................................................................... 11
1.8.2 Secondary Source ......................................................................................... 13
1.8.3 Limitation ..................................................................................................... 13
1.9 LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................ 14
1.9.1 Literature Review (History of the S.D.A. Church) ...................................... 15
1.9.2 Literature Review (Ellen G. White Comments of S.D.A. and Politics)....... 17
1.9.3 Literature Review (S.D.A. and Missions) .................................................... 19
1.10 CHAPTER ORGANIZATION ............................................................................. 20
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1.11 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ...................................................................... 21

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 22
MISSION HISTORY OF S.D.A. CHURCH IN GHANA.................................................. 22
2.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 22
2.2 THE HISTORY OF ADVENTISM ........................................................................ 25
2.3 HISTORY OF ADVENTISM IN GHANA ............................................................ 29
2.3.1 Beginning of the work in Central Region .................................................... 29
2.3.2 The Spread of Adventist Mission to Asante ................................................ 34
2.3.3 Adventism in Greater Accra......................................................................... 38
2.4 SOME MAJOR ADVENTIST BELIEF ................................................................. 40
2.5 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 46

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 49
POLITICS AND THE ADVENTIST MISSION ................................................................ 49
3.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 49
3.2 POLITICAL ARGUMENTS IN THE FORMATIVE ERA OF THE
S.D.A CHURCH ..................................................................................................... 50
3.3 ADVENTIST INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS AND PARTISAN
ALIGNMENT ......................................................................................................... 53
3.3.1 Holding of Political Office ........................................................................... 62
3.3.2 Voting ........................................................................................................... 65
3.4 CONTEMPORARY ADVENTIST IN POLITICS ................................................ 69
3.5 ADVENTIST WOMEN AND POLITICS IN GHANA ......................................... 71
3.6 ADVENTIST INVOLVEMENT IN SOCIAL CAUSE ......................................... 78
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3.7 THE ADVENTIST AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM .............................................. 81
3.8 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST MISSIOLOGY ................................................... 86
3.9 PUBLIC ISSUES, POLITICS, AND SOCIETY .................................................... 89
3.10 MILITARY CONSCRIPTION ............................................................................. 90
3.11 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 93

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................... 94
SECTARIANISM AND OTHER VIEWS IN ADVENTISm ............................................ 94
4.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 94
4.2 SECTARIANISM IN THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH ............... 95
4.3 “CHRISTENDOM’’ AND THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH ..... 103
4.4 “POSITION OF BALANCE” VIEW IN ADVENTISM ...................................... 106
4.5 CONCLUSSION ................................................................................................... 108

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 110
SUMMARY, MAJOR FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION ...... 110
5.1 SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 110
5.2 MAJOR FINDINGS.............................................................................................. 118
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 121
5.4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 123

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................. 126
APPENDIX ....................................................................................................................... 134

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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO STUDY
The symmetries of church and state, religion and politics, faith and society, Christ
and culture, and church and world express different facets of the same general
relationship, one that is vital to the church's missiological task and thus the subject of
perennial debate. When the dichotomy is drawn between "church" and the "world," it
usually implies that politics, economics, science, technology, and mass media are part of
"the world." The Christian life is then confined to personal piety, to church activities, to
family prayer and Bible study.1 From this point of view, participation of the Christians in
politics or business is seen as a step into the secular world, where Christian principles may
apply to one's personal behaviour but not to the structures and functions of the political
order or corporation.
Some informants expressed their deep abhorrence to Adventist in Ghana meddling
in politics. For instance one retired clergy when asked whether it was appropriate for the
Adventist in Ghana to engage in politics, retorted to the researcher: “it is an anathema for
the Adventist Christian in Ghana to get involved in politics.”2 However, most African
scholars agree that, in Africa specifically Ghana, there is a significant level of agreement
between religion and politics. According to Pobee, politics and religion are striking and
central features of the African society. He continues to say that, most of the communal
activities including politics in Africa are inextricably bound with religion, but the contrast
also highlights the fact that there are a number of unresolved questions and issues. For an
example, Pobee in explaining what politics is, said that, politics is inherent with

1 Brain Edgar, A Review Essay: Four Views on Church and Politics, The Asbury Journal 66/2, (2011), 101.
2 Joseph Amoah, (retired clergy) interviewed in Cape Coast Central Region by researcher, on May 15, 2015.
The researcher has no permission to use the real name of the interviewee thus the name use is pseudo name.
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competition and conflicts because it is always concern with at least two groups in the
society.3 It is this schism that worries sceptics who are against Adventist political
involvement in Ghana.
There is diversity of religions in Ghana and each one of these religious
organizations have a set of beliefs that give shape to a unique form of religious life. Every
religious entity has a distinctive characteristic of creeds that makes it different from the
other religions and even the secular world in which they operate. Naturally, people are
confronted with competing truth by these religious organizations, each believing to
possess the message of the saving truth that they proclaim. Each religion believing that her
religious claims are authentic whiles the others are false. This is the exclusivists’ view
about religion. We make use of religious language for the reason that it is having an
important effect on us because of the meaning and interpretation we give to it. It is this
kind of schism that culminate in both inter and intra religio-political conflicts.
In the past, Christian denominations took entrenched positions when it came to
religious absolutism. For example, the Roman Catholics have had a dogma thus: ‘extra
ecclesiam nulla salus’ (outside the church is no salvation).4 Absolutism is not peculiar to
Catholics, there is also a Protestant equivalent that states that “outside the Christian church
there is no salvation.”5 Currently there seems to be a shift from absolutism to pluralism by
many of the mainline churches. However, there are sectarians and fundamentalist amongst
these groups who insist that the old traditions and forms must be followed strictly.6
On paper, equal opportunity, freedom from discrimination, religious pluralism, and
religious liberty, are highly respected in Ghana. Also, the impression might be created by

3 John S. Pobee, Religion and Politics in Ghana, (Accra: Asempa Publishers, 1991), 8, 10
4 David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shift in the Theology of Mission, (Maryknoll, New
York: Orbis Books, 1991), 218.
5 Robert Cornwall, The Church and Salvation: An Early Eighteenth-Century High Church Perspective,
Anglican and Episcopal History, Vol. 62, No. 2, (1993), 177.
6 John Hick, Problem of Religious Pluralism (London: The MacMillan Press Ltd., 1985), 31.
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