Effects Of Tribalism In Ghana Religion Essay

Tribalism has eaten deep into the cloth of Ghanese societal life and has come to typify all the negative inclinations that stand in the manner of nationhood. Based on this state of affairs, I therefore want to show it by explicating the issue of tribalism in Ghana and how it has affected the state.

This paper will besides turn to tribalism from a scriptural attack from both the New Testament and the Old Testament sing the state of affairs and so assist in easing a solution based on planning, execution, monitoring, rating and sustainability of the undertaking.

This undertaking is in its right way to offer a meaningful attack and advanced ways of turn toing the job faced by the people in order to hold a better life.

The Issue of Tribalism in Ghana

Merriam Webster ‘s Dictionary ( 1983 ) defines tribalism as the ecstasy of 1s folks above others. To be more specific, it is the feeling that 1s tribe is superior to some other folk or all folks. Therefore, the tribalists neglect and frequently disrespect for the folks they think are inferior to their folk. The tribalists so deter any connexion and relationship in a signifier of matrimony, work, or friendly relationship with the folks they think to be inferior. In most case, they have derogative names for the folk they deem to be inferior.

In Ghana, about every folk has such names for other folks. Wordss like ‘tani ‘ , “ asanteni ” , “ ayigbeni ” etc are all illustrations of such derogatory words used to take down and disrespect people of other folks. This has raised many concerns due to the negative impacts that have caused the state. It has brought about nepotism and favouritism among the citizens of the state, therefore people experiencing that their tribesmen are better than people from other folks and they tend to environ themselves with their tribesmen when acquiring into place of trust. Such actions deprive the state of the right people for the right occupation. Second, it has affected national coherence which has led to petty tribal struggles in most of the parts in Ghana. The disadvantages of all these have caused greater injury than good in the state.

This paper will explicate the issue of tribalism and how it created division among the people concerned from scriptural position both from the Old Testament and the New Testament and so offer ways of easing a solution. The solution is based on planning, execution, monitoring and rating and a design for sustainability of doing the undertaking more meaningful.

Biblical Backgrounds on Tribalism.

There is general understanding among Christians that the early chapters of Genesis set the scene for the great play of godly salvation that is played out in the remainder of the Bible. It is in these chapters that we understand that the Earth and everything in it, including human existences, is God ‘s creative activity. Human existences, both male and female, are alone creative activities in that they are capable of self-aware relationship with their Godhead every bit good as with each other and other animals. They are besides responsible to God for the development of the potency of the Earth. These chapters besides teach that monogamous matrimonies and the household unit are the divinely mandated edifice blocks of society. However, human rejection of God ‘s authorization over their lives leads to human existences being separated from God, from themselves, from each other and from the Earth itself, and other animals.

The Book of Genesis therefore establishes a critical component in human individuality, non merely are we made in the image and similitude of God, but we are besides made to populate in community as one people. It is in community that we manifest the image of God. It is in this respect to admit that human relationship is really of import to God and it must function as an illustration for us to follow despite our cultural or tribal differences. This tells us that God in His ain wisdom wants us to populate as one people without any favoritism.

The Bible besides stress that we should non suppress an foreigner or people of different folk. This mention is clearly seen in the Book of Exodus where God told the Judaic people non to contemn the other folk for they were one time a folk in Egypt. ( Exodus:23:9 ) .This was during the clip when God delivered the Hebrewss from bondage when Moses was taking them to the promised land. This jurisprudence was given a specific counsel on how we honor God in our relationship with fellow human existences.

The Book of Kings besides illustrates an illustration of tribalism during the clip of Rehoboam reign. There was a division between the folk of Judah and the 10 folks of Israel. Rehoboam, the boy of Solomon was supposed to be male monarch of the 10 folks of Israel. The people of the land at reign of Rehoboam made an entreaty to their male monarch in their pursuit of buoy uping their load, but the male monarch refused their petition because of unwised friendly advice. On deciding the job between the male monarch and the people, there was a struggle as the male monarch failed to run into their request. Therefore, a rebellion was led by Rehoboam who instigated the 10 folks of Israel to arise against the folk of Judah. This led to the division between the southern land and the northern land due to tribal differences. ( 1st King 12:16-20 ) .

The Book of Isaiah 49:6 besides confirms that “ it is excessively little a thing that you should be my retainer to raise up the folks of Jacob, and to reconstruct the preserved 1s of Israel ; I will besides give you as a visible radiation to the Gentiles, That you should be my redemption to the terminals of the Earth ” . This accent was to turn to and do the people stand and live as one people, despite the fat that, Isaiah is of different folk.

In the New Testament, the Bible besides emphasizes tribalism during the clip Jesus Christ commissioned the Apostles in transporting out a mission of making the Gospel to all people and at the terminal of the universe ( Acts 1:8 ) .This look signifies that Jesus Christ in his message for redemption for world, loves all people and wants all states to have His word in order to be saved. In the subsequent chapters of the Book of Acts, the Bible asserts that the Jews considered the Samaritans as Gentiles and a mixture of Jews and any their nationality. They regarded them as really lower human existences. On their portion, it was a tabu to tie in themselves with the Samaritans.

Ideally, Samaritans were hated by the Jews. They were the posterities of the northern folk of the Israel and had remained in the land after the Assyrian imprisonment had removed much of the state. Because of their intermarrying with the Canaanites, they were looked down upon with intuition. The Jews often avoided any contact with the Samaritans.

To Christ, redemption was intended for all states. When the Samaritan adult female came to Jesus, he accepted her because of her belief ( Mark 7:27-30 ) . The Apostles had non learnt and understood the full message yet that all people were created by God and that He wants all people are to be saved. In the procedure of sharing nutrient among the people ( Acts 6:1-2 ) there was a racial favoritism. The Greek Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the day-to-day distribution of nutrient. This signifiers of tribal differences created a job because it might hold brought a trouble between the Hebrew Jews and the Greek widows who were neglected.

Even though, the Apostles perceived that the Samaritans who they regarded as Gentiles has a residence hall of spiritual worship that was different from their signifier of worship. Peter was exposed to come in a new range of ministry to the Gentiles that created a new compassion. This was in conformity with the association of Cornelius to ask for Peter. In Acts 10, we were told of how God confirmed his hypertrophied vision to Cornelius through Peter.This transition even signifies the thought of oneness even though Cornelius was a centurion.

Jesus Christ besides placed greater emphasized on the demand to love another. John 13:34-35 specify the commandment given His Apostles to love one another as one organic structure in Christ. Apostle Paul in his Hagiographas besides made us understood that it is merely in Christ that we can go one spirit to hold entree to God. ( Ephesians 2:18 ) .

This state of affairs as presented in Bible is really much alike in the Ghanese society. However, holding noted the effects and other negative deductions of tribalism in Ghana, I therefore want to show my sentiments of the above subject and reference it by implementing and offering implicative ways of work outing it, to convey the job to the minimal degree or to eliminate it wholly from the Ghanese society to make a peaceable ambiance for a better life and peaceable co-existence. In accomplishing this peaceable co-existence sing this job, there should be a undertaking for the Ministry of Information to play, the Christian community and the person to be to the full involved and take part.

Planning.

For a true state to emerge, it is believed people should non be believing of themselves as members of their traditional entities but instead as Ghanaians. ( Nukunya, 1992 ) . For the planning procedure to put for action, study on this docket must de delivered publically on the effects of this societal canker and how it has eaten deep into the cloths of the Ghanese society. This is to be done by Ministry of Information and National Orientation through the assorted media to come out and battle against the effects of this societal concern. Programs intended to take consequence under this ministry must be designed to absorb all cultural groups in Ghana. For case, the jubilation of national cultural festivals such as Pan-African National Festival ( Panafest ) has called for integrity and rapprochement ( Prah, 2002 ) .

The Church response to this threat is to resuscitate its mission to the people. The mission of the church is hence to take portion and give look to the present and future land of Christ. The Church must admit that, Ghanaians have a common fate and aspirations. Programs that are to be organized are to encompass all people irrespective of be a Ewe or an Ashanti. The signifier of communicating used by the church must reflect wholly on all cultural lines. One more serious note, the church is to react to this consequence by forming course of study and plans to supply instructions in this country. This should be done by the Christian colleges and seminaries. Even the encouragement of inter-ethnic matrimonies and associations presently working must be integrated by the church as a feasible agency of work outing the job.

One the single note, people must admit and understand that we are Ghanaians and will forever by Ghanaians and that, we belong to one common lineage and portrays a cultural heritage of Ghana ( Prah, 2002 ) .Individuals are hence to encompass and welcome one another as we portion ideals and values in common.

Execution.

One be aftering an purpose to accomplish a agencies to work out this job of tribalism in the Ghanese society, the ministries involved should hold a focal point program and a mechanism to guarantee this order. In other words, they must be a standing order and a regulation to be instituted to wholly do certain of its effectivity. The church response is hence to cultivate and transfuse subject through their discourses to be cautious of holding a derogative comment for other folks. Persons are besides non take downing other people of their folks but see themselves as one people.

Monitoring.

Every mechanism being adopted by the ministry through the mass media such as the telecasting, cyberspace, wireless Stationss must function as a system to look into and keep this societal order and control. There must be a regulating behaviour in commanding the multitudes. The Church besides has to supply feasible steps in checking and commanding the people. The aged in the society must understand that there is a duty that lies on them to educate the immature 1s about a common lineage. Parents functioning as immediate socialisation agents are to learn new members of the society what is expected of them by doing them cognize that all human existences are one irrespective of our dispositions.

Evaluation

In all these mechanisms and agencies of control, there must a establishing land to measure foundations being laid. Religious leaders and single members of the church must see and measure how these mechanisms are working. In this manner, they are to reenforce their methods of conveying values of work outing tribalism in the Ghanese society ; if there is a falling criterion. All steps and consciousness are to be created to resuscitate in happening steps of other societal order.

An appraisal from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation through its assorted agencies must convey an one-year study of how tribalism has affected production and doing injury to its citizens. This should be done yearly and must be publically announced in the Ghanese society. The church response will hence be massively concerned in run against tribalism. Persons in this mode will hopefully encompass values of being one people with a common end.

Sustainability of the Undertaking

The demand to turn to the undertaking and doing it sustainable in growing should be the desire of the church and the person. There should be a strong foundation in constructing the people and doing a positive response from them. Even the function of leading in church edifice should be structured on all agencies of work outing tribalism. Structures in seting the control mechanism in work outing the job is to be uphold to accomplish a better consequence. For case, election member to function as leaders should embrace all the cultural groups in the church.

Decision

God has a program for humanity to populate and work as one people. It is in mode that we manifest the image and similitude of God. Humanity must admit and understand that we have functions to play in reflecting on God ‘s creative activity. Love and integrity must be ensured by all Christians and non-Christians irrespective our race, faith, civilization and any other human traits.

Tribalism has endangered the whole state in disunity and separation. It has caused nepotism, affected national coherence and has caused misconstruing between people. Aside these effects, there are other negative effects on matrimonies, sharing of sentiment and even leading functions.

As persons, there is the demand to reprobate all the negative sentiments on this threat and join forces our attempt of uniting and believing that we are one all one people. The fact you met one uneducated Ashanti does non intend all Ashantis are uneducated. The fact that you saw one Ewe non compromising on an issue does non intend all Ewes take sturdy base. The Church in its response of executing functions of all societal frailties and countries of concern must implement and guarantee. In all, we are to see ourselves as one people.