Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian
Traditionally, divination is believed to offer alternative solutions to the challenges of some Ghanaians, and its version in the Christian space is commonly known in Akan as Akwankyerɛ (spiritual direction). Given this, most contemporary Christians turn to Akwankyerɛ as the major hope in life to sol...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Noyam Journals
2025-05-01
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| Series: | E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ERATS20251152.pdf |
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| author | George K. Kyeremeh John Kwaku Opoku Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah Kwabena Agyeman-Badu |
| author_facet | George K. Kyeremeh John Kwaku Opoku Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah Kwabena Agyeman-Badu |
| author_sort | George K. Kyeremeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditionally, divination is believed to offer alternative solutions to the challenges of some Ghanaians, and its version in the Christian space is commonly known in Akan as Akwankyerɛ (spiritual direction). Given this, most contemporary Christians turn to Akwankyerɛ as the major hope in life to solve their daily problems. Consequently, spiritual centres and patronisers are fast growing and dominating Christianity in Ghana. Therefore, this study explores the reasons behind the Ghanaian contemporary Christians’ search for spiritual support. Forty participants, including spiritual practitioners and clients, were studied from a qualitative perspective. Interviews were conducted and recorded for analysis. The study showed that many participants do not only seek Akwankyerε to strengthen their religious affinity to a deity, but also for different reasons such as health, economic, psycho-social, and desire for justice. The study recommends the integration of trained counsellors into the practice of Akwankyerε. This study contributes to the discussion of the proliferation of Akwankyerε in Ghana. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-afd18df17c634a41ab7690a7bdabcc3d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2458-7338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Noyam Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-afd18df17c634a41ab7690a7bdabcc3d2025-08-20T02:21:24ZengNoyam JournalsE-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies2458-73382025-05-01115188 199https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251152Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian ChristianGeorge K. Kyeremeh 0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4516-8612John Kwaku Opoku1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-8843Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7372-8180Kwabena Agyeman-Badu3https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9316-0843St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa Akwamu, Ghana.Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Department of Behavioural Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.Department of General Studies, SDA College of Education, Agona, Ghana.Traditionally, divination is believed to offer alternative solutions to the challenges of some Ghanaians, and its version in the Christian space is commonly known in Akan as Akwankyerɛ (spiritual direction). Given this, most contemporary Christians turn to Akwankyerɛ as the major hope in life to solve their daily problems. Consequently, spiritual centres and patronisers are fast growing and dominating Christianity in Ghana. Therefore, this study explores the reasons behind the Ghanaian contemporary Christians’ search for spiritual support. Forty participants, including spiritual practitioners and clients, were studied from a qualitative perspective. Interviews were conducted and recorded for analysis. The study showed that many participants do not only seek Akwankyerε to strengthen their religious affinity to a deity, but also for different reasons such as health, economic, psycho-social, and desire for justice. The study recommends the integration of trained counsellors into the practice of Akwankyerε. This study contributes to the discussion of the proliferation of Akwankyerε in Ghana.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ERATS20251152.pdfclientsdivinationpractitionersreligionspiritual direction |
| spellingShingle | George K. Kyeremeh John Kwaku Opoku Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah Kwabena Agyeman-Badu Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies clients divination practitioners religion spiritual direction |
| title | Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian |
| title_full | Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian |
| title_fullStr | Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian |
| title_short | Seeking Spiritual Direction: The Motivation of the Contemporary Ghanaian Christian |
| title_sort | seeking spiritual direction the motivation of the contemporary ghanaian christian |
| topic | clients divination practitioners religion spiritual direction |
| url | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ERATS20251152.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgekkyeremeh seekingspiritualdirectionthemotivationofthecontemporaryghanaianchristian AT johnkwakuopoku seekingspiritualdirectionthemotivationofthecontemporaryghanaianchristian AT francesemilyowusuansah seekingspiritualdirectionthemotivationofthecontemporaryghanaianchristian AT kwabenaagyemanbadu seekingspiritualdirectionthemotivationofthecontemporaryghanaianchristian |