The Church has failed – Dr. Joyce Aryee laments corruption in Ghana
Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, Dr. Joyce Aryee, has voiced deep concern over what she perceives as unexplained and widespread corruption in Ghana, a country where 70% of the population identifies as Christians.
Addressing attendees at the 17th graduation ceremony for 29 postgraduate students in PhD and Masters in Theology programs at Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission, and Culture in Akropong-Akuapem, Dr. Aryee highlighted the discrepancy between the professed Christian values and the deteriorating moral fabric.
She noted a growing dissatisfaction with the church’s perceived role as the anticipated “salt and light” in Ghanaian society and Africa at large.
“Fifty years and over, there are concerns that the church has not become the expected salt and light of our society. To the contrary, questions are being asked as to how a country with 70% self-professed Christians can experience such a value deficit in so many areas of our national life. For instance, how do we explain the pervasive corruption of our society when a high percentage of Ghanaians process to be Christians?” Dr. Joyce Aryee said.
Dr. Aryee referred to research indicating the ongoing expansion of Christianity in Africa, surpassing growth rates observed in other continents.
She stated “for the first time in the history of the world Christians population in Africa has hit over 650 million , projected to reach 1.25 billion by 2050 more than second and third place contending continents Latin America and Europe which have Christian population of 705 million and 490 million respectively”.
Dr. Aryee underscored the necessity for a paradigm shift to make a more impactful contribution to the African continent. She called on the graduates to engage in introspection, reassess their roles in society, and align their actions with the mandates given by God.
Rev Dr. Benhardt Y. Quarshie, the Rector of Akrofi-Christaller Institute, highlighted the institution’s response to current economic challenges by introducing new programs and significantly reducing academic fees. These measures aim to facilitate the enrollment of more Ghanaian students.
During the ceremony, honorary PhDs were conferred upon Dr. Alex Glover and Dr. Robert Aboagye Mensah. Distinguished figures present at the event included Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, former Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, and the New Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Most Reverend Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye.
The Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission, and Culture, accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), serves the broader Christian community in Ghana and Africa as a postgraduate research institution with a Presidential Charter to award its own degrees.
theindependentghana.com
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