In many Ghanaian communities, accusations of witchcraft generate intense moral outrage and social hostility. Persons believed to be malevolent witches are frequently subjected to verbal abuse, physical assault, forced displacement, and, in extreme cases, extrajudicial killing (Adinkrah, 2004, 2015). Crucially, however, the sanctioning of alleged witches does not necessarily terminate at biological death. Rather, death…
Akan perceptions of God can be discerned from the rich array of names and appellations used to describe the Supreme Deity. Among the Akan, the name for God is Nyankopɔn (Onyankopɔn), the Supreme Being. Etymologically, the term is often explained as deriving from “Onyame koro a ɔyɛ pɔn,” meaning “the one God who is supreme…
African witchcraft versus European witchcraft have been the focus of local discussions about witchcraft in Ghana for many years. During the period of European colonization, westernization, and the early stages of modernization, people in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) struggled to explain the wide gap in development between Africans and Europeans. Many ordinary people asked…
The Akans are the largest ethnic group in Ghana, comprising approximately 46 percent of the national population. The Akan language, commonly referred to as Twi, is widely spoken across the country. Although it is the mother tongue of the Akan people, it also functions as a lingua franca and is understood or spoken by a…
For many people, choosing a marital partner is a deliberate decision. Individuals often consider several factors before deciding who to marry. Sociologists study these choices and use specific terms to describe the different patterns people follow when selecting a spouse. Marrying Up and Marrying Down Some people seek to “marry up,” meaning they look for…
In every society, people occupy different positions called statuses. A status is simply the position a person holds in society. Throughout life, one person can have many statuses at the same time—for example, being a child, a parent, a worker, a student, or a citizen. Sociologists talk about two main types of status: ascribed status…
Few modern technologies have transformed Ghana as deeply and as quickly as financial technology (fintech). What began as simple mobile phone services has grown into a digital financial ecosystem that reshaped banking, trade, and daily survival for millions of Ghanaians. Before Fintech: A Cash-Heavy Economy (Pre-2000s) For decades after independence, Ghana’s financial system revolved around…
Marital and relationship breakdowns occur for many reasons, and these reasons often vary from one society to another. People enter intimate relationships with specific expectations—emotional, economic, sexual, social, and cultural. When these expectations remain unmet, tensions arise, and relationships may eventually rupture. For this article, I surveyed 28 Ghanaian adults—14 men and 14 women—to better…
Children are the future of every society. Yet Ghana faces a serious challenge if urgent steps are not taken to ensure that today’s children are properly guided and nurtured to grow into law-abiding and responsible citizens. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in juvenile delinquency across the country. Many children are skipping…
Some call it mob justice. Others describe it as instant justice or vigilante justice. But where, indeed, is the justice when a person is beaten, maimed, or killed without a proper trial or lawful conviction by the legally constituted justice system of the land? Every year in Ghana, scores of individuals are seized by members…
A visitor to Ghana will quickly notice something striking on the roads: commercial motor vehicles speak. Tro-tros, buses, taxis, and long-distance vehicles often carry inscriptions—short messages painted boldly on the body of the vehicle. These inscriptions may appear on the back of the vehicle, across the windscreen, or on a signboard fixed to the front….
Witchcraft is commonly understood in Ghana as a supernatural power believed to be possessed by some individuals, enabling them to influence the behavior, health, fortune, or misfortune of others—either as victims or beneficiaries. Belief in witchcraft and witches remains widespread and deeply embedded in Ghanaian society. Although no comprehensive national survey exists to measure belief…
Newspapers occupy an important place in Ghanaian society. Long before the rise of social media and online news platforms, newspapers were the primary source of information for the public. Even today, despite digital competition, newspapers continue to serve critical social, political, educational, and cultural functions across the country. Source of News and Information At their…
When entering a typical town or village in Ghana, a traveler is often welcomed by a metal signpost bearing the name of the place. These names are familiar to residents, yet many people rarely pause to ask an important question: How did this town get its name? In Ghana, as in many parts of the…
A new religious movement has emerged in Ghana known as Asomdwee Ntonton Som, a name that translates literally as “Peace and Exaltation Religion.” Ghana is a deeply multireligious society, long accustomed to religious plurality. Christianity—represented by historic denominations such as Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, and Salvation Army, as well as numerous Pentecostal and Charismatic movements—dominates…
