E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 2023
Human communities have measures and schemes which are intended to control the social behaviour of... more Human communities have measures and schemes which are intended to control the social behaviour of its members. In traditional societies, the belief in the potency of supernatural beings helps to enforce social norms and values, which translate into social order within a given community. In most traditional societies including Ghana, religion plays an important role in the lives of the people, some of which include ensuring order in the society. In Ghana, the indigenous religious values, norms, customs, as well as certain practices help in the enforcement of order in various communities. The deities as well as the ancestors play key roles in ensuring order in the community by, dispensing swift justice and punishing culprits. Using a qualitative approach specifically purposive sampling, the study reveals that there are indigenous mechanisms used by Ŋuveh to ensure social order in the community, which are grouped into oath swearing, hexing, trial by ordeals, and taboos that are enshrined in their prohibitions and sanctions. The study concludes that the traditional religious means of social control is effective in ensuring social order. Thus, the study proposes that traditional authorities need to be empowered to function side-by-side with the formal control system to maintain order in their communities and Ghana at large. This paper contributes to religion and social control.
E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS), 2021
The study is an examination of the conversion challenges confronting Akan Christian Royals in Gha... more The study is an examination of the conversion challenges confronting Akan Christian Royals in Ghana. The Western missionaries and missionary established churches demand that as part of their conversion requirements, Akan Royals must reject and disassociate themselves from the Black Stool, ancestors and all ancestral related activities. The Royals who claim that their families have become Christian royal families insist that authority symbols like the Black Stools and ancestral ceremonies like the Adae do not take the place of the sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Christ in their belief system. Moreover, participation in Palace services prepares them for traditional leadership and does not take them away from their faith in Christ. The traditional leadership institutions and the Royals that welcomed the Western missionaries, provided them with hospitality, security and resources for the missionary work have come to be considered as unchristian and an anathema to the Christian faith. The position of the church has created tensions within Akan Christian Royal and put the genuineness of their conversion in doubt. The study which is qualitative in nature uses both primary and secondary methods in its information gathering. Its findings provide responses to some contemporary tensions in gospel and culture studies in African Christianity.
E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 2020
Akyem Abuakwa's geographical location puts her in a different environmental condition.Both natura... more Akyem Abuakwa's geographical location puts her in a different environmental condition.Both natural and human factors have combined in causing massive environmental degradation and ecological crisis. The environmental degradation and ecological crisis call for exploration of indigenous knowledge to construct indigenous ecological orientations and environmental concerns that could be relevant to recent times. Using qualitative design, the study found out that the traditional belief among the people of Abuakwa has created the awareness that human beings are answerable to the line of ancestors for their stewardship over the non-human parts of creation-land, flora and fauna; all these belong to the ancestors. The study proposes that environmental ethics through the African worldview and bioethical African worldview would dictate a fresh environmental concern and ecological orientation for the world today. The study is relevant as it contributes to traditional environmental conservation ethics.
This paper discusses the concept of Communication and Information Management within the Akan cult... more This paper discusses the concept of Communication and Information Management within the Akan cultural context. It focused on the issues of indigenous communication and information management and the mechanisms adopted to disseminate information in Akan indigenous communities. The work acknowledged the various forms of communication channels in Akan communities; however, it considered a summary of the role of some adinkra symbols and other symbols found in chiefs' palaces such as the akyeame poma (linguist's staff), talking drums etc. The study covered areas such as the Indigenous Knowledge Values in Akan communication and information system, indigenous method of communication, agents of indigenous communication and information control methods. Participation of events, observations, and one-on-one interviews, were the main instruments used and uses descriptive method of analysis to assessed the information obtained both from the primary data and from the various literature used as secondary source. The study particularly, responded to the potency of the values in indigenous communication and information management having a place within the development of contemporary Ghanaian leadership.
Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and ins... more Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and insatiable desire for acquiring wealth and property. Rapid environmental degradation has occurred within the last two decades in Akyem Abuakwa. The paper examines factors contributing to the environmental degradation and the role traditional leaders can play in conserving and protecting the environment. Traditional leaders, ritual specialists/functionaries in African Traditional Religion, are also custodians of ancestral lands. They possess practical indigenous ecological knowledge for the protection and conservation of environmental resources. This ecological knowledge, obtained from the intellectual heritage of African Traditional Religion, provides rich, raw and insightful revelation that is hardly contained in any ecological theory. The leaders have also religious power to institute control mechanisms to regulate human activities with regard to the environment. The study employed both qualitative and descriptive methods; with interviews and participant-observations as the main tools to investigate and gather data on the subject. The paper suggests that traditional leaders employ their religious power and indigenous ecological knowledge to conserve and protect the environmental resources within their jurisdictions. The research is important because it has not only highlighted the plight of environmental degradation that is destroying the ecosystem in the research unit, but also suggested ways of overcoming it. Again, it contributes to local and national theory on environmental conservation and protection.
Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and ins... more Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and insatiable desire for acquiring wealth and property. Rapid environmental degradation has occurred within the last two decades in Akyem Abuakwa. The paper examines factors contributing to the environmental degradation and the role traditional leaders can play in conserving and protecting the environment. Traditional leaders, ritual specialists/functionaries in African Traditional Religion, are also custodians of ancestral lands. They possess practical indigenous ecological knowledge for the protection and conservation of environmental resources. This ecological knowledge, obtained from the intellectual heritage of African Traditional Religion, provides rich, raw and insightful revelation that is hardly contained in any ecological theory. The leaders have also religious power to institute control mechanisms to regulate human activities with regard to the environment. The study employed both qualitative and descriptive methods; with interviews and participant-observations as the main tools to investigate and gather data on the subject. The paper suggests that traditional leaders employ their religious power and indigenous ecological knowledge to conserve and protect the environmental resources within their jurisdictions. The research is important because it has not only highlighted the plight of environmental degradation that is destroying the ecosystem in the research unit, but also suggested ways of overcoming it. Again, it contributes to local and national theory on environmental conservation and protection.
This paper discusses the concept of nsuae (oath swearing) in Akan indigenous leadership formation... more This paper discusses the concept of nsuae (oath swearing) in Akan indigenous leadership formation. It focuses on the religious and social values of nsuae in leadership. Using qualitative design, specifically purposive and convenient sampling approach, a section of chiefs, queens, chiefs' spokespersons among others were engaged. Participation of events, observations, and one-on-one interviews, were the main instruments used and uses descriptive methods of analysis in assessing the information obtained both from the primary data and from the various literatures used as a secondary source. The study argues that Akan indigenous oath (nsuae/ntam), does not necessarily points to a divine, but inclined to a specific line of action; a pattern of moral behaviour and affirms one's commitment to duty. However, it suggests a notion of religious attachments due to the fact of ancestral connection in nsuae. The study particularly, holds that leaders are obliged to observe all the moral and religious precepts attached to the office of chief-ship, which they declare publicly in the rites of oath/vows taken.
E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 2023
Human communities have measures and schemes which are intended to control the social behaviour of... more Human communities have measures and schemes which are intended to control the social behaviour of its members. In traditional societies, the belief in the potency of supernatural beings helps to enforce social norms and values, which translate into social order within a given community. In most traditional societies including Ghana, religion plays an important role in the lives of the people, some of which include ensuring order in the society. In Ghana, the indigenous religious values, norms, customs, as well as certain practices help in the enforcement of order in various communities. The deities as well as the ancestors play key roles in ensuring order in the community by, dispensing swift justice and punishing culprits. Using a qualitative approach specifically purposive sampling, the study reveals that there are indigenous mechanisms used by Ŋuveh to ensure social order in the community, which are grouped into oath swearing, hexing, trial by ordeals, and taboos that are enshrined in their prohibitions and sanctions. The study concludes that the traditional religious means of social control is effective in ensuring social order. Thus, the study proposes that traditional authorities need to be empowered to function side-by-side with the formal control system to maintain order in their communities and Ghana at large. This paper contributes to religion and social control.
E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (EHASS), 2021
The study is an examination of the conversion challenges confronting Akan Christian Royals in Gha... more The study is an examination of the conversion challenges confronting Akan Christian Royals in Ghana. The Western missionaries and missionary established churches demand that as part of their conversion requirements, Akan Royals must reject and disassociate themselves from the Black Stool, ancestors and all ancestral related activities. The Royals who claim that their families have become Christian royal families insist that authority symbols like the Black Stools and ancestral ceremonies like the Adae do not take the place of the sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Christ in their belief system. Moreover, participation in Palace services prepares them for traditional leadership and does not take them away from their faith in Christ. The traditional leadership institutions and the Royals that welcomed the Western missionaries, provided them with hospitality, security and resources for the missionary work have come to be considered as unchristian and an anathema to the Christian faith. The position of the church has created tensions within Akan Christian Royal and put the genuineness of their conversion in doubt. The study which is qualitative in nature uses both primary and secondary methods in its information gathering. Its findings provide responses to some contemporary tensions in gospel and culture studies in African Christianity.
E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 2020
Akyem Abuakwa's geographical location puts her in a different environmental condition.Both natura... more Akyem Abuakwa's geographical location puts her in a different environmental condition.Both natural and human factors have combined in causing massive environmental degradation and ecological crisis. The environmental degradation and ecological crisis call for exploration of indigenous knowledge to construct indigenous ecological orientations and environmental concerns that could be relevant to recent times. Using qualitative design, the study found out that the traditional belief among the people of Abuakwa has created the awareness that human beings are answerable to the line of ancestors for their stewardship over the non-human parts of creation-land, flora and fauna; all these belong to the ancestors. The study proposes that environmental ethics through the African worldview and bioethical African worldview would dictate a fresh environmental concern and ecological orientation for the world today. The study is relevant as it contributes to traditional environmental conservation ethics.
This paper discusses the concept of Communication and Information Management within the Akan cult... more This paper discusses the concept of Communication and Information Management within the Akan cultural context. It focused on the issues of indigenous communication and information management and the mechanisms adopted to disseminate information in Akan indigenous communities. The work acknowledged the various forms of communication channels in Akan communities; however, it considered a summary of the role of some adinkra symbols and other symbols found in chiefs' palaces such as the akyeame poma (linguist's staff), talking drums etc. The study covered areas such as the Indigenous Knowledge Values in Akan communication and information system, indigenous method of communication, agents of indigenous communication and information control methods. Participation of events, observations, and one-on-one interviews, were the main instruments used and uses descriptive method of analysis to assessed the information obtained both from the primary data and from the various literature used as secondary source. The study particularly, responded to the potency of the values in indigenous communication and information management having a place within the development of contemporary Ghanaian leadership.
Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and ins... more Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and insatiable desire for acquiring wealth and property. Rapid environmental degradation has occurred within the last two decades in Akyem Abuakwa. The paper examines factors contributing to the environmental degradation and the role traditional leaders can play in conserving and protecting the environment. Traditional leaders, ritual specialists/functionaries in African Traditional Religion, are also custodians of ancestral lands. They possess practical indigenous ecological knowledge for the protection and conservation of environmental resources. This ecological knowledge, obtained from the intellectual heritage of African Traditional Religion, provides rich, raw and insightful revelation that is hardly contained in any ecological theory. The leaders have also religious power to institute control mechanisms to regulate human activities with regard to the environment. The study employed both qualitative and descriptive methods; with interviews and participant-observations as the main tools to investigate and gather data on the subject. The paper suggests that traditional leaders employ their religious power and indigenous ecological knowledge to conserve and protect the environmental resources within their jurisdictions. The research is important because it has not only highlighted the plight of environmental degradation that is destroying the ecosystem in the research unit, but also suggested ways of overcoming it. Again, it contributes to local and national theory on environmental conservation and protection.
Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and ins... more Akyem Abuakwa is suffering from environmental degradation as a result of human activities and insatiable desire for acquiring wealth and property. Rapid environmental degradation has occurred within the last two decades in Akyem Abuakwa. The paper examines factors contributing to the environmental degradation and the role traditional leaders can play in conserving and protecting the environment. Traditional leaders, ritual specialists/functionaries in African Traditional Religion, are also custodians of ancestral lands. They possess practical indigenous ecological knowledge for the protection and conservation of environmental resources. This ecological knowledge, obtained from the intellectual heritage of African Traditional Religion, provides rich, raw and insightful revelation that is hardly contained in any ecological theory. The leaders have also religious power to institute control mechanisms to regulate human activities with regard to the environment. The study employed both qualitative and descriptive methods; with interviews and participant-observations as the main tools to investigate and gather data on the subject. The paper suggests that traditional leaders employ their religious power and indigenous ecological knowledge to conserve and protect the environmental resources within their jurisdictions. The research is important because it has not only highlighted the plight of environmental degradation that is destroying the ecosystem in the research unit, but also suggested ways of overcoming it. Again, it contributes to local and national theory on environmental conservation and protection.
This paper discusses the concept of nsuae (oath swearing) in Akan indigenous leadership formation... more This paper discusses the concept of nsuae (oath swearing) in Akan indigenous leadership formation. It focuses on the religious and social values of nsuae in leadership. Using qualitative design, specifically purposive and convenient sampling approach, a section of chiefs, queens, chiefs' spokespersons among others were engaged. Participation of events, observations, and one-on-one interviews, were the main instruments used and uses descriptive methods of analysis in assessing the information obtained both from the primary data and from the various literatures used as a secondary source. The study argues that Akan indigenous oath (nsuae/ntam), does not necessarily points to a divine, but inclined to a specific line of action; a pattern of moral behaviour and affirms one's commitment to duty. However, it suggests a notion of religious attachments due to the fact of ancestral connection in nsuae. The study particularly, holds that leaders are obliged to observe all the moral and religious precepts attached to the office of chief-ship, which they declare publicly in the rites of oath/vows taken.
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Papers by M.K Ntiamoah