The study investigates the origins and development of Pentecostalism in Ghana with special reference to the Christ Apostolic Church, the Church of Pentecost, and the International Central Gospel Church. The theological section explores the continuity and discontinuity between the movement's conception of salvation and the primal concept of salvation. Part A looks at the Akan cosmology, the Akan concept of salvation, and the political, economic and social history of the Gold Coast/Ghana. It also examines some twentieth century Christian renewal movements in Ghana. Part B probes into the historical development of Ghanaian Pentecostalism and the Life and Faith of the movement, using the Christ Apostolic Church, the Church of Pentecost, and the International Central Gospel Church as case studies. Part C examines the Ghanaian Pentecostal soteriology using the Prayer Camps as a case study. The author concludes that the search of the Pentecostals for salvation or abundant life, manifests a continuity with the Akan traditional religious aspirations: a search for Salvation in which health, prosperity, dignity, fertility, security, vitality, and equilibrium within the cosmos are dominant. It also manifests a radical discontinuity in its hostile stand against all traditional forms of supernatural succour. Aspect of the discontinuity between the two religious expressions is Pentecostalism's concern for the paradise beyond. A related interest in this study is the investigation of the influence of socioeconomic factors on the eschatological presuppositions and the evangelistic ethos of the Pentecostal churches. The evidence from the Ghanaian context has led us to the conclusion that the materials presented in this study do not corroborate the thesis that the expectation of the parousia declines in the older Pentecostal denominations as their economic circumstances improve. Our findings indicate that though the neopentecostals believe in the parousia, this has not featured prominently in their kerygma. This, we propose, is due to their avowed concern to address the existential issues facing Ghanaians. The evidence indicates that the Prosperity or Abundant Life Gospel as espoused by the neo-pentecostals, is an attempt to appropriate the biblical message of salvation to suit the contemporary socio-economic and religious experience of Ghanaians.

Contemporary Pentecostal and Charismatic (PC) Christianity has attracted scholars and practitioners of religions globally. This is because Pentecostalism in all its variations has been reckoned as the fastest growing brand of Christianity. In the particular case of sub- Saharan Africa, Pentecostalism has become one of the key religious features of Christianity since the late 1990s. As such, it clearly has a strong appeal to millions of Africans. Notwithstanding, the PC movement has also had its share of criticism based on its distinctive beliefs and practices, particularly in relation to the prosperity gospel and the abuse of power. In this thesis, using the Church of Pentecost (COP) and International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) as case studies, I examine the individual (personal) and group (collective) empowerment/disempowerment components in Pentecostalism in Ghana. Theories encompassing empowerment, social, cultural and religious/spiritual capital are reviewed within Pentecostalism in Ghana. The thesis central focus is on how the churches (COP and ICGC) constitute social, cultural and religious capital in their efforts to empower individuals and society. The study explores internal structures of power, polity and leadership in the churches, as well as their role in social policy, human development programmes, civic and public life issues. These were the main themes that emanated from the research. The findings show that the churches have made positive impact in transforming religious and social landscapes. They have also shown prospects in human development and brought awareness in the spheres of politics and civic responsibility. However, some beliefs and practices (i.e. gender inequality in church leadership, structures of power and authority, etc.) have affected aspects of individuals’ and groups’ empowerment. These insights come from the research analysis of the processes and outcomes of the churches’ practical work, for instance, theology/preaching, practical ministries, church projects in areas such as education, gender roles and practices, moral conduct and church discipline, trust and voluntarism. A case study research method involving textual examination of primary documents, qualitative interviews and participant observation was used to show the different perspectives from a representative sample of pastors and members of the COP and ICGC. While most scholarly works give a lot of insight to the developments of Pentecostalism in Ghana, their efforts have mainly focused on the founders and leaders of the movement as representative of their organisations. This has been useful to a point; however, this study has shown that such an approach muted the voices of the members of the churches whose viewpoints in the development of the PC churches remain significant. Thus, this study built-in views from both the clergy and laity of COP and ICGC. The thesis shows the present developments (life, thoughts and practices) of the PC churches in Ghana with COP and ICGC in context. It expands discussions on works previously written by Paul Gifford and Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi. Gifford and Larbi give an account of the developments of the churches with tremendous insight into their religious and social backgrounds. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu further builds up the discussion on Pentecostalism in Ghana and draws attention to its contemporary forms and religious significance in Ghana’s religious life and society. The fluid nature of Pentecostalism requires constant updating and this thesis fills in some of the previously unexplained recent developments and on-going reforms within Pentecostalism in Ghana.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The worldwide phenomenal growth of Pentecostalism is a well-acknowledged fact, which no one can deny. Research shows that much of the growth is in the neo- Pentecostal or charismatic wing of the movement. Ghana is not left out of this. One phenomenon that has become so pronounced in the charismatic movement in Ghana is the practice of the so-called "deliverance". This phenomenon purports to let Christians attain to the abundance of life that Christ offers as part of God's salvation package to humankind. Most of the deliverance ministries, to a large extent, attribute situations such as sicknesses, poverty, late marriage, denial of visa to travel abroad and even some natural disasters among others to supernatural causes. These supernatural causes, which are said to hinder Christians from achieving the abundance of life, are mainly identified as demonic contamination, demonic influence, demon-possession, witchcraft or ancestral curses. The prescribed antidote to these is to be taken through deliverance by a special person of God. Due mainly to a very bad economic situation which has made many Ghanaians live below the poverty line; it makes it very difficult for many people to afford the cost of western medical care. Many Ghanaians are also daily looking for avenues to go and better their lot in other countries. The traditional Ghanaian like many Africans has a worldview, which believes in a supernatural dimension to every physical occurrence including difficulties in the acquisition of visa to travel abroad. The emergence of the deliverance ministries has therefore provided a legitimate haven to which people who would otherwise have gone to the traditional shrines to seek solutions to their problems can now go. The challenge that this phenomenon poses to evangelical Christianity is highlighted in this research. A critical assessment of the phenomenon as it pertains in Ghanaian Christianity has been done from the perspective of a specific definition of evangelicalism. Much as the fact cannot be denied that some of the deliverance ministries are meeting real felt needs of people in biblically unquestionable ways, there are obviously, some who are for various reasons employing anti-Christian and superstitious principles. The purpose of this research therefore, is to inform evangelical Christians on what the whole phenomenon is about in the light of Scripture so that practices that are not in line with the whole truth of the word of God can be avoided. On the other hand, evangelical Christian ministers can find ways of inculcating some of the useful practices of the phenomenon into their ministry for the benefit of their congregations and all people who might need such assistance. This is very necessary because the people from these congregations are patronizing the services of the deliverance ministries anyway. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wereldwye fenomeniese groei van die pinksterbeweging is 'n welbekende feit wat niemand kan ontken nie. Navorsing toon dat die meerderheid van die groei binne die "neopinkster" of charismatiese deel van die beweging plaasvind. In Ghana is dit geen uitsondering nie. Een verskynsel wat so prominent geword het in die charismatiese beweging in Ghana is die beoefening van die sogenaamde "bevryding". Hierdie verskynsel beweer dat die Christene lewe in oorvloed sal he wanneer hulle Christus aanbid, as deel van God se verlossingsplan vir die mens. Meeste van hierdie bevrydingsbewegings, in 'n groot mate, skryf situasies soos siekte, armoede, die weiering van 'n visum vir ander lande en selfs sommige natuurlike rampe, onder andere toe aan bonatuurlike oorsake. Hierdie bonatuurlike oorsake waarvan gepraat word wat die Christene daarvan weerhou om die lewe in oorvloed te geniet, word hoofsaaklik geidentifiseer as demoniese kontaminasie, demoniese invloed, demoniese heksery of bloedlynvloeke. Die voorgeskrewe teenmiddel hiervoor is om deur bevryding te gaan deur mid del van 'n spesiale persoon in God. Hoofsaaklik as gevolg van 'n haglike ekonomiese situasie, leef baie Ghanese onder die broodlyn en is dit werklik moeilik vir baie mense om Westerse medisyne te bekostig. Ghanese soek ook daagliks 'n ander heenkome en probeer hulle lot verander in ander lande. Die tradisionele Ghanees, soos meeste Afrika inwoners, het 'n werelduitkyk wat glo in die bonatuurlike dimensie vir elke fisiese verskynsel, insluitend die probleem om 'n visum te kry. Die verskyning van die bevrydingsbedienings, het gevolglik 'n legitieme toevlugsoord gebied aan mense wat andersins na tradisionele heiligdomme sou gaan, om antwoorde op hulle probleme en vrae te soek. Die uitdaging wat hierdie verskynsel aan die Evangeliese Christendom bied, is onderstreep in hierdie navorsing. 'n Kritiese evaluering van die fenomeen, soos dit voorkom in Ghanese Christendom, is vanuit die perspektief van 'n spesifieke definisie van evangelisasieleer gedoen. Net soos die feit dat sommige bevrydingsbedienings werklik die mens se egte behoeftes op 'n onbetwisbare, bybelse manier aanspreek, net so is dit duidelik dat sommige mense om verskeie redes anti-Christelike en bygelowige beginsels implementeer. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is dus om Evangeliese Christene in te lig waaroor hierdie verskynsel handel, in die lig van die Woord. Sodoende kan praktyke wat nie ooreenstemend met die waarheid van God se Woord is, me vermyword. Aan die anderkant, kan Evangeliese Christen predikers maniere vind om die nuttige praktyke van hierdie verskynsel in hul eie bedienings te integreer tot voordeel en opbou van die gemeente en aIle mense wat sulke bystand mag benodig. Dit is noodsaaklik omdat die mense van hierdie gemeentes in elk geval die bevrydingsbedienings ondersteun.