Prof. Cephas Narh Omenyo
Prof. Cephas Narh Omenyo, Provost of the College of Education at the University of Ghana, has explicated important issues involving contemporary African Christianity. He acceded to the revitalization of a holistic education and theological training which would empower Christians to positively transform society, as well as to handle issues confronting the Church of today.
He noted this when he delivered his Inaugural Lecture on the topic, “Growth, Education and Transformation: Resilience of African Christianity?” in which he shared his research work and scholarly articles which have served as important contributions to the comparative study of Western and African Christian religion.
The lecture traversed a Eurocentric approach to African historiography; the tenacity of post-colonial African Christianity; African Christian Spirituality and African Initiated Christianity, Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal; and the recent demographic shift of the centre of gravity of Christianity to the global South, particularly Africa.
Prof. Omenyo, in his presentation, indicated that Christianity has become the dominant religious influence among many African societies due to explosion of churches and the number of Christians doubling every 12 years since the mid-19th Century. He noted that this phenomenal growth has also been accompanied by major challenges that need to be addressed, if the Christian Faith is to be firmly rooted on the continent.
He touched on the recent inclination in which contemporary Christianity is blossoming in Africa at a period when it is experiencing recession in the West. Another significant aspect he noted, was the increasing number of African pastors who have taken initiatives to propagate the Gospel through transcultural missions in Europe and North America. He indicated that while Christian churches in Africa are raising funds to put up new chapels, expanding old ones, and refurbishing existing ones, churches in the West are being transformed into museums and other attractions.
He observed that these pursuits are largely characterized by most Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal churches in Africa than anywhere else in the world, thus, making Africa in demographic terms, the heartland of Christianity in the 21st Century. He cited as instances, that there were more Anglicans in Nigeria than Anglicans in the United Kingdom and North America put together, with Nigerians having 17.5 million Anglicans while the United Kingdom and North America had 16.4 million. Another case in point was that Amsterdam City alone has more than 50 Ghanaian churches.
Prof. Omenyo further elaborated in his presentation the perspectives of prominent personalities, a reference point being the South African President Jacob Zuma’s address to a group of church leaders and members in South Africa. He articulated Jacob Zuma’s grief over the exponential growth of Christian churches in Africa, despite the increase in crime, immoral behaviour, poor work ethics, abduction and terrorism as well many other unreported atrocities.
On the way forward, Prof. Omenyo suggested relevant and responsible theological education that considers the supply of well trained teachers. He further called for a thorough system of education that prioritizes the education of both girls and boys, while ensuring that training is not confined to the acquisition of academic knowledge alone, but both academic and vocational, as well as developing vernacular to be used as the medium of instruction.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey
In his closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ernest Aryeetey who chaired the lecture said the lecture highlighted the significant contribution of Christianity to transforming individual lives, and the society as a whole. He said the University of Ghana considered its unique role in deepening and diversifying the way theologians are trained in the dispensation of the word of God. He added that irrespective of each other’s denomination, it was important to put away those differences and to reflect on values of oneness, shared responsibility, and a common goal. He thanked Prof. Cephas Omenyo for sharing his knowledge on the importance of religion particularly Christianity towards addressing growing societal problems.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, noted that the lecture was an official acknowledgement of Prof. Cephas Narh Omenyo’s promotion to the rank of full Professorship and to also bring recognition to the College of Education and the Department for the Study of Religions Mrs. Haizel-Ashia was thankful to members of the University community and the general public for honoring the invitation to the fourth inaugural lecture in the 2015/2016 academic year. The lecture, she noted, would provide them with the opportunity to appreciate fully Prof. Omenyo’s research career and also be informed on current and future research directions. Mrs. Haizel-Ashia was delighted about the interests of many other Professors to deliver their inaugural lectures during the Academic year.
Presentations were made to Prof. Omenyo from his wife and children, the College of Humanities, the College of Education, the Department for the Study of Religions and the International Programmes Office. There were also presentations from the Schools of Education and Leadership, Information and Communication Studies as well as Continuing and Distance Education. Other presentations made were from Prof. Omenyo’s PhD students, Akuafo Hall, and members of his Church, Grace Presbyterian Church.
Prior to delivering the inaugural lecture, a week long exhibition of Prof. Cephas Omenyo’s scholarly works was held at the Balme Library. The exhibition centered his research works on Mission as Intercultural Theology: The African Ghanaian Paradigm; the Charismatics, Pentecostal Practices and African Initiatives in Christianity; Charismatic Renewal in Africa: A Challenge for African Christianity; The Bible Says! Neo-Prophetic Hermeneutics in Africa; Charismatic Healing in the Mainline Churches in Ghana; The Ongoing Encounter Between Christianity and African Culture: A Case of Girls Nubility Rites of the Krobos, among many others.
The lecture was attended by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Most Rev. Titus Awotwi-Pratt, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. J.O.Y. Mante, President, Trinity Theological Seminary, the Rector of Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Rev. Dr. Benhardt Quarshie, the President of Central University College, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, the Clergy and the Managing Director of uniBank Ghana and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the College of Education, Mr. Felix Nyarko-Pong. Also present were the members of Convocation, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Deans, Directors and members of the University community as well as the general public.
Prof. Omenyo receiving presentations from various units in the Unversity
Prof. Omenyo in a pose with his family after they made some presentations to him
A cross-section of the audience at the Lecture
Prof. Omenyo in a pose with the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors , Managing Director of uniBank Ghana and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the College of Education, Mr. Felix Nyarko-Pong and members of convocation
