This conference was birthed out of a conversation during a visit by Prof. Paul Béré, (Professor of New Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome) to the Department for the Study of Religions in 2021 during which the idea of a scholarly collaboration between Public Universities and Ecclesiastical Faculties on the African Continent emerged. The idea was in line with the department’s vision of seeking to become a globally recognized centre of excellence in Africa which provides high quality scientific study of religions and theology and with the College of Humanities’ drive towards establishing and promoting international networks in the Arts and the Social Sciences.
Subsequently, under the guidance of the Head of Department, Prof. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego, and the advice of faculty, a partnership was formed between the Department for the Study of Religions led by Dr. Michael Mensah of the Department for the Study of Religions, UG and Dr. Augustine Somé, of the Départément d’Ecriture Sainte, Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to discuss the possibility of holding such a conference in Legon.