A Critique of Prosperity Theology in the Context of Ghanaian Christianity
Isaac Boaheng 
, Clement Amoako & Samuel Boahen
Issue: Vol.4 No.11 Article 4 pp.1356 – 1367
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234114 | Published online 10th November, 2023
© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The economic situation in contemporary Ghana makes everyone yearn for economic progress. In Ghana, like many other parts of Africa, religion is responsible for providing the economic, spiritual, and health needs of its adherents. The predominantly Christian population in Ghana makes many people look up to Christianity to provide the road map to the country’s success. In this regard, the prosperity theology/gospel is the most dominant approach to seeking health and wealth among Ghanaian Christians. Though very persuasive, prosperity theology prompts so much debate about its influence on the religious and socio-economic life of Christians and the society at large. On the one hand, it is considered as promoting unethical behaviour and failing to yield qualitative growth for the church. On the other hand, it is considered as attracting a large following to the Christian faith. The need to evaluate the impact of this type of teaching is an urgent theological and pastoral concern because it is the most appealing Christian approach to socio-economic breakthrough for contemporary Ghanaian Christians. This paper, therefore, sought to address the problem of the lack of a balanced assessment of the prosperity gospel and how its weaknesses can be addressed. The study is a literature-based research that gathered data from publications on the subject matter. Through a critical analysis and evaluation of the information gathered, the authors evaluated the overall impact of the prosperity theology on the holistic life (social, spiritual, economic and political) of its adherents and having noted some pitfalls, recommended how this popular theology can be refined. Apart from providing guidelines for addressing the challenges associated with the prosperity theology, the paper also has the potential of yielding ethical renewal for people to live responsibly as they work toward improving their socio-economic and spiritual lives.
Keywords: Prosperity, Christianity, Ghana, Salvation
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Isaac Boaheng holds a PhD in Theology from the University of the Free State, South Africa. He is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Christian Ethics at the Christian Service University College, Ghana, and a Research Fellow at the Department of Biblical and Religion Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa.
Clement Amoako is a final-year undergraduate student at the Christian Service University College, Ghana, where he is studying Theology with Administration. He is a steward at the Methodist Church Ghana (Breman), Ebenezer Society.
Samuel Boahen is a postgraduate student at the All Nations University, Ghana where he is pursuing a program in African Christian Theology. He is a minister-in-training through Theological Education by Extension (TEE) at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon-Accra.
Boaheng, Isaac, Amoako, Clement & Boahen, Samuel. “A Critique of Prosperity Theology in the Context of Ghanaian Christianity.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 4, no.10 (2023): 1356 – 1367. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234114
© 2023 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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