What it feels like to be Baha'i in Ghana

A few weeks ago, when AB commented on this blog saying 

My biggest gripe with Christianity in Ghana is that it has become ubiquitous, and with that ubiquity comes assumptions about who you are and what it means to be a real Ghanaian, as well as extreme intolerance of other people's religious preferences. As someone who prefers not to be religious, I find that my choices are not respected - there was a lively discussion on this very blog about how someone would get irritated when people would insist on starting any meeting (not just at church) with a prayer. To which I say, Amen! (HA HA). It is never ok to not be a Christian in Ghana, and that is what worries me.

One of you, posted a response anonymously saying

That is not true that it is NEVER ok not to be a Christian in Ghana. Perhaps that has been your experience among the Ghanaians you've met. But among the Ghanaians I've met, it's ok to be whatever religion you are. SO that must mean that all Ghanaians are not the same then, are they?

 S/he went on to say "I also don't know that discrimination and prejudice is the preserve of only Christians in Ghana"

Today, I'd like us to revisit this conversation. But I'd like us to move away from talking about Christians in particular and look generally at how it feels to be a minority in Ghana. With particular focus on how it feels to be Baha'i. In subsequent posts, I'll get other minorities to write about their experiences.  As a people, how we treat minorities reflects a lot about who we are. That, after all, is what we do on this blog. We look at who Ghanaians are as a people. 

First Local Language Blog! Is there a place for Ghanaian Languages on the web?

Ghana is cool, I tell you.

I was browsing the internet today and stumbled upon Jojoo's blog. To my delight, I found  the blog was written entirely in modern Akan! How awesome, I thought. Now I can improve my akan. So I started devouring the articles. 

The Best of Ghanaian Bus Preachers

Got an email from my good friend Q.

Q is the male version of me. And the cartoon above is an artist's attempt to capture his essence. I think it's about right. Q really wears those hats, and reads strange books . Conversations with Q usually centre around Ghana things, funny stuff, songs etc.When Q talks, I listen. If he recommends a book, I read it. If he recommends a movie, I watch it. If he recommends a fashion trend, I try it.

If you're an Ghanaian ( read African) living in the US, here's two for your consideration.

Hi Everyone,

I've got two things to share.

1. An Event Relevant for Ghanaians happening at Columbia University Next Weekend

Next weekend Columbia University will be abuzz. Talk about business in Africa will be plenty. Speakers include our own Aisha Obuobi, creator of the Christie Brown Clothing label, and Magatte Wade, founder and CEO of Adina World Beverages (for which she raised $20 million) and Tiossano Tribe Inc.

After celebrating 53 Years of Independence, What's The Way Forward for Ghana

Both David and Marian have left comments saying that Ghana has not achieved much after 53 years of independence. My thinking is that we have achieved something. We've gone to the polls 6 times without incident. We're within schedule of meeting the millenium development goals. Just the other day when we reflected on how our lives changed in the past decade, we mentioned the rule of law, and press freedom as well. We now have a national insurance scheme.So we have achieved something.

53 Years of Ghana's Independence. What Does Ghana Have To Show For Self Governance

Wonderful people,
I'm gonna be on Joy fm's Super Morning Show this morning 7:30 am.
Tune in to catch your very own Ms. Cleland and other panelists share their thoughts on this subject.
And call in if you can.

One Blunder A Ghanaian Must Never Ever Commit - And Other Cultures Could Learn From Us.

On this blog we talk a lot about the things Ghanaians do. We've gone through everything from Ghanaian insults, to church songs, through jama songs, and Ghanaian advertising, to the characters we find in our churches, to the way we decorate our living rooms, and even the way our men sometimes lie about having slept with a girl. Great, fun, funny stuff.