The Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Ghana, convened a workshop exploring
the intersections of faith, ritual practice, abuse, and conflation of crimes within sacred spaces.
Organized by the African Thought and Spirituality Unit, the event brought together scholars,
religious leaders, civil society actors, and students to critically examine how religious
authority and ritual practice can both empower and endanger.
In his welcome address, the Director of the IAS emphasized the timeliness and relevance of
the event. “We are at a point where we need site dialogues,” He said, applauding the
initiative for creating a forum to interrogate ritual abuse and the complicity of spiritual
authority. He further noted the historical responsibility of the IAS to foster research grounded
in African methodologies, drawing inspiration from Kwame Nkrumah’s founding vision of
the Institute.
Dr. Genevieve Nrenzah, Head of the African Thought and Spirituality Unit and co-organizer
of the event, outlined the rationale behind the workshop. “Religion is a hot social
commodity,” she said. “While it offers guidance, its sanctity is sometimes used to shield
criminal behaviour.” According to Dr. Nrenzah, Ghana’s religious diversity makes it
imperative to scrutinize the unchecked authority wielded by spiritual leaders, including
pastors, imams, priests, and traditional spiritualists.
The workshop aimed to provide a critical framework for understanding abuse within religious
contexts. Dr. Nrenzah highlighted three focal themes: the role of believers and ritual
practices in religious places; existing policies on rights and abuses within sacred spaces; and
the legal and civil society responses to such violations. The workshop was co-organised with
Dr. Ahmed Badawi Mustapha, a Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies.
The workshop examined three key religions namely; Islam, Christianity, and African
Traditional Religion. There was also an extension of African traditional religion in the
African diaspora, Vodou, and Prof. Albert Kafui Wuaku spoke about the structural violence
of these religions in the diaspora. Rev. Dr. Justice A. Arthur
delivered a notable Christian keynote on the annual clash between the Christians and the Ga.

A keynote address by Dr. Fulera Issaka Toure, a senior lecturer in the Department for the
Study of Religions of the University of Ghana was also key in the workshop. Dr. Toure
critiqued violent practices within Muslim societies, unpacking the theological, textual, and
interpretive dimensions of Islam that have historically enabled or justified gender-based
violence.
Drawing from Islamic textual traditions—the Quran, Hadith, and Sharia—Dr. Toure exposed
the contested nature of these sources and their use in legitimizing male dominance. “There is
no single Sharia,” she asserted. “Rather, there are Sharias—plural—constructed through
human interpretation and shaped by politics, patriarchy, and local contexts.” She discussed
examples of how certain Quranic verses, often meant for specific historical contexts, are
misapplied to justify contemporary forms of female subjugation, including polygamy,
unequal divorce rights, and the enforcement of veiling.

She also drew attention to problematic Hadiths that portray women as spiritually or
intellectually deficient. “These hadiths are not divine,” she argued, “and often contradict the
Quran’s message of spiritual equality.” Dr. Toure called on scholars and believers to
challenge the patriarchal readings that have normalized the marginalization of women in
Muslim societies.

The second speaker, Sheikh Imam Sa’id Mukhtar Abubakar of Dar Salem Mosque, offered a
complementary but distinct Islamic perspective. Framing his presentation around the
Qur’anic principle of non-coercion—“There is no compulsion in religion”—Imam Sa’id
warned against the manipulation of faith for personal gain. He condemned religious leaders
who exploit spiritual authority for material benefit or use their positions to control and abuse
followers.
“Faith must emerge from the heart, not fear,” he emphasized. Citing both scripture and
hadith, he called for an ethical re-evaluation of how religious power is exercised. His speech
was both a theological reflection and a moral exhortation, reminding religious leaders of their
responsibility to uphold justice and dignity.

A diverse roster of participants added further depth to the discussions. Scholars joined us
from Ghana and diverse international destinations, as did students, civil society
representatives, and members of various religious communities. Participants came from
institutions including the University of Ghana, Islamic University Ghana, Pentecost
University, Ghana, Princeton University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology, Florida International University, the University of Rostock, Germany, the
University of Bayreuth, Germany, the University of Jos, Nigeria, and others.
One of the central takeaways from the workshop was the recognition that religious spaces,
though sacred, are not immune to social injustices. Rather, they are often sites where power is
contested, enforced, and sometimes abused. The sacredness of these spaces can obscure
abuses, making it more difficult for victims to seek redress or for society to hold perpetrators
accountable.

As the workshop concluded, participants underscored the need for continued dialogue,
scholarly research, and policy advocacy. Organizers pledged to publish the workshop
proceedings to reach a broader audience, including those unable to attend. Plans for a follow-
up session that includes broader representation from various religious groups were also
announced.
In the words of the IAS Director, “Let us not leave these discussions on the table. Let us make
sure they are published, disseminated, and used to inform real change.”