The Impact of Religious Diversity on Socio-Ethical Behaviour: Case Study of the Kotei Community in Ghana

Abstract

The influence of religious diversity on the socio-ethical behaviour of the Ghanaian society is the subject of the research. The study aims at exploring how Ghana’s religious variety has impacted the socio-ethical behaviour of the people in Ghana with a particular reference to the people in the Kotei community in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study highlights the fact that the Ghanaian people’s way of life is defined and informed by their respect and tolerance of the religious other. Thus, recognition and tolerance for different religions is be found in nearly every area of the people’s lives. There are three main religious groups situated in the Kotei Community: African Indigenous adherents, Muslims and Christians. These religious groups are pluralistic with several divisions and denominations. This study therefore explores how the prevalence of several religions have affected the people’s way of life. It also discusses how religious tolerance and cooperation among the various religious groups in the area has gotten positive and negative effects on the people. The study does so using primary data derived from fieldwork in the said community and secondary data from the intern, published and unpublished literature in the form of books, newspapers and journal articles. The researchers adopted the qualitative method of research for the study. It is the expectation of the researchers that, after reading this material, readers will get to have an overview of the nature of religious diversity evidenced in Ghana and its effects on the socio-ethical behaviour of Ghanaians. The study will serve as precedence for future research on the nature of Interfaith relations and encounters in Africa especially in Ghana and the resourceful means of ensuring interreligious peace and harmonization in Ghana.