Abstract:
This research perceived that the Catholic Church promotes peace because the church
has credibility, legitimacy, understanding of the local context, leverage as a spiritual
leader and access to various levels of power. With all these attributes, conflict still
persists in Ghana. The research aims to reveal how and why the Ghana Catholic
Bishops Conference (GCBC) makes peace in Ghana. Case study is the research
design base on qualitative research approach for this study. Sampling method is
theoretical with snow balling procedure. Data collection method is in-depth interview
of ten (10) respondents comprising seven (7) bishops, two (2) priests and one (1) lay
faithful to make up for primary data. Secondary data is also collected through review
of communiqués, press statements and joint statements as well as apostolic letters and
encyclicals issued by GCBC. Data analysis is done by thematic analysis. It emerged
that the GCBC makes peace because of their divine mandate as baptized Christians,
ordained priests and installed bishops. They also make peace because governments’
appoint them to do so. It is also revealed that the bishops make peace through the use
of non-violent peacemaking methods such as advocacy, dialogues and mediation. It is
recommended that communication must improve using technology, making followups
after press releases, monitoring implementation of suggested solutions,
government’s joint funding of peacemaking institutions, GCBC should appoint bishop
to commissions upon government request and training of the bishops in peacemaking.
Another recommendation is that research can be conducted into how and why other
Christian denominations and religious organizations promote peace.
Description:
A Thesis in the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies,
Faculty of Social Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in Partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the award of degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba