A national project? Creative destruction, Pentecostalism, and the spectacle of Ghana’s national cathedral

Keywords: Ghana, political party ideology, national cathedral, creative destruction, spectacle, religion
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

The Ghanaian government announced in 2017 to build a national cathedral to promote national unity and identity. The declaration caught most people by surprise, sparking national discourse on the relevance and the state’s involvement in religious activity. Yet, despite all odds and criticisms, the government is proceeding with the project. Drawing on the notions of creative destruction and the spectacle, this talk will explore the connections between religion and politics in Ghana. It will also analyze the link between political party ideologies and national development aspirations to understand what becomes the national project.