Friendly Competitions Strengthen Interfaith Relationships in Ghana

Fostering an environment of unity among a number of religious affiliations, two sporting events in Ghana recently brought young people together in an effort to build strong and cohesive faith communities.

KUUL-FM Religious Corporate Games

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined with other denominations on May 31, 2014, during the inaugural KUUL-FM Religious Corporate Games at the stadium in Ho, Volta Region.

Other churches represented at the Games were Global Evangelical Church, Lighthouse Chapel, Victory Bible Church, Elorm Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Catholic Church, Christ the Founder Church, as well as the Muslim Community. 

“This event was created for the purpose of increasing understanding among various religious groups in the community and to promote the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus Christ,” said Elder Michael Cosgrave, a missionary serving with his wife for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ho.

Preceding the day of activities, members of each participating church were offered a free fifteen-minute spot on KUUL-FM’s radio station to promote the upcoming Games as well as to introduce themselves, explain church doctrines and answer questions.

Individual events at the Games included football matches, a sack race, the 100-meter dash, plus basketball and volleyball games. Many participants commented that it was well organized and a great way to bring neighbors and friends of other faiths together.

“The Games were certainly a great experience for all involved,” Elder Cosgrave said. “We look forward to future collaboration among faith groups in Ho – on and off the field.”

Republic Day 2^nd Chocho Interfaith Games

The men’s soccer team from the Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake (a stake is a group of Latter-day Saint congregations, similar to a diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took part in the second Chocho Interfaith Games held this year at the University of Ghana-Mensah Sarbah Park on July 1, 2014.

A selected group of women from the Church’s Relief Society (the Relief Society is the Church’s organization for women) also joined the events, competing in the Tug-of-Peace contest while fans and supporters enthusiastically shouted out encouragement to their teams.

“The purpose of these games is to bring together the various religious groups in the country through sports for the promotion of peace in Ghana,” said William Kassah, Church stake public affairs director.

In addition to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a wide variety of religious groups chosen from across the country participated in the Games, including Seventh Day Adventist Church-Nungua, Ahmadiya Muslim Mission-Accra, Living Bread Ministries-Accra, Evangelical Presbyterian Church-Suhum (Eastern Region), Fadama Muslim Mosque-Accra, Sakumono Presbyterian Church-Accra, Rastafarian Society of Ghana-Accra Branch, and the Central Spiritualists (Traditionalist)-Moree (Central Region).

The day began with dark clouds and torrential rains, soaking the soccer field and weighing down the spectators’ tents with accumulating water. But by late morning, the storm had broken and the competitions began.

Following the games, Alhaji Mustapha Oti-Boateng, chief executive officer of Chocho Industries Limited, whose company sponsors the games, presented prizes to the winners and assured the crowd that his company will continue organizing this event on an annual basis.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a senior leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made this statement at an LDS – Evangelical Christian symposium held at Brigham Young University in the United States: “When we look beyond people’s color, ethnic group, social circle, church, synagogue, mosque, creed, and statement of belief, and when we try our best to see them for who and what they are – children of the same God – something good and worthwhile happens within us, and we are thereby drawn into a closer union with that God who is the Father of us all.”