God in Ghana

Ghana is a country big on its religion.  Its Christian majority goes back to the time of colonisation by the Portuguese, then Dutch and later the English.  But Ghana also prides itself on its belief of religious freedom and has a Muslim minority that is also well represented.  People go about their business alongside each other, like many other places in the world, and it's nice to see that sectarian violence isn't one of the lasting remnants of colonisation. 

In fact, in Ghana it's hard to forget that God is beside you.  In the shops.  Walking down the streets. In the taxis (where you'll really need Him). On the beach.  On the motorway. On the tro-tros (mini-bus like vans acting like taxis across the country).  God is ever-present. I started taking a list of the names of the myriad shops on my last day here and came up with the following during a five mile stretch of road to the beach:  

**Divine Mercy Communication Centre

**Life Without God is Dead Shoe Shop

**The Body of Christ Licensed Chemical Seller

**Lord's Enterprise Phone Shop

**My God is a Consuming Fire Jewelry Shop 

**Narrow Gate Frozen Food

**Heavenly Expectation Book Shop

**God's Time is the Best Shoe Shine 

**By His Grace Frozen Food 

**Hand of God Beauty 

**Victory of God's Son Plumbing

**God is Still at Work Refrigeration 

**St Anthony's Pharmacy

**Godly Favors Eye Care   

Here's a smattering of the roadside establishments I was quick enough to snap: 

                                               

God even made His appearance on a bag holding the chicken dress I bought at a roadside market stall.  

in my hotel room 

Jehovah Alone. A Christian Enterprise. 

                                     

In one of the classrooms at school 

back of a tro tro 

front of a tro tro 

                                                  

at the beach

my personal favorite. because, you know, the Virgin Mary admonishes  non-swimmers.  

Perhaps the best brush with religion happened to our programme coordinator, Charlie. She went to say goodbyes and give thank you gifts at the Ministry of Education and the woman there gave her a huge hug and bid her a: 'May God bless your family, may he bless your relatives and may God bless you and may He bring you many, many children before you are too old!'

Because I have a religious mother, I know that you just can't argue with that.