Muslim NGOs in Contemporary Ghana

Abstract

Ghana is a predominantly Christian country although state authority and government institutions are secular by definition. Muslims constitute about 20 percent of the population. Mutual assistance constitutes a core element in traditional Ghanaian ideals of self-help and communitarianism. The NGO landscape in contemporary Ghana predominantly comprises Christian, non-denominational, and secular factions. In contrast, the existence, agenda, and activities of local and international Muslim NGOs, Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have hitherto been regarded as a marginal phenomenon, if noted at all. This chapter will therefore discuss their expansion in the recent two decades, especially highlighting the crucial role of social media for the NGO-ization of the Muslim sphere in Ghana.