ROLE OF CULTURE IN BIBLE INTERPRETATION: A REFERENCE TO ASANTE-TWI BIBLE READING COMMUNITY

Bible interpretation plays a major role in helping the local indigenes to understand the gospel message in their mother-tongue. Since the Bible was written in the cultural settings of the original audience, which is different from the culture of the present reader, Bible interpreters try to import the culture of the original readers in the process of interpreting the Bible; making it difficult for present readers to understand some of the concepts of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. Using Paul Hiebert’s suggestion for Bible interpreters and missiologists to make the gospel have a proper meaning to the local indigenes through proper interpretation, this article argues that Bible interpreters should interpret the Bible into the Asante-Twi reading community considering their culture, as Bible readers cannot be separable from their culture. It also proposes that proper Bible interpretation should meet the cognitive, affective, and evaluative dimension of the new environment such as the Asante, Ghanaian, or African culture to help the Asante-Twi (Ghanaian or African) reading community to understand God’s word in their environment. Article visualizations

A Critical Study of Matthew 18:15-18 in New Testament Greek and Selected Akan Mother-Tongue Translations: Implication for Peace-Making in Ghana

Current research suggests that the globe is growing more fractured, less peaceful, and riskier for future generations. The world has seen family, marriage, community, and national conflicts in recent years. Ghana has ethnic conflict in many areas despite its low sub-regional conflict score. In a country where over 70% of the population is Christian, contextualising the sacred text to provide a biblical peace approach is crucial. The study examined Matthew 18:15–18 exegetically to inform Ghanaian peace-making initiatives. The study proposes that Ghanaian Christians’ peace-making efforts could benefit from Jesus Christ's teachings in Matthew 18:15-18 interpreted in the Akan mothers’ vernacular

A Critical Study of Abba Ho Patēr in Romans 8:15 in the New Revised Asante Twi Version (2018)

Bible translation is among the difficult exercises in scholarship because it demands a careful analysis of the biblical text from the source language into the target language. The religio-cultural settings and worldview of the indigenous people are also considered so that they are able to access the word of God as written and meant by the author(s). An example of Bible translation exercise is the New Revised Asante Twi Version (NRATV) 2018, which contains some translation problems. Some texts are not translated but “carried wholly” into the new or target language to make them look as if they form part of the native language. One of such is “Abba,” which is a HebraicAramaic word found in Romans 8:15. Since Abba is not an Asante (and Akan) language, it becomes difficult for the Asante reading community (and by extension all Akan languages) and users of the Asante-Twi Bible to understand and express the concept within their religio-cultural worldview because they do not understand the thought of the author in their language. Using exegetical, mother-tongue hermeneutics and the communicative method of translation as approaches, the study has found out that the translation of …Αββα ὁ πατήρ (…Abba ho Patēr) as …Abba, Agya (…Abba, Father) in the Asante-Twi Bible (2018) should be rendered as “…Agya, M’agya” (Father, My Father). The study has thus added to the interpretations of Romans 8:15 in Asante-Twi. It is being recommended that in the future revision of the Asante-Twi Bible, the Bible Society of Ghana should consider using “…Agya, M’agya” (Father, My Father) in the translation of … Αββα ὁ πατήρ (…Abba ho Patēr)

A Critical Study of Matthew 18:15-18 in New Testament Greek and Selected Akan Mother-Tongue Translations: Implication for Peace-Making in Ghana

Recent global research reveals a world characterised by increasing fragmentation, diminished peace, and mounting risks for future generations. Diverse conflicts, ranging from familial to national issues, persist, even among individuals sharing the same faith. In Africa, nations like Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, and Sierra Leone grapple with severe consequences of conflicts. In Ghana, pockets of ethnic discord impact education, healthcare, and social services, prompting the emigration of skilled professionals. Despite ongoing peace efforts in Ghana, effective approaches are crucial. With over 70% of Ghanaians identifying as Christians, contextualising peace-making within sacred texts becomes imperative. In this exploration, the study delves into a biblical approach, specifically scrutinising Matthew 18:15–18 through exegetical analysis in Greek language and mother-tongue hermeneutics. These approaches reveal a convergence between the biblical author’s original meaning conveyed in the Greek language and its interpretation in the mother tongue. The paper advocates private conflict resolution to avoid gossip, involving witnesses if needed and church leaders if the issue persists. Disciplinary measures may be necessary, emphasising personal dignity and adherence to God’s will. The paper significantly contributes to conflict resolution knowledge, providing valuable insights for fostering peace in Ghana and beyond

A Critical Study of Matthew 18:15-18 in New Testament Greek and Selected Akan Mother-Tongue Translations: Implication for Peace-Making in Ghana

Current research suggests that the globe is growing more fractured, less peaceful, and riskier for future generations. The world has seen family, marriage, community, and national conflicts in recent years. Ghana has ethnic conflict in many areas despite its low sub-regional conflict score. In a country where over 70% of the population is Christian, contextualising the sacred text to provide a biblical peace approach is crucial. The study examined Matthew 18:15–18 exegetically to inform Ghanaian peace-making initiatives. The study proposes that Ghanaian Christians’ peace-making efforts could benefit from Jesus Christ's teachings in Matthew 18:15-18 interpreted in the Akan mothers’ vernacular

The Bible, In-Laws and Family in Africa

The rolelessness of in-laws in the family structure makes in-law and family relationships a difficult problem in Africa. This article investigated the Bible, in-laws and the family in Africa, as well as how Scriptures address in-laws and families in connection to African culture. The research is supported by existing literature by researchers in the research field. It examines relevant Bible material, investigates how the Bible treats the problematic topic of in-laws and situates it in the African setting. The focus of the research is to determine if the Bible’s stance on in-laws conforms to family structure in the African environment by analysing the interaction between them. It establishes that the Bible instructs us to respect and care for our in-laws. The couples consequently must pursue the well-being of their in-laws, as there is a connection between the Bible, in-laws and the family in Africa

Distribution of Haemoglobin S and C in Ghana – The Role of Ethnic Barriers to Intermarriages

Using repeated cross-sectional data from the Ghana Ports and Harbours’ Authority (GPHA) hospital and cross-sectional household data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 7, this paper exploits intermarriages between the northern part and southern part of Ghana as a potential underlying factor partly explaining the distribution of haemoglobin S (Hb S) and haemoglobin C (Hb C) in the country. Similar to other studies, we find evidence for a higher prevalence of Hb S and a lower prevalence of Hb C in the southern part of Ghana. We also find that the rate of intermarriage between northern ethnic groups and southern ethnic groups is just about 2.6 per cent, largely leading to the confinement of Hb S to the southern part of Ghana and Hb C to the northern part of Ghana

Entrepreneurial opportunity decisions under uncertainty:Recognizing the complementing role of personality traits and cognitive skills

Purpose: The aim of this paper focuses on advancing the entrepreneurial literature by enhancing the understanding of the connections between personal behavior and cognitive skills in decision making under uncertainty. Methodology: The method of this research has been adapted the framework used by Garrett andHolland (2015), who developed propositions from the conceptual narratives of how environmental uncertainty and complexity differentially affect the motivations and cognition of independent entrepreneurs and corporate entrepreneurs to engage inentrepreneurial action. Findings: The findings of this research provide a conceptual basis for a broader perspective on behaviors and cognitions that motivate or hinder entrepreneurial actions while at the same time, positioning the entrepreneur’s decision at the core of decision theory. Implications for theory and practice:Theoretically, this research contributes to a holistic view of opportunity decisions. It redirects the traditional analyses path of entrepreneurial decisions discussed distinctively from the personal behavior or cognition paradigm, which does not provide a complete view into the larger entrepreneurial decisions under uncertainty.Practically, our argument provides further insight into the black box of entrepreneurial opportunity decisions under uncertainty and thus highlights the need for a broader perspective for the entrepreneur, especially in the early stage of venture formation,where some cognitions and required personal attributes are needed in consonance for entrepreneurial action. Originality and value: Entrepreneurship research on decision making under uncertainty has mainly focused on the effect of uncertainty on entrepreneurial actions, while an attempt at the individual level, particularly, fromthe cognitive framework seeks to explain why actions differ. Scholarly efforts have also been made on what informs entrepreneurial actions from the perspective of the entrepreneur’s personal attributes. However, no integrated approach is offered in the literature to study how cognitive skills and personality traits complement each other. <br/

CHALLENGES TO RETROFITTING AND ADAPTATION OF EXISTING BUILDING WITHIN THE MAJOR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IN GHANA

Adaptation and retrofitting of existing buildings in recent times has gained increasing recognition as an acceptable alternative to new buildings. The aim of this study was to identify the challenges to retrofitting and adaptation of existing buildings within the major central business district in Ghana. Questionnaires were distributed to clients, contractors and construction consultants within Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi Central Business Districts. Out of the 300 questionnairesadministered, 55% of responsive rate was achieved. Data generated from the survey was analysed using mean score ranking to determine the level of severity regarding its significance. The high cost of adaptation and retrofitting process, poormaintenance culture of building owners, health and safety requirements during retrofitting, building tenants’ resistance to disruptive processes, inadequate government legislation among others were identified as some challenges toretrofitting and adaptation of existing buildings. It was therefore suggested that policy makers and practitioners should put in place measures for curbing such occurrences

Does the presence of governance structure affect small and medium-sized enterprise performance? Evidence from an emerging market

Objective: The objective of the article is to determine the effect of governance structure components (audit committee presence, board size adequacy, and board leadership) on SMEs' performance and the moderating effect of chief executive officer (CEO) tenure on the influence of governance structure on SMEs' performance in Ghanaian context. Research Design & Methods: We sampled 145 respondents from selected SMEs in the Ghanaian manufacturing, telecommunication, and financial sectors for the study. All selected participants completed questionnaires on governance structure and shared their informed perception of the enterprises' performance. The data gathered were analysed using multiple regression analysis and Hayes' process macro. Findings: The results indicated that board leadership, the presence of an audit committee, and board size adequacy do not significantly influence SMEs' performance. The results further revealed that CEO tenure is a significant negative moderator to the influence of the governance structure on SMEs' performance. Implications & Recommendations: Future studies must focus on how SMEs in Ghana can put CEOs and board succession plans in place so as to ensure creativity/innovation. Contribution & Value Added: This study contributes to the body of knowledge relating to the governance structure's influence on various indicators of business performance of SMEs in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to assess the contribution of corporate governance structures to the performance of SMEs in Ghana. This would help SMEs to know which aspects of their governance structure should be strengthened to effectively contribute to their success