The Director of the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi, Rev. Gideon Buernor Puplampu, has urged Christians to preserve the good aspects of African cultural identity while remaining firmly rooted in biblical truth.
Rev Puplampu made the call during the 40th Anniversary Lecture of the Big Ada District at Emmanuel Congregation, Kasseh, on Thursday, 30th April 2026. In his lecture on the theme: “The Church and African Traditional Practices,” Rev. Puplampu examined the relationship between Christian faith and African traditional cultural expressions.
He emphasised the need for believers to carefully distinguish between cultural values that align with Scripture and practices that conflict with Christian doctrine. He explained that not every African tradition stands in opposition to Christianity. He highlighted values such as respect for elders, communal living, moral discipline, and family unity as cultural strengths that reflect godly principles and should be upheld.
However, he cautioned against practices rooted in superstition, idol worship, ancestral mediation, and rituals that undermine the supremacy of Christ. He encouraged the church to approach African traditional practices with spiritual discernment, biblical wisdom, and cultural sensitivity, noting that Christians must not abandon their cultural identity but rather refine it through the lens of Scripture.
Rev. Puplampu urged the church to intensify teaching on how believers can faithfully engage culture without compromising biblical truth, ensuring that Christian witness remains both culturally relevant and doctrinally sound.
By: Rev Immanuel Wiafe, Ga West Presbytery PRO
