In general terms, Ghana’s university administrators see no value in supporting
this stream of study because it does not “produce” graduates who can
make constructive contributions to the national agenda of industrial development.
The study of religion (or religious studies) in general suffers from this
bias internationally, and religion itself is becoming less popular among young
people. Other indications of this low priority are the courses offered in religious
studies departments and the lack of “suitable” experts. After my presentation,
one audience member who had earned a PhD in Islamic studies from a Middle
Eastern university, pointed out that he could not find a teaching job in a Ghanaian
university. He seemed to believe that his situation had a lot to do with discrimination
and bias; however, I was not so sure. He is now an adjunct
instructor in Islamic studies at a local junior college in the Philadelphia area.
American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences