Magic and miracles in Ghana: A critical examination

Abstract

Some people seem to understand magic and miracles to be the same. The understanding of such people can be attributed to the effects that the two phenomena produce. However, magic has also been perceived by some people to be evil whereas its counterpart, miracles are seen as good irrespective of the effects both produce. Whether the two phenomena are the same or different causes much discussion. This is because the understanding of the two phenomena seems to be confused with each other. This paper aims at examining the two phenomena using the descriptive analysis methodology. Whiles references will be made from the western understanding of magic and miracles, the paper will pay particular attention to the Ghanaian understanding of magic and miracles. Secondly, the paper cites and explains when, why and how some societies in the past and the present use magic and miracles. The paper concludes by arguing that magic and miracles are not the same as it has for long been perceived by some Ghanaians. The differences between magic and miracles are dependent on examining the personality of the performer, the source of the power for the execution of any of the two phenomena, the place they are performed, the motive behind their performance and the techniques involved before the desired effects take place in any society including the Ghanaian society