The media to brand and hype man of God or God

MARKETING THE ANOINTING: RELIGIOUS MEDIA MARKETING IN GHANA

AWULLEY AYIKWEI

AWULLEY AYIKWEI holds a Bachelor of Arts (Theology) from the University of Cape Coast,
Cape Coast, Ghana, A Masters of Theology (History and Mission) from the Trinity Theological
Seminary, Legon, Accra, Ghana. A PhD Candidate, in Religious Studies Department of Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and A lecturer in the Biblical Studies
Departments, All Nations University College

ABSTRACT

The recent use of “explicit linguistic” billboards, posters and flyers, advertisement amongst Neo
Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Ghana seem to play a decisive role in these churches.
Whereas they promote their spiritual assignments and official visions, the pastors strengthen
their personalities in accordance to the “spiritual gifts” they perform, focusing on the graphic
portrayal of emotions, religious experiences, ethos and morality, presented on the billboard,
poster and flayer.
This article takes a critical look at Ghana’s rapidly sprouting of billboard, posters and flyers
advertisement in the developments of the Ghanaian religious media landscape and it effect on the
church. The arguments emerge from the observed cases of rapidly sprouting of billboard, posters
and flyers advertisement of churches in Koforidua and Accra through ethnographic fieldwork
carried through 2018 -2020