A Study of African Neo-Pentecostalism as Space for Entrepreneurship in Ghana

Abstract

In contemporary times, neo-Pentecostalism, noted for itsNotwithstanding renewal focus, has engaged and facilitated entrepreneurship and its ethos within the neo-Pentecostal space. Notwithstanding, scholarship that highlights the potential role of African neo-Pentecostal/ Charismatic churches in entrepreneurship promotion and development, the motivation and dynamics of African neo-Pentecostal entrepreneurs’ engagement with entrepreneurship has hardly been extensive and adequate. This study, therefore, examines the motivation and dynamics of African neo-Pentecostal entrepreneurs’ engagement with entrepreneurship. The study is qualitative in nature and, thus, adopts the phenomenological approach to data gathering and analysis. Spiritual capital is employed as an analytical framework for the study. The research instrument used is the semi-structured interview guide. Data for the study were gathered mainly through personal interviews, with relevant personnel such as neo-Pentecostal church leaders and entrepreneurs. Findings of the study show evidence of the influence of neo-Pentecostal beliefs and practices on the motivation and dynamics of Ghanaian neo-Pentecostal entrepreneurs’ engagement with entrepreneurship. This study exhibits the subjective experiences of neo-Pentecostal entrepreneurs and the influence of the religious dimension on the business lives of individuals within the neo-Pentecostal space. Taking into consideration the wide influence of religious bodies on the Ghanaian populace, the study recommends that governmental and non-governmental organisations, policy makers, educators and religious institutions involved in entrepreneurship development explore possible ways of collaborating with one another in order to learn best practices that effectively contribute to equipping individuals who are already into entrepreneurship or those who have the desire to venture into the field.