Russian Orthodox Church Expansion and Foreign Influence in Ghana: A Religious Soft Power Analysis

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has been steadily expanding its influence in Africa, with Ghana being one of the countries affected by this growth. This expansion has raised questions about the relationship between religion and geopolitical influence, particularly in the context of Russia's broader soft power strategy. The Moscow Patriarchate established the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa in December 2021, allowing the ROC to extend its presence in many African countries, including Ghana.

While the ROC reports over 200 parishes across Africa by 2023, its influence in Ghana should be viewed as emerging rather than already decisive. Scholars suggest that Russia's engagement with Africa goes beyond conventional diplomacy, encompassing economic, military, humanitarian, cultural, media, and religious activities. Religious institutions, including the ROC, are seen as potential channels of international influence, possessing moral authority, networks, identities, and transnational relationships.

The expansion of the ROC in Ghana raises questions about the relationship between Russia, foreign policy interests, and religious expansion. The historical context of Christianity in Ghana, characterized by religio-cultural colonialism, European imperialism, and African nationalism, provides a framework for examining the contemporary ROC expansion.

The expansion of the ROC in Africa can be analyzed through three dimensions of religious soft power: institutional influence, relational influence, and discursive influence. The ROC's activities in Ghana may contribute to Russian influence among African elites, but it is essential to distinguish religious activities from political interference and recognize the complex relationship between religious networks and foreign influence.