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kojo okyere

University of Cape Coast, Department of Religion and Human Values, Faculty Member

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Dr. Kojo Okyere is a Lecturer in the Department of Religion and Human Values at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, where he received his BA, MPhil, and Phd. Dr. Kojo Okyere also has a certificate in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing in the United Kingdom. He is a member of Ghana Association of Biblical Exegetes (GABES), and African Association for the Study of Religion (AASR). His current research interests are in the areas of bible and sustainable development, African biblical hermeneutics, wisdom literature of the Old Testament, and the concept of work in the Old Testament. He has several articles in academic journals, and has presented papers at several international conferences.
Phone: 0244 973 208
Address: Department of Religion and Human Values
Faculty of Arts
College of Humanities and Legal Studies
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast
Ghana

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Papers by kojo okyere

Proverbs 13:11 and the Practice of Sales Promotion

Sales promotion is one of the pervasive business strategies in Ghana. For many, it is an avenue f... more Sales promotion is one of the pervasive business strategies in Ghana. For many, it is an
avenue for wealth creation and has becomes more than a simple business strategy. This paper
analyses Prov. 13:11 and its implications for the practice of sales promotion as an avenue for
wealth creation. Prov. 13:11 compares wealth obtained from hevel and wealth from ’al-yad.
Whiles the former has its wealth dwindling, the latter has its wealth increasing. The paper
concludes that acquiring money ’al-yad (by labour) as indicated in Prov. 13: 11 is better than
acquiring it mehevel (from vapour) as it is the case with sales promotion.

Pray For The Peace Of Ghana”: A Reading Of Psalm 122

Psalm 122 is an ideal text for reflecting on the practice of national prayers in Ghana. This pape... more Psalm 122 is an ideal text for reflecting on the practice of
national prayers in Ghana. This paper employs a literary
and rhetorical analysis to examine the dynamics between
the poetics of the text and its message, and explores how
the message informs the practice of national prayers.
Base on the values the text exudes, the paper concludes
that national prayers in Ghana should be characterised by
individual and corporate commitment to the nation's
development. Again, it should be a platform where the
achievements of the nation are sang to promote a sense of
pride and forge unity among Ghanaians. Last but not least, national prayers should not end with the prayers for peace, but they should continuously remind Ghanaians to take pragmatic measures to sustain peace and prosperity
within the country.

The Ways of the Fool A Literary Reading of Psalm 14.pdf

Living a Sustainable Life: African and Old Testament Proverbs in Dialogue

When Yaa Asentewaa Meets Deborah: An African and Biblical Dialogue on Women Leadership in Liberation War

Prophetic Action against Injustice: An Exegetical Reading of Micah 3:1-4

Prophet Micah and his book have not received much attention like his older contemporaries such as... more Prophet Micah and his book have not received much attention like his older contemporaries such as Isaiah of Jerusalem, Amos and Hosea. However, Micah is one of the eighth century prophets who championed the cause of justice in the Israelite society. He arose in the midst of the pitch-dark conditions of a nation, where corruption and wickedness pervaded the entire society. He condemned the leaders of the society and encouraged the poor to look up to God who will save them from their oppressions. Micah‟s oracles were directed mainly against the political and religious leaders of the society. This paper explores a section of his oracles (Micah 3:1-4) which targets the political leaders. The method used is literary criticism with emphasis on the words and the images in the text. The paper concludes that leaders are to uphold justice. Lack of justice on the part of leaders amounts to torturing their subjects. Such leaders will eventually face the wrath of God.

Poverty and Slothfulness: A Reading of Proverbs 6:6-11 in the Ghanaian Context

Poverty is inimical to human progress. It is pervasive and wreaks damage in societies. Poverty in... more Poverty is inimical to human progress. It is pervasive and wreaks damage in societies. Poverty in Africa is particularly alarming, since the continent is home to a sizeable number of the world’s poor. Yet talking about poverty in Africa is contestable, especially when it is about its causes. However, ascertaining the causes of poverty is a positive step in addressing this menace. Apart from the ideological character of many of the discussions on the causes of poverty in Africa, many times, discussions are carried out in the ivory towers of scholars, far removed from the understanding of many ordinary people. Too often then, what ordinary Africans think and the explanations that can be gleaned from their cultural traditions are sidelined. To effectively combat poverty, however, we need to approach the task of delineating its causes from a holistic perspective: one that takes seriously mainstream factors as well as what happens at the margins. One such cause which needs consideration is slothfulness. This paper looks at slothfulness, from the perspective of intra-cultural criticism, as a contributory factor to poverty in Africa and Ghana in particular. On this basis, the paper reads Proverbs 6:6-11 as an illustration of one of the ways ancient Israel dealt with the problem of poverty resulting from slothful attitude. It concludes that the text and indeed a number of proverbial sayings in the Old Testament cohere with Ghanaian proverbial tradition to identify slothful attitude as a promoter of poverty.

Emotional Resilience and Mental Health: Perspectives from the Book of Proverbs

According to the World Health Organisation, mental health problems are on the rise. In arresting ... more According to the World Health Organisation, mental health problems are on the rise. In arresting the situation, institutions have placed emphasis on measures that prevent and treat mental illness to the neglect of mental health promotion. Mental health promotion, however, is equally crucial in the fight against mental illness. This paper focuses on one of the main strategies of mental health promotion (emotional resilience) and explores it from the point of view of the bible (specifically the book of Proverbs). As an exercise in biblical studies, the paper engages selected sayings in Proverbs to demonstrate their relevance to building emotional resilience. Important principles which emerge from the selected sayings include; the need to pay attention to emotions, understand the inner self, and deepen social relationships. The paper concludes that since many mental illness cases emanate from personal and environmental factors, Proverbs‘ wisdom on the management of emotions emerges as important resource for building a resilient character, for good mental health

Culture of Politico Religious Intrigues.pdf

African continent continues to reel under many problems. The field of politics is a conspicuous t... more African continent continues to reel under many problems. The field of politics is a conspicuous testimony to this. Many of the political problems result from the failure of aspiring leaders to follow the laid down procedures their societies have put in place. This article throws light on this political problem from the biblical perspective. With the text Judges 9:1-21, the paper examines how the character, Abimelech, schemes his way to power. The paper concludes that failure to follow laid down procedures put up by societies for leadership positions leads to anarchy and strife. Aspiring leaders should, accordingly, take a cue from Abimelech‟s story and prevent their societies from descending into chaos.

THE PEDAGOGY OF SEXUAL MORALITY IN PROVERBS 5

The book of Proverbs is an ancient testimony to the subject of education in ancient Israel. Sever... more The book of Proverbs is an ancient testimony to the subject of education in ancient Israel. Several scholars have explored this interesting, yet relatively new current in biblical scholarship on the book of Proverbs. Scholarly interest in the pedagogy of Proverbs includes discerning the general pedagogical principles that lie within the book’s sayings. Few studies have examined how these principles apply to specific topics in Proverbs. This paper examines the teaching and learning of sexual morality in Proverbs 5. The paper argues that several pedagogical principles, such as the need for attention on the part of the learner, the good relationship between the teacher and the student, the commitment to acquire knowledge and make it practical, and openness in teaching about sexual morality, are relevant for modern teachers and students who struggle with the subject of sexual morality, including in Africa.

THE RHETORIC OF WORK IN PROVERBS 24:30-34

The book of Proverbs contains several instances where the Israelite sages highlight the value of ... more The book of Proverbs contains several instances where the Israelite sages highlight the value of work for the individual and for society. Proverbs 24:30-34 is a masterful example of such a rhetorical piece. Failure to consider its rhetorical featuares is likely to result in incomplete and even incorrect interpretation. Many recent works on Proverbs recognize the rhetorical character of the book, but do not demonstrate its relevance as far as interpretation of the sayings is concerned. To read Proverbs as a rhetorical act is to treat the book close to the demand of its genre. This paper takes a close look at Proverbs 24:30-34 and argues that an analysis of the rhetoric of the text enables us to gain insight into how proverbs function. As well, a rhetorical approach will unfold the meaning and influence of biblical proverbs for a contemporary audience.

AN EMPOWERE PEOPLE: A LITERARY READING OF 1 KINGS 12:1-20

BIBLE, ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A READING OF GENESIS 1:1-2:4A

This paper explores how Gen. 1:1-2:4a reflects the concept of sustainable development (SD) and po... more This paper explores how Gen. 1:1-2:4a reflects the concept of sustainable development (SD) and posits symbols for addressing ecological crisis: symbols that can be used to inform our belief systems. This investigation is imperative in the face of the integrated effort in finding solutions to ecological and environmental difficulties. Its rationale, therefore, is to demonstrate that the Bible can equally engage in the discourse on SD. It, indeed, has something to offer in the quest for solutions to ecological crisis. In this respect, there is the need for exploratory studies aimed at investigating the prospects for positive interface between the Bible and ecology, toward pragmatic response to ecological crisis.

Proverbs 13:11 and the Practice of Sales Promotion

Sales promotion is one of the pervasive business strategies in Ghana. For many, it is an avenue f... more Sales promotion is one of the pervasive business strategies in Ghana. For many, it is an
avenue for wealth creation and has becomes more than a simple business strategy. This paper
analyses Prov. 13:11 and its implications for the practice of sales promotion as an avenue for
wealth creation. Prov. 13:11 compares wealth obtained from hevel and wealth from ’al-yad.
Whiles the former has its wealth dwindling, the latter has its wealth increasing. The paper
concludes that acquiring money ’al-yad (by labour) as indicated in Prov. 13: 11 is better than
acquiring it mehevel (from vapour) as it is the case with sales promotion.

Pray For The Peace Of Ghana”: A Reading Of Psalm 122

Psalm 122 is an ideal text for reflecting on the practice of national prayers in Ghana. This pape... more Psalm 122 is an ideal text for reflecting on the practice of
national prayers in Ghana. This paper employs a literary
and rhetorical analysis to examine the dynamics between
the poetics of the text and its message, and explores how
the message informs the practice of national prayers.
Base on the values the text exudes, the paper concludes
that national prayers in Ghana should be characterised by
individual and corporate commitment to the nation's
development. Again, it should be a platform where the
achievements of the nation are sang to promote a sense of
pride and forge unity among Ghanaians. Last but not least, national prayers should not end with the prayers for peace, but they should continuously remind Ghanaians to take pragmatic measures to sustain peace and prosperity
within the country.

The Ways of the Fool A Literary Reading of Psalm 14.pdf

Living a Sustainable Life: African and Old Testament Proverbs in Dialogue

When Yaa Asentewaa Meets Deborah: An African and Biblical Dialogue on Women Leadership in Liberation War

Prophetic Action against Injustice: An Exegetical Reading of Micah 3:1-4

Prophet Micah and his book have not received much attention like his older contemporaries such as... more Prophet Micah and his book have not received much attention like his older contemporaries such as Isaiah of Jerusalem, Amos and Hosea. However, Micah is one of the eighth century prophets who championed the cause of justice in the Israelite society. He arose in the midst of the pitch-dark conditions of a nation, where corruption and wickedness pervaded the entire society. He condemned the leaders of the society and encouraged the poor to look up to God who will save them from their oppressions. Micah‟s oracles were directed mainly against the political and religious leaders of the society. This paper explores a section of his oracles (Micah 3:1-4) which targets the political leaders. The method used is literary criticism with emphasis on the words and the images in the text. The paper concludes that leaders are to uphold justice. Lack of justice on the part of leaders amounts to torturing their subjects. Such leaders will eventually face the wrath of God.

Poverty and Slothfulness: A Reading of Proverbs 6:6-11 in the Ghanaian Context

Poverty is inimical to human progress. It is pervasive and wreaks damage in societies. Poverty in... more Poverty is inimical to human progress. It is pervasive and wreaks damage in societies. Poverty in Africa is particularly alarming, since the continent is home to a sizeable number of the world’s poor. Yet talking about poverty in Africa is contestable, especially when it is about its causes. However, ascertaining the causes of poverty is a positive step in addressing this menace. Apart from the ideological character of many of the discussions on the causes of poverty in Africa, many times, discussions are carried out in the ivory towers of scholars, far removed from the understanding of many ordinary people. Too often then, what ordinary Africans think and the explanations that can be gleaned from their cultural traditions are sidelined. To effectively combat poverty, however, we need to approach the task of delineating its causes from a holistic perspective: one that takes seriously mainstream factors as well as what happens at the margins. One such cause which needs consideration is slothfulness. This paper looks at slothfulness, from the perspective of intra-cultural criticism, as a contributory factor to poverty in Africa and Ghana in particular. On this basis, the paper reads Proverbs 6:6-11 as an illustration of one of the ways ancient Israel dealt with the problem of poverty resulting from slothful attitude. It concludes that the text and indeed a number of proverbial sayings in the Old Testament cohere with Ghanaian proverbial tradition to identify slothful attitude as a promoter of poverty.

Emotional Resilience and Mental Health: Perspectives from the Book of Proverbs

According to the World Health Organisation, mental health problems are on the rise. In arresting ... more According to the World Health Organisation, mental health problems are on the rise. In arresting the situation, institutions have placed emphasis on measures that prevent and treat mental illness to the neglect of mental health promotion. Mental health promotion, however, is equally crucial in the fight against mental illness. This paper focuses on one of the main strategies of mental health promotion (emotional resilience) and explores it from the point of view of the bible (specifically the book of Proverbs). As an exercise in biblical studies, the paper engages selected sayings in Proverbs to demonstrate their relevance to building emotional resilience. Important principles which emerge from the selected sayings include; the need to pay attention to emotions, understand the inner self, and deepen social relationships. The paper concludes that since many mental illness cases emanate from personal and environmental factors, Proverbs‘ wisdom on the management of emotions emerges as important resource for building a resilient character, for good mental health

Culture of Politico Religious Intrigues.pdf

African continent continues to reel under many problems. The field of politics is a conspicuous t... more African continent continues to reel under many problems. The field of politics is a conspicuous testimony to this. Many of the political problems result from the failure of aspiring leaders to follow the laid down procedures their societies have put in place. This article throws light on this political problem from the biblical perspective. With the text Judges 9:1-21, the paper examines how the character, Abimelech, schemes his way to power. The paper concludes that failure to follow laid down procedures put up by societies for leadership positions leads to anarchy and strife. Aspiring leaders should, accordingly, take a cue from Abimelech‟s story and prevent their societies from descending into chaos.

THE PEDAGOGY OF SEXUAL MORALITY IN PROVERBS 5

The book of Proverbs is an ancient testimony to the subject of education in ancient Israel. Sever... more The book of Proverbs is an ancient testimony to the subject of education in ancient Israel. Several scholars have explored this interesting, yet relatively new current in biblical scholarship on the book of Proverbs. Scholarly interest in the pedagogy of Proverbs includes discerning the general pedagogical principles that lie within the book’s sayings. Few studies have examined how these principles apply to specific topics in Proverbs. This paper examines the teaching and learning of sexual morality in Proverbs 5. The paper argues that several pedagogical principles, such as the need for attention on the part of the learner, the good relationship between the teacher and the student, the commitment to acquire knowledge and make it practical, and openness in teaching about sexual morality, are relevant for modern teachers and students who struggle with the subject of sexual morality, including in Africa.

THE RHETORIC OF WORK IN PROVERBS 24:30-34

The book of Proverbs contains several instances where the Israelite sages highlight the value of ... more The book of Proverbs contains several instances where the Israelite sages highlight the value of work for the individual and for society. Proverbs 24:30-34 is a masterful example of such a rhetorical piece. Failure to consider its rhetorical featuares is likely to result in incomplete and even incorrect interpretation. Many recent works on Proverbs recognize the rhetorical character of the book, but do not demonstrate its relevance as far as interpretation of the sayings is concerned. To read Proverbs as a rhetorical act is to treat the book close to the demand of its genre. This paper takes a close look at Proverbs 24:30-34 and argues that an analysis of the rhetoric of the text enables us to gain insight into how proverbs function. As well, a rhetorical approach will unfold the meaning and influence of biblical proverbs for a contemporary audience.

AN EMPOWERE PEOPLE: A LITERARY READING OF 1 KINGS 12:1-20

BIBLE, ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A READING OF GENESIS 1:1-2:4A

This paper explores how Gen. 1:1-2:4a reflects the concept of sustainable development (SD) and po... more This paper explores how Gen. 1:1-2:4a reflects the concept of sustainable development (SD) and posits symbols for addressing ecological crisis: symbols that can be used to inform our belief systems. This investigation is imperative in the face of the integrated effort in finding solutions to ecological and environmental difficulties. Its rationale, therefore, is to demonstrate that the Bible can equally engage in the discourse on SD. It, indeed, has something to offer in the quest for solutions to ecological crisis. In this respect, there is the need for exploratory studies aimed at investigating the prospects for positive interface between the Bible and ecology, toward pragmatic response to ecological crisis.