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Basic 3 · Religious and Moral Education · Purpose of God’s Creation

Building Good Relationships Among Ethnic Groups

In this topic you will learn practical ways to build good relationships among ethnic groups.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name ways to build good relationships among groups
  • Explain how religion teaches love for all
  • Plan an activity that brings groups together

What you already know

  • Living in peace with other ethnic groups

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
God’s Creation & Attributes
Sub-strand
Purpose of God’s Creation
Indicator
B3.1.3.1.3 – Explain the need for good relationship among people of different ethnic groups

Introduction

In Ghana, people from different groups marry, trade, worship and celebrate festivals together. These build strong bonds.

1. Ways to Build Good Relationships

  • learn each other's languages and greetings
  • attend each other's festivals
  • intermarriage
  • trade and work together
  • avoid insulting other groups

2. What Religions Teach

Religious teachings on loving others
ReligionTeaching
Christianity"Love your neighbour as yourself." (Mark 12:31)
IslamAllah made people into nations and tribes so they may know one another (Qur'an 49:13).
Traditional Religion"Benkum dware nifa, na nifa nso dware benkum" – the left hand washes the right and the right washes the left; we need each other.
People from different ethnic groups celebrating a festival together
Figure 1: Celebrating together Draw people celebrating together.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

bond
A strong connection between people.
neighbour
A person who lives near you; also any fellow person.
insult
To say rude things about someone.
festival
A special yearly celebration.

Summary

  • Learning languages, sharing festivals and working together build relationships.
  • Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion all teach love for others.
  • We should never insult other groups.

Class activity: Culture Day Plan

  1. Plan a class Culture Day with foods, dances and greetings from many groups.
  2. Assign roles to each group member.
  3. Present the plan to the class.

You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of diverse Ghanaian communities, Role-play cards

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which verse says "Love your neighbour as yourself"?

    • A. Mark 12:31
    • B. Genesis 1:1
    • C. Psalm 23:1
    • D. John 1:1
    Show answer
    Answer: Mark 12:31That is the verse.

  2. 2. Qur'an 49:13 says people were made into nations and tribes to…

    • A. Know one another
    • B. Fight each other
    • C. Stay apart
    • D. Hate each other
    Show answer
    Answer: Know one anotherDiversity is for knowing each other.

  3. 3. Attending other groups' festivals builds good relationships.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt brings people together.

  4. 4. Insulting other groups builds unity.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseInsults cause quarrels.

  5. 5. A strong connection between people is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: bondThat is a bond.

  6. 6. Give two ways to build good relationships among ethnic groups.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: learn languages, attend festivals, intermarriage, trade, avoid insults.These build unity.

Homework

  1. Ask an adult about a friendship between your family and a family from another ethnic group.