Artificial Intelligence and Religious Authority in Ghanaian Christianity: A Mediated- Authority Framework for Ethical and Theological Governance

Abstract Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is entering Christian preaching, education, administration, translation, pastoral communication and digital evangelism, but little empirical research examines how AI-assisted content acquires religious authority in African churches. This qualitative study explored how Ghanaian Christian stakeholders understand the uses, limits and governance of AI. Thirty-one participants from seven stakeholder categories were purposively selected in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Tamale between January and June 2026. Semi-structured interviews were examined through reflexive thematic analysis and interpreted with a mediated-authority framework. Six themes were developed: bounded ministry assistance; derivative authority through human and institutional endorsement; contested use in sermon preparation; risks to theological formation and embodied pastoral care; governance, data protection and digital discipleship; and inequalities involving infrastructure, language and foreign platform power. Participants generally accepted administrative, educational, translation and media applications when accountable humans retained oversight, but opposed substituting AI for spiritual discernment, prophecy, doctrinal judgement or pastoral responsibility. The findings show that AI-assisted content becomes religiously consequential through platform design, human selection, ecclesial endorsement and community reception, with digital competence and institutional capacity shaping each stage. The article advances a risk-proportionate, church-owned governance approach centred on verification, disclosure, privacy, formation, contextual review and named human accountability in Ghana.