The Centre for Interfaith Studies and Engagement in Africa (CISEA) replaced what used to be the Presbyterian Interfaith Research and Resource Centre (PIRRC). Having operated for several years since 2008 under the Ecumenical and Social Relations Department of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) as a unit responsible for informing, equipping and training the Christian Church in Ghana and the West African sub-region in interfaith issues, the leadership of the PCG thought it wise to put the Centre under a tertiary theological institution. This move coincided with plans of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI) to establish a similar Centre.
Accordingly, the Centre moved to the campus of the ACI in 2019, now running with the new name Centre for Interfaith Studies and Engagement in Africa (CISEA) which also indicates an enhanced mandate, drawing on the decades of experience in the area on interreligious engagement.
The CISEA was inaugurated on Friday, 11th September 2020 with a lecture on the theme: “Called to Good Neighbourliness and Constructive Engagement with Other Faiths” delivered by Rev. Dr. Johnson Mbillah, a former General Advisor of PROCMURA and chaired by Rev. Prof. B. Y. Quarshie, the Rector of ACI. The Rt. Rev. Prof. J. O. Y. Mante, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana was the Guest of Honour. The Council, Faculty, Staff and Alumni of ACI as well as Christians from different denominations, Muslims and Traditional Leaders participated in the inaugural ceremony.
CISEA therefore is one of the Centres of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute with a mandate to conduct research to feed into continuous education and accredited studies programmes.