Towards 2024 Elections: Men of God must be circumspect

As Ghana prepares for another pivotal election, the role and actions of religious leaders, particularly prophets, have become a pressing concern.

The recent trend of prophets publicly declaring election winners without considering the impact on the electoral process is alarming.

In the declarations they often blame candidates for unfulfilled obligations when predictions fail, leaving a trail of confusion, fear and panic.

This is why we find the initiative of the National Peace Council to meet with pastors and prophets commendable.

The National Peace Council's (NPC's) initiative to discuss the potential of such prophecies to increase political tension is timely and commendable.

The Chairman of the NPC, Rev. Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, aptly noted, "Religious utterances can lead to increased tension among different groups, human rights violations, breakdown in social cohesion, and stability of a nation." Religion should symbolise unity, not division.

Church leaders must promote unity and national cohesion and recognise that violence and instability would ultimately lead to their churches becoming empty. The contradictory prophecies from various prophets raise questions about their authenticity.

For instance, in 2016, a Ghanaian prophet predicted that then President John Mahama would win the election. When Mahama lost, the prophet claimed that the President's failure to fulfil certain obligations led to his defeat.

Similarly, in 2020, a Nigerian prophet predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari would die before the end of his term. These false prophecies sparked controversy and confusion among citizens.

Ghana's democratic journey since 1992 has been remarkable, and we must preserve our peaceful reputation. However, the actions of some prophets threaten to undermine this progress.

The prophets risk losing the credibility and trust of their followers while such prophecies also fuel tensions among party supporters.

Another dangerous element is that these prophecies undermine national unity.

In 2019, a Ghanaian prophet claimed that the opposition NDC party would win the 2020 elections. When the ruling NPP party won, the prophet's followers were left disillusioned.

This example highlights the dangers of false prophecies.

The repercussions of these prophecies are multifaceted. They often pit citizens against one another, undermining national unity.

In this vein, we call on the prophets to deliver election-related prophecies privately.

We also caution our presidential and parliamentary candidates to concentrate their attention and energy on issue-based campaigning to attract the support and the votes of  the electorate.

The citizenry must also strongly reject divisive prophecies and report inciteful declarations to the appropriate authorities.

We know many of such prophecies that never came to pass, hence the need for caution.

Ghana's prosperity depends on unity and peaceful coexistence. We must maintain our democratic credentials and create opportunities for our youth.

As Rev. Dr Adu-Gyamfi emphasised: "Men of God cannot add to the tension and confusion." They must seek God's face and remain loyal to their faith, not political parties.

We charge religious leaders to exercise caution and recognise that their words carry significant influence.

By promoting unity, rejecting divisive prophecies and focusing on issue-based campaigning, we can ensure a peaceful and successful electoral process to preserve Ghana's peaceful legacy.