Award-winning gospel musician Ohemaa Mercy has urged Christians to combine prayer with practical action, stressing that not every challenge requires a purely spiritual solution.
Speaking on Prime Time with George and Mercury Quaye on August 19, 2026, she said Christians should learn to distinguish between situations that require prayer and those that demand personal effort and responsibility.
“Do you know prayer doesn’t solve everything? Some things are not spiritual; you just have to get the right channel to work with,” she said.
Ohemaa Mercy said although prayer remained important, individuals must also take responsibility for their actions and work towards achieving their goals.
“You don’t have to disturb God over everything. If I want to pass my exams, I have to learn. If I don’t learn and I go to the exam hall, and I’m sitting there praying, how will I pass the exams?” she asked.
She similarly encouraged Christians facing financial difficulties to seek practical ways of improving their circumstances rather than relying solely on prayer.
“If I need money, how will I get the money? I need to work. I can’t sit there for money to fall like manna,” she said. (Read Actors need a pension scheme – Jagga Pee’s appeal to Prez Mahama)
The gospel musician particularly encouraged unemployed young people to identify their talents, explore available opportunities and use technology to create income-generating opportunities while continuing to pray for open doors.
“There are some things prayer doesn’t solve. You have to write applications, and even if you are not getting office work, there is some potential in you. You need to start something. Now the internet is open, and there’s a lot you can do to get money,” she said.
She urged young people not to despise humble beginnings, noting that starting small could eventually lead to bigger opportunities.
“You can start from somewhere whilst you are praying, and God can open big doors for you,” she added.
Ohemaa Mercy also called for a balance between religious commitments and professional responsibilities, advising Christians not to allow church activities to interfere with their working hours or ability to earn a living.
Turning to parenting, she urged parents to build close and open relationships with their children, particularly as they enter adolescence and begin facing emotional and social challenges.
She cautioned parents against being overly strict or presenting themselves as too holy or unapproachable, saying such attitudes could discourage children from seeking guidance from them.
“When children are growing, that kind of feeling comes. So you need to be like a friend to them to be able to draw them closer to guide them through that stage,” she said.
She stressed that children need parents who are willing to listen, understand and guide them through the challenges associated with growing up.
“If you are too ‘Holyghostic’ and your children cannot vibe with you, you’ll lose them. And what they can’t get from their mother or father, they will get it out there,” she added.
Ohemaa Mercy’s comments emphasise the importance of combining faith with personal responsibility, practical action and open communication within the family.
