The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has called for an end to what it describes as the “misuse of pulpits” for political gain.
The intervention follows a wave of conflicting prophecies surrounding the recently concluded New Patriotic Party (NPP) national primaries.
Issued and signed by the council’s general secretary, Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose, the statement voiced deep theological and civic concerns over the trend of religious leaders publicly predicting election outcomes.
The statement pointedly noted that while former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was re-elected as the NPP flagbearer on January 31, many self-styled prophets had predicted entirely different results.
“The Council raises a critical theological question: how can the same God reveal different outcomes of the same event to different prophets?” the statement asked.
The CCG warned that contradictory prophecies do more than just confuse the faithful; they risk portraying God as “indecisive” and undermine the credibility of the church. More importantly, the Council cautioned that “fear-mongering” under the guise of religion is not just a spiritual failing—it is a legal one.
Citing the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 and the Electronic Communications Act of 2008, the Council reminded religious leaders that disseminating false information that causes public panic is a punishable offence. Conviction under these laws could lead to fines or up to five years in prison.
“Religious liberty must be balanced with civic responsibility to ensure that the exercise of faith does not generate fear, panic, or social unrest,” the statement read.
The council also challenged prophets to shift their focus from the “outcomes of elections” to more pressing national issues. Rev.
Dr Fayose urged the clergy to use their influence to address the “No Bed” syndrome, the preventable loss of life in hospitals, poverty, and the fair distribution of resources and national governance, including issues of corruption, nepotism, and poor leadership.
The CCG admitted that regulating these “prophetic voices” is difficult, as many operate outside of established ecumenical bodies like the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC). However, it maintained that no religious leader is above the law.
The timing of the statement coincides with the Christian season of Lent and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Council urged Ghanaians to use this period of fasting and prayer to reflect on “national prosperity” rather than circulating “misleading messages that add no value to society”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
