By Nathaniel Nartey
By the morning of December 31 in recent years, most Christians in Ghana would have finalized their new year resolutions, waiting to proclaim them in church that evening only to be bombarded with prophecies for the coming year, most of which have been realised to be negative.Like expectant parents waiting for the arrival of their offsprings during labour, Ghanaians have become accustomed to awaiting prophecies on the eve of a new year. On December 31 2020, three popular men of God who often preach on Radio and Television put out 52 prophecies for 2021.
Founder of the Glorious wave Church International Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi put out 21 of those prophecies, which appeared to be the highest number among the three, followed by the Founder and Leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministry International Apostle Isaac Owusu Bempah with 19 prophecies while Prophet Nigel Gaisie was responsible for 12 prophecies. As you would expect, the majority of these prophecies were about the death of a prominent person, economic hardship or misfortune of some sort. There seem to be more questions than answers as we get ready for another 31st December Watch Night Service. Questions like why does God only reveal doomsday prophecies to these pastors. Isn’t it surprising that God hardly reveals progressive, life-transforming, and nation-building prophecies to these so-called prophets. Why does God always reveal to these prophets outcomes of the year ahead only 31st Night?
In the midst of all these unanswered questions, there are those who still believe that the December 31 prophecies are important and that all Christians should pay attention and accept them whether negative or not. Unfortunately, some of the prophecies have in them, the announcement of the death of certain prominent people in society. Some have argued that instead of Ghanaians criticizing and debunking the Prophets and prophecies respectively, they have to rather accept and pray to them. In essence, Prophecies, whether good or bad, must be prayed into; either to prevent it from manifesting when the prophecy is a bad one, or to make it manifest when it is positive.
Such persons draw the justifications for their arguments from the holy scriptures in 1 Corinthians 14:3 which says “but one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages and comforts them” Prophecies on 31st December about the country are both foretelling and forthtelling. As it appears, most of the prophecies are negative but bound to happen; no amount of prayers can change them. Despite this, God can send his Prophets to deliver such prophecies. We are told that the focus of such Prophecies would not be to create fear and panic, but rather to comfort the country, when such things happen. For example some men of God are said to have prophesied about Covid-19, ahead of the emergence of the pandemic in 2019. The argument is that such predictions which are mostly negative are supposed to prepare humanity for the harsh realities of the future. While this may be true, the fact is many Ghanaian prophets have taken advantage of this to position themselves for fame above anything else. In the last 10 years, less than 5 percent of 31st night Prophecies in Ghana have been positive, a clear indication that these men of God buy into the saying that bad news sells better and faster than good news.
The Chief Imam is still alive. Former Presidents John Agyekum Kuffour and John Dramani Mahama as well as Chairperson of the EC Jean Mensah are all alive and kicking, which contradicts prophecies of their demise in 2020 and 2021.
The Ghana Police Service should be commended for its statement cautioning religious groups and leaders to be measured in their utterances, especially how they communicate prophecies, which may injure the right of others and the public interest.
Christian leaders should be reminded that although they have the right to religion, freedom of worship and free speech, all of these rights are subject to the respect for the rights and freedoms of others according to our laws.
Anyone found guilty under these laws, spelled out in the statement signed by Head of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service Supt Alexander Obeng, could be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years. The holy Bible says in Romans 13:1-2 that “Obey the government, for God is the One who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.”
This should be a reminder to the pastors who intend to go ahead and put out the kind of prophecies on new years eve that the Police has warned against.
A word to a wise they say, is enough.