Former President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Bishop Emeritus of the Konongo-Mampong Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu, has urged clergy and prophets in Ghana to exercise caution when delivering prophecies. His advisory comes in response to a directive issued on Sunday, August 10, 2025, by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Presidential Envoy for the Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations Office. The directive states that any prophecy or spiritual insight regarding high-profile political leaders, governance, national security, or public stability must be formally submitted for urgent assessment.
This directive follows the viral spread of videos on social media after the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including two cabinet ministers. In an interview with Citi News on Monday, August 11, 2025, Most Rev. Osei Bonsu emphasised the importance of discretion and sensitivity among prophets when sharing revelations that could have negative implications.
“If God has revealed something to you, find the right way to communicate it,” he said. “My concern is that nowadays, many prophecies focus on death or disaster. In the Old Testament, prophets were sent to preach God’s word and guide people toward righteousness; they did not constantly foretell doom and gloom. Our prophets should take note of this.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah clarified that while the government will not arrest any ‘man of God’ who defies the directive, prophets and spiritual leaders who ignore it will face public scrutiny. “There is nothing like an arrest when they defy the directive, but society will judge them if they don’t obey. They used to complain that they did not have access to victims, and now they have been given that access,” he noted.
