Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is urging the nation to take credible religious prophecies more seriously.

Speaking at the funeral of Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed — the late Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator who was buried alongside Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation — Bagbin said spiritual warnings from trusted religious figures should not be dismissed lightly.

“Pastors and reverends — we should listen to them,” the Speaker said. “It is not all of them who are looking for money. Don’t take what they say for granted… I don’t know about the spiritual world more than those who have taken it as a calling.”

Bagbin’s remarks come amid heightened national anxiety following the August 6 crash of a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter en route to an anti-illegal mining event in Obuasi. The aircraft lost contact shortly after departure from Accra and was later confirmed to have crashed, killing all on board.

In addition to Dr. Murtala Muhammed and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, the deceased included Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); and three military personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

The tragedy has intensified public discourse on the role of spiritual warnings, after several videos circulated online of self-styled prophets claiming to have foreseen the disaster. In response, the Office of Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations at the Presidency has issued a new directive requiring religious leaders to submit prophecies of national significance for official vetting.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Presidential Envoy for Religious Affairs, in a letter dated August 10, called on clergy to present any prophetic revelations involving national leaders, security, or public order to his office “for urgent assessment.”

While the directive seeks to curb fear-mongering and unverified spiritual claims, it has also sparked debate about the balance between freedom of religion and public accountability.

Bagbin, addressing mourners at the burial, emphasized that the nation must remain spiritually vigilant and discerning in times of crisis.

“We should not forget the power of the Almighty God,” he said. “A culture of respect for credible spiritual counsel could help avert future national tragedies.”

As Ghana mourns, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, while navigating a delicate intersection of faith, governance, and