Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has defended the new directive requiring religious leaders to submit prophecies of national significance for official review, stressing that the measure is aimed at safeguarding national stability rather than curbing freedom of worship.
In a letter issued on Sunday, August 10, 2025, his office urged clergy nationwide to formally present any prophecy or spiritual insight relating to high-profile political leaders, governance, national security, or public stability for urgent assessment.
The directive follows viral videos circulating after the August 6 helicopter crash that killed eight people, including two cabinet ministers. In the videos, some self-proclaimed prophets claimed to have foreseen the tragedy but said their warnings were ignored.
Speaking to Joy FM on Monday, August 11, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah said, “Every man of God, a prophet, has every right to prophesy about any and everything they choose to. There is no problem about that. But when it concerns the President, Vice President, senior government officials, or carries serious security implications, it should be formally shared with my office for urgent review and appropriate action.”
Quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 — “Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all. Hold on to what is good” — and 1 John 4:1, which urges believers to “test the spirits,” he said the Bible itself supports responsible review of spiritual revelations.
“This is not about negativity,” he added. “It’s about ensuring that whatever God reveals can be acted upon in a way that protects the country and honours the responsibility that comes with spiritual insight.”
Citing an example, he asked: “Can you imagine if a prophet in America said Air Force One was going to crash? The kind of actions that would immediately follow? We don’t want to get to that point.”
The Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations Office says it will work closely with religious leaders to balance national security considerations with the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has clarified that it has not yet received formal communication from the Presidential Envoy’s office on the proposed review directive.
