A cross section of religious leaders in the country have unequivocally confirmed widely held view that President John Dramani Mahama’s meteoric rise to the highest office in the land has the backing of the Almighty God.

According to the men of God, the Bole born communication expert-turned-president did not only enjoy unalloyed divine backing in becoming president but was indeed, chosen at the opportune time by God to lead Ghana to “the promise land”.

Interestingly, among the men of God now proclaiming the Holy Father’s favor on the former vice president are persons who hitherto, repeatedly criticized his leadership style.

Though claims of President Mahama being “God sent” to lead Ghana had been on the lips of many including renowned religious leaders since that fateful July 24, 2012 when he was sworn into office following the tragic death of the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, the latest “soul” to testify to this was no less a person than founding Bishop of Lighthouse Chapel International, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills.

According to him, President Mahama, like the Biblical Joseph, did not force himself on Ghanaians to be elected Head of State, but was chosen by God to lead his people, “like Joseph, he was in the prison, and they called him that look you’re the prime minister today,” Bishop Dag Heward-Mills

Introducing the president at a Good Friday miracle service organized by the Light House Church International at the Black Star Square in Accra, the revered man of God announced to cheerful congregants, “...today we are really honored that the president will come to honor this wonderful Good Friday miracle service…we are blessed to have somebody who didn’t force himself on us but was chosen and God has put him there and it is our duty to pray for him. He (President Mahama) didn’t try to be President. He was in the house when they called him that you are the president this evening.”

These testimonies were also manifested when President Mahama over the past weeks attended a number of religious events including a supplication program in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, addressed by a renowned Senegalese-born West African Muslim spiritual leader, Sheikh Tijani Cisse.

Former Vice President John Mahama was on the evening of July 24, 2012, sworn into office as President in line with Article 60 (10) of the 1992 constitution following the sudden death of then President, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.

Mr. Mahama journeyed on to win the 2012 election on December 7, 2012, which was later to be validated by a nine-member panel of the Supreme Court as a result of the main opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo and others’ challenge of the polls’ result.

His administration was hit with serious challenges among which included the global financial meltdown which affected the local currency leading to shocks in the local economy and agonizing power rationing, but has so far managed to bring them under control.

Aside the challenges his administration has faced, Mahama has been harshly criticized by his political opponents and prominent Ghanaians. Among his virulent critics were respected men of God including Bishop Heward-Mills, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof Emmanuel Martey; former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Rev Asante Antwi among others.

Ironically, while Bishop Heward-Mills was the loudest to proclaim Mr. Mahama’s presidency is of God, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prof Martey, at Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Brong Ahafo Presbytery at Sunyani last Sunday could not hide his admiration for the president when he hugged, hissed him to the bewilderment and admiration of onlookers.

A similar hearty gesture was shown the president when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of Anlo; Dodowa where he commissioned the Dodowa District Hospital last Tuesday and also at the conversion of Takoradi Polytechnic into a full-fledged university.