Opinions of Sunday, 3 January 2021
Columnist: Rockson Adofo
In my beloved country Ghana, it has become a standing norm for many a so-called prophet or man of God to come out with a long list of prophecies for the coming year. Most, if not all, of their prophecies, border on doom to the celebrities, and other important personalities, fatal lorry accidents and calamities to befall the nation. This seems to be their speciality.
Not to waste time, although I have not bothered to familiarise myself with the numerous prophecies told by our prophets, I shall speak about one or two made known by Rev. Dr Owusu Bempah, Prophet Salifu Amoako, Prophet Badu Kobi and Prophet Nigel Gaisie. All of them have prophesied about calamity befalling Ashanti region by way of a powerful King passing away if honest intercessory prayers are not said on his behalf. As usual, their prophecy is conditional. The King in mind will die. However, if prayers are said on his behalf, pleading with God to have mercy upon him, he will live.
Why could they not have the decency to approach the said King or chief privately to break the impending bad omen to him but choose to tell it to their congregation? What do they stand to gain by that if not fame and to play on the intelligence of their congregation? They did not mention anyone's name. Therefore, should any chief die in the Ashanti region, their porous prophecy has come to pass as they will claim the dead chief was the one they were talking about. If no chief dies throughout the year, then it means God has heard and granted their intercessory prayers on behalf of the suspected chief or King.
Again, what is the point in Prophet Owusu Bempah saying he foresaw the death of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings but could not bring himself up to announce it until his death? What is the sense in announcing it now that he is dead? He claims not to want to attract any controversies hence not informing anyone while Rawlings was alive. Why is he saying it now? What benefit is it to Rawlings, his family and the nation, to tell us about the revelation he had when the intended victim was alive, but now dead?
The so-called Ghanaian prophets must learn to pass prophetic revelations to people about whom such revelations are concerned, rather than revealing them first to their church members. What do they want to gain by their actions if not to seek fame and to frighten off their hearers to see them as demigods to be revered by them all of the time?
For how long will the Almighty God reveal hidden but impending secrets about people to prophets like Badu Kobi and Nigel Gaisie who are known unrepentant womanizers and crooks? Are their prophecies not failing all of the time, yet they shamelessly keep on claiming God has revealed this or that to them? Why do Ghanaians still trust what they say?