Some scenes from the church
Some Muslim youth yesterday went on the rampage in Accra, attacking the Glorious Word Power Ministries International Church in the process.
The church belongs to Reverend Isaac Owusu-Bempah, who on 31st December, 2018, during a watch night service reportedly prophesied that some prominent personalities, including the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, could die before 2019 ends and as a result asked Ghanaians to pray for such individuals.
The youth, mostly on motorbikes with some carrying offensive weapons, apparently ‘incensed’ by the pastor’s predictions, attacked the church located near Busia Junction, Odorkor-Accra.
The agitated youth pulled down a huge billboard of Rev. Owusu-Bempah and destroyed other property on the premises of the church before the police arrived at the scene.
The attacks appear to be pre-planned because a video is trending on social media in which a man speaking Hausa is heard saying: “I told the gateman to give me the pastor’s number but he refused to give it to me. I have told him to tell the pastor to come out and apologize. I have filmed the location.”
During the melee, the same voice is heard on another video asking the pastor to apologize or face their wrath.
Chief Imam’s Reaction
Already, the National Chief Imam has deflected his death prediction by the pastor, saying such matters belong to the Almighty God.
To the agitated Muslim youth across the country, who are reported to be angry with the clergyman for his prediction, the Chief Imam called on them to remain calm and avoid anything that can threaten the inter-faith harmony between members of the two great religions.
The Chief Imam, however, asked that acts of indiscipline should be abhorred under the circumstances.
In a related development, members of the Muslim Broadcasters Association of Ghana (MOBAG) have issued a statement to express disappointment with the clergyman’s prediction which according to them has already threatened the inter-faith harmony in the country.
“It would be in the interest of peace when the clergyman confines himself to his faith and leaves others since, after all, both do not belong to the same religious persuasions,” they added.