The Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has warned that prophets and spiritual leaders who disregard the new national directive on the handling of prophecies will face public scrutiny and judgment.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, August 11, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah stressed that while no legal sanctions will be imposed on those who defy the directive, public opinion will serve as a powerful tool for accountability.
“There is nothing like an arrest when they defy the directive, but society will judge them if they don’t obey. They used to complain that they did not have access to victims, and now they have been given access,” he said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 10, the Office of the Presidential Envoy urged religious leaders nationwide to submit any prophecy or spiritual insight of national importance to its office for urgent review.
The directive focuses particularly on revelations involving high-profile political figures, governance, national security, and matters affecting public stability.
The move follows a wave of prophecies circulating online after the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of eight prominent figures.
They included Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.
Also among the deceased were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
On Sunday, August 10, Ghanaians gathered to pay their last respects to Dr. Murtala Muhammed and Muniru Mohammed ahead of a state funeral for all victims, scheduled for Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square.
Mr. Afriyie Ankrah stressed that the directive is not intended to silence religious voices but to ensure sensitive prophecies are handled responsibly to prevent fear, misinformation, and instability.
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