For decades, religion and politics in Ghana have walked a fine line, with some religious leaders playing a curious role in the electoral process.
From bold declarations of election winners to ominous predictions of divine retribution, these self-styled prophets have often positioned themselves as the voice of God in national matters.
However, the 2024 elections appear to have stripped away much of their perceived credibility, at least in the eyes of veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, Pratt delivered a fiery assessment of the situation, sparing no words for religious leaders who he believes have turned politics into their personal goldmine.
“Something else has become very, very clear, which is that many of the people who pretend that they are body-bodies with God and that God calls them on the telephone every morning and so on, are also absolute criminals, gangsters, and so on,” Pratt declared.
His voice carried both sarcasm and indignation as he called out what he termed the “gangsters in cassocks.”
It’s a sentiment that many Ghanaians have quietly held for years but rarely voiced in such blunt terms.
These religious figures—often draped in cassocks, holding horsetails, or surrounded by theatrics—have consistently made audacious claims during election seasons.
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Pratt argued that their predictions are more about profit than prophecy, saying, “They’re just useless bloody gangsters, criminals, trying to profit from elections and so on.”
Pratt’s outburst comes as no surprise in a country where religion wields enormous influence over both individuals and society.
It’s not uncommon for desperate citizens to turn to prophets and pastors for everything from healing to financial breakthroughs, with some leaders leveraging this trust to gain political relevance.
As Pratt noted, “Those who go to them for medical reasons, for reasons of prosperity and so on, they should begin to think again.”
His sharpest rebuke, however, came when he referenced a prophetess who publicly declared that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory was certain.
“One of them actually said before the elections that if Dr. Bawumia doesn’t win the election, she will go back to worshipping her fetish idol. I’m waiting to see,” Pratt quipped, a clear challenge to her credibility.
The memory of these dramatic proclamations still lingers for many Ghanaians who witnessed the pre-election frenzy.
The journalist’s statements expose a larger issue: the growing intersection between religion and political manipulation.
While Ghana remains deeply religious, the repeated failures of these predictions have started raising eyebrows among the faithful. Many Ghanaians are beginning to ask tough questions: are these prophets truly serving God, or are they serving their own pockets?
Pratt’s words resonate because they speak to a collective frustration.
Over the years, religious leaders have claimed visions that conveniently align with political powers, only for their predictions to fall flat. The 2024 elections, in particular, appear to have shattered whatever illusion remained. Pratt believes this is a moment of reckoning.
“This election has exposed them big time. I’m hoping that we will learn lessons and begin to put soothsayers where they actually belong,” he said passionately.
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