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Christmas, a mass celebration of Christ, is one of the memorable Christian festivals that is celebrated worldwide to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ who entered into this world through the womb of the virgin Mary. God implanted the seed of His Son—Jesus Christ—into the flesh of Mary so that Jesus would enter the world through the accepted means. The Christmas story marks the entrance of Jesus Christ in the activities of humankind in human form. This happened some 2000 years ago. The essence is for humanity who has fallen short of God’s glory because of sin to be restored through the saviour’s blood. God gave us the saviour because of his love for the world.

Yearly, Christians celebrate Christmas out of gratitude for what God did and is still doing, by giving to us Jesus. During such times, believers remember Jesus’ birth by giving each other gifts, worshiping him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate. During such periods, believers anticipate God’s visitation to cause them to ‘conceive’ treasures from above as Mary conceived Jesus. Some heavenly treasures could be wisdom, healing, business opportunities, marriage, and others.

Technically speaking, December 25 is the day earmarked for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Arguments are surrounding this day as to whether Jesus was really born or not on December 25. In spite of all these, the most important part of the story is that Jesus was born, and he lived among men. Fixing his birthday anywhere does not negate the fact that our saviour came into the world.

Now that the celebration of Jesus’ birthday (December 25) is passed, what must Christians do afterward? What must believers do after celebrating Christmas? In other words, after observing the birth of Jesus which is an event so to speak, what must believers do as lifelong activities? In short, “After Christmas, what next?” This write-up seeks to help Christians to know what must be done after observing Jesus’ birthday. Lessons are taken from the wise men (Magi), I prefer using the former in this study to guide us to live as ‘wise men’ by following their examples as they followed the leadings of God in search for Jesus after birth.

Who is a Wise Man?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives more than one definition of who a wise man is. One of them is that a wise man is a man of unusual learning, judgment, or insight. Wise men are people who are highly respected in their communities, for they speak wisdom and their messages carry weight. They comport themselves were well, hence makes it difficult for people to speak ill of them. They are thinkers and intellectuals in nature. Because of this, people look to them as mentors in life. Solomon opines that a wise man is very cautious, fears the Lord and does not condone evil (Prov. 14:16). Adam Clarke adds that such a person can never trust in himself, though he can be satisfied from himself. He knows that his sufficiency is of God; and he has that fear that causes him to depart from evil, which is a guardian to the love he feels. Love renders him cautious. This caution leads him from sin, and his confidence leads him to God. Out of fear of harm, Matthew Henry asserts they keep out of harm’s way, and stand in a fright when they find themselves entering into temptation. Adding on, John Wesley believes that wise men have all these qualities because they tremble at God’s judgments when they are either inflicted or threatened.

The Wise Men

Generally, it is assumed that there were three wise men because of the three gifts that were given: gold, incense, and myrrh (Matt 2:11). It must be stated clearly that the Bible does not give any number. There could even be only two, since such a calibre of persons might not be common in a given community. Some even have given the names of the wise men as Gaspar/Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar/Balthazar.

The wise men came days, months, or possibly even years later to Jerusalem to look for Jesus, and not as early as the shepherds did (in Luke 2:8-20). They came from afar—from eastern lands (Matt 2:1), a vague point of origin that left room for many subsequent hypotheses. Some church fathers proposed Arabia on the basis of where the gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) were likely to have originated. Others suggested Chaldea or Media/Persia because Persia had a caste of priests (magi), which would fit the description in Matthew. In a nutshell, the wise men came from a distant place. It is for this reason that Matthew tells his audience that the wise men visited and worshiped Jesus in a house, not at the stable (Matt 2:11). The implication was that when they got to Judea, Jesus had been moved into a house.

The historian Herodotus, together with Plutarch and Strabo suggested that wise men were partly responsible for ritual and cultic life (supervising sacrifices and prayers) and partly responsible as royal advisers to the courts of the East. Herodotus explained this belief by saying the ruler of the East commonly utilized the wise men’s knowledge of astrology and dream interpretation to determine affairs of state. The wise men were, therefore, concerned with what the movement of the stars (as signs and portents) might signify for the future affairs of history.

Such an interest could account not only for the wise men’s interest in the star in Matthew but also their conclusion, shared with Herod, that the star’s appearance signified the birth of a new ruler of great importance (Matt 2:2).

The Visitation by the Wise Men

We are told that the birth of Jesus sent signals to many people including shepherds (according to Luke) and wise men (magi), according to Matthew. Some people find it difficult to get a clear picture of these two groups. While some think they are not different just that the evangelists gave them different identities, others hold that they are not the same. I side with the latter. God intentionally through his agents (angels and star, Lk 2:9; Matt 2:2) broke the news about Jesus’ birth to both the shepherds and wise men. He did it for a reason, all relating to a common meaning. With a Gentile audience, Luke’s focus is on Mary (the favoured, Lk 1:28, 30) and the shepherds (the not favoured, Lk 2:14), while Matthew, with a Jewish audience, is on Joseph (Jew) and the wise men (unbelieving Gentiles). The Jews would have found it difficult to accept Luke’s Gospel for choosing a woman, Mary and the shepherds who were considered ‘perpetually unclean’. Hence, Matthew’s usage of Joseph and the wise men sounded okay to his audience. The essence of these two groups visiting Jesus is for the world to know that Jesus will show God’s favour, love, peace, and bring healing not only to his own (Jews), but to anyone willing to come to him: Jew or Gentile, those near or far, ‘the clean’ or ritually unclean, or the ones who have not even believed in Israel’s God.

Immediately when they received the information about Jesus’ birth and have observed his birthday by acknowledging him as ‘the new born king of the Jews’ (Matt 2:2), the wise men decided to go beyond acknowledging his kingship to search for him (the giver of life). While the shepherds went to Jesus’ birth place earlier because they stayed closer, the wise men came later. From a distant place in far Eastern land, how did the wise men identify where Jesus was? They followed the leadings of God through the star to search for Jesus. Because of time constraints, I will limit myself to the activities of the wise men from their home country to the time they finally saw Jesus to help us know their steps and take a clue.  I am doing so because of Solomon’s assertion that when we walk with the wise, we become wise, but associating oneself with fools leads them into trouble (Prov 13:20). This does not literally mean that the shepherds were fools, for they are not our focus of discussion. Not at all! They are also ‘wise men’, for they sought for Jesus. As said earlier, this study is limited to the wise men. Let us identify their footprints in search of Jesus to help us live as such in the days ahead of us.

Activities of the Wise Men

On receiving the news of the birth of the king of the Jews (Jesus) through the appearing of Jesus’ star (that is how the wise men referred to it), the wise men engaged in so many activities till they finally saw Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea. The following are some of their activities or what they encountered.

Wise men immediately set off to search for Jesus and worship him. They never exhibited a lackadaisical attitude but marshalled all their energy and strength to pay homage to Jesus. Not being Jews or believers, the wise men decided to walk through storms, rains, and dust to look for Jesus; they were from a distant place. They did it from their own volition; without compulsion. They did not allow the distance to deter them from undertaking that deadly journey, for they could have been devoured by wild animals. But because their intention to see Jesus was a good one, God ordered their steps till they found Jesus. As Christians, we must eschew laziness and dress up to search for Jesus at all times, irrespective of the times. Jesus offers life daily when all and sundry seek him continually. God through his prophet Jeremiah (29:13) tells us that “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Let us in humility search for Jesus to receive life and mysteries of life. It is no wonder that during the earthly ministry of Jesus, Gentiles sought to look for him (cf. Jn 12:21). They knew what was in him. We must search for him at all places as well as the temple, where God has placed his name. Jesus could be found anywhere—in homes, schools, workplaces, etc., but here is a place God has put his name where he wants his own to meet and worship him (2 Chr 33:7). Believers must not forsake the gathering of the brethren (Heb 10:25). As the wise men searched for Jesus, so must we do likewise to see the glory of the Lord. We must do so by following the leadings of God.

Wise men leave in humility. The wise men were no ordinary persons so to speak, for their outfits and gifts (gold, incense, and myrrh in Matt 2:11) give a clue of who they were. They were also partly responsible as royal advisers to the courts of the East. They never looked at who they were but made it a point to go and worship the child who was born. This is real humility. In this sober manner, God also made it possible for them to see Jesus. Aside that God exalted them to the point of making them sit with King Herod and the priests when they got to Jerusalem and were looking for Jesus. This affirms James 4:10 statement that when one humbles themselves, God lifts them up. As Christians, we must be humble in all matters that is our holistic Christian walk. In so doing, God will lift us up in all our endeavours, in addition to making us see Jesus.

Wise men look for the king of life to worship him. In their quest of looking for the king of life, their goal was to worship him when found. Waoo! People who are not even Jews and do not relate with Jesus in any way purposed to worship him at the expense of their god. (Looking at where they come from they do not serve the Almighty God). Remember the wise men are not Jews and would not be serving the LORD God Almighty. But their reason to worship Jesus tells that they mean business. Some Christians of late are looking for Jesus, not as the wise men did; their goal for searching for Jesus is other than to worship him. Are you searching for Jesus for material gains? Or for what reason? To receive healing? Or what? Let your reason for searching for Jesus be to worship him. It should not be limited to what you will get as Peter inquired (Matt 19:27; Lk 18:28). Worshipping Jesus is a form of seeking the kingdom of God and its righteousness (Matt 6:33). In so doing, God will add to you the all other things you will need for life and godliness.

Wise men pay attention to God’s leadings. The leadings of God is so clear that if one follows it closely they will not miss their way. God is our guide who leads us on always. He does so perfectly and in many ways. God leads the wise men with a star. This is a miracle! According to scientists (Astronomers), stars do not move. But in this story, we are told that the wise men are led by a star from the Eastern land to Jerusalem. There are always miracles for those who pay close attention to God’s leadings. I pray you will receive a miracle by pursuing the directions of God.

In following the leadings of God, we need not go ahead of him, neither must we fall far from him. Remember, he is our guide. As a tour guide will lead their tourists around to show and explain some tourist sites, so does God lead us in our Christian journey and tell us mysteries. We must neither go ahead of him nor fall far from him; we may miss what he tells us. Remember, he knows the way, and Jesus is the way. Paying attention to the one who knows the way is a done deal, for he will definitely take us home. We must follow the Lord closely with our senses working; he will speak to us and show us things. If we follow him punctiliously, we will know all these. Those who do not pay attention to God’s leadings fall into trouble. I guess you remember the story of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, a picture of believers walk to Heaven. Those who failed to follow the directions of God through his servant Moses did not get to Canaan; they died. May it not be said of you!

Words of wise men words, which come from their beliefs trouble wicked rulers and their kingdom (v 3).

Hardly do wise men speak loosely, for they live according to their name tag. They speak wisdom to effect changes and bring transformation. This wisdom comes from God who gives without measure. Wise men use this wisdom to speak against ills to cause people to live an upright lifestyle. This is exactly what the wise men did. On reaching Jerusalem, the star that led them disappeared. In wisdom, they decided to visit the king of the land to greet and inquire of the birth of Jesus. Their words (which were all about Jesus) that came from their mouths brought trouble to the wicked king and his kingdom. Why? On hearing of the birth of Jesus, they did not become okay. For the king knew someone was after him to take away his throne. Being partly Jewish, Herod knew someone with full Jewish descent was after his kingdom. Hence, became troubled. You have received Jesus in your life. Speak the oracles of God to cause trouble among people who have taken over your rightful possession. They have to leave the property for you. God should let it happen. Aside the physical is spiritual. There are times spiritual powers inhabit people to torment and destroy them. But these powers will always fall to the mighty power of God when God’s people speak. With Christ in you, speak to subdue their powers, for God to take over.

This causes rulers and priests to sit up in emergency meetings to conduct research (v 4). The inquiries of the wise men brought work to men—to search for where Jesus was to be born. The rulers and priests who were supposed to know the times and season for the Messiah’s coming had forgotten. Could it be that they had abandoned their assignment of searching through the scriptures? I think your guess is as good as mine. They should have told the king off head immediately they were asked. Well, it is to let us know that when wise men speak, it causes people to sit up for work. As believers, we must also not be like the priests, but must work vigorously and be studious. We should not be like those who do not know Jesus. As the priests forgot the times they found themselves to the extent of forgetting the birth of Jesus, if research had not been conducted, so this can happen to us when we fail to always stay glued to Jesus. Also, now that Jesus who is life is in us, may our messages cause lackadaisical people to work. As Christians, we must make sure things are working as expected; we have life.

Wise men engage in meetings with top officials to give them situational reports about the king of life (vs 4-6).

Who on earth has ever thought that foreigners could hold meetings with top officials without protocols? But it happened. The wise men were able to hold meeting with the king, and later with the others where the place of birth of Jesus was made known. This clearly tells us that anyone who diligently seeks Jesus is elevated to a higher position. Hardly did the natives had meeting with their leaders, but the wise men had the opportunity to have meeting with them. Herod had an ulterior motive of having the secret meeting with them, but it was all to underscore the fact that they were recognised in a foreign land. Be recognised as a true child of God in all spheres of life. Be elevated like the wise men to a position you will be among top management. God will surely let it come through.

Wise men search diligently for the king of life to help the unknown to know.

When the star that was leading them disappeared, the wise men in wisdom, as said earlier, went to inquire from the king of the land. I believe God intentionally made the star to disappear for the wise men to break the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the citizenry through the king; they did not know what was going on. This tells us that as believers anytime we fail to understand the times, God will bring people from nowhere to teach us what to do. We must not let this happen to us. Because God wanted them to be part of the story, God used the wise men to bring in the unknown for them to know. The king and the priest who did not know what was happening were made to know when the wise men paid them a visit to inquire of the birth of Jesus. This also tells us everything that happens to us is for a purpose. The wise men could have blamed God for causing the star to disappear. Or better still, they could have said so many adverse things about God as some Christians often do when they enter into trouble. But they seized the opportunity to inquire from the king. They continued to search for Jesus, and never abandoned their search. It was from this that they had the opportunity to have a meeting with the king. It was God’s way of announcing Jesus’ birth. It affirms that God works in mysterious ways. Some things happen to you for a purpose, to make God’s purpose or plan be fulfilled. We should avoid unnecessary talking and follow the leadings of God. He knows what he does.

Wise men are not cut off from God’s leadings, for the star appeared to them again. After God had brought in the king and his citizenry to hear of the birth story of Jesus, he made the star to appear to them again. Unbelievable! God will never leave his own to suffer loss. Never! He is always on time to save a situation. When he got to know that the wise men would have a challenge, aside bringing in the people, he continued leading them with a star. Note that when the star disappeared, God was still leading them not with the star, but in their steps. Remember what David says: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Ps 37:21). God really directed their steps into the king’s palace. This tells us that when we are not seeing physical signs, God will still not leave nor forsaken his own (Deut 31:6). You used to hear God but you do not hear from him anymore. It could be a reason best known to you or otherwise. It happened to Abraham. He did not hear God for some time. After he had separated himself from Lot, the LORD appeared to him again. Set yourself apart from the things that make it difficult for God to show himself to you, and you will hear from him.

Wise men rejoice when they see God’s leadings in their life again.

Immediately they saw the star, a representation of God’s leadings, the wise men became happy. Always be grateful to God when he makes himself available to you. If you are able to have visions and revelations, praise God for it and do not make yourself the champion and the only available person. Be informed that God can use other people. Just be grateful to him for counting you worthy and showing you mysteries. Their (wise men) joy tells us that they were eagerly waiting for the leading of God. We must likewise be eagerly waiting for God to lead us at all times, irrespective of where we find ourselves—workplace, in business meetings, schools, cars, lorry stations, etc.

Wise men enter into Jesus’ house and they see him (v 11).

They finally located the place where Jesus was staying, not in a manger, but a house. This tells us that they met Jesus not at where he was born, but in a house they had relocated to. This is clearly telling us it took more days and months for them to finally get to where Jesus was. God always rewards those who diligently look for him. The writer of Hebrews (11:6) affirms this: “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” God will never allow one to work in vain, especially when you are looking for him. He always wants his own to look for him, to give them life. The wise men found Jesus. Their journey finally has come to an end. This tells us that until we find Jesus, we must not stop searching for him. We stop our search when we are done with our life on this world. Oh, yes! Searching for Jesus is not a one-day wonder. You will find him today, but it cannot sustain you throughout. You must continually search for his deep mysteries. No wonder Paul tells us that “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Php 3:10-11).

Wise men worship the king of life and give him treasures (vs 11, 12).

How sweet it will be if I happened to be there. The joy that filled their heart on seeing Jesus caused them to give a planned offering or gifts to Jesus. First, was their whole beings given as an offering to Jesus. That is why Paul tells us to present our whole being as a living sacrifice—a true way to worship God (Rom 12:1). This was followed by thoughtfully planned parcels that were possibly not from Jerusalem, but from their home country. Anytime one sees Jesus, the joy in them causes them to give bountifully. They give cheerfully. They do not think of what they have but think of what Jesus will get. They make sure that those working on Jesus will get enough to cater for him and his work. What do you have for Jesus? Offer to him something costly, and not from the abundance of what you have. Everything we have, we received from God. Let’s give our all—body, soul, and might including our resources to Jesus, for with an open arm, he is waiting to receive.

Wise men pay heed to God’s warnings.

The wise men were told not to go back to Herod, for he had a diabolic motive. They hurriedly listened to God’s directions and never took the old route. It might have been difficult if the king had promised them something. But they listened to God’s voice instead of man. We are often confronted with two voices—God’s and man. As the wise men listened to God’s voice, so we must do likewise in order to keep Jesus safe. If they had gone back to Herod, Jesus might have been killed. There are so many things Christians at times do to kill Jesus in our daily living—heeding to the voice of Herod (in this case the devil). We do so because the devil gives us juicy offers that we find it difficult to turn down. Let us heed to God’s voice, for it will give us life and keep Jesus safe.

Conclusion

From the foregoing discussions, we know who wise men are—people who fear God and always make it a duty to search for Jesus. In their search for Jesus, the wise men undertook the assignment with all seriousness and in humility. This made God to reward them by seeing Jesus and holding meetings with people in authority. They worshipped Jesus on seeing him and gave him gifts. They never deviated from God’s leadings to the extent of not using the way that lead to the king’s palace when going back to their country. Their messages caused trouble among wicked rulers and caused them to sit up to hold emergency meetings—towards knowing the place of birth of Jesus.

We have to follow in these footsteps to make us remain wise men in this perverse generation now that we are done with Christmas. Be informed that a true soldier always heeds to the instructions and leadings of his commander. To be successful, we must follow the directions of God in our quest to search for Jesus and to know more of him. After Christmas what next? We must live as wise men who will search for Jesus through the leadings of God to know more of him. “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him” (1 Chronicles 16:10, 11).

By Pastor Emmanuel Foster Asamoah (Abasraba District, Winneba Area)

Giving people the sack is not new in organisations. Of course, some were found to be complicit and, therefore, to blame. Still, there are also some whose innocence came to light by the passage of time. Over the last thirty-nine (39) years, the Ghana football association (G.F.A.) has engaged and sacked not less than thirty-six (36) managers of the Black Stars. Barely twenty-one months after taking up the appointment of managing the Black Stars, Coach C.K Akonnor was sacked for non-performance. To the surprise of many, Coach Milovan Rajevac was re-engaged in September 2021 as the manager of the national team. Yes, we all cannot wait to see Ghana’s fourth participation in the World Cup and annexing our fifth AFCON title. I was just nine years of age when I watched goalkeeper Owusu Mensah saving a penalty on a black and white television in 1982 when Ghana last won the cup in Libya. 

The multi-million-dollar question is whether C.K Akonnor and his predecessors were the real problems of the Black Stars in recent times. Or he had probably become one of the numerous personalities after James Kwesi Appiah to have suffered the fate of what I describe as an innocent “cargo” of a stormy voyage. On April 16, 2014, a South Korean shipping vessel known as M.V Sewol, en route from Incheon towards Jeju, sank and killed 304 people onboard. While fighting a strong current, the ship, which had loaded more than twice the legal limit of cargo, made a sharp turn that affected its balance and ended up capsizing. “Cargo” refers to the goods carried aboard the Ship for hire. 

The first chapter of the book of Jonah describes a similar crisis that resulted in a particular response by the Captain of a Tarshish- bound shipping vessel. Unlike the M.V Sewol, the cause of this near disaster had nothing to do with the cargo on board. It was orchestrated by God. The first thing the sailors of this ship did was to call and cry out unto their gods. Conspicuously missing in that desperate prayer was Jonah, who had gone below the deck, sleeping. When it became evident that their gods could not offer any help, the Captain and his crew decided to throw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. The innocent cargoes which carried the livelihood of many had to be sacrificed whiles the main reason for the crisis (i.e., Jonah) had gone into hiding. In this article, the innocent “cargoes” refer to those who may have nothing to do with an individual or organisation’s woes, yet one of the first to be fingered and treated as the scapegoats of that crisis. The “Jonahs” represent the leading cause and reason for a particular problem. 

Jonah’s interrogation began after the cargo was sacrificed in the Tarshish-bound ship, but the situation kept worsening. After casting lots, it came to light that someone, much lighter in weight than the cargo, should instead have been offloaded into the sea. In the stormy weather the current Black Stars ship is cruising through, is there anyone lighter in weight than Kwesi Appiah or C.K Akonnor or Milovan Rajevac that needs to be offloaded instead?

Today, we can all conveniently take cover under the management principle of ultimate responsibility and call and justify the sacking of Coach Milovan who has been with the team just a couple of weeks since his re-engagement. Still, time is what will tell whether he and his predecessors were the real problems. Judging from where Jonah had gone to hide, he would have been the last to be found and thrown overboard if it got to the stage where human lives were to be treated as the cargo. As we oscillate between local or expatriate managers, are some “Jonahs” comfortably hiding in our football management who instead need to be ousted? Some of the possible “Jonahs” hiding in the Black Stars ship may include;

• Defective player selection regime,
• Lack of courage to rest some of the exhausted legs,
• The attitude of those selected,
• Populace’ impatience in the rebuilding process,
• Lack of support for the players,
• Low morale of players,
• Quality of the managers engaged etc.

The simplest and easiest to offload from the Black Stars ship have always been the coaches. I will, therefore, not be surprised if people begin to call for the termination of Coach Milovan’s contract especially when the Stars have suffered an early and embarrassing exit from the ongoing AFCON in Cameroun. Similarly, and without condoning ungodly provocative dressing, specific colours, styles, hairstyles, and even footwear have been made scapegoats instead of dealing decisively with the people’s problem of lust. 

If favouritism in player selection is the problem, let us offload it and leave the issue of winning bonuses alone. If player attitude at camp and on the field of play is the problem, let us offload it and stop entertaining superstitious beliefs around jersey numbers and colours. Absolute calmness only comes after offloading the “Jonahs,” and not their accompanying innocent “cargoes.” The handlers of the national soccer team must, therefore, seek the face of God and gather the courage to imbibe professionalism in managing the team. It is well. We will surely bounce back. 

Long live Ghana Black Stars!

Written by Pastor James Orhin  Agyin (j.orhinagyin20@icloud.com)

Many Christians are displeased with the way the prophetic ministry is being handled by some “men and women of God” in Ghana as against the noble biblical standards of Christian leadership. The glorious ministry that is one of the five-fold apostolic ministry, characterised by the virtues and fruit of the Spirit, as stated in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Galatians 5:21-22, appears to have largely turned into a harem of ungodliness, mischief, and vices on the Ghanaian Christian landscape.

This article discusses fundamental issues of the desperation of a section of the Ghanaian public concerning “prophecy about deaths” of certain individuals, the chaos it creates among the populace, and the ridiculous behaviour of some so-called prophets behind such prophecies. An attempt will be made in the article to recommend ways to improve and streamline the prophetic ministry in Ghana to minimise the rampant scandals it has witnessed.

While one cannot rule out the presence of genuine prophets in Ghana who speak the mind of God in an aura of revered spirituality and Christian ethics, we equally cannot close our eyes to the excesses and unethical behaviour of some purported church leaders in the light of the precepts of Scripture. The limitation of this article is not to give a theological meaning to the prophetic ministry, but to address the ethical dimension of how the prophetic ministry is operated in Ghana. How do we deal with this situation in our cultural context and legal framework without stifling the fire of the Holy Spirit in the prophetic ministry?

The Biblical Qualifications of a Christian Leader

For the sake of the discussion, we need to take note that the apostle Paul is very particular about the qualifications of Christian leadership: 

Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of fullrespect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap (1 Tim. 3:1-7, NIV).

The above passage opens with a description of Christian leadership as a noble task, but that statement is followed by a call for Christian leaders to be “above reproach.” In this context, “to be above reproach” means church leaders must be blameless and role models of society. A critical issue in the passage is the requirement for every God-fearing, noble, and decent Christian leader.

The church leader must be “faithful to his wife, have self-control, be respectable and not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.” The inference is that the Bible is emphatic on the character of a church leader, even more than his capacity or anointing to perform a specific task in God’s Kingdom. This is evident in 2 Peter 1:5: “In your faith supply moral excellence.”

Paradoxically, and unfortunately, the aforementioned biblical principles are flouted by some church leaders today to the extent that they do not show remorse when they fall short of these biblical standards. Their unethical actions speak louder than the gospel they profess to preach. For example, how do we relate the attitude of ministers who boast of being quarrelsome, violent, and intemperate in their use of language to the qualification of Christian leadership stated in the above passage?

It is quite common in recent times to observe some Christian leaders spending time on various media outlets abusing others, fabricating stories against their innocent victims, priding themselves in being quarrelsome, treacherous, wealthy, and dreadful in unleashing terror or invoking curses on their perceived opponents. Sadly, their “disciples” applaud them for their rudeness and unethical behaviour. Are these traits what Christianity stands for?

Since the Bible is clear on the life and ministry of Christian leaders, many people who are well-versed in the scriptures and conversant with Christian ethics and virtues wonder why some church leaders, particularly the self-acclaimed prophets in our day, seem to comfortably behave contrary to the above biblical principles. 

Their aggression, vituperation, and threats make it difficult or risky for noble Christian leaders to attempt to counsel them. Their use of intemperate language has a national concern. The misconduct is becoming so alarming that continued silence will let some people perceive all Christians to be like-mannered and also cast a slur on the prophetic ministry.

The Battle Lines of the Prophets

Some of these “prophets” seem to have drawn the battle lines to assert their prophetic authority and supremacy in a bid to remain relevant to their followers. Their modus operandi has introduced what many people see as unethical practices into Ghanaian Christianity and the situation is very worrying.

Prophet versus Prophet

Fundamentally, prophets are ministers of God who declare the will of God to His people. The term “prophet” in the context of this discussion is chosen to represent any operator of the five-fold ministry stated in Ephesians 4:11, 12 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) because some of them also prophesy. It is common these days to see two or more prophets with their “disciples” locking horns over trivial issues. The insults, uncharitable words, and invectives used by the contending factions make the church look unattractive to some people, including potential converts to Christianity.

The situation has become so common that, these contending prophets try to rationalise and theologise their actions just to give false assurance to their unsuspecting followers to accept their misconduct as normal of Christian leaders. Sometimes, they twist certain passages of Scripture to justify their actions. The most worrying aspect of these conflicts is that they prefer to be captured live in the mass media as they showcase their anger and power in terms of their ability to insult and invoke curses on their opponents.

To them, the more insults and curses they invoke, the more powerful and good they feel about themselves over others who are noble and meek in Christ and would not want to descend into the gutters with them. They have no regard for decorum, confidentiality, and Christian ethics. The church leader, as a spiritual mother or father, deals with many private issues of people making confidentiality and trust the hallmark of his or her ministry. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29, NIV).

Unfortunately, most of the people purported to be doomed because of their curses still live on to enjoy God’s grace for their lives, and yet these prophets would not learn their lessons to model the life and ministry of Christ. Many of them have not come to the realisation that their style of ministry and behaviour is an affront to the tenets of Christ’s Kingdom principles and values because that is not how Jesus behaved even in the midst of adversity.

Warning against Revenge

The Bible says, “Never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD” (Rom. 12:19, NLT). This gives us an idea that even if it becomes necessary for us to exonerate ourselves amidst unfounded allegations, we should leave the vengeance aspect in the hands of God without resorting to pouring of curses and invectives on our opponents.

Much as we have the right to defend ourselves, it does not mean that we should use insults and curses to address our situation. The Bible says, “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell” (Matt. 5:22, NLT). This is a warning by Jesus against invoking curses on other people. How do we justify or defend the phenomenon of some people of God who curse their perceived opponents in the light of this Scripture? 

Prophet versus the State

There have been reports in the Ghanaian media about the contention between some prophets and the state security apparatus. The most recent of these situations resulted from the directive by the Ghana Police Service that reminded the nation that issuing statements of “doom with potential to cause fear and panic” in the name of prophecy is against the laws of Ghana and, therefore, prophets are to be discreet with their public utterances during the 31^st December 2021 watch night-church services.

The directive caused anger among some prophets to the extent that they reacted differently to the order from the Ghana Police Service. The directive is against the backdrop of a series of what many consider as “the prophecy of doom” concerning certain individuals during previous December 31 watch-night church services and the chaos that followed those prophecies. This means that both our socio-cultural context and legal framework consider public declaration of impending deaths of individuals as causing “fear and panic,” particularly if it is declared through the mass media. 

Sadly, being so frustrated about the directives, some prophets and their followers hypocritically made it look as if the Police Service has banned prophecy in its entirety, and as such, they will fight back. They threatened that they would not allow any institution to gag the prophets of God from speaking the mind of God.

Although it is biblically acceptable to be steadfast in our faith as Christians and uphold our Christian values in the face of persecution, no matter how the consequences may be, the question being asked is, should this principle be applied to the case at stake when it is obvious to even the Christian community in Ghana that the mischief of some church leaders tends to undermine the development of Christianity in this country?

Another question parting my lips is: Did the police administration really say that they were banning prophecy? The answer is a big “NO”! and that is obvious to all well-discerning Ghanaians. Perhaps some people have resorted to these lies just to win public sympathy and to make room for their invectives and misconduct to thrive.

On the contrary, the police rather issued a warning to those prophets who seek to create fear and panic such as prophesying publicly through the mass media about the death of someone. Such prophets seem to be insensitive to the psychological trauma that their victims and families may pass through as a result of being informed in the media through prophecies that they are going to die. What prevents these men and women of God from issuing the prophecies privately to their intended recipients? Is the use of the mass media (even before the potential victims hear of it) a fame-induced or Spirit-inspired approach?

Confidentiality as Ethics

Frankly speaking, the Police Service would not prevent prophets to reveal privately to any individual who is facing a looming disaster and that has been the practice of men and women of God with high ethical standards. The new phenomenon of employing the media to telecast such revelations is actually very disturbing. After all, the prophecy is not meant for the consumption of all Ghanaians? How would society accept the behaviour of a health practitioner who makes public the medical condition of his or her client?

If we are to consider that the prophets of God are spiritual fathers and reputable people in society, then why should their revelations about a private individual (oftentimes some of these individuals are not even members of their churches), which are supposed to be confidential, be broadcast or telecast on all media outlets for the public to know about someone’s “spiritual problems”? Are they sensitive to the privacy of the individual and the stigmatisation he or she is likely to face? Is the prophet seeking fame or the redemption of the victim’s situation?

In the Bible, the Lord revealed to the prophet Isaiah the impending death of King Hezekiah. Instead of declaring it publicly to the hearing of the entire nation Israel, Isaiah delivered the prophecy privately to the king. The Bible says, “The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, went to him and said, ‘This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover” (2 Kgs. 20:1, NIV).

In fact, any well-trained Christian leader with decorum knows how to handle confidential issues because every man or woman of God needs self-control as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). After all, our achievement in ministry is to glorify the name of the living God and not for our self-glorification.

Back to the discussion, while the directives of the Police Service aroused debate among the Ghanaian Christian community with many anticipating what the news on prophecies during the new year festivities (particularly during the 31^st December, 2021 watchnight services) will be, some of the prophets settled on what people consider as funny and weird strategies. Out of desperation for fame and power, they adopted unethical schemes, ploys, fictions and lies to communicate their messages, just to give their “disciples” a false sense of hope that they were still in charge as “commanding” prophets of God. 

The Prophet and his Territory

Critical in the causes of battles among some prophets in Ghana is the issue of territorial powers, the battle for supremacy, political, and regional, national or international recognition. One may think that the various titles such as regional prophet, national prophet, major prophet, territorial prophet, and the African prophet found in our society are merely wading into absurd nomenclature, but they are not.

These titles have been strategically churned out by some prophets and conferred on themselves just to look dreadful or famous. The titles are jealously defended to the extent that they monitor the ministry of one another to undermine those who may want to rise to their levels. Ironically, these titles have also become the source of conflicts among some prophets and their followers. Like their masters, one’s ability to insult, vilify, and abuse the perceived opponents of one’s master has become proof of loyalty to some “men and women of God”. The most loyal disciple must be an expert in insults and vituperation on behalf of his or her master. Those who do that perfectly can secure their master’s favour and admiration.

In James 4:1-3, the Bible speaks into the dynamics of these kinds of pride-induced conflicts in the church and we must allow ourselves to be counseled by this passage:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Insults as a Weapon – The Invective Ministry Syndrome

As already stated, insults and curses through the media have become the major weapons of these prophets, instead of God’s Word which is described as the sword of the Spirit. I have termed this shameful attitude as Invective Ministry Syndrome (IMS). IMS in a sense that the strand of ministry they exhibit is characterised by insults, vilification, vindictiveness, and abuses.

The IMS is so cherished by its followers that it is common nowadays to hear some men and women of God blatantly boasting of their ability to insult people rather than propagating the gospel for salvation of souls. Some so-called church leaders have been able to acquire their own television or radio stations not necessarily to promote the gospel as it is mandated in the Bible but to have a wider media platform to abuse their opponents and promote their ungodly attitude.

Sadly, when God wants His true children to dare harsh climatic conditions (like it happened in the early days of Christian mission) to propagate the gospel to His creation, some Christians today are seriously rehearsing insults, curses, flaunting their wealth on the mass media, and using profane language in place of righteousness. Most of them even fear to minister to the downtrodden at remote places where they know that their effort will not accrue any fame, financial returns, or dividends.

If this is the case, then how do we understand the Great Commission and the Missio Dei (the mission of God) divinely mandated through the church (Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 20:21; Ac. 1:8)? The major concern is that the rich Christian legacy bequeathed to us may be corrupted with this Invective Ministry Syndrome and abuses if we all become passive and allow it to fester.

Addressing the Culture of Insults

Already the ecumenical bodies in Ghana are concerned about the culture of insults in the Ghanaian political space and its effect on our nation-building. They are trying their best to address the situation so for some church leaders to be exhibiting the same attitude is an issue of concern. We want our children to be innovative, creative, progressive, and people with decorum rather than being rude to the elderly and other innocent people. We have many progressive people in the world whose ingenuity has transformed their systems of this world without using insults and abuse of other people.

The unfortunate effect of this is that some young Christians wrongly think that the prophet who is ‘anointed’ or progressive is the one who is able to insult or curse more than his colleagues. This might suggest why some church leaders seem to have a stand-by squad of young people armed to the teeth with insults ready to cast insinuations against the perceived opponents of their masters. This model of Christianity being presented to the younger generation should be a serious issue of concern for every Christian; it is ridiculous because it is not what Christian values and principles stand for.

The future of Christianity with its glorious nature should not be destroyed in our day because our forebears toiled to develop the Christian faith to bring it to its current status. They fancied righteousness, holiness, and had the passion for mission work; instead of boasting of material wealth and abuse of innocent people. Christianity in Ghana has earned an enviable position across the globe and it must be jealously guarded for posterity to cherish.

All over the world, there are Christians sent by mission-minded churches in Ghana as missionaries to preach the gospel and that is what we want to see more of from any thriving Christian denomination in Ghana. We need more young people ready to sacrifice their lives and wealth for the propagation of the gospel; not those trained to cast insinuations as their core mandate in ministry.

Resolving the Issue

Based on the arguments advanced herein, the prophecy brouhaha in Ghana and the desperation to be the first to release a prophecy of doom about certain individuals is indeed largely, fame driven and about self-aggrandizement. Otherwise, there would not have been any reason to make it the core mandate of ministry while the propagation of the unadulterated gospel of Christ at every part of the country has been relegated to the background by some of these prophets.

Although this challenge seems insurmountable to address, the church would still have to attempt to resolve it in the light of biblical standards for Christian leadership. While we admit that no human being is perfect and may faulter in the discharge of their duty, the apostle Paul gives us a clue that Christians must press on towards perfection (Phil. 3:12).

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus admonishes Christians to be role models in society so that by their good behaviour, His name would be glorified: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (ESV). Children of God have the responsibility to model Christian virtues wherever they are; that is what makes people glorify God’s name. To glorify God means, through our good conduct in Christ, many are attracted to faith in Christ.

Another focal point is the role of the Christian community in redeeming the good image of the church in a society where many people ridicule the model of the prophetic ministry as demonstrated by some church leaders. The prophetic ministry itself is a noble office, but the misbehaviour of some prophets today constitutes serious concern for the church in Ghana.

To avoid external regulation of the activities of the church (as has been agitated in some quarters), we should avoid being passive or intimidated by the insults. We need to muster the courage to take the bull by the horns to address the excesses exhibited by the activities of some ministers of the gospel. The church should rethink models of Christian doctrines and practices to be promoted and develop strong ecumenical conferences to help church leaders pattern their ministries after that of Jesus from which the Christianity we believe in, live by and preach originated.

I must reiterate the point that some prophecies being experienced today are purely divine while the issue of fame has also been the main reason for some. The kind of fruit some prophets bear affirms this claim. An authentic ministry is a blend of character and charisma.  No genuine church leader should decouple one from the other. Our passion for the charismata (gift) must complement the desire to be virtuous leaders as enjoined in Galatians 5:22.

Finally, it should be stressed that Jesus is love and church leaders must demonstrate love in all aspects of their lives; Jesus preaches salvation and church leaders must do likewise. Jesus is not quarrelsome, boastful, arrogant, haughty, and lustful. Any person who claims to be a follower of Christ must exude the virtues of Christ; that is the only way to fulfill the diagnostic test prescribed by Jesus that: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:15, 16, NKJV).

Having discussed the chaos being caused by some prophets and its negative effect on Christianity, there is the need to consider the recommendations made in this article. I end by calling on Christians to focus on Jesus Christ as the perfect example and Master. May the Lord have mercy!

By: Apostle Vincent Anane Denteh (vadentcop@gmail.com)

Besides the stress, trauma, and misery it exerts on the family setting and by extension, the entire human race, global pandemics come with many socio-economic challenges. On March 11, 2020, when the WHO declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic, it has infected over 269 million and killed around 5.3 million people worldwide as of December 10, 2021, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Socio-economically, the tourism and manufacturing industries have been significantly affected, generating millions of unemployment. Several trillions of dollars in stimulus packages have been released by governments and world bodies to cushion this negative impact.

This response has shed light on various issues, including student debt, digital learning, homelessness, housing, health care, internet, disability service, and food insecurity. At some point, many nations needed to provide food and other logistical supports for their citizenry in some of the partially locked-down cities. According to a United Nations Labour expert, “The economic crisis caused by the Covid pandemic is expected to contribute to global unemployment of more than 200 million people next year, with women and youth workers worse-hit.”

At one point, poor households across Columbia hung red clothing and flags from their windows and balconies as a sign that they are hungry. “We don’t have any money, and now we need to survive,” said Pauline Karushi, who lost her job at a jewellery business in Nairobi. One evening in New Delhi, migrants waiting in food lines fought each other over a plate of rice and lentils. Mr Singh, who was hoping to eat his first meal in a day, said, “Instead of coronavirus, the hunger will kill us.” He continued, “The lockdown has trampled on our dignity.” In San Roque slam in Manila, Ms Mikunog, 28, and with four children to feed, said she was at her wits’ end trying to figure out how they would survive. “Sometimes we talk, and wonder how long this lockdown will last, will we die hungry?” In Venezuela, Mr Bastardo, 25, a security guard said, “We are already thinking of selling things that we don’t use in the house to be able to eat.”

Such was the level of desperation many went through and are still going through to make earns meet and access some of the very essentials of human livelihood. This provided the opportunity for others to also rake in unjustifiable business profits from unsuspecting victims. Various selfish and ungodly demands were also made to the most vulnerable who thought they were not going to survive the times. This article intends to put into perspective, the quest in meeting some of humankind’s essential needs for survival through fair or foul means in the light of God’s promises to His children.

In Genesis 25:29-34, Esau judged an uncomfortable situation he found himself to be life-threatening and did something many have chastised till today. He came home from the open country famished. This is the state of being extremely hungry or starving to death. He asked his twin brother Jacob who at the time was cooking, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Between siblings, this is not an abnormal request to make except for the urgency that accompanied it. This level of desperation and need is what opened him up for exploitation. People always become vulnerable, and victims of circumstances anytime they demand urgent and quick responses to their requests. At the point of hunger and thirst, fear of the unknown, and hopelessness, many are likely to do everything as requested by their perceived redeemers. Once judged as a life and death situation, the body hormones go through some imbalances that feed into a specific line of action.

Jacob, Esau’s brother, replied, “First sell me your birthright.”  There are two possibilities I deduced at this point. Either Jacob had been coveting for that blessed position of his brother all that while or Esau, by his lifestyle appeared to have already placed his birthright on the counter for sale even before that faithful day. As born-again Christians, the devil and his agents are still not at peace with themselves with our newly found state of being heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

The writer of Hebrews could not have put it any better when he said in Hebrews 12:22-23, “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven….” It is, therefore, not surprising that the devil always presents himself to offer one help or the other in exchange for our priceless and glorious state in Christ Jesus. He went to Jesus with suggestions to turn stones into bread to eat when he suspected He was hungry. Jesus answered the devil, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone….” (Matthew 4:4). Let us bear in mind that, as believers, any temptation to disobey God is an offer from the devil to wrestle our birthright from us fraudulently.

As a reply to Jacob’s offer, Esau, said, “Look, I am about to die, what good is the birthright to me?” Esau placed a higher premium on his immediate survival against the benefits associated with his birthright in that quick cost-benefit analysis. He, therefore, would not have done so badly before any human examiner. After all, the saying, “a bird in hand is worth more than two in the forest” would have gone in favour of his arguments. Judged to be a matter of life and death, humans naturally would do everything within their purview to survive no matter how undignifying it may seem. The million-dollar question to ask now is; in such desperate situations, how correct could one’s judgment as real life-threatening be? Given a peculiar situation, will everyone’s judgment and thus response be the same? What then informs some to easily conclude they will die the next moment if their present needs are not met?

To seal the deal with his elder brother, Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” Esau despised his golden treasure, swore an oath to him before he was given a bite, or what the Bible calls “a morsel of food.” What at all came over Esau to act the way he did? Was it the colour of the stew? Or its aroma? Although the stew was red, how many cooking skills did Jacob possess? Was it not Esau instead whose cooking acumen drew his father Isaac closer to him? Better still, even if he was not in the mood for cooking, could he not have waited just a little while for their mother Rebecca’s food which comes served without any strings attached? Won’t Mama Rebecca’s green stew be healthier than Jacob’s red? Today, believers are freely asking our late brother Esau these questions. As the saying goes, “Talk is cheap.” The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are what unsettled Esau within that short space of time for him to do the unthinkable. Can you imagine how Esau felt after swallowing that morsel into his stomach and realising it was not a life and death situation after all? This old fashioned weapon of the devil that still looks potent today is what also outwitted the first couple in the Garden of Eden. Thankfully, when the devil brought it on in the case of Jesus in the wilderness, He defeated him to set the pace for all who abide in Him to never fall to such schemes.

With the fallouts of the covid-19 pandemic, what demands are people and the system making on your life which conflicts with God’s word? Is it sex for employment? Sex for keeping your job in the organisation? Amorous relationship with your landlord to keep you in that facility? Is it about lying, bribing, or falsifying data for contracts? Stealing at the workplace in the name of hard times? Compromising your stand in the Lord just for a smartphone or internet bundle? Have you decided to stop being faithful in your tithes and offerings in support of God’s work? These temptations are what this article refers to as “Jacob’s red stew”. Falling for them and their related scenarios amount to selling your birthright to the devil in these challenging times. As believers, there is no way our birthright should be on the auctioneer’s list, placed at Walmart, or listed on the stock exchange. The truth is that; you are richer, wealthier, and blessed than your tempter. Satan told Jesus in Matthew 4:9 that he will give Him all the kingdoms of the world and its splendour if He bows to him. In real terms; who is richer? Satan or Jehovah Elohim, the creator, and owner of the entire universe? Similarly, per the benefits associated with firstborns, Esau was by far wealthier than Jacob at the time of this encounter.

In Hebrews 12:16-17, the Bible says, “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterwards, as you know, when he wanted to inherit his blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.” This act of Esau prepared the grounds for his blessings to be taken from him when their father Isaac was about to die. We set ourselves for defeats, pain, disappointments, and anguish and irreversible consequences anytime we despise our birthright by sinning. I would take this opportunity to entreat all who are in the habit of taking undue advantage of the times to cheat, settle old scores, and making all sorts of ungodly demands from the vulnerable to stop. Jesus told His disciples, “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.” (Luke 17:1).

The state of always perceiving difficult situations as a matter of life and death is what makes one most susceptible to manipulations and deceptions. You will not die; it is not as the devil is modelling it to you. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone…” Believe Him and don’t allow anyone to unscrupulously take your gold (i.e. Christ) and replace it with rotten wood. There is always a sure way out designed by Him anytime we encounter difficult situations. Even to the point of death, the three Jewish friends in the land of their captivity defied all odds to glorify the God of Israel than compromising to worship the golden image in Daniel chapter 3. Holding tight the birthright secured in the saviour’s love, one can only agree with the Apostle Paul when he said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? He continued with the declaration that, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither heights nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39). If none of these can separate us from God, then the negative impacts of covid-19 should not be allowed either. It will surely be over one day. This is what Esau missed in his day. Don’t, therefore, lose your guard.

By Pastor James Agyin (j.orhinagyin20@icloud.com)

When the Transgender movement started, most of us didn’t know the extent and magnitude of the problem at hand. Today, as they roll on some of their new faculties and departments, the world now realizes it is a whole institution with Satan as their Founder and Chancellor, the Self as the Vice-Chancellor and misguided Human rights activism as their Registrar. The founder’s name should strike a chord that this “Trans-movements” didn’t start today except that it is announcing, manifesting, and reloading itself on another level altogether. Per their definitions, a transgender person feels trapped inside a body of the opposite gender. So, a biological male can begin to argue she is a female who has been trapped in a male body. A trans-racial is also someone who feels they are white but trapped inside a black body and vice-versa. A trans-abled person is also a physically able person who feels they should have been born disabled. Trans-age refer to those who think they are either far older or younger than their actual ages. Then came trans-sick, which describes those who argue they are sick although they are perfectly healthy. One thing that runs through the few mentioned phenomena is the “I feel” phrase as touted by its proponents and adherents.

In the book of 2 Samuel, when King David became a “Trans-Uriah” after his lustful escapade with Beersheba and tried unsuccessfully to let Uriah go and spend the night at home, little did he know that he was setting the grounds for Amnon, his son to also turned a ‘Trans-sick” person because of Tamar his sister. 2Samuel 13:1-2 says, “In the course of time, Amnon, son of David, fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom, son of David. [2] Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.” Here was a son of David who had allowed lust to intoxicate him to the extent of being obsessed with his own sister’s beauty and wanted her in bed. Not finding a headway around his problem, he made himself ill, as the Bible put it, even though he was perfectly healthy. Amnon, in his quest to satisfy the Self, then turned into a “trans-sick” person who needed special attention from Tamar. Prognosis is a forecast of the likely outcome of a medical condition. This article attempts to do a prognosis of Amnon’s “trans-sick” state with lust as the underlying health condition. Having special advisers and personal assistants is not a bad thing at all. They become such an enormous blessing when their counsel leads unto the path of righteousness. Unfortunately for Amnon, when his adviser in the person of Jonadab saw his “trans-sick” mood, he further pushed him into his early grave with the counsel and advocacy he mounted for him. In 2 Samuel 13:3-5, “Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. [4] He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” [5] “Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.

Yes, the “trans-sick” mood Amnon chose to cover his problem of lust showed and drew on his facial expressions all day and night long. It was, therefore, not surprising that his cousin Jonadab saw him looking haggard morning after morning. When you feel that you are a female even though a biological male, you are most likely to begin depicting certain feminine gestures and mannerisms which has nothing to do with the genetic make of the person as created by God. It, therefore, has everything to do with what one allows the mind to communicate to them for a specific heart desire. Instead of helping Amnon come out from the “trans-sick” state, which was having a toll on his life, Jonadab rather counselled Amon to go to bed pretending to be ill. “So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.” (2 Sam 13:6). But for the counsel and advocacy Jonadab did for him, Amon could have been liberated by Prophet Nathan and the voices of God who were around the seat of Israel’s government at the time. Jonadab, however, advised him to go a step forward in that “trans-sick” mood, lie in bed and demand his rights to proper healthcare from David, his father. King David, unknowingly, fell for Jonadab’s counsel and sent Tamar to attend to Amnon. Even though Tamar could not have discerned all the ulterior motives of Amnon inspired by Jonadab, there were signals she should not have ignored and taken lightly. Why she happened to be the one picked to come and attend to him in that request to David is something she could have queried a little further. Secondly, he refused to eat after serving him the requested specially baked bread on a pan. That also should have rung a particular bell within her about the brother’s actual condition. (2Samuel 13:9). Amnon then instructed Tamar to send everyone out of the vicinity and bring the food into his bedroom alone, so he ate from her hand. Tamar obliged this request too, but this was the time Tamar should have realized Amnon had overstayed his welcome and boldly handed him over to a professional Doctor.

Homosexuality has been with humanity since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. When our modern society began welcoming some of the vicious demands from their community, little did we all know that kind of patronage was going to be a long end-time battle of our lives. It is no more a hidden practice, but a fully-fledged LGBTQI+ protected and gated community today. If the acronyms even started with an “A”, we would have taken consolation that it would end at “Z” in a matter of time. Starting with “L” signifying a rather long journey and ending with a “(+)” sign suggests many more of its derivatives yet to unfold.

In 2Samuel 13:11, Amnon made a request which seemed unusual to Tamar when they were alone in the room. He initially started on a gentle note and said, “…Come to bed with me, my sister.” Tamar then decided to preach Israel’s culture and moral values to him, so he sat up and came out from whatever was coming over him. When that failed, she tried persuading his brother to reason up and think about the disgrace and aftermath of that act of incest on David’s household and the entire community of Israel. In my opinion, this was the fourth mistake Tamar made which landed her in the wicked and lustful arms of Amnon. He then overpowered, raped, and had her thrown out of his bedroom afterwards. When lust heats up red-hot, any attempt to gently negotiate and parry it off does not work. The only language it understands is to flee or confront it violently with every available strength.

When Potiphar’s wife caught Joseph by his cloak and said to him, “Come to bed with me!” the Bible clarifies that Joseph did not play the gentility and tolerance card. He instead left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Joseph did not count on the Egyptian culture of the day but called the name of Jehovah Elohim as his principal reason for not negotiating with the spirit of lust. He said, “…How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9-12). Observing how some of our most cherished Ghanaian values and culture has ebbed away over the passage of time, depending on it at this crucial time of the day, will be shaky. On Christ the Solid Rock, we must stand because all others sink with time.  But for God’s grace and help, we all could have done worse than the LGBTQ+ community are propagating. As a Christian community, we, therefore, have no option but to show unconditional love to all who happen to be entrapped by that menace. We, however, condemn the worship of the human will as their idol and misguided human rights activism as the chief Priest. The Ghanaian Christian community led by The Church of Pentecost and other denominations have, therefore, responded aptly as Joseph did and which Tamar failed to do. Billy Graham couldn’t have put it any better when he said, “Sin is not a toy with which to play but a terror to be shunned”.

After Amnon used Tamar to satisfy his selfish and lustful desires, 2 Samuel 13:16-18 reads, “Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out! “No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me…He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.” So, his servant put her out and bolted the door after her…” How come Amnon did not have the needed fulfillment he thought he would get after raping Tamar? That is the deception and illusion the advocates of Proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values want the LGBTQ+ community to avoid. The Bible makes it clear that “Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up a mouth full of gravel.” (Prov 20:17). The soul and spirit of humankind can never be satisfied with the fleeting passions of this world and the Self. One will almost always feel that emptiness without life in Christ Jesus because that is how God, the creator programmed humankind.

Today, the world is fiercely trying to brand those who rather seek the welfare and Liberation of the LGBTQI+ community as haters but tag the “Jonadabs” as tolerant and concerned citizens. Let us not forget that the Bible referred to Jonadab as a shrewd person. Celebrating People in bondage through Law who instead needs Liberation and taking proactive steps to help them through same; which of the two is a hate move? Is it not ridiculous that the latter instead of the former is what this world calls hatred? Those advocating for your celebration cannot love you more than those of us campaigning for your Liberation through Christ Jesus.

When Absalom learned of what Amnon had done to Tamar, he kept his cool but planned to revenge at an appropriate time. Two years later, Absalom also demanded his rights to enjoyment with his siblings from David, their father but had Amnon killed on that occasion. If you allow lust to turn you into a “Trans-sick” because of a “Tamar”, you may meet your “trans-happy” Absalom one day. (2Sam 13). Where was Jonadab, the counsellor and advocate for Amnon when he was suffering revenge from Absalom? Amon died and got buried whiles Jonadab was still enjoying life with the golden opportunity and possibility of repenting before going to be with the Lord. The prognosis, therefore, does not look good for all who allow the Self and its lustful passions to rule them in this  temporary life and the next life to come. I pray the LGBTQ+ community takes a sober reflection of their lives, allows Christ in their hearts, and instead be wary of the “Jondadabs” of our day whose advocacy for them instead pushes them further into the ditch before their time. Allow Jesus, therefore, to be the Lord of your life and He will give you the rest and peace this world can never provide for your soul.

Written by Pastor James Agyin (j.orhinagyin20@icloud.com)

• By Elder Dr. S. Ofotsu Ofoe

Opening

After 37 years of active full-time pastoral ministry in The Church of Pentecost (CoP), Apostle Alfred Koduah draws down the curtains on his active ministry this weekend, August 15, 2021. He has affected the beliefs and practices of the CoP in significant ways. His giant physique is in agreement with his gigantic undertakings within the CoP. The pastoral interest, theological undertakings and administrative practicality of Apostle Koduah have arguably extended the frontiers of the CoP in postmodern ministry in the 21^st century. For a church to hold the view that it is essential for Christianity to break camp towards making the world its parish and engaging various unexploited spaces within society, the work of the Apostle stands tall as a case of reference in enabling a forceful Christian presence and impression the world over. This article is designed to briefly engage with aspects of his ministry that shaped the doctrinal stance of the CoP, demonstrates its missiological strength of today, and shows the brunt of the Pentecostal movement in Ghana.

Reminiscing the CoP of 1984

Apostle Alfred Koduah came into the full-time ministry in 1984, two years after Pastor James McKeown retired from his chairmanship of the CoP after serving for 44 years, and the first African chairman, Apostle Fred Stephen Safo took office as Chairman of the CoP. By this period, the administrative structure of the church had achieved some stability. With the establishment of the Executive Council two decades short of 1984 to supplement the already institutionalised General Council, the various leadership wrangling of the earlier years have significantly subsided. The CoP was then poised to grow and advance its ministry. Within this period the CoP became Ghana’s largest Pentecostal church. A later study done by the Ghana Evangelism Committee in 1989 confirmed this. By 1984, the membership of the church in Ghana stood at 10,350 with 2,339 assemblies. The six other nations the CoP was then operating in had a total membership of 10,420 with 248 assemblies, according to the Statistics Department at the General Headquarters of the CoP.

Those who have entered the full-time ministry around that time would have been fully aware of the great expectation required of them in the context of happenings within that time. Good enough, the Pentecost Bible College which was started in 1972 but closed down a year later, was re-opened in 1982. This gives persons like Apostle Koduah the opportunity to earn a certificate in Pastoral Studies. His ministerial formation was undoubtedly shaped and aided by his studies at the Pentecost Bible College.

In the year he was called into the full-time ministry, the College was moved from New Abossey Okai to Madina, both in Accra. In that year, this college was renamed Church of Pentecost Bible Centre, and its new block at Madina was dedicated on June 3, 1984. Apostle Koduah was called from Asante Bekwai and stationed at Adukrom-Akuapim. Some of the brothers who were called in that same year include M. K. Ntumy called from Yendi, Narh Affum called from Asuom, M. O. Andoh called from Cape Coast, E. Achim Gyimah called from Okyinso, Samuel Antwi called from Kumasi, T. K. Owusu Bore called from Twifo Heman and E. K. Appiah called from Obuasi. In all, 21 brothers from Ghana were called into the full-time ministry in 1984. The Lord used them to accomplish a lot to his glory. Apostle Alfred Koduah shines through.

The CoP into the 21^st Century

Apostle Alfred Koduah has distinguished himself as a specialist in exposing emerging trends in society and their impact on Christianity. He has researched this thoroughly. He is still studying this particular subject. He has given lectures and published adequately on emerging trends. The CoP has benefited greatly from this. Regarding the erstwhile conservation nature of the CoP generally, Apostle Koduah has challenged the CoP to break camp and advanced in order to remain relevant in a world that is changing very rapidly. If the CoP is seen as keeping pace with today’s world, he is one of the main architects of that.

In this vein, he has affected various ‘untouchable’ structures and thought of the CoP. For instance, he influenced the modification of the religious practice of head covering by the women of the CoP; and the tradition of segregating men and women in the seating arrangement at church meetings. He has raised a number of other issues in his paper, “The Church of Pentecost in a Postmodern Society” presented during the McKeown Memorial Lectures to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the CoP in September, 2003. These issues have shaped the thought and practice of the CoP today. The issues include but are not limited to attachment of baptisteries to certain chapels; putting up chapel complexes to cater for meetings of children, youth and adult church meetings; institutionalization of the ministry to the deaf and dumb; introduction of youth pastor concept, among others.

Regarding the head covering tradition, Apostle Koduah made a call in 2003 thus, “Considering the sensitive and controversial nature of women’s head covering in the Church today, I humbly call for a theological debate on the issue in the Church to arrive at a firm position on it in this postmodern world.” This practice has been part of the umbilical cord of the CoP. Going into a postmodern world, it has become quite apparent that such a practice is outmoded and needs a review. It was his study and subsequent presentation on the issue of head covering that influenced the “2010 Communique” of the CoP leading to the review of the practice. It seems he has been concerned about the practice long before he was tasked to give a lecture on it on January 19, 2010 at the Head’s Prayer Meeting of the CoP. For his Master’s thesis presented to the Regents Theological College in UK (Master’s degree awarded by the University of Manchester), he discussed the topic, “The Significant Religious Practices in The Church of Pentecost and their Implications for the Future.” In this thesis, he touched on the issue of head covering. Perhaps, this was what caused leadership of the CoP to give him the responsibility of researching the issue further. The practice of head covering for religious reasons has been explored further in his book, The Woman’s Head-Covering in Church published in 2010.

The CoP has been alerted on emerging philosophies and how they are shaping the Christian belief today through the work of Apostle Koduah. The CoP has thus become concerned about such ideologies. The subject is being taught at the School of Theology, Missions and Leadership of the Pentecost University to incoming pastors. He has been an adjunct lecturer in this regard. The lay leaders of the CoP have also been receiving training on the subject. By this, the theology of mission of the CoP has been positively impacted by Apostle Alfred Koduah. Today, the CoP has been able to develop workable missional paradigms to do its ministry in this century.

Catalyst of the Youth Ministry

To have a ministry of the CoP that would cater for the special needs and intentional discipleship of young people has not been given much attention during its formative years. However, young people were arguably regarded as essential part of the Christian ministry. This is evident in the call of some very young people into the pastoral ministry. For instance, the following were called at an early age in various periods of the church: Joseph Egyir-Paintsil, 21 years in 1949; Martison Kwadwo Yeboah, 26 years in 1950; Thomas Nyarko, 25 years in 1952; Fred Stephen Safo, 24 years in 1956; Michael Kwabena Arnan, 22 years in 1959; Opoku Onyinah, 22 years in 1976; among others.

Over the years, some efforts have been made to group the young people in the CoP together. The initial purpose was mainly in pursuance of its evangelism core value. On various campuses, students within the CoP were gathered steadily. This culminated in the formation of the Pentecost Students and Associates (PENSA) in 1980. PENSA was merged with the then Witness Movement into Pentecost Youth and Evangelism Movement (PENTYEM) 1991. The need of having a full-fledged group for the young people prevailed. This led to the formation of the now Youth Ministry in 1996.

Apostle Alfred Koduah has breathed fire into the Youth Ministry of the CoP. In his book, Teenage Ministry: A Neglected Mission Field published in 1997, a year after the Youth Ministry was instituted, draws attention to the great benefit churches can draw from paying particular attention to young people. He realised that teenagers have been ignored in the structures and models of churches. His recommendations have shaped the Youth Ministry of the CoP in no small way. The huge generational gap that existed between the old and young of the CoP was significantly addressed. He has taught widely on how to communicate with young people. He would often tell young people; “Do not think I am old when it comes to the use of your terms; I know them.” The immediate past Youth Director of the CoP, Apostle David Nyansah Hayfron, in presenting a paper titled, “Effective Handling of Teenage Ministry in The Church of Pentecost – The Role of the Youth Worker” during the historic Global Ministers and Wives Conference of the CoP in January 2017, placed his presentation in the backdrop of this important work of Apostle Koduah. I think it was the realisation Apostle Hayfron made regarding the influence of Apostle Alfred Koduah on the Youth Ministry that necessitated the perceptive he took, as seen in the early part of his paper.

Essentially, I would suggest that it was his great concern for youth ministry that caused Apostle Koduah to suggest the adoption of the youth pastor concept back in September 2003 in his McKeown Memorial Lectures paper.  Let me state that he made a suggestion for children pastors as well. Over a decade later, this concept has been adopted in the CoP. He saw the relevance of this and I believed he pursued it further. The CoP per its demography remains a church of the young. For example, in the State of the Church Address by its Chairman during the 15^th Extraordinary Council Meeting in May 2017, 71% of 2,367,253 of its membership in Ghana alone was young people up to 35 years of age. Special attention must continue to be offered to the ministry to young people. It is a missional and a rewarding venture indeed.

Indefatigable Teacher and Scholar

Apostle Alfred Koduah’s ministry in the CoP has set a great benchmark worthy of emulation by future generations. He is diligent when it comes to studying, research, writing and teaching. Though he came to the full-time pastoral ministry with just a certificate in Agricultural Science, he worked hard to study up to the doctoral level, earning a PhD in Theology from the South African Theological Seminary. He has written a number of books and presented several papers. It may seem that in recent times of the CoP, when it comes to the controversial and impressing issues within the church, he is the one who is given the assignment to research such problems.  He has written and published a number of books. Some of these books include: If a Man Dies, Will He Live Again?, Christianity in Ghana Today, Who is Disturbing the Nation?; The Christian in a Sex-Craze World; The Pastor’s Health (co-author); Who is Disturbing the Church?; This Thing Called Salvation; Preparing for the Ultimate Journey: The Need to Develop New Attitude towards Death; Impacting Generations: The Need to Avoid the Generational Gab Syndrome in the Church; Managing the Decline of Christianity in the Western World: Lessons for Churches in the Developing World; The Ugly Face of Poverty; Unlocking the Psalms; Ten Socio-Economic, Political and Religious Dangers Confronting Contemporary Christianity; and Fifteen Ecclesiastical Dangers Confronting Contemporary Christianity. Some of his presented papers include “Managing the Generational Gap Syndrome,” “Head Covering,” “The Disciple of Christ as a Steward,” “An Example of Christ’s Leadership,” “The Role of Directive Prophecy in the Selection of Ecclesiastical Leadership: The Church of Pentecost’s Experience,” “Drawing a Balance Between Pentecostal Spirituality and Formal Theological Training,” “Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council: Celebrating Fifty Years of Pentecostal Influence,” and “God’s Amazing Financial Provision for the Church of Pentecost.”

His research works which he packages for the consumption by both scholars and lay church leaders have made groundbreaking realisations and provoked a number of changes within the CoP. He has played a key role in the shaping of the Prophetic in the CoP. “The Role of Directive Prophecy in the Selection of Ecclesiastical Leadership,” for instance, led to the modification of aspects of the Constitution of the CoP. This paper revealed the historical antecedents and the development of the prophetic office, with a special interest in how directive prophecies have led to the election of key leaders in the CoP. It pointed out the flaws and gave very helpful recommendations. Articles 12.3 (i), 13.3 (i) and 14.3 (h) of the Constitution in use at the time were amended. They initially read, “Where there is a directive prophecy on a candidate, it shall be judged on its own merit by the Electoral College. The candidate so accepted by the Electoral College shall be presented to the General Council to be voted upon.” To touch on only 12.3 (i), it was amended to read as follows: “All ‘directive prophecies’ and ‘revelations’ concerning candidates for consideration for the position of Chairman shall be communicated verbally or in writing to the Executive Council through the Chairman of the church”; “(j) The Executive Council regulating its own proceedings shall present a candidate to be voted upon by the Electoral College. The candidate so accepted by the Electoral College shall be presented to the General Council to be voted upon.” This among others demonstrates that he has affected the CoP so very fundamentally. Such influence was not limited to the CoP but spilled over to other Christian groups including the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and the Bible Society of Ghana LBG, which he served as its vice president. In his book, Christianity in Ghana Today, published in 2004, he took note of the “Pentecostalisation of Christianity in Ghana”. This realisation shows the growing Pentecostal influence in Ghana. A paper he later presented to commemorate the 50th anniversary celebration of the GPCC acknowledged further this Pentecostal influence in Ghana. 

His style of teaching brings home the subjects he taught. He has skillfully exposed the various topics to the delight of many. His online Weekly Bible School has brought to light subjects that could be regarded as theological hard nuts to the general church populace. He adequately and painstakingly dealt with several topics including “Hamartiology (The Study of Sin),” “Biblical Perspective on Vindictive Prayer” and very extended ones such “Unlocking the Psalms,” “Understanding the Old Testament” and “Understanding the New Testament.” He has taught on various topical issues in everyday life that has prepared many for the practical life and godliness.

Leadership Ardour and Administrative Dexterity

Having served as the chief scribe of the CoP from 2003-2013, the administrative fortunes have been nothing but brighter. Apostle M. K. Ntumy, one of the two chairmen he worked with as general secretary of the CoP, described him as “a man of ideas.” Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah has also eulogised his gigantic undertakings as the general secretary of the CoP. He points to the ultramodern Pentecost Convention Centre as a project in which Apostle Alfred Koduah played a key role in the establishment. In fact, the Apostle was the one who led a team to the UK and Nigeria to study various convention centres and advised the CoP adequately on its quest to put up one. He [Prof. Onyinah] personally informed me back in 2018, carrying a demeanour of great satisfaction, during a conversation that “he [Apostle Alfred Koduah] is very hardworking.” This cannot be further from the truth. The way he carries himself about testifies to that.

Apostle Koduah is credited with the digitization of the entire administrative organism at the General Headquarters. The infrastructure development which the church witnessed between 2003 and 2013 can in part be attributed to the Accelerated Infrastructure Development Fund which he moved for establishment when he was the general secretary of the CoP.

He believes in leadership development and has personally championed this at various levels. The leadership competence and pastoral affection of Apostle Koduah have been acknowledged. His ministerial ardour was in full force when he served as a missionary of the CoP in Zambia from 1994 to 1998. It is reported that he shaped significantly the doctrinal stance of the CoP in Zambia. Whilst in Zambia, two Elders, Ekow Badu Wood (now Apostle) and Nelson M. Lukwesa were called to the full-time ministry.

Conclusion

Apostle Alfred Koduah can be appropriately described as a reformer having fronted a number of groundbreaking ventures in the CoP significantly. He has been described as a skillful leader who knows how to handle controversial issues. His pastoral warmth is palpable. He is such an ardent Bible teacher and a great lover of the youth. The doctrinal stance, theology of mission, administrative system, and ministerial ethos of the CoP have been positively shaped by the ministry of this great Apostle of Christ. As he closes the chapter on his active full-time ministry, may the torch he has lit burn its way into every facet of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prisons serve as the final point in criminal justice administration since offenders are kept there as punishment for crimes committed. Imprisonment in recent times has transitioned from the era of offender warehousing to that which seeks to cure the precipitating factors that push people into the life of crime. This demands that ‘societal misfits’ are taken through modules aimed at realigning their way of thinking to acceptable societal standards so that offenders re-enter society truly reformed.

Unlike in jurisdictions with best practices, Ghana’s prison system has struggled over the years to develop prisons into real centres of rehabilitation. Successive governments have invested little in this regard leaving most prisons in deplorable states.

It is not surprising in the light of the above that Ghanaians seem to downplay the struggles prison authorities endure to ensure that offenders do not only remain under lock and key, but reform from the life of crime. The unfortunate situation has resulted in public disinterest in complementing the efforts of the Ghana Prisons Service directed at keeping society safe.

A Hero Castigated

In 2019, after years of near unsuccessful attempts at courting public partnerships for the expansion of prison infrastructure, The Church of Pentecost emerged as a worthy partner to fund this essential change. The church, which has contributed substantially to the reformation drive of the Service through evangelism and medical outreaches, had its Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamkeye, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of five 300-capacity camp prisons across the country.

Refreshingly, the first facility situated in Ejura was commissioned and handed over to the Ghana Prisons Service on the 11^th of May 2021. This becomes one of the few purpose-built prison facilities in the country. The facility consists of two dormitory blocks, an administration block, visitor’s lounge, an infirmary, a church building, workshops, a football field and other essential offices.

It is sad to note that news of this magnanimous gesture has been described as a misplaced priority by a section of Ghanaians. The flak has centred around why a church would build a facility to house offenders instead of schools, health facilities and factories. This is a clear indication that most Ghanaians do not see the prison as an extension of society but rather as ‘a devil’s den’ for punishing offenders. It is clear also that, society see little or nothing wrong with the deplorable conditions in our prisons resulting in the seeming disgust after the first pictures of the facility hit the media.

Ironically, society is quick to mention that some incarcerated persons re-enter society unchanged. They say so without realising that our prisons require humane environments equipped with the right infrastructure to take inmates through structured regimes that will ensure that they come out of prison as individuals willing and able to lead law abiding lives.

Congestion Festers into Homosexuality, Diseases and Recidivism

The congestion rate in our prisons stands at around 52% with about 15,000 prisoners struggling for 9,945 spaces. Prison administrators due to the overwhelming numbers are unable to do proper classification of inmates to prevent contamination and limit the exposure of low-risk inmates to their high-risk colleagues. Weaklings who find themselves in same cells as powerful recidivists are sometimes bullied to trade their bodies for sleeping spaces.

Most of Ghana’s prisons are remnants of the colonial era. These forts, castles and armouries are not purpose-built and as such do not present environments that support healthy living. Congestion in these facilities allow for easy transmission of diseases. Though the prison administration over the years has attempted to alter facilities to make them more habitable, outbreaks of communicable diseases suggest that there is the need to invest in building requisite structures to support the wellbeing of offenders. One effect of the situation is that inmates lack the peace of mind and strength required to subscribe to prison rehabilitation programmes.

Another worrying trend in this direction is the fact that, some offenders come out of prison just the way they entered; unskilled. The reason is that trade-learning workshops required to champion the rehabilitation agenda of the Service are non-existent in most prisons. The few ones lucky to have them are highly under-resourced. In effect, most offenders are not able to receive any form of trade training throughout their incarceration. These ex-convicts, under the slightest temptation, relapse into the life of crime after release as a way of survival due to unemployment.

Why Prioritise Prison Reform?

Only a small number of Ghana’s prisoners spend their entire lives in prison, as most of them are released at a point. This is the reason why all should follow the unprecedented example of The Church of Pentecost by contributing to ensuring that offenders receive requisite moral and trade training to support meaningful living upon discharge. It will also ensure that, they serve their sentences without feeling rejected by the society they call their own. 

All should note that Ghanaians cannot enjoy sound sleep if ex-convicts re-enter society with the thought that they were unduly punished during their period behind bars. They could engage in crimes as payback for the pains they suffered behind bars. The next time you are tempted to discourage a donor from supporting prison reform, be reminded that the prison is everybody’s second home. It takes the lenses of justice to point to us that we are not saints after all.

By: Daniel Machator, Public Relations Practitioner (machator@hotmail.com)