Avoidable Stampede, Deaths For Anointing Water

 
The news hit like a thunderbolt; four adult Ghanaians had been trampled to death in a mad, senseless stampede for free anointing water, with 30 others injured, possibly seriously.

Where? At the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Spintex Road, Accra. T.B. Joshua's Church, again!

About two weeks earlier, news of Prophet Joshua's presence at his Spintex Road branch church led to a blockade of the entire road for most part of the days, as his miracle-seeking adherents, in their rush to catch a glimpse of the prophet, parked their cars haphazardly.

Nobody can blame the leaders of the Church for the indiscipline exhibited by the worshippers.

But, in this instant of a stampede for anointed or anointing water, the church leaders deserve blame. Especially, in view of the hype that Prophet Joshua had reportedly given his special water.

Prophet T.B. Joshua was said to have told his congregation a couple of weeks ago of a vision concerning his latest batch of anointing water and stickers, reportedly assuring that 'anyone who administered the water would receive a tremendous breakthrough in all aspects of life.'

It is, therefore, not surprising that stressed miracle-seeking Ghanaians would throng the church on the news that the miracle-inducing water had arrived from the headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. A fact which a church official, Rev Sam Mc-Caanan, acknowledged:

'We are used to numbers, but we have not had an occasion like this. We are very devastated. It's very unfortunate, and we are very sorry. We have to do a thorough work around this to make sure it doesn't happen again,' he said.

So the SCOAN leaders, on Sunday May 19, 2013, saw the gargantuan crowd that besieged the church premises at Spintex Road. How come their prophetic senses did not hint them about the possibility of a stampede, of deaths and injuries, if the free distribution of the hyped anointing water was not carefully handled?

Even in the absence of the prophetic muse, all that was needed was a little bit of forethought. The water could easily have been positioned at the various exists out of the church, with volunteers handing them out as the congregation stepped out.

Instead, from available reports, the announcement of the free anointing was made cavalierly, prompting the mad rush.

The Chronicle is not sure if Rev Mc-Caanan is resident in Ghana or was sent specially from the Lagos headquarters with the anointing water. Even if he came in from Nigeria, it is most likely that he would have been told of the controversy that bloomed after Prophet Joshua's last visit, and the resultant traffic log-jam it caused.

A Ghanaian prophet said he had seen in a vision that Prophet J.B. Joshua's powers do not emanate from God, though he did not indicate what its source is. Ghanaians are fair minded and would overlook these four deaths as a result of the credulity of their compatriots.

But, a second stampede and deaths would, in all probability, be seen as blood propitiation for whatever unholy source that Prophet Joshua's powers allegedly come from. We pray not.

But a word to the wise …!