Federation Of Muslim Councils Commends National Chief Imam, Rev. Owusu Bempah For Show Of Maturity

The Federation of Muslim Councils of Ghana (FMC) has followed with keen interest the rage generated by the infamous prophecy of the death of the National Chief Imam of Ghana by the self-styled Nation’s Prophet, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, leader of the Glorious Word and Power Ministry International.

Ordinarily, the Owusu Bempah’s irresponsible pronouncements would not elicit a response or comment from the Federation, but not when the Spiritual Head of the FMC is the target and the errant Reverend Owusu Bempah continues to make comments that can best be described as insult to the intelligence of Muslims , going by video clips of in the possession of the FMC.

In a video footage circulated by Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah’s church in the night of 31^st December, 2018, Reverend Owusu Bempah is seen and heard ‘prophesying’ the death of many a prominent personality in Ghana, including the National Chief Imam of Ghana, His Eminence, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu. He followed his ‘prophecy’ with an admonition to take the prophecy seriously, backed by a call on Muslims to pray to avert the death of the 99 year-old man!!!

Speaking in Twi, a widely spoken Ghanaian local language, Owusu Bempah’s ‘prophecy’ concerning the National Chief Imam of Ghana was rendered into the English language by an interpreter thus:

“This also is for the Muslims. Now, the prophecy is concerned [sic] the nation and so anyone who is important or prominent in the nation, God is able to speak concerning him. Now let us take note of this prophecy, because it can happen! But I believe that the Muslims can pray to stop it, because there are some people whether we like it or not, even though they are not members of your faith, they are still very important people. I saw a star, and I saw the star holding a buuta and tasbiya /talisman, and there were many stars at the feet of this star. Immediately, I saw the star fell to the ground, and I saw that all the stars who were at his feet were wearing a white cloth, but were crying. Let the Muslims pray for their Chief Imam; let them not despise this prophecy. Let them not say they don’t believe in the Christian faith. Even the Qur’an teaches them that when they are reading their Qur’an and they don’t understand, they should seek insights from Christians! This thing that god has revealed to me, I wish I did not say it, but the lord told me: ‘my servant, I have revealed this to you to say it, so say it’ …”

The ‘prophecy’ was immediately released by the church on social media platforms. These direct ‘prophetic’ proclamations did not go down well with many Muslims, especially the youth.

Sadly, on New Year’s Day, a day after the prophecy, Muslim youth angered by the prophecy stormed the Glorious Word and Power Ministry International church at South Odorkor.

No sooner the news of the vandalism reached the National Chief Imam than he swiftly called for calm and forgiveness for the Reverend Owusu Bempah via a video footage released by the Imam’s office.

Reverend Owusu Bempah has since granted many media interviews, notably one with Kofi Adomah Nwanwani on Kofi TV, a video footage of which has been making rounds on social media. What disturbs the FMC and angers many more Muslims, however, is Reverend Owusu Bempah’s refusal to accept the glaring causal link between his provocative pronouncements and the attack on his church by the angered Muslim youth and, rather, playing politics with the matter by blaming the attack on a political party – the National Democratic Congress (NDC). This proverbial ostrich stance taken by Rev Owusu Bempah is as insulting as saying making more prophecies about the National Chief Imam in the manner he did on the night of 31^st December, 2018 would be countenanced by Muslims.

Of late, provocative pronouncements by religious leaders have been the concern of the National Media Commission (NMC). In October, 2018, the NMC launched guidelines ‘aimed at defining the principles and clarifying the rules governing all religious broadcasts in Ghana’.

Rule xi of the National Media Commission’s Guidelines on Religious Broadcasting says:

“ xi. Public proclamations of directive prophecies or pronouncements that have the potential to cause fear and panic in people and threaten stability and social cohesion should be avoided”

Taking our cultures into consideration many people rightly so, were not happy that the New Year presentation by Prophet Owusu Bempah failed to settle on prayers for the nation but prophesy for the death of prominent personalities whom the nation and its people hold dear. We are grateful to all those who intervened in the matter by pointing out the religious flaws in the New Year prophesies of reverend Owusu Bempah. We are also thankful to the role played by Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah who apologized to the nation those meant to die this year particularly the National Chief Imam

The FMC joins all peace-loving individuals, including the Inspector General of Police, in commending the National Chief Imam for his timely intervention that forestalled social disorder and solidified the peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in Ghana. In reciprocity, Rev. Owusu Bempah must show remorse by apologizing to the National Chief Imam and measure his public pronouncements in future.

HAJJ ABDULLAH S. WILLIAMS

NATIONAL COORDINATOR

FEDERATION OF MUSLIM COUNCILS OF GHANA