By Bright Philip Donkor
Emeritus Professor at the London Metropolitan University in the UK, Professor Jeffrey Haynes, has called for caution against political prophecies, particularly those from celebrity preachers, warning that such actions could jeopardize the integrity of the democratic process in Ghana.
He gave the caution during his presentation on the topic ‘Religion and Liberal Democracy in the Fourth Republic’ at the 19th ‘Kronti ne Akwamu’ (Democracy and Good Governance) Public Lecture, hosted by the Center for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana). The event was held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at British Council Auditorium, Accra.
Prof. Haynes emphasised that while religion can play a positive role in ensuring free and fair elections, political prophecies have no place in Ghana’s political landscape, especially as the country approaches elections.
Sustain democracy
He pointed out that Ghana has managed to sustain its democracy for more than three decades since the inauguration of the Fourth Republic in 1993, following a decade of military rule under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). He attributed much of this success to the way religion has been integrated into Ghanaian society, serving as a unifying force that contributes to the legitimacy of the electoral process.
“Clearly, churches can be useful in helping ensure that votes are cast legitimately and that, at the end of the process, the will of the people prevails,” Prof. Haynes remarked. “In a majoritarian democracy such as Ghana’s, this is how the system works and one of the reasons its democracy has survived. But what is not appropriate is the use of religious influence to predict electoral outcomes.”
He was particularly critical of certain celebrity preachers who, in the lead-up to elections, claim to have received divine revelations about electoral results. These preachers, Prof. Haynes argued, are using their platforms to influence public opinion and, in some cases, steer votes in favor of one political party or presidential candidate.
“It is troubling when some preachers claim that God has directly spoken to them about the outcome of elections and that the public should align their votes with what they believe God wants,” Prof. Haynes stated. “These prophecies not only influence how citizens vote but undermine the principles of democracy. It is simply not appropriate.”
Concerns
The professor raised concerns about the partisan nature of these prophecies, noting that many of the celebrity preachers who make such claims are personally or politically connected to one of the leading presidential candidates. “Are these prophets being objective when they claim to speak for God, or are they using their platform to further a political agenda?” he questioned, adding that such prophecies are often issued in a politically partisan manner to sway public opinion.
Prof. Haynes warned that political prophecies were a direct threat to democratic norms, calling them an “unacceptable intrusion of religion into politics.” He reminded the audience that Ghana is constitutionally a secular country, where no religion is to be preferred over another. Despite the fact that more than 70 percent of Ghanaians identify as Christian, the professor argued that this should not give religious leaders the authority to publicly intervene in political matters.
“Celebrity preachers are meddling in politics in an unacceptable manner,” Prof. Haynes said. “Whether or not these prophets truly speak for God is unclear. What is certain is that their prophecies, especially as we approach election seasons, can have a divisive and undemocratic impact on Ghana’s political landscape.”
Ban
He proposed that, in order to safeguard the democratic process, political prophecies should be banned by law within a specified period before elections. “If Ghana wants a level playing field for its four-year elections, political prophecies within six months of an election should be prohibited,” he suggested. “While it may be too late to implement this law for this year’s elections, it is certainly something that could be enacted in time for the 2028 elections.”
About The Author
