Poll prophecies not ideal – Frimpong Manso

Publicly declaring prophecies indicating which political party or presidential candidate will win an election in Ghana is not the best because it has the propensity to destroy the peace and unity of the country, Rev Dr Paul Frimpong Manso, the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, has said.

According to him, although God reveals such prophecies, they are not meant for public consumption, especially when it could destabilise the country.

Election years in Ghana see several men of God claiming to have received divine revelations over who will win the presidential poll. Such pastors usually announce publicly these prophecies. Some electoral predictions made in the past have come true while others have not.

Ahead of the December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, some pastors have prophesied who will win or lose the elections.

However, speaking in relation to this matter in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM, on Wednesday October 26, Rev Dr Frimpong Manso said: “What are the motives of these prophets who carry these messages? Are they promoting peace or unity? Are they actually advancing the work of the Kingdom of God or they are enhancing their personal egos?”

“If a prophecy that a political party will win an election does not happen, it will lead to tensions in the country. God is interested in the holistic affairs of the nation, not a party that will win or a party that will not win. For us pastors, our main role is to promote peace and unity. God can reveal whoever will win or lose the elections, but when he reveals it to you, it doesn’t mean you should come on radio and trumpet it.

“Keep it personal, keep it private, pray to God that both the winners and losers will accept the result when the prophecy happens in order to ensure peace in the country.”

He added: “When God reveals it to you, the purpose is not to come and say it because everybody is campaigning, everybody is hoping to win. And so if you prophesy that one party will win, right from day one you are rather dividing the nation because the others will resist it. And so there are so many circumstances I feel it (publicly revealing the prophecy of who will win) is not the best. Yes, God can reveal to somebody because he knows and sees everything but the things he reveals some of them are for public consumption and others are for private consumption. And so I feel disturbed about my brothers who are prophesying over the elections. Every year these prophecies come – some come true, others do not. If you prophesy and it doesn’t come true, that will turn into something else.”