Religious zealots who have assaulted individuals over blatant issues

The spate of indiscipline in the country is getting out of hand, especially the physical attacks launched on fellow human beings because of misunderstandings or what the others think are a violation of their rights.

Shockingly, religious fanatics who are supposed to be ‘disciplined’ for others to imitate their lifestyles are rather exhibiting deviant behaviours in society.

GhanaWeb throws light on some cases of people who have been assaulted by religious sects and whether or not they were dealt with for displaying such worrying acts in public.

Obinim attacks HOT FM’s newscaster

In August 2011, a newscaster in one of the private radio stations in Ghana, Hot FM was subjected to severe beatings by the Founder of the International God’s Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim and his accomplices over airing his sex scandal. The story was backed with a tape recording to show the authenticity of the news item.

Upon hearing the programme, the accused persons got infuriated and stormed the radio station with a crowbar, attacked the presenter several times, severely injuring his ribs, knees, fingers and fingernails.

Paul Kwame Nti who was the host of Nya Asem Hwe’ programme on Hot FM in recounting the ordeal stated that Obinim and two others, Kofi Akwettey and Kingsley Baah stormed the studios around 9:45 p.m. on August 8, 2011 to attack him and also vandalised the studio’s glass partition. The damage was however pegged GH¢130,850.

The matter was then furthered to court, where the accused persons were jointly charged with unlawful entry, conspiracy to cause unlawful damage, causing unlawful damage, conspiracy to commit assault and assault. The case was presided by Ms Audrey Korcuvie-Tay.

Obinim who faced additional charge of causing harm together with his allies pleaded not guilty and surcharged GH¢200,000 for their actions.

Owusu Bempah storms Radio XYZ with gun men

In the same vein of pastors’ storming media houses to unleash their anger on them for a story written or said about them, Controversial Prophet Owusu Bempah on March 5, 2019 also ransacked the premises of Accra-based radio station, Radio XYZ with armed men in search of Mugabe Maase, a staff of XYZ.

At the premises of XYZ broadcasting limited, the self-styled man of God and his men, according to reports shoved the administrator of the station as they ransacked the offices in their frantic search for the presenter threatening to kill him.

It is unclear the reasons for the attack on the presenter but the development came a day after former President John Mahama called out on prophets who had levelled false claims against him.

Earlier, Owusu Bempah had in an interview on Oman FM alleged that some members of the National Democratic Congress including John Mahama were scheming to eliminate President Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

However, Mahama in a statement rubbished the claims, labelling the leader as “a politically-tainted founder of a church.”



Youth attack Rev. Owusu Bempah church over Chief Imam’s death prophecy

Some Muslim youth, numbering about 50 invaded Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah’s church over a death prophecy he made in church concerning the national chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharabutu.

Owusu Bempah during his 31st night church service prophesied that prominent people in the country were going to die but it would only take the interventions of prayers to save their lives.

The news did not go down well with the people of Nima and other zongo caucus hence, taking such actions against the church.

Athough a lot of ‘noise’ was made about the case, we did not see the end of the matter.



Graphic reporter attacked at Badu Kobi’s Church

Another instance of misdemeanour of religious zealots occurred early August this year. A Daily Graphic reporter, Della Rusell Ocloo became nearly became a victim of assault by some agitated members of Glorious Way Church, headed by Prophet Badu Kobi at Sakumono.

The reporter, who went to Badu Kobi’s church on August 4, 2019 to do a follow up story by getting the reaction of the pastor on a protest march by some Ghanaian women over comments he made against the Asante, Fante and Ewe women, specifically how these factions behave in marriage.

The man of God who did not disappoint addressed the concerns of the women who had threatened to protest. In a bid to capture his utterances, some angry congregants accosted her describing the act as intrusion and threatened to beat her up.

The reporter, according to reports was saved by a man who was alleged to be a national security operative.

The issue which was reported to the Police is yet to be resolved as the plaintiff (Dela Russel) has taken it to court.

Zoe Embassy members turn defender of the defenseless at church

With the issue of Zoe Embassy Church, scores of investors got their monies locked up at EL Real Estates and Tikowre Capital where the head pastor of the church, Pastor Kobiri’s was the leader of the company.

The investors then went to the East Legon-based church to demand their due but unfortunately, were met with a heavy security presence hence, denying them access to the church.

As the situation turned nasty, the angry investors on their part invoked curses on the Head Pastor of Zoe Outreach Embassy Church over what they describe as alleged embezzlement of their funds.

Using items including eggs and ‘Kpokeke’; an alcoholic beverage, they rained curses on the man of God whilst threatening to do their worse if their monies are not returned.

They claim the use of alcohol specifically Kpokeke is the only way the gods will deal with the Pastor for the harm done them.



Five members of Rev. Obofour’s church arrested over assault of govt officials

The latest to join the assault case is five members of the Anointed Place Chapel of which their head pastor is Francis Antwi, popularly known as Rev. Obofuor.

Rev Obofour's members were on Monday, November 25, 2019 arrested for attacking officials of the Tema West Municipal Assembly.

The suspects, among other members of the church were said to have pounced on the officials with sticks and cutlasses when they visited the Tema branch of the church on a routine exercise to inspect their building permit.

The taskforce were instructed to write on the church walls following their failure to produce the permit but the church members attacked as the officials began to undertake the exercise.

A police complaint was later made by the Assembly at the Sakumono Police Station who took up the matter and arrested five of the culprits.

The Local Government Service has frowned on the action taken by Rev Obofour's members and have stated that it will not in any way countenance such behaviour by any organization.

The aforementioned cases remain unresolved and the question of why these cases keep recurring emerges.

More importantly is the concern over what action is being taken by the appropriate authorities to tackle the situation.