Prophetism in Ghana Today: A Study on Trends in Ghanaian Pentecostal Prophetism

This study traces the historical antecedents of the prophetic phenomenon in Ghana and shows its recurrence in Ghanaian Christianity. It identifies four types of prophets in the Church of Pentecost, namely, Prophesiers, Singing Prophets, Grassroots Prophets and Institutionalised Prophets. It is Grassroots Prophetism which forms the main thrust of the work and which together with prophetism in New Prophetic Churches’ (NPCs) in neo-Pentecostalism constitute what we call Peripheral Prophetism. Peripheral prophetism demonstrates how the dialectic of Pentecostals’ biblical understanding and the Akan religio-cultural worldview informs and underpins their quest for meaning in this life. It also reveals that undergirding Ghanaian Pentecostal prophetism’s belief in supernature is the causal other (abonsam/bayifo) of evil and suffering. In negotiating the other Pentecostal prophets propose Christological subversions via various ritualistic symbolisms or prophetic practices. Amidst the challenge it poses to us Pentecostal prophetism offers hope to Ghanaian Christianity due to its ability to respond to soteriological and pastoral needs. In all the study challenges Ghanaian Pentecostals to re-examine their spirituality in order to make their faith meaningful to the Ghanaian public life.