A former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has urged the Ministry of Communications to take action to sanitise Ghana’s social media space, particularly regarding the spread of prophecies and spiritual pronouncements.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, August 11, he cautioned that many prophetic messages circulating online create unnecessary fear and panic among the public.
“I think that the channels and the paths have been made clear for everyone. I would also ask and plead with the Minister for Communications to examine the sanitisation of the social media space, as many of these social media prophecies also cause fear and panic,” he said.
He suggested that the Ministry issue a formal communiqué reinforcing the directive of the Office of the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, which recently called on religious leaders to submit any prophecy or spiritual insight of national significance directly to the Presidency.
“Suppose there is a way that a communiqué can also come to reinforce what the special envoy has stated from the Ministry of Communications that all prophetic and spiritual issues should be communicated directly to the Presidency. In that case, I think that would be ideal,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah added.
His comments follow the Presidential Envoy’s announcement that it would review all spiritual revelations submitted by religious leaders before they are made public. The directive comes in response to a surge of prophecies on social media concerning national affairs, some of which have stirred public anxiety.
This discussion unfolds against the backdrop of the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, which killed eight people, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.
Also among the deceased were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
On Sunday, August 10, Ghanaians paid their final respects to Dr. Murtala Muhammed and Muniru Mohammed. A state funeral for all the victims will take place on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square.
