Ghanaian Columnist Says Autocratic Leaders and Church Splits Trouble Charismatic Churches

An opinion column published by Modern Ghana argues that leaders of some charismatic churches in Ghana have failed to match their public image of holiness. The columnist, who writes from within the movement, says a “pomp and pageantry” exterior often hides serious problems. He does not present his views as findings, and many of his claims are based on his own observations or on unnamed sources.

The column’s first main criticism is that some general overseers use their pulpits to attack political figures while, the writer says, their own conduct is open to question. He calls such criticism hypocritical and says church leaders should address problems within their own congregations before judging politicians. The writer also refers to media reports, which he does not describe in detail, alleging sexual misconduct by some pastors and the use of curses against children. These are allegations described in the column, not established findings. The writer does not name the people involved, and no minors are identified.

The columnist also describes a pattern of splits and internal conflict in charismatic churches since the 1990s. He disputes the view that disagreements over money are the main cause, calling money “a remote reason” and saying the larger problem is “autocratic” leadership and intolerance of dissent. He describes an alleged system in which loyal pastors are rewarded with postings to large cities or abroad, while critical pastors are sent to rural areas. The column presents this as the writer’s account of how church appointments work, and it offers no documentation.

According to the column, an insider recounted a mid-1990s split at a prominent Accra church. The writer says two senior pastors left after a power struggle over who had founded the congregation, and that one of them later took over a church in the Ashanti Region with about four other pastors. The columnist reports that the general overseer responded with anger at a pastors’ conference. These events are described only through the writer’s unnamed sources, and the column does not give independent confirmation.

The writer links these concerns to the church in Sardis described in Revelation 3:1, which he says had a reputation for life but was spiritually dead. He argues that some charismatic churches resemble that congregation. The column ends by calling for greater media scrutiny of churches, stating that the public has little knowledge of what happens inside them.

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