Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah, founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries International, has warned former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia that he will “deal with him seriously” if his supporters continue to attack or insult him.
The controversial preacher alleged that attacks against him and his church were being orchestrated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and accused some supporters of the former Vice-President of attempting to tarnish his reputation.
“I am warning Dr Bawumia to caution his supporters against attacking or insulting me. If it continues, I will deal with him seriously this time,” Prophet Owusu Bempah said during a church service last Sunday, September 6.
He further alleged that he had received information from his friends within the NPP about a planned attack on his church by members of the party’s Nasara Wing.
According to him, the alleged attackers intended to cause chaos at the church and subsequently blame him for the incident.
Prophet Owusu Bempah said he had reported the alleged threat to the police and called on Dr Bawumia and the NPP leadership to ensure that no such incident occurred.
Bawumia presidency
The pastor also sought to clarify earlier comments attributed to him regarding Dr Bawumia’s chances of becoming President of Ghana.
He denied ever stating that Dr Bawumia could not become President because he is a Muslim.
Rather, he claimed that Dr Bawumia’s presidential prospects would depend largely on the relationship between the two of them, alleging that he possessed spiritual powers capable of influencing voters.
He appealed to Dr Bawumia to call his supporters, including persons he identified as “Ghana Jollof,” to order and stop what he described as public insults and attacks against him.
NPP Nasara Wing reacts
Meanwhile, the National Nasara Organizer of the NPP, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, has, however, rejected Prophet Owusu Bempah’s allegations and demanded an immediate retraction and apology.
In a statement, Mr Futa said he had taken “strong exception” to the claims that members of the Nasara Wing had been sent to attack the pastor or cause disturbances at his church.
He described the allegations as false and said they were capable of misleading the public, disrespecting members of the Nasara Wing and offending the wider Muslim community.
“The Nasara Wing is a respected and integral part of the New Patriotic Party. Its members and organizers have worked diligently over the years to promote unity, religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and the political ideals of our great party,” he said.
Mr Futa called on Prophet Owusu Bempah to retract what he described as false statements and render an unqualified apology to the leadership and organizers of the Nasara Wing, Dr Bawumia and the Muslim community.
He stressed that freedom of expression should not be used as a licence for what he termed falsehood, ridicule or the unnecessary denigration of individuals and groups.
According to him, religious leaders, particularly those with large congregations, had an added responsibility to promote truth, peace and mutual respect among Ghana’s religious communities.
“We will not accept falsehood being presented as fact, nor will we remain silent when the dignity and reputation of the Nasara Wing and its members are unjustifiably attacked,” Mr Futa said.
He concluded by urging Prophet Owusu Bempah to “retract the statements and apologize without delay,” insisting that respect must be mutual and religious differences must not be exploited to create division.
