Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has urged the Ministry of Communications to intensify efforts to regulate Ghana’s social media space, particularly in relation to the spread of prophetic declarations and spiritual pronouncements that touch on national affairs.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, August 11, Dr. Boakye-Danquah warned that the unchecked proliferation of such prophecies online has become a source of public anxiety, with some messages instilling fear and panic rather than offering guidance.
“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 stated.
He recommended that the Ministry issue a formal communiqué reinforcing recent directives from the Office of the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations. The Envoy’s office had earlier advised religious leaders to formally submit any prophecy or spiritual revelation of national importance directly to the Presidency, so that such messages can be assessed by security and policy authorities before public disclosure.
“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—then I think that would be ideal,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah said.
According to him, such a coordinated approach would help filter credible and responsible messages from unfounded or sensational predictions, ensuring that the public is not misled or needlessly alarmed.
The call for tighter control comes in the wake of a surge in prophecies on social media, many linked to the tragic August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The incident claimed eight lives, including:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed – Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the NDC
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala – Ghana Air Force
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu – Ghana Air Force
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – Ghana Armed Forces
The high-profile crash, which has drawn national mourning and global attention, has also triggered a wave of spiritual claims from self-proclaimed prophets. Some allege they foresaw the tragedy, while others have issued warnings of similar future events, intensifying public unease.
Dr. Murtala Muhammed and Muniru Mohammed were laid to rest on Sunday, August 10, in accordance with Islamic rites. A state funeral for all the victims is scheduled for Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra, expected to be attended by top government officials, foreign dignitaries, and the general public.
Security analysts have cautioned that unverified prophecies—particularly when amplified through social media—can undermine official investigations, fuel conspiracy theories, and even create unnecessary security alerts. This has reinforced calls from both government officials and policy experts for stronger regulatory oversight of online religious content.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s appeal aligns with a growing consensus among political leaders, interfaith groups, and civil society organisations that religious freedom must be balanced with public responsibility, especially in times of national tragedy.
