President John Dramani Mahama has urged religious leaders and their followers to exercise restraint, warning that recent tensions involving a pastor and an imam must not undermine Ghana’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
Addressing the opening of the 32nd Biennial General Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, at Gomoa Fetteh on Thursday, 20 August 2026, President Mahama described the recent developments, which included offensive remarks attributed to the two religious figures and subsequent reports of physical assault, as deeply unfortunate.
“Religious conviction must never become religious provocation,” he said, warning that disagreements should never degenerate into hatred, intimidation or assault. “No one honours God by assaulting another person. No one defends the Almighty God by threatening or attacking another human being. God does not need violence committed in His name.”
The President’s remarks follow the arrest of Islamic preacher Imam Masud Abdullah and Christian cleric Apostle Daniel Junior Yaw Adjei earlier this month, after separate videos circulated online showing the pastor making derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammed and the imam allegedly advocating violence against those who insult the Prophet. A further video subsequently emerged showing the pastor being assaulted while in police custody, prompting the arrest of a third man.
“Such incidents must never be allowed to define relations between Christians and other religions in this country,” President Mahama said, noting that Christians, Muslims and adherents of other faiths had, for generations, lived peacefully together, sharing families, schools, workplaces, security services and public institutions. He described this coexistence as one of Ghana’s greatest national assets, which must be protected.
President Mahama called on pastors, imams and other religious leaders to exercise restraint and responsibility, particularly in their public statements and use of social media. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, he stressed, those freedoms do not give anyone the right to insult another person’s beliefs, incite violence or take the law into their own hands. He cautioned that careless remarks made from pulpits, in mosques or on online platforms could spread rapidly, inflame passions and cause damage far beyond what the speaker intended.
The President said religious leaders, including the National Chief Imam, would intervene to promote reconciliation and a peaceful resolution of the matter, while stressing that the law must be allowed to take its course fairly and impartially. He also called for the next generation to be taught that religious diversity is a source of national strength, not weakness, when grounded in mutual respect.
Addressing the Assemblies of God specifically, President Mahama urged the denomination to remain committed to prayer, evangelism and goodwill, and to translate its faith into practical action that promotes peace, serves vulnerable people and contributes to national development.
