Afrikania Mission laments sidelining by government in National Day of Prayer Thanksgiving

The Afrikania Mission has expressed deep concern over the marginalisation of the African Traditional Religion during the observance of the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, held on Tuesday, 1st July 2025.

According to its leadership, it was unjustified for the government to include only Christian and Muslim leaders in the official activities marking the day, which was instituted by former President John Dramani Mahama.

The Mission criticised the government for what it described as negligence and condemned the continued elevation of “foreign-introduced religions” at the expense of indigenous African spiritual practices.

Despite their exclusion, the Afrikania Mission held its own observance at the forecourt of its headquarters in Agbozume-Klikor in the Volta Region. During the ceremony, participants offered prayers and poured libations to the gods of the land, seeking divine protection and prosperity for Ghana.

The event was attended by members of various allied groups, including the Ghana Psychic Organisation, the Troxovi Council, the Hun Korku Association (GHUKA), the Association of Lahare Kunde of Ghana (ALAKO-GHANA), and the Afrikania Traditional Healers Association.

It was a sight to behold as it reflected the indigenous way of worship by Africans, connecting with the supreme being through customs and traditions.

Addressing the gathering of traditional worshippers, Osofo Kofi Atabuatsi, a Chief Priest of the Afrikania Mission, condemned the government’s action and asked that it should not be repeated next year.

He said, though the government did not include them in the national organisation, leadership deemed it fit to put together its event, recognising the significance of the initiative.

He said the Mission identifies the “National Prayer Day as a way of reclaiming our spiritual identity and declares that African spirituality is not something of the past but a living and breathing force.”

He said the African traditional way of worship depicts the true identity of Africans, explaining that “in drumming, in our prayers, in our rituals and offerings, we affirm the power of our identity and the importance of our unity.”

Osofo Atabuatsi entreated believers in the African Traditional Religion to use the day to connect, the land, spirits, ancestors, dirties, and the Divine Creator.

He questioned why Africans accepted a religion introduced by people who enslaved, humiliated, and dehumanized them.

“Europeans have Jesus, Chinese have Buddha, Indians have Krishna, and Arabs have Mohammed, but why should Africans always depend on their slave masters for religious leadership and direction?”

“How can someone who enslaved you, humiliated you, dehumanised you, and molested you, come back to give you a religion that will give you salvation and send you to heaven?” he questioned.

The Head of the Afrikania Mission, Osofo Konfo Atsu Kove, expressed worry at the government dealings, siding with the Westerners who brought the alien Christian and Muslim Religions to Africa, neglecting the potential of the African continent.

He, therefore, advocated for the liberation of Africans from such religions, indicating how refreshing it was for him to notice the youth are beginning to embrace the ways of worship and culture of their forefather and going the extra mile to project it.

“With the advent of colonialism and Christianity, however, that honest devotion to God, the Afrikan Traditional Religion has been demonized in such a way that many practitioners are made to feel inferior to the practitioners of the colonial and foreign religions. For close to two centuries, Mr. Chairman, proponents of colonial and foreign religions and their allies do everything they can to wipe out the God-given religion of Africa”, he said.

He grieved the forceful indoctrination of the Christian and Muslim Religions on the children of traditionalists in school, forcing them to participate in activities that do not conform to their religion.

Osofo Kove called on the government to ensure the Right to Freedom of Worship is adhered to in schools to prevent.

“They organise worship on Wednesdays in the schools and tell children of traditional believers that their fathers are devils and pagans. Did we give birth to Satan? In the African Traditional Religion, there is no concept of Satan. Every power belongs to the Supreme Creator. We are pleading with the government to reconsider that initiative where our children are being forced to learn about a religion they do not believe in”, he said.

He advocated for the institution of a National Holiday for the African Religion, backed by law, just as it is done for the Christian and Muslim Religions.

He advised the government to extend an invitation to the leadership of the African Traditional Religion to discuss the proposal and agree on the appropriate day for the holiday.

He asserted that believers of the Traditional Religion are the dominant in Ghana, contrary to claims of the Christian religion dominating.

Osofo Kove concluded by underscoring that Africa has all it needs to develop without relying on foreign aid of any kind; hence, leaders should look within the continent and desist from traveling around with a cup in hand looking for financial support.

The Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Amenya Fiti, also reiterated the call for a national holiday for the African Traditional Religion.

He called on the government to give prominence to the African Traditional Religion and give it the needed recognition it deserves, as traditionalists are the custodians of the land, hence owners of Ghana.

He also entreated traditionalists to endeavor to document their ways of worship, hinting that a similar thing is being done in the Ketu South Municipality.

The Director of Administration, Gborbu Wulorme Palace Nungua, Rev Dr Daniel Gyasi Ankrah, was unhappy with the actions of the government in sidelining the traditionalists in the planning and execution of the National Thanksgiving and Prayer Day.

“You cannot just say this celebration started well; it didn’t start well. If the President organized or directed that Christians alone and Muslims be called upon, then the President is wrong. It must be put in his face. Next time, involve the traditional practitioners”, he said.

He added that all religions believe in nature, indicating how Muslims perform rituals around a huge rock in Mecca and how Christians stand behind a rock [the wailing wall] and pray in Israel, while traditionalists also pray to rocks.

“So, why is it that when the Muslims and the Christians see the African standing behind a rock to pray, then they become agitated? Even the British are talking of a stone you have to sit on before you become a king or Queen of England, are they not rocks?” he questioned.

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