THEME: SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY IN NATIONAL SPORTS 

Ghana is on the march for gold at FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. The prospects are bright, but the clouds gathering may well block the glow of shinning Ghana star. 

What a beautiful story it will be if Ghana makes it a “double” in 2010— winning both the under-23 FIFA World Cup in Egypt and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This is possible with God on our side. It is with this in view we write to humbly ask the GFA, the technical team, the handlers, and the players themselves to be wary of Satan and juju powers. This will not augur well for the stars and the country. Indeed, it will be an abomination.  

Already, the Black Star team is struggling under pressure—due to injury of strong and outstanding players such as Michael Essien, John Mensah, John Paintsil, Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston. These are able and steady, and experienced players. When they mount the Ghana “victory machine” nothing can stop them; however, their luck appears to be fading away. 

We want to believe in this regard that there is no attempt to pull them out through evil power of any kind, whether by enemies of Ghana, whether by fellow aspirant players or by managers seeking recognition for their wards, whether members of the football authorities in the land or a matter of circumstances, the hazards of the profession. One is wondering in this direction whether men like Michael Essien and John Mensah known for their open confession of trust in God through faith in Jesus Christ are succumbing to pressure from idol worshippers and practitioners of juju power in football circles in Ghana, or is it because they are defiling their garments of holiness unto God and country or again they are just simply victims of circumstances. 

The truth here is that the eye of Almighty God is on Ghana. In addition, many Ghanaians have resigned to trust in God and prayer for Divine favor for a nation chosen by Him for His glory in Africa and the world. Ghana’s hope is in God the Creator, not Satan nor any demonic power. The national team like the under 23 team are symbols of the new levels of hope in God and His blessings for the godly standing of the nation. The Christian community and indeed the entire communities of believers and worshippers of the Almighty will be frustrated if the Black Stars will in anyway attempt to invoke and promote Satanic-cum-juju powers in the national football arena. 

We must declare in this regard that the peaceful and godly standing of the nation is a deep spiritual asset which must not be compromised, defiled or violated in any way. If there be any violations and defilements, three things can happen. 

First, the Almighty God who is the God, the bulwark of our hope and defense against evil powers will be provoked to wrath and stand non-committed to national efforts in general and the Black Stars bid for gold in particular. 

Second, the spirits and souls of the vast majority of citizens, Christians and worshippers of God will be disturbed and frustrated. They will grow indifferent in the spirit to the bid for gold. Ghana cannot go far with division in the nation undergirded by Divine wrath and national spiritual disengagement. 

Third, the soul-spirit of the nation herself will be morose, disturbed with lamentation and sense of despair. This is a deep spiritual reality, like when the esprit de corps of an army breaks down. 

On the other hand, if Ghana as nation and people denounce Satanic power and opt for God Almighty, Satan power cannot overtake and over-run the hand of the Almighty God upon the nation and her affairs. It is here that the prayer of players backed by prayers and goodwill of the entire nation can go very far indeed. There is the possibility in this connection that some players in the national team may wish to consult and secure their legs and play making from fetish powers. Confidence and trust in their gods or powers will undermine the thrust of the team and the nation’s spirit. 

We humbly plead therefore with such players and all to submit genuinely and without any inhibition to prayers to the Almighty God as against their private gods and powers. Consideration for national victory and glory should take precedence over and supersede private power arrangements. The god of individual players must give way to the Nation’s God, the Creator and hence, His spirit and power base for the team. May we add here in conclusion that it is the consultation, rally, and open honor of some gods and fetish power at the Independence Square during Ghana’s progress at FIFA 2006 Germany, that provoked the wrath of the Most High God leading to Ghana’s fall to Brazil. The Lord had by then slated Ghana for the semi-final. At CAN 2008 too, we were playing games with fetish powers. In fact, there was spiritual confusion within the team.  Some of the players did not feel disposed to commit all things to God the Father of Jesus Christ, Saviour, Redeemer, and Friend of Ghana. Their spiritual stand caused much havoc to the nation’s bid for the cup.  

We humbly beseech the GFA authorities, the technical team and playing body to do all to seek for and stand with God Almighty throughout the tournament. We need no baggage of Divine wrath, nor spiritual confusion and disunity. Ghana be wary of juju power. 

God bless the national team! God bless Ghana! Amen and Amen! 

April 16, 2010