Theme: Political Prophecies and the Politics of Prophecy in (Post)-Secular Ghana
Location: University of Ghana, Legon
Date: 28-30 July 2026
Announcement
Admittedly, prophetic Christianity in Ghana has become popular with implications for diverse segments of society including the realms of politics, notably individual politicians, the political society and state institutions. In recent years, however, the relationship between prophetic activities and politics in Ghana has come under public scrutiny due to utterances, proclamations and actions of some prophets regarding politics in Ghana. These activities range from prophetic utterances on pending national election outcomes; political fortunes of individual politicians and political parties and proclamations regarding high profile politicians and those holding political offices, particularly on issues of health and wellbeing. A critical reflection on these activities leads to another dynamic encapsulated in the terminology "politics of prophecy" as used in this call. The term is used, in this context, in an unrestricted way to evoke dual or more responses. At its minimum, the term could be understood as prophetic-driven or motivated politics by political actors, on the one hand, and could also be understood as contestations, negotiations and affiliations among "political" prophets for fame, validation and rewards from the political class, on the other hand. Consequently, critical but constructive abstracts and papers that reflect any of these understandings and dynamics of the relationship between prophetic activities and politics in Ghana, are welcome.
Areas of Focus
As a special themed conference, it is envisaged that papers that would meet the selection critera would address one of the following themes closely:
- Political prophecies and the rise of spiritual "big men" in Ghana
- Democracy, state institutions and political prophecies in Ghana
- Religion, secularity and political prophecies in Ghana
- Bible and political prophecies: implications for Ghana
- Pentecostal power, religion and the Ghanaian public
- Public morality, religionization of politics and the politicization of religions in (post)-secular Ghana, with focus of "prophetization" of politics in Ghana
- Church history, prophecy and politics in Ghana
- Pastoral ethics, political prophecies and politics of prophecy in Ghana
- Political prophecies: Theoretical and Methodological considerations
Submissions from any scholarly and practical perspective and framework, particularly those related to the Study of Religions, are welcome.
Submission Deadline: 15 April 2026
Send abstracts of not more than 250 words to:
Feedback on reviewed abstracts: 30 April 2026.
