Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, has called for greater discernment and spiritual responsibility in the handling of prophecies, especially those that claim to reveal divine knowledge.

His comments come after the Office of the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations called on religious leaders across Ghana to formally share any prophecies or spiritual insights of national importance with the government.

In a statement issued on Sunday, August 10, on behalf of President John Mahama, Presidential Envoy Elvis Afriyie Ankra expressed “heartfelt appreciation” to churches and other religious bodies for their “unwavering spiritual support, intercessory prayers, and sustained leadership in promoting peace, moral integrity, and national unity.”

Speaking to journalists, Cardinal Turkson questioned the criteria by which individuals are deemed credible prophets, noting the need for a more rigorous and reflective approach.

“Who is credible? How do we determine that? What is the criteria for a credible prophet?” he asked. “It leaves a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

He cautioned that while individuals may genuinely believe they have received divine insight, the content of such messages must be approached with humility and care.

“Whatever prophecies occur, and God makes his knowledge known to you, you can see the content of that message and if it requires some form of intercession, please do that first, even before seeking to communicate it to anybody,” he advised.

Cardinal Turkson emphasised that prophecy, as a form of divine communication, should first lead the recipient into deeper dialogue with God, rather than immediate public declaration.

“For me, prophecies, as a communication of divine knowledge to humans, first and foremost makes you privy to God’s thought. And the first consequence of that should be to speak with God himself especially if the content of the prophecy is about disaster, evil, or something troubling.”