Healing the ‘Incurable’: A Case of Three Neo-Prophetic Healers in Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the neo-prophetic healers’ claim of healing ‘incurable’ diseases in Ghana. Several studies have been done on the neo-prophetic healers and their churches, however, these scholarly works have not included the neo-prophetic healers’ claim of healing ‘incurable’ diseases. It was this gap in the literature that the study responded to. The Neo-prophetic healers chosen for the study were Bishop Antwi Boasiako, Rev. Isaac Osei Bonsu, and Bishop Daniel Obinim. The study adopted ethnographic theology and case study approaches to investigate the neo prophetic healers’ claims of healing ‘incurable’ diseases. A period of seven months was spent in the field to interact with the churches under study, by attending healing services organised by the healers in Kumasi and Accra for participant observation and identifying respondents for interviews. Forty-one (41) respondents were interviewed, 14 respondents from each church except in the case of MOGPA, where 13 respondents were interviewed. Grounded theologising by Tite Tiénou was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. The theory was used to explore the Ghanaian neo-prophetic healers’ claim and their clients’ interpretation of biblical narratives on healing ‘incurable’ diseases. The study revealed three principal findings. First, ‘incurable’ diseases among neo prophetic healers and clients are unexplainable diseases that defy biomedical care. Such diseases are believed to occur because of sin, bewitchment, curses, and manipulations by spirit entities. Second, Neo-prophetic healers’ claim of healing their clients’ ‘incurable’ diseases is based on the disappearance of symptoms, the elimination of Otanfo (the enemy) and the exorcism of the spirit entities involved. Third, Neo-prophetic healers and clients are ‘ordinary or popular readers’ who engaged in grounded theologising. They interpret and re-interpret Bible passages within the Ghanaian cultural context to address their existential needs including ‘incurable’ diseases. Clients of neo-prophetic healers believe that ‘incurable’ diseases can only be healed by these neo-prophet healers who are seen as ‘powerful men of God’ that are able to speak to the situation.