Abstract:
Over the last two decades, healing practices of the neo-prophetic Groups
in Ghana have attracted attention. However, reasons why people resort to the
neo-prophetic healers despite the technological improvement in medicine, is
largely under-researched.
The study was based on qualitative methods of which 30 respondents
were interviewed within three selected churches, namely: Ebenezer Miracle
Worship Centre in Kumasi, headed by Rev. Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwa Yiadom;
House of Power Ministry International in Kumasi, headed by Rev. Prophet
Francis Kwarteng and International Christian Life Centre in Cape Coast, headed
by Rev. Isaac Boadu. Ten respondents were selected from each church
comprising seven members who either claim to have been healed or yet to be
healed and three officials from each Church.
The study showed that individuals who resort to faith healers have the
belief that diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, barrenness, stroke, malaria,
typhoid, blindness, hepatitis, and mental illness are caused by demons or
personal sins. Some neo-prophetic churches also believe that demons are the
major cause of diseases and to others that diseases are caused by personal sins.
These findings establish neo-prophetic churches as a Christian group, who
operate on the Akan worldview that diseases have spiritual causation.
