Fetish Priests Assure Mahama: ‘We’ll Still Protect Ghana Despite Being Excluded from National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving’
The Fetish Priests Association of Ghana has expressed disappointment over their exclusion from the recently held National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Service, but has assured President John Dramani Mahama and the entire nation that they remain committed to Ghana’s spiritual protection.
Speaking to the media, Nana Baffour Gyau, a revered traditional priest from the Asuo Pamoo Spiritual Home at Abofrem in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region and a leading member of the Association, said although their absence from the state-sponsored interfaith program was painful, it would not deter them from performing their ancestral duties for the country.
“We were not invited, but that doesn’t mean we will stop protecting this nation,” he emphasized. “Our gods do not require official invitations to work. We have always been spiritually committed to this land, and we will continue to offer prayers, sacrifices, and protection for Ghana, whether we are acknowledged or not.”
The National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, organized under the leadership of President Mahama, brought together Christian and Islamic religious leaders to intercede for the peace, progress, and unity of the nation. However, no representative from the traditional religion was included in the program, a decision the Fetish Priests Association describes as unfair and exclusionary.
Nana Baffour Gyau pointed out that Ghana officially recognizes three major religions—Christianity, Islam, and Traditional Religion—and therefore, it is unacceptable for the state to only engage two of the three during national events of spiritual importance.
“It is wrong to hold a national spiritual program and deliberately leave out traditionalists,” he stated. “Our ancestors and deities have protected this land long before the arrival of foreign religions. We are not just part of Ghana’s religious identity—we are its foundation.”
While maintaining deep respect for Christians and Muslims, Baffour Gyau expressed his disappointment at the silence of the clergy in addressing the exclusion. He said religious leaders should be champions of inclusion, not silence in the face of discrimination.
“If the pastors and imams truly worship a just God, they should have spoken up. God is not partial. The God we all believe in does not discriminate. So why should any spiritual leader support exclusion?” he questioned.
Despite the snub, he encouraged traditional priests across the country to remain focused on their spiritual responsibilities and not be discouraged by lack of recognition from the state.
“We don’t serve Ghana for political attention or invitations. We serve because it is our divine mandate. Whether the President recognizes us or not, our spiritual guardianship over Ghana continues,” he declared.
As part of efforts to bridge the gap and foster future inclusion, the Fetish Priests Association is preparing to pay a formal visit to President Mahama at the Jubilee House to introduce themselves and outline their contributions to the spiritual safety of the nation.
“We believe once the President hears directly from us, he will appreciate the important role we play,” Baffour Gyau said. “Perhaps we have been sidelined all this while because we have not officially made our presence known. That will change.”
He concluded with a passionate appeal to government officials and national event organizers to respect Ghana’s religious diversity, and to reflect that in all state functions going forward.
“Ghana is for all of us—Christian, Muslim, and Traditional. We must be united, not divided by faith. It is only through respect and inclusion that we can build lasting peace,” he said.
The message from the Fetish Priests Association has sparked a renewed national conversation about religious inclusivity in Ghana’s governance and state functions, with many Ghanaians echoing the call for fairness, respect, and recognition of all spiritual traditions.
