THE POLICE have begun investigation to unravel the source of death threat messages sent to the national executive members of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) last Thursday.
Executives of the GPCC received death threats on their mobile phones through text messages sent by an anonymous person demanding an amount of GH¢5,000 from the pastors, failure of which they would be killed together with their families and 5,000 members of their congregations.
The only way the death could be avoided, according to the content of the message, was that the clerics should send the money before the close of the following day (Good Friday).
The text messages which came twice, read: “We are armed robbers, we demand GH¢5,000 from you and your church or we will eliminate you and your family as well as 5,000 members of your church.”
Some minutes later, another message with a caution was sent by the same individual stating that “It would be a very big case for you if you give this story to any media house. When are you sending the money? Let us know as soon as possible.
“No police intelligence unit can get me; just send the money or we will kill you and your members as well as your family. You have only tomorrow to send the money.
“There is no way to get me, not even Vodafone Company, tricks, police or media house.”
The first to receive the message was Bishop Samuel N. Mensah, President of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI), who told DAILY GUIDE that he initially thought the message was sent by an insider of his church who has his contact.
“Initially, I was only scared when I received the message that Thursday while I was in the office but the second message that followed compelled me to report the matter to the police.
“Until I reported the case to the police and I was told another minister had also received a similar message, my attention was in the church since the church is made up of both good and bad people; and we need the bad people to be transformed into good,” Bishop Mensah disclosed.
According to him, he contacted other members of the GPCC only to be told that they had also received the same message from the same telephone number.
Bishop Mensah said he was aware about the security measures put in place by the police and conscious of his personal security.
Rev. Gordon Kisseih, General Overseer of the Miracle Life Gospel Church, said he received the same message from the same person.
The General Overseer has also lodged a complaint with the police who he said had intensified security around him.
Rev. Kisseih mentioned that the police requested for the number of the unknown assailant and called him, but he (assailant) said he was at Nsawam in the Eastern Region and that he wasn’t in Accra.
According to Rev Kisseih, he’s worried because other colleague pastors who double as key members of the GPCC, had also complained of receiving similar death threat messages.
However, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. John Kudalor, the DAILY GUIDE gathered, had instructed his officers to go all length to bring the senders of the messages to book.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tema Regional Command who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, indicated that the police would assure the safety of the pastors and their families.
She said the regional police command had taken charge of the case and that investigations were ongoing to get the senders of the messages.
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