Armed police shut down Assemblies of God Church amid leadership dispute

Armed personnel from the Ghana Police Service shut down the Assemblies of God Church at Bohyen Adumanu in the Bantama Constituency of the Ashanti Region on Friday, April 24, 2026. Officers from the Kumasi Central Police Command locked all entrances to the church and posted a notice on the premises that read: "The church is temporarily closed down until further notice."

The closure is reportedly linked to an internal leadership dispute following the retirement of the church's head pastor, Rev. Yaw Manu. According to Michael Gyasi, the church's Youth Organiser and Mission Director, congregants had endorsed Rev. Bismarck Opoku to succeed Rev. Manu, but the church's national leadership rejected the decision and intends to appoint a different pastor. Gyasi said that officials from the Assemblies of God headquarters informed the congregation that a new lead pastor would be appointed in two weeks and announced the dissolution of the local board, adding that members were told that refusal to accept the new lead pastor would result in the church's closure.

Aggrieved members insist they will hold their regular Sunday service. Gyasi said, "We are fully prepared to have our church service this Sunday, no matter the situation." The Ghana Police Service has not yet issued an official statement explaining the reason for the closure.