Osofo Kyiri Abosom Calls for Tax on Churches and Street Preachers, Backs GH¢10 Achimota Forest Prayer Fee

Founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom, has called on the government to impose taxes on all churches and public evangelists in Ghana, arguing that the revenue generated could be used to improve critical sectors such as healthcare, roads, and education. Speaking in an interview with host Nhyiraba Akwabena Asirifi on the Ghana Nti Morning Show on ICADTV, Osofo Kyiri Abosom said every church, as well as public evangelists including street preachers and those who preach using vehicles, should be taxed to help generate additional revenue for national development. According to him, the funds raised could be invested in key sectors such as healthcare, road infrastructure, and other public services. He argued that any genuine pastor who is also a responsible citizen should support such a policy because it would contribute to the country’s The GUM founder also endorsed the government’s decision to increase the entry fee for prayer camps in the Achimota Forest to GH¢10. He, however, described the amount as too low, suggesting that the fee should instead be raised to GH¢50. On electoral reforms, Osofo Kyiri Abosom questioned proposals that would allow every registered party member with a membership card to participate in internal elections. He asked who would bear the financial burden of such an arrangement—the Electoral Commission or the political parties themselves. He maintained that expanding participation alone would not eliminate vote-buying within political parties. Instead, he called for stronger internal constitutional rules that would criminalise both offering and accepting bribes during internal elections, with offenders arrested and prosecuted. He further suggested that political parties should continue selecting representatives from each region to participate in leadership elections rather than opening the process to all card-bearing members. According to him, delegates chosen to vote on behalf of their regions should face prosecution if they accept bribes from candidates seeking their votes, arguing that strict enforcement of anti-bribery laws within political parties would help curb vote-buying and promote credible internal elections. In