Police have taken a woman into custody in connection with an alleged arson incident at Grace Mountain Chapel in Accra, the church headed by Alpha Hour founder Pastor Elvis Agyemang.The incident reportedly took place late on Monday, February 9, at a time when the auditorium was relatively quiet. According to preliminary accounts, the suspect entered the church under the guise of praying.Security footage from the auditorium allegedly captures the woman dousing chairs near the altar with petrol before setting them on fire.
Church security personnel quickly intervened and were able to control the blaze before it spread to other parts of the building. No injuries were reported, and the damage was minimal.Following the incident, Pastor Elvis Agyemang announced that all physical prayer meetings at the auditorium have been temporarily suspended.“The auditorium will not be open today, but that will not stop us. We will repair the place, and prayers will continue,” he said.
Pastor Agyemang disclosed that the church has experienced previous security-related challenges, noting that this was not an isolated occurrence.“There have been instances where people claimed to have received revelations and rushed here to pray. That is something the enemy does not like. Last year, a woman spread powder on the altar, forcing us to restrict access to that area,” he recounted.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue into her motive and whether she acted independently or with others. Police have described the matter as a serious criminal case and say further updates will be issued as inquiries progress.Alpha Hour is a daily one-hour prayer session that begins at midnight GMT and is streamed live on multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Zoom.
The prayer initiative was launched in February 2022 after Pastor Agyemang said he received a vision to establish a focused prayer ministry centered on spiritual renewal and victory.Since its inception, Alpha Hour has expanded rapidly, drawing tens of thousands of participants globally and extending its reach to radio and television platforms across Ghana.
Grace Mountain Chapel, a large worship center in Accra, regularly hosts thousands of congregants, with followers of Alpha Hour popularly known as “Alpharians.”