The Police in Accra is reported to have in their custody a woman after she allegedly set fire to the Grace Mountain Chapel auditorium, the church led by Alpha Hour founder Pastor Elvis Agyemang.
The incident happened late Monday, Feb. 9, during a quiet period at the auditorium. CCTV footage shows the suspect pouring petrol on chairs near the altar before setting them ablaze.
Church security responded quickly and contained the fire before it spread. No injuries were reported, and damage to the facility was limited.
Pastor Agyemang announced that all in-person prayer sessions at the auditorium have been temporarily suspended.
“If you come here today, it will not be open, but it will not stop us. We will fix the place, and prayers will still go on,” he said.
He added that the church has faced similar incidents before.
“How many times have we not heard people say they heard something and rushed here to pray in the auditorium? That is what the devil does not like. Last year, there was an incident where a woman spread powder on the altar, and we had to stop people from going close to it,” he said.
Police say the suspect remains in custody while investigators work to determine her motive and whether she acted alone. Authorities described the case as a serious criminal matter and said updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
Alpha Hour is a daily one-hour prayer meeting that begins at midnight GMT and is broadcast live on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Zoom.
Grace Mountain Chapel, located in Accra, is a large auditorium that hosts thousands of worshippers. Followers of the daily one-hour prayer meeting (Alpha Hour) are commonly referred to as “Alpharians.”
