It’s been my observation that lately a lot of influential pastors in Ghana (and Africa) are lamenting about the fact that: (1) people’s character are not really changing though they’ve been in church long enough, (2) there’s massive unemployment though a lot of prayers and worship are consistently offered to God, and (3) the general pace of development is slow, if at all. Is this an admission of failure on the part of the Church and Church leadership, or are political leaders to blame?

This sobering reflection speaks to a growing concern—one that strikes at the heart of Ghanaian and broader African society. Despite widespread religiosity, evident in overflowing churches and booming gospel enterprises, we are confronted with an unsettling contradiction: moral stagnation, economic struggle, and societal inertia.

Is the Church Admitting Its Model Has Failed?

In many ways, yes. When pastors—who’ve long championed revival meetings, deliverance services, and 24-hour prayer chains—begin to openly lament the lack of visible transformation in their members and communities, it signals a deeper issue.

It is not that the Gospel has failed; it is that the focus of contemporary African Christianity has shifted.

• There’s more emotional hype than cognitive renewal.
• More declarations of wealth than cultivation of work ethic.
• More deliverance than discipline.
• More prophecy than productivity.

Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” But if the mind remains untouched, how can hearts be healed or societies reformed?

Is Political Leadership to Blame?

Certainly, political leaders bear a large portion of the responsibility. Failed economic policies, corruption, unemployment, and poor education systems have all contributed to the hardships citizens face.

However, what’s disturbing is how the Church has often become entangled in politics, not as a prophetic voice of accountability but as an accomplice—trading endorsement for privilege.

Real-World Examples

• In Ghana, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills once pointed out the paradox of a nation full of churches yet full of corruption.
• In Nigeria, Pastor Paul Adefarasin called for citizens to stop “outsourcing their destiny to politicians” and instead begin to take nation-building seriously—beyond just prayer.

These are not isolated criticisms. They are a signal that the church must evolve—or risk irrelevance.

What Must Change?

1. Shift from Performance to Purpose: Theatrics must give way to substance.
2. Focus on Discipleship Over Crowd Size: Transformation takes time—and depth.
3. Teach Practical Life Skills and Ethics: Faith must meet function.
4. Hold Leaders Accountable: From the pulpit to the presidency.
5. Refocus Worship on Wisdom: Less magic, more meaning.

A Final Thought

When a nation prays without planning, worships without working, and fasts without thinking, even the most fervent revival will not produce lasting change.

As Pastor Mensa Otabil once put it:

“Africa needs less superstition and more application of wisdom and knowledge.”

So we return to the question: What will it take for the church to lead societal change?
The answer is simple, yet urgent: A reformation.

What do you think? Let’s know in the comment section.