A woman has been arrested and is currently in police custody for allegedly setting fire to the auditorium of Grace Mountain Chapel in Accra, the church led by Pastor Elvis Agyemang, founder of the popular Alpha Hour prayer movement.
The incident took place on the night of Monday, February 9, 2026, when the auditorium was relatively quiet. According to reports, the suspect entered the premises pretending to pray before allegedly pouring petrol on chairs near the altar and setting them ablaze.
CCTV footage captured by the church shows the woman carrying out the act, which was quickly spotted and contained by the church’s security team. The prompt response prevented the fire from spreading further, resulting in no injuries and only limited damage to the facility.
Pastor Elvis Agyemang addressed the incident during the Alpha Hour prayer session on Tuesday, February 10. He announced the temporary suspension of all in-person prayer sessions at the auditorium to allow for repairs and to ensure the safety of worshippers.
“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,” Pastor Agyemang said.
He further noted that this was not the first security breach at the church, recalling a previous incident last year where a woman spread powder on the altar, forcing restrictions on access to certain areas.
“This is what the devil does not like,” he added, referring to the church’s commitment to intensive prayer. “How many times have we not heard people say they heard something and rushed here to pray in the auditorium?”
The suspect remains in custody as the Ghana Police Service continues investigations to establish her motive and determine if she acted alone or with accomplices. Authorities have described the case as a serious criminal matter and promised updates as the probe progresses.
Alpha Hour is a daily one-hour prayer program that starts at 12 a.m. GMT and is broadcast live on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Zoom. The daily session attracts tens of thousands of participants globally.