A fire outbreak at the Grace Mountain Chapel auditorium in Accra has led to the temporary suspension of in-person prayer sessions, following the arrest of a woman suspected of deliberately starting the fire. The incident occurred late Monday night, February 9, during a quiet period at the church auditorium. According to church officials, the suspect entered the premises under the guise of prayer before allegedly pouring petrol on chairs positioned near the altar and setting them alight.
Closed-circuit television footage from the church reportedly captured the act, prompting a swift response from the church’s security team, who managed to contain the fire before it spread to other parts of the facility. No injuries were reported, and damage to the auditorium was described as minimal.
In response to the incident, the founder of Alpha Hour, Pastor Elvis Agyemang, announced the immediate suspension of all physical prayer meetings at the venue, assuring congregants that the interruption would be temporary. “The auditorium will not be open today, but prayers will not stop,” he said. “We will fix the place, and the work will continue.”
Pastor Agyemang disclosed that the incident forms part of a series of security-related challenges the church has faced in recent times. He recalled a similar occurrence last year when a woman reportedly spread an unidentified substance on the altar, forcing church officials to restrict access to the area.
The suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue to establish her motive and whether she acted alone or with assistance. Police have indicated that the matter is being treated as a serious criminal case, with further updates expected as inquiries progress.
Alpha Hour is a daily one-hour prayer meeting held at midnight and streamed live across multiple digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Zoom. Launched in February 2022, the initiative has grown into a global prayer movement, drawing tens of thousands of participants and expanding to television and radio platforms nationwide.
Grace Mountain Chapel, a major worship centre in Accra, regularly hosts large congregations, with followers of Alpha Hour popularly known as “Alpharians.”