Grace Mountain Chapel in Accra has temporarily suspended all in-person prayer sessions following an alleged attempted arson attack at the church’s auditorium earlier this week.

The decision was announced by the founder of the Alpha Hour prayer movement, Pastor Elvis Agyemang, as security assessments continue and repairs are planned for the facility.

Addressing congregants, Pastor Agyemang assured members that while physical gatherings would pause, the church’s activities would not come to a halt.

“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 also indicated that the latest incident was not isolated, referencing previous security concerns at the church.

“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 added.

The temporary closure comes after police arrested a woman suspected of setting fire to chairs near the altar on Monday night. The church’s security team quickly contained the fire, preventing injuries and limiting damage to the premises.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, the church is expected to continue its Alpha Hour prayer sessions online as repairs and safety measures are put in place.

Grace Mountain Chapel is a large worship centre in Accra that accommodates thousands of congregants. It serves as the base for the Alpha Hour prayer movement, whose members are known as Alpharians.

Alpha Hour is a daily one-hour prayer session held at 12 a.m. GMT and streamed live on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Zoom.

The initiative began in February 2022 after Pastor Agyemang said he received a vision to launch a focused prayer ministry aimed at spiritual revival and victory. Since then, the movement has grown widely, drawing tens of thousands of participants globally and extending its reach to television and radio across Ghana.