Emmanuel Appiah, founder and head pastor of Emmanuel Army Church—also known as Appiah Biblical—has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on charges of offensive conduct conducive to a breach of the peace and publishing false news. The case stems from statements he allegedly made against Dr Isaac Owusu Bempah, General Overseer of Glorious Word Power Ministries, which were circulated widely on social media.
Appiah pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of GH₵100,000 with three sureties. The court also directed the prosecution to file and serve disclosures on the accused. The next hearing is scheduled for December 30, 2025.
According to the prosecution, on September 4, 2025, Dr Owusu Bempah came across viral video and audio content on platforms including YouTube, where Appiah was seen and heard making allegedly abusive and offensive statements. These remarks were said to have the potential to provoke fear, panic, and a breach of the peace.
The prosecution noted that Appiah livestreamed the content and subsequently disseminated the recordings across multiple social media accounts, including a YouTube channel named “SourcetubeTv.” A report was lodged with the Police, leading to Appiah’s arrest.
Evidence presented in court includes a forensic capture of the audio and video, which was transcribed with the assistance of the Ghana Institute of Languages. The transcripts form part of the documentation used to support the charges against Appiah.
The case underscores the increasing legal scrutiny surrounding the use of social media in Ghana, highlighting how online statements can carry real-world consequences and potentially lead to criminal liability.
