The charismatic movement in Ghana and the church Nicholas Duncan-Williams founded in 1979

In 1979, a young preacher in Accra started a small fellowship. It grew into Action Chapel International, one of the largest charismatic churches in Ghana, and its founder became an archbishop.

Nicholas Duncan-Williams was born in 1957 in Ghana. He has spoken publicly about a troubled youth before his conversion, after which he trained for ministry and began preaching. He founded Christian Action Faith Ministries in 1979.

A new kind of church

In the late 1970s and 1980s, a wave of charismatic churches emerged in Ghana, distinct from the older mission churches, such as the Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic churches, and from classical Pentecostal churches such as the Church of Pentecost. The charismatic churches emphasised the power of the Holy Spirit, healing, prosperity, lively worship with modern music, and dynamic, often youthful leadership.

Duncan-Williams is often called a father of this movement, alongside other pioneers such as Mensa Otabil of the International Central Gospel Church and Charles Agyin-Asare of Word Miracle Church, later Perez Chapel.

Action Chapel and media

The church’s headquarters, the Prayer Cathedral on the Spintex Road in Accra, is a large auditorium hosting thousands of worshippers. The church has branches across Ghana and abroad. Duncan-Williams is known for his emphasis on prayer, and he has written books on spiritual warfare and prayer. Charismatic churches such as Action Chapel invested heavily in music, with choirs, praise teams and bands using modern instruments. Many Ghanaian gospel musicians came through these churches. Television and radio ministries carried sermons into homes across the country, helping the movement grow beyond Accra.

Politics and criticism

Duncan-Williams has been a public figure beyond the church. He has prayed at state functions and at political events, and he has been close to several Ghanaian presidents. His public involvement has drawn both praise and criticism. Like other leaders of large charismatic churches, he has faced criticism over prosperity teaching, wealth and political closeness. Supporters point to the church’s social work and its role in spreading the gospel.

Legacy

Charismatic Christianity has grown rapidly in Ghana, influencing even older churches, which have adopted livelier worship and prayer styles. Christian radio, television and music have flourished. Action Chapel’s growth from a small fellowship to an international ministry reflects the transformation of Ghanaian Christianity over the last four decades. Many of Ghana’s biggest churches today trace their style to the movement that began in rented halls in the late 1970s.