Founder and leader of Holiness of Christ Zion Ministry, Emmanuel Akwasi Boakye, popularly known as Prophet Ogyaba, has boldly declared that none of the Ghanaian pastors within his generation can claim to have entered ministry before him.

Speaking during an interview, the outspoken preacher maintained that among ministers around his age, he has the longest history in active ministry. Although he declined to mention specific names, he insisted that his journey in Christian service began long before many of his contemporaries.

“No man of God can say they started ministry before I did. I’m talking about pastors around 45 years old. I won’t mention names, but none of them can claim they entered ministry before me. I was born and raised in the church, and I’ve been there all my life. Even when I was in senior high school, I was already doing ministry,” he said.

Prophet Ogyaba explained that despite coming from a family deeply rooted in pastoral work, he initially resisted following the same path. He disclosed that his parents and elder siblings were all pastors, prompting him to pursue a completely different lifestyle during his youth.

“At one point, I wanted to become a Rastafarian because I wanted to be different. While the rest of my family went to church, I stopped going for some time. However, my mother wouldn’t allow it, so I eventually returned to church,” he recounted.

Reflecting on his experience, the preacher described ministry as one of the most demanding callings, cautioning that it requires wisdom, discipline and spiritual maturity. He argued that pastoral work cannot be mastered through academic study alone but must begin with a genuine divine calling, followed by mentorship and practical training.

“You don’t learn to become a pastor. It’s a calling. Once you’ve received that calling, the next step is to understudy and learn proper pulpit manners,” he added.

His comments have generated fresh discussions on social media, with many debating his claim about seniority in ministry, while others focused on his message that effective pastoral leadership is rooted in calling and mentorship rather than formal education alones.