Alpha Hour Demands Retraction and Apology from Bongo Ideas Over Alleged Defamatory Claims

The leadership of Alpha Hour, a faith-based Christian initiative, has formally demanded a retraction and public apology from social media commentator Albert Nat Hyde, popularly known as Bongo Ideas, following a video he posted on his social media timeline making allegations against the group and its leadership.

In the video, Bongo Ideas claimed that Pastor Elvis Agyemang, founder of Alpha Hour and Chief Alpharian, demanded or received money from legendary gospel musician Esther Smith in exchange for prayers. According to Alpha Hour’s leadership, the claims, specifically the allegation that Pastor Elvis demanded £300,000, are false, unfounded, and defamatory.

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In a statement dated January 15, 2025, and released on behalf of Alpha Hour, the leadership strongly condemned the remarks, describing them as misleading and damaging to the integrity, reputation, and public image of both the movement and its leaders. They noted that the allegations, which circulated widely on social media, have caused reputational harm and unnecessary public controversy.

The statement stressed that the claims made by Bongo Ideas were not supported by facts, accusing the social media commentator of engaging in reckless commentary without due diligence or verification. While acknowledging the importance of free speech and public criticism in a democratic society, the leadership emphasised that such freedoms should not be abused to spread misinformation or malign individuals and organisations.

As a result, AlphaHour has issued a formal demand for an immediate retraction of the statements across all platforms where they were published, along with an unqualified public apology to help restore public confidence and trust.

The leadership further cautioned that failure to comply with the demand within a reasonable timeframe would compel them to pursue legal action, including defamation proceedings, to protect their name and reputation.

“This is not an attempt to silence criticism,” the statement emphasised, “but a necessary step to defend truth, accountability, and responsible public communication.”

As of the time of filing this report, Bongo Ideas has not publicly responded to the demands. The incident has since ignited renewed debate on social media regarding responsible commentary, freedom of speech, and the legal boundaries of online expression in Ghana’s digital space.