AfricaLaw & JusticeNewsGhana’s IGP Warn Pastors Against Making False New Year Prophecies on 31 December

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The Ghanaian Police has cautioned clerics against instilling fear in people’s minds by making false and misleading new year prophecies during the customary crossover services on 31 December.

In 2021, the police proscribed new year prophecies that could cause fear, and anxiety and are likely to endanger lives, saying anyone found guilty risks up to five years imprisonment.

On Tuesday, the Ghana police spokesperson, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, said the law, which is to ensure continuous security, and law and order in the country is still in place.

She commended religious leaders for their cooperation in “adopting legally permissible channels for disseminating prophecies,” last year and entreated compliance in 2022.

According to her, one’s freedom of worship and free speech must not violate the rights of others.

“A year ago today, December 27, 2021, the Ghana police service drew the attention of the general public, especially members of the religious community to the law regarding the communication of prophecies, and urged compliance to the law to ensure continuous security and law and order in the country,” Ansah-Akrofi said.

“We wish to commend the public, particularly religious groups, for their cooperation over the period by being circumspect and conscious of the law and adopting legally acceptable means of communicating prophecies to those affected.

“This has contributed greatly to creating an environment where people are able to freely profess their faith without unnecessary anxiety and fear of impending harm or death.

“Ghana is indeed grateful to the religious leaders in particular and the religious community as a whole for their patriotic understanding of the situation.

“As the year 2022 draws to a close, we wish to once again entreat the general public, especially faith-based groups, to ensure continuous compliance with the law as it relates to the communication of prophecies.

“Let us continue to remember that whereas we have the right to practise our faith in religion, freedom of worship and speech, this right must not be exercised in violation of the rights of others and the public interest.”

The police further said they had adopted 27 December annually as ‘Prophecy Communication Compliance Day’ to remind clerics of their commitment to keeping the law.

“This day is being set aside to remind all of us to practice our faith within the confines of the law to ensure a safe, secure environment, free of anxiety generated from predictions of impending harm, danger or death,” it said.

 

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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