Essential Ndubuisi
The Ghana Police Service have warned religious leaders to desist from New Year prophecies of “harm, danger and death” and others that could “create tension and panic” in the Anglophone West African country in the Year 2022.
The Nigerian and Ghanaian religious communities are entwined with some clerics having worship centres in both countries. In many West African countries with mega-churches including Ghana and Nigeria, New Year prophecies are reeled out by religious leaders towards the end of a preceding year or at Crossover Services on December 31st to usher in a New Year. Some of these prophecies have been known to cause panic while many of them eventually do not come to fulfilment.
The Ghana Police, therefore, in a statement signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Supt. Alexander Obeng, said persons found guilty of causing tension in the Ghanaian society through injurious prophecies could be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years.
The letter marked, ‘My Ref: PAD/PRESS/VOL.3/1/256’, was titled, ‘Ghana Police Service statement on communication of Prophecies and their legal implications’.
The letter read, “As the year 2021 draws to a close, the Ghana Police Service wishes to draw the attention of Ghanaians, especially religious groups, to the fact that whereas we have the right to religion, freedom of worship and free speech, all of these rights are subject to the respect for the rights and freedoms of others according to our laws.
“Over the years, communication of prophecies of harm, danger and death, by some religious leaders, have created tension and panic in the Ghanaian society and put the lives of many people in fear and danger.
“We want to caution that under Ghanaian law, it is a crime for a person to publish or reproduce a statement, rumour or report which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public peace, where that person has no evidence to prove that the statement, rumour or report is true.
“It is also a crime for a person, by means of electronic communications service, to knowingly send a communication that is false or misleading and likely to prejudice the efficiency of life-saving service or to endanger the safety of any person.
“A person found guilty under these laws could be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years.
