The Ghana Police Service has warned that any religious leader who predicts harm, danger, or death to any individual or organization without providing proof of its correctness would be sought and punished.
According to a statement released and signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police service, Supt. Alexander Kwaku Obeng, anyone who publishes such content or distributes it electronically faces the same fate, even more so if the communication has the ability to incite public fear and panic or endanger lives.
In Ghana’s law, it is a crime to deliberately send communication that is either false or misleading and likely to prejudice or disturb public peace where that person has no evidence to prove otherwise.
The statement dated December 27 said, “We therefore, wish to caution all Ghanaians, especially religious groups and leaders to be measured in their utterances, especially how they communicate prophecies, which may inure the right of others and the public interest”.
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“A person found guilty under these laws could be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years,” the statement added.
These prophecies, which have become an annual ritual during end-of-year all-night church services in the country, have given room for many concerns since they usually cause a lot of fear.
It can be recalled that the Ghana Police Service, led by the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akufo-Dampare indicated that they are not opposed to prophecies, reiterating the public’s right to religion, freedom of worship, and free speech.
However, the law enforcement agency has emphasized that such rights should not be exploited to violate national norms or to infringe on the right to life of others.
Below is the press statement
SOURCE: ATLFMNEWS
