Ghana’s Police Service has served a word of caution to religious leaders in Ghana to desist from communication of prophesies of harm during this year’s 31st night.
According to a statement issued and signed by the services’ Public Affairs Director, Supt Alexander Kwaku Obeng, some religious leaders have over the years communicated Prophecies of ” harm, danger and death that has put the lives of many in fear and danger in the Ghanaian Society.
The public Affairs Director reminded religious leaders that, under the Ghanaian laws, it is an offence for any ” person to publish or reproduce a statement, a remour or report that is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb public peace, where the person do not have any evidence to prove that the statement, rumors or report is true”.
“it is also a crime for a person by, means of electronic communication services, to knowingly send a communication that is false or misleading and likely to prejudice efficiency of life saving service or to endanger the safety of any person,'” “the officer added in the statement.
Supt. Alexander spelling out the punishment for offenders, the police officer explained that, “a person found guilty under these laws could liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years.”
The public Relations Director warned the Ghanaian populace including religious leaders that to be circumspect in their pronouncement, especially “how they communicate Prophecies, which may injure the rights of others and the public interest.”
Supt. Alexander Kwaku Obeng assured Ghanaians that, the police will not witch-haunt any religious group or leader as they acknowledged that “Ghanaians are religious people who know, and believe in the centrality of God in our lives”.
Below are the full statement from the service:
