By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (VR), Feb 05, GNA-Some residents in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have called for stricter laws to regulate faith-based political prophecies with concerns over their potential impact on national security and social cohesion.
They said that there must be rules and regulations that should prohibit faith-based groups and their political or social prophecies that create panic, anxiety and jeopardise public peace due to false news and harmful prophecies.
Mr Elikplim Emmanuel Teku, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said that the government has earlier gave a directive requiring religious leaders to submit prophecies with national significance for review before public declaration.
“Presidential Envoy for Interfaith Relations, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, framed this move as a push for responsibility and discernment among prophets, which is a good development,” he said.
He said many residents and religious leaders in the area have supported the initiative by government to curb fearmongering and misinformation by some gospel prophets through false prophecies while others see it as an overreach, potentially infringing on religious freedom and opening the door to censorship.
Mr Teku explained that the Ghana Christian Council earlier has sought clarity on the prophecy rules which emphasised unity and sober reflection on national issues to reflects the complex balance between regulating prophecies and respecting religious freedoms.
He said: “Some may think we are calling for intimidation for prophets, that’s not the case, even some of the prophets will agree with me that many of them are causing public fear and panic with their prophecies. There must be a stronger law for this.”
Mr Gerald Mensah, also told the GNA that government in collaboration with the leadership of local council of churches should enact rules and regulation to prevent false prophecies to urge pastors to concentrate and focus on the message and gospel of God.
He cited the example of some prophetic prediction about the outcome of recent New Patrotic Party (NPP) flagbearer primary in favour of Mr Kennedy Agyapong which turned to be false and added, “imagine what could have happened if the camp of Kennedy Agyapong wanted to take that false prophecy into consideration.”
He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties would also hold their primaries soon and to avoid such false prophecies that could endanger the elections, there must be stricter rules and regulation to control such activities.
He argued that unregulated prophetic ministries could undermine public trust and epistemic integrity and advocated church-led discernment and accountability, rather than state control.
However, information gathered by the GNA revealed that the country’s laws have prohibited publishing false news, which urged faith-based groups to comply with the debate highlighting the need for clearer guidelines on prophecy and national security.
The move by the government has also sparked debate on the role of prophecy in politics and the limits of religious freedom while some see it as necessary to prevent harm; others were worried about censorship and state overreach.
Meanwhile, residents of Keta were divided on the issue which reflected broader national concerns with many calling for stricter laws, while others emphasised the importance of religious freedom.
They expressed hope that the outcome of the debate would likely shape the country’s approach to prophecy and national security with the focus on finding a balance between respecting faith and protecting citizens.
They appealed to law enforcement agencies including the Ghana Police Service to reiterate their commitment to enforcing existing laws to help guide faith-based groups and churches to be circumspect in their prophecies.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah