Madina MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has said a recent press release by the police that seeks to gag doom prophesies breaches the Constitutional provision for freedom of religion.
According to the famous human rights lawyer, unless a particular action by any prophet is criminal, the police cannot seek to regulate any action consistent with the practice of religion.
“If the conduct of any man of God is contrary to the Criminal and other offences Act, go ahead and enforce the law. You can’t regulate Prophecies,” he posted on Facebook.
Police said in a release issued on December 27, 2021, that whereas the right to religion, freedom of worship and free speech are guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, all of these rights are subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others.
Police said the yearly practice of predicting the death of persons or predicting doom at watch night services especially has put the lives of people in danger, warning that it will move swiftly to apply the law against prophets who make such prophesies and journalists who publish same.
But to the mind of the Madina lawmaker, police must be mindful of the 1992 Constitution in trying to enforce the law.
“Any attempt to regulate the form, nature or communication of prophecies which is a spiritual act can amount to a fetter on and/or a breach of the right to freely practice one’s religion and to manifest same as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution and this must not be allowed,” Mr Sosu said.
His fellow MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has also criticised the police’s directive.
A key part of 31st December watch night services has been death prophesies – more like a sad announcement about the death of famous people.
These experienced pastors hardly mention names of people they claim the icy hands of death will lay its hands on in the coming year, but by the time they are done, you would know who they are talking about.