To preserve peaceful coexistence in Ghana, the Ghana Police Service has advised religious leaders to be conscious of the country’s laws while expressing their faith in a Religion and the Law meeting.
After a meeting with religious leaders and faith-based organizations on Monday, October 25, 2021, the Service issued this warning in a statement.
The meeting was convened at the request of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to highlight the religious community’s rights and restrictions within the legal framework.
The meeting helped the Police and the leaders of the faith-based institutions to discuss on the topic: “Religion and the Law”.
“Issues discussed at the forum include the provisions of the Constitution relating to freedom of religion, the church/mosques as a corporate entity, criminal offences that may be committed by religious bodies or their appointees and possible human rights abuses.
Other issues discussed were spirituality and requirements of evidence as required by the court, religious doctrines that contravene provisions of the Constitution and the general enforcement of the law,” the statement from the police noted.
Members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), representatives of the Christian Council of Ghana, the Office of the Chief Imam, the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council. Others included the Council of Independent Churches, and the National Association of Christian and Charismatic Churches were present at the meeting, which was presided over by Dr. Dampare.
The “Religion and the Law” meeting comes following the recent arrests of two gospel ministers who had run afoul of the law.
The first was Rev. Owusu Bempah of the Glorious Power International Ministries. The second was Bishop Stephen Kwesi Appiah, also known as Jesus Ahuofe, arrested and jailed after prophesying that Shatta Wale would be shot on October 18, 2021.
He was accused of inducing fear and panic, but he pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody for five days. He was, however, released on bond.
