By: Josephine Akari
The Ghana Police Service has held a closed door meeting with Faith Based Organizations following the activities of some self-acclaimed prophets who predict doom on the lives of popular individuals.
This comes in the wake of a prophecy by the Founder of the New Life Kingdom Chapel, Bishop Stephen Akwesi Appiah, that Shatta Wale a Ghanaian dancehall artiste would be shot by gunmen.
The meeting was held under the auspices of the Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare to proffer solutions to how religious organizations can work within the confines of the laws of Ghana.
Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori said the Police are collaborating with the religious Councils to educate, sensitize and enforce laws that will regulate the activities of religious leaders to ensure sanity in society.
“The Police has always coexisted with the church during the colonial times and post independent era but in our contemporary times, we have witnessed some challenges and limitations that calls for dialogue, that is why the Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare has called for this meeting with the Religious leaders to have a mutual discussion on how churches can conduct and operationalize its activities taking into account the position of the law. Key among the issues discussed is education and law enforcement so the Public Affairs Directorate of the Police will team up with the religious Councils to provide intensive education and enforce laws to find solutions to this menace”, ACP Kwesi Ofori stated’
After deliberations it was concluded that more education is given to religious leaders on how they might conduct their operations, taking into consideration the position of the law. Also, there must be strict enforcement of existing laws to regulate the activities of churches in the country.
Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Reverend Dr. Paul Boafo called on religious leaders to support the Police through its education programmes.
“The discussion was a very fruitful one. We had resource personnel who spoke on how religion can be used to foster coexistence and obedience, and how the churches can adhere to laws of this nation. Some areas we looked at indicated that the church can fall foul and can be sued when it comes to notice making and things that are not humane in the society. These laws are not new; they already exist so we reached an agreement and discussion was a very fruitful one” Most Reverend Paul Kwabena Boafo said
Most Reverend Paul Kwabena Boafo stated that Faith Based Organizations must support the police to provide more education and enforcement of laws to ensure peace and sanity in the society.
The meeting was attended by members of the Police Management Board, Representatives of the Christian Council of Ghana and the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council among others.
