Investigative Journalist and Pan Africanist, Efo Korsi Senyo has responded to the Member of Parliament of Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu in an open letter.
The MP who was reacting to the statement by the Police cautioning church leaders to be circumspect in their 31st December Prophecies said “Any attempt to regulate the form, nature, or communication of prophecies which is a spiritual act can amount to a fetter on and/or breach of right to freely practice one’s religion and to manifest same as guarantee by the 1992 Construction and this must not be allowed”
This appears to have angered the Pan-Africanist who took on the MP asking him to consider religious neutrality in their comments as a lawmerker.
According to Mr. Senyo, if the MP wants church prophet to freely state that prominent people are going to die an action that normally characterizes their 31st December Night Services, then he must lead Parliament to repeal the law that empowered the Police to remind the church leaders about the implications of statements that could cause fear and panic which is criminal.
“First of all, Lawyer, if you want pastors to prophesy death and accidents of prominent people freely on national television, then champion the repeal of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (ACT 29) which criminalizes publication of fake news on which the Police based to remind the pastors.” – Mr. Senyo writes on his Facebook page.
“Lawyer, but before you champion the repeal of that law which I will support so people affected by fake news publications rather take civil legal actions against the publishers in court, I know you are a proactive and not reactive Leader, so, I expected you to see the Police statement from that angle.
Hon., If you have forgotten, then a quick reminder. We’re all in this country 3years ago when Rev. Owusu Bempah in the name of 31st Night Prophecy said that Ghana’s National Chief Imam who was 99years at the time was going to die the following year and we all saw what followed. Thanks to a living national legend and national peace icon like Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who the said statement affected directly stepping in to calm situations be calling on his followers to order to avert any further serious disturbance.”
The Pan Africanist wondered why the Human Rights Lawyer who is among three MPs who are sponsoring a bill to criminal some aspect of African traditional practices will mount a tough defense that church leaders can also not be prevented by law from causing fear and panic with their prophecies.
“Lawyer Sosu, you are among two other Members of Parliament who on November 10, 2021 announced that you – trio have sponsored a private member’s bill in Parliament to prohibit and make it criminal by amending the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) the practice by any person as a witch doctor, or witchfinder.
The said Bill is “expected to also proscribe the declaration, accusation, naming or labeling of another person as a witch; to prohibit a person from employing or soliciting anyone to accuse, name, label, indicate, or declare another person as a witch and provide for related matters.” – He writes
“Lawyer Sosu, is the practice of witch doctor or witchfinder also not a religious practice and “spiritual act” just like the Christian’s practice of prophecy?.” – he quizzed.
Read the full Letter:
Senyo to Sosu: Consider Religious Neutrality, Our Gods Too Are Not Evil