Church leaders in Ghana have been warned against making traditional New Year prophecies.

In a statement, police asked church leaders to refrain from making “misleading” prophecies as they often cause panic and anxiety.

They commended religious groups for their "cooperation" and for "adopting legally acceptable means for communicating prophecies".

“Ghana is indeed grateful to the religious leaders in particular and the religious community as a whole for their patriotic understanding of the situation,” the statement said.

“As the year 2022 draws to a close, we wish to once again entreat the general public, especially faith-based groups, to ensure continuous compliance with the law as it relates to the communication of prophecies.

“Let us continue to remember that while we have the right to practise our faith in religion, freedom of worship and speech, this right must not be exercised in violation of the rights of others and the public interest,” it continued.

Last year, Ghanaian police introduced the order following several prophecies of deaths and calamity.  ​

But for Ghanaian lawyer Sammy Darko the order violates their right to freedom of religion.

"It is not even up for debate or interpretation by the highest court of Ghana. No law in Ghana grants the police administration any powers to regulate prophecies in the country," he wrote on his blog.

"Religious freedom is more than the 'freedom to worship' at a synagogue, church, or mosque. It means people shouldn't have to go against their core values and beliefs in order to conform to culture or government unless it violates a specific law," he added.

Police say they have adopted the 27th December as Prophecy Communication Compliance Day as a reminder for everyone to “practice our faith within the confines of the law to ensure safe, secure environment, free of anxiety generated from predictions of impending harm, danger or death”.

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