Parliament must regulate religion, not just churches – MP

General News of Saturday, June 8, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-06-08

A member of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs dispelled the notion that the legislature was unduly targeting the Christian faith through legislation.

On Saturday, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor told JoyNews Newsfile that neither the government nor Parliament had such an idea in mind.

According to him, when the Mfantseman MP, Ekow Hayford, suggested the creation of a bipartite committee to investigate the excesses of some churches, he was only echoing the views of the majority of Ghanaians.

According to Dafeamekpor, it was the interest generated by the subject that motivated the speaker's decision to refer the case to the Constitutional Committee of the Chamber.

It was not long before he added that what the House is trying to do is not to legislate against spiritual matters.

Parliament is rather determined to fight against human rights violations and constitutional offenses committed against innocent Ghanaians under the pretext of religion.

It will not be just a question that churches will have to answer, but all practitioners of the faith, he said.

"We are looking at all kinds of spiritual activities," he said.

What the law says

Article 21/1 (C) of the Ghanaian Constitution of 1992 provides: "Everyone has the right to practice and manifest any religion.

In addition, Article 26/1 states that "Everyone has the right to enjoy, enjoy, practice, maintain and promote any culture, language, tradition or religion, compliance with the provisions of this Constitution ".

The law also provides that the enjoyment of such rights shall not affect the freedom of others.

Regulation is long overdue

In support of Defeamekpor's views, Martin Kpebu, a private lawyer who shared the panel with him, said the regulation of religious activities is long overdue, despite the constitutional injunctions in force.

"We are not saying that the government should take control of the churches. But we have reached a stage where we have to control those who do not do things right. "

While conceding that the existing legislation remedies the alleged illegalities of churches, he explained that the presence of a regulatory body with people of religious orientation would facilitate the process of reducing the threat.

It will be cheaper to use regulators. The regulator will have a surveillance team. They will attack the excesses that citizens are not willing to report, Kpebu said.

Christian organizations meet Parliament

Dafeamekpor revealed that three umbrella church organizations, including the Christian Council, met with Parliament leaders on Friday about the changing situation.

According to him, "Church leaders have recognized that what is happening in the name of faith is not good".

While Parliament urged church leaders to judge themselves so no one would judge them, they also asked them to submit a memorandum on their concerns.

The question up to now

On Wednesday, the MP for Mfantseman, Ekow Hayford, debated for the first time the subject of church regulation.

In doing so, Hayford also called on the media to filter broadcast content. He added that the media must be wary of the "Men of God" to whom they offered their platform.

The public, he said, should "also be vigilant and cautious in identifying the religious groups and churches with which they are badociated".

The reactions

Ablekuma's central parliamentarian, Ebenezar Nartey, supported calls for regulation.

He lamented that some pastors are encouraging their unsuspecting members to buy bottled water up to 2000 ?.

These same people can only afford a fraction of that money to go to the hospital, he said.

For his part, the secretary general of the Christian Council, Reverend Cyril Fayose, said that legislation would not solve the problem.

"They should hurry slowly. We are aware of the situation we are facing and we are also concerned. We are also looking for ways to solve the problem, but I do not think legislation will solve the problem.

"It's a more complex problem than it seems there and the Christian Council is working very hard so that we can come together as Christian leaders to do something about it, but we'll have ultimately need the state to provide us with legislative support. They should give us some time to work on the problem, then we will ask them for legislative support, "he added.

Samuel George is a member of Parliament who opposes the request for legislation.

The Ningo-Prampram MP said that legislation and logic can not be used to regulate things that challenge logic, "things that have to do with faith challenge logic, that's why they are faith ".

According to him, any legislation on churches questions the legitimacy of miracles and he, as a man of faith, strongly opposes them.

"I do not say at all that we do not have quacks who have become men of God, I do not dispute it, but it is a small number.

"You can not over-generalize the situation, so it's unfair to say that all men of God must be regulated," he added.