The Catholic Bishops Conference have cautioned all faith-based organisations and the clergy in the country, to desist from the culture of predicting and pronouncing prophecies on election results as the country prepare for the presidential and parliamentary elections in December this year.

In a pastoral letter titled: “Politics for nation building and social cohesion in Ghana”, the Bishops said although ensuring free, fair and transparent elections is a collective responsibility, faith-based organisations and the clergy are among the institutions that bear greater responsibility.

It is becoming a culture for some prophets to predict the winning political party and candidate ahead of Ghana’s general elections.

The founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah is known for his electoral predictions in favour of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) while the founder and leader of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie predicts in favour of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Apart from these Prophets, many others also make predictions in favour of the NPP or NDC depending on their political affiliations. 

This the Catholic Bishops believe does not promote free, fair and transparent elections. 

Therefore, ahead of the December elections, the Bishops cautioned: “the faith-based organisations and the clergy should desist from openly taking part in partisan politics, from preaching predictions of election results, the death of public personalities etc.”

The Bishops also called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to intensify voter and civic education, help monitor the election processes and conduct, call attention to errant behaviours and whatever would undermine the noble values of peace, tranquillity and political development of the nation.