The Government has charged the police to go arrest and prosecute pastors who sexually molest and defraud unsuspecting members of their churches. It says it is disgusted at recent reports of pastors engaged in all kinds of despicable, immoral and criminal acts and will do everything possible to protect innocent citizens from these miscreants. In a statement issued on Thursday, government called for a public debate on how to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for bonking and fraudulent pastors to thrive in their trade. The statement signed by deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa asked those who have suffered one form of abuse or the other from their pastors to make a report to the nearest police station. It also requested the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to agree on guidelines for the coverage of religious programmes in the electronic media. The statement expressed government’s resolve to end what it calls the exploitation and misdirection of Ghanaians. It further expressed government’s concern about what it called the total disregard of the rights of citizens who are paraded as people needing deliverance whiles no attempt is made to protect their identities. It says even children who are also expected to enjoy special protection from society are not spared in this wanton disregard of the human rights of Ghanaians. Government is asking religious associations to take steps to regulate themselves and ensure that charlatans are weeded out. It also appealed to those it calls true church leaders to teach their members how to identify false prophets and tricksters masquerading as pastors especially as Jesus Christ warned of the rise of this phenomenon in the last days. Explaining government’s position on the rogue pastors, Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa said government does not intend to determine which religion people join, but the action is intended to ensure that people do not fall pray to some of these charlatans parading as men of God. He indicated that the decision to have the NMC and the GJA prevent some of the so-called pastors from using the media to advertise their dubious businesses was by no means an attempt to censor the media. He said it is vital for government and key stakeholders to work together to ensure that these criminal, self-styled men of God are brought to book. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana