Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has welcomed the move by Parliament to regulate the activities of pastors in Ghana.

Parliament on Wednesday initiated moves to regulate the activities of pastors in the country following complaints that some churches and preachers deliberately preying on the gullibility of Ghanaians.

According to them, the state must step in with legislation to clamp down on what they termed abuses of congregants, especially by ‘one-man’ churches.

MP for Ablekuma Central Ebenezer Nartey said some pastors parading in the country do not deserve to carry themselves as such.

“Mr Speaker, you are Reverend Minister yourself, and I believe strongly that you have been monitoring our TVs and radio stations and we all see the attitudes and behaviour of some pastors and some churches,” he said.

“Sometimes, we ask ourselves is this indeed, Christianity? Mr Speaker, it is time that this House will take a decision to see how best we will be able to calm down on some of these churches,” he stated.

Reacting to the development, the General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Reverend Emmanuel Barigah described as prudent, hoping that it would lead to change.

He, however, suggested the theological society should lead the process whereby it puts forwarded proposals on regulating activities of pastors and churches after which Parliament’s comes in to stamp its authority to ensure compliance.

“We are very important stakeholders in this matter and as a nation, the constitution grants us the freedom of worship and the freedom of association and all that, so in order for it not to look like the government is clamping on those rights…the theological body should be allowed to take the lead, bring up suggestions and make proposals as to how we could do that effectively so that it would not look as if the human rights of people are being trampled upon,” Reverend Barigah told Morning Starr host Francis Abban on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George called for caution in enacting any legislation to regulate the activities of pastors in the country.

According to him, “any move to move into the regulation of religion and religious expression for me may be a step too far.”

“…Yes. It is fine for us to get passionate about such issues but you don’t resolve or tackle such issues with passion because religion like Karl Max said is the opium of the masses and we must handle it and tread cautiously with it,” he stated Wednesday on the floor of Parliament.