The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has informed Parliament that there are over 13,000 registered churches in Ghana.
This figure is based on data from the Registrar General’s Department, which registers churches as companies limited by guarantee, giving them legal recognition and protection under Ghanaian law.
The Minister highlighted the 1989 PNDC Law 221, which required churches to register with the state, a move that sparked controversy over freedom of religion concerns.
Currently, churches register as companies limited by guarantee with the Registrar General’s Department, granting them legal recognition and property ownership rights.
However, the lack of centralized data has made it challenging to determine the exact number of churches in the country. Regional surveys suggest thousands of churches operate in Ghana, with approximately 2,200 registered in Greater Accra alone, 98.1% being single-owner operations.
According to the 2021 population census, about 71.2% of Ghanaians identify as Christians, spread across various denominations, including Pentecostal/Charismatic (31.6%), Protestants (18.4%), Catholics (10%), and other Christian groups (11.2%).
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has informed Parliament of plans to enhance data collection on churches in Ghana.
The aim is to provide accurate data on churches and enhance regulation.
According to the Minister, the government plans to establish a formal collaboration with the Registrar General’s Department and develop a digital registry system to track churches and ensure accurate data.
