Over 2,000 Churches in Accra Operating Without Registration – Ahmed Ibrahim

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed that although more than 2,200 churches were registered in the Greater Accra Region as of 2025, many others across the country continue to operate without formal registration.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, he announced plans to introduce a digital registry system designed to simplify registration procedures and provide accurate nationwide data on churches.

Mr. Ibrahim explained that the Ministry will collaborate with the Registrar General’s Department, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Justice to review records of churches registered as companies limited by guarantee.

He noted that Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will maintain local registers of churches within their jurisdictions, while the proposed digital platform will enable religious organisations to update their operational status in real time.

Regional surveys indicate that approximately 98.1% of churches in Greater Accra operate as single-owner entities, with the remainder affiliated with larger denominations. Although the Registrar General’s Department does not publish a consolidated national total, estimates suggest the number of churches nationwide runs into several thousands.

According to Mr. Ibrahim, the initiative will ensure reliable, comprehensive, and up-to-date data to support governance, planning, and regulatory oversight.

The Ghana Statistical Service monitors religious affiliation rather than church registration. Data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census shows that 71.2% of Ghanaians identify as Christians, including 31.6% Pentecostal or Charismatic, 18.4% Protestant, 10% Catholic, and 11.2% belonging to other Christian denominations.

The proposed digital registry will be linked to the Registrar General’s database to verify operational churches and enhance transparency in the sector.

Mr. Ibrahim described the initiative as a timely effort to modernise administrative systems and strengthen accountability in a religious sector that has expanded rapidly in recent decades.