The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed that as of 2025, more than 2,200 churches were officially registered in Greater Accra, yet numerous others operate throughout the country without formal registration.
During a session in Parliament, Minister Ahmed Ibrahim announced on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the intention to implement a digital registry system designed to enhance the registration process and provide precise data regarding churches nationwide.
“We will forge a formal partnership with the Registrar General’s Department, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Ministry of Justice to evaluate the records of churches that are registered as companies limited by guarantee,” Mr. Ibrahim stated in Parliament.
He further mentioned, “Metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies will keep local registers of churches within their areas, while the proposed digital platform will enable churches to update their operational status in real time.”
Data from regional surveys reveal that 98.1% of churches in Greater Accra function as single-owner entities, with the remainder associated with larger church organizations. Although the Registrar General’s Department does not release a consolidated national figure, estimates indicate that the total number of churches across the nation reaches into the thousands.
“This initiative is designed to guarantee accurate, comprehensive, and current data on churches, which will be essential for governance, planning, and regulatory oversight,” Mr. Ibrahim remarked.
The Ghana Statistical Service monitors religious affiliations rather than registrations. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, 71.2% of Ghanaians identify as Christians, which includes 31.6% Pentecostal or Charismatic, 18.4% Protestant, 10% Catholic, and 11.2% belonging to other Christian denominations.
The suggested digital registry will connect to the Registrar General’s database, facilitating the verification of operational churches and enhancing transparency within the sector.
Mr. Ibrahim concluded: “This is a timely initiative aimed at modernizing our administrative systems and reinforcing accountability in the religious sector, which has seen significant growth in recent decades.”
