Gov’t to Launch Digital Registry to Track Churches Nationwide

The Minister for Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed that although more than 2,200 churches were officially registered in the Greater Accra Region as of 2025, many more congregations across the country are operating without formal documentation.

Addressing Parliament the Minister outlined plans to introduce a nationwide digital registry system to streamline the registration process and generate reliable data on churches. He explained that the initiative is intended to improve oversight, transparency, and coordination within the rapidly expanding religious sector.

Mr. Ibrahim stated 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. This partnership, he noted, will help verify the legal status of religious organisations and ensure compliance with existing regulations.

He further revealed that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will be required to maintain updated local registers of churches within their jurisdictions. The proposed digital platform will enable churches to update their operational details in real time, creating a centralised and accessible national database.

Regional survey data indicate that 98.1 percent of churches in Greater Accra function as single-owner entities, while a small fraction operate under larger church brands. Although there is no consolidated national figure published by the Registrar General’s Department, projections suggest that the total number of churches nationwide runs into the thousands.

The Minister emphasised that accurate and up-to-date data will be essential for effective governance, planning, and regulatory supervision. He also referenced figures from the Ghana Statistical Service, which show that 71.2 percent of Ghanaians identified as Christians in the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

Mr. Ibrahim described the digital registry as a timely reform aimed at modernising administrative systems and strengthening accountability within Ghana’s growing religious landscape.