The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is set to enter into a data-sharing agreement with the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) to improve access to records of churches registered as companies limited by guarantee, Sector Minister Ahmed Ibrahim has announced.
According to the Minister, the arrangement will be formalised in collaboration with the RGD and the Ministry of Justice to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on registered religious bodies across the country.
He added that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will also maintain local registers of churches operating within their jurisdictions under the local governance framework.
The Banda MP explained that the Religious Bodies (Regulation) Law, 1989 (PNDC Law 221), was originally enacted to regulate the establishment and operations of churches and other religious organisations in Ghana.
However, he noted that the law generated significant controversy at the time, with many churches arguing that it infringed on freedom of worship and granted excessive regulatory powers to the state.
Currently, churches are registered as companies limited by guarantee with the RGD, a status that grants them legal recognition, property ownership rights and protection under Ghanaian law.
Data Gaps and Digital Registry Plan
Despite this framework, the Minister observed that the RGD does not publish a consolidated national figure of all registered churches. Available regional data and surveys suggest that thousands of churches operate nationwide, including more than 2,200 registered in the Greater Accra Region as of 2025. Of that number, approximately 98 per cent are single-owner churches.
To address data gaps and improve oversight, Mr Ibrahim said the MMDAs would explore the development of a digital registry system linked to the RGD. The proposed platform would allow churches to update their operational status annually, creating a centralised and reliable database of religious bodies across the country.
The initiative, he noted, is aimed at enhancing transparency, strengthening regulation and ensuring accurate national records of churches in Ghana.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
