Ahmed Ibrahim
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGDRA) has announced that the government will establish a National Digital Registry for churches as part of efforts to streamline data collection and improve oversight of religious bodies operating in the country.
Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the Minister said the proposed system would serve as a centralised platform for churches to update their operational status annually, while allowing the state to maintain accurate and verifiable records of religious institutions nationwide.
He explained that although churches are currently registered as companies limited by guarantee with the Registrar General’s Department, there is no single consolidated national database capturing the total number of churches in the country.
According to the Minister, available regional data indicate that more than 2,200 churches are registered in the Greater Accra Region alone as of 2025, with about 98.1 percent operating as single-owner entities.
However, he noted that these figures are not officially consolidated at the national level, making it difficult to determine the exact number of churches across the country.
“To ensure the provision of accurate data on churches in the near future, the Ministry will establish a formal collaboration with the Registrar General’s Department and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice,” he told the House.
The Minister said the collaboration would create a data-sharing agreement to access records of churches registered as companies limited by guarantee, while ensuring proper verification and compliance.
Beyond the central registry, he said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will also be directed to maintain local registers of churches operating within their jurisdictions.
This, he explained, would strengthen coordination at the local level and improve accountability.
The Minister recalled that attempts to regulate religious bodies date back to 1989 under the Religious Bodies (Registration) Law, also known as PNDC Law 221.
The law required churches and religious groups to obtain provisional approval before operating and to register with the state. However, he acknowledged that the legislation generated controversy, with many religious organisations arguing that it infringed on freedom of worship.
Today, he said, the objective is not to interfere with religious freedom but to ensure accurate data management and responsible operations within the sector.
He further indicated that major denominational bodies already have internal systems that track their branches nationwide, suggesting that collaboration with these umbrella organisations would make it easier to determine credible figures.
The Minister stressed that the absence of reliable data creates gaps that can be exploited by individuals who operate outside recognised structures, sometimes engaging in practices that undermine public confidence in religious institutions.
He assured Parliament that the proposed Digital Registry System would be linked to the Registrar General’s platform for verification purposes, ensuring transparency while respecting constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
The initiative, he said, forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening governance within the nation’s rapidly expanding religious landscape.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House