The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has disclosed that Ghana is home to over 13,000 registered churches, according to data from the Registrar General’s Department.
This information was revealed during his appearance before Parliament on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The minister explained that churches are required to register as companies limited by guarantee to gain legal recognition and protection under Ghanaian law, as mandated by the 1989 PNDC Law 221.
The registration allows churches to own property and operate legally.
However, the lack of centralised data poses a challenge in determining the exact number of churches in the country.
Regional surveys indicate that thousands of churches are operating in Ghana, with approximately 2,200 registered in Greater Accra alone, of which 98.1% are single-owner operations.
The 2021 population census reported that about 71.2% of Ghanaians identify as Christians, spread across various denominations.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim informed Parliament of plans to improve data collection on churches, aiming to provide accurate data and enhance regulation.
To achieve this, the government plans to collaborate with the Registrar General’s Department and develop a digital registry system to track churches and ensure accurate data.
