Parliament Debates Lack of Official Records on Shrines in Ghana

A call for detailed data on religious institutions sparked an unusual discussion in Parliament when Kwadaso MP, Professor Kingsley Nyarko, pressed the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development to disclose the number of shrines operating in Ghana and how many are officially registered.

His inquiry was directed at sector Minister Ahmed Ibrahim, who acknowledged that the Ministry does not currently maintain full records on shrines across the country. He suggested that a collaboration with traditional authorities and other stakeholders would be needed to compile accurate figures in the future.

Professor Nyarko expressed disappointment over the limited scope of the response, explaining that his submission originally sought statistics not only on shrines, but also churches and mosques nationwide. However, only the question concerning shrines was scheduled for discussion during the sitting.

The Kwadaso lawmaker insists that maintaining proper records of all religious institutions is vital for planning and national development. Without reliable data, he argued, policymakers lack a clear understanding of the religious structures operating within communities.

He maintained that the initiative is intended to strengthen governance and ensure that the state has an accurate picture of the religious landscape, rather than focusing solely on one category of worship centres.