ghana news State-religion relations in 2025

The end of 2025 is a suitable occasion to look at key issues involving the state and religion in Ghana.

Maintaining the country’s constitutionally secular identity while engaging with and benefiting from the strong influence of religious leaders and groups on public policy, electoral politics and social issues is a balancing act which both state and religious leaders need to work on to maintain harmony. 

This article briefly examines three key issues in the state-religion relationship: state-church relations, religious freedom and the jihadi threat.

State-church relations

Ghana is both a constitutionally secular state and a highly religious country.

Religion has a significant place in public life, and state functions often include prayers from Christian, Muslim and traditional leaders.

State-church relations are generally cooperative and peaceful, characterised by mutual respect and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.

Potential issues of conflict include a proposed register of religious entities and whether church income should be taxed.

Both the state and religious bodies recognise the need for mutual respect.

The government involves religious leaders in critical bodies like the National Peace Council, especially during elections, to foster stability and peace.

In addition, many religious institutions partner with the government in the provision of education, healthcare, and relief services.

Christian leaders and the Chief Imam actively engage in public discourse, contributing to shaping political and economic processes.

The Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference historically act as ‘moral watchdogs’ of society, addressing human rights and social justice issues.

The Chief Imam, a highly influential public figure who is the premier Muslim religious authority, is a national figurehead for peace and interfaith harmony. 

In 2025, there was simmering disagreement in state-church relations in relation to one issue: the push by powerful religious groups to encourage the passing of legislation that further criminalises LGBTQ+ persons.

This issue highlights the influence of religious lobbyists on state policy and raises human rights concerns among critics who fear it undermines the rights of a minority group.

Religious freedom

Ghana has a high standard of religious freedom protected by the 1992 constitution.

Religious leaders from Ghana’s various faiths regularly engage in dialogue to promote tolerance and understanding. By and large, this works well and Ghana’s overall record on religious freedom is good.

Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees Ghanaians’ fundamental freedom to practice any religion or none, as well as freedom of assembly and expression.

The 1992 constitution does not enshrine the concept of majoritarianism, that is, where a majority of the population is entitled to a certain degree of religious primacy.

Instead, the 1992

Constitution prescribes a secular state, with religious pluralism and equal priority in Ghana for all religious beliefs.

Asserting the existence of a secular state does not imply conflict between religion and the state.

The government seeks to facilitate religious freedom and to prevent or curtail any religious conflicts.

During 2025, there were no serious interreligious conflicts, and both government and religious leaders should take credit for this.

In addition, Ghana is a signatory to an international agreement, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides further support and justification for religious freedom. 

Jihadi threat

Ghana is taking proactive steps to confront the increasing jihadi threat stemming from instability in the Sahel region.

The nation’s approach is multifaceted, combining robust security measures with social and interfaith initiatives, including between Christians and Muslims.

With a longstanding tradition of religious harmony, the government is seeking to reinforce this foundation to combat vulnerabilities, including local conflicts that jihadi extremists seek to exploit.

Interfaith cooperation is a foundational element of Ghana’s national strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism.

Ghana has a strong history of religious harmony, which leaders leverage to build community resilience and deny extremist groups a foothold in society. 

The government’s ‘See Something, Say Something’ nationwide public awareness campaign encourages citizen vigilance and reporting of suspicious activities, a programme that relies heavily on collaboration with local, religious and community leaders to build trust and ensure community buy-in, especially in certain areas of the country with Muslim-majority populations.

Conclusion

As 2025 draws to a close, the state-religion relationship is generally good. It draws on years of extensive efforts from both parties to ensure that the country navigates successfully a potentially anomalous situation: how does a constitutional secular country deal with demands from Ghana’s religious leaders?

As we eagerly await the constitutional review committee’s report, we can only speculate at present whether there will be reforms.

Thinking of 2026, some observers note a disturbing trend: ‘sacralisation of politics’, where some religious leaders court politicians for personal or institutional gain.

Critics argue that this erodes the church’s moral credibility and historical role as the conscience of the nation.

How this issue is resolved will be a key issue involving state and religion in the year ahead. 

The writer is Emeritus Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University