The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohunu has called on Christian and Muslim leaders to help de-escalate rising religious tensions in Ghana and reaffirm their commitment to peace, tolerance and the rule of law.
Speaking at an interfaith dialogue with religious leaders in Accra on Friday, August 14, the IGP said recent incidents involving alleged religious insults, calls for extrajudicial violence and an assault on a handcuffed Christian cleric had created a moment of “profound tension” that threatened Ghana’s longstanding reputation as a peaceful and religiously tolerant country.
He said the Ghana Police Service had acted decisively by arresting the individuals involved in the separate incidents.
According to the IGP, an Islamic cleric accused of calling for extrajudicial killings, a Christian cleric accused of making blasphemous remarks, and a person captured in a video allegedly slapping a handcuffed pastor had all been arrested and were currently on bail as investigations continued.
“Violence will not fix what words have broken, and vigilante retribution will never replace the rule of law in Ghana,” Mr Yohunu said.
He stressed, however, that policing alone could not resolve the tensions, urging religious leaders to use their moral authority to calm their congregations and prevent further escalation.
“Law enforcement can restrain hands, but only faith, leadership and conscience can heal hearts,” he said.
The IGP acknowledged the deep reverence Muslims have for the Prophet Muhammad and said anger over insults against the Prophet was understandable.
However, he urged Muslims not to respond to provocation through mob action or violence.
He cited passages from the Quran urging believers to respond to hostility with wisdom, good instruction and peaceful conduct.
Mr Yohunu also referred to the Prophet Muhammad’s reported patience and forgiveness in the face of persecution and personal insults, arguing that violence against fellow citizens could not be justified in his name.
“To call for the extrajudicial execution of a fellow citizen or to assault a handcuffed suspect does not honour the dignity of the Holy Prophet,” he said.
Turning to the Christian community, the IGP said freedom of expression guaranteed by Ghana’s Constitution should not be used as a justification for deliberately provoking religious hatred or insulting what other faith communities consider sacred.
He cited biblical teachings on living peacefully with others and urged Christian leaders to encourage restraint, love, patience, kindness and self-control.
“Provoking religious hatred, heaping insults at what millions hold holy and stoking interfaith hostility does not reflect the character of Christ,” he said.
Mr Yohunu emphasised that Ghana’s religious freedom must be accompanied by respect for the dignity and beliefs of others.
He further reminded the gathering that international human rights principles protect freedom of religion and expression while prohibiting incitement to religious hatred and violence.
The IGP called on religious leaders to make three key commitments in response to the current tensions.
First, he urged them to preach de-escalation and restraint, asking Muslim and Christian leaders to dedicate their sermons to messages of peace, interfaith harmony and self-control.
Second, he called for visible interfaith unity, encouraging religious leaders to meet publicly, share meals, issue joint statements and demonstrate cooperation in their communities.
Finally, he urged religious leaders to reaffirm confidence in statutory justice, particularly among young people.
He warned against vigilante justice, online harassment and physical violence, saying disputes and alleged offences must be reported to the appropriate authorities rather than settled through retaliation.
Mr Yohunu said Ghana’s peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims should not be taken for granted, noting that members of the two faiths have historically lived and worked together as classmates, neighbours, colleagues, traders and family members.
He warned that religious tensions, if allowed to grow unchecked, could have devastating consequences for communities, schools, markets and places of worship.
“Ghana has been spared this tragedy not because we are immune to disagreement, but because generations before us chose dialogue over destruction and brotherhood over bitterness,” he said.
The IGP expressed hope that the interfaith meeting would mark the end of the recent hostility and become a renewed commitment by religious leaders to safeguard Ghana’s peace.
He called on Christians and Muslims to look beyond the immediate provocations and work together to ensure that Ghana remains “a beacon of light, tolerance and justice for the world.”
The meeting brought together senior representatives of Ghana’s Muslim and Christian communities, including representatives of the National Chief Imam, the Ghana Muslim Mission, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Peace Council and other religious bodies.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
