Religious leaders must help quell tensions – IGP

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno has urged Christian and Muslim leaders in Ghana to apply their moral authority to ease escalating religious tensions, warning that provocative speech, vigilantism and violence could damage the nation's reputation for peaceful coexistence. Speaking at a meeting on August 14, Yohuno stated that Ghana was experiencing a period of "profound tension" due to heightened religious friction in both traditional and digital media.

Recent incidents, such as inflammatory comments about the Holy Prophet Muhammad, calls for extrajudicial violence and the physical assault of a handcuffed Christian cleric, have put the country's commitment to tolerance and the rule of law to the test. The IGP emphasized that the Ghana Police Service had investigated the incidents and apprehended several suspects, including an Islamic cleric accused of inciting extrajudicial killings and a Christian cleric accused of making blasphemous statements.

All three individuals were currently on bail. Yohuno stressed that while law enforcement could restrain actions, only faith, leadership and conscience could heal the underlying social and religious tensions. He urged citizens to report offenses to the authorities rather than taking personal revenge, which could undermine Ghana's constitutional order and stability.

Addressing the Muslim community, Yohuno acknowledged the reverence for the Holy Prophet Muhammad and appealed to Muslims not to allow anger to lead to violence, drawing on Qur'anic teachings about responding to hostility with wisdom, restraint and peaceful conduct. He also appealed to Christian leaders to avoid provoking religious sensitivities and to uphold the values of love, peace and patience in their conduct.