The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has appealed to Christians and Muslims nationwide to exercise maximum restraint as tensions rise following a dispute between clerics from the two faiths.
The Council has also called on the security services to handle the matter swiftly, impartially and strictly in accordance with the law, insisting that enforcement must not bend to religious affiliation or public sentiment.
The controversy stems from an alleged verbal attack on the Prophet Mohammed by a Christian cleric, followed by a video in which a Muslim cleric allegedly urged violence against anyone who spoke against the Prophet. Both clerics have since been arrested by the Ghana Police Service.
The CCG voiced concern, however, over a separate incident in which the Christian cleric was physically assaulted while in police custody, calling it a violation of human dignity and the rule of law.
The Council condemned both the alleged remarks against the Prophet and the alleged incitement to violence, warning that neither should be allowed to undermine Ghana's long history of interfaith harmony. It noted that Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully in the country for decades, aided by sustained dialogue between Christian and Islamic bodies, including the Office of the National Chief Imam, and cautioned that the actions of a few should not be allowed to unravel that relationship.
"We must not allow the reckless actions of a few individuals to derail this hard-won religious harmony," the Council said.
It urged members of both faiths to avoid any reprisals, online or offline, and to let state institutions handle the matter. The CCG specifically called on security services to apply the law equally to everyone involved, regardless of religion, creed or public sentiment, saying this was essential to demonstrate that the law treats all citizens the same.
The Council referenced Article 21(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion subject to public order considerations, as well as Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which criminalises conduct intended to provoke a breach of the peace.
It appealed to the public to let state institutions work without interference as investigations continue.
