By Rachel Quartey
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture, and Religious Affairs has expressed concerns over the unconventional practices of some pastors in the country. On Monday, May 19, 2025, the committee visited the Christian Council of Ghana to discuss growing issues surrounding the conduct and activities of certain religious leaders, including the commercialization of sacred rituals.
Among the concerns raised were the indiscriminate sale of items like sobolo and water by some pastors and churches. According to the Deputy Ranking Member on the Committee, Richard Kwami Sefe, the country is gradually heading in a negative direction, and if left unchecked, it could land the country in trouble.
He cited an example “where people who are sick of some definite diseases and can be treated or handled, most leaders would say water will do it, sobolo will do it, and so many other things. Finally, before the person is rushed to the hospital, the person dies.”
However, the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe noted that while the Council can speak out against these practices, they lack the authority to sanction the churches involved since they aren’t member churches.
“Concerning what we call some rogue pastors or some rogue churches, you can exercise control to a point. We have processes of checks and balances within our setup, whereby when there is something that is happening within one of our member churches that is of concern, we have structures of bringing things under control,” he explained.
The Chairman of the Council further said, “In a lot of places that these things are happening, they are not members of the Christian Council of Ghana, so it is difficult for us to have control over them. We can only speak to the issue of recalcitrant.” Rt. Rev. Dr. Dela Dogbe, however, said “the Christian Council is a formidable body to collaborate with to bring order.”
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement to address these concerns and foster a more structured religious environment.
“They themselves are opting for self-regulation, and per our constitution, there is freedom of association, freedom of worship, … so it calls for a thorough engagement with all stakeholders,” he responded.
The Parliamentary Committee also raised issues regarding the behavior of some reverend ministers, highlighting the need for better conduct within the religious sector.
Funding concerns were also on the agenda. The Christian Council’s leadership highlighted the crucial role of financial support in enabling the council’s activities.
The Christian Council of Ghana, comprising member churches like the Methodist Church Ghana, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, plays a significant role in promoting socio-economic justice, good governance, and human rights.
With the committee’s pledge to support cultural and religious development, this meeting marks a crucial step towards addressing the challenges facing Ghana’s religious sector.
