Accra: Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno has issued a call to action for religious leaders in Ghana, challenging them to transcend mere preaching of tolerance and take an active role in safeguarding the nation's peace. According to Ghana Web, Yohuno emphasized the significant influence Christianity and Islam hold over young people's attitudes, suggesting that these religions can play a crucial role in preventing religious disagreements from escalating into violence.
The IGP made these remarks during a meeting with Christian and Muslim leaders at the National Police Headquarters on Friday, August 14, 2026. He urged these leaders to leverage their influence in promoting interfaith harmony and reinforcing public confidence in Ghana's justice system. Yohuno outlined three key commitments for religious leaders, which include using regular services to actively discourage religious intolerance and conflict.
'Dedicate your Friday sermons in Islam, and Sunday sermons strictly to messages of interfaith harmony, self-control, and the danger of religious conflict,' Yohuno instructed. He also stressed the importance of helping followers understand the long-term consequences of actions that threaten Ghana's peace, stating, 'Remind your congregations that an attack on the peace of Ghana is an attack on the future of their own children.'
Yohuno further encouraged Christian and Muslim leaders to demonstrate unity publicly, rather than confining their cooperation to mere words. He suggested that joint attendance at events, sharing meals, and issuing statements together could show that faith differences need not result in divisions. 'Let the public see Christians and Islamic leaders standing together, sharing meals, issuing joint statements, and walking through our communities hand in hand. Show the youth that diversity of faith is strength, not a fault line,' he said.
He also urged religious leaders to dissuade their followers from taking the law into their hands when allegations of wrongdoing arise. Instead, disputes should be reported to the appropriate state institutions. 'Reaffirm trust in statutory justice, not online harassment or physical violence,' Yohuno stated, adding that allowing the state to resolve offences is a sign of civic maturity and religious wisdom.
Yohuno warned against complacency over the country's relative peace, pointing to conflicts in other parts of West Africa where unresolved tensions turned into devastating violence. 'Just look around our West African subregion. We see nations where small sparks were allowed to fester until they grew into infernos of civil strife, destroying communities, markets, schools, and places of worship,' he said.
He concluded by urging the religious community to use its influence to prevent hostility from taking root and help restore public confidence in the country's institutions. 'Let us make this matter serve as a clear reminder that the law works and let this meeting mark the end of hostility,' Yohuno said.