Accra: The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has condemned alleged insults against Prophet Mohammed and called on Christians and Muslims to exercise restraint amid growing tensions following separate incidents involving two religious clerics.

The Council said it “categorically condemns any purported insults or attacks directed at the Prophet Mohammed” while also rejecting the subsequent incitement to violence by a Muslim cleric in response to the alleged remarks.

The statement follows the arrest of a Christian cleric and a Muslim cleric by the Ghana Police Service over separate videos involving remarks about Prophet Mohammed.

The CCG said the incidents had created a volatile situation that required restraint from both religious communities to prevent further escalation.

It urged Christians and Muslims across the country to avoid reprisal actions, whether online or offline, and allow the security agencies and other state institutions to address the matter in accordance with the law.

“We urgently call on both Christians and Muslims across the nation to exercise immediate maximum restraint and avoid any further reprisal actions, whether online or offline,” the Council said.

The Council’s position comes after a video emerged showing a Christian cleric being slapped while in police custody following his arrest over the alleged verbal attack on Prophet Mohammed.

The CCG condemned the assault, describing it as a violation of human dignity and the rule of law.

It said the physical assault had further escalated tensions after a video allegedly showing a Muslim cleric inciting violence against people who spoke against the Prophet had also emerged.

Both clerics have since been arrested by the Police, according to the Council.

Protecting religious harmony

The CCG emphasised that individuals’ actions should not undermine Ghana’s longstanding peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims. by the actions of individuals.

“For decades, Ghana has enjoyed a peaceful and healthy interfaith coexistence, largely fostered by continuous collaborative engagements between the CCG and various Islamic bodies, most notably the Office of the National Chief Imam,” it said.

The Council said the country could not afford to allow the actions of a few individuals to derail the religious harmony that had been built over the years.

It therefore appealed to religious communities to refrain from inflammatory responses and allow the appropriate institutions to investigate the incidents and determine the applicable sanctions.

Equal application of the law

The Council also called on the security services to handle the cases impartially and strictly in accordance with the law.

“We explicitly task the security services to deal with these infractions dispassionately, swiftly, and strictly according to law, without any recourse to religion, creed, or sentiment,” the CCG said.

It stressed that the state had a responsibility to demonstrate that the law applied equally to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation.

The Council mentioned Article 21(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which ensures freedom of religion as long as it doesn’t disrupt public order, and Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which makes it illegal to act or speak in a way that could cause a disturbance.

The CCG urged the public to allow state institutions to perform their functions without interference.

“Let us allow the state institutions to work without interference,” it said.

The Council’s appeal comes amid renewed public discussion over the limits of religious expression and the need to prevent provocative statements from triggering retaliation or wider religious tensions.

It reiterated that neither alleged insults against religious figures nor calls for violence should be allowed to threaten Ghana’s longstanding interfaith peace.

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