Islam in Ghana

Larabanga Mosque The spread of Islam into West Africa , beginning with ancient Ghana in the ninth century, was mainly the result of the commercial activities of North African Muslims . The empires of both Mali and Songhai that followed ancient Ghana in the Western Sudan adopted the religion. Islam made its entry into the northern territories of modern Ghana around the fifteenth century. Mande speakers (who in Ghana are known as Wangara ) traders and clerics carried the religion into the area. The northeastern sector of the country was also influenced by an influx of Hausa Muslim traders from the 16th Century onwards, and a second wave of migrants escaping the fundamentalist jihads of Usman dan Fodio in northern Nigeria during the early nineteenth century. Most Ghanaian Muslims are Sunni , following the Maliki version of Islamic law. However, since the 1980's, Shi'a Islam has been spreading rapidly after Lebanese traders set up businesses there. There are now an estimated one million Shi'as in Ghana now. Sufism is not widespread in Ghana; the Tijaniyah and the Qadiriyah brotherhoods, however, are represented. The Ahmadiyya , a sect originating in nineteenth-century India , is also distinctively present. Despite tensions in the Middle East , North Africa , and Nigeria since the mid-1970s, Ghanaian Muslims and Christians have had excellent relations. Guided by the authority of the Muslim Representative Council, religious, social, and economic matters affecting Muslims have often been redressed through negotiations. The Muslim Council has also been responsible for arranging pilgrimages to Mecca for believers who can afford the journey. In spite of these achievements, the council has not succeeded in taking initiatives for the upgrading of Islamic schools beyond the provision of basic Qur'anic instruction. This may explain the economic and technological gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. Although official Ghanaian census reports 16% of Ghanaians as being Muslims , this figure is questioned by some.

Ethnic group Total population 4.5-7.5 million (18% - 45% of Ghana's population; 2012) Regions with significant populations Tamale , Kumasi , Accra (0.35 million and above; 2002) Languages English , Dagbanli , Hausa , Fanti , others Religion Islam ( majority Sunni (51%) , also Ahamdiyya (16%) , Sufi (27%) , Shia (4%) , non-denominational Muslims (2%) ) Islam is one of the major religions practiced widely in Ghana. Its presence in modern-day Ghana dates back to the 10th century to coincide with the demise of the Ghana Empire . The population of Muslims in Ghana quoted from different sources stretch from 18 to 45 percent. The majority of Muslims in Ghana are followers of Sunni Islam , with approximately 16% belonging to the Ahmadiyya movement and approximately 2% belonging to Shia Islam. The Maliki school of jurisprudence was the most common until Afa Ajura 's reformist activities in the 1960s saw an overwhelming shift toward Hanbali doctrine . Sufism , once widespread, has waned considerably over the years; the Tijaniyah and the Qadiriyah brotherhoods, however, are still represented among Ghana's traditionalist Muslims. Despite tensions in the Middle East and North Africa since the mid-1970s, Muslims and Christians in Ghana have had excellent relations. Guided by the authority of the Muslim Representative Council, religious, social, and economic matters affecting Muslims have often been redressed through negotiations. The Muslim Council observes the responsibility of arranging pilgrimages to Mecca for believers who can afford the journey. The National Chief Imam of Ghana is the highest authority on Muslim affairs in Ghana. Some metropolitan areas and cities, especially in areas with a significant Muslim population, have Islamic or Arabic schools offering primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education. Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. The decline of Sufism in West Africa: Some factor contributing to the political and social ascendancy of Wahhabist Islam in Northern Ghana .

Islam is one of the major religions practiced widely in Ghana . Its presence in Ghana dates back to the 10th century. According to the Ghana Statistical Service's Population and Housing census, the population of Muslims in Ghana is about 17.6%. The majority of Muslims in Ghana are followers of Sunni Islam , with approximately 20% belonging to the Ahmadiyya movement and approximately 8% belonging to Shia Islam. The Maliki school of jurisprudence was the most common until Afa Ajura 's reformist activities in the 1960s saw an overwhelming shift toward Hanbali doctrine . Sufism, once widespread, has waned considerably over the years; the Tijaniyah and the Qadiriyah brotherhoods, however, are still represented among Ghana's traditionalist Muslims. Despite tensions in the Middle East and North Africa since the mid-1970s, Muslims and Christians in Ghana have had excellent relations. Guided by the authority of the Muslim Representative Council, religious, social, and economic matters affecting Muslims have often been redressed through negotiations. The National Hajj Council observes the responsibility of arranging pilgrimages to Mecca for believers who can afford the journey. The National Chief Imam of Ghana is the highest authority on Muslim affairs in Ghana. Some metropolitan areas and cities, especially in areas with a significant Muslim population, have Islamic or Arabic schools offering primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education. Muslims in Ghana complain from a clear lack of representation in local media. Local television and the radio stations are predominantly operated by organisations from the south of the country, disseminating gospel music and Christian evangelical content on both national and local channels and stations. No national television channel or national radio stations broadcast in Dagbani , Hausa , Wala , Dyula , Gurunsi , Zarma , or any of the widely spoken vernaculars Muslims use. Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. The decline of Sufism in West Africa: Some factor contributing to the political and social ascendancy of Wahhabist Islam in Northern Ghana .

Islam was the first Abrahamic monotheistic religion to arrive in Ghana . Today, it is the second most widely professed religion in the country behind Christianity . Its presence in Ghana dates back to the 10th century. According to the Ghana Statistical Service's Population and Housing census (2022), the percentage of Muslims in Ghana is about 20%. According to a comprehensive report by the Pew Research , 51% of Muslims are followers of Sunni Islam , while approximately 16% belong to the Ahmadiyya movement and around 8% identify with Shia Islam, while the remainder are non-denominational Muslims . Among Sunni Muslims, the Maliki school of jurisprudence is the most common, though Afa Ajura 's reformist activities in the 1960s saw a rise in popularity of the Hanbali school , particularly as informed by the Salafi movement. Sufism, once widespread, has waned considerably over the years; the Tijaniyyah and the Qadiriyyah Sufi orders, however, are still represented among Ghana's traditionalist Muslims. Muslims and Christians in Ghana have had excellent relations. Guided by the authority of the Muslim Representative Council, religious, social, and economic matters affecting Muslims have often been redressed through negotiations. The National Hajj Council observes the responsibility of arranging pilgrimages to Mecca for believers who can afford the journey. The National Chief Imam of Ghana is the highest authority on Muslim affairs in Ghana. Some metropolitan areas and cities, especially in areas with a significant Muslim population, have Islamic or Arabic schools offering primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education. United States Department of State . Pew Research Center , Forum on Religious & Public life. Owusu-Ansah (1994), "Religion and Society". The decline of Sufism in West Africa: Some factor contributing to the political and social ascendancy of Wahhabist Islam in Northern Ghana .

Ethnic group Islam was the first Abrahamic religion to arrive in Ghana . Today, it is the second most widely professed religion in the country behind Christianity . Its presence in Ghana dates back to the 10th century. According to the Ghana Statistical Service's Population and Housing census (2021), the percentage of Muslims in Ghana is about 19.9%. According to a comprehensive report by the Association of Religion Data Archives , 63.2% of Muslims are followers of Sunni Islam , while approximately 36.8% belong to the Ahmadiyya movement. Among Sunni Muslims, the Maliki school of jurisprudence is the most common, though Afa Ajura 's reformist activities in the 1960s saw a rise in popularity of the Hanbali school , particularly as informed by the Salafi movement. Sufism, once widespread, has waned considerably over the years; the Tijaniyyah and the Qadiriyyah Sufi orders, however, are still represented among Ghana's traditionalist Muslims. Muslims and Christians in Ghana have had excellent relations. Guided by the authority of the Muslim Representative Council, religious, social, and economic matters affecting Muslims have often been redressed through negotiations. The National Hajj Council observes the responsibility of arranging pilgrimages to Mecca for believers who can afford the journey. The National Chief Imam of Ghana is the highest authority on Muslim affairs in Ghana. Some metropolitan areas and cities, especially in areas with a significant Muslim population, have Islamic or Arabic schools offering primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education. United States Department of State . Pew Research Center , Forum on Religious & Public life. Owusu-Ansah (1994), "Religion and Society". The decline of Sufism in West Africa: Some factor contributing to the political and social ascendancy of Wahhabist Islam in Northern Ghana .