The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, a government-controlled radio station, announced on 14 June 1989 that the government had ordered a freeze on the activities of the Mormons in Ghana (British Broadcasting Corporation, 14 June 1989). A few days later, the Ghanaian government provided justifications for the banishment of Mormons' activities, stating that the sect functioned in a way contrary to national aspirations and contained anti-Black biases (British Broadcasting Corporation, 20 June 1989.

Although there is a large degree of freedom of religious expression in Ghana, the present government has attempted to persuade the Christian churches to use their influence and organization in mobilizing their congregations in support of its Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), as well as in its constitution of new political structures (Ghanaian Times, 22 November 1988). The Ghanaian government has also attempted to curb the influence of certain fundamentalist and evangelical sects, which it perceives as disruptive to Ghanaian society (People's Daily Graphic, 8 November 1988).

The government revoked the residence permits of foreign Mormon missionaries and ordered them to leave Ghana within a week (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 16 June 1988). The government also closed Mormon meeting and worship centres and placed guards to ensure compliance (ibid).

In August 1989, the government of Ghana publicized the new Religious Bodies (Registration) Law, with retroactive effect from 1 June 1989. The law establishes a regulatory and control framework for religious organizations (West Africa, 21-27 August 1989 1394). The PNDC also made several appointments to the Religious Affairs Committee of the National Commission for Culture in October 1989. The Religious Affairs Committee is the key organ in the official registration and recognition of religious bodies (West Africa, 9-15 October 1989 1700). To date 10 applications have been rejected by the Religious Affairs Committee (ibid), however there is no information specifically on the Mormons since July 1989, available to the IRBDC at the present time.

In October 1989, The Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishop submitted statements proposing amendments to the Registration of Religious Bodies Law, PNDC Law 221 (West Africa, 20-26 November 1989 1925). They were concerned that the government ban was in direct contravention of the freedom of religion enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights to which Ghana adheres (ibid). Some church leaders reported that they had been "threatened with harassment by unnamed groups of people after 20 October" 1989 (ibid). The previous 20 October registration deadline was postponed to 14 November 1989 (ibid). Attached are two articles from the West Africa (30 October-5 November 1989, 13-19 November 1989), which report on the government's defence of PNDC Law 221 and the appeal by the Christian Council of Ghana and the Catholic Bishops Conference.

Although there is no information on the Mormon situation in Fumesua, the attached copies of the following articles may prove helpful:

"Ghana: Crackdown on Religious Sects", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 29 June-2 July 1989.

"Ghana: Law on Religious Bodies", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 21-27 August 1989.

"Ghana: Religious Affairs Committee", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 9-15 October 1989.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 16 and 20 June 1989.

"Spiritual Onslaught", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 17-23 April 1989., pp.584-585.

"Ghana Before God", Letters Section, West Africa, 31 July-6 August 1989., p.1264.

Various articles from the Associated Press, 16-22 June 1989.

Information regarding the religious situation in Ghana since May 1990 is available among the attached excerpts from the following documents:
-"Ghana: Religion and Politics", The African Letter, 16-31 May 1990.
-"Approved Churches", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company, 28 May-3 June 1990.
-"Ghana: Bishops on the State of Nation", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company, 16-22 July 1990.
-"Pan-African Educational Conference Opens in Ghana", The Xinhua News Agency, 14 May 1990.
-"Ghanaian Head of State Calls for Unity of Religious Communities", The Xinhua News Agency, 26 April 1990.
-"Ghanaian Head of State Reiterates Commitment to Freedom of Religion", The Xinhua News Agency, 22 March 1990.
Bibliography

1. "Ghana Government Bans Activities of Four Religious Sects", Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (broadcasted in English in Accra on 14 June 1989 at 1300 Greenwich Mean Time), monitored by the British Broadcasting Corporation, Summary of World Broadcast, 16 June 1989.

2. "Ghana : Jehovah's Witnesses' Publications Banned, Radio Calls for Ban on Other Sects", Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (broadcasted in English in Accra on 17 June 1989 at 1800GMT), monitored by the BBC, Summary of World Broadcasts, 20 June 1989.
3. "No More Abstract Kingdom of God", in the Ghanaian Times, (Accra: 22 November 1988), p.1.
4. "Ministry Expresses Concern about Activities of Some Religious Bodies," in the People's Daily Graphic, (Accra: 8 November 1988), p. 8.
5. BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in Accra, 16 June 1989.
6. "Ghana: Law on Religious Bodies", West Africa, (London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 21-27 August 1989), p. 1394.
7. "Ghana: Religious Affairs Committee", West Africa, (London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 9-15 October 1989), p.1700.
10. "Ghana: The Churches Campaign for Religious Freedom. Fear of Persecution", West Africa, (London: West Africa Publications Ltd., 20-26 November 1989, p.1925).
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
"No More Abstract Kingdom of God," in the Ghanaian Times, (Accra: 22 November 1988), p.1.