No Grand Master of Freemasons in Ghana — Supreme Court Ban

Freemasonry in Ghana: Currently Banned

There is no Grand Master of Freemasons in Ghana.

Legal Status

• 1970s: Military governments banned "secret societies" (Decree NRCD 252).
• 2013: **Supreme Court of Ghana** upheld the ban in *Grand Lodge of Ghana v. Attorney General*, ruling Freemasonry incompatible with the 1992 Constitution (oaths, secrecy, potential divided loyalty).
• Result: Grand Lodge of Ghana dissolved; lodges closed; assets frozen; members cannot operate publicly.

Context

• Freemasonry existed in Ghana since 19th c. (British, Irish, Scottish constitutions).
• Post-independence: Nkrumah tolerated then restricted; Rawlings banned.
• Attempts to challenge ban (human rights, association) have failed.
• Individual Masons exist privately; no recognized Grand Lodge or Grand Master.

International Recognition

Regular Grand Lodges (UGLE, Ireland, Scotland, Prince Hall) **do not recognize** any Ghanaian body since the ban.