Education Minister: Schools Wont Undermine Religious Rights

Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has told Parliament that no institution would be allowed to undermine the religious rights of Ghanaians enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

The Minister’s comments come on the back of the ongoing debate about authorities in Wesley Girls’ Senior High School allegedly denying Muslim students their religious rights. A private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, has filed petitioned the Courts over the matter and categorically accused Wesley Girls of systemic human rights violations and religious discrimination against Muslim students, contrary to the 1992 Constitution.

Addressing the matter on the Floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 24, Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu noted:

“There is some ongoing debate about restrictions on Muslim students in Wesley Girls which conflict with international human rights standards and even standards expected of us in Ghana’s constitution in Article 33 (5) and 26 (1) and then to assure our colleagues that we have a duty to uphold the rights of every Ghanaian child and to uphold the rights of every Ghanaian citizen. No right is divisible and we would not countenance any action by any person to deny any Ghanaian girl the opportunity to profess or practice any religion”, Haruna Iddrisu noted.

 

On the same matter, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have issued a joint statement on the matter and argued that governmental funding of mission schools should not be interpreted to mean a takeover of the schools.

The statement argued that Christian mission schools also have a constitutional right to defend the tenets of their faith and reminded all that attending such mission schools is by choice and not by compulsion.

Supreme Court

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ordered the Board of Directors of Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond within 14 days to allegations that the school restricts Muslim students from practicing their religion.

This directive follows a case filed by private legal practitioner, Shafic Osman, who is challenging the constitutionality of some of the school’s religious policies.

The suit, filed on 24th December 2024, invokes the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 2(1)(b) and 130(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution. Mr. Osman alleges that Wesley Girls SHS forces Muslim girls to attend Christian services and prevents them from performing Islamic practices such as prayer, fasting during Ramadan, and wearing the hijab. According to him, these actions violate constitutional protections on religious freedom and amount to discrimination.

The case was heard on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by a seven-member panel chaired by Justice Gabriel Pahang. The panel said the school’s board must directly respond to the factual allegations to help the court properly determine the case. The judges stressed that claims suggesting the school prevents Muslim students from practising their faith are serious and require clear answers from the school’s leadership.

The court granted permission to the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, to file an amended statement of case to replace an earlier document.

In the amended filing, the Attorney-General argues that Wesley Girls SHS is owned by the Methodist Church, not the state, and therefore has the right to practise its religion according to Methodist doctrine. He further states that the school’s religious identity does not change even though it receives government funding.

The AG maintains that “the state cannot take away the religious rights of the school simply because the school receives government funding.”

However, the court noted that the AG’s amended statement did not address the core factual allegations, specifically, whether Muslim students are indeed restricted. For this reason, the court insisted that the Board of Governors submit a direct response within 14 days of being served.

Democracy Hub

In a related development, Democracy Hub, represented by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has filed an application to provide information to assist the court. The bench instructed him to wait until the court and all parties agree on the issues for determination.

Before adjourning the case indefinitely, the panel advised all parties to avoid discussing or analysing the matter on social media.

Wesley Girls’ SHS is now expected to file its official position, explaining its religious policies and indicating if there are any policies that restrict Muslim students in any way.