The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has criticised Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu for comments cautioning schools against violating students’ rights to practise their religion. The Conference said the remarks were unnecessary and risked reviving tensions that major religious groups had recently resolved.
Addressing Parliament on November 25, the Minister stated that no student should be restricted from practising their chosen faith. He added that the Ministry of Education would not tolerate any infringement on the religious rights of students. His comments followed a Supreme Court directive asking Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond to claims that it limits the religious freedoms of Muslim students. The suit was filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman.
President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, told Citi News that all major religious bodies signed a Memorandum of Understanding three months ago to strengthen religious tolerance in schools. He said the MoU involved Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, the SDA Church and the Police Service.
He noted that the agreement allows schools founded by religious bodies to operate according to their core values while ensuring fair treatment for students of minority faiths. He explained that parents who choose a Catholic school should understand the institution’s ethos, just as Catholic students in Muslim or Presbyterian schools are expected to respect the rules of those institutions.
Most Rev. Gyamfi expressed surprise that the Minister would revisit a matter that stakeholders had resolved through dialogue. He warned that political leaders must avoid actions that risk creating religious tension.
He added that religious bodies remain committed to the MoU and see no justification for reopening issues that have already been settled.
