The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court in support of an amicus curiae brief in a case addressing religious freedoms within Ghana’s public school system.
The legal action stems from a suit filed by Shafic Osman, who is challenging certain practices at Wesley Girls’ High School. The suit alleges that Muslim students are required to take part in Christian religious activities while facing restrictions in practising elements of their own faith.
According to the filing, such policies may be inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, particularly provisions safeguarding freedom of conscience, religion, and belief.
In an interview with Citi News, the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, explained that the submission is based on a Memorandum of Understanding on religious tolerance in schools. The agreement, adopted in April 2024 by both public and mission schools, promotes respect and accommodation for diverse religious practices.
He noted that the Conference’s intervention is not to back any party but to provide the court with a broader perspective on religious coexistence in educational settings.
The case has sparked renewed national debate on religious tolerance in schools, particularly the need to balance long-standing institutional traditions with students’ constitutional rights to practise their faith freely.
Source: citinews
