The Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Boamah-Nyarko, has cautioned against escalating the debate surrounding the religious rights case at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, warning that it could exacerbate tensions between faith communities. He emphasized that no student should ever be coerced into changing their religious beliefs.
Boamah-Nyarko's remarks come after the Supreme Court instructed Wesley Girls’ SHS to formally respond to a lawsuit filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman. The suit alleges that the school restricts Muslim students from practicing certain aspects of their faith.
The case has reignited national discussions on religious tolerance and the extent to which educational institutions should accommodate diverse religious practices.
Speaking on *The Big Issue* on Channel One TV on Saturday, November 29, Boamah-Nyarko warned that the public discourse around the case risks creating a misleading narrative of deep religious divisions in Ghana.
“We are not facing a religious crisis in this country. When we exaggerate one or two isolated incidents, it creates unnecessary confusion, making it seem as though there is a religious battle between Christians and Muslims,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the primary role of schools is academic development, not the enforcement of religious beliefs. Therefore, no educational institution should adopt practices that pressure students to abandon or alter their faith.
“Children go to school primarily for academic training. No institution should implement policies that force anyone to change their religion,” he added.
On Tuesday, November 25, the Supreme Court directed Wesley Girls’ SHS to respond within 14 days to the allegations that it prevents Muslim students from practicing their religion. The school is expected to clarify its religious policies and provide justification for any restrictions placed on Muslim students, if such practices exist.
In related news, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has reiterated that no student in Ghana should be denied the right to practice their religion, affirming that the religious freedoms of all learners must be respected.
Source: citinewsroom.com
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