Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, has emphasized that the ongoing debate over religious expression in mission schools should be centered on the constitutional right to religious freedom, not primarily on the gender of the students involved.
Speaking on *Joy News’ PM Express*, Asare clarified that the core issue at stake is the enjoyment of religious rights in mission schools, not the gender of the students—specifically girls, as some discussions have suggested.
He argued that Ghana’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, and these rights cannot be overridden by school traditions or public sentiment. "Article 17 of our Constitution is clear: discrimination on the grounds of religion is prohibited, and it guarantees religious freedom. The power of choice cannot override constitutionally guaranteed rights," he stated.
Asare further explained the principle of non-compulsion in the context of religious practice. "The principle of non-compulsion says no one should be forced to practice a religion they do not believe in, nor should they be forced to stop practicing their own religion. Whether the choice is based on personal belief or not is a separate issue," he added.
He cautioned that the real concern is the unequal treatment of students. "What we are discussing is the potential for discrimination—where students may be treated differently simply because of the school they attend," Asare said.
He stressed that a student's right to choose a school does not diminish their constitutional protections, particularly when it comes to religious freedoms.
The remarks come in the wake of a lawsuit filed against Wesley Girls’ Senior High School on December 24, 2024, by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman. The suit, filed at the Supreme Court under Articles 2(1)(b) and 130(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, challenges alleged restrictions placed on Muslim students at the school. The plaintiffs claim that Muslim students are prohibited from wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, and observing other Islamic practices—actions they argue violate constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and amount to discrimination.
**Source: MyNewsGh.com**
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