The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has called for strengthened mutual respect among religious groups in mission schools, cautioning that attempts to undermine long-standing traditions could jeopardize national harmony.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the 87th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC) on Saturday, November 29, he addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the rights of Muslim students in mission-based educational institutions.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Kwakye highlighted Ghana’s exceptional record of peaceful interfaith coexistence, contrasting it with the tensions he observed in other countries during his academic engagements abroad.
“I was teaching at a university where speaker after speaker recounted tensions between Christians and people of other faiths. When it was my turn, I explained that this was not the case in Ghana. Here, Muslims do not mind attending Christian events, and Christians also freely visit their Muslim counterparts,” he said.
He referenced the National Chief Imam’s historic visit to a Catholic Church during his 100th birthday celebration and the Ga Presbytery’s annual visits to the Chief Imam during Ramadan—gestures he believes have strengthened social cohesion.
The Moderator stressed that mission schools were established by religious bodies to uphold specific values and that students who choose to attend these institutions must respect their ethos.
“In Ghana, people of different faiths who have enrolled in mission schools have traditionally respected the fact that these schools were founded to promote particular religious values,” he noted.
However, he warned that recent agitation by a few groups threatens to disrupt this longstanding harmony.
“We have co-existed and worked together as one nation for generations. There would be no problem if not for the actions of a few individuals seeking to create tension. Their actions are provoking responses that could undermine national unity,” he cautioned.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Kwakye called on both religious communities and the state to act responsibly to safeguard peace.
“It is important that we respect the rights of persons of other religions. Equally, those of other faiths who choose mission schools must respect the rights of the school owners. If we do this together, we can maintain our path toward social cohesion, peace, and national development,” he stated. He added that national leaders must ensure that “the right things are done at all times.”
Source: theghanareport
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