Shafic Osman vs Wesley Girls: Haruna Iddrisu Condemns Religious Discrimination Amid Lawsuit
- The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrissu, has condemned religious discrimination in Ghanaian schools
- The minister spoke in relation to the religious discrimination lawsuit against Wesley Girls’ High School by Shafic Osman
- Wesley Girls Senior High School has been asked to respond to the lawsuit at the Supreme Court, accusing it of religious discrimination
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has spoken in support of inclusion amid the religious discrimination lawsuit against Wesley Girls’ High School.
Iddrisu stressed that the government would uphold the rights of every Ghanaian child.
Source: Facebook
The minister delivered his remarks in Parliament on November 25.
“...there is some ongoing debate on restriction of Muslim students in Wesley Girls, which conflicts with International Human Rights standards and every standard expected of us in Ghana’s constitution under Article 33(5) and 26(1) of the constitution."
“...we have a duty to uphold the rights of every Ghanaian child and citizen. No right is divisible, and that we will not countenance any action by any person to deny any Ghanaian girl the opportunity to practice any religion."
In a statement online, Haruna Iddrisu also affirmed that students must practice their religion freely.
Haruna Iddrisu criticised by clergy
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has expressed disappointment with Iddrisu's comments.
The conference said the minister’s remarks were unnecessary and divisive.
President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, told Citi News all major religious groups, including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, SDAs, and even the Police Service, signed a Memorandum of Understanding three months ago outlining how religious tolerance should be managed in schools.
“It is very unfortunate. We don’t know why the Minister has resurrected issues that have already been settled."
He explained that under the MoU, schools established by religious bodies must be allowed to operate based on their founding ethos.
The Attorney-General's office has made a similar argument in its filing on the case, where it is defending Wesley Girls.
In a statement to YEN.com.gh, the Zongo Institute for Development criticised this stance and called it alarming.
"As the government's top legal counsel, the AG must protect the 1992 Constitution rather than support actions that infringe upon individuals' fundamental rights.
"The policy being defended clearly violates long-standing constitutional protections by requiring Muslim students to attend Christian church services and devotions while denying them the fundamental right to observe Ramadan fasting in accordance with their religious obligations."
Attorney-General's defence of Wesley Girls
The Attorney-General's office has argued that Wesley Girls’ SHS was established and is operated under the Methodist Church of Ghana and is entitled to maintain rules consistent with its Methodist heritage and doctrines.
The lawsuit, filed by a lawyer, Shafic Osman, in December 2024, has challenged the school’s alleged restrictions on Muslim students, including claims that they are barred from wearing the hijab.
Source: UGC
Osman also said there has been opposition to fasting during Ramadan and to observing other Islamic practices in the school.
The case is anchored on the fact that such discrimination violates constitutional protections like Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Belief and Freedom to Practice and Manifest Religion captured in Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has given the Board of Directors of Wesley Girls Senior High School 14 days from November 25 to respond to the allegations of religious discrimination.
Wesley Girls alum recounts discrimination
YEN.com.gh reported that Fathia Ayodele Kareem, a doctor who attended Wesley Girls’ Senior High School from 2006 to 2009, recounted her story as a Muslim student and the religious discrimination she faced.
Fathia appealed for empathy from the Christian community when it comes to religious inclusion.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
