Wesley Girls’ vs. Shafic Osman: Christian Council of Ghana Pushes for Out-of-Court Settlement
- The Christian Council of Ghana has called for an out-of-court settlement in the Wesley Girls' religious discrimination lawsuit
- The General Secretary of the Council, Reverend Dr Cyril Fayose, has described the lawsuit as a 'sensitive religious matter'
- The case, filed by Shafic Osman in December 2024, has challenged the school’s alleged restrictions on its Muslim students
The Christian Council of Ghana has urged Shafic Osman, the man behind the discrimination lawsuit against Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, to consider settling the case out of court.
General Secretary of the Council, Rev Dr Cyril Fayose, acknowledged the plaintiff’s right to seek judicial redress but cautioned against the long-term implications of prolonged litigation.
Source: Instagram
Joy News reported that Fayose feels that sensitive religious matters should be resolved through peaceful engagement.
"Unfortunately, the case had gone to court. I think it is with the Supreme Court; it's been debated. But I want to appeal to whoever took the case to court. Our Islamic scholar, who took the case to court, and I believe he's also a lawyer, took the case to court."
Rev Dr Fayose continued: "...Sometimes courts are not the best places to settle issues, because in courts, one person will be the winner, and the other person will be the loser. We don't want a situation like that. We want Ghana to be the winner."
Fayose was speaking at the 25th Founders’ Day celebration of the Eden Revival Church International in Kokomlemle.
About the Wesley Girls' religious discrimination lawsuit
Osman filed the lawsuit in December 2024 to challenge the school’s alleged restrictions on Muslim students, including claims that they are barred from wearing the hijab.
He also said there has been opposition to students 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 gave the Board of Directors of Wesley Girls Senior High School 14 days from November 25 to respond to the allegations of discrimination based on belief.
Source: Facebook
Education Minister speaks on discrimination lawsuit
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu spoke in support of inclusion amid the religious discrimination lawsuit against Wesley Girls’ SHS.
Speaking in Parliament on November 25, he stressed that the government would uphold the rights of every Ghanaian child.
In a later statement online, Iddrisu stated that students must practice their religion freely.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, expressed disappointment with the minister's comments, calling them unnecessary and divisive.
President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, stated that all major religious groups, including Muslims, signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier in 2025 outlining how religious tolerance should be managed in schools.
He maintained that schools established by religious bodies must be allowed to operate based on their founding ethos.
The Attorney-General's office made a similar argument in its filing on the case, where it is defending Wesley Girls.
Wesley Girls' alum recounts discrimination
YEN.com.gh reported that a doctor who attended Wesley Girls’ from 2006 to 2009 had shared her story as a Muslim student.
Claiming that she faced religious discrimination, Fathia Ayodele Kareem appealed for greater empathy from the Christian community.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
