In a landmark case that could have far-reaching implications for religious freedom in Ghana’s educational institutions, private legal practitioner Shafic Osman has filed a lawsuit against Wesley Girls Senior High School, alleging systemic religious discrimination against Muslim students.
The suit, which has been brought before the Supreme Court, challenges the school’s policies that reportedly restrict Muslim students’ ability to practice their faith, and seeks declarations and orders to uphold their constitutional rights.
Osman is seeking declarations and orders against the school’s Board of Governors, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Attorney General, citing violations of Muslim students’ constitutional rights.
Specifically, he argues that the school’s policy prohibiting Muslim students from practicing and observing their faith violates several articles of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 12, 17(1) and (2), and 21(1)(b), (c), (e), and 26.
He also claims that requiring students to participate in a compulsory school religion contravenes Articles 21(1)(b), (c), and Article 26 of the Constitution.
The lawsuit asserts that the restrictions imposed on Muslim students are discriminatory and undermine their welfare, contravening international child rights recognized under Article 33(5) of the Constitution.
Osman also claims that the GES has unlawfully enabled Wesley Girls’ SHS to impose a common religious program, violating Article 56 of the Constitution.
This case is not an isolated incident, as Wesley Girls’ Senior High School has faced criticism in recent years for its policies perceived as restrictive towards students of non-Christian faiths.
The GES has previously intervened in similar disputes, calling for religious tolerance in public schools.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for Ghana’s democratic principles and human rights landscape, as it raises important questions about balancing institutional traditions with the constitutional mandate for inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs.
The public eagerly awaits the Supreme Court’s judgment, which will undoubtedly set a precedent for religious freedom and tolerance in Ghana’s educational institutions