Catholic Bishops, Chief Imam establish committee to implement dialogue recommendations on school indiscipline.
Accra: The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Office of the National Chief Imam have established a joint working committee to implement recommendations aimed at addressing rising indiscipline in schools and strengthening interfaith collaboration.
The committee has been mandated to develop an action plan, mobilise resources, coordinate the implementation of the dialogue’s resolutions and present a report on achievements and challenges at the next annual dialogue meeting in 2027.
The committee was created during the Fourth Annual Dialogue Meeting between the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Office of the National Chief Imam, held in Accra on the theme “Addressingthe Challenges of Rising Indiscipline in Our Schools: The Role of Faith-BasedOrganisations”.
The dialogue brought together senior Christian and Muslim leaders, government officials, education stakeholders and traditional authorities to deliberate on practical measures to restore discipline and promote values-based education.
Speaking at the opening session, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, said the establishment of the committee demonstrated the determination of both religious bodies to move beyond dialogue to concrete action.
He said the committee would translate the meeting’s recommendations into practical interventions to help address indiscipline in schools and other national concerns through sustained collaboration.
Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, described indiscipline in schools as a reflection of the kind of society Ghana was building, saying education must focus not only on academic excellence but also on the formation of character.
“A nation is not built by skilled professionals alone, but by women and men of integrity, capable of discerning what is right, choosing it freely and placing their talents at the service of the common good,” he said.
He noted that Christianity and Islam shared common values, including honesty, responsibility, self-discipline, respect for human dignity and service to society, which should form the foundation of education.
Most Rev. Gyamfi also disclosed that Pope Leo XIV had sent a goodwill message to the National Chief Imam and Ghana’s Muslim community, commending the two faith communities for their commitment to dialogue and encouraging them to continue promoting unity and peaceful coexistence.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, described the dialogue as a demonstration of the strong partnership between Christians and Muslims in promoting national development.
He expressed concern over growing indiscipline in schools, citing substance abuse, examination malpractice, violence against teachers and declining respect for authority as challenges that required urgent attention.
The minister said moral decline had implications beyond the classroom, affecting productivity, employability and national development, and called on religious institutions to continue instilling discipline, honesty and integrity in young people.
The annual dialogue platform was established in 2022 to institutionalise engagement between the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Office of the National Chief Imam.
The platform, which is hosted alternately by the two institutions, aims to encourage social unity, peaceful living together, respect, and teamwork while also creating a way to discuss important national issues.
Participants expressed optimism that the implementation committee would ensure the dialogue’s recommendations translated into measurable actions capable of strengthening discipline in schools and deepening collaboration between the country’s two largest faith communities.
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