Accra: The Ghana Muslim Students Association (GMSA) is urging an “open, respectful, and solutions-oriented” dialogue that would safeguard the rights of students and protect the traditions and institutional identity of schools.

The call comes after the Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine had filed a formal response to a lawsuit challenging what plaintiffs describe as discriminatory religious practices at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School (SHS).

The lawsuit, filed on December 24, 2024, by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 2(1)(b) and 130(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution.

The action challenges the school’s alleged restrictions on Muslim students, including claims that they are barred from wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, and observing other Islamic practices, actions the plaintiffs argue violate constitutional protections for religious freedom.

The association in a press statement said aside acknowledging the ongoing case, it fully respects the Methodist Christian heritage of Wesley Girls and its right to maintain its religious ethos, as recognised by law.

“GMSA affirms that all students in Ghana, irrespective of their faith, are entitled to the freedom to practise their religion in accordance with Articles 17, 21, and 25 of the 1992 Constitution.

“GMSA’s position is guided by the principles of respect, coexistence, and constructive dialogue. We believe that religious accommodation in schools can be achieved without undermining their historical Christian mission, the statement signed by Tamim Mohammed Amin, National President of GMSA, read.

It, among other things, called on schools to make provisions for designated spaces and times for non-Christian prayers and respect fasting periods, dietary restrictions, and other core religious practices.

It called on schools to provide guidance that would ensure religious activities do not disrupt the school’s academic and spiritual programmes.

On Monday, the Attorney General in his response rejected the assertion that the school’s policies are unlawful. The AG argued that Wesley Girls SHS, established and operated under the Methodist Church of Ghana, is entitled to maintain rules consistent with its Methodist heritage and doctrines.

According to the AG, the school’s faith-based identity grants it the authority to set standards of conduct and religious practice on campus, even when such rules restrict the expression of other faiths.

It would be recalled that in September this year, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, Minister for the Interior, launched a “Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Managing Religious Diversity in Mission Schools.”

The document provided a national framework to manage religious diversity, ensuring that mission schools remain inclusive spaces where students, teachers, and stakeholders are valued regardless of their religious beliefs.

The MoU, developed by the Conference of Managers of Education Units (COMEU) with support from the National Peace Council (NPC) and validated in April 2024, was signed by the religious missions and endorsed by the Ghana Education Service.

The launch marked a milestone in the country’s journey towards fostering peace, inclusivity, and harmony in educational institutions.

It remains unclear how the outcome of the supreme case would affect the efforts of stakeholders towards a lasting solution that would deepen peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance in the country.