Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has asked Christians and Muslims to reinforce their commitment to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

His appeal comes amidst recent discussions and controversies surrounding religious practices in mission schools, noting that no student should be compelled to abandon their faith.

He made the appeal when he addressed the Conference of Regional Chief Imams of Ghana at the Presidency.

The meeting, held at the request of the Conference of Regional Chief Imams, provided a platform for President Mahama to reiterate the fundamental principles enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

“Ghana is a nation of diverse religions, and one of the things our constitution guarantees is the freedom of religion, freedom to worship, and freedom to express one’s religious identity,” the President stated.

He stressed that these constitutional guarantees leave no grounds for religious discrimination, whether by Christians against Muslims or vice versa.

President Mahama highlighted the practical challenges faced by students in communities where educational options are limited.

“There are times when you find a secondary school which is a Muslim secondary school, Ahmadiyya, Ghana Muslim Mission, or some other mission, in a community.

“And so, if children want secondary education or even basic education, that is the only school in their community,” he explained.

He further elaborated on the core issue: “It doesn’t help that if Christian children are in a Muslim school, they should be forced to adopt Islam, the same way a Christian school is in a dominantly Muslim community. It should not compel the students not to express their religion.”

To resolve these tensions and foster greater understanding, President Mahama revealed that the Minister for the Interior is spearheading a comprehensive dialogue process.

This initiative has already led to the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) specifically aimed at promoting religious tolerance and ensuring respectful coexistence within mission schools across the country.

The Secretary to the Conference of Regional Imams, Alhaji Sullah Abdullah Quandah, expressed profound gratitude to President Mahama.

He acknowledged the President’s steadfast dedication to the Muslim community and for fulfilling campaign promises made at the 3rd National Conference of Imams in Kumasi in 2023.

Alhaji Quandah cited the additional holiday for Eid al-Fitr as a significant achievement and offered prayers for the materialisation of the President’s vision to improve the human resource base of the Muslim Ummah in the country.

The Conference of Regional Chief Imams of Ghana operates as a legal entity, uniting all Regional Chief Imams under the esteemed guidance of His Eminence the National Chief Imam.