President John Dramani Mahama has played down the growing public debate over religious practices at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, insisting that the matter should not have escalated into a national controversy.
The President was reacting to renewed public discussion following reports linked to the long-running Wesley Girls’ religious freedom saga, which previously sparked nationwide debate over whether Muslim students should be allowed to observe fasting and other religious practices in mission schools.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the National Peace Council at the Presidency, Mahama said the issue had already been addressed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with faith-based school authorities, making further dispute unnecessary.
He noted that the agreement clearly balances the religious identity of mission schools with the need to respect diversity among students.
“If you read what the faith-based organisations agreed in their own MOU, I don’t see any point of dispute,” he stated.
According to the President, the MoU recognises that mission schools are entitled to maintain their faith orientation, but must also accommodate students of different religious backgrounds.
“Within that faith orientation, there must be recognition of diversity. It is right there in the MOU,” he said.
Mahama also referenced a case currently before the Supreme Court on the matter, expressing confidence that the issues raised would be straightforward since the same stakeholders involved in the legal action had already assented to the MoU.
Touching on concerns about fasting, which lay at the heart of the Wesley Girls controversy, he explained that the agreement permits students to fast provided parents formally notify school authorities.
Any health implications, he added, would remain the responsibility of parents and not the school.
The President praised the National Peace Council for facilitating dialogue between government and faith-based institutions, describing the outcome as a model for resolving sensitive social issues peacefully and inclusively.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
