Wesley Girls Senior High School (SHS) is facing a lawsuit filed by Ghanaian citizen Shafic Osman, alleging that the school has systematically suppressed Muslim students’ right to practice their religion.
The lawsuit claims that the school enforces policies that prevent Muslim students from observing Islamic practices, such as daily prayers and fasting.
The plaintiff contends that these actions violate the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which guarantees freedom of religion and the right to manifest one’s beliefs.
Osman is seeking several court declarations, including one stating that the school’s policy prohibiting the practice of Islam is unconstitutional.
He further argues that the school’s imposition of a compulsory school religion on students in a public institution contravenes Articles 21(1)(b)(c) and Article 26 of the Constitution, which protect freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
The case raises critical questions about the balance between institutional policies and individual rights, particularly in public schools. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome could set a precedent for the accommodation of religious diversity in Ghana’s educational system.
“A declaration that the limitations on Muslim students in 1st defendant school undermines the welfare of Muslim students under international human rights of the child cognizable under Article 33(5) of the constitution of Ghana, 1992.”
The plaintiff is also seeking an order directing the Ghana Education Service to enact constitutionally compliant guidelines for the regulation of religious practice and observance in all public schools in Ghana.
