The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has criticised the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, over comments cautioning schools against infringing on students’ rights to practise their religion.
The Conference says the remarks were unnecessary and risk reopening tensions that religious groups have only recently resolved.
The minister, addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, emphasised that no child should be prevented from practising their chosen faith and warned that the Ministry would not tolerate any violation of students’ religious rights.
His comments followed a Supreme Court directive asking Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond to allegations that it restricts Muslim students from observing aspects of their faith—claims contained in a suit filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman.
But speaking to Citi News, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, said the Minister’s comments were ill-timed.
He noted that major religious groups—including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, SDAs, and even the Police Service—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) only three months ago detailing how issues of religious tolerance should be handled in schools.
“It is very unfortunate. We don’t know why the Minister has resurrected issues that have already been settled,” he said.
“Barely three months ago, all religious bodies signed an MoU on religious tolerance. The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service also signed, and this document was to guide the reopening of schools.”
He explained that the MoU permits schools established by religious bodies to operate according to their founding ethos, values, and philosophy, while ensuring that minority faiths are not discriminated against and are given reasonable room to practise their beliefs.
“If parents choose a Catholic school, they must understand the ethos that governs that school,” he stated. “Catholics will not abandon their principles so that every religion is practised anyhow.
Similarly, if a Catholic child goes to a Muslim or Presbyterian school, they must respect that school’s rules. Otherwise, schools become ungovernable.”
Most Rev. Gyamfi expressed surprise that the Minister would “reignite a debate” that religious leaders have already resolved through dialogue and consensus.
“I don’t know what he was trying to achieve other than to awaken misunderstandings or religious conflict,” he cautioned. “Our politicians must be very careful not to use religion in ways that create problems for the country. We already have enough challenges.”
He stressed that religious groups remain committed to the MoU and see no reason to revisit matters they consider already settled.
“For us, nothing is going to change. What we agreed upon is what will govern our schools. So why resurrect this issue?” he questioned.
The Bishops insist the existing framework sufficiently addresses all concerns and should continue to guide stakeholders moving forward.
