A heated debate has erupted in Ghana over the Attorney General’s (AG) stance in a Supreme Court case involving Wesley Girls Senior High School (SHS). The AG, Dominic Ayine, argues that the school, founded by the Methodist Church of Ghana, has the right to enforce rules aligned with its Methodist heritage, even if they restrict students’ religious freedoms. However, critics, including legal expert Prof. Kwaku Asare, contend that the AG’s position is misguided, as Wesley Girls is a public school funded by the government and must uphold the Constitution’s principles of non-discrimination and religious freedom.
The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Shafic Osman in December 2024, alleges that the school’s policies—such as banning Muslim students from wearing hijabs, fasting during Ramadan, or observing Islamic practices—violate Articles 17, 21(1)(c), and 12 of the 1992 Constitution. The AG’s response asserts that the school’s faith-based identity allows it to set conduct standards, but opponents argue this contradicts the school’s public status.
“Once a school becomes public, the Constitution takes precedence over denominational tradition,” Prof. Asare stated, emphasizing that privileging one religion in a public institution is unconstitutional. The Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) has backed the suit, calling it a stand against “systematic religious discrimination”.
The Supreme Court will decide whether Wesley Girls’ policies align with Ghana’s constitutional guarantees. The case has sparked national discussion on balancing religious heritage with inclusivity in public education.