Education Minister Defends Rights of Muslim Students in Wesley Girls’ Religious Discrimination Case

Related Articles

Gender Ministry reports ‘forced child smoking’ video to Police

5 days ago

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings passes on aged 76

October 23, 2025

Education Minister Reaffirms Commitment to Protect Rights of Muslim Students at Wesley Girls’ SHS

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all students amid the ongoing legal dispute over alleged restrictions affecting Muslim students at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School.

Speaking during the 2025 budget debate on Tuesday, November 25, the Minister stated that concerns raised regarding limitations on Muslim students contradict both international human rights conventions and provisions in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, especially Articles 33(5) and 26(1).

“There is an ongoing national conversation regarding the restrictions on Muslim students at Wesley Girls, which is inconsistent with global human rights standards and the constitutional expectations placed on us—especially Article 33(5) and Article 26(1).

We have an obligation to uphold the rights of every Ghanaian child and safeguard the freedoms of every citizen. Rights are indivisible, and we will not tolerate any action that seeks to deny or infringe upon the rights of any Ghanaian girl,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has granted Democracy Hub permission to file a written argument as a friend of the court (amicus curiae) in the ongoing case challenging alleged religious discrimination at Wesley Girls’ SHS.

In its ruling on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the court also directed:

• Wesley Girls’ SHS

• The Ghana Education Service (GES)

• The Attorney General

to file their official responses to the suit.

The high-profile case stems from a lawsuit filed by Shafic Osman in December 2024. He is challenging the school’s policies that allegedly prevent Muslim students from observing key aspects of their faith, including:

• Wearing the hijab

• Fasting during Ramadan

• Performing other essential Islamic religious rites

The outcome of this case could have significant implications for students’ religious freedoms in Ghana’s educational institutions.