Supreme Court Orders Wesley Girls SHS to Respond to Muslim Students’ Rights Case Within 14 Days
The Supreme Court of Ghana has directed Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Attorney-General’s Departmentt to file their official responses to allegations that the school violated the religious rights of Muslim students. The defendants have 14 days to comply with the court order.
The case was filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, who argues that the school’s long-standing policies often referred to as its “Institutional Faith Clause”—restrict Muslim students from freely practising their religion. The suit claims that students are prevented from performing Islamic prayers, observing Ramadan fasting, wearing the hijab, carrying the Qur’an and participating in other essential expressions of their faith.
According to the plaintiff, these restrictions contradict Ghana’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and the right to manifest one’s faith. The lawsuit also cites children’s rights provisions and international human rights standards protecting religious expression in public educational institutions.
The issue has reignited a national debate that first escalated in 2021 when GES directed Wesley Girls to allow Muslim students to fast, a directive the Methodist Church of Ghana managers of the school did not accept. The new Supreme Court case now seeks a definitive interpretation on how far mission schools can go in enforcing institutional religious policies, especially when they benefit from state resources.
The Attorney-General has already moved to amend the state’s statement of case, signalling a serious legal contest ahead. Public commentary from legal experts suggests that the final ruling could set a major precedent for all mission and publicly supported schools in Ghana.
For now, all eyes remain on the Supreme Court as the defendants prepare their written responses within the mandated period. The court’s eventual ruling is expected to provide clarity on the balance between school institutional identity and the constitutionally protected rights of students.