Methodist Church joined to Wesley Girls’ religious rights case

The Supreme Court has allowed the Trustees of the Methodist Church Ghana to join the constitutional case challenging religious policies at Wesley Girls’ High School.

The ruling means the Methodist Church, which founded the Cape Coast-based school, will now participate directly in the case as the fourth defendant.

The suit was filed by private legal practitioner Shaffic Osman.

He is asking the Supreme Court to interpret and enforce constitutional provisions relating to religious freedom and the rights of students in mission schools.

At the centre of the case are claims that Wesley Girls’ High School prevents Muslim students from wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan and observing Islamic prayers on campus.

The plaintiff also alleges that students are required to take part in Christian worship activities.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Supreme Court granted the Methodist Church’s request to be joined to the proceedings.

Lawyers for the Trustees argued that although the Church does not run the school’s daily administration, any decision against Wesley Girls’ High School would affect the Church because of its founding role and historical connection to the institution.

They said their presence in the case was necessary to ensure that all issues were fully dealt with.

The plaintiff’s lead counsel, Abdul Aziz Gomda, opposed the application.

He argued that the school’s Board of Governors was already a party to the case and could properly defend the interests of the school.

According to him, adding the Methodist Church Trustees would not significantly assist the court.

The Attorney-General’s Department, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, did not oppose the application.

He said the Church’s request was understandable because of its ownership and historical relationship with Wesley Girls’ High School.

He also noted that the school remains publicly funded and supervised by the Ghana Education Service.

The seven-member panel, presided over by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, held that joining the Methodist Church Trustees would help the court reach a final and comprehensive decision.

The defendants in the case are now the Board of Governors of Wesley Girls’ High School, the Ghana Education Service, the Attorney-General, and the Trustees of the Methodist Church Ghana.

The matter has been adjourned indefinitely.

The case forms part of a broader national debate over religious accommodation in mission-founded schools.

That debate intensified in 2021 after reports that a Muslim student at Wesley Girls’ High School had allegedly been stopped from fasting during Ramadan.

The issue sparked public discussion among religious leaders, education stakeholders, civil society groups and policymakers.

At the time, the Ghana Education Service directed schools to respect students’ religious rights, including the right of Muslim students to fast.

The controversy has, however, continued to raise wider constitutional questions about how mission schools should balance their religious identity with the rights of students in Ghana’s public education system.