The Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has justified the religious practices of mission schools in Ghana.
Their defense comes amid legal challenges involving the rights of Muslim students in mission schools, including the ongoing case against Wesley Girls’ Senior High School.
The Supreme Court has permitted Democracy Hub to join the case against Wesley Girls’ Senior High School as amicus curiae. The case, brought by lawyer Shafic Osman, alleges that the school prevents Muslim students from praying, fasting and observing other religious duties.
The Court has ordered Wesley Girls’ to respond formally to the claims within 14 days.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Christian Council and Catholic Bishops maintained that it is essential for mission schools to practice their belief and faith.
“Our position is grounded in constitutional and legal principles, particularly the rights to freedom of association and religious liberty. These rights protect both individuals and institutions.
”As Christian communities, we have the constitutional right to operate schools that express our faith,” portions of the statement read.
They noted that it is voluntary for anyone to attend a Christian mission school, hence “it is unreasonable for anyone to demand that we change our core character to accommodate their religious preferences.”
The statement added that “expecting us to suppress the Christian identity of our schools to accommodate every religious group would infringe upon this freedom. The religious character of our schools is essential, not incidental.”
They stressed that their position not to allow other religious practices in mission schools is not rooted in hostility towards other faiths, but a desire to preserve the integrity of institutions which have existed for over a century.
They emphasized that parents prior to choosing these mission schools are aware that these schools operate within a Christian environment and uphold Christian values.
According to the statement, Christian mission schools were founded by various churches long before the establishment of the Ghanaian state, and their identity cannot be redefined simply because government now supports them.
“State support, therefore, is a partnership, not a takeover,” the statement said. The groups maintained that paying teacher salaries or regulating curricula does not give the state authority to change the schools’ Christian character.
They cautioned that permitting separate religious practices, uniforms, and prayer schedules would derail the communal unity and discipline that underpin the school’s ethos.
According to them, parallel religious systems could erode the school’s cohesion and weaken the qualities that have made the mission schools strong.
The statement referenced the Memorandum of Understanding adopted on April 15, 2024, by Government-Assisted and Private Mission Schools. This MoU, developed with support from the National Peace Council, affirms the partnership between the state and mission bodies while encouraging respect, inclusivity and clear guidelines on issues such as fasting and dress codes within the Christian school framework.
In their conclusion, the Christian Council and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference insisted that maintaining the Christian character of mission schools is lawful, historically justified and necessary for preserving their educational philosophy. They said their duty is to welcome students of all backgrounds while protecting the Christian values that define their institutions.
“Defending this heritage is not an act of exclusion,” the statement said, “but a vital affirmation of religious freedom, institutional autonomy, and the enduring pursuit of educational excellence.”
