NMCG criticises Christian Councils over “unconstitutional” stance on Muslim students’ rights

The National Muslim Conference of Ghana (NMCG) has issued a strongly worded statement expressing deep concern over recent commentary from the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference regarding religious practice in government-assisted mission schools.

According to the NMCG, the positions advanced by the two Christian bodies directly contradict constitutional protections, previously agreed frameworks, and the spirit of national unity that Ghana has long upheld.

The Conference argues that the attempt to justify limitations on minority religious expression in state-supported mission schools undermines the very foundation of Ghana’s legal system. It stressed that any institution benefiting from public resources, national placement systems, and state-funded teaching personnel cannot operate as an exclusive religious enclave. The Constitution, the statement noted, guarantees every Ghanaian student the freedom to manifest their religious beliefs without fear of restriction.

Referencing the Ghana Education Service’s 2015 Religious Tolerance Directive, the NMCG maintained that the rules surrounding school management are clear: Muslim girls must be permitted to wear the hijab, no student should be compelled to participate in religious activities against their faith, and the right to worship must be protected without coercion. According to the Conference, the positions advanced by the Christian bodies directly contradict these binding national guidelines.

The NMCG also pointed to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Government-Assisted Mission Schools signed on 15th April 2024 and endorsed by the Ghana Education Service in April 2025. The MoU, which was built upon principles of diversity, fairness and respect, emphasized nondiscrimination and support for students’ religious practices. The Conference described the new statements by the Christian Council and Catholic Bishops as inconsistent with the very document their own leaders endorsed.

Addressing what it called the “moral burden of leadership,” the NMCG questioned why institutions with significant national influence would support policies that place vulnerable students at a disadvantage. It recalled the painful history of religiously related tensions in Ghanaian schools, urging all stakeholders to learn from past tragedies rather than repeat them. The Conference emphasized that Muslims have never sought to impose Islamic practices in mission schools but simply demand the constitutional right for their children to practice their faith freely and respectfully.

The NMCG further warned that undermining students’ religious freedoms risks eroding the delicate peace Ghana enjoys within a region plagued by instability. The statement highlighted that coexistence between Christian and Muslim students has strengthened national unity for decades, and attempts to encourage segregation or restrict religious identity could ignite divisions with far-reaching consequences.

As part of its conclusion, the National Muslim Conference argued that any mission school wishing to operate under strict doctrinal rules must forfeit state support, including curriculum resources, salary payments for teachers, and national placement privileges. Until then, such schools remain bound by the Constitution and the jointly signed MoU.

The NMCG affirmed its commitment to interfaith cooperation, national development, and peaceful engagement, stressing that Ghana belongs to all its citizens regardless of religious orientation. It reiterated its trust in Ghana’s constitutional bodies and called on all religious institutions to uphold the principles of justice, fairness and human dignity as the country navigates the ongoing national conversation on religious freedom in mission schools.