In a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, the NMCG, under the leadership of the National Chief Imam, said the position of the Christian bodies on the matter was inconsistent with constitutional provisions and existing national directives.
It said the stance taken by the GCBC and CCG, in the statement issued on November 25, did not align with the Ghana Education Service (GES) Directive on Religious Tolerance or with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by religious bodies and the GES in April 2024.
The Conference recalled the longstanding commitment of the Muslim community to peaceful coexistence, guided by the National Chief Imam’s advocacy for unity, including his historic 100th birthday visit to the Christ the King Catholic Church.
It also referenced the participation of Christian and Muslim leaders in the 2025 National Day of Prayer services as an example of continued interfaith collaboration.
The NMCG expressed appreciation to Christian leaders who have supported efforts to promote religious freedom in schools.
It noted that the Constitution guaranteed every student the right to practice and manifest their religion, stating that mission schools benefiting from state support, such as government funding, national placement, GETFund projects and government-paid teachers, were required to uphold national regulations.
The statement said the 2015 GES Directive prohibited restricting Muslim students from wearing the hijab, compelling students to attend worship services of another faith or limiting their ability to practice aspects of their religion.
The National Muslim Conference said parts of the GCBC and CCG’s recent position did not reflect the provisions of that directive.
It added that the 2024 MoU on Government-Assisted Mission Schools committed all mission schools to inclusivity, non-discrimination, respect for students’ religious practices and reasonable accommodation for fasting and prayer.
The Conference stressed that Muslims were not requesting the construction of mosques in mission schools but rather the freedom for students to pray, fast and opt out of compulsory religious services that did not align with their faith.
It referenced past incidents reported in the public domain as examples of the importance of ensuring safe and respectful learning environments for all students.
The NMCG also noted that Islamic schools did not compel Christian students to participate in Islamic religious activities, and said Christian students in Islamic Senior High Schools were not required to wear the hijab.
It cautioned that suggestions encouraging students to attend only schools of their own faith could affect long-standing interfaith cohesion and the shared nature of Ghana’s educational environment.
The Conference said mission schools seeking to apply exclusively doctrinal rules may need to consider operating without state funding or participation in national placement systems.
Reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement, the NMCG said it trusted the courts and the constitutional order to resolve the matter and urged all religious bodies to respect the final decision.
“We remain committed to peace grounded in justice, fairness and respect for constitutional rights,” the statement said.
GNA
