The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA) has waded into the standoff between the Wesley Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) and a private legal practitioner, Shafic Osman, over alleged infringements of religious rights at the school.

According to a statement on Tuesday, November 25, NCPTA noted that all schools must embrace each and every student’s religious beliefs and ensure no faith is given preference over another. It added that schools that undermine the rights of students across the country are violating Articles 12, 17, and 21(1)(c) of the Constitution.

“As public entities, all schools and their administrators must uphold the supremacy of the Constitution,” parts of the statement read.

As per Articles 12, 17 and 21(1)(c) “the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and all other organs of government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Ghana, and shall be enforceable by the Courts as provided for in this Constitution.

“Every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed or gender, shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual contained in this Chapter, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest.

But Attorney General (A-G) and Minister, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has declared his support for the religious policy practiced at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School (SHS).

Reacting to a case filed in December 2024 by lawyer Shafic Osman, the A-G stated that Wesley Girls’ School is not obliged to accommodate other religious practices.

He added that Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, being a Methodist Church of Ghana institution, has the right to uphold its Methodist values.

In 2024, Wesley Girls’ Senior High School faced a lawsuit for allegedly restricting Muslim students’ ability to practice their religion.

The suit accused the school of consistently blocking Muslim students from engaging in religious activities. The plaintiff is requesting several legal rulings, including a declaration that the school’s policy against Islamic practices violates the 1992 Constitution.

“A declaration that the 1st defendant’s policy compelling and requiring the practice of a compulsory school religion in a public school is contrary to and inconsistent with Articles 21(1) (b) (c) and Article 26.”

“A declaration that the limitations on Muslim students in the 1st defendant school undermine the welfare of Muslim students under international human rights of the child cognizable under Article 33(5) of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992.”

The plaintiff is also requesting a court order for the Ghana Education Service to create and implement guidelines that are in line with the Constitution, regulating religious practices and observances in all public schools in Ghana. According to him, the school’s policies violate several constitutional provisions, including:

Freedom of thought and conscience (Article 21(1)(b) of the 1992 Constitution), Freedom to practice any religion (Article 21(1)(c)), Right not to be discriminated against on grounds of religion (Article 17(2)) and Prohibition against the state (or public institutions) imposing a religious program (Article 56).

Meanwhile, Wesley Girls’ Senior High School has been directed by the Supreme Court to formally respond to a suit filed by a private legal practitioner.

This is not the first time a Senior High School has been taken to court. In 2021, a first-year student, Tyrone Iras Marhguy, who had gained admission to Achimota Senior High School, was denied enrollment because he refused to trim his dreadlocks.

His family won the case after the court ruled that school regulations must not contradict students’ right to religion.

Last month, there was a public debate over a viral video showing a first-year female student looking unhappy while having her hair cut in a barbershop as part of school preparation.

Wearing the uniform of Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School, the student appeared visibly distressed as her long hair was trimmed.

The video triggered widespread calls for the government to scrap what many describe as a “barbaric” practice, arguing that a student’s hairstyle has no bearing on academic performance. Others maintain that permitting long hair in schools could distract students from their studies.

Education advocate Kofi Asare told the media on Sunday, October 26, that parents and students opposed to the hairstyle policy have the option to pursue legal action.

He argued that such policies must not infringe on students’ personal rights or freedom of expression, despite their intended role in maintaining discipline.

“It’s not always about indiscipline or discipline. I align with the law, and I encourage anyone who feels unfairly treated to engage the law. Society grows and so should the law grow,” he said.

He noted that seeking legal redress would not be unprecedented, as the Marhguy case already set a legal standard. “Marhguy argued that maintaining his Rasta was linked to his belief in Rastafarianism.

And that denying him admission based on Rasta meant that his rights to religion and culture were being impugned on account of the school regulations…He needed to be allowed to manifest his religion by wearing his hair, which he related directly to his belief in Rastafarianism, and the court upheld that.

“The court simply said, yes, schools may set their rules for regulating dress codes, including hairstyles. But in setting those rules, they shouldn’t be inconsistent with their right to religion.”

However, speaking at the 75th anniversary celebration of Mawuli Senior High School in the Volta Region on Saturday, October 25, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, stressed that secondary schools are not the place for beauty contests and will not entertain such practices.

“There is an ongoing debate about hair cuts, and size and length of hair in secondary schools. We will not tolerate it today or we will not tolerate it tomorrow, in so long as molding character.“If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they [students] dress. Therefore, as part of our disciplinary measures, headmasters and GES, you are accordingly empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses.”

“So anybody who thinks that your child will walk into any institution of learning, as if that child, forgive my words, was to attend a beauty contest, the school environment will not for that purpose and not cut for that purpose and we will not tolerate that as an institution,” the Minister stated.