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The Supreme Court of Ghana has scheduled April 21, 2026, to hear a high-profile case challenging alleged religious practices at Wesley Girls’ High School.
The suit, filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, accuses the school of compelling students of different faiths to adhere to Methodist traditions while restricting Muslim students from openly practicing their religion. The plaintiff argues that such actions violate the constitutional rights of affected students.
The case has drawn multiple legal interventions. The school’s Board of Governors has filed an application contesting its inclusion in the suit, maintaining that the institution is owned by the Methodist Church’s trustees and that they should be the proper entity to face legal action.
However, Osman disputes this claim, citing provisions of the Ghana Education Service framework, which assigns school boards the responsibility of managing institutional affairs, thereby making them valid parties to the case. He also noted that the suit includes the Attorney General and the Ghana Education Service.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church of Ghana has applied to join the proceedings as a friend of the court. In its submission, the Church questioned the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, arguing that the matter should instead be handled by the High Court as a human rights issue.
On the substantive matter, the Church further contended that faith-based schools have the right to uphold their religious values, and that students who voluntarily enrol in such institutions may be deemed to have accepted certain limitations regarding the expression of their own beliefs.
Originally scheduled for an earlier hearing, the case has now been adjourned and relisted for April 21, setting the stage for a significant legal battle over religious freedom, education policy, and constitutional rights in Ghana.
