The Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Arimiyawo Shaibu, has added his voice to the ongoing national debate on religious freedom in Ghana’s Senior High Schools,a discussion that has once again taken centre stage in the media.
The revived debate follows a formal response filed by the Office of the Attorney General to the Supreme Court in a case involving Wesley Girls’ Senior High School, which has been accused of enforcing policies deemed discriminatory against certain religious practices.
Speaking on the issue, Sheikh Armiyawo expressed his reservations about resorting to legal avenues to resolve sensitive matters of religious practice and coexistence. He maintained that dialogue, mutual respect, and existing interfaith relationships provide a more productive path toward resolving such disagreements.
According to him, “going to court over these matters has the potential to strain long-standing relationships between religious communities.” He referenced the situation in Nigeria, where tensions between Muslims and Christians have escalated over time, noting that Ghana must avoid walking a similar path.
Sheikh Armiyawo also raised concerns about the security implications of public confrontations over religious issues. He expressed worry about how quickly such matters are brought into the public domain,sometimes even by state institutions without careful reflection on the possible consequences.
He concluded by cautioning the public against framing the debate as a Christian Muslim conflict, stressing that the issue at hand is not about the entire Christian community or all mission schools. “This matter is specific to Wesley Girls’, and we must avoid generalizing it,” he emphasized.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku