Tema, Ghana, 29 November: The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Mr. Abraham Koomson, has urged stakeholders in the ongoing dispute involving Wesley Girls’ High School to withdraw the matter from the Supreme Court and opt for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to achieve an amicable settlement.
According to Mr. Koomson, a negotiated outcome is critical to safeguarding Ghana’s long-standing interfaith harmony and preventing needless tensions over religious rights in schools.
The case, widely referred to as the ‘Wesley Girls Saga,’ stems from a human rights lawsuit filed against the school over its alleged policy restricting non-Methodist students especially Muslims from observing religious practices such as wearing the hijab or fasting during Ramadan.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show on Saturday, November 29, Mr. Koomson warned that the rigid and adversarial nature of court rulings may not yield a solution that reflects Ghana’s history of peaceful coexistence among various faiths.
He argued that ADR provides a more flexible and cooperative platform, enabling all parties to openly discuss their concerns, protect the school’s long-held traditions, and uphold the constitutional rights of every student.
Mr. Koomson stressed the need for broad-based dialogue involving key religious stakeholders such as the Christian Council, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and Muslim leaders together with the government and education authorities. Such engagement, he said, would ensure that the welfare and academic interests of students remain at the heart of the process, rather than legal technicalities or precedents.
His appeal comes at a time when the Supreme Court has directed the Attorney-General and the Wesley Girls’ administration to file their responses to the human rights claims within a specified period, indicating that the legal process is actively underway.
Despite this development, the GFL believes that returning to the negotiation table is the most prudent path, one that will reduce tensions and strengthen national cohesion.
The ongoing debate follows a suit filed on December 24, 2024, by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, who invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 2(1)(b) and 130(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution.
Mr. Osman’s suit challenges the school’s policies that allegedly bar Muslim students from wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, or practicing other aspects of their faith. He contends that these restrictions violate constitutional freedoms, including freedom of religion, equality before the law, and protection against discrimination.
Mr. Koomson therefore appealed to the Supreme Court to consider referring the case to ADR to prevent potential disturbances or divisions that may arise from a strictly legal resolution, insisting that consensus-building remains the best path forward.
LISTEN TO ABRAHAM KOOMSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh/Ahotoronline.com